OUR STAFF

East Bay EDA staff provide direct support to our membership network and leadership committees. They serve as a resource to the region through business assistance, economic research, events, and more.

Stephen Baiter

Executive
Director

Stephen Baiter has more than 20 years of experience building regional networks and leading successful multi-stakeholder partnerships. As the Executive Director of the East Bay Economic Development Alliance (East Bay EDA), he leads a unique cross-sector economic development organization that continues to position the East Bay as one of the most diverse, globally competitive and innovative business environments in the world. His prior positions involved working with elected and appointed leaders to design, lead, and support projects and initiatives connecting regional talent pipelines to quality jobs in critical industry sectors. Baiter has served on the board of directors of multiple organizations focused on economic development, education, and workforce development and previously served as the Chair of the California Workforce Association, a statewide organization representing a diverse set of stakeholders in California and nationally. He has a BA in Political Science from Boston College and a Master’s in Public Administration from California State University – East Bay.

Carline Au

Senior Economic
Development Analyst

Carline Au serves as the staff lead for research and reports, and supports East Bay EDA’s Land Use and Infrastructure Committee. Carline brings to her role a collaborative and interdisciplinary approach to supporting an inclusive and resilient East Bay economy. Previously, Carline worked in urban economics consulting advising public, private, and nonprofit clients on complex projects involving real estate market and economic feasibility, employment and industry trends, land use and transportation planning, and economic development strategies. Carline holds a Master of City Planning from the University of California, Berkeley. Carline received a B.A in Urban Studies and Planning and International Studies-Sociology from the University of California, San Diego.

Xian Ballesteros

Senior Economic Development Analyst

Xian brings more than a decade of leadership experience in diverse sectors, including nonprofit and public-sector work. At East Bay EDA, he supports the leadership committees of International Trade & Investment and Marketing & Public Relations. He manages marketing and communication activities and strategy as well as the planning and promotion of large-scale regional events. Prior to joining East Bay EDA, Xian served as Director of Development for a $12M social service agency in Silicon Valley, where he oversaw fundraising, communications, and community engagement. A Bay Area native and East Bay resident, Xian received a Bachelor of Arts in Literature from the University of California, Santa Cruz and a Master of Public Affairs from the Goldman School of Public Policy at the University of California, Berkeley.

Maribel (Bel) Purificacion

Administrative Associate

Maribel (Bel) Purificacion joined East Bay EDA in December 2017 as an Administrative Associate. She is the Assistant to the Executive Director and provides administrative support to staff. She handles all logistics for the Leadership Committees and events. In 2015, Bel worked in the Alameda County Administrator’s Office providing administrative support to the Special Assistants to Susan S. Muranishi, County Administrator, and the CAO Finance Group. Prior to working for the CAO’s Office, she worked for AT&T for 27 ½ years. She started as a Reports Clerk in the Comptroller’s Department and worked her way up to an IT Analyst in the VP-Consumers Organization. She was responsible for the monthly vendors’ expenses, weekly time reporting and completion of mandatory guidelines for the Organization. During her spare time, she enjoys watching TV, movies and ballroom dancing.

CONTACT US

Have a question or media inquiry? Please fill out the contact form below and a member of our team will get back to you. Thank you!

Contact Info

1221 Oak Street, Suite 555

Oakland, CA 94612

+1 (510) 272-6746

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