As a key thought leader for Northern Santa Barbara County, EconAlliance engaged internationally recognized futurist and Fortune 500 strategist Matthew Griffin (www.311Institute.com) as keynote for the 2020 virtual EconAlliance Future Forum. Speaking virtually to a countywide audience of city, county, community and industry leaders, Griffin described his signature viewpoint: that certain “exponential technologies” have the power to change industries “exponentially”, with some of these technologies capable of disrupting whole industries and economies overnight. Griffin’s presentation included examples of exponential technologies already in use or in development, giving viewers a peek into the almost unbelievable future being created moment by moment by global innovators.

Keynote was followed by an “Industry Perspectives” panel of national, regional, and local representatives/subject matter experts. Eric Daniels, Public Policy & External Affairs, PG&E, moderator. Industry panelists: Sue Andersen, President/CEO, Marian Regional Medical Center (Healthcare); De Ann Davis, PhD, Senior VP, Science, Western Growers Association (Agriculture); R. Dean Foreman, PhD, Chief Economist, American Petroleum Institute (Energy); John Fuhriman, Senior Engineer, Safran Cabin Santa Maria (Manufacturing); and Leslie Kovacs, President, Firefly Black LLC (Space Enterprise).

The 2020 EconAlliance Innovation Award was garnered by Broken Clock Vinegar Works in Solvang, for its innovative use of agricultural products and unique line of “Shrub” and specialty vinegars created by owners Jody and Charles Williams. Ben Oakley, Western States Petroleum, served as Innovation Chair coordinating the award presentation with Tony Biasotti, Managing Editor of Pacific Coast Business Times, sponsor of the Innovation Award.

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