Board of Directors

LUSA Dynamics Inc. (dba Production Robotics) – Hayward
Board Chair

Krishna Rajagopal is a shareholder and board member for Production Robotics in Hayward. He is also the Chief Facilitator of Great Outcomes for Narish, a consulting company focused on harnessing the people resources within an organization. He is an entrepreneur, mentor, and guide who brings strong operational, sales, and systems expertise in building winning cultures and organizations. Prior to Narish, he was the Managing Partner and Owner of a manufacturing company in Illinois for over 15 years. Rajagopal serves on several boards and acts as an advisor and confidante to C-level executives in the Bay Area and the midwest. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics, an MBA, and a Master’s degree in Information Systems Management.

Assurance Partner, Sensiba LLP – San Ramon
Vice Chair

Karen Burns, CPA, is Principal, Business Development and Client Engagement for Sensiba LLP, a leading regional CPA and business advisory firm. She has 30 years of experience providing financial and business consulting services to companies in a variety of industries, with a particular passion for the manufacturing and food and beverage sectors. She has great depth of experience working with rapidly growing manufacturing companies, from start-ups to multigenerational family businesses, helping them to identify opportunities, challenges, and trends. Burns also founded the East Bay Manufacturing Group in 2011 (which later merged to become AMBayArea).

Chief Operating Officer, Casa Sanchez Foods – Hayward
Secretary

Linda Renteria is the Chief Operating Officer at Casa Sanchez Foods, makers of the top Northern California selling tortilla chips and fresh salsas. She is responsible for human resources, facility leases, insurance and overall operations. Renteria received a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara and an M.S. in Engineering & Construction Management from the University of California, Berkeley. She is also very involved in promoting STEM & manufacturing careers in the community.

Executive Director, Workforce Development Board of Contra Costa County – Concord
Board Member

Tamia Brown is the Executive Director of the Workforce Development Board of Contra Costa County (WDB). She has more than 20 years of workforce development experience and a depth of understanding about business and job seeker needs, having led a wide range of workforce initiatives across the Bay Area. Brown holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration/Organizational Leadership from National University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration/Organization/Management from San Jose State University.

Director of the Center for Engineered Materials and Manufacturing, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory – Livermore
Board Member

Dr. Eric B. Duoss is the Director of the Center for Engineered Materials and Manufacturing (CEMM) at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), where he directs research activities and maps strategic directions in the areas of advanced materials and manufacturing. At LLNL, Dr. Duoss leads teams that invent novel materials and manufacturing technologies, with focus on creating designer architectures for chemical, mechanical, thermal, and functional properties for applications in the fields of defense, climate, transportation, energy, aerospace, human health, and others. Dr. Duoss has been awarded over 50 U.S. patents. He received his Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and dual B.S. degrees in Chemistry and Mathematics from St. Norbert College.

Owner, Justipher Inc. (dba FASTSIGNS Oakland, FASTSIGNS Hayward) – Oakland
Board Member

Linda Fong is the President and Owner of FASTSIGNS Oakland and FASTSIGNS Hayward. Fong is a native Oaklander who founded her first independently owned FASTSIGNS franchise location in downtown Oakland in 1995 and subsequently opened a second location in Hayward. As an employer who believes in being part of the community where she lives, works, and plays, she also wants to keep manufacturing in the area and enjoys engaging the next generation of makers. FASTSIGNS Oakland is one of the highest volume centers in the system of over 750 locations by staying on top of innovation and technology and investing in her most valuable asset, her people. Linda has served several terms as a National Advertising Council board member and multiple terms as a member of the Franchise Advisory Council for FASTSIGNS International.

Andrea Foote is Vice President of Scandic Springs, Inc. Scandic is the largest spring and stamping company in Northern California, supplying custom parts for companies in the medical, automotive, electrical, and aerospace industries worldwide. Prior to joining Scandic, Andrea had ten years of experience building and leading nonprofit teams, as well as working at an automotive metal stamping facility in Cincinnati, Ohio. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Global and International Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and is currently completing her MBA from the University of Cincinnati.

Regional Director, Advanced Manufacturing Workforce Development – Bay Area
Board Member

Mark Martin, Ph.D., is the Bay Area Regional Director for Advanced Manufacturing Workforce Development for the California Community Colleges. Dr. Martin has more than 25 years of experience in manufacturing and engineering, including product development, manufacturing and design research, teaching and workforce development.

VP of Operations & Business Development, Silicon Valley Elite Manufacturing – Santa Clara
Board Member

Christine Ngo is VP of Operations & Business Development at Silicon Valley Elite Manufacturing (SVE). She is also an ambassador for Women in 3D Printing’s Silicon Valley chapter. She is passionate about manufacturing and is on a mission to bring manufacturing back to America. Prior to joining SVE, Christine was a Hollywood red carpet reporter for almost 8 years along with doing sales and marketing for a financial publication. Christine ended up coming back to her hometown and enjoys being surrounded by innovative technologies. Christine has a Bachelor of Science degree from San Jose State University and an MBA from Pepperdine University. She’s an avid learner and has studied in Paris for luxury brand management and at Harvard Business School & Oxford University for business programs.

Vice President of Operations, Maas Brothers Powder Coating – Livermore
Board Member

Everardo Sagarnaga is Vice President of Operations for Maas Brothers Powder Coating. He is an experienced leader with more than 20 years of expertise in manufacturing, including the aerospace, electronics, and food equipment industries. He received his Master of Business Administration from the University of the People, his Master of Science in Engineering from Tecnológico de Monterrey, and is certified as a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt by Tecnológico de Monterrey.