Tag: San Diego: Life. Changing.

A note from Mark: Annual Dinner Honorees 2026

By Mark Cafferty,

meet Our Life. Changing. Honorees

Dear EDC investors and partners,

As summer begins to draw near, our team at San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation (EDC) is eager to kick off many of our signature programs and events just around the corner. None bigger than our Annual Dinner, underwritten by Point Loma Nazarene University.

Held again at Petco Park as a celebration to the community of investors, partners, and leaders who make our work possible, EDC’s Annual Dinner has become a yearly moment of reflection for me—not just to take stock of the work behind us or ahead us, but to think of how much our mission continues to evolve and adapt to the economy and community we serve.

We give out two honors, dubbed our “Life. Changing.” Awards: Two words that capture the essence of San Diego in so many ways, and two words that have become a bit of a mantra for our work and the way we see and promote the region.

But before they took on their current title, the Awards were named in memory of two San Diegans who embodied the leadership that defined a rapidly growing region and economy. One, Duane Roth the indomitable promoter of San Diego innovation, science, technology, and entrepreneurship. The other, Herb Klein revered for bringing people together for the greater good and going above and beyond professional roles and responsibilities to move San Diego forward.

I have always been proud of the individuals we choose to recognize at our Annual Dinner, as with each passing year, the awards have become a more powerful reflection of the organization we strive to be, and the people and institutions that inspire us the most.

This year, we recognize the continued investment, growth, and innovation of ASML—an international technology giant with great history in San Diego, and one of the most important global players in the semiconductor industry fulfilling chipmakers’ needs from manufacturing to software.

We also honor Robert Gleason—local executive, community leader, civic treasure, and President and CEO of Evans Hotels, one of our region’s most important tourism companies, and an individual who has truly changed the San Diego economy and community through his advocacy, service, engagement, and activism.

Continuing to celebrate all that makes San Diego creative and innovative—while also celebrating what makes it welcoming, inclusive, and good—has become a highlight of our work and a gift to the community that surrounds us. It is at the core of what makes our work so special. It is the very foundation of what makes our region so Life. Changing.

I hope you’ll join us on June 4 at Petco Park for our 2026 Annual Dinner—another fun, meaningful, and beautiful night of camaraderie, friendship, and recognizing and appreciating the very best of who San Diego is.

Join us june 4

With gratitude and respect,

Mark Cafferty
Mark Cafferty

President & CEO

More from EDC

  • See our impact in our Monthly Report
  • Apply by June 15—EDC and JPMorganChase are back for the second annual San Diego Business Impact Awards! Nominate your company and celebrate your local impact
    • Save the date to celebrate with us on July 23; registration details to come
  • Learn about Cross Border Xpress’ regional impact and 2030 expansion plan in our latest Investor Spotlight

 

A note from Mark

By Mark Cafferty,

Our collective power in a time of need

“I am grateful for what I am and have. My thanksgiving is perpetual.”

— Henry David Thoreau

Dear EDC board-members, investors, and friends,

I hope this message finds you well as we head into the final months of the year. It is almost impossible for me to believe that 2026 is right around the corner.

Ensuring San Diego is an attractive and affordable place for talent and businesses remains more important than ever to our region’s resilience and competitiveness. As we all know and understand, the shutdown of our federal government and additional challenges coming from Washington, D.C. are creating undue stresses, strains, and hardship for families, workers, and businesses across our region—at a time when nearly half of all local households are already struggling. Just 51.7 percent of San Diego household incomes have kept pace with the region’s cost of living, meaning that many San Diegans sacrifice quality of life to pay for basic household needs such as transportation, grocery expenditures, and childcare—pressures that disproportionately impact communities of color.

I offer no political observations or critique other than to say that our charity for our neighbors and fellow citizens should never be needed because our government refuses to do its job. Yet in this season of thanksgiving, it is our charity for our neighbors and fellow citizens that is needed most.

With all that said, I could not feel more pride and gratitude for our EDC investors and partners who have been organizing efforts to help those most in need. I am grateful for:

…and many, many more that are a constant resource to families, such as Lifeline Community Services, Neighborhood House Association, YMCA of San Diego County, and local educational institutions and government partners. I see the very best of who we are as a region reflected in the actions, intentions, and service of these partners and leaders. For all of them, my thanksgiving is perpetual.

It is never lost on me that when I write these messages I am writing to our region’s most influential and important leaders. Collectively, you have the power to move mountains. As we head into a holiday season and new year that may continue to add undue stresses, strains, and hardship to the lives of so many around us, let’s not forget the power we have to make people’s days (and lives) better and brighter. Please consider donating to, aligning with, and supporting the work of the organizations listed above, or other organizations in the community whose missions and values best align with yours.

Forever grateful for what I am and have. Forever grateful for all of you.

All my best,

Mark Cafferty
Mark Cafferty

President & CEO

Read EDC’s monthly report

A note from Mark: Summer in San Diego

By Mark Cafferty,

Another special San Diego summer

EDC investors, board members, and partners,

No matter what may be happening in the world around us, almost any day of the summer months in San Diego might lead you to believe that everything is perfect. And while we all know that perfection is largely unattainable, what is undeniable is that it (once again) feels like a very special summer in San Diego.

From the moment Pride flags are raised throughout our neighborhoods, and the San Diego Convention Center begins its heroic transformation into host, setting, and backdrop for Comic-Con International, the city’s streets truly come to life in July. Over the last 55 years, Comic-Con has grown to become a beloved international brand within the entertainment industry while remaining an anchor event for San Diego’s tourism engine. Meanwhile, San Diego’s Pride Parade/Week continues to attract more than 300,000 attendees and remains the largest annual civic event in the City of San Diego.

As August begins, we have seen San Diego nonprofit Curebound once again raise millions of dollars in its effort to “end cancer in our lifetimes” through its (growing) Curebound Cancer Challenge. Originally known as Padres Pedal the Cause, the event moved from its exciting venue at Petco Park to its new home on the scenic Torrey Pines Mesa. This past weekend, EDC team members joined tens of thousands of cyclists, walkers, and fundraisers as they made their way past the campuses of the very institutions responsible for the scientific research and breakthroughs that are keeping San Diego at the forefront of this global fight.

And whether the remainder of the summer sees you tuning in to the Padres pennant race, attending a concert with the San Diego Symphony at the Rady Shell, or enjoying time on San Diego’s 70+ miles of beaches and coastline, we hope that the warm days and nights ahead remain (near) perfect and special for you, your business, your friends, and your family.

We hope to see you soon at our:

  • Summer Bash on August 14 for a night of networking with more than 300 innovators, live music, delicious bites and drinks, and a short keynote from Kate Therapeutics’ Kevin Forrest, in conversation with LYZZ Capital’s Court Turner.
  • Inclusive Growth Roundtable on August 20 for a progress update on our region’s Quality Jobs Goal, and a roundtable discussion on equipping small businesses to compete.

With respect and admiration,
Mark

Mark Cafferty
Mark Cafferty

President & CEO

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A note from Mark

By Mark Cafferty,

Keep the “Good News” coming

EDC investors, board members, and partners,

I hope this message finds you well. While the news and the constant barrage of information surrounding us these days can feel a bit heavy and negative, I want to remind you all that for the last 13 years, the EDC team has been putting out “Good News of the Week” every Friday to make sure San Diegans end the week on the highest possible note. We always do our best to filter through everything we can to find news of businesses expanding and growing, universities receiving new accolades and funding, non-profit partners improving the community while improving the economy, and other milestone achievements advancing San Diego’s regional and global competitiveness.

Still, we would love to hear more milestones in innovation, collaboration, creativity, integrity, and inspiration that are found in all corners of our county and our binational region. Consider this my invitation and reminder to submit your own Good News and make sure we don’t miss out on elevating your stories.

In the spirit of sharing “Good News”, the incomparable Sir Elton John is coming back to Petco Park to perform at Curebound’s Concert for Cures on Friday, May 9. As we heard from EDC Investor and Curebound CEO Anne Marbarger in our January EDC Board Meeting, the nonprofit raises money for grants that support San Diego’s top research institutions in the fight against cancer. Join Lauree, me, and the broader San Diego business community as we help raise critical funds for cancer research, and officially say farewell to Sir Elton John. Explore Curebound’s Concert for Cures table and ticket information, or contact Anne directly at anne@curebound.org.

So again—keep the “Good News” coming. I can assure you there is not a week that goes by where someone in this community (or even outside of this community) doesn’t remind me of how uplifting it is to read about your collective successes, breakthroughs, wins, and moments worth celebrating.

Thank you as always for your leadership and support, and for continuing to make San Diego the unique and amazing place that it is.

With respect and admiration,
Mark

Mark Cafferty
Mark Cafferty

President & CEO

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A note from Mark…

By Mark Cafferty,

Celebrating 60 years & our honorees

EDC investors, partners, and colleagues:

Each year when we give out awards at our Annual Dinner, I think of the two people who inspired them—Duane Roth and Herb Klein. And while we now call them our “Life. Changing.” Awards in alignment with our regional branding and communications efforts, I am reminded again that both Duane and Herb changed many lives. Mine included.

This year marks EDC’s 60th Anniversary. And while our Annual Dinner is always a big event that means a great deal to our team and the broader economic development community we work with and through, this year it feels like it means even more.

Part of what makes it more significant for me is thinking about how perfectly our award winners represent both the spirit of our work, and all that is truly special about the region we call home. As we celebrate six decades of economic development, we are really celebrating the people and the businesses who have paved the way and made this journey possible.

The first award is given to an individual who has gone above and beyond the responsibilities of their job to make San Diego a better place for all. Perhaps no person embodies this description more than Dr. Constance Carroll. Dr. Carroll served as the chancellor for San Diego Community College District for 17 years—the longest tenure of any chancellor in district history. She has served on countless local, state, national, and international boards and committees for both education and the arts. Dr. Carroll played a critical role in raising the profile of community colleges in the eyes of business and industry leaders throughout the region, and she is responsible for establishing and expanding the offerings of four-year bachelor’s degrees within the community college system. She has also done as much to advance the causes of economic equity and inclusion as any San Diegan I can think of.

The second award celebrates a business or organization that is changing the world from San Diego through science, technology, and innovation. Again, few organizations better embody this description than General Atomics (GA). A home-grown San Diego success story, GA has been a cornerstone of San Diego’s innovation economy since 1955. From aerospace and defense to electronics and energy, GA has become a global leader all while maintaining its headquarters in the heart of the Torrey Pines Mesa. GA boasts one of the region’s most talented and diverse workforces, and has significant education and workforce development partnerships with all of the region’s colleges, universities, and community colleges. GA co-owner and vice chairman Linden Blue has served on EDC’s board of directors for more than 25 years and was an executive committee member for more than a decade. GA’s impact exactly emulates the Life. Changing. Award.

So, during an iconic year for our organization, we are hoping that you can join us in recognizing the contributions of an iconic leader and company, and the ‘Life. Changing.’ roles they have played within our region.

Please join us May 15 at EDC’s Annual Dinner.

With gratitude,

Mark Cafferty
Mark Cafferty

President & CEO

Read EDC’s monthly report

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Why Summer Bash?

By Bree Burris,

400 San Diegans. One life-changing Summer Bash. Thanks to Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. and our generous underwriter NOVO Brazil Brewing Co., this year’s Summer Bash celebrated San Diego lifestyle, innovation, and talent, with all proceeds directly supporting EDC’s talent work.

Why San Diego: Life. Changing.?

In 2017, EDC launched San Diego: Life. Changing., a talent campaign breaking down the myth that San Diego was just a sleepy beach town good for only craft beer and burritos. Instead, we’re elevating what we all know to be true: That San Diego is a global innovation hub home to companies and people changing the world—and that more people can (and should) be part of that story. With between 75,000 and 85,000 monthly job postings in San Diego, and an average of 59,000 unemployed San Diegans each month to fill them, it’s clear we must devote some of our efforts to bringing talent into the region. And we do that by telling our story.

In San Diego, we’ve got the lifestyle, the culture, the collaborative ecosystem, and the brains that put some of our competitor metros to shame. And while we certainly share in their talent challenges, if any region or collective of people can solve hard problems, it’s all of us in San Diego.

That’s especially evident in San Diego born-and-bred companies like activewear unicorn Vuori.

Vuori: A San Diego success story

Originally an accountant from Seattle who turned to yoga to manage stress, Vuori founder and CEO Joe Kudla launched the Carlsbad-based activewear company as “an extension of all the things I loved and cared about in this world.”

At our 2023 Summer Bash, Joe shared: “Vuori draws inspiration from the way everyone in [San Diego] lives their life every day.”

Now a category leader and a unicorn valued at $4 billion, Vuori is eyeing 50 retail stores nationwide by the end of 2023, and adding hundreds of jobs here in San Diego. Not bad for a scrappy startup born out of an Encinitas garage.

What’s next?

That’s up to you, San Diego.

San Diego: Life. Changing. exists to help you tell our region’s story—one where you can have great beer and burritos, all while building a long and meaningful career at an innovative tech, life sciences, or lifestyle company. Because that’s what’s possible in a place like this.

Whether you’re in real estate or HR, or anything in between: Our digital toolkit includes a dedicated website, social, email marketing, video, and other tools available to help you ‘sell’ San Diego to talent, investors, clients, and more.

With and through you, we’re telling authentic stories of real San Diegans who do mission-driven work every day. Ready to join us?

sign up for Emails

Use our recruiting toolkit

Stay connected on social: LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter

In addition to our host Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. and underwriter Nova Kombucha, thank you to our sponsors Marsh McLennan, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, Burger Construction, DPR Construction, GroundLevel Landscape Architecture, LPA, Inc., and The Miller Hull Partnership, LLP for your generous support of our talent attraction work. Thank you as well to Electra Bicycle Company for contributing your Loft Go! e-bikes for our silent auction. Your generosity continues to make our regional talent work possible, all year round.

Is San Diego a sports town? 2023 points to yes.

By Bree Burris,

Read the original post on the San Diego: Life. Changing. blog.

San Diego is known for many things (beaches, craft beer, life-changing innovation), and #sports hasn’t always been at the top of the list. But if you look more closely, the city and region are well-positioned to stand among the nation’s competitive sports centers during the decade in front of us.

San Diego’s electrifying 2022 season

The historic investments made by the San Diego Padres led to one of the most celebrated and electric seasons in decades, taking down the rival LA Dodgers in the playoffs and earning a shot at the National League Championship in 2022. That momentum has only accelerated in 2023, as the Padres have become one of the hottest and most talked-about teams in all of professional sports.

As the nation’s most vibrant binational region, soccer has always dominated the parks and playing fields on both sides of the international border. Long anchored by the Tijuana Xolos and the San Diego Sockers, the region welcomed a new kind of professional soccer last year, as San Diego Wave FC went largely undefeated in their sold-out, record-breaking inaugural season.

And could a new MLS franchise be on the horizon?

What’s next for San Diego sports

In addition to that, San Diego’s Loyal soccer, Seals lacrosse, and Legion rugby teams have all set up shop in town just in the last several years, giving fans year-round opportunities to root for their home teams.

And now, following the SDSU Aztecs Men’s Basketball Team’s historic showing at 2023’s March Madness Championship, San Diego’s hopes are high as the Padres kick off their much-anticipated season.

After all, there’s no place quite like San Diego, and when you’re sitting at the most beautiful ballpark in baseball or at the newly-opened Snapdragon Stadium, the fans surely prove it.

Games we’re looking forward to

  • April 6 – Padres vs. Atlanta Braves
  • April 7 – San Diego Gulls vs. Calgary Wranglers
  • April 8 – San Diego Loyal vs. FC Tulsa
  • April 8 – San Diego Legion vs. Seattle Seawolves
  • April 10 – San Diego Padres vs. New York Mets
  • April 15 – San Diego Wave FC vs. OL Reign
  • April 15 – San Diego Loyal vs. New Mexico United

A talent update from EDC

By Taylor Dunne, Sr. Manager, Talent Initiatives,

March note from our Talent Initiatives lead

While companies continue to cut costs and make layoffs in the wake of a highly anticipated (though not clearly signaled) recession, the nation’s ratio of available workers to open positions remains less than one to one. This means that there are more open positions across the United States than unemployed people available to fill them. Demographic changes can be attributed to a decline in the working age population following baby boomer retirements, as well as decreased immigration.

And San Diego is not immune to these impacts. In fact, the nature of the region’s highly skilled economy adds even greater complexity. From August to December 2022, there was an average of more than 50,000 people unemployed month over month in San Diego (BLS). During that same period, there were more than 238,000 unique job postings in the region (Lightcast). Of those 238,000 jobs, 31 percent required a bachelor’s degree or higher as a minimum requirement. Currently, these ‘must-haves’ serve as a proxy for a list of technical and interpersonal skills employers are looking for in candidates. But a recent publication by The Burning Glass Institute explores how that assumption, even in the tech industry, has been changing for the better since before the pandemic.

According to a 2021 statement, multinational tech leader IBM has “stripped bachelor’s degree requirements for more than half of [its] U.S. job openings, and [is] continuously reevaluating [its] roles to prioritize skills over specific degrees.”

Like IBM, it’s time for San Diego to rethink talent pipeline development.

Highly educated individuals are important to the growth of our innovation economy, but they cannot (and should not be expected to) fill every job. Not to mention, the nature of diversity, equity, and inclusion means not every hire should be the ‘university-educated type.’ Often, years of experience and/or non-traditional training can both substitute a degree and serve a company better.

For three years, a key feature of the Advancing San Diego program has been to help employers define the skills required for critical jobs—looking beyond the degree(s) and instead at the capability. Using the Talent Pipeline Management model, talent acquisition teams are challenged to step away from habits and traditions and gain a real understanding of the jobs of today and tomorrow. Doing so has the potential to open high-growth, high-wage occupations to opportunity populations—moving the needle on our Inclusive Growth goals and further seeding diversity of thought within companies.

As the three-year, $3 million AdvancingCities grant from JPMorgan Chase sunsets, San Diego and Imperial Valley were pursued and granted $18 million to continue this talent work. This new funding, called the Border Region Inclusive Talent Pipeline Collaborative, builds upon the work of Advancing San Diego by expanding into K-12 education, into new industries, and into new partnerships.

While this investment aligns and strengthens publicly available resources, long-term solutions to workforce challenges will require the investment and creativity of employers like you.

If you’re interested in learning more about Advancing San Diego, or you want to work with the EDC team to dream up and pilot creative talent solutions, let’s talk.

Thank you,

Taylor Dunne
Taylor Dunne

Director, Talent Initiatives

See more in our monthly report

Resources for recruiting and retaining talent in San Diego

By Taylor Dunne, Talent Initiatives Manager,

Last edited November 2022

As of May 2022, there were 75,630 unique jobs posted in San Diego County, but only 42,100 unemployed San Diegans. Couple this talent shortage with unrealistic demands around compensation, benefits, and remote work, it’s fair to say we are living the most competitive battle for talent yet.

To meet employer demand, our region needs to double the number of post-secondary degree, certificate, or program completions per year. In particular, investing in Black and Hispanic youth would turn San Diego’s talent shortage into a surplus. More on Inclusive Growth here.

As part of our ongoing talent development efforts, EDC has compiled an ongoing hub of programs and initiatives below to help you fill your high-demand San Diego roles. Sign up for the talent newsletter for ongoing opportunities to participate in the development of our talent pipeline.

HIRE TALENT

SELL SAN DIEGO

UPSKILL EXISTING TALENT

BUILD YOUR PIPELINE

For more support, contact:

Taylor Dunne
Taylor Dunne

Director, Talent Initiatives

A note on talent from Bree

By Bree Burris, Director, Marketing & Communications,

It’s not you—it’s all of us. 

The long talked about ‘war for talent’ is more competitive than ever, with established firms upending whole hiring systems to meet the demands of today’s applicants—and still, not getting enough. You are not alone; this is not a one-company problem. In our countless conversations with HR leaders and executives, it’s clear firms across industries and size are struggling to fill their open positions (EDC included).

In a survey of 200 local businesses, hiring difficulty reached a new high in December. That same month, local San Diego employers posted more than 158,000 unique jobs—nearly half of which were new positions and predominantly in STEM. And yet, there are just 61,000 people currently unemployed in the region.

Flexibility. Remote work. Mission. Culture. Inclusion. The pandemic flipped the script on workforce demands with companies across the country being stretched to meet the needs of prospective recruits. Established firms can’t compete with the benefits offered by startups from salary to signing bonus to equity. Startups can’t offer the structure or safety net available at large corporations. Yet San Diego is uniquely positioned to compete.

The region stands apart with its thousands of mission-driven companies, its unparalleled quality of life, and its collaborative ecosystem. These are the stories we tell in San Diego: Life. Changing., and the connections we drive through Advancing San Diego.

EDC can help:

  • Lean into the San Diego story in selling your business to recruits using these tools;
  • Engage with us to mold student curriculum to meet your industry needs;
  • Apply for interns paid for by EDC’s foundation;
  • And share your open roles for promotion across our channels.

And above all, turn inward to upskill and promote your existing workforce and consider rethinking existing job requirements which may be inadvertently excluding qualified San Diegans. Pandemic-induced challenges aren’t going away soon, and the battle for talent may endure, but with San Diego as your homebase, we’ve got you covered.

All my best—Bree

Bree Burris
Bree Burris

Sr. Director, Communications & Community Engagement

READ EDC’S MONTHLY REPORT