William James (Jamie) Foster

Chief Operations Officer

jamie.foster@californiaspaceauthority.org

3201 Airpark Dr., Ste. 204
Santa Maria, CA 93455
805-349 2633, ext. 122

Mr. Foster earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Geology from Carleton College, Northfield, MN in 1976. He also holds an N.C.A.T.E. accredited secondary level teaching certificate, and is a Certified Computing Professional (CCP) specializing in Management, Institute for Certification of Computer Professionals, #820, 1983.

Mr. Foster has over 25 years experience in technical and business management, from owning and operating retail and real estate projects, to software systems, to co-leading the development of the California Space Strategic Plan.

At the California Space Authority, Mr. Foster currently serves as its Chief Operations Officer - planning, installing, managing, and training company wide in all areas of data development, data management, and communications.

Mr. Foster served ten years as an elected councilmember of two small cities - Pismo Beach, CA and Westwood, KS - and served as Mayor for a brief time in the latter.

As Staff Consultant at DST Systems, Inc., Kansas City, MO, Mr. Foster was responsible for the development and maintenance of a sophisticated financial software system leased by trust departments of major banks to pay dividends and interest, handle proxies, and provide a myriad of reporting mechanisms. His typically 20-person staff was responsible for about 2 million lines of structured code (highly macro-ized Assembler).

Mr. Foster has been a software and systems consultant for the past 20 years. This included assessing system and software needs of a variety of clients purchasing computer equipment, designed customized programs for accounting, marketing, sales, inventory, and purchasing.

As a community business leader, Mr. Foster was active in various business organizations, including serving as President of the Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Foster served on the steering committee for a Pismo Beach Rural/Urban Design Assistance Team weekend resulting in plans for the economic development of Pismo Beach. A team of four architectural and design professionals from around the country were brought to town for a long weekend of public "Town Hall" meetings (in June, 1989) involving hundreds of citizens, then follow-up meetings and report production.

Mr. Foster has led a number of strategic planning efforts. In addition to co-leading the development of the California Space Strategic Plan, he also has been involved with small business strategic planning, including non-profits such as churches and membership organizations. Projects include: 1. Provided writing and analysis on collaborative team for the Central Coast Regional Technology Alliance (CORTA) quest for permanent designation and grant monies, 2. Provided data analysis and graphical reporting of responses to various roundtable discussion questions and surveys for the San Luis Obispo County Economic Advisory Committee (EAC) on a collaborative team, and 3. Facilitated small discussion groups for the Future Communities Project, identifying countywide issues and visions.

Mr. Foster has written numerous technical documents, primarily support manuals for automated systems in small organizations. He has also edited and written numerous newsletters for a variety of organizations including small businesses, churches, and citizens' groups. He has had articles published in local papers. He creates and maintains web sites for various community and business organizations, such as the Santa Maria Valley Railway Historical Museum (for which he also serves on the Board of Directors as Secretary).

Mr. Foster has developed curriculum for children (example) and adult classes (example). He coached many Odyssey of the Mind (now Destination Imagination) teams, four of which went to State Finals and two to World Finals.

Mr. Foster has been directing a church choir since 1997. In previous years, he has directed church drama, music and puppet groups; chaired numerous committees, events, and boards; and lead youth groups and classes.

Mr. Foster owned and operated a retail jewelry store (11 years) and a mixed-use real estate project (14 years). During some of those years, he co-hosted two radio talk shows, one on local politics and the other on gems and jewelry.

He and his wife, Lynn, reside on California's central coast (San Luis Obispo County) and have two adult children living in the same area.

http://www.jf2.com