Eleni Kounalakis is a California businesswoman, a wife and the mother of two teenage sons, and the former U.S. Ambassador to Hungary under President Barack Obama. Eleni was raised the proud daughter of an immigrant father who started out as a farmworker, and she believes in the values of hard work, education and political activism.

In 1992, Eleni started her career as a staff member of the California Democratic Party in Sacramento and worked in the historic election, which elected two women to the U.S. Senate and turned California blue.

After the election, Eleni joined her family business, AKT Development, one of California’s most respected housing development firms. Over the next 18 years, Eleni worked her way up from project manager to president. Her work delivering housing for middle-class families in the Sacramento region earned her recognition as one of Sacramento’s most prominent businesswomen.

In 2010, Eleni was appointed by President Barack Obama as the U.S. Ambassador to Hungary and served side-by-side President Obama and Secretary Hillary Clinton promoting democracy.

She is the author of the highly acclaimed book, Madam Ambassador, Three Years of Diplomacy, Dinner Parties and Democracy in Budapest, published in 2015 by The New Press.

During her 18 years in the housing industry, Ambassador Kounalakis continued to work as a democratic activist, working on the campaigns of countless progressive candidates and initiatives. Passionate about early childhood development, she served on California’s First 5 Commission and the California Blue Ribbon Commission on Autism. She was appointed by Mayor Ed Lee to the San Francisco Port Commission, and currently chairs the California Advisory Council for International Trade and Investment.

Eleni Kounalakis graduated from Dartmouth College in 1989, and earned her MBA from UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business in 1992. She also holds an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from the American College of Greece. She lives in San Francisco with her husband, veteran journalist Markos Kounalakis, and their two sons Neo and Eon.

Angela Underwood Jacobs has established a successful career as a bank executive and holds an admirable and distinguished record of service – on the city council and in many charitable endeavors. She is a proud wife and mother.

As a community banker, Angela helps people live their American Dream – purchase their first home, receive a loan to launch a small business, or by learning to save and invest for retirement. As a City Councilmember and now as Deputy Mayor, Angela has experienced firsthand how government impacts its citizens on the ground level – and how the state and federal government impacts families and businesses.

In 2015, Angela began her service on the Lancaster City Council, rising to the position of Deputy Mayor, where she has become known as a vocal advocate for small businesses and staunch defender of working families. She currently serves as Senior Vice President of the Greater Southern California (GSC) North Region at California Bank and Trust. Previously, she served as a Consumer Market Executive at Bank of America where she was with the company for eighteen years. Angela began her career in banking as a teller and worked her way up from the frontline to Senior Management.

Utilizing the invaluable leadership experience that she has acquired throughout her professional career; Angela has been instrumental in the development and success of multiple committees and outreach programs. The list of her key contributions includes serving as: Criminal Justice Commissioner for the City of Lancaster; Honorary Board Member for the Children’s Center of The Antelope Valley; Vice Chair of Antelope Valley Hospital Advisory Subcommittee on Tobacco, Alcohol and Drug Prevention for Minors; Board Member for the Antelope Valley Transit Authority; and, Board Member of the Antelope Valley Board of Trade, where in current and prior terms she has successfully collaborated with a number of local business leaders.

Angela has the kind of real-world experience we need in our elected officials. She's a bank executive and has a long history of service to her community – as a former city council member and in many charitable endeavors. Most importantly, she's a proud wife and mother.

Angela has the kind of real-world experience we need in our elected officials. She's a bank executive and has a long history of service to her community – as a former city council member and in many charitable endeavors. Most importantly, she's a proud wife and mother.

Angela believes in limited government where the State of California allows businesses, individuals, and families to thrive without burdensome mandates, over-regulation, and endless red tape. She will make California government work for its residents again in an efficient and streamlined manner.