News

Always A Trip For The Ages ... Disneyworld

Story by Rich Borell, CEO & Founder Recently, my wife and I decided to take a trip to Orlando, Florida, over the summer. We planned to spend a few days at each attraction: The Walt Disney World, Epcot Center, Universal Studios, Animal Kingdom, Disney Studios and Downtown Disney. We also included a day tour to the Kennedy Space Center. We planned our stay at the Waldorf Astoria for the week. Both the Waldorf and the Hilton Orlando are connected with ..

The Love of the Game, Music and Life A Fascinating Conversation with Stanford’s Tara VanDerveer

Tara VanDerveer is the Setsuko Ishiyama Director of Women’s Basketball at Stanford University. She is one of the greatest coaches, men or women, basketball or any sport, of any era. She is just one of six Women’s College Basketball coaches to win more than 900 games … and coaches at one of the very few schools where the academic standards are so high, so many of the best recruits cannot be admitted and play for Stanford. Tara has won two national champions..

Dr. Tae Yun Kim

Dr. Tae Yun Kim is the CEO of several very successful companies headquartered here in Fremont. She is also one of the highest ranking Martial Artists in the world. She is revered like royalty in her native Korea and greeted like a rock star wherever in the world she travels to. She is often a keynote speaker at large special events before thousands and, over the years, she would often speak with Presidents and Heads of State, Governors, Mayors, Business Ex..

A Conversation with California Lt. Governor Gavin Newsome

SVL: What you know today, what would the Gavin Newsom of today like to say to the young Gavin Newsom?GN: I would tell myself that success is not a place or a destination; it’s a direction. There is no “having made it.” As Winston Churchill said the secret to success is moving from failure to failure with enthusiasm. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Oh, and I would definitely tell myself to use less hair gel.SVL: Who have been your role models and who has ..

Anna G. Eshoo, U.S. House of Representatives

PLM: Where did you grow up and go to school?Congresswoman Eshoo: I was born and raised in New Britain and Old Saybrook, Connecticut, and have lived in California most of my life. I have an AA degree from Cañada College, and I am a graduate of the CORO Foundation. I also hold an Honorary Degree from Menlo College.PLM: What prepared you, who inspired you to go into politics? What did you do before being elected to Congress? Congresswoman Eshoo: I was elected..

Meet Michael Musarra General Manager, San Jose Fairmont Hotel

SVL: What led you to hospitality?MM: In many ways I have grown up around hotels from when I was very young and my parents travelled to Puerto Rico. When I was still in college my mother and I started a company that custom designed hotel amenities. I had an early passion for Food & Beverage. All of these experiences, coupled with what I believe to be a fascinating, creative, and wonderful industry, have led and kept me in the world of hospitality.SVL: Wh..

Rev. Cecil Williams

Most of us are very familiar with and love the real-life-story-made-movie, The Pursuit of Happyness. It is one of many examples, coming out of GLIDE Memorial Church that was and is very real, that touches our hearts. It also brings us all together with this extraordinary life purpose, The Pursuit of Service … which, for more than 50 years, has always included Love, Justice, Acceptance and Community. For more than a half century, GLIDE Memorial Church and t..

Denise Bevers

Silicon Valley Local Magazine meets with Denise Bevers SVL: Why/how did you get into the animal health industry? DB: For over 20 years I worked in the human drug development and medical communications industries, managing dozens of products and development programs from Phase I though Phase IV. While I enjoyed what I was doing, I wanted to do something that also paired with my love for animals and degree in zoology. I was fortunate to be able to leverage m..

Tim Draper & His Draper University of Heroes

Based on Sand Hill Road in the Silicon Valley, Tim Draper is a real mover and shaker. His track record is extraordinary. His success comes from a lot of hard work, some good genetics, and some brilliant strategy. He has a great knack of surrounding himself with smart people, and building a great team. Tim said that he had received more than his share of good luck, but I believe you make your own luck. Things seem to nicely fall into place when he initiates..

Larry Baer, President & CEO SF Giants

It’s A Wonderful Life, circa 2013. Imagine San Francisco without our beloved Giants and where everything south of Market would be nothing but old warehouses. Far fetched? Not at all. The Tampa/St. Pete Giants? It may not sound right, but it was so close to happening.As I drove to meet with Larry Baer, the President & CEO of the San Francisco Giants, in what has become beautiful SOMA, it felt like a dream come true. Had it not been for Larry Baer, who back..

Mike Crowley, Living the Life of a Dream

Mike Crowley wears two very different hats. Two different sports, two different teams, two different cities, two different stadiums. We just had a wonderful conversation. He’s totally on top of everything. He’s very excited and optimistic about both programs; he loves every minute of what he does and all that they together are doing … and it shows! On the one hand, Mike is the President of the Oakland A’s Baseball Team, working very closely with the owner..

Derek Carr & Valley Children Healthcare - Leaders On & Off The Field

SVL: Let’s start with the most predictable question of what drives you to support this particular cause?DC: When my son, Dallas was born, he needed to be rushed to Valley Children’s Hospital because his intestines were tangled and only surgery would be able to correct the problem. Within four days, Dallas had been operated on two times, and he had a third surgery before he left the hospital. Dallas had to stay at Valley Children’s for 23 days. It was dur..

Daniel Lurie: A Man Who’s Wearing Two Hats & Making a Super Difference for Our Greater Community

Isat down recently with Daniel Lurie, the CEO of Tipping Point Community. Before our meeting, I read and learned everything I could about him. Such a great story. I knew that there would be so much, and all of it fascinating. Where to begin? … Where to end? … There is no end … thoughts I had and said out loud. To which, Daniel simply smiled and said (right on cue): “It’s only just the beginning!” That’s it. That’s the story! All of this is just the beginni..

FERTILITY PRESERVATION 5 Things You Should Know

By Dr. Aimee Eyvazzadeh/ Photos by Jennifer Crandall Your fertility isn’t skin deep. It’s as simple as that. Just because you look like you’re 28 when you’re 42, doesn’t mean your ovaries are the same. Unlike men who don’t run out of sperm, it is totally normal and expected for every woman to run out of eggs by a certain age. The average age of menopause is 51 and it’s very difficult to get pregnant during the 10 years leading up to that age. Some of us ..

Meet Elisha Caunday of Elisha Marie Skin & Body

SVL: Tell us about the med spa and what you offer? EC: We are a boutique spa that offers customized, high quality services for the skin. We also carry a clinical grade skincare line by Elisha Marie for all types of skin. My skincare brand has been meticulously thought out from the beautiful packaging to the ingredients. The Elisha Marie Skincare line dedicated to achieving results for people. We are very experienced, with a team that possess tremendous kn..

Meet Larry Stone - Assessor, Santa Clara County

SVL: What is an assessed value and how do you arrive at that number?LS: In California, an assessed value is the dollar value of property determined by the local assessor for the purpose of property taxation.California Assessors are required to assess all property at fair market value at the time a property is transferred or at new construction. State certified appraisers in my office perform market-based appraisals to determine an assessment. Last year, th..