In order to tap into the deep wealth of knowledge and experience that exists in Sacramento's innovation ecosystem, Mayor Darrell Steinberg appointed a Tech Council of regional innovation experts. The Tech Council advises the Innovation Team within the Office of Innovation and Economic Development on matters related to economic development in the technology sector. Further, the Tech Council plays a role in vetting and recommending grants and investments through the Innovation & Growth Fund policies. The Mayor's Tech Council meets on a quarterly basis and is staffed by the Innovation Team.
Governor Jerry Brown appointed Amy Tong as Director of the California Department of Technology (CDT) on June 30, 2016, after she had served as Acting Director since April 1, 2016. As the Director and State Chief Information Officer (CIO), Ms. Tong is responsible for advising the...
Andrea Deveau leads S360’s office in Sacramento and is a seasoned advocacy veteran with deep experience in energy and technology policy. Prior to S360, Andrea served as Vice President of State Policy and Politics for TechNet, the leading voice for the innovation economy. During...
Antonio Yung started his technical career as a system engineer for Systems Integrators, Inc. (SII) in Sacramento. A world dominated supplier for digitalizing newspapers and publishing solution, SII had a global customer base with the most prestige newspapers like LA Times...
Arik Armstead was born and raised in Sacramento, CA and attended Pleasant Grove High School in Elk Grove where he was USA Today All American as a senior. Arik went on to the University of Oregon where he started for 3 years and won the Pac 12 Championship in 2012. After declaring...
Brook Taylor is the Head of City Engagement for Daimler Urban Mobility - Americas. He’s responsible for collaborating with cities in the US, Central America, South America and beyond to deploy new urban mobility platforms. He has over 14 years of experience specializing in...
After gaining over a decade of experience on the Austin, Texas technology scene, Buck Avey relocated to Sacramento in 2017 to serve as the VP of Product at Skyslope, a native Sacramento software company that streamlines the transaction process for real estate professionals...
George Kalogeropoulos is the CEO and one of three co-founders of HealthSherpa, a Sacramento-based startup that streamlines enrollment through the individual health plan marketplace created by the Affordable Care Act. Kalogeropoulos got his start in tech after he moved across...
In 2006, Jay Sales joined VSP Global, an industry-leading organization that brings together high-quality, high-fashion eyewear, customized lenses and ophthalmic technology to help more than 84 million people see. Today, Sales serves as co-founder and co-director of VSP's...
Mac is the CEO of Digital Deployment. He is responsible for the growth of the company, recruiting and retaining top talent, and standing for Digital Deployment’s culture and values. His passion is empowering institutions, associations, and nonprofits to communicate online and...
Mathew Laurence Magno moved to Davis from Southern California. He ventured North to study computer science and technology management at the University of California, Davis and proceeded to work on multiple projects relating to parking and augmented reality. Passionate about...
As VP of Innovation + R&D for Blue Diamond Growers, Maya Erwin is responsible for leading and promoting the advancement of innovation across the organization, globally. Focused on building innovations that unleash the power of the exceptional almond, focused on technology...
Meg joined Valley Vision as a consultant in 2014 before stepping into the role of managing director in 2016. She directs two of the organization’s key strategies—the Clean Economy and Innovation & Entrepreneurship initiatives—and is part of the organization’s executive leadership...
Oleg Kaganovich works at the crossroads of innovation, operations, early stage investment, and design-centric business growth across software, health/wellness, mobility and travel, building and guiding management teams to focus, navigate, refine and win through an iterative...
Robert Rodriguez is an entrepreneur and business executive who has founded two enterprises, recently acquired a third organization, and presently manages all three companies successfully. Robert’s first venture, Cambria Solutions, Inc., is a Sacramento-based consulting firm that...
Ryan Montoya is the Chief Technology Officer for the Sacramento Kings. His responsibilities include providing direction and managing the Sacramento Kings new technology and innovation strategies to enhance the fan experience and improve the team’s performance. Under his...
Founder & CEO of Venture HR, Sarah is an energetic leader with strategic human resources experience in high growth, mid-sized tech organizations. Sarah brings many years of experience focused on organizational development, removing barriers to growth, ensuring legal compliance...
Savita Farooqui is Founder of SymSoft Solutions, a Sacramento-based Digital Experience company that strives to connect organizations with their customers. She is passionate about User Experience and Open Data, with its potential to provide true citizen engagement and transparency...
Shahriar Nejad is a Project Manager for CFY Development, a vertically integrated, Sacramento based Developer, General Contractor, and Property Manager. He oversees all phases of development for new and existing properties throughout CFY’s portfolio. Some of CFY’s most recent...
Vaibhav Nadgauda is a partner at Moneta Ventures. Prior to joining Moneta, Vaibhav was President of the SAP Business Unit at KPIT, managing a global portfolio of over $100 Million in revenue and a team of over 1,800 employees. He was co-founder and partner at Sparta Consulting...
As chancellor of one of the world’s great public research universities, Gary S. May leads UC Davis as it advances its mission in several key areas, including: ? Achieving equal access to education and opportunity for students of all backgrounds ? Building diversity and...
Robert S. Nelsen, who became Sacramento State’s eighth permanent president on July 1, 2015, grew up poor on the Montana cattle ranch that his father worked three jobs to buy for the family. Nelsen made his first visit to Sacramento State in spring 2015. He and his wife, Jody...
Dr. Brian King was appointed as the ninth Chancellor of the Los Rios Community College District in 2012. Dr. King has more than 27 years of community college teaching and administrative experience in California and Missouri. Dr. King joined Los Rios after serving more than eight...
Chris is the outgoing dean of the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University. He will take office as President of the University of the Pacific on July 1, 2020. He has an impressive track record developing programs that are relevant...