Titans 2024 Awardees Announced
Top (right to left): Dr. Chris Brenner, Cate Miller, Josh Metz, Annie Otfinoski. Middle: Ed Colligan, Danny Bernstein, Hari Mix, Richard “Ed” Green. Bottom: Thomas Sage Pedersen. Gregor Veble Mikić
With nearly 50 nominations submitted, the Santa Cruz Works Board of Directors faced the challenge of narrowing the field to a maximum of 10 finalists. The selection criteria were as follows:
The nominee’s business must be based in Santa Cruz, Monterey, or San Benito County.
The nominee must have made a meaningful economic, cultural, or social impact locally or globally.
Demonstrates exceptional innovation or entrepreneurship through groundbreaking products, services, or business models that address current or future challenges.
And the Awardees are…
Dr. Chris Benner / UCSC: Dr. Chris Benner’s groundbreaking work champions equity and economic opportunity by reshaping narratives and policies to highlight collaboration and mutuality. Challenging neoliberal norms, his Solidarity Economics framework has driven transformative initiatives like the Salinas Inclusive Economic Development Initiative and the state-wide Community Economic Mobilization Initiative, and helped influence California’s $600M Jobs First program, fostering justice, innovation, and impact.
Cate Miller / Chiorini, Platt & Jacobs: Cate is a dynamic finance professional driving positive change in Santa Cruz. At Chiorini, Platt & Jacobs, LLP, and previously as a partner at Summit Accountancy Group, she led with innovation and integrity. As an accounting professor at CSU Monterey Bay, she’s shaping the future of finance through mentorship and education.
Josh Metz / DART: Executive Director and co-founder of DART (mbdart.org), Josh exemplifies visionary leadership, driving innovation and economic resilience in Monterey Bay. From playing a central role in securing Joby Aviation at Marina Airport, to launching apprenticeship programs and securing $3.5M in funding, his dedication to transformative partnerships and workforce development is building a thriving, future-focused community.
Annie Otfinoski / EVEST: CEO and founder of Evest Energy, Annie is helping build out the EV charging infrastructure in California and support the transition to renewable energy. With a Master’s in Environmental Policy and expertise in sustainability, Annie is dedicated to creating a greener future for all.
Ed Colligan / Low Carbon, Palm: a tech industry legend whose visionary leadership as former President and CEO of Palm, Inc. revolutionized mobile computing in the early 2000s. A trailblazer in innovation, Ed’s groundbreaking work shaped the future of mobile devices. In Santa Cruz, his mentorship has inspired countless entrepreneurs and strengthened our tech ecosystem.
Tim Sylvester / Founder and Executive Director of X Academy: Tim Sylvester is a full-time engineer at Joby and the leader of a non-profit organization supporting students in robotics, engineering, and design, he has empowered countless young minds to explore and innovate in these fields. His co-founding of math circles for students further showcases his commitment to fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills. By developing robotics clubs in Santa Cruz and Watsonville and partnering with FarmNG, Tim has helped students build projects like the Amiga farm robot, bridging the gap between education and real-world application.
Hari Mix / Calorify: From conquering athletics at Stanford, to receiving his, teaching the next-gen of students, mastering some of the highest mountains in the world with no oxygen tank, and to becoming a world expert in metabolism to enable multiple newly awarded gold-medal Olympic athletes through his start-up Calorify, he truly can climb any mountain.
Richard “Ed” Green / UCSC: Ed is a visionary scientist and entrepreneur, instrumental in founding Cantata Bio, Claret Bioscience, and Astrea Forensics—Santa Cruz-based companies advancing DNA extraction and sequencing technologies. His innovations have solved cold cases spanning seven decades. As UC Santa Cruz's QB3 director, Ed inspires and trains the next generation of biotech founders, empowering graduate students and postdocs to turn groundbreaking research into impactful startups, fueling entrepreneurship and innovation in biotechnology.
Thomas Sage Pedersen / Everyone’s Music School: Thomas is a visionary leader whose courage and commitment to social justice have made a profound impact on the community. As Founder and CEO of Everyone's Music School, he has expanded access to music education, fostering personal growth and social change. Through Ignite Nexus, he provides crisis management and DEI coaching, while his podcast, *Speak for Change*, amplifies marginalized voices. Thomas’s leadership extends to key boards, shaping the cultural and educational fabric of the region. His unwavering dedication to equity, compassion, and innovation makes him a true Titan deserving of recognition.
Gregor Veble Mikić / Joby Aviation: Gregor is a distinguished scientist, innovator, and compassionate leader shaping the future of aviation and technology. With a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Ljubljana, he joined Joby Aviation in 2015, leading aerodynamics and flight physics. Awarded the prestigious AIAA Piper General Aviation Award, he oversees groundbreaking aircraft designs and leads over 70 engineers. Beyond technical achievements, Gregor’s humility, empathy, and passion inspire innovation, making him a true asset to Santa Cruz and the world. His leadership style fosters collaboration and innovation, encouraging his engineers to push beyond perceived limits while maintaining an unwavering commitment to quality and safety.
Tickets are going fast for this beloved annual event. Come celebrate and be inspired! You could be the next Titan!