Council Roster

The initial convening of the Advisory Council brought together a group of 40-50 affiliates representing different sectors, business perspectives and geographies.

Convening Team

Co-Chairs

  • Mayor Libby Schaaf
  • Vice Mayor Larry Reid

In Partnership With

  • Michael McAfee, PolicyLink
  • Jose Corona, Eat. Learn. Play.
  • Barbara Leslie, Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce

Research Support

  • Prof. Darcelle Lahr, Mills College, Center for Transformative Action
  • Jeff Bellisario, Bay Area Council Economic Institute

City Staff

  • City Administrator - Betsy Lake
  • Director, EWDD - Alexa Jeffress
  • Mayor's office - Kelley Kahn, EWD, Mayoral Liaison
  • Deputy Director, EWDD - Micah Hinkle
  • Workforce Development Board, Interim Executive Director - Lazandra Dial
  • EWDD Project Lead - Marisa Raya
  • EWDD Project Support - Brandon Wolinsky
  • Director, Race and Equity - Darlene Flynn
  • Director, Planning and Building - Bill Gilchrist
  • Director, Department of Transportation - Ryan Russo
  • Chief Resilience Officer - Alex McBride
  • Assistant to the City Administrator - Greg Minor

Affiliates

  • Susan Muranishi, Alameda County
  • Julina Bonilla, Port of Oakland
  • Egon Terplan, California Governor's Office
  • Savlan Hauser, Oakland BID Alliance
  • Liz Ortega, Alameda County Labor Council
  • David Jackson, Evolve (formerly Oakland Impact Hub)
  • Chris Iglesias, Unity Council
  • Carolyn (CJ) Johnson, Black Cultural Zone
  • Derreck Johnson, Home of Chicken and Waffles
  • Yvette Radford, Kaiser
  • Jay Banfield, All Home
  • Shonda Scott, African American Chamber of Commerce
  • Dr. Jennifer Tran, Vietnamese Chamber of Commerce
  • Jessica Chen, Chinatown Chamber of Commerce
  • Joe Partida, Latino Chamber
  • Ari Takata-Vasquez, Oakland Indie Alliance
  • Chris Pastena, Chop Bar, Tribune Tavern, Calavera
  • Mark Everton, Visit Oakland
  • Andreas Cluver, Alameda County Building Trades
  • John Brauer, California Labor Federation
  • Saru Jayaraman, One Fair Wage
  • Debra Gore-Mann, Greenlining
  • Prof. Kellie McElhaney, UC Berkeley, Center for Equity, Gender, and Leadership
  • Kate O'Hara, EBASE
  • Josh Simon, EBALDC
  • Amber Curley, Native American Health Center/ Indigenous Red Market
  • Claudia Arroyo, Prospera
  • Kat Taylor, Beneficial Bank
  • Robert Ogilvie, SPUR
  • Robin Raveneau, Oakland Private Industry Council (OPIC)
  • Lea Redmond, Oeste
  • Angela Tsay, Oaklandish

Oakland Business Representatives

  • Real Estate Development - Regina Davis, SUDA
  • Nail Salons/ Beauty - Ke Norman, Nailphoria Day Spa
  • Manufacturing -Lynn Vera, Rainin
  • Makers - Atticus Wolf, Moxy
  • Co-working/ Workspace - Trevor Parham, Oakstop
  • Large Employer- Patrick Hayes, Clorox
  • Security - Greg Feldman, Allied Universal
  • Small Business - Linda Grant, Restaurant Pop-up and Cannabis Entrepreneur
  • Transportation and Logistics -Jason Dreisbach, Dreisbach Enterprises
  • Visual Arts - Jean Marie Durant, Oakland Art Murmur
  • Performing Arts/ Entertainment - Archie Nagraj, Destiny Arts Center
  • Sports - Lydia Tan, Oakland A's
  • Tech/ Fintech -Ahmed Ali Bob, Square
  • Regional Economy - Stephen Baiter, East Bay Economic Development Alliance
  • Healthcare - Jim Macksood, Sutter Health
  • Bar/ Restaurants -Maria Alderete, Luka's Tap Room
  • Local Groceries - Ali Obad, ShopRite
  • Cultural Arts - Dr. Mieko Hatano, Oakland Symphony
  • Barbers & Hairstylists - Yusef Wright, Benny Adem Grooming Parlor
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