Board of Directors
Board Members
Kumkum Gupta, President
Engineering Director, Retired
Kumkum has lived in the Bay Area for over forty years and in South San Francisco since 1998. She has a Bachelors degree in Electronics Engineering from India and a Masters degree in Electrical Engineering & Computer Science from University of California, Los Angeles. She has over 30 yrs of experience working in technology companies doing engineering design, project management, program director, and retired as director of a design center. Kumkum is now involved in various volunteer activities which include South San Francisco Public Library Foundation, UCSF Women's Health Patient Advisory Council, Project Read, Project Evaluator for senior class at El Camino High School, and tutor to elementary school children. In 2017, Kumkum was appointed to the Planning Commission of San Mateo County and currently serves as the chair of the commission.
Karyl Matsumoto, Vice President
Former Mayor and Councilmember, City of South San Francisco
Karyl Matsumoto was elected to the City Council in November 1997 and re-elected in November 2001, 2005, 2009 and 2013, serving until November 2020. She was the first five-time Mayor, serving as Mayor in 2000, 2004, 2009, 2014 and 2019. Karyl is a native Californian and has lived in South San Francisco for nearly 40 years. Matsumoto received her B.S. degree in Business Administration and her career covers multiple work experiences in the public, private and nonprofit sectors. She has held various positions which include Interim National Director of the Japanese American Citizens League; District Director, State Senator Quentin Kopp; Legislative Aide, San Mateo County Supervisor Anna Eshoo; Project Manager, Hayden J. Lee Consultants and Product Coordinator, PPG Industries. Matsumoto's community experience includes having served or been a member on over 30 civic and nonprofit boards, commissions and committees.
Paul Formosa, Treasurer
South San Francisco Scavenger Co, Inc.
Paul Formosa is a resident and business owner in South San Francisco for over 35 years. He is the CFO of South San Francisco Scavenger Company. Paul has also served many years as the Treasurer of the South San Francisco Chamber of Commerce for many years, and has also served as President and a Director. He is currently active in the Kiwanis Club of South San Francisco and its Treasurer. He has served on the South San Francisco Conference Authority Board for three terms, and on the SSFUSD CBOC committee, and the Surplus Property Committee.
Diane Huddleston, Secretary
Educator, Retired
Diane Huddleston is an officer of the Library Board of Trustees, appointed in July 2012. Diane is a San Francisco native who moved to South San Francisco in 1977. She is a product of San Francisco schools, having a B.S., teaching credential, and counseling degree from USF and a Masters in Special Education from San Francisco State University. In 2010 Diane retired from the San Francisco Unified School District as a high school counselor after 38 years of service. She is a past-president of the American Association of Women, North Peninsula, San Francisco Bay Area Educator's Credit Union and her homeowner’s association. She retains membership in the SSF Friends of the Library, the SSF Women’s Club and the Historical Society of South San Francisco. A long-time patron of the library and community volunteer, Diane is excited about being able to serve the SSF community through her participation in both the Library Board and the South San Francisco Public Library Foundation Board.
Tony Clifford, Board Member
Banking Consultant
Tony has over 35 years experience in local finance serving as the Chief Operating Officer of First National Bank of Northern California (now Tri Counties Bank). Most recently, Tony served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Beacon Business Bank. Tony has served on the Board of the South San Francisco Chamber of Commerce for many years and twice as Chamber President. He helped establish the South San Francisco Chamber of Commerce Education Foundation and chaired the Scholarship Committee for the Education Foundation. His extensive community service has included serving on the South San Francisco Conference Center Advisory Board, San Bruno Community Foundation Investment Committee, Skyline College President’s Advisory Board, San Mateo County Event Center Board, and the Daly City-Colma Chamber of Commerce.
Sharon Ranals, Board Member
City Manager, City of South San Francisco
Sharon Ranals was appointed South San Francisco City Manager in March 2023. Previously, she was appointed Interim City Manager in December 2022 and Assistant City Manager in August 2019. Sharon holds a bachelor's degree from Reed College in Portland, Oregon and has a Master's Degree in Public Administration from San Francisco State University. In 2017, she was recognized by the California Association of Parks and Recreation Commissioners and Board members as the state-wide Outstanding Professional of the Year. In 2022, coworkers nominated her for the Local Government Champion award through the Institute for Local Government.
Ex-officio
Valerie Sommer
Library Director, City of South San Francisco
Valerie Sommer manages public library services for the City of South San Francisco. Her accomplishments include the seismic retrofit and interior upgrade of Grand Avenue Branch Library, planning, implementation and building project for the Community Learning Center, the Main Library Renovation Project, and the migration to a self-service model promoting RFID self-checkout equipment and Automated Materials Handling (AMH) return and materials sorting system. She attended Syracuse University, where she earned a BA degree in English Literature and European History. Valerie earned her Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) degree from Columbia University and worked at San Francisco Public Library as a Librarian from 1982-1989. She began her tenure at the South San Francisco Public Library in 1989 as a manager, and has been Library Director since 1996.