CSUMB hosts annual State of the Region

By Mark Muckenfuss

A sold-out crowd packed University Center on Friday, Nov. 8, for the Monterey Bay Economic Partnership’s annual State of the Region symposium. 

The daylong affair featured speakers and panelists discussing a broad spectrum of issues including healthcare, childcare, entrepreneurship, agriculture, robotics, housing and climate change. The non-profit MBEP is a coalition of public, private and civic entities whose mission is “to improve the economic health and quality of life in the region.” A host of local agencies sponsored the event.

During the morning’s opening remarks, Cal State Monterey Bay President Vanya Quiñones told the gathering that the university will continue to be a key element affecting the region’s prosperity.

“We are really committed to enhancing the social mobility of our students,” Quinoñes said. “I want to make sure we continue to impact our community positively. Working together, we’re going to make this region a better place. Our strength is the strength between us.”

The event drew business owners, non-profit agencies, healthcare workers, educators and more. 

Robert Nicely owns Carmel Building and Design. He has attended the symposium in years past. Even though he thinks the local real estate market is doing well, he was eager to hear what some of the speakers would say. Last year, he said, he learned about the importance of data wire service.

“There are things you just don’t know unless you come to an event like this,” Nicely said. “You get a broader view.”

MBEP President and CEO Tahra Goraya said she’s pleased with what she’s seen at the last few annual meetings.

“This is my third State of the Region and it’s grown exponentially,” Goraya said. “It’s largely to give you a taste of the great work that is being done in our region.”

The event is an opportunity to build on current successes, she said. 

“We have a unique point in time today to be bridge builders,” she added, encouraging attendees to network with one another. “This is how we’re going to move the needle in our region and our nation.”

Many attendees were much more locally focused. Isaac Rodriguez is a business success coach for El Pajaro Community Development Corporation. This was his first time attending the event.

“We’ve been helping new childcare businesses get started,” said Rodriguez, who was attending with program assistant Ashley Rubio. “We’re mostly interested in hearing what the speaker from the (Small Business Administration) is going to say and how we can take that information and continue to do what we do for the small business community.”

Nanette Mickiewicz, president and CEO of Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz, said she appreciates the quality of the speakers. She was scheduled to be one of those speakers as part of a four-person panel discussing healthcare in the region. And connecting with people within that region was also a main attraction for her.

“It’s a really great opportunity for me to meet a diverse group of people from our community,” Mickiewicz said. “And it’s a nice broad view of what’s going on not only in the county but in the state.”

UC Santa Cruz Chancellor Cynthia Larive is the MBEP board president. She opened the symposium by noting that CSUMB has long supported the organization and thanking the university for hosting the gathering.

“This kind of broad information sharing is what MBEP has been doing since its founding,” Larive said. “We succeed when we work together. 

“We know regions rise together,” she added, “and together we’re working to advance positive change.”