Personal Genomics: What Consumers and Investors Want to Know - 2/10/10

Video: http://www.livestream.com/sfjcf

Jewish Vintners Wine Tasting, A Taste of Community Networking Event – 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.  Save November 18, 2010, for the third annual wine tasting. Chaired by Pascal Levensohn, Bob Tandler, and Dick Wollack.

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.

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 from Time Magazine and chaired by BLC’s Neil Fink and Robin Berman.

Wise Ideas for Growing your Business in a Tough Economy – 5/26/2009

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; David Spark, Founder, Spark Media Solutions.

Networking Event with Silicon Valley Entrepreneur and Author Jon Fisher – 5/11/2009

BLC held our second author networking event at Keplers Book Store in Menlo Park. Entrepreneur Jon Fisher discussed his insightful new book, Strategic Entrepreneurism™ (SelectBooks 2008) with 50 guests. Jon was named Ernst & Young’s 2007 Entrepreneur of the Year in California. Currently, Jon serves as an adjunct faculty member at the University of San Francisco’s school of business. An entrepreneurship aficionado, he is a media commentator and lectures frequently at university business schools.

Business Ethics and Investing in a Post Madoff Environment – 4/21/2009

BLC hosted a fascinating panel where 60 guests heard experts discuss the new guideposts to circumspect investing in a world where famous names and connections are clearly no longer an assurance of quality. The event, chaired by Michael A. Mitgang and Laura Roden, featured panelists: Ben Berk, Director, Howard Rice; Justin Hibbard, Licensed Private Investigator with Quidnunc Group; James Knight, Chief Investment Officer, Vista Wealth Management, LLC; Leon Kuan, Managing Director, Fisher Lynch Capital.

Networking Event with Silicon Valley Entrepreneur and Author Judy Estrin at Books Inc. – 3/30/2009

BLC held our first author networking event at Books Inc. in San Francisco. Author Judy Estrin discussed her fascinating new book: Closing the Innovation Gap, Reigniting the Spark of Creativity in a Global Economy. Judy is CEO of JLABS, LLC, formerly known as Packet Design Management Company, LLC. She has also has been named three times to Fortune Magazine's list of the 50 most powerful women in American business.

Real Estate: Opportunities in Turbulent Times? – 3/16/2009

BLC hosted 60 guests at our second Real Estate panel at Farella, Braun & Martel. Our expert speakers provided a thorough and informative assessment of the current market. The event, chaired and moderated by Frank Fudem, Senior Vice President and Partner with NAIBT Commercial Real Estate, featured panelists: Bob Edelstein, Co-Chair, Fisher Center for Real Estate & Urban Economics; Lynn M. Sedway, Executive Managing Director, CBRE Consulting, Inc.; Greg Shean, Partner, Farella, Braun & Martel LLP; Eric Starr, Partner, Starr Finley LLP.

Annual Business Leadership Breakfast - 2/24/2009

BLC's Annual Business Leadership Breakfast featured Keynote Speaker, Shai Agassi, Founder and CEO, Better Place, and honored Business Leadership Award recipient, Richard N. Goldman, President of the Richard and Rhoda Goldman Fund. For those who missed this great event or for those attendees who lost their notes, we have a full recap of the event (including VIDEOS) on our blog! sfjcf.wordpress.com

The Green Movement: Success Stories from Business – 10/29/2008

BLC held our largest speaker series event ever with 90 attendees in the JCF Boardroom. Guests heard an insightful discussion on one business trend that is transforming our economy. The event, chaired by Mike Dovbish, Scott Harrison and Peter Yolles featured panelists: Alex Bernstein, Jeff Mendelsohn CEO New Leaf Paper; Judah Schiller, Co-Founder & Executive Vice-President, Saatchi & Saatchi S; with moderator: Jonathan Axelrad, Attorney, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati.

Sukkot Wine Tasting & Il Ghetto: Forging Italian Jewish Identities, 1516-1870 – 10/16/2008

The Museo ItaloAmericano hosted BLC members from San Francisco and the East Bay for a viewing of the current exhibit, Il Ghetto: Forging Italian Jewish Identities, 1516-1870. Guests were also treated to a wine tasting featuring wines from Bighorn Cellars, Expression Wines, Hagafen Cellars, Honig Wines, Israel Wine Company, Judd’s Hill, Leaf + Twig, and Tenuta di Arceno. While we won’t have the opportunity to repeat this art exhibit, we hope to host another wine tasting in Fall 2009.

Stanford Grill Networking Event – 9/25/2008

BLC held our second Peninsula networking event at the Stanford Grill, with over 70 attendees. While no one took advantage of Stanford’s private course, many guests did ace their professional networking! We look forward to hosting more events on the Peninsula.

Successful Leaders Share How They Lead Productive Teams & Navigate Tough Situations, 9/11/2008

BLC and Dr. Marcia Ruben 'hosted' an engaging talk show on effective leadership during uncertain economic times. 70 guests heard excellent insight on communicating from our esteemed business leader panelists including: James G. Beldock, President & CEO, Shotspotter; Robert I. Blum, President & CEO, Cytokinetics; and Rebecca Macieira-Kaufmann, EVP & Head of the Small Business Segment, Wells Fargo.

Israel @ 60 Mission, 5/1/08-5/8/08

Over 100 guests took part in the very successful BLC Israel @ 60 Mission! Participants experienced Israel’s historically and culturally rich past and present while learning about companies and individuals who represent Israel’s future. To see photos, videos, and stories, visit the Federation's blog and click on the Israel category.

Real Estate Outlook: Trends and Opportunities in Turbulent Times, 3/13/2008

In March, BLC hosted nearly 80 guests in the JCF Boardroom, where we listened to provocative real estate forecasts from our esteemed and very engaging panelists: Steven Blitz, Principal at RRES responsible for fixed-income and related derivative strategies; Lynn M. Sedway, Executive Managing Director of CBRE Consulting, Inc.; Eric Starr, Partner Starr Finley LLP and moderator, Frank Fudem, Senior Vice President and Partner with NAI BT Commercial Real Estate.

Business Leadership Breakfast, 2/7/2008

BLC’s 3rd Annual Business Leadership Breakfast with 300 guests who were energized and excited by Keynote Speakers: Marc Benioff, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Salesforce.com and Warren Hellman, Chairman and Co-Founder of Hellman & Friedman, LLC who inspired us with their personal and professional commitment to building an integrated approach to business success and philanthropic impact.

Cross Border Investing, 12/3/2007

In December, Lior Nuchi of Pillsbury Winthrop hosted a very engaging BLC Speaker Series event on Cross Border Investing Business Models between the United States and Israel. The evening’s program was planned by BLC committee member Hildy Shandell, Senior Vice President, Corporate Development, Genesis Microchip, who also served as one of the speakers on our esteemed panel. Other speakers included: Levy Gerzberg, Chairman and CEO, Zoran Corporation, Daniel Cohen, General Partner, and Jacques Benkoski, Ph. D., Venture Executive, US Venture Partners.

Lessons of Institutional Investors (or "why can't I get the same return that Stanford and Harvard get?"), 10/30/2007

On October 30 BLC held the investment returns of major educational endowments, private foundations, and other institutional investors have dwarfed those of the vast majority of individual investors. How do they do it? And more importantly, what can individuals learn from their success? Hosted by Jeff Zlot. More info

Back to Business! 10/16/2007

On October 16 BLC held an exciting facilitated networking program at hip Financial District restaurant Tres Agaves. More info

Luncheon and Briefing with the Director General of the Israeli Ministry of Finance, Mr. Yarom Ariav, 9/17/2007

This luncheon inaugurated a series of programs designed for Bay Area business professionals, the capstone of which is a special mission to Israel led by the JCF’s Business Leadership Council (BLC) and held during the time Israel will commemorate its 60th anniversary. This was a rare opportunity to join a small group meeting with one of Israel’s key leaders in business and the economy. More info

The Power of Referrals, 6/19/2007

This sold-out event featured Joanne Black, author of No More Cold Calling (TM): The Breakthrough System That Will Leave Your Competition in the Dust, who discussed the smarter way of developing leads: getting referrals from people who know and trust you. More info

The Exchange Traded Funds Revolution, 5/31/2007

Lee Kranefuss, CEO of iShares Intermediary/Index Markets Group, spoke about the exchange traded funds revolution at this informative seminar. More info

CleanTech, 4/25/2007

Panelists, including representatives from the ethanol/bio-fuels, solar, wind and recycling segments, discussed trends, opportunities and challenges in the very exciting and growing field of clean technology. More info

Second Annual BLC Leadership Breakfast, 2/28/2007

It was exciting to see nearly 300 Jewish Community Federation donors gather bright and early at the St. Regis Hotel to hear from keynote speaker Dr. Larry Brilliant, executive director of Google.org. Larry’s life and work are the very essence of Tikkun Olam and we were honored that he was able to share his morning with us. See pictures and read the press release

BLC Networking Event, 1/23/2007

On January 23, 2007, 155 people joined the Business Leadership Council at Hotel Vitale in San Francisco for an exciting evening of business networking.  This free event was part of the BLC’s networking event series.  We hope you can join us for future events.

BLC Networking Event, 5/31/2006

The Business Leadership Council was thrilled to host over 200 Jewish Community Federation supporters at the World Trade Club on May 31. At the event, the new BLC Online Directory, a web-based networking tool, was unveiled. See pictures

BLC Leadership Breakfast, 1/25/2006

300 JCF donors gathered at the Julia Morgan Ballroom to kibbitz and build a Jewish network of business professionals. Featured speaker Yahoo! CEO Terry Semel gave an engaging, personal talk, sharing his views on philanthropy and leadership. See pictures

The Stem Cell Initiative: Opportunities and Perspectives, 9/27/2005

The BLC came together for a panel discussion on stem cell research for a compelling and informative evening. The event was held in at Genentech Hall in the UCSF Mission Bay campus and was co-sponsored by the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine. Ethical, political and fiscal implications were discussed. Dr. Irving L. Weissman of the Stanford University Medical Center gave a moving keynote address. Panelists included Bruce A. Cohen of Cellerant Therapeutics, Chaplain Bruce D. Feldstein of the Stanford University Medical Center, and Michael Goldberg of Mohr Davidow Ventures.

Networking Reception, The World Trade Club, 6/1/2005

Once again, the BLC came together for a lovely evening of networking. This time at the prestigious World Trade Club, a waterfront building which boasts a spectacular view of the bay. Over 125 business people attended, including the chairs of the BLC who highlighted the importance of supporting the Jewish Community Federation and the BLC.

Networking Reception, Hotel Vitale, 4/12/2005

The BLC held its debut event at the new Hotel Vitale on the Embarcadero in San Francisco. Over 100 Jewish business professionals came together to network, schmooze, nosh and begin building a strong community of Jewish Bay Area businesspeople.