Cassandra Boyer loves to tell people that moving to Blackhawk eight years ago, was one of the best decisions she has ever made. “I had a larger home in Danville, and decided to downsize and move to the Golf Villas in Blackhawk once I was an empty nester. Blackhawk continues to surprise me with new, amazing experiences that I was not anticipating prior to moving here. I tell my friends that I live in Disneyland,” says Cassandra.
Born and raised in Canton, Ohio, Cassandra graduated from the University of Michigan Medical School in Medical Technology, became board certified by the American Society of Clinical Pathologists and began her career at the University Hospital in the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology lab. A few corporate moves led her to Chicago for three years, Minneapolis, MN and then back to Chicago for another seven years. While in Chicago, she began a family and had two daughters.
“In 1993, a promotion led to another career move to California when Alix was 2-years-old and Jenni was 10-weeks-old. I raised my daughters in Danville. After my girls went to college, I downsized and moved to Blackhawk. I’m also lucky that my daughter Jenni can spend a great deal of time with me here in Blackhawk because she works in the city,” says Cassandra.
Cassandra has led a successful career as the Co-Founder of a software company that helps advance medical research via fluorescent microscopic applications; a Fortune 500 commercial executive in the medical/in vitro diagnostics market; a medical technologist and a consultant. She also is a guest lecturer for the San Francisco State MBA program. Recently, she has teamed up with a fellow Blackhawk resident, Al Sisto (CEO of Tern PLC), and is working with him as a Venture Partner, focusing on funding and advising young, yet promising, life sciences and medical device companies.
Cassandra’s eldest daughter, Dr. Alix Boyer and her son-in-law, Dr. Dan Skinner are both chiropractors who live in Victoria, BC, Canada. They are also entrepreneurs who started Third Space Movement, a functional fitness gym. They both attended Palmer College of Chiropractic in San Jose. Alix went to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and graduated with a B.S. degree in Kinesiology.
Closer to home, her youngest daughter, Jenni Boyer lives part time in San Francisco and Blackhawk. Jenni graduated from U.C. Davis with a B.S. degree in Environmental Science and GIS. She now works as a sales executive for Honeycomb.io, specializing in helping software teams find bugs in seconds. When she’s not at a Giants game, she loves to paint abstract art, take long walks, and cook her family recipes.
Family has always been Cassandra’s number one priority, “My family is the most important thing in my life. Jenni and I like to attend Giants and Warriors games, we enjoy boating on the SF Bay, hiking on Mt. Diablo, Point Lobos and in Point Reyes, and attending Bottle Rock Concerts in Napa as well as other music concerts. When I visit my daughter and son-in-law in Canada, we like to hike, play with their dog Gordie and see the sites in Victoria,” says Cassandra.
Giving back to the community and mentoring has always been important to Cassandra. “I am a member of the California Life Sciences Institute FAST Advisory Board and Stanford Medical School SPARK Advisory Board, where I mentor entrepreneurs and help accelerate the commercialization of new medical devices so these more advanced medical tools can help mankind. I also have been nominated to serve on the Blackhawk Women Board of Directors as the VP of Membership. The Contra Costa County Food Bank is one of my favorite charities and I also volunteer with Jenni at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in San Francisco,” says Cassandra.
Even though Cassandra and her family have traveled and enjoyed vacationing around the world, they always love coming home to Blackhawk. “I have never lived in a more friendly environment, with wonderful, kind and smart people–the best neighbors ever! I am loving all the activities that Blackhawk Women, Bloomers, Birdies and Ladies 9ers have to offer, plus the women in these groups are incredible! I am also loving the activities at the Country Club including golf, Bocce Ball and Monday Night Football! I couldn’t ask for a better place to live and feel so grateful that my friends in Blackhawk have made this such a happy place to live for my family and me,” says Cassandra.
Resident Feature is proudly sponsored by Tucker Associates Real Estate
By Megan Scott, Resident since 2010
Photo credit: Images courtesy of Boyer family