East Bay (Founding Chapter)

Randy Williams
Founder & CEO, Keiretsu Forum

Randy Williams founded the Keiretsu Forum in September 2000 to provide a disciplined and structured approach to private equity investing.  Randy's passion for investing and bringing together like-minded community leaders has created a powerful and giving environment for entrepreneurs.  Since its inception, Keiretsu Forum members have invested over $180m in 200 companies in technology, real estate, healthcare/biotech/life sciences and other sectors of the economy with high growth opportunity.  Keiretsu Forum has expanded to sixteen chapters throughout the United States, China and Europe.  With over 750 members, Keiretsu Forum is the largest angel investment community in world.

Randy has 30 years of experience in finance, real estate, and marketing.  He currently holds board and advisory positions in eight companies.  Randy was Co-Founder and Director of Diablo Valley Bank from 2003 to 2007.  During its first three years the bank grew to more than $250 million in assets, serving the entrepreneurial community of the San Francisco Bay Area.  Heritage Bank recently acquired the bank for $70m creating a $50m increase in shareholder value realizing a 4X return on investment.  Randy was President of Pacific Union Commercial Brokerage, Founder of the LaMorinda Bank, and Managing Director of Kennedy-Wilson International, an international real estate investment company.

Randy is also the Founder of the Keiretsu Forum Charitable Foundation.  Since its inception in 2001, 91 deserving charities have been granted sizable donations.  The goal of the Keiretsu Forum Charitable Foundation is to grant $250,000 annually to worthy local charities throughout the Keiretsu Forum chapter network.

Randy holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California Berkeley and Masters degree from St. Mary's College of California. He is an avid Masters swimmer, holding past Master's World Records. He was also was an All-American Water Polo player at UC Berkeley. He lives in Orinda with his wife Maile and their two children, Ford and Summer.

Contact: randy@keiretsuforum.com

Sonja Markova
Vice President

Sonja is key team member and has been involved with Keiretsu Forum since 2001. Our mission statement is “Great Association with Quality Deal Flow”. In the first three years of her involvement, Sonja’s focus was on the “Quality Deal Flow”, i.e. interacting with the entrepreneurs seeking funding. Currently, she is interfacing with the Keiretsu Forum Chapter Presidents and team on supporting the growth of our chapters, as well as the Keiretsu Forum membership, i.e. the “Great Association”.

Sonja has previous work experience with the Contra Costa Software Business Incubator, ROI.works Marketing Communications, and Republic of China’s ICDF Equity Investment Fund for small and medium-sized enterprises in Macedonia, South-East Europe.

Sonja holds an MBA in Finance and New Ventures Management and Certificate in Marketing from California State University, Hayward. A native of Macedonia, she completed her undergraduate education at the University of St. Cyril and Methodius in Macedonia with BS in Management. Sonja is an alumni Ron Brown fellow. The Ron Brown Fellowship is a U.S. Department of State program that supports young professionals from Central and Eastern Europe. She lives in San Francisco with here husband Dr. Scott Weidley D.C.

Contact: sonja@keiretsuforum.com

Kathrin Nikolussi

Entrepreneur Director, Northern California

Kathrin Nikolussi is the Entrepreneur Director for the Keiretsu Forum Northern California chapters.  She works closely with the Real Estate, Telecommunications, Life Sciences, Food and Beverage, and Consumer Products committees and oversees the application process and committee coordination. Kathrin assists in organizing Forum meetings, Academies, and partner conferences on the entrepreneur side. Born and raised in Austria, Kathrin ventured to Silicon Valley and recently served a position as a Business Development Manager for PureDepth, Inc. an award winning developer of display technology. Prior to this position, Kathrin pursued a career as a professional athlete. She competed in the Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City in 2002. As a former world-class athlete, she participated in numerous marketing campaigns worldwide. Kathrin graduated magna cum laude from Sierra Nevada College with a degree in English Literature and Business Management.

Kathrin shares a passion for building communities and networks. Outside of work she loves to explore Northern California’s stunning hiking trails with her dog.

Contact: kathrin@keiretsuforum.com .

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