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Staff
Staff
Leslay Choy
Executive Director
Leslay Choy is a strategic corporate governance professional with a healthcare emphasis who is vested in the stabilization, diversification, and development of local economies. Before stepping into the role of General Manager at the San Pablo Economic Development Corporation, Leslay was Associate Director of Corporate Consulting at the Heroic Imagination Project, a San Francisco-based nonprofit creating learning programs, where she developed strategy, products, and services. Prior, she worked at Nygren Consulting, a firm which partners with boards and executive teams of corporations, nonprofits and private foundations to develop strategy and policy, conduct performance assessments, and guide leadership succession planning. Previously, Leslay held various project management and staff roles in at a private investment bank, a retained executive search firm, and Kaiser Permanente. Leslay received a Master’s in International Relations from the Université Catholique de Louvain-la-Neuve, thanks to a Rotary International Scholarship. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and French with a minor in Spanish from California State University, Chico. A California native, Leslay lives in El Cerrito with her family.
Bradley Ward
Controller
A Certified Public Accountant with over 35 years of experience, Bradley Ward is the San Pablo Economic Development Corporation Controller. He is responsible for overseeing financial controls for the SPEDC and providing financial oversight of the organization’s new markets tax credit projects, like the Helms Community Center. Previously, Bradley was the City of San Pablo’s Director of Finance. Under his leadership, the City of San Pablo received the Government Officers Finance Association Award for Excellence in financial reporting for 17 consecutive years. He received his MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Currently, he serves as Treasurer for the San Pablo Rotary Club and is highly involved in community service programs.
Owen Hershey
Workforce Program Coordinator
Owen Hershey joined the San Pablo EDC is its Workforce Program Coordinator. Owen is an accomplished career services program manager and counselor with fifteen years of experience engaging workforce in seeking employment and training. He offers five years of successful experience managing a One-Stop Career Center, including program design, staff supervision, budget management, outcomes tracking, partnership development, and grant monitoring. He excels in meeting the employment and training needs of disadvantaged and underrepresented populations, including ex-offenders, homeless, dislocated and underemployed individuals, and transitional aged youth. Owen is a credentialed Global Career Development (GCDF) Facilitator and Instructor, and is fluent in Spanish. Owen has a bachelor of arts degree in History from UC Santa Cruz. Owen is a West County resident and vested in seeing its residents thrive.
Jacqueline Alejandre
Program Analyst
Our dedicated Case Manager at the San Pablo Economic Development Corporation. Starting her journey with us, Jaqueline worked her way up to become a skilled Data Analyst. She is a hardworking and talented individual who brings a wealth of skills to our team. Jaqueline's passion for her work shines through as she loves helping people and making a positive impact in their lives. Fluent in both English and Spanish, she effectively communicates with individuals from diverse backgrounds. Jaqueline's nurturing nature extends beyond her professional role, as she used to work as a mentor for children, providing care and support as if they were her own family. She is an invaluable member of our team, committed to empowering individuals and contributing to the success of our programs.
Maria Echeverry
Intake Coordinator
Meet Maria, a valued member of San Pablo Economic Development Corporation (EDC) team. Maria's finance background and prior role as the DEI Community Engagement Officer at Travis Credit Union have equipped her with a wealth of knowledge to support workforce programs and provide case management services. Her fluency in both English and Spanish allows her to effectively communicate with individuals from diverse backgrounds and ensure their needs are met. When she's not at work, Maria devotes her time to being a caring mother to her beloved Pitbull, Macho.
Jessica Leal
Small Business & Housing Program Coordinator
Jessica Leal has served in the Contra Costa community for many years, ensuring that people of all ages and backgrounds have the tools and resources to achieve their financial goals. As the Small Business and Housing Coordinator, Jessica works closely with our underserved business community and supports first-time homebuyer down payment assistance program at San Pablo EDC. Born and raised in San Francisco,California, Jessica holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from San Francisco State University. Before her career at San Pablo EDC, Jessica worked as a Community Engagement Officer at Travis Credit Union. Jessica is an Executive Board Member of the Courageous & Emerging Leadership Academy. She spends her freetime with her husband, Omar, and her daughters, Janelly and Jaylene.
Sepideh Karimiziarani
Business and Housing Program Associate
Sepideh, a proud graduate of UC Berkeley with a Master's Degree in Development Engineering, has recently taken on a role at San Pablo EDC. Her passion for creating social impact and her unwavering dedication to empowering people by solving pressing societal issues make her an invaluable asset to the business and housing team. She stands poised to guide more individuals on their journey to becoming first-time homeowners and to enable businesses to maximize their resources efficiently. Her unique blend of skills and fervor promises a strong commitment to the community she serves.