Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Supervisor Don Horsley, District 3
Supervisor Carole Groom, District 2
Subject: Appointments and Reappointments to the San Mateo County Event Center
RECOMMENDATION:
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Recommendation for appointments and reappointments to the San Mateo County Event Center Board of Directors, each for a term ending September 30, 2025:
A) Leonard Iniguez, reappointment representing Agriculture for a third term; and
B) Rosanne Foust, reappointment representing Director for a second term; and
C) Kitty Lopez, appointment representing Director for an initial full term; and
D) Amy Buckmaster, appointment representing Director for an initial full term.
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BACKGROUND:
The Exposition and Fair Association directs the use of Event Center facilities. Directors are responsible for policy in the management and daily operation and maintenance of the Event Center.
DISCUSSION:
Leonard Iniguez has served on the Event Center Board of Directors since September 2016 and is being recommended to serve for a third term. Rosanne Foust has served on the Event Center Board since 2019 and is seeking reappointment for a second term. Kitty Lopez and Amy Buckmaster are each being recommended to serve initial terms ending September 30, 2025.
Prior to Leonard’s time on the Event Center Board, he was a member of the San Mateo County Fair Livestock Advisory Group for a few years and managed the Junior Horse Show for the Fair. He has been a supporter of the County FFA and 4H groups, and has a passion for the San Mateo County Fair, especially the Youth Division.
Leonard was born and raised in San Francisco and has been a resident of San Mateo County for over 45 years. He has resided in Brisbane, Pacifica and now Half Moon Bay.
From a young age, Leonard has had a love for horses which led him to pursue a career as a Professional Horse Racing Jockey. He rode at Bay Area tracks and many other tracks around the country. When a life threating accident ended his career in 1986, he pursued a career in Non-Profit working with troubled teens. Over the years, Leonard has been involved with several Nonprofits and served on many boards and commissions. He also served on the San Mateo County Civil Grand Jury in 1987 and 1988.
Rosanne Foust currently serves as Secretary-Treasurer of the Event Center Board of Directors. She is also currently serving as the President and CEO of SAMCEDA. As President and CEO of SAMCEDA, Rosanne Foust directs conversations important to maintaining a strong local and regional economy, attracting and retaining major employers and good jobs, and creating partnerships between business and government to address the critical issues of affordable housing, mobility improvements and maintaining a good quality of life. With the onset of the pandemic, beginning in March 2020, Ms. Foust creatively pivoted SAMCEDA to be a key partner to the County of San Mateo serving as the business resource liaison for the entire county by assisting and coordinating COVID-19 pandemic response and recovery for the business community.
Rosanne is also serving as Chair on First 5 Commission San Mateo County, San Mateo County Community College District Bond Oversight Committee, and Measure W Citizens’ Oversight Committee. She serves as Deputy Chair for Chamber San Mateo County; and Vice Chair of Provident Credit Union’s Supervisory Committee and NOVAworks’ Workforce Investment Board (San Mateo County and North Santa Clara County). She serves as Trustee for both the Bay Area Council Economic Institute and Notre Dame de Namur University. Additionally, Rosanne serves as Board member of the Redwood City Improvement Association and Heritage Bank of Commerce Peninsula/Stanford Advisory Board.
Kitty Lopez, Executive Director of First5 San Mateo County and the Co-Chair of the advisory body, Build Up San Mateo County Children’s Initiative is being recommended for appointment to the San Mateo County Event Center Board of Directors.
Prior to joining First5, Ms. Lopez was the Executive Director of Samaritan House and has sat on the Board of HEART, Housing Endowment and Regional Trust. She is also the current Board President of First5 State Association of California.
She lives on the Coast and was the 2022 Assembly District 22 Woman of the Year.
Amy Buckmaster, CEO and President of the Chamber San Mateo County is being recommended for appointment to the San Mateo County Event Center Board of Directors. She has been a resident of San Mateo County for 50 years and lives in Redwood City.
Amy is involved in local and regional community organizations, including the County of San Mateo Home For All Initiative, the San Mateo County Transit District stakeholder advisory groups, the BUILD Up for San Mateo County Children’s advisory group, ReadyNation, and the Canada College President’s advisory group.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None.