The Seminar has been collaborating with Business, Government and Community Leaders for over 43 years.  The concept of the Progress Seminar lends itself to an environment of informal discussions about regional issues and the opportunities to meet those issues. The Progress Seminar is unique to San Mateo County and is a testament to business and community leaders that they recognize its importance each year.

The Progress Seminar continues to grow and evolve as it has from the beginning and has become an even more vital venue to focus on issues facing Peninsula communities and how business and public policy can shape the future of those communities by coming together.

2013 Dates: April 12-14, 2013

Download the Presentations from the OMG! They R Here, engaging generation X, Y & Z Breakout Session.

Presentation 1

Presentation 2

Participant Registration Fee $585
Fee includes:
Hosted Networking Receptions Friday and Saturday Evenings from 6:00pm-7:30pm
Saturday Buffet Breakfast and Opening General Session 7:30am-8:45am
All Breakout Sessions 8:45am – 1:05pm
Coffee Break Reception 10:45am-11:05am
Saturday Luncheon and General Session 1:15pm – 3:00pm
Sunday Buffet Breakfast & Closing General Session 9:00am – 11:00am
Registration and Speakers
All materials, taxes and gratuities included

Progress Seminar Event Details

2013 Scheduled Keynotes
Opening General Session
Supervisor Don Horsley, President of the Board, San Mateo County Board of Supervisors "State of the County Address"
Secretary Diana Dooley, Secretary, Health & Human Services Agency, State of California

Second General Session
Tara VanDerveer, The Setsuko Ishiyama Director of Women’s Basketball, Stanford University

Closing General Session
“From the Supreme Court to the Basketball Court: Nationally Known Attorney James M. Wagstaffe with an Insiders Insight”

This year's 2013 Scheduled Breakouts Topics
Roundtable Dialogue With Your Elected State Officials
Our Crumbling Infrastructure – How to fix is before it’s too late!
OMG! They R Here! Engaging Generations X, Y and Z
Health Care Reform 2013, Here, Now, Deal with it!
Why Is It So Outrageously Difficult To Build Anything Here?
Improving Project Delivery

Seminar Co-Chairs:  Supervisor Carole Groom, San Mateo County Board of Supervisors and Rosanne Foust, Redwood City Council member, President & CEO, SAMCEDA

Continued engaged event partners:  Belmont, Burlingame, Brisbane, Daly City/Colma, Foster City, Half Moon Bay/Coastside, Menlo Park, Millbrae, Pacifica, San Bruno, San Carlos, San Mateo and South San Francisco Chambers of Commerce; SAMCEDA, San Mateo County Association of Realtors, San Mateo County Convention & Visitors Bureau, San Francisco Business Times, Silicon Valley Leadership Group and Sustainable San Mateo County

Previous Attendee Breakdown:  Over 200+ attendees from San Mateo County and surrounding peninsula counties.  •60% Representing Business  •40% Government and Community Leaders

Some Previous Progress Seminar Keynote Speakers

Former San Francisco Mayor Willie L. Brown, Jr., Will Travis, San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission, Steve Heminger, Metropolitan Transportation Commission, Joseph McNamara, Hoover Institute, Stanford University, Joseph W. Cotchett, Lenny Mendonca, McKinsey Global Institute, Tom Campbell, Joe Matthews and Mark Paul, Authors of California Crackup, Mayor Bob Foster, Joe Stagner, Department of Sustainability and Energy Management, Stanford University, Lynn L. Jacobs, Former Director of the California Department of Housing and Community Development, Acting Secretary Brian Kelly, Business Transportation and Housing Agency, State of California

Some Previous Progress Seminar Breakout Topics

Banking on the Peninsula, Greening our Economy, How Do We Fix the Mess in Sacramento, High Speed Rail, Workforce Preparedness, Public-Private Partnerships, California Infrastructure, The Non-Profit Challenge, Water – the new Gold, Education: Is Less Bang For Less Buck, Where are we heading? Shared Services and Beyond, Pension 101, The Creation and Maintenance of the Modern Workforce, Roundtable Dialogue With Your Elected State Officials, Is Your Downtown Open For Business?, Climate Change – Challenges and Opportunities, The Economic Impact of Tourism and Growing Stronger In San Mateo County Constraints and Opportunities .

"Where can you find a more intelligent, hard working, creative and committed group of individuals coming together to debate, discuss and plan for the future of San Mateo County? Join us at the 2013 Progress Seminar where ideas flourish, energy and enthusiasm is created and the work begins." Redwood City Councilmember Rosanne Foust, President & CEO, SAMCEDA 2013 Progress Seminar Co-Chair		"Join us at the Progress Seminar. Learn about the most important issues facing San Mateo County, and meet new people with whom you can do business." San Mateo County Supervisor Carole Groom 2013 Progress Seminar Co-Chair

What some past participants are saying about The Progress Seminar

“The Progress Seminar has always been the ultimate networking experience. I can get access to so many of the people I need to interact with in my business, and all during one pleasurable yet informative weekend, that through the years it’s just proven to be invaluable!”
Alyn Beals, President & CEO, Beals Martin, Inc.

“Progress Seminar is a must for San Mateo County Cities, Chamber Staffs and Boards, and business executives who care about the county and can help shape its future.”
Charise Hale McHugh, President & CEO, Half Moon Bay Coastside Chamber of Commerce

“The Progress Seminar means terrific people, great ideas and up-to date information on the pressing issues facing our community. It is a chance for me to reflect and learn about how I and Stanford Hospital and Clinics might be more effective in our work and in the community.”
Andy Coe, Chief Government & Community Relations Officer, Stanford Hospital and Clinics

“There are few ‘must-do’ items on my yearly calendar, but for almost 15 years, every April calendar includes ‘The Progress Seminar’ led by the Redwood City-San Mateo County Chamber of Commerce. The Progress Seminar is the triple-crown of regional summits - great people, great substance and great fun.”
Carl Guardino, CEO, Silicon Valley Leadership Group

“The Progress Seminar means Opportunity/ies: To learn about current topics I wouldn’t learn at my desk. To meet face-to-face with government officials from the entire County. To talk informally with the same. To express appreciation to volunteers who run for elected office and/or tend to the daily operation of local governments and agencies."
Paul Shepherd, Land Manager, Cargill

“The Progress Seminar is informal and friendlier than any other event. Seems like we can all approach one another and network because the “mood” you set is not invasive or stiff. Socializing and networking has allowed many of our cities to collaborate, consolidate and educate each other to suddenly find we are not at all different than each other. This is the way our economic standstill will loosen when we all realize WE ARE San Mateo County and will all benefit from playing nice in the sandbox.”
Pam Frisella, Vice Mayor, City of Foster City

"As the President of Sequoia Hospital, I find the annual Chamber of Commerce Progress Seminar to be an invaluable way to network with our community elected officials, and our government and business leaders. The breakout sessions provide insights into a number of important issues our community leaders are working on. The Progress Seminar is of great value to our Sequoia attendees and we look forward to attending the next Seminar in April 2013!!"
Glenna Vaskelis, President , Sequoia Hopsital

"There is no better opportunity to hear knowledgeable speakers address critical issues to our quality of life in San Mateo County!"
Barry Jolette, President & CEO, San Mateo Credit Union