Titans 2024 Videos
From left to right: Dr. Chris Benner, Tim Sylvester, Joshua Metz, Thomas Sage Pedersen, Cate Miller, Ed Green, and Gregor Veble Mikvic
Did you miss our 8th Annual Titans Awards event? Here are the videos from our evening of celebrating inspirational leaders, movers, and shakers in Santa Cruz County for the year of 2024. Check out each of the Titans 2024 speeches below. The full length video will be added here next week.
Titans 2024
Tim Sylvester / Founder and Executive Director of X Academy: Tim Sylvester, 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 Farm-NG, Tim has helped students build incredible projects and is bridging the gap between education and real-world application.
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.
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.
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.
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.