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Rosanne Foust

Position: Director
Email Address: rfoust@seqhd.org

Education: Master of Public Administration, Bachelors of Arts in International Studies and Economics
Occupation: President & CEO, San Mateo County Economic Development Association (SAMCEDA)

A woman smiling, wearing glasses and a patterned top, with a blurred green and yellow background.

Rosanne Foust leads the San Mateo County Economic Development Association (SAMCEDA), where she drives cross-sector collaboration to foster a strong and inclusive regional economy. Under her leadership, SAMCEDA has become a highly respected organization with members spanning Fortune 500 corporations, innovative startups, educational institutions, nonprofits, and labor groups.

Rosanne has led successful advocacy efforts on major infrastructure initiatives, including Caltrain Electrification, High Speed Rail, the Highway 101 Managed Lanes Project, and the passage of regional funding measures such as Measure W and Measure RR. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, she quickly pivoted SAMCEDA to serve as the business liaison for San Mateo County, delivering over $20 million in relief to more than 1,500 small businesses.

Previously, Rosanne spent two decades bringing billions in investment to Alsace, France as part of Alsace Development International USA. She also served 12 years on the Redwood City Council, including terms as Mayor and Vice Mayor, where she played a central role in revitalizing the city’s downtown and advancing key environmental and infrastructure projects.

Rosanne’s contributions have been widely recognized, including induction into the San Mateo County Women’s Hall of Fame, and honors from the Silicon Valley Business Journal, San Francisco Business Times, and state and local elected leaders.

Community Affiliations & Certificates:

  • NOVAworks Board
  • San Mateo County Transit District Measure W Citizens’ Oversight Committee
  • Silicon Valley Community Foundation Board
  • San Mateo County Event Center Board
  • Chamber San Mateo County Board
  • Provident Credit Union Supervisory Committee
  • Heritage Bank Peninsula/Stanford Advisory Committee
  • San Mateo County Community Colleges Foundation Board
  • Senior Fellow of the American Leadership Forum