Updated: Obama Departs Bay Area

President Obama flew out of San Francisco International Airport this morning after a one-day visit with business and technology leaders on Thursday.

Air Force One departed from the airport at 8:46 a.m., 13 minutes after the arrival of his motorcade of about a dozen cars. After leaving his limousine, Obama quickly walked up the steps to Air Force One and waved briefly at the doorway before disappearing inside the plane.

The president arrived Thursday night and met privately with 12 leaders from technology companies at the home of venture capitalist John Doerr, of the firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, in Woodside. Apple CEO and chairman Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg, founder and CEO of Facebook, were among the guests who dined with Obama.

The group discussed the importance of investing in innovation and promoting job growth in the private sector. They also discussed ways to encourage people to study science, technology, engineering and math, and to go into those fields, according to White House press secretary Jay Carney.

"The President specifically discussed his proposals to invest in research and development and expand incentives for companies to grow and hire, along with his goal of doubling exports over five years to support millions of American jobs," Carney said in a statement.

The group also discussed a new initiative called Startup America, a partnership with the private sector aimed at new startups and small businesses.

Obama headed to Hillsboro, Ore., this morning to visit an Intel Corp. plant and learn about the company's STEM, or Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, education programs.

---Bay City News