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
Head of Planning
& Strategy
Carline draws on her decade of experience in urban planning and economic development to lead East Bay EDA’s multidisciplinary regional economic development portfolio, which includes working with diverse public and private sector leaders on topics related to land use planning, economic development strategies, and data and research. Carline brings to her role a collaborative and connected ethos that center people and communities in her work. Carline applies her extensive research skills and experience developing and implementing thoughtful solutions to advance a more equitable, sustainable and resilient East Bay.
Carline previously 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’s degree in City Planning from UC Berkeley and BA in Urban Studies and Planning and International Studies with an emphasis in Sociology from UC San Diego.
Xian Ballesteros
Head of Marketing
& Communications
Xian brings more than a decade of leadership experience in diverse sectors, including nonprofit, higher education, and public-sector work. As Head of Marketing & Communications, he oversees marketing and communication activities and strategy as well as the planning and promotion of large-scale regional events. He managed the transition of East Bay EDA’s communications strategy toward virtual programming during the COVID-19 pandemic, led a branding refresh, built and designed the organization website, and created content for television, radio, and print media, including advertisements, press releases, and PSAs.
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 (MPA) from the Goldman School of Public Policy at the University of California, Berkeley.
Jaclyn Funasaki
Head of Business Operations
& Special Projects
Jaclyn Funasaki has 12+ years of experience in cross-sector and cross-border public/private partnerships. She previously served as a senior member of the Economic and Commercial Affairs Division of the Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco. Her role focused on advising diplomats on issues related to California and Nevada state economies and business environments, renewable and environmental policies, and various technological trends within Silicon Valley. She also served as the Consulate’s liaison to the Japanese American community.
Jaclyn holds an MBA with a concentration in Marketing, and a BA in International Business with minors in Psychology and Japanese. She is active in the Bay Area community, serving as Vice President of the Hawaii Chamber of Commerce of Northern California, Regional Chair (Northern California) for the US-Japan Council, Board member for the Oakland Fukuoka Sister City Association, and Board member for the Japantown Taskforce. She currently resides in Oakland with her husband and son.
Patience Ofodu
Head of Community Relations
& Strategic Partnerships
Patience Ofodu spent over 13+ years in Bay Area’s workforce and economic development positions. She spent the last ten years in contra costa county as Interim Executive Director of the Workforce Development Board and Business Services Manager. She managed the 25-cross-sector member Board and meetings and convened diverse networks of business, labor, education, and community leaders to provide innovative solutions to workforce issues and align resources for regional economic vitality. Patience-led partnerships, strategic alliances, board recruitment, advocated related policies and worked closely with elected officials.
She serves on economic development committees and boards, including as a member of the City of San Ramon Economic Development Advisory Committee, past chair of the Economic Development Directors Council of the East Bay Economic Development Alliance, and Board Director with the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce. Patience was on California Workforce Association Equity and Inclusion Committee. She has a certificate in Economic Development and a Master’s in Public Administration from California State University, East Bay.
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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