Startup Monterey Bay supports entrepreneurs, innovators and the startup community in Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz counties by providing information about local resources, training, workshops, events, competitions, and opportunities to connect and network. This is a great region to live and work and we want to enable local entrepreneurs, innovators and startups to be able to succeed in this region.

Startup Monterey Bay is a project of CSU Monterey Bay’s Institute for Innovation and Economic Development.
Startup Hackathon contestants

Meet Our Team

Leadership Team

Brad Barbeau, PhD.

Executive Director
Brad Barbeau, Ph.D., is Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship at the CSU Monterey Bay College of Business and Executive Director of the CSUMB Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development (iiED). As a faculty member, he teaches courses in entrepreneurship and new venture formation and finance, and is faculty lead for the entrepreneurship concentration for the College of Business. As Executive Director for the iiED, he devotes his efforts to building the entrepreneurial ecosystem and developing and accelerating entrepreneurial ventures in the Monterey Bay region.

Dan Ripke

Director, Economic Development, Funding & Grants
Over the past 30 years, Dan Ripke has designed and implemented innovative projects, programs, and services designed to improve the economies of California communities. These include events, economic development research, technical assistance and policy presentations to support the creation and expansion of small businesses. Dan was the director of an EDA regional University Center program for 30 years and the director of a regional small business development center network (Northeastern California) for 14 years serving 23 of California's 58 counties. He has secured over $50 million in grant funding for economic development.

Mary Jo Zenk, MBA

Program Manager
As Program Manager of the Institute for Innovation & Economic Development (iiED) at CSUMB, she coordinates workshops, speaker series, competitions, and conferences that foster innovation, entrepreneurship and economic development on campus and in the local region. She also teaches graduate and undergraduate level courses in public and non-profit finance and management and consults in the areas of government budgeting and community, housing and economic development programs.

Lynnette Lathrop

Program Coordinator
Before moving to the central coast of California, Lynnette obtained associate degrees in Social and Behavioral Sciences, Humanities, and Business Administration from Pasadena City College. She received her B.S. in Sustainable Hospitality Management with a concentration in Sustainable Hotel, Resort and Event Management from California State University, Monterey Bay's College of Business in 2018. Her background includes academic research, hospitality management, revenue management, events management, and project management. Lynnette has worked with the iiED team in the past as a student assistant in 2016 and has returned to work as iiED's Program Coordinator in 2020.
Bread Barbeau

Brad Barbeau, PhD., Executive Director

 

Brad Barbeau, Ph.D., is Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship at the CSU Monterey Bay College of Business and Executive Director of the CSUMB Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development (iiED). As a faculty member, he teaches courses in entrepreneurship and new venture formation and finance, and is faculty lead for the entrepreneurship concentration for the College of Business. As Executive Director for the iiED, he devotes his efforts to building the entrepreneurial ecosystem and developing and accelerating entrepreneurial ventures in the Monterey Bay region.
Dr. Barbeau holds an undergraduate degree in economics and history from Michigan State University, and holds an MBA, M.A. in economics and Ph.D. in business administration from the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business. He has published articles on business model development and is currently working on projects on the process of new business formation, entrepreneurial strategy development, and marketing theory and practice in the internet age.
Brad works with startup companies both in operating capacities and as an outside advisor. He is currently on the board of California Coastal Rural Development Corporation, a lender to agriculture and
small businesses.

Dan Ripke photo

Dan Ripke, Director, Economic Development, Funding and Grants

Over the past 30 years, Dan Ripke has designed and implemented innovative projects, programs, and services designed to improve the economies of California communities.   These include events, economic development research, technical assistance and policy presentations to support the creation and expansion of small businesses.   Dan was the director of an EDA regional University Center program for 30 years and the director of a regional small business development center network (Northeastern California) for 14 years serving 23 of California’s 58 counties.  He has secured over $50 million in grant funding for economic development. 

Mary Jo Zenk photo

Mary Jo Zenk, MBA, Program Manager

 

As Program Manager of the Institute for Innovation & Economic Development (iiED) at CSUMB, she coordinates workshops, speaker series, competitions, and conferences that foster innovation, entrepreneurship and economic development on campus and in the local region. She also teaches graduate and undergraduate level courses in public and non-profit finance and management and consults in the areas of government budgeting and community, housing and economic development programs.

Advisory Council and Committee

Name, Degree, Job Title

  • Jennifer D’Acquisto – SVP, Bank of America
  • Harvey Dadwal – Owner and CEO, Marriott Springhill Suites at the Dunes
  • Dennis Donohue – Director, Western Growers Center for Innovation & Technology
  • Doug Erickson – CEO, Santa Cruz Works
  • Carmen Herrera – Director, El Pajaro EDC
  • Sara Isenberg – Founder, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher, Santa Cruz Tech Beat
  • Shyam Kamath – Dean, College of Business at CSU Monterey Bay
  • Bob Margevicius – Executive VP, Specialized Bicycle Components
  • Brooks McChesney – Retired CEO and Investor
  • Rene Mendez – City Manager, Gonzales and City of Gonzales
  • Craig Vachon – CEO, Chowdahead
  • John Dicconson – CEO, Tech Care Now
  • Ian Oglesby – Mayor, City of Seaside
  • Philip Taluban – CFO, Ocean Mist Farms
  • Clarisa Avila – Director of Corporate & Foundation Relations & Development, CSUMB

Associated Professors and Researchers

  • Dante DiGregorio PhD, College of Business
  • Jennifer Kuan, PhD, College of Business
  • Miguel Lara, PhD, School of Computing and Design
  • Angie Nariswari PhD, College of Business
  • Joel Ryman, PhD, College of Business
  • Heiko Wieland, PhD, College of Business

Student Interns

Name, Degree Pursuing, Job Title

  • Saad Ali, Administrative Intern
  • Chris Caruthers, Grants Intern
  • Harrison Deal, Design Intern
  • Aya Cabero, Design Intern
  • Celina Harris, Assistant to the Executive Director
  • Kennedy Marshall, Marketing Intern
  • Kenneth Olsen, Marketing Intern
  • Linda Tseng, Events Intern
  • Natalie Horvath, Events Intern
  • Nina Cornelius, Events Intern

Staff

  • Anjika Grinager, Graphic Design and Web Management