Kara LaPierre
Vice President and Executive Director, Silicon Valley Economic Development Alliance
Kara LaPierre joined Joint Venture in August 2007 and serves as Executive Director of the Silicon Valley Economic Development Alliance. She also serves as coordinator of California Competes and is liaison to the government and development community on building code issues.
Kara has 10 years of experience in the government and non-profit sectors, where she has worked on a broad range of public policy issues. Prior to Joint Venture, she was Director of Economic Vitality and Health Policy at the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, a trade association representing over 200 employers. In that capacity she worked on federal, state and local policy issues. Kara was formerly a consultant and government program analyst in Sacramento, where she worked with state agencies and county governments on management and technology projects.
Kara moved to California after 4 years in the Washington, DC area, where she worked for government associations and contractors.
Ms. LaPierre holds an MPA from the University of New Hampshire and a BA from Plymouth State University.