EDITOR’S LETTER

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF’S Letter

TERESA RODRIGUEZ

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Haute Living San Francisco Teresa@HauteLivingSF.com www.HauteLivingSF.com THROUGHOUT MY CAREER, I’VE HAD THE HONOR OF spending time with some of the most successful and influential people on the planet. So, when I was invited to meet John Legend, I was thrilled by the opportunity; but in all honesty, I didn’t expect to be so emotionally inspired and amazed by his steadfast purpose to bring beauty and love to everyone he meets. John Legend is indeed a legend—not because of his incredible music career—but because of how he has made it his mission to make the world a better place for the less fortunate and those who need a voice.

This Legends and Leaders issue has always been my favorite issue to produce. Our writers find the most remarkable people to interview. These individuals have contributed to our community in ways that strengthen and build our society. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, the German poet, playwright, novelist, and scientist, said, “A great person attracts great people and knows how to hold them together.” Even hundreds of years later, his quote remains valid. Our leaders and legends bring us together with a common goal of serving a great good. To me, that is truly motivating.

In this issue, Steph Keay sits down with John and Marcia Goldman, the founders of the EPACENTER in East Palo Alto. The EPACENTER is a wonderful community center that gives at-risk youth a safe place to go, grow, and learn. Next, Noël Burgess introduces us to six bay area women inspiring inclusivity through their successful careers in the wine industry. Then, Becca Hensley writes about builder Robin Nielsen who has been at the forefront of sustainable building design. She assisted former Mayor Gavin Newsome in drafting the clean environmental building codes that have helped our city become a leader in green technology. Finally, Fran Miller shares the extraordinary work that Meta brand and marketing whiz Eric Topa has done for the AAPI community. Through his passion and life story, he is empowering the AAPI community with his leadership skills.

There are many more encouraging stories in this issue, and we hope that you, too, will be inspired by the work these incredible individuals are doing to make our city, communities, and world a better place for all of us. Reading these articles, I am hopeful that our future is not as bleak as it might seem right now. Slivers of hope shine through the great works that each of these featured leaders and legends are doing. May their ethos, passions, and purpose inspire you, as they have inspired us.

With optimism for a brighter future,

SAN FRANCISCO’S Contributors

CAROLYNE ZINKO

Carolyne Zinko has long kept her antennae on the high life. She is the former editor-in-chief of Modern Luxury Silicon Valley magazine and, before that, was a San Francisco Chronicle reporter for 22 years, writing about everything from crime and court hearings to largerthan-life personalities and philanthropic leaders. As a freelance writer, she’s interested in lifestyle, travel, and the arts. When not in front of a keyboard (rare) or playing Wordle on her phone, she can be found tending the garden of the Menlo Park home where she lives with her husband, Dan Dieguez.

SHARON SETO

A graduate of Golden Gate University and serial entrepreneur, Sharon loves the excitement and creativity of the business world and its people. Her addiction to business ventures began with the acquisition of the El Cid Building, site of the famous SF Jazz Mural. She has served as a board member, fundraiser, and event chair for nonprofit organizations, including the SF Symphony Board of Governors, City College of San Francisco Foundation Board, Red Cross Board, National Colorectal Cancer Alliance Board, SF Ballet, and Dress for Success.

STEPH KEAY

Steph Keay is a Canadian freelance and technical writer currently based in Silicon Valley. After completing her Bachelor of Commerce in her hometown of Calgary, Alberta, she spent a summer in Croatia assisting The Yacht Week with events management on the islands of Hvar and Vis. Formerly in PR/marketing, she has also placed stories for a variety of clients—including tech leaders, international artists, and acclaimed actors and musicians—with ABC, FOX, NBC, San Francisco Chronicle, The Mercury News, American Way, and others. In her spare time, she enjoys adventuring, photography, and travel— all of which she documents on on her website, StephKeay.com.

LAURIE JO MILLER FARR

Laurie is a US/UK dual citizen and dedicated urbanite who loves walkable cities. As a San Francisco-based travel writer, she enjoys views from its crazy, signature hills following half-a-lifetime promoting her two hometowns—a couple of oh-so-flat places: New York City and London. Laurie’s byline is found in USA Today, CBS, Where Traveler, Haute Living, Epicure, Fast Company, Napa Valley Life Magazine, Food & Travel Magazine, Eater, Google Touring Bird, and other major media titles. She was awarded Yahoo Contributor of the Year and is a member of the Society of American Travel Writers.

NOËL BURGESS

Noël Burgess is an East Coaster living in Northern California wine country. His goal is to promote diversity and inclusion in wine, food, and travel with a focus on the places, the products, and most importantly, the people! Noël’s work can be found in VinePair, Wine Enthusiast, Travel & Leisure, Thrillist, San Francisco Magazine, and many other media platforms. Follow him on Instagram @mrnoelburgess and at noelburgess.com.

BECCA HENSLEY

A bon vivant journalist who believes travel is the ultimate celebration of life awash with lessons waiting to be learned, widely-published, Texas-based Becca Hensley is travel editor for New Orleans Bride and editor-at-large for Insider’s Guide to Spas. In a career spanning three decades, she has contributed to scores of magazines and newspapers, including Architectural Digest, Elite Traveler, Global Traveler, Conde Nast Traveler, and the Houston Chronicle. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram @beccahensley.

FRAN ENDICOTT MILLER

Fran Endicott Miller is a luxury-focused freelance feature writer for a variety of lifestyle publications and websites, editor-at-large for JustLuxe.com, and California editor for luxury travel concierge service Essentialist. Prior, she held positions in the fields of politics, television, and professional sports. She is proud to have established the Golden State Warriors’ first community relations department and programs. When not traveling, she can be found walking her Northern California neighborhood with her beloved golden retrievers, Reggie and Nate.

JENNIFER BODEN

Jennifer is a freelance wine, food, and travel writer based in beautiful Sonoma County and has an extensive career in journalism. She contributes to KRON 4 News San Francisco, ABC 10News San Diego, and others. Prior to her writing career, she worked for several network affiliates as a news anchor and executive producer. She earned a degree in broadcast journalism from Arizona State University’s prestigious Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication.