Recent Events

Speaker Panel: Healthy Brain Aging - 2/28/12
Is it a "senior moment," or something else? No matter what your age, it's essential to understand how to maintain a healthy mind. Can cognitive decline be predicted, and what can we do to stop it? Our experts discussed genetics, dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Guests left knowledgeable about the latest research on recognizing the problems associated with one's aging brain, as well as the remedies to treat the symptoms.
Speakers were Adam Boxer, MD, PhD (UCSF); Gregory Tranah, PhD, Scientist, CPMC Research Institute; Kristine Yaffe, MD, UCSF and San Francisco VA Medical Center; moderated by Janice Schwartz, MD, Director of Research at the Jewish Home. Chaired by Bob Newman and Debra Bogaards. See photos. 

BLC Event: The Multigenerational Workplace - 1/26/12
To succeed in today's global, networked world, professionals of all ages need to understand how to connect with each other and communicate effectively. Organizational expert Daryle Abrahams explained explain the differences in cognitive learning styles between 20-somethings and 40-somethings and gave us the tools to navigate an age-diverse workplace. Held at Duane Morris with refreshments provided by Rothstein Kass. Chaired by Seth Blackman and Raziel Ungar. 

BLC Networking: Building Connections & Community - 1/11/12
One hundred Jewish professionals made new business connections with people who share Jewish values. Held at Sens Restaurant in Embarcadero Center, San Francisco. Chaired by Deborah Lopez and Joel Wagonfeld.

Speaker Panel: How Silicon Valley Gives Back - 12/8/11
Silicon Valley innovators are tackling large-scale social issues by seeding the companies of tomorrow and creating jobs, building community wealth, and giving back. They have made their mark on business, and are now proving that they can use their brains and dollars to change the world. Panelists were Russ Hall (Legacy Venture), Nancy Heinen, (SV2 Social Venture Fund and former General Counsel and Secretary, Apple, Inc.), Mark Jacobstein (Qualcomm iSkoot Technologies, Inc.), Laura Pickering (Sizijee, Inc. and Innovation Quest). Moderated by Greg Clark, Cooley. Presented in partnership with the Silicon Valley Academy of Startup Entrepreneurs (SVASE) at Cooley, Palo Alto. View photos.

BLC Jewish Vintners Wine Tasting - 11/16/11
BLC’s annual wine tasting is an opportunity to connect with premier California vintners affiliated with the Jewish community. Wine experts and novices alike will enjoy our wineries favorite vintages, new releases and special award winners, poured just for us. View photos.

Speaker Panel: Where is the Smart Money Going? - 10/26/11
Three years after the market turbulence of 2008, are there more questions than answers? Four finance experts discussed the current economic scene. Panelists were Matthew Berler (Osterweis Capital Management), Sarah Stein (Hall Capital Partners), Jamie Weinstein (KKR Asset Management). Moderated by Michael Alpert (Wetherby Asset Management). Chaired by Mike Alpert, Scott Harrison, and Ina Miller.

Speaker Panel: San Francisco Real Estate Rule: Helping or Hurting? - 6/13/11
San Francisco's planning and preservation restrictions may create barriers to job and economic growth, while condominium conversion limits and other regulations reduce home ownership opportunities. BLC brought together San Francisco real estate experts to discuss what's working and what's not. We explored the impact of city policies on residential and commercial real estate, as well its implications on business development, housing affordability, and San Francisco's economic base. Panelists were David Gellman (Goldstein, Gellman, Melbostad & Harris), Eric Lundquist (Heller Manus Architects), and Steve Vettel (Farella Braun + Martel); moderated by Scott Wiener, San Francisco Supervisor District 8. Chaired by Jethro Busch, Frank Fudem, and Deborah Lopez. View photos.

Speaker Panel: The Corporate Advantage of Sustainability - 5/24/11
Corporations as well as the public sector pursue sustainability initiatives in an effort to satisfy consumers, employees and business partners. How do carbon management and an increased focus on sustainability impact your organization's bottom line? Will it lead to significant energy cost savings? BLC's industry experts discussed how businesses can turn sustainability into a competitive advantage. Panelists were Dan Adler (California Clean Energy Fund), Norma Formanek (Electric Power Research Institute), Richard Hart (EnerNOC), Bruce Klafter (Applied Materials); moderated by Gordon Ho (Cooley LLP).  Chaired by David Meyers.

Speaker Panel: The Future of Aging: Technology and Innovation - 4/28/11
Aging is inevitable. Can it be profitable as well? Our maturing population is driving new technologies and innovation. Panel members shared their knowledge on advancements in neuroscience, orthopaedics and related investment opportunities. Featuring Adele Hayutin, Ph.D., (Global Aging Program, Stanford Center on Longevity), Guy Katsav (Ganot Capital), David Lowenberg, M.D., (Chief, Orthopaedic Trauma Service, and Clinical Professor, Orthopaedic Surgery, Stanford University Medical Center), Zack Lynch, (Neurotechnology Industry Organization, NIO, and The Lifeboat Foundation), Moderated by Bruce Jenett, (Global Life Sciences Sector, DLA Piper LLP). Chaired by Bob Newman, Seth Blackman, and Laura Roden.

FedFest Panel: Future Trends in Philanthropy - 4/10/11
Are modern-day philanthropists and young social entrepreneurs joining forces as the change agents of the future? Experts shared their experiences from the field. Featuring Carla Javits (President, The Roberts Enterprise Development Fund--REDF), Laura Lauder (JCF Endowment Fund), Daniel Lurie (CEO and Founder, Tipping Point Community), Sally Osberg (President and CEO, Skoll Foundation). Moderated by Phyllis Cook (Managing Director, PLC Philanthropic Services; Executive Director,1983 to 2008, Jewish Community Endowment Fund).

2011 Business Leadership Breakfast - 3/9/11
A Breakfast with Champions: The Path to Success in Sports, Business and Life
Featuring keynote speakers Larry Baer (President, San Francisco Giants) and Harris Barton (San Francisco 49er offensive lineman (1987-1998); Founder, Champion Charities; and Managing Partner, Capital Dynamics). Moderated by Peter Waldman (Editor, Projects and Investigations, Bloomberg News).
Guests enjoyed Harris and Larry's charming anecdotes and an inside look at the sports business. It was heartwarming to hear about both men's commitment to their faith and to learn from Harris what it was like to be a Jewish football player. Chaired by Neil Fink and Hildy Shandell. View photos.

Speaker Panel: Why is Hollywood Investing in Israeli Creative Content? - 1/26/11 
Entertainment industry veterans Howard Gordon (producer, 24), David Israel (Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning television writer and producer), Stuart Tenzer (Coast Road Media), Oded Turgeman (The Operating Room), and Scott Siegler (Mediasiegler) discussed Israel's burgeoning entertainment industry and its impact on Americans. Renowned for its innovative technologies, Israel is exporting creative content to ABC, MTV, HBO, Fox, Showtime and Technicolor. Guests learned from our Hollywood insiders about Israeli TV programming and how it is modified to appeal the American market. Chaired by Neil Fink and Ina Miller. View photos.

New Year's Mitzvah: Job Search Coaching at JVS - 1/19/11
Nineteen BLC volunteers put thier professional expertise to work helping clients at Jewish Vocational Service (JVS), a Federation-supported agency, refine their job-hunting skills. The response to our call for volunteers was so overwhelming that we turned away volunteers. We will be offering this opportunity again, so watch your email. View photos.
BLC volunteers helped out in three specific areas during this three-hour workshop: 

• Mock Interviews: Conducting one-on-one role play interviews.
• Elevator Pitch Blitz: Helping clients perfect a succinct presentation that represents their background, strengths, and goals.
• Resume and Cover Letter Critique: Reviewing written materials and provide specific, constructive feedback.

Speaker Panel: Building Your Personal Brand - 9/27/10
How can you stand out from the crowd? Personal branding is the message you send and the message that others receive about you. For others to receive your intended message, it must be genuine and authentic. Dale Carnegie trainer Graham Bowman taught participants how to make a strong first impression when building their professional network and develop an authentic personal branding statement. Chaired by Lara Gilman and Marcia Ruben.

Speaker Panel: The Economics & Finance of Commercial Real Estate - 6/14/10
How do forces effecting real estate today differ from the past and will these trends have an impact on the economy? BLC’s annual real estate update featured experts Bob Edelstein (UC Berkeley) and Mark Myers (Wells Fargo) sharing their wisdom on today’s commercial real estate debt markets. Moderated by Frank Fudem (Cassidy/Turley BT Commercial), and chaired by Jethro Busch, Frank Fudem, and Lara Gilman.

Speaker Panel: Israeli and Arab Business: A Commercial and Regional Imperative - 5/25/10
Two-way business ventures between Jewish Israelis and Israeli-Arabs in the West Bank is a topic vital to the economic health and security of the region. BLC welcomed Yadin Kaufmann, (Middle East Venture Capital Fund), Murad Tahboub (ASAL Technologies), and Oren Zeev (Galil Software) to discuss the profitable partnerships with Israeli Consul General Akiva Tor and moderator Steven Rousso-Schindler (California State University Long Beach). Chaired by Mike Dovbish, Neil Fink, and Holly Ruxin. 

Speaker Panel: Mission-Aligned Investing - 4/21/10
Should philanthropic goals influence your investment strategy? Five expert panelists, Shari Berenbach (Calvert Foundation), Stephanie Cohn (Omidyar Network), David Friedman (San Francisco Foundation), John Goldstein (Imprint Capital Advisors), and Will Rosenzweig (Physic Ventures) shared their insights on the effectiveness of socially responsible investments. Moderated by Laura Roden and Bob Newman.

2010 Business Leadership Breakfast - 3/5/10
Featuring keynote speaker Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook, and honoring Richard M. Rosenberg with the Business Leadership Award.
Chaired by Ron Lissak and Hildy Shandell. Watch the video here. View slideshow here.

Speaker Panel: Personal Genomics: What Consumers and Investors Want to Know - 2/10/10
Watch the video here. View slideshow here.
What can your DNA tell you and others? Can a prick of the finger project your destiny? Personal genomics pioneers are blazing a trail to predict the future. BLC panelists Michael Goldberg (Mohr Davidow Ventures), David Magnus (Stanford University), Hugh Rienhoff ( MyDaughtersDNA.org), and  Ashley Gould (23 and Me) answered these questions and more.  Moderated by BLC Chair Robert Blum (Cytokinetics) and chaired by Robert Blum, Jodi Sherman Jahic, Bob Newman, and Micah Yairi. Hosted by the Oshman JCC in Palo Alto.

Speaker Panel: Smart Grid: What is it and Where is it Going? - 1/7/10
Everyone is talking about the smart grid yet the largest users of energy may not see their power consumption in real time.  Panel attendees learned who is building it and the value it delivers from four industry experts on key Smart Grid segments--networking, metering, demand response, investment, public policy and utilities.  Speakers were Dan Adler (California Clean Energy Fund), David Meyers, (EnerNOC, Inc.), and Madeline Selig Morey (eMeter). Moderated by JCF president Jim Koshland. Chaired by Peter Yolles and David Meyers.

Networking Event: Jewish Vintners Wine Tasting, A Taste of Community – 11/12/09
Over 200 guests and gathered together to say l’chaim with vintners from Napa, Sonoma, the Santa Ynez Valley, France, and Israel, all of whom are affiliated with the local Jewish community. Held at the Fromm Institute at USF, the event attracted over 30 wineries including Tetra, Frank Family Vineyards, Qupé Wine Cellars, Rudd Vineyards & Winery, and Schlien Vineyard. Chaired by Pascal Levenshon, Bob Tandler, Dick Wollack. View photos here.

Speaker Panel: 2009 Investment Market Dialogue – 10/21/09
Attendees at this panel walked away with an understanding of economic expectations and practical advice for personal portfolios. Industry experts Matt Berler from Osterweis Capital Management, Bob Fields from PIMCO, and Hal Schornstein from Wells Fargo made the current market easy to understand for the over 60 guests assembled. Moderated by BLC programming co-chair Scott Harrison, who served as co-chair with Jeff Zlot and Jim Codik.

Speaker Panel: Silicon Valley Meets Hollywood – 9/22/09
The technology and entertainment convergence is here. Senior executives from leading entertainment and technology companies gathered at Fenwick and West in Mountain View to share insights on how technological advances and emerging technologies are changing our entertainment. Daniel Scheinman from Cisco Media Solutions Group, Richard Hollander from Pixar Animation Studios and Doug Barry from Selby Ventures had a lively discussion with the sell-out crowd of 75 about how our entertainment and information is produced and delivered. Moderated by Joshua Quittner (Time Magazine) and chaired by Neil Fink and Robin Berman.

BLC hosted 50 guests in the JCF Boardroom for this informative, lively discussion and demonstration of how to leverage emerging social media tools such as Facebook, blogs and Twitter for smart marketing. The event, chaired by Neil Fink and Rebecca Litwin, featured panelists David Burk, Founder & CEO, Clear Ink; Mark Friedler, Internet Advertising, Media, Entertainment, Games Entrepreneur; and David Spark, Founder, Spark Media Solutions.