About the Institute
The iiED focuses the resources of CSU Monterey Bay, other regional educational institutions, successful entrepreneurs, and other regional resources to build and support the Monterey Bay entrepreneurial ecosystem.
iiED Vision
The Institute is committed to creating a community in which students and regional community entrepreneurs achieve financial and personal success through entrepreneurship. We seek to create a vibrant, resilient regional economy in which all communities participate and individuals are limited only by their ambition.
iiED Mission
The iiED prepares highly motivated students and community members for success as entrepreneurs. We educate, incubate, and launch new enterprises. We seek out and serve underserved communities and actively promote inclusion and diversity.
California State University Monterey Bay’s Institute for Innovation and Economic Development (iiED) offers programs that develop entrepreneurs and support innovative ideas that lead to new businesses for students and community members.
- Jenny Kuan, PhD, Executive Director
- Mary Jo Zenk, Grants & Financial Manager
- Jonathan Bagley-Rowe, Program Assistant
- Stephanie Arteaga, Program Assistant
- Brad Barbeau, PhD, Fmr. Executive Director Emeritus
- Alexander Verdugo, Web Manager Intern
- Henrietta Pope, Data Intern
- Chair: Dave Côté, Advisory Board Member, Switchboard
- Bob Margevicius, Executive VP, Specialized Bicycle Components
- Brad van Dam, CEO, Marich Chocolates
- Brigid McGrath Massie, Author, and Professional speaker
- Brooks McChesney, Retired CEO and Investor
- Carmen Herrera, Executive Director, El Pajaro Community Development Corporation
- Carrie Nikitin, Chief Business Strategist, Power Women International Connections
- Charly Franklin, Retired attorney, real estate manager, and developer
- Colton Bollinger, CEO, and Co-founder, Jumper Media
- Craig Vachon, CEO, AI Redefined
- Daniella Russo, CEO, Think Beyond Plastic
- Dennis Donohue – Director, Western Growers Center for Innovation & Technology
- Doug Erickson – CEO, Santa Cruz Works
- Doug Yount, Project Director, Marina Community Partners, Inc.
- Harvey Dadwal – Owner and CEO, Marriott Springhill Suites at the Dunes
- Ian Oglesby – Mayor, City of Seaside
- Jennifer Dacquisto, President & Marketing Executive, Bank of America
- Joel Gambord, CEO, Joel Gambord Investments
- John Dicconson, CEO, Tech Care Now
- Kelly Crampton, SVP, Lowell Farms Inc.
- Martha Watson - President, Watson Consulting
- Marylou Shockley, Interim Dean, College of Business at Cal State Monterey Bay
- Paul Powers, Partner, Paul Power Associates
- Rene Mendez, City Manager, City of Watsonville
- Scott Komar, SVP, Driscoll’s Berries
- Shyam Kamath, Founding Dean, College of Business at Cal State Monterey Bay
- Tom Armstrong, Partner, White Summers
- Ange Nariswari, College of Business
- Dante Di Gregorio, College of Business
- Eric Tao, School of Computing and Design and iiED Founding Director
- Heiko Wieland, College of Business
- Jenny Lin, College of Business
- Joel Ryman, College of Business
- Joshua Gross, School of Computing and Design
- Shwadhin Sharma, College of Business