Paul Sethy is a career veteran of Silicon Valley's high technology industry and has worked in various management positions for corporate leaders such as Verbatim, Xerox, 3Com, VeriFone, and Hewlett-Packard. He held full profit and loss responsibilities in more senior roles.
In 1999, Mr. Sethy became the Founder, Chairman, and CEO of AirPrime, Inc., for which he raised $82 million in venture capital financing from 2000-2001. The company eventually became a leading manufacturer of cellular modems for personal computers, smartphones, and industrial applications. AirPrime also introduced the world's first internet-capable smartphone in 2001, which both Sprint and Verizon retailed. AirPrime was later acquired by Sierra Wireless, a NASDAQ listed corporation (Stock Symbol: SWIR).
Mr. Sethy is also a co-author of the book "The Wireless Industry" (2001, Aspatore Books), now considered a multinational technology classic for his essay on how the Internet was established on the cellular system.
Mr. Sethy was elected to the Alameda County Water District’s Board of Directors in 2010, and re-elected in 2014, 2018, and 2022. He served as Board President in 2014, 2018, and 2023.
Beyond his role with the ACWD Board, he has served as the Board President of the Delta Conveyance Finance Authority, 2023-2024, and Director since its 2018 inception. Board Director and Treasurer, Los Vaqueros Reservoir Joint Power Authority, 2022 – 2024.
Additionally, Mr. Sethy’s involvement extends to serving on various committees, including the Water Management, Local Government, and Business Development Committees of the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA). He is an active member of the Alameda County Special Districts Association (ACSDA) and the California Special Districts Association (CSDA). In 2018, he was elected by ACSDA membership to represent their interests on the County of Alameda Countywide Oversight Board (2018-2024). Mr. Sethy has also served as a director on the board of the Southern Alameda County Geographical Information System Authority from 2011 to the present.
In other civic engagements, and for many years, Mr. Sethy has been an active member of the Fremont Cultural Arts Council, Mission Peak Heritage Foundation, and the Washington Township Historical Society. He is also a long-time Fremont Chamber of Commerce member and has served on the Government Affairs Committee since 2011.
Mr. Sethy grew up in Fremont, California, and graduated from Mission San Jose High School. He then attended the University of California at Berkeley, School of Letters and Science, majoring in Economics and Business Administration.