Board of Directors
The Foster City Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors is comprised of business leaders dedicated to driving a vibrant local economy and supporting our city’s diverse communities
Staff & Officers:
Meet the Executive Director - Crystal Tilton, IOM
Crystal Tilton serves as the Executive Director of both the Foster City Chamber of Commerce and the Foster City Chamber Foundation, where she leads with a passion for connection, innovation, and community impact. With over 20 years of business leadership experience, she brings a unique mix of hands-on operational knowledge, strategic thinking, and a deep commitment to fostering a thriving local economy.
In her role, Crystal oversees a comprehensive calendar of events, programs, and initiatives designed to support local businesses, drive economic vitality, and increase community engagement. Under her direction, the Chamber has expanded its visibility, launched impactful new programs—including youth entrepreneurship initiatives—and deepened partnerships across civic, nonprofit, and private sectors. She is known for her ability to bring people together, listen to diverse perspectives, and turn ideas into action.
Crystal's leadership is shaped by her early experiences growing up in a working-class family, where she learned the value of hard work, humility, and showing up for others. Prior to her current role, she spent over two decades working in business leadership roles, where she honed her skills in operations, team development, and community engagement—experience that allows her to understand and advocate for business owners at every stage of growth.
She holds a Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt, is a certified Kaizen Facilitator, a Notary Public, and has earned the prestigious Institute for Organization Management (IOM) designation—recognized nationally as a mark of excellence in nonprofit and chamber leadership.
Crystal lives by the belief that there’s no failure in trying—every experience brings growth, and every setback offers a chance to learn. She’s a natural connector, a silver-lining thinker, and someone who thrives on building systems and programs that serve real people and real needs. Her approach to leadership is grounded, empathetic, and results-driven, making her a trusted partner to both the business community and the residents of Foster City.
Whether she’s working on strategic advocacy, walking neighborhoods to engage directly with the community, or serving on local committees and media partnerships, Crystal is deeply committed to creating lasting, positive change.
Meet our Member Engagement Specialist - Katy Kendall
Katy Kendall serves as the Member Engagement Specialist of both the Foster City Chamber of Commerce and the Foster City Chamber Foundation. In this role, she focuses on strengthening the Chamber’s membership base, fostering connections within the local community, and driving impactful events and programs. Katy also provides essential support, ensuring the Chamber operates efficiently and effectively.
Katy transitioned into this role after an impressive 25-year career in Global Finance and Taxation. Most recently, she served as Global Indirect Tax Director at Intel Corporation, where she oversaw worldwide tax operations and compliance from Santa Clara, California. Prior to that, she held leadership positions at Ernst & Young (EY) in the US and Sony Europe, where she spearheaded global tax strategy, governance, and team leadership across multiple regions. Her extensive experience has honed her skills in organizational strategy, project management, and relationship building—skills she now applies to her work at the Chamber.
Beyond her professional expertise, Katy is a dedicated advocate for community engagement and youth development. She currently serves as President of the PTA for Foster City Elementary School and is an active member of Scouting America, the Foster City Youth Softball Association, and AYSO Bay Area United. Katy is passionate about creating opportunities for children to thrive through sports and volunteering.
A proud Foster City resident, Katy lives with her two children, who attend local schools. Her commitment to fostering meaningful connections, both professionally and personally, makes her an invaluable part of the Chamber and its mission to support the local community.
Meet the Board Chair - Jordan Shenker
CEO
Peninsula Jewish Community Center (PJCC)
Jordan Shenker serves as Chief Executive Officer for the Peninsula Jewish
Community Center (PJCC) in Foster City, California. PJCC boasts one of the
most highly diverse JCC communities in the nation. That, along with the tightknit
and beautifully diverse Jewish community in the Bay Area, makes PJCC feel
like home for Jordan.
Working in the JCC field for more than 30 years, Jordan began his career in his
hometown of Portland, Oregon, as a 4th generation Portlander. He worked at
JCCs in Portland, Houston, Texas, and he led as CEO of JCCs in Richmond,
Virginia, and Tenafly, New Jersey. Additionally, Jordan helped advance the JCC
movement as Senior Vice President of Community Services for JCC
Association of North America, overseeing consultation and executive
placement for all 175 JCCs across the continent.
A popular speaker and educator, Jordan's presented at dozens of regional and
national conferences, including the Athletic Business Conference, Athletic
Business University, JCC Association of North America Professional Conference
and Biennial, and Parks and Recreation conferences. Additionally, he taught as
a guest lecturer at the University of Richmond on the topics of professional
development, marketing, and non-profit management.
Jordan earned his undergraduate degree in Communications with a minor in
Jewish Music from Thomas Edison State College, and an MBA from the
University of Phoenix.
Jordan is married 34 years to his wife, Tracey, and they have three sons ages
32, 30 and 24. In his free time, Jordan enjoys spending time with family, he's an
avid Portland Trailblazers and NBA fan, and he regularly goes to the movies.
Meet the Immediate Past Chair - Corey Pebler
Owner
Go Local Printing
Corey Pebler is a local small business owner (Go Local Printing & Marketing) who
helps other small local businesses and nonprofits by increasing their sales and
top line revenue by promoting their business in a variety of ways. Corey believes
that the right advertising, seen at the right time, can inspire members of the
community to support local businesses/organizations and ultimately allow the
greater community to thrive.
Corey has supported dozens of Foster City/San Mateo area businesses through
online and offline marketing. He also helped the Foster City Sister City Association
Soccer Team raise funds for their trip to lnagi Japan in 2023. Currently he is
working with BAYCO Choir to assist them in their fundraising efforts in
preparation for their upcoming trip to perform at Disneyland.
Corey currently sits on the Foster City Little League Baseball board where he
manages their sponsorship and fundraising program. He also coaches youth
baseball and soccer in Foster City.
When he is not making business cards, postcards and yard signs, Corey can be
found spending quality time with his two young children or at a sporting event.
Meet the Board Treasurer - Nitin Madan
Co-Founder
Blokument Inc.
Nitin Madan is currently the co-founder, COO and CFO, of a Web3 startup,
Blokument Inc., where he has a ringside view of the ongoing disruption happening
in the financial world with the rise of a decentralized internet, based on
blockchain and smart-contract technology. He brings more than 20+ years of
global experience at the cutting edge of technological change with firms such as
Broadcom Inc., Swisscom AG, IBM, etc.
Nitin previously served as a Board Director of Dynamic Spectrum Alliance Ltd, an
organization co-founded by leading technology companies such as Microsoft,
Google, Facebook, Cisco, Broadcom, HP, and Adaptrum, with the goal of reducing
the global 11digital divide11
• He was also elected Vice Chair of Wi-Fi 7 MTG at the WiFi
Alliance.
Nitin has an M.B.A. from the University of St. Gallen in Switzerland, an M.S.E.E. in
Electrical and Computer Engineering from the Utah State University, and a B.E. in
Electronics Engineering from V.J.T.I., University of Mumbai. He currently lives in
San Jose with his wife and two daughters. He enjoys cooking and pickleball and
has a deep interest in topics that touch the intersection of philosophy, politics,
economics and finance.
Meet the Board Secretary - Tim Carmona
CEO
Carmona Enterprisez
Tim Carmona has been training in Kenpo Karate with the martial artists from the
Z-Ultimate Self Defense Studios for the last 20 years. To further his training as a
martial artist and a business person, he continues to train at the Z-Ultimate
University of Martial Arts Professionals. He also maintains a rigorous business
training protocol through participation in various associations, including the
Business Advantage Networking Group (BANG). Tim has managed martial arts
schools for 18 years and has taken several studios from the developing level to
sustainability and success. His plan is to continue to build a network of Z-Ultimate
studios here in the Bay Area, while supporting the other locations throughout
America.
Tim is also passionate about community engagement, and sees the martial arts as
a pathway for people to grow not only as individuals, but as members of their
families and communities. To further this vision, Tim has used his time managing
Z-Ultimate's San Mateo location to develop a strong relationship with the San
Mateo Police Activities League (PAL). Through PAL, he has been able to help even
more children in San Mateo experience martial arts training for their minds,
bodies, and spirits, as well as continue his efforts to provide a connection
between the community and the Police Department. As his business grows, his
vision is to enable as many people as possible experience the benefits of martial
arts training.
Directors:
Meet Director - Jessica Russon
OWNER
Impression Promotion
Jessica Russon runs Impression Promotions, a freelance business specializing in
projects for local businesses and organizations. Her passion for multimedia stems
from her belief that photos and promotional videos can inspire community
inclusiveness and support for local entities. Jessica is pleased to be an active
member of both the Foster City Chamber of Commerce and the San Mateo Area
Chamber of Commerce.
At the San Mateo Chamber's 2023 Fall Fest, she captured special moments through
photographs and videos that showcased local businesses, musicians,
entertainment, and the joyful memories made by the community. Jessica has a
diversified professional background in marketing, sales, law, and office
management. Jessica has a reputation for maximizing business revenue through
strategic outreach and skillful project management.
When Jessica is not working, she enjoys spending time with her daughter, Annie,
which typically involves playing board games, supporting her entrepreneurial
dreams, and playing with their dog, Luca. Alongside her daughter, Jessica's
greatest support is her soul mate, Neil. Collaborating on
every aspect of life, they bring happiness and positivity to each other and those
around them.
During Jessica's solo time, she enjoys playing basketball, practicing yoga, and
immersing herself in videography projects. She constantly strives to improve her
skills by practicing, watching tutorials, and staying updated with the latest
technological advancements in the field.
Meet Director - Manuel "Manny" Jimenez Jr.
OWNER
Erik's Deli Cafe
Manuel owns two Erik's Deli Cafe franchises. He has been running the San Jose
branch for more than 15 years and has recently launched a new branch on Thayer
Lane in Foster City. Erik’s DeliCafe is a casual delicatessen that provides a warm atmosphere, fast and friendly service at fresh food.
Engaging with the community is a passion for Manuel; he was a board member of
the San Jose Police Foundation from 2012 to 2018.
Seeking to deepen his involvement and contribute his extensive business
experience, Manuel is interested in giving back to the small
business community.
During his leisure time, Manuel enjoys running and playing sports. He finds that
staying active helps him maintain a healthy work-life balance.
When it comes to giving back to the community, Manuel is always eager to lend a
helping hand. Whether it's sponsoring local events or participating in charity
drives, he believes in the importance of supporting those around him.
Meet Director - Joanne Wu Jennings
Director, Marketing and Business Operations
Kids Connection
Joanne has worked in marketing and program management for over 30 years, with a proclivity for technical systems and internet management/production. She spent the majority of her career consulting with high-tech companies in Silicon Valley, working with cross-functional teams on product launches, applications development, systems migrations, private intranets, and running program management offices. She is currently employed at Kids Connection, a private school in Foster City, where she manages marketing efforts and public-facing technologies.
Originally from New York, Joanne holds a degree in Business Administration from Boston University and an MBA from San Francisco State University. While her career has focused on business efficiency and organizational change, her true passion lies in helping others. Across the years, her volunteerism has spanned many different organizations and capacities. Whether through helping in the development department or as a child watch monitor with the Support Network for Battered Women, training and becoming a CASA of San Mateo County, as a volunteer with the small animals at the Peninsula Humane Society, or as a half-marathon walk team coach for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training, Joanne recognizes the importance of supporting those in need.
Joanne also sits on the Board of Directors of Caminar, a San Mateo based non-profit focused on providing behavioral health services to those most vulnerable in our community. She is also excited to serve our community with the Foster City Rotary Club.
During her free time, you'll find Joanne running around town with her teenage daughter. You'll also find her at the gym, weightlifting or in spin class, running, enjoying time with friends, and volunteering!
Meet Director - Gina Semi
PUBLIC POLICY ASSOCIATE
Zoox
Gina is a Public Policy Associate with Zoox, headquartered in Foster City. A Bay
Area native based in San Francisco, she brings two decades of expertise in land
use and community planning, communications, campaign management, media
and public relations, fundraising, and community outreach and engagement.
Prior to joining Zoox she was the Communications Manager for the San Francisco
Planning Department, served as COVI 0-19 Communications and Outreach
Strategist for San Francisco's COVID Command, staffed several elected officials
including Jackie Speier, Carole Migden, and Dennis Herrera, managed public
education efforts for Recology San Mateo County, and led community relations
efforts for the Bay Meadows Phase II project in San Mateo.
Meet Director - Lucerne Tsang
Executive Director
Gilead
Lucerne Tsang is an Executive Director at Gilead Sciences and has been with the company for 7 years. She currently leads the Operations Strategy & Portfolio Management function for Corporate Operations, which also includes Master Planning, External Partnerships, and Data & Analytics.
Prior to her current role with Corporate Operations, she was a Finance Director, support Gilead’s Corporate and G&A functions. Before joining Gilead, Lucerne has held various finance leadership roles with increasing responsibilities in life sciences, banking, and retail industries – her longest tenure at Thermo Fisher Scientific. Lucerne has a BA in International Studies from University of California, Los Angeles.
Lucerne is a Bay Area native and has previously lived in Foster City for 10 years. She currently resides in Millbrae with her husband and 3 children. She can be found on the weekends cheering for her children at their sports events and playing tennis.