As executive director of Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition, Corinne Winter plays a major role in the effort to adapt San Jose into a bicycle-friendly place to live and commute. “We want grandmas, moms and kids out there riding bikes and feeling completely safe,” she says. “That’s really our vision. It’s not just about biking, it’s about community, health, the environment and joy. Life is better when more people bike.”
Articles by Hayley Benham-Archdeacon
Amy Anderson, events and promotions manager for the San Jose Downtown Association for the last seven years, is behind some of San Jose’s most popular events: the year-long Farm Fresh Fridays farmers’ market, Zombie-O-Rama, Live & Local Music Spotlight, Starlight Cinemas Free Outdoor Movies, Fountain Blues Fest and many more.
In 2009, Lerner became the first ever Executive Director in the Foundation’s 54 year history and has since worked to help secure funding to advance Happy Hollow Park & Zoo, a nationally-accredited zoo perceived as one of the top animal facilities in the world.
Wisa Uemura took over as Executive Director of San Jose Taiko last year after performing for over 14 years. Growing up in the rural area of Kula, Maui, Hawaii, Uemura had seen taiko before, but first started playing in 1993 during her first year at Stanford University.
Silicon Valley Roller Girls is a nonprofit, all-female flat track roller derby league that was founded in 2007. Megan “Panda Monium” Williams played alongside the girls for three years until stepping off the rink to focus on her role as coach. Along with other members of the coaching staff, Williams does her part by facilitating scrimmages, teaching new skills and strategies to players and developing teamwork.
Chris Moore officially stepped in as Chief of the San Jose Police Department in February 2011 after working up the ranks, starting as a police officer on street patrol in 1982.
Dan Gordon founded Gordon Biersch Brewing Company with partner Dean Biersch in 1987, and he continues to supervise the 114,000-square-foot brewing and bottling facility on E. Taylor Street in San Jose.
A new resident of San Jose, Diane Ortega has managed The Studio climbing gym on First and San Salvador since it opened earlier this year. Ortega first started climbing at age 19 while living in San Antonio, Texas where she grew up.
After 15 years immersed in the tech industry, Linda Santoso rediscovered her passion for baking. She founded Li’l Puffs in San Jose in 2010, selling multiple flavors of homemade marshmallows.
Brian Eder and his partner Cherri Lakey started Anno Domini in July of 2000, branding their space as “the second coming of Art & Design.”
