East Bay Economic Development Alliance > Events > Event Highlights > EDAB 2005 Legislative Reception

EDAB 2005 Legislative Reception & Vision Award

January 7, 2005

Location: The Oakland Museum of California, Oakland, CA.

Sponsored by SBC 

Each year our legislative reception provides EDAB’s business, community, and local government leaders a rare opportunity to meet with our legislative delegation and their staff to recognize the delegation’s contributions to the East Bay’s economy over the past year. This year’s event was sponsored by SBC in collaboration with the Cities and Counties of Alameda and Contra Costa and the Alameda County Special Districts’ Association. Wente Vineyards contributed some of California’s finest wines for this year's event.

The “East Bay Vision Award” is presented each year by EDAB to individuals or organizations whose work has contributed to the advancement of the economic vitality and the quality of life of the region. 

 

This year, EDAB selected Vintage Foster, publisher of the Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal and founder of the East Bay Leadership Foundation, as the 2005 “Vision Award” recipient.

 

Mr. Foster is a respected member of the Bay Area media and was appointed as the first publisher of the newly established East Bay Business Times in 1999 by American City Business Journals after their acquisition of the I-680 Business Journal.  

 

As publisher, Mr. Foster was instrumental in expanding the journal’s news coverage to the entire East Bay, making it the premier voice for the business community. 

 

Beyond his professional leadership, Mr. Foster is recognized for giving back to the community.  In 2001, he was the driving force and inspiration for the establishment of the East Bay Leadership Foundation that provides university scholarships and mentoring programs to high school students in the Oakland, Richmond, Pittsburg and Vallejo school districts.  Presently the foundation is supporting 14 students in universities throughout the United States and 42 students in local mentoring program.  Mr. Foster continues to be involved in many East Bay civic organizations and is active in fundraising efforts for local charities and nonprofit organizations.

(Above) Michael Brown, Chairman of the Real Estate Group for Morgan, Miller & Blair and EDAB’s 2nd vice Chairman, introduced our honored recipient of the East Bay Vision Award and highlighted some of Vintage Foster’s activities in a PowerPoint presentation.

(Click here for a PDF of the PowerPoint slides).

 

Assembly Member Loni Hancock, Norma Rees (President, California State University, Hayward), Bruce Kern (Executive Director, EDAB), Vintage Foster, and Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson (EDAB Chair) meet after the award was presented.

 

 

Norma Rees (President, California State University, Hayward), Bruce Kern (Executive Director, EDAB) congratulate Vintage Foster for his contributions and award.

 

 

 

Shiyama Clunie, Executive Director of External Affairs with SBC Communications, spoke on behalf of SBC, the major financial sponsor for the Legislative reception.

 

Norma Rees introduced the State & Federal Delegation, including Jeffery Thomas with Congresswoman Barbara Lee’s office.

Doug Brown from Senator Liz Figueroa’s office was recognized by Jim Falaschi, Vice Chair of EDAB.

 

 

 

Assembly Member Loni Hancock, a voice in Sacramento for education, the environment and the economy, outlined some of her goals for the next year.  This past year she convened community members to collaborate on a regional plan for the San Pablo Avenue corridor.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assembly Member Alberto Torrico was elected last November to represent the 20th Assembly district.  He was appointed to the Assembly Transportation Committee and is committed to working with EDAB to promote jobs and business investment.

 

Alameda County Supervisor Alice Lai-Bitker, networked with members and guests.

Zack Wasserman, Partner, Wendel, Rosen, Black & Dean, LLP (and EDAB’s General Counsel), enjoys the reception with Alameda County Transportation Authority Executive Director, Christine Monsen.