The Economic Alliance Foundation Board
EconAlliance 2019 Officers
President:
Joe Halsell -- President/CEO,Halsell Builders
Read About Joe
Joseph (Joe) R. Halsell is the President/ CEO and co-owner of three Santa Maria-based construction companies: Halsell Builders, Inc., a custom home building and remodeling company; Re+New Restoration, Inc., a fire, flood, and emergency services repair company; and Energy Upgrade Central Coast, the energy retrofit division of Halsell Builders, Inc.
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VP Finance:
Mike Sell -- Vice President, Pacific Western Bank
Read About Mike
Mr. Michael Sell has been a Banker on the Central Coast for over 25 years. Born in Wisconsin and raised in Iowa, Midwestern values and work ethic have been the cornerstone for his success in life. His career in banking began in processing and bookkeeping for a bank in Iowa.
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VP Governance & Operations:
Sam Cohen -- Gov’t & Legal Affairs Representative, Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians
Read About Sam
Sam Cohen is the Government Affairs Officer and Legal Officer for the Santa Ynez Band of
Chumash Indians, a position he has held since
2005.
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Chumash Indians, a position he has held since
2005.
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VP Fund Development:
Philip Adam -- Production Supervisor, Innovative Produce
Read About Philip
Philip Adam is a sixth generation produce farmer in the Santa Maria Valley. As part of the family ownership of Innovative Produce, Inc., Philip has worked in every aspect of the business from moving sprinkler pipe to research and development.
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Secretary:
Rick Rust -- Public Affairs Project Manager, Aera Energy LLC
Read About Rick
Rick Rust is responsible for public affairs in Santa Barbara County.
Before joining public affairs, Rick spent 17 years on the operations side of the business. His rich field experience brings a strong understanding of the industry and Aera’s operations.
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Before joining public affairs, Rick spent 17 years on the operations side of the business. His rich field experience brings a strong understanding of the industry and Aera’s operations.
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Treasurer:
Frankie Lindley -- Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Coastal Vineyard Care Associates
Immediate Past President:
Steven Pepe -- Co-Founder, Clos Pepe Vineyards EconAlliance Founder
Read About Steven
Steve Pepe grew up in a family with a tradition of home wine-making, became the founder of Clos Pepe, and created the 9th vineyard in what has become the Santa Rita Valley viticulture area. Clos Pepe is now a vineyard known for its
very fine Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines and Steve has become a leader in the California Wine community.
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very fine Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines and Steve has become a leader in the California Wine community.
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EconAlliance 2019 Directors
Maribel Aguilera -- Attorney, Kirk & Simas
Read About Maribel
Maribel was born in San Luis Obispo, California. Her family moved to Santa Maria at an early age to follow the agriculture industry. She attended Santa Maria High School and received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from La Sierra University in Riverside, CA.
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Megan Cullen -- Owner, YV Consulting & Marketing
Read About Megan
Megan Cullen is a 30-year resident of Santa Ynez Valley and an expert in international trade.Megan was appointed by the US Secretary of Commerce to serve on the District Export Council of Southern California and has served since 2010. She is currently Secretary and Vice-Chair, Central Coast.
She graduated from Portland State University with a degree in Spanish, with minors in French, German and Dutch and a strong emphasis on the sciences.
Megan has her own consulting firm, SYV Consulting and Marketing.
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She graduated from Portland State University with a degree in Spanish, with minors in French, German and Dutch and a strong emphasis on the sciences.
Megan has her own consulting firm, SYV Consulting and Marketing.
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Mike Kirkwood -- Banking Profesional, The Mortgage House
Read About Mike
Mike Kirkwood has over 40 years of banking experience, having been a banker on the Central Coast since 1989. His wide range of banking experience includes management of
large retail banking offices to management of centralized lending functions for small business and retail consumer business. He is a seasoned commercial lender and business service specialist. His most recent position was as Business Services Manager of Coast Hills Credit Union. Before that, Mike Kirkwood served as Vice President of Commercial Loans for a Community West Bank, a prominent Central Coast regional bank.
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large retail banking offices to management of centralized lending functions for small business and retail consumer business. He is a seasoned commercial lender and business service specialist. His most recent position was as Business Services Manager of Coast Hills Credit Union. Before that, Mike Kirkwood served as Vice President of Commercial Loans for a Community West Bank, a prominent Central Coast regional bank.
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Suzanne Singh -- Economic Development Director, Santa Maria Valley Chamber
Read About Suzanne
Suzanne Singh has provided leadership for the Santa Maria Valley Chamber’s Economic Development Commission since January 2017. She previously served as President for Rancho Santa Margarita Chamber where she successfully re-built and created a thriving organization by concentrating on business attraction and retention, and support for the community and the businesses within the region.
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Consultant/Initiatives Director:
Victoria Conner -- Principal, Strategic Vitality LLC
Read About Vicki
The principal of Strategic Vitality LLC, a strategic planning and “creative consensus-building” firm. She is also a co-founder of EconAlliance and has served the organization for several years as consultant and Initiatives Director, coordinating various industry and support initiatives.
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Read Full Bio