MMANC’s 2026 Summer Symposium, “Collaborative Governance”, will be held Thursday, July 9 at the Lucie Stern Community Center in Palo Alto, CA. Registration will open on Thursday, April 30.
Join leaders from across the region for a day of inspiration, connection, and growth—featuring an empowering keynote, engaging interactive sessions, and our signature executive roundtable designed for professionals at every stage of their leadership journey.
This year’s event is themed “Collaborative Governance”, and the topics will be themed around different visions of carrying out public service: in community with others, thinking about how we do this work regionally and how we prepare ourselves for leadership roles.
Registration
| Registration Type | Rate |
|---|---|
| MMANC Member | $155 |
| Nonmember | $185 |
Schedule at a Glance
- 8:30 am: Doors Open and Check-In
- 8:30 am: Breakfast, Coffee, and Networking
- 9:00 am: Opening Remarks
- 9:15-10:15 am: Opening Fireside Chat: Collaborative Governance in Action
Teri Black, President & Founder, Teri Black & Company
Ed Shikada, City Manager, City of Palo Alto
Melvin Gaines, City Manager, City of East Palo Alto - 10:15-10:30 am: Break
- 10:30-11:45 am: Partners by Necessity: Navigating Complex Intergovernmental Projects
John Stefanski, Assistant City Manager, City of San Rafael
Niccore Tyler, Chief Assistant Director/Strategy, County of Marin
Carla Hansen, Assistant City Manager, City of Novato (Moderator) - 11:45 am: Networking Lunch
- 1:00 pm: Planning Large Regional Events
Monica Davis, Deputy City Administrator, City of Oakland (Moderator) - 2:30 pm: Creating a Culture of Success
Tasha Tervalon, MSW, Assistant to the City Manager, City of Berkeley (Pending CGL Certification) - 4:00 pm: Closing remarks
Get the Latest Information
Check back regularly or sign up for MMANC’s weekly eNewsletter to receive timely updates.
Questions may be directed to the MMANC Program Director at programs@mmanc.org
Event Sponsors
This event is made possible through the support of the following organizations:
All cancellation requests must be submitted through MMANC Administrator Kevin Kilkenny at info@mmanc.org or (855) 737-2687 x2229 no later than July 2. Cancellation deadlines and rates are provided below. Please note that 10% of the registration fee will be withheld to offset processing fees.
If you cannot attend the event, you also have the option of transferring your registration at no additional charge. Notification of substitutions must be received prior to July 2 at 11:59pm. Substitutions will not be accepted at the door.
Cancellation Deadlines and Rates
- Request by May 31 = 90% refund
- Request June 1-June 15 = 50% refund
- Request June 16-July 2 = 25% refund
- Request after July 3 = No refund
Q: What time will the Summer Symposium be held?
A: The Summer Symposium will take place from 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM. Doors open and check-in begins at 8:30 AM, with a continental breakfast provided.
Q: When will registration open?
A: Registration will open on Thursday, April 30.
Q: How much is registration and what is included?
A: Member registration is $155 and nonmember registration is $185. The registration fee includes continental breakfast and lunch.
Q: When will the program and schedule be released?
A: Speakers will be finalized by early May, with session content and format confirmed by the end of May.
Q. How do I submit a request to sponsor at the Summer Symposium?
A: Please email your request to Programs Director Ernest Azevedo at Programs@mmanc.org
Q: How do I communicate accessibility needs or dietary requirements?
A: When you register for the event, you will be prompted to list any accommodations you may need. While we will do our best to accommodate all needs, there may be some limitations. Additional questions may be emailed to programs@mmanc.org
Q: What is the dress code for the event?
A: Business casual attire is recommended. Dress in layers, as breakout rooms can sometimes get cold.
Getting to the Lucie Stern Community Center: 1305 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto, CA 94301
Driving
From San Francisco / Peninsula
Take US-101 South
Exit Embarcadero Rd West
Turn left onto Middlefield Rd
Drive about 0.4 – 0.5 miles; destination is on the right
(Alt option: I-280 South → Page Mill Rd exit → right on El Camino Real → left on Embarcadero → right on Middlefield)
From Oakland
Take I-880 South
Merge onto CA-84 West (Dumbarton Bridge)
Merge onto US-101 South
Exit Embarcadero Rd West
Turn left on Middlefield Rd
Drive about 0.4 – 0.5 miles; destination is on the right
From San Jose
Take US-101 North toward Palo Alto
Take exit for Embarcadero Rd West
Turn left onto Embarcadero Rd
Turn left onto Middlefield Rd
Drive about 0.4 – 0.5 miles; destination is on the right
From Sacramento Area
Take I-80 West toward the Bay Area
Merge onto I-680 South (toward San Jose)
Take CA-84 West (Dumbarton Bridge) toward Palo Alto
Merge onto US-101 South
Exit Embarcadero Rd West
Turn left onto Middlefield Rd
Drive about 0.4 – 0.5 miles; destination is on the right
Transit
Closest Caltrain stations are Palo Alto station and California Avenue station (5-10 minute drive from the Community Center).
Parking
Parking is free at the community center and entrances are located on Middlefield R. and Hopkins Ave. Additional street parking is located on Melville Ave and Harriet St.
The main entrance is located from Middlefield Rd. Walk toward the central courtyard area to enter the community center.
MMANC has a code of conduct policy and all event participants (including speakers, sponsors, and guests) are asked to comply with the policy. Questions about the policy can be sent to MMANC President at President@mmanc.org. The policy can be found on our webpage at www.mmanc.org/events/code-of-conduct/
This year’s Summer Symposium is made possible by the contributions of the following individuals:
- Joe Carozza, City of Walnut Creek
- Jess Deakyne, UpNext
- John Stefanski, City of San Rafael
- Niccore Tyler, County of Marin
- Cultivating Lean Practices by Ryan Hunter, Partners in Public Innovation; Jenessa Rozier, Partners in Public Innovation; John Cunha, San Francisco Public Library
- Economic Development 101 by Michelle Stephens, Economic Development Manager, CALED
- Next Generation of Business Incentives by Kristina Lawson Esq., Partner, Hanson Bridgett; Paul Nguyen, Economic Development Manager, City of Hayward; and Nathan Donato-Weinstein, Business Development Officer, City of San Jose
- Legislative Update (CALED) by Robert Burris, President and CEO Solano Economic Development Corporation
- Captivating Your Community Through Storytelling by Claire Laughlin, Communication Specialist, MRG LLC
- August 15, 2024, Summer Symposium in Woodland, CA
- August 17, 2023, Summer Symposium in Mountain View, CA
- July 14, 2022, Summer Symposium, Petaluma Community Center
- August 14, 2019: Summer Symposium, Danville Veterans Memorial Building
- July 19, 2018: Summer Signature Symposium, Novato City Hall
