BUILDing Entrepreneurs

Through our Youth Business Incubator, we allow students to shape their ideas and creative spirit into their own small businesses. They keep the profits. Better yet, they retain the can-do attitude during college and beyond.

Board of Directors and Oakland Advisory Board

Our Board of Directors

BUILD’s growth is guided by a dedicated group of community leaders, representing the academic, technological, legal, and financial strengths of Northern California.

Board Chair:

Jean Kovacs, President and CEO, Comergent Technologies, Inc.


Board Members:

Affi Ansari, Senior Vice President, Comerica Bank, Inc.

John R. Berthold, CEO, The Altos Group, Inc.

R. James Ellis, Entrepreneur, Lecturer, Stanford Graduate School of Business

Eldridge Gray, Managing Director, Goldman, Sachs & Co.

Emiko Higashi, Managing Director, Tomon Partners, LLC

Thomas J. Ivey, Partner, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher &
Flom LLP

Robert Katz, President, Robert L. Katz and Associates, Consultants on Corporate Strategy

Suzanne McKechnie Klahr, CEO and President, BUILD

Francisca Miranda, Deputy Superintendent, Sequoia Union High
School District

Our Oakland Advisory Board

BUILD recently developed an Oakland Advisory Board to increase community support as we grow regionally. 

Advisory Board Chair:

Eric Rudney, Principal, Rudney Associates

Advisory Board Members:

Affi Ansari, Senior Vice President, Comerica Bank

Doug Brien, Entrepreneur/Former NFL Placekicker

Yohance Edwards, Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP

Carolyn Johnson, Agent, Ritchie Commercial

Jim Keene, Wells Fargo

Linda Morris Williams, Associate President, University of California

Kevin Nichols, KLN Publishing LLC