Get to know some of the ULI San Francisco members who work hard behind the scenes to develop the events and initiatives our District Council is known for. These industry leaders come from a variety of real estate land use sectors and lend their expertise and time to drive the work of our committees. We’ve asked these committee co-chairs to answer questions around their involvement with ULI San Francisco.

Nell Selander, Silicon Valley Programs
Director – Economic & Community Development Department, City of South San Francisco

Q. How did you first get involved with ULI and your committee?
​I first got involved in ULI through the Silicon Valley Economic Development Alliance, an initiative of Joint Venture Silicon Valley. Our staff member, Kara Gross, encouraged me to attend lots of events and get to know folks within ULI. When she rolled off of the Silicon Valley Programs Committee, she recommended to then Chairs Jessie Simerlein and Matt Chin that I take her spot. And the rest is history!

Q. What keeps you engaged with ULI SF and what are you most excited about in the near future?
The fantastic membership and the connections I’ve made over the years keep me engaged despite the mostly virtual format. I’m most excited for in-person events to resume in earnest; I’ve been to one so far and hope they continue building over the coming months.

Q. What’s a memorable connection you’ve made through ULI?
Samidha Thakral! I first “met” Samidha via Zoom when the Silicon Valley Programs Committee partnered with her on her Bricks and Bytes series early in the pandemic. Since then, she’s moved to Prologis, which does a lot of business in South San Francisco. Now we get to work together through our professional roles, not just through ULI.

Q. Outside of work and ULI, what do you enjoy doing?
​These days it’s a lot of toddler activities with my first kiddo. Trips to the CA Academy of Science, the SF Zoo, the Bay Area Discovery Museum. We’re so happy to be able to get out and about again!