Bob Foster's career spans more than 40 years, beginning with his tenure as Chief Consultant to the California State Senate Energy Committee, advancing to division head and Deputy Director of the California Energy Commission, culminating with his serving as President of Southern California Edison. He has been at the forefront of energy efficiency and renewables; pioneering the first energy standards for buildings in the nation in 1972 and leading Edison's renewable policy for a voluntary 20 percent of its energy portfolio well before it was mandated. He has been one of the leading policy developers in the energy space.
He also entered the political arena, serving two terms as the Mayor of Long Beach until his retirement in July 2014. As Mayor, Bob championed and implemented across the board pension reform (the only large California city to do so) saving his city over $250 million over the next decade. He launched the massive infrastructure improvements at the Port of Long Beach, more than $5 billion over the next decade, and initiated the green port policy, which has now reduced pollution at the port by over 80 percent. His hallmark as Mayor was the fiscal discipline he imposed, allowing Long Beach to exit the financial crisis with a AA credit rating, no new taxes, and a budget surplus for the first time in a decade.
He currently serves as a director on the Boards of S Power, Epcor, and TTSI, and serves on the Advisory Board of Philips Electronics, and Gridco. He recently stepped down as Chairman of the California Independent System Operator. He has served on the California State University Board of Trustees for eight years. Bob is married to Nancy Foster his wife of 47 years and has two sons and three Grandchildren. In 1983 he coached the Pacific Little Team from Sacramento to the Little League World Series in Williamsport Penn. He splits his time between Long Beach and La Quinta California.
