What started as a personal love of food and a side business venture as a restaurant investor turned into a full career for Laurie Thomas, owner of Nice Ventures, which currently owns and manages two successful restaurants in San Francisco: Rose’s Café and Terzo. In January 2020 Thomas took on the Executive Director for the Golden Gate Restaurant Association, a nonprofit trade organization focused on helping bay area restaurants survive and thrive.  Her previous 13 years of GGRA Board of Director experience plus her 20+ years experience owning/operating restaurants in San Francisco made this a perfect fit for Thomas. Prior to becoming a restaurateur, she earned a BS in Industrial Engineering from Stanford University, an MBA from Harvard Business School and held senior management positions at several enterprise software companies in Silicon Valley. When she is not working or eating in her restaurants, Thomas is committed to giving back to the San Francisco community.  In July 2019 Thomas joined the SF Travel Association Board, which works to promote San Francisco as a top travel destination.  She is a member of the honorary board of Meals on Wheels; a SF non-profit focused on feeding the elderly and was a founding member of the Friends of Larkin Street, a sub-board of Larkin Street, focused on fundraising for at-risk youth. She also volunteers for non-profits through the HBS Community Partners. In her spare time, Thomas enjoys skiing, hiking and traveling with her husband, golden retriever and rescue cat.