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
Entrepreneurship is a valuable mindset that empowers individuals to own and solve problems. The Institute for Innovation and Economic Development envisions a robust culture across campus in which students in every discipline engage with curricular or co-curricular programs that promote this mindset. Educational events expand this culture beyond campus, giving students and community members opportunities to learn and network.
iiED Mission
The Institute for Innovation and Economic Development (iiED) at CSU Monterey Bay connects faculty and students—many of them first-generation and low-income—to the business community to advance economic growth through high-impact programs that close opportunity gaps and provide real-world career development.
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- Jenny Kuan, PhD, Executive Director
- Mary Jo Zenk, Grants & Financial Manager
- Rosalyn Sandoval, Director of Entrepreneurship and Community Development
- Jonathan Bagley-Rowe, Operations Manager
- Stephanie Arteaga, Marketing and Events Coordinator
- Brad Barbeau, PhD, Fmr. Executive Director Emeritus
- Ricardo Campos, Accounting Intern
- Alan Steingasser, 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