We are pleased to announce the new home of Leadership Council SMC. It is located inside the Economic Advancement Center (EAC) at 366 Grand Avenue, South San Francisco. The EAC is an innovative space created through the collaboration between the City of South San Francisco, the Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center, JobTrain, and the County of San Mateo.

Last week at a small reception to mark this occasion, Leadership Council SMC Co-Presidents Kaarin Hardy and Margi Power recognized two people who made this opportunity a reality: Eddie Flores, Councilmember of the City of South San Francisco and Tim Russell, Program Director of the Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center.

Both Eddie and Tim were June 2022 graduates of Leadership Council SMC’s inaugural Leadership CORPS Program for senior-level leaders, and both have honored the organization by agreeing to serve on the Leadership CORPS Board of Directors. Their work on behalf of Leadership Council SMC has been extraordinary.

Eddie spoke to the assembled guests, providing the history of the building at 366 Grand and the initiative that transformed it from a vacant bank building not long ago to the resource center it is today. He reminded the group that this is not only a South San Francisco site, but an entrepreneurial center for all of San Mateo County, and he thanked community leaders and the program staff for believing in it and making it happen. “Never forget that dreams come true,” Eddie said. “I was amazed at the power of the Leadership Council SMC CORPS Program that I attended and I wanted to make this space available to them.”

Ernesto Lucero, South San Francisco Economic Development Coordinator, was also instrumental in helping the team get established at the EAC. He addressed the attendees, welcoming Leadership Council SMC to South San Francisco to the EAC.

The positive spirit could be felt as people toured the space, connected with one another, and congratulated the team. Kaarin said, “We have been so warmly welcomed and thrilled to be in this collaborative space, working alongside Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center and JobTrain. As a countywide, cross-sector, leadership development nonprofit, we couldn’t be happier to be here.”

As part of her thanks, Margi gave a special shoutout to Daisy Li and the Moonstar Kitchen who sponsored the evening’s light dinner for the New Office Open House. Like Tim and Eddie, Daisy is also a Leadership CORPS Class of 2022 graduate who has been incredibly generous in her support.

Margi thanked the guest and speakers for joining the celebration and summed up the evening with the Leadership Council mission, “We see ourselves at the intersection of possibilities, bringing people together from different backgrounds and lived experiences who have a commitment to moving the needle on the important issues facing San Mateo County. Thank you for being a part of this evening, a milestone in our nonprofit history.”

Leadership Council SMC is grateful to the many individuals and groups who contributed to this moment on their journey:

Economic Advancement Center
Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center
JobTrain, SSF Center
City of South San Francisco
South San Francisco Chamber of Commerce and their Board of Directors
County of San Mateo
Leadership Council SMC with many in attendance this evening

• Board of Directors
• Advisory Council Members
• CORPS Class of 2022 Graduates and Incoming Class of 2023 Members
• Emerging Leaders Incoming Class of 2023 Members
• Sponsors and Partners
• Our Volunteers, Staff, and Friends

Learn more about the Economic Advancement Center, Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center, JobTrain, and Leadership Council San Mateo County.