San Francisco has earned an international reputation as a city of innovators and trailblazers in the fields of technology, sustainability, and education. Individuals from all over the country flock to the Bay Area in search of like-minded individuals who are interested in revolutionizing the status quo — the new vanguard. From impacting sustainability to supporting education and fostering community development, these seven local leaders and University of Oregon alumni are shaping life in the Bay Area for the better. Learn about their careers, and get inspired.
Karen Cator, CEO at Digital Promise
Through her work at Digital Promise, Cator is a groundbreaking voice in transforming American education. With a background at the U.S. Department of Education and a stint spearheading Apple's leadership and advocacy efforts, Cator has a long history of intersecting education policy and research, and her experience as a teacher in Alaska gave her a firsthand understanding of the daily challenges that educators face. In recognition of her efforts, Cator received the 2014 College of Education Distinguished Alumni award from her alma mater, the University of Oregon.
Katie Ferrick, Senior Manager of Community Relations at LinkedIn
With a background in counseling and a stint as Deputy District Director at the US House of Representatives, Ferrick is well-versed in the power of communication and relationship building. At LinkedIn, Ferrick powers a cross-functional team of some of Silicon Valley's brightest minds and builds strategic relationships with community leaders, groups, and local government officials to foster community development. In a time when tech is shaping our city like never before, Ferrick is an essential listening ear for Bay Area residents.
Stephen Gillett, Board Member at Symantec
Even though it's been years since Stephen Gillett smashed through the competition as offensive guard on the University of Oregon football team, he continues his competitive edge and leadership off the field in business. Gillett’s extensive knowledge of business innovation, marketing, and management for the online and software worlds makes him a valuable advisor at companies like Symantec, Best Buy, Starbucks, and Yahoo. Gillett is a critical player in the development of technology and business, and has created and lead powerhouse teams for the digital realm. Oh, and did we mention he's a top guild masters in the World of Warcraft? It's included in his resume.
Joshua Greenough, Head of Engineering at Capital One
Josh Greenough has an eye for evolving business strategy, which came in handy when he was tasked with reimagining how consumers engage with banks in the digital age. His Silicon Valley journey began with commerce-based startups, eventually landing him as Head of Engineering at Capital One. Greenough and his team strive to be open-minded, honest, and respectful around opportunities with start-ups, which is a refreshing departure from traditional us-versus-them engagement that many larger businesses adopt with startups. Recently, Greenough and his team partnered with global nonprofit Women Who Code to empower women to excel in the field of technology.
After getting his start at the University of Oregon with a degree in accounting, Bob Komin leveraged his years of experience to land the ultimate gig: as the CFO role at Flurry, which provides mobile analytics and support to app developers. The mobile revolution is rapidly changing the way people communicate with each other, and the way that we take in new experiences is also changing as a result. Komin addresses this change head-on by assisting with innovating training programs for the firm's products. He also volunteers his time to help support children’s educational establishments.
Daniel Lucero, Community Resource Specialist at United Way Silicon Valley
Daniel Lucero is passionate about empowering individuals and families to create a better future by forging long-lasting relationships with their communities. In his work with United Way Silicon Valley, Lucero improved community conditions by helping families with children become economically secure by providing education programs, small business development, job training, health advocacy, and fostering partnerships between community organizations.
Jeffrey Whipps, VP of Google Brand
You can find Jeffrey Whipps at Google's Mountain View campus where he is thriving as Vice President of Google Brand. Whipps is no stranger to the tech world and has dominated the field both locally and abroad. His master storytelling ability landed him in senior roles in both marketing and advertising at Apple before moving on to Google. Whipps and his team aim to make information accessible to everyone, everywhere by delivering a stellar, user-friendly app.
