Mary Posey is being recommended for the Leadership Mountain View program. She has a long history of volunteer work and fundraising for cancer-related causes, including helping a patient complete an Ironman triathlon and carry the Olympic torch despite declining health. Mary is also an entrepreneur, nurse, athlete, and advocate who inspires others through her passion and big heart. The letter writer believes Mary would greatly benefit from the program and become an active community leader.

1. I am pleased to submit a letter of recommendation in support of Mary Posey's application for the
Leadership Mountain View program. I cannot recommend Mary highly enough for this program. She
combines equal amounts of an incredible drive to succeed, philanthropic spirit, and a passion to serve
others.
I have known Mary for 15 years, since I joined the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training
triathlon program where Mary was part of the volunteer leadership team. Mary was one of the top
fundraisers and mentors in the TNT program, and helped me immensely in completing my first triathlon.
More impressive was the compassion and dedication that she showed to our "honored patient," Louie
Bonpua, who suffered from Leukemia. Under her mentorship and with her support, Louie was able to
train through repeated chemotherapy sessions and successfully complete the Ironman Canada triathlon
in the summer of 2001.
The following January, Louie had been selected to be one of the 2002 Winter Olympic torch bearers
during the torch run through San Francisco. Louie's health was declining and he was hospitalized, and
Kaiser Santa Clara would not release him from the hospital so that he could fulfill his dream of carrying
the Olympic torch to the Golden Gate Bridge. Mary stepped in, and utilizing her professional nursing
expertise, determination, and force of will, overcame the objections of Kaiser management, arranged
for an ambulance to take Louie up to San Francisco for the torch run, accompanied him during the entire
trip (including an emergency pitstop in South San Francisco for more pain medication), and made it
possible for Louie to accomplish his final wish and goal of successfully carrying the Olympic torch. After
he returned to the Kaiser facility in Santa Clara he slipped into a coma and passed away the following
day. Mary was literally a one woman "Make-A-Wish Foundation" and I have never seen greater acts of
compassion and kindness than she demonstrated on Louie's behalf.
Mary is an extremely determined person, and finishes what she starts, including ten Ironman distance
triathlons. She also become one of the top fundraisers for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. After her
mother died of pancreatic cancer in a small town in Montana, Mary honored her memory by becoming
active in their local county "cancer network." She organized a local annual 10K race that is still ongoing,
and has recruited donors from Silicon Valley to provide financial support to cancer patients in rural
Montana.
Mary is also highly intelligent, with degrees in Chemistry and Nursing, is a highly skilled nurse, a great
friend and listener, is fanatical about learning new skills and subjects (she has become an Xterra
champion mountain biker in recent years) and is just as enthusiastic about sharing her knowledge with
others.
She can be an assertive and passionate advocate (for her patients, for example) while still
demonstrating extraordinary diplomatic skills and the ability to work effectively with others across a
variety of backgrounds (surgeons, hospital administrators, patient families, etc.)
In addition to her medical and athletic skills, Mary is also a successful entrepreneur. She started Edna's
Success (named after her great grandmother's cafe in Butte, Montana; with only one table it's listed in
the Guiness Book of World Records as the Smallest Operating Cafe in the world). Initially planning to
bring to market some of her family's popular baked goods recipes, she has now become a leader in
creating and producing gluten-free baked goods, supplying grocers such as Draeger's and Whole Foods
and also donating regularly to local charities such as the Fisher House and Ronald McDonald House.

2. I have seen first-hand how Mary can inspire others with her passion, enthusiasm, and positive attitude. I
also have seen just how big her heart is and how much she gives to help others.
As a local elected official, and as a long-time Silicon Valley entrepreneur and Mountain View business
leader four times over, I know that Mary is both the kind of person who would benefit greatly from
Leadership Mountain View and is the kind of person that we want to have participate in Leadership
Mountain View. The educational opportunity presented by Leadership Mountain View will help Mary
become an active and informed community leader, which I know will produce huge benefits for
Mountain View down the road. I highly recommend Mary Posey for acceptance in the Leadership
Mountain View program.
If I can provide any more background or information on Mary, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Dave Mandelkern
Trustee,
San Mateo County Community College District
Former Director, Cromemco; former CEO, Talarian [NASDAQ:TALR]; Founder and former CEO,
AlmondSeed Software; Co-Founder and former CTO, Docent, Inc.[NASDAQ:DCNT]; all Mountain View-
based businesses