** Please note new location**
City Club of San Francisco, 155 Sansome St., San Francisco
Reviving, Reinventing, Rebuilding: The East Bay Economy in Transition
What’s next for the East Bay? Join us for a timely and provocative conversation with the top economic minds in Alameda, Oakland, and Berkeley as they navigate the post-pandemic economy, rising state mandates, and the urgent need for inclusive growth.
Our expert panel features:
Jennifer Ott, City Manager, City of Alameda
Ashleigh Kanat, Director, Economic & Workforce Development, City of Oakland
Jordan Klein, Director, Planning & Development, City of Berkeley
Together, they’ll explore how their cities are confronting today’s economic realities—while planning for a more resilient and equitable future. Expect candid insights into the current market landscape: real estate, jobs, and business vitality; major public and private projects shaping the skyline; public-private partnerships and how they’re being reimagined; post-pandemic recovery—what’s bouncing back, and what’s not; development constraints—from infrastructure gaps to community pushback; the ripple effects of state housing legislation and density mandates; and hear about their visions for the next five years—and how to get there.
This is more than a regional update—it’s a behind-the-scenes look at the decisions and dilemmas shaping the East Bay’s economic future. Come with your questions. Leave with insight.
Guests are welcome. Can't make it to the luncheon? Please consider sponsoring a speaker at the "Purchase tickets" link below:
Early Tickets
Members & Guests: $90 each
Public Sector Members: $80 each*
After June 3
Members & Guests: $100 each
Save on fees! Pay by check or Zelle. Please contact Lori Horan (info@laisf.org) to RSVP. Please mail your check written to "LAI Golden Gate" to Lori Horan at PO Box 1471, Galt, CA 95632.
*Public Sector discount available only when paying by check or Zelle
Members must be current with their dues to attend the program. To pay your dues, please visit lai.org, and select the "Renewal" option under "My Membership."
Jennifer Ott, City Manager, City of Alameda
Jennifer Ott, the City Manager of the City of Alameda, has over 20 years of experience working in real estate and City government, including for the City of Hayward where she served as Assistant City Manager and Development Services Director and 13 years previously for the City of Alameda from 2005 to 2018 primarily as the Base Reuse and Transportation Planning Director. Before Alameda, she was a Vice President with Economic & Planning Systems, a real estate economics and land use policy consulting firm. Jennifer has a Bachelor degree from UC Davis and a Master of Public Policy from UC Berkeley.
Ashleigh Kanat,
Director, City of Oakland Department of Economic and Workforce Development
Ashleigh is Oakland’s senior economic development official, leading the city’s Department of Economic and Workforce Development. Under her leadership, the department is preparing a new Economic Development Action Plan, which will guide Oakland’s economic development priorities over the next three to five years. As the department director, Ashleigh manages an interdisciplinary team of 50 staff focused on the economic health of the city, aligning the work of the department’s workforce development, business development, cultural affairs, and real estate units around the City’s economic priorities.
Jordan Klein
Director, City of Berkeley Department of Planning & Development
Jordan Klein is Director of the City of Berkeley’s Department of Planning & Development, where he oversees land use planning, building and safety, and the city’s climate action initiatives. Previously, as Berkeley’s Economic Development Manager, he oversaw Berkeley’s programs and activities for small business development, commercial district revitalization, facilitating catalytic real estate projects, civic arts, and economic research and analysis. Prior to that, at the City of San Francisco’s Office of Economic & Workforce Development, Jordan led the design and implementation of a variety of community development programs, and was the lead author of the City’s economic development plan for the Mid-Market neighborhood. Jordan has a BA in History from Northwestern University and a Master of City Planning degree from the University of California, Berkeley.