REGIONAL ECONOMIC OUTLOOK
Friday, May 15, 2026 | 8:30am – 2pm | Embassy Suites, Seaside
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ABOUT THE EVENT
Join us for the 2026 Regional Economic Outlook, an educational convening that brings together leaders from business, government, and community sectors to explore current economic conditions and emerging trends across the Central Coast.
This event will provide insights into regional progress, highlight key challenges and opportunities, and share updates on collaborative initiatives such as Regions Rise Together and Uplift Central Coast—efforts focused on advancing economic opportunity, workforce development, and inclusive growth across our region.
WHY YOU SHOULD ATTEND
Attending the Regional Economic Outlook offers a unique opportunity to engage with the leaders, ideas, and data shaping the future of the Central Coast. By bringing together diverse voices from across sectors, this event creates space for meaningful dialogue, shared understanding, and collaborative problem-solving.
Whether you’re looking to stay informed on economic trends, strengthen partnerships, or ensure your perspective is part of the conversation, this convening provides the insight and connections needed to move our region forward—together.
EVENT SCHEDULE
**Please note these sessions and times are subject to change as we finalize our program.**
8:30 am
Networking Breakfast & Registration
9:00 am
Welcome
Ian Oglesby
Faris Sabbah, Ph.D.
Building Economic Momentum Across
the Tri-County Region
Tahra Goraya
How Supply Shocks are
Shaping the Economic Outlook
Sylvain Leduc, Ph.D.
Jon Haveman, Ph.D.
Break
Informed or Influenced? Elections, Media, and Politics in the Age of AI
Ian Calderon
Danny Fierro
Tri-County Leadership:
Aligning for What’s Ahead
Esperanza Colio Warren
Nicole Coburn
Growing Together: Collective Action for a Thriving Pajaro Valley
Andrea Carlos Willy
Tamara Vides
Heather Contreras
Elissa Benson
Carmen Herrera-Mansir
The Promise of CAAMCI: Connecting Communities to the Future of Economic Mobility
Lavera Alexander
Kevin Causey
Thomas Horvath
Housing for All
Matt Huerta
Kristen Clements
Anastacia Wyatt
Broadband & Digital Opportunity
Maure Gildea
1:00 pm
Closing & Networking Lunch
Tahra Goraya
EVENT SPEAKERS
IAN OGLESBY
Mayor, City of Seaside
FARIS SABBAH, PH.D.
President, MBEP Board of Directors; Santa Cruz County Superintendent of Schools
TAHRA GORAYA
President & CEO, Monterey Bay Economic Partnership
SYLVAIN LEDUC, PH.D.
Executive Vice President and Director of Research, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco
JON HAVEMAN, PH.D.
Executive Director, National Economic Education Delegation
IAN CALDERON
Founder & CEO, Majority Advisors
DANNY FIERRO
Founder & Managing Partner, Presidio Public Affairs
ESPERANZA COLIO WARREN
County Administrative Officer, San Benito County
NICOLE COBURN
County Executive Officer, Santa Cruz County
ANDREA CARLOS WILLY
Impact and Resource Development Officer, PVUSD
TAMARA VIDES
City Manager, City of Watsonville
DR. HEATHER CONTRERAS
Superintendent of Schools, PVUSD
ELISSA BENSON
Assistant County Executive Officer, Santa Cruz County
CARMEN HERRERA-MANSIR
Executive Director, El Pájaro Community Development Corporation
LAVERA ALEXANDER
Chief Growth Officer, Monterey Bay Economic Partnership
KEVIN CAUSEY
President of Montage Health Foundation and Vice President of External Affairs, Montage Health
THOMAS HORVATH, PH.D.
Dean, School of Science, CSU Monterey Bay
MATT HUERTA
Senior Advisor, Monterey Bay Economic Partnership
KRISTEN CLEMENTS
Director of Policy and Advocacy, Housing Trust Silicon Valley
ANASTACIA WYATT
Housing Manager, City of Monterey
MAURE GILDEA
Director of Technology & Digital Access, Monterey Bay Economic Partnership
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
We invite your support in making this regional conference a success. Now more than ever, your partnership helps ensure MBEP has the capacity and resources to advance our work in housing, economic and workforce development, broadband access, and policy advocacy. Your sponsorship makes it possible to convene leaders from across our tri-county region—bringing together business, government, and community to share insights, collaborate, and drive meaningful progress aligned with our strategic priorities.
Sponsorship helps to not only host this regional convening but to also support MBEP’s operations year around. I hope we can count on you! Please contact Tahra Goraya or Jessica Gilden for more information.
