2025 State of the Region

October 17, 2025 | 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (followed by reception)
CSU Monterey Bay University Center

PROGRAM

WELCOME ADDRESS

President
CSU MONTEREY BAY
mayor
city of seaside
krista snelling
President & CEO
West coast
community bank
Senior Vice President, Community Relations, Philanthropy and Community Impact – Northern, Central and Coastal California
wells fargo
U.S. Representative
California’s 19th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives
President & CEO 
MONTEREY BAY
ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP

Morning keynote:
Regional Healthcare at a Crossroads:The Impact of Federal Policy on a Broken System

President & CEO
salinas valley health

spotlight:
Meeting the Moment - AAM & UAS

assemblywoman
district 11

Panel:
Beyond the Horizon - Pioneering the Next Era of Air Mobility

CEO and Trustee
Retired Emeritus, Senior Scientist, USDOT
Co-Founder, Head of Product
odys Aviation
CAAMCI Project Lead &
MBEP Chief Growth Officer
MONTEREY BAY ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP
Chief Legal & Strategy Officer
Archer aviation
President of Operations
JOBY aviation

Panel:
Policy & Politics
An Unfiltered Analysis

Founder & CEO
Majority Advisors, Former Majority Leader of the California State Assembly
Second District Supervisor
County of Santa Cruz
Assistant County Office administrator
county of santa cruz
Vice President
Political data, inc.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
with Speaker Robert Rivas

Speaker of the Assembly
California

spotlight:
The Power of Place - Hospitality and Tourism as Economic Engines

Executive Director
Sustainable Hospitality & Tourism Management (SHTM) Program at
CSU, Monterey Bay

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
with Senator john laird

Senator
district 17, California

networking lunch

Panel:
Educating for the Future - Regional Strategies for a Thriving Workforce

Chancellor
UC Santa Cruz
President
Hartnell College
President
CSU MONTEREY BAY
Asst Superintendent and Vice President, Instruction
CABRILLO COLLEGE

Wells Fargo Ag Spotlight:
Regional Roots, Global ReacH Advancing the
Agriculture Industry

Vice President,
Agri-Food Institute, Specialty Crops
WELLS FARGO

Panel:
The Creative Economy
How Innovation and
Culture Drive Growth

CAAMCI Project Lead &
MBEP Chief Growth Officer
MONTEREY BAY ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP
Co-Director
Carmel International Film Festival
Executive Director
san benito arts council
Deputy City Manager and Director of Parks and Community Services
city of watsonville
Co-Director
Carmel International Film Festival

Reflections on Leadership & Service

County Executive Officer
County of Santa Cruz

The Pulse:
Quick Takes from Industry Leaders

Senior Manager of Local Government and Business Affairs
MONTEREY BAY AQUARIUM
South Bay & Central Coast Region
PG&E
EVP Chief Banking Officer
west coast
community bank
President & CEO
Santa Cruz
Seaside Company
President & CEO
matsui nursery

Spotlight: State Resources to Support Regional Growth

Director of Economic Development

broadband Spotlight:
Connected Communities - Expanding Access and Opportunity

Associate Director of Economic Development and Digital Access
monterey Bay Economic partnership
Senior Advisor, broadband
MONTEREY BAY ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP

placed based economic strategies:  pajaro valley

Impact and Resource Development Officer
Pajaro Valley Unified School District
Deputy Director
County of Santa Cruz Human Services Department

HOUSING Spotlight:
Building Momentum - Housing Insights from 10 Years of Impact

VP Community Development
Monterey Bay economic Partnership
CFO and Head of
Partnerships & Strategy
housing trust
silicon valley
Supervisor
District 4,
Monterey County

Childcare as Essential Infrastructure &
Economic Mobility Strategy

director
Bright Beginnings
Early Childhood Development Initiative - Monterey County

closing keynote

director
California Governor’s Office of Land Use & Climate Innovation

networking reception

mayor
city of salinas

SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

Presenting Sponsor

Become a sponsor

Sponsorship helps to not only host this regional convening but to also support MBEP’s operations year around.
Contact Tahra Goraya or Jessica Gilden with any questions.

Accomplishments

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1
Launched Monterey Bay Housing Trust

Funding 500 new affordable homes.

2
Published Housing White Paper

Resulting in 14 + new policies that are improving housing affordability

3
Published Housing + Water "Blue Paper"

To recommend water policies that are increasing housing production

4
Published ADU White Paper

Aiming to educate about new laws, and strengthen policies and practices in Monterey County.

5
Launched Action Center

Resulting in 2,029 new homes

6
Implemented Farmworker Housing Action Plan

Resulting in 2,200 + new beds

Watch Our Video

2025 State of the Region