Our neighbors over the hill get all the press when it comes to startups and entrepreneurship, but that isn’t stopping Matthew Swinnerton from creating a showcase for successful, and innovative businesses right here in Santa Cruz.
Event Santa Cruz, founded by Swinnerton, will kick off its inaugural event on Sep. 18 at the Nickelodeon Theatre.
The event is billed as a, “monthly event that showcases thriving Santa Cruz businesses and the people behind them.”
Santa Cruz has a growing tech scene, and a burgeoning entrepreneurial spirit, helped in part by co-working spaces NextSpace, and CruzioWorks. Groups like TechRaising, the Santa Cruz New Tech Meetup and Santa Cruz Geeks have also been serving as a meeting ground for local techies and entrepreneurs the past few years.
Event Santa Cruz aims to create a new forum for local business owners to share their stories and knowledge. Swinnerton wants to tap into the collective energy that is emerging in the Santa Cruz business scene by showcasing successful businesses, while offering inspiration to others.
Swinnerton says the goal is, “To showcase thriving Santa Cruz businesses and the people behind them, to really find out why they do what they do, what motivates them, and in-turn these talks will motivate others to start or keep moving forward with their entrepreneurial endeavors.”
And he has big plans for the future of Event Santa Cruz…
The first event will start with a short film about the virtues of living and working in Santa Cruz. A lineup of local business experts will then take the stage to share stories and insights learned through their experiences.
Speakers
The lineup of speakers for the inaugural Event Santa Cruz reads like a who’s who of the Santa Cruz tech and business scene. Here are the scheduled speakers for the Sep. 18 event:
Danny Keith – Danny, a longtime local business owner, is the Director of Corporate Sponsorships for the Santa Cruz Warriors, and Executive Director at Grind Out Hunger. He has been recognized by Good Times and Santa Cruz Weekly, among others, for his work as an entrepreneur, and local do-gooder.
Margaret Rosas – Margaret is a tech/geek/marketing expert who is well established in the local tech scene. She founded Santa Cruz Geeks, is co-founder of TechRaising, and currently works for hot local startup, Looker.
Chris Miller – An entrepreneur since 2005, Chris is the president and founder of Launch Brigade, a web design and development company located in Santa Cruz.
Ryan Coonerty – Former Mayor of Santa Cruz, Co-Founder of NextSpace, Director of Government Relations and Strategy for local startup PredPol, Author of “The Rise of the Naked Economy – How to Benefit from the Changing Workplace.” – How’s that for a resume?
Shane Pearlman – Shane leads freelance teams in UX/UI, has developed WordPress plugins, is a partner at Modern Tribe Inc., and has had his work featured in Mashable, Copyblogger, FreelanceSwitch, and more.
Kendra Baker – Kendra, the President of The Glass Jar Inc., is the one responsible for bringing us delicious treats from the Penny Ice Creamery and the Picnic Basket. Prior to satiating pallets in Santa Cruz Kendra was winning awards as a Pastry Chef in San Francisco and was an Executive Pastry Chef at Manresa in Los Gatos.
Kim Luke – Kim, known to Derby fans as Mildred Fierce, is the voice of the Santa Cruz Derby Girls and the Santa Cruz Warriors. She is a writer, performer, and public speaker.
Tickets are only $10, but seats are limited so pick yours up today. Tickets will not be available at the door, so be sure to get them in advance online at EventSantaCruz.com.
Event Santa Cruz
The Nickelodeon Theatre
210 Lincoln St., Santa Cruz
Wednesday, September 18 from 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Cost: $10
Tickets: www.eventsantacruz.com
Photo Credit: Event Santa Cruz
