Companies
Casey Beyer Hired as Business Council Executive
By Robert Singleton
Santa Cruz County Business Council
(Photo above: The Santa Cruz County Business Council (SCCBC) has hired senior Silicon Valley Executive and long time public policy leader Casey Beyer, above, as their new Executive Director. Source: LinkedIn)
July 16, 2015 — Santa Cruz, CA
The long time senior executive has worked in multiple Congressional offices as the Chief of Staff, has served as Chief Assistant to the California Secretary of State, and most recently as the Senior Advisor to the President and CEO of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group.
The Santa Cruz County Business Council (SCCBC) has hired senior Silicon Valley Executive and long time public policy leader Casey Beyer as their new Executive Director. Mr. Beyer, who has served in leadership positions under numerous elected officials and private companies for over 30 years, joins the Business Council on the heels of one of the most successful advocacy years on record for the organization, after former Executive Director Joe Foster left last December. The countywide business group represents some of the largest companies in Santa Cruz, including Plantronics, the Seaside Company, Dominican Hospital and Barry Swenson Builder. The SCCBC is currently chaired by the CEO and founder of Cruzio Internet, Peggy Dolgenos.
Dolgenos stated, “Casey will bring a new set of advocacy skills to the Business Council and will build upon a collaborative approach to advocacy between the Business Council members and the public policy decision makers and other organizations in Santa Cruz County. With years of executive level experience in the public, private and non-profit sectors combined with his hands-on knowledge of county policies and politics he is the right person to lead us in the future. He will be a tremendous asset to the Business Council and the greater Santa Cruz County business community,”
In response to the news, Mr. Beyer responded, “It is an honor to be selected for this important position in the Santa Cruz County business community. As a resident of the county, I care deeply about the county’s economic vitality and intend to roll up my sleeves to continue the good work of my predecessors, Joe Foster and Gary Merrill.
For over three decades Casey Beyer has held leadership positions as a corporate executive or public sector official; the Valley Industry and Commerce Association (VICA); Building Industry Association, Silicon Valley Leadership Group, the American Electronics Association, The US Chamber, Joint Venture Silicon Valley Network Tax Policy and Public Sector Roundtable, Los Angeles County’s Universal Preschool Advisory Committee, City of Manhattan Beach’s Environmental Task Force charged with advising the City Council on the Development of a Climate Action Plan; Waste Reduction and Recycling policies; and Sustainable (Green Building Design).
Casey has also worked in Washington DC, the Silicon Valley and Sacramento for elected officials at the federal and state level serving on Congressional task forces, state agencies, and county committees handling policy matters ranging from aging and social security, environment and energy, early education, immigration and foreign diplomacy, health and human service legislation, housing and community development, national disaster preparedness, procurement process, tax and trade policy, transportation, and federal and state water policy.
The Business Council, under the leadership of Joe Foster and then interim Executive Director Gary Merrill assisted by policy analyst Robert Singleton has been instrumental in representing the business community within the County, helping to advocate for the successful passage of the County Economic
Vitality Study and Strategy, the Sustainable Santa Cruz County Plan, and the recent updates to the County’s affordable housing program. The core areas of focus for the organization are the development of more housing, improved transportation, and more opportunities in local education and solutions to address our limited water supply. Additionally, the Business Council is currently leading a cooperative between the Community Foundation, Cabrillo College, and UCSC to develop a countywide internship portal for use by local students and businesses.
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