San Francisco Advisory Board

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GC San Francisco Advisory Board

Global Chamber® San Francisco Advisory Board consists of insightful business leaders expert on strategies to help companies grow globally.

Advisory Board Members 

Adam Klooster

Global Market Development Leader

Adam has been assisting U.S. companies to expand internationally for many years. He has worked in international market development and managed back-office functions of companies throughout Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Latin America. He holds a degree in Business Administration and Management from California State University, Chico.

Recently Adam worked at weConnect, the world’s fastest-growing, privately owned global expansion, operations and compliance company. weConnect’s mission is to make international expansion more efficient, convenient, and attainable. Using practical solutions and optimal technologies for employer of record, incorporation, accounting, payroll and tax compliance, weConnect allows clients to focus on securing optimal talent and growing their businesses to all corners of the globe.

Alex Devereux

Founder & Principal Consultant at The Devereux Group

Alex’s company, The Devereux Group (DCG), specializes in balancing, aligning, and optimizing teams’ and organizations’ profitable revenue generation performance. DCG introduces organizations to TOC and OKR heuristics with digital transformative integration using A.I., supply chain, digital twins, simulations, and AR/VR technologies, focusing on human performance and development. 

His strategic methodology is called The DCG Process. The Process maneuvers through the decision-making maze that he found hampered most executives from creating engaged, highly productive, performance-focused teams.  His futuristic approach to management solutions, and this mindset started early for him working with General Dynamics and British Petroleum, demonstrating value while being a high performer as the only person of color in his department. Today he and his team work with publicly traded companies, privately held firms, startups, and more... from Hong Kong to Japan, London to Israel, LA to NYC, using The Process to gain great outcomes. 

Andy Wang

Founder and Consultant at ASF International Consulting

Angela Dunz

Trainer, Coach, Keynote Speaker and CEO at Be a Linkedin Badass

Dr. Carlos Baradello

Managing Partner at Sausalito Ventures

Carlos is an investor, advisor and university professor. He is leading innovation and entrepreneurship practitioner; Managing Partner of Sausalito Ventures and General Partner of Alaya CP. He advices corporate clients about the challenges encountered while breaking established business paradigms in the creation of new sustainable economic and social value across multiple business sectors, geographies and growth markets. His experience working with hundreds of entrepreneurs around the world has enabled him to gain key lessons for high-growth ventures to scale globally. You can read more about Carlos via his regularly updated blog: www.carlosbaradello.com. These writings are the foundation of his future book titled Soft Landing in Silicon ValleyTM.

Deep SenGupta

CEO at DSG Global

Donaji Montes Estrada

CEO at Intechnational

Donaji Montes Estrada is the CEO and founder of Intechnational LLC, a​ consulting firm based in the Silicon Valley that helps technology businesses with their international business and projects.  Donaji is a bilingual and bicultural professional with 11 years of experience working with technology companies. Donaji worked for The US Mexico Foundation for Science Inc, in the Technology Business Accelerator program (TechBA) in Arizona and Silicon Valley. Donaji holds a BA in Management and Business Administration from the National Autonomous University of Mexico, a University of Cambridge Diploma on Strategic Roadmapping, and a Global Innovation Leadership Workshop Diploma from Stanford University.

Gregg Kafka

Commercial Real Estate Broker & Advisor at Lee & Associates

Gregg Kafka, CCIM joined Lee & Associates in 2011. He specializes in the representation of both tenants and owners, specifically in the leasing and sales of office properties. Some of his clients include Tryperion Partners, City Office REIT, Cypress Office Properties, Oaktree Capital, Opus, Regent Properties, Bank 34, BerryDunn and Sequoia Consulting Group.

Gregg has an extensive background in construction management with an impressive list of lease negotiations and tenant build outs. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Construction Management from Arizona State University. In 2015, Kafka earned his CCIM designation, and in 2017 served on the Board for CCIM Arizona Chapter. 

Jeffrey Olson

Strategic Partnerships Lead at TopSource Worldwide

Jeff is a key member of the TopSource Worldwide Private Equity team. He has a wealth of experience in supporting portfolio companies to navigate the complexities of global compliance and operational efficiency. Contact Jeff to discuss how TopSource can help develop the optimum global operating platform to accelerate the market expansion and growth of your portfolio.

Jeff is an experienced Business Development Executive with success working in global expansion and financial services industries. He is skilled in client and partner relationship management, business development, and sales process. Jeff is familiar with start-up culture, needs and requirements and its adept at adding value to F100, global enterprise companies. In addition he works well alongside VC/PE/FO colleagues.

Jeff’s expertise lies in helping clients navigate the complexities of global compliance and operational efficiency. Over the last 10+ years, Jeff has specialized in providing essential HR, Finance, and Entity Services that enable multinational companies to thrive. With a strategic focus on technology and SaaS sales, enhancing process improvements, and fostering significant partnerships, Jeff collaborates closely with global enterprises clients and private equity stakeholders to facilitate expansion and success through comprehensive support and advisory.

K. Christopher (KC) Branch

International Alcohol Beverage, Cannibis and Sports Lawyer

KC Branch is founding attorney at KC Branch Firm, providing trial, transactional and regulatory legal services on (including ABC and TTB), Intellectual Property, Contract, Litigation, Labor, Transactional, International and Interstate, Compliance/Distribution, Import/Export and Land Use legal services as General Counsel, and otherwise, to wineries, distilleries, importers, distributors, grape growers, interior designers, vendors, graphic designers, architects, developers, restaurants, hotels, bars, non-profits, water, entertainment companies throughout the Country using our of-counsel lawyers from Texas, Wisconsin, and Washington and our affiliations with Arent Fox and European Lawyers as well as other local counsel in the rest of the country and the world.

Lanie Denslow

Founder and Principal of World Wise Intercultural Training & Resources

Lanie Denslow is an author, international speaker and trusted advisor on how culture shapes business practices and business protocol. Based in Silicon Valley, she is known for using humor and candor to help others grasp the complexity of today’s global business environment. Lanie is the author of World Wise: What to Know Before You Go and co-author with Allyson Stewart Allen of Working With Americans.

Founder and Principal of World Wise Intercultural Training & Resources, Ms. Denslow holds a BS degree from Antioch University and both a Masters of International Business and an MBA from Pepperdine University.   She served as the Director of International Affairs for The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising and as President of Protocol & Diplomacy International. 

Richard Simpkins

Co-Founder, EVAOS

Richard  is the Co-Founder of EVAOS (Electric Vehicle Add-On Systems), a disruptive Silicon Valley Startup transforming trucks into both hybrid and all-electric vehicles with mobile power stations for the Department of Defense and commercial customers.  Richard developed a complex corporate eco-system for EVAOS comprised of Tesla suppliers and corporate partners that participate in the investment, design, and assembly of their technology. In addition, the eco-system has led to the cultivation of other disruptive technology startups inside and outside of the automotive space. Prior to EVAOS, Richard served as the first Quality Manager for the Model S (code named White Star) for Tesla Motors in Rochester Hills Michigan.  He went on to lead the Supply Chain Manufacturing and Quality for all parts across all Tesla Programs including Roadster, Model S, Rav 4, Smart Car, and the Mercedes A Class power trains. He authored the guidelines and requirements for all manufacturers doing business with Tesla Motors around the globe. Richard spent his early automotive career in the technical management ranks of American Specialty Cars. Throughout his career with the Japanese, German, and US automakers, Richard launched 3 ground-up manufacturing facilities, revolutionized robotic 3D laser scanning technology (for which he holds patents),  and successfully launched OEM programs for Mitsubishi, Toyota, and BMW on time, on cost, and on Quality with less than 0.5%ppm.

Stephen Wares

Vice President, Business Development at CCW Business Solutions

Stephen has been helping companies expand globally since 1999 and is well known in the San Francisco Bay Area for his expertise in the issues and challenges facing US companies as they venture overseas for the first time and for his ability to help them develop and execute successful international expansion plans. This typically includes everything from evaluating various ways to enter international markets, reviewing tax planning and tax-nexus challenges, discussing employment and benefits issues as well as the execution of legal entity set up and delivery of accounting, tax, compliance, payroll and HR solutions.

Stephen is regularly asked to speak on international expansion topics and present workshops at events throughout the US by organizations including Dow Jones, CFO Roundtable, Financial Executives International, VC Task Force and TiE. With his background as a Chartered Global Management Accountant coupled with his many years living and working in Italy and the USA, Stephen brings a wealth of professional and personal experience to his clients’ advantage. In addition to his role at CCW, Stephen is also the President of the British American Business Council of Northern California.

Tatyana Kanzaveli

CEO & Founder, Open Health Network

Tatyana is a seasoned entrepreneur, thinker, leader, mentor, advisor and investor. She has held senior executive roles at large enterprises and startups and has extensive B2B and B2C experiences. She is the CEO & Founder of Open Health Network, a smart mobile health platform. She is also a Resident Mentor at 500 Startups, Mentor at the Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship, an Advisor to Activity Hero, is the CEO of TEDxBayArea, and the Executive Sales, Social CRM, Social Media/Network Marketing, Business Development Consultant for Social CRM World. Tatyana was previously featured on the White House Science and Technology Blog and had the opportunity to demo her Open Health Network platform at the First White House Demo Day hosted by the President Obama. She has spoken at the United Nations and many international and US conferences. She was recognized as one of top 10 Influential Women In Health IT in 2015.

Vinayak Gupta

Senior Vice President Operations at Clean Energy Associates (CEA)

Vinayak is SVP Operations at CEA, he's a global business and consulting leader with significant accomplishments in semiconductors and other industries. He has been consulting in a varieties of key roles including previously he was Zero Mass Water's (Source.co) Chief Operating Officer managing global manufacturing, supply chain, quality, reliability, Network Operations, Field Installs and Commercialization of products. Under his tenure the company grew globally while driving cost reduction programs in excess of 50%, achieved industry best product reliability, and scaled Field operations to 30 countries in just under 3 years.

Earlier Vinayak was responsible for the global manufacturing supply chain operations at SolarCity (acquired by Tesla Motors), where he was instrumental in establishing the US Solar Gigafactory, the largest solar manufacturing plant in the western hemisphere. And before SolarCity, Vinayak held executive positions as SVP of Global Operations and VP of Supply Chain Operations at SunEdison, where he scaled their operations globally to a multi-billion dollar enterprise while delivering solar farms and establishing global manufacturing in multiple countries. Prior to SunEdison, Vinayak spent 17 years productizing, scaling and commercializing complex semiconductor products globally at Tier-1 companies like Cypress, AMD, RMI and Netlogic Microsystems.  

A firm believer in driving business growth by fueling the power and passion that is created from Purpose and clearly curated/articulated vision,  Vinayak is a multi industry global leader in design and operations infrastructure and a global executive and entrepreneur who has setup and scaled low cost industry-leading operations from Zero to multi billion Dollar revenues in multiple industries across many countries. An expert in re-vitalizing local economies and infrastructure, Vinayak places a focus on localized development benefiting the community and businesses alike. Vinayak holds an MBA with focus on Finance, Operations, Entrepreneurship, and an MS in Computer Engineering. 

Shupto Mahbub

Co-founder and Managing Partner of MatrixMindz Financial Consultants

Shupto Mahbub is the co-founder and managing partner of MatrixMindz Financial Consultants, bringing over 20 years of experience as a seasoned accountant and CFO. A strategic planner and executor, Shupto has successfully expanded businesses on both national and international levels. His career spans multiple industries, including retail, manufacturing, nonprofit, education, technology, professional services, construction, capital markets, healthcare, and hospitality.

Shupto has a deep expertise in GAAP and IFRS, financial planning and analysis (FP&A), and SOX compliance. His proficiency in valuation, tax planning, and treasury functions allows him to provide clients with comprehensive financial strategies. He is also highly skilled in navigating sales tax issues and implementing advanced accounting systems such as Sage, MS Dynamics, and NetSuite.

With a passion for working with startups, Shupto brings valuable insights to growing companies, ensuring they achieve their financial goals with precision and foresight.

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