#SAMCEDAontheMove - April 2025

April’s events brought people together, creating a platform for the exchange of ideas, and the cultivation of new possibilities.

Here are the highlights:

Check out #SAMCEDAonTheMove to see past events and activities. 

Stanford University vs. Santa Clara Broncos Baseball Game

Heritage Bank of Commerce and Summitry hosted an exclusive gathering to watch the Stanford University vs. Santa Clara Broncos baseball game at Klein Field at Sunken Diamond in Stanford.

Guests cheered as the game unfolded with Stanford University securing a 6 - 5 victory.


[ Stanford University hosted the Stanford University vs. Santa Clara Broncos baseball game at Klein Field at Sunken Diamond ]


[ Despite the challenging weather, supporters stayed upbeat, cheering on their teams ]

Sustainable San Mateo County’s 26th Sustainability Awards Celebration & Auction

Sustainable San Mateo County hosted its annual Sustainability Awards Celebration & Auction, an evening dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the inspiring local leaders and organizations driving sustainability and positive change in the community.

Held at the College of San Mateo in San Mateo, this year’s event recognized: Caltrain, San Mateo County Community College District, County of San Mateo’s County Office Building 3, and more.

For a list of all the honorees, please click here.


[ Sustainable San Mateo County’s Sarah Hubbard
 and Chair Terry Nagel welcomed attendees ] 
 

Night of Ideas 2025: (un)Common Ground

Since 2006, the Night of Ideas has been an immersive arts and culture marathon, held in 190 cities across 104 countries. This free event invites the public to engage in dynamic late-night discussions on a wide range of important topics.

In the spring of 2025, the Night of Ideas took place across the United States.This year’s theme, (Un)Common Ground is to “...prompt participants to consider how we can commit to and protect what we have in common.”

San Francisco hosted its own evening event at the Asian Art Museum and the San Francisco Public Library, in partnership with KQED and Villa Albertine San Francisco.

Throughout the evening, thought-provoking panels explored topics such as artificial intelligence, social issues, the arts, culture, and more. The night also featured performances, music, with art installations and exhibits.


[ In between the Asian Art Museum and the San Francisco Public Library, Fulton Street Plaza was filled with neighborhood food trucks and held various activities such as ballet class, different car showcases, art installations, and more ]


[ The San Francisco Public Library was filled with people attending panels and enjoying DJ sets into the night ]


[ The History of Art on Wheels in the Bay Area panel featured with Dueñas Car Club’s Angel Romero, Burning Man’s Jon Sarriugarte, and KQED’s Carlos Cabrera-Lomelí ]


[ The Gourmet Cities: How Food Shapes Public Space panel featured EK Food Services’ Tatsuya Tanaka, Red Rooster Taqueria’s Hugo Santana, The East Cut’s Mike Rieger, CBRE’s Alex Sagues, and Site Lab Studio’s Arthur Perez ]

The San Francisco Peninsula’s 2025 Tourism Annual Meeting

The tourism and hospitality industry gathered at the San Francisco Airport Waterfront Marriott in Burlingame to attend The San Francisco Peninsula’s 2025 Tourism Annual Meeting. 

The event honored the San Francisco Airport Waterfront Marriott and AbilityPath with the Community Impact Award for their impactful partnership in creating employment opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities. 

Additionally, The San Francisco Peninsula recognized former President & CEO, Anne LeClair, and Vice President and COO, Gina Atwood with the Margi Grant Lifetime Achievement Award.

Following the ceremony, attendees heard from Visit California’s President & CEO, Caroline Beteta, who presented on California’s state of tourism, and Tourism Economics’ Vice President, Americas, Zeek Coleman, presented on the Analysis of Destination Marketing in the San Francisco Peninsula with key findings, data, and insight.


[ The San Francisco Peninsula’s John Hutar opened the program with a warm introduction ] 


[ Key findings generated by The San Francisco Peninsula were presented ]

United Airlines’ United Next in San Francisco

Aviation industry professionals, community leaders, and elected officials attended United Airlines’ United Next in San Francisco event to hear about the latest announcements and updates of the airline. 

In addition, United Airlines showcased several aircrafts, including a new Boeing 787-9, Airbus A321neo, and an Archer Midnight eVTOL.

The on-demand recording is available on YouTube and to read more about the event, please click here.  


[ United Airlines’ Scott Kirby delivered the latest updates ]


[ From left to right: San Francisco International Airport’s Mike Nakornkhet,
Chamber San Mateo County’s Amy Buckmaster, SAMCEDA’s Rosanne Foust, and United Airlines’ Papia Gambelin ]


[ Attendees had a close look at the innovative design and
technology behind the Archer Midnight eVTOL ]

College of San Mateo’s President's Advocacy Council Dinner

Elected officials, community and business leaders, along with students and faculty, gathered for the College of San Mateo’s President’s Advocacy Council Dinner at the Bayview Dining Room in San Mateo. 

This annual fundraiser supports students with increased community engagement and innovation on campus. 

This year’s event featured inspiring stories from students and musical performances from  Grammy Award-winner Tony Lindsay.


[ College of San Mateo’s Dr. Manuel Alejandro Pérez delivered welcome remarks ]


[ Attendees were deeply moved by the students’ powerful and uplifting stories ]


[ Guests danced the night away to the unforgettable performance of
Grammy Award-winner Tony Lindsay ] 

San Mateo Police Activities Leagues’ Lights & Sirens Awards and Recognition Dinner

Local supporters gathered for the San Mateo Police Activities League (PAL)'s Lights & Sirens Awards and Recognition Dinner at the San Mateo County Event Center in San Mateo.

The annual fundraiser supports PAL’s vital youth development programs providing mentorship, educational resources, and enrichment activities to more than 1,450 young people each year.

Additionally, the event honored individuals making a difference in the community.


[ Guests passed a vintage San Mateo Police car on
display as they arrived at the venue ]


[ Attendees bid on silent auction items to raise money for PAL’s programs ]


[ San Mateo Police Department’s Chief Ed Barberini and PAL's Therapy K9, Rookie ]

San Francisco International Airport & SAMCEDA’s 2025 Resource Fair 2.0

People across the region gathered to attend San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and SAMCEDA’s 2025 Resource Fair 2.0.

Held at Fiesta Hall at the San Mateo County Event Center in San Mateo, the event connected job seekers with Airport employers and companies from a range of industries. With nearly 100 exhibitors, it also provided businesses with valuable information and resources.

Exhibitors included: Heritage Bank of Commerce, Monterra Credit Union, Swinerton, United Airlines, HIP Housing, Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center, San Mateo Small Business Development Center (SBDC), BKF Engineers, and many more. 

Additionally, Preparing for Employment Opportunities at the Airport and How to Do Business at the Airport workshops supplied attendees with actionable insights and expert advice to help them navigate career and business opportunities within the airport sectors.


[ Once a former aircraft hangar, Fiesta Hall provided a fitting, full-circle venue for the event ]


[ The event offered dynamic workshops and valuable networking opportunities ]


[ Left to right: SFO’s Corina Monzon, SAMCEDA’s Rosanne Foust, SFO’s Mike Nakornkhet and Dr. Rita Ohaya ]


[ SAMCEDA’s Rosanne Foust served as one of the keynote speakers ]


[ SFO’s Queena Lu opens up the How to Do Business at the Airport workshop ]


[ Eager jobseekers engaged with a wide range of exhibitors, gaining insights,
making valuable connections, and discovering exciting career opportunities ]

Cañada College’s Eco Elegance Fashion Show

In celebration of Earth Day, Cañada College hosted its inaugural Eco Elegance Fashion Show, an event spotlighting sustainable designs created by students from the Fashion Design & Merchandising Department.

Supporters, members of the campus community, industry partners, and Westmoor High School & Aragon High School students filled the theater, cheering on the local designers and models as they showcased the innovative and eco-friendly looks.

At the post-show VIP Reception, the Carmela Santino Scholarship was awarded for the first time to Cañada College student and Eco Elegance Fashion Show designer, Daron "Gir" Session.


[ SAMCEDA’s Rosanne Foust kicks off the fashion show ]


[ Models confidently strutted the runway, bringing to life a stunning array of
student-designed outfits that highlighted creativity, talent, and vision ]

NOVAworks’ Work & Wine: A Leadership Conversation on Workforce Innovation

NOVAworks' Launch Lab hosted an engaging panel discussion on workforce innovation at Rootstock Wine Bar in Mountain View.

The event brought together thought leaders to explore forward-thinking strategies shaping the future of work and the need for cross-section collaboration. 


[ Left to right: Western Digital’s Cary Chien, The James Irvine Foundation’s Haden Springer, NOVAworks’ Marlena Sessions, Stanford University’s Mitchell Stevens, ClearSpot Energy’s Claude Leglise, NOVAworks' Launch Lab's Kevin Perkey ]

21st Century Alliance’s Inaugural Annual Dinner

Civic and business leaders convened at the 21st Century Alliance’s inaugural Annual Dinner at the Stanford Park Hotel in Menlo Park.

The dinner for an inspiring evening of dialogue focused on driving progress and a collective vision for a stronger, more resilient future.


[ Left to right: KQED's Guy Marzorati, Assemblymember Buffy Wicks,
and Congressman Sam Liccardo ]

JobTrain’s Breakfast of Champions

JobTrain recently honored the hard work, resilience, and achievements of its career training program graduates (who are pursuing careers in property management, administrative services, and culinary arts) at the annual Breakfast of Champions held at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport in Burlingame.

Additionally, international restaurateur, media personality, and renowned Chef Marcus Samuelsson, presented an inspiring keynote sharing his love for food, reflections on his back and & career, and emphasizing the transformative power of mentorship in both the kitchen and beyond.


[ Chef Marcus Samuelsson captivated the audience with his heartfelt remarks  ] 

County of San Mateo’s Office of Racial and Social Justice (ORSJ) and Shared Prosperity Coordinating Council (SPCC)’s Pathways to Shared Prosperity: Creating a Unified Approach to Economic Mobility in San Mateo County

The Pathways to Shared Prosperity workshop brought community members and local organizations to hear about the data-driven, community-centered strategy for advancing economic mobility in San Mateo County through the County of San Mateo’s Office of Racial and Social Justice (ORSJ) and Shared Prosperity Coordinating Council (SPCC)’s

The workshop presented the framework, key data, and potential solutions while engaging participants in interactive feedback sessions to gather real-time insights. Featured speakers included:

ORSJ is committed to ongoing engagement and plans to host smaller, community-based conversations in collaboration with local partners to directly gather input from those most impacted.

To watch the on-demand recording, please click here.

(Click to download the PowerPoint slides and explore the San Mateo County Shared Prosperity Data Dashboard Beta)


[ The on-demand recording can be found here ]

Check out #SAMCEDAonTheMove to see past events and activities.