Christina Vincent started her new job on June 17
By the time you read this you may have already met our new Economic Development Manager, Christina Vincent, who took over that position on June 17.
Vincent came to us from Colorado, where she spent the past year as the economic development administrator for the city of Thornton, and five years prior to that as redevelopment program manager for the city of Fort Collins.
However, Vincent is not new to California, or to San Diego, for that matter.
She's a San Diego native and a graduate of San Diego State University, where she earned her master's degree in city planning, her certificate in community and economic development, and her bachelor's degree in applied arts and sciences. And before moving to Colorado she served as executive director of the College Area Business Improvement District, one of San Diego city's 18 such districts.
The City of Carlsbad is excited to have Vincent on our team because for the past two years we've been building an innovative economic development program that focuses on growing businesses in Carlsbad. We conducted a survey recently to hear from our local firms about what we can do to improve the business climate.
One of the things we heard is that attracting good talent is at the top of your list, and we've developed a program to address that need. We're looking into recruiting a higher education research or educational institution that can help develop a professional workforce and spawn innovation.
Vincent is well-suited for her new tasks because she understands Carlsbad's unique position in the region, and she has a strong background in working with local business communities. She'll continue our collaboration with neighboring cities and economic development councils in North County, as well as with the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce and the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corp.
While in Colorado, Vincent worked with a business incubator, and the City of Carlsbad recently leased the old Farmers Insurance auto claims building to scientists who have opened a new community lab/life sciences incubator, "Bio, Tech and Beyond." Their objective will be to cultivate new products that will cure disease and launch new companies, and will be a complement to our thriving life sciences cluster.
"In theory you want a community to have large industries and innovative companies, and small, retail-oriented businesses," Vincent said in a recent conversation. "You want both to be thriving, and Carlsbad is perfectly positioned to accommodate both large industries and small ones.
"Of all San Diego communities Carlsbad is one community that has been able to grow in a smart and strategic way," Vincent said. "It has attracted headquarters of national and international firms, and has structured itself very well to continue to expand in established industry clusters."
Vincent will take over for me, but I won't be leaving. As the City of Carlsbad's new director of Community & Economic Development, I'll continue to work with many of you in moving the city to new heights. I'll also continue to work very closely with former Community & Economic Development Director Gary Barberio, who is our new assistant city manager.
Please welcome Christina to her new position, and I'm confident you'll become very familiar with her as she works hard to propel Carlsbad to new economic successes.
By the time you read this you may have already met our new Economic Development Manager, Christina Vincent, who took over that position on June 17.
Vincent came to us from Colorado, where she spent the past year as the economic development administrator for the city of Thornton, and five years prior to that as redevelopment program manager for the city of Fort Collins.
However, Vincent is not new to California, or to San Diego, for that matter.
She's a San Diego native and a graduate of San Diego State University, where she earned her master's degree in city planning, her certificate in community and economic development, and her bachelor's degree in applied arts and sciences. And before moving to Colorado she served as executive director of the College Area Business Improvement District, one of San Diego city's 18 such districts.
The City of Carlsbad is excited to have Vincent on our team because for the past two years we've been building an innovative economic development program that focuses on growing businesses in Carlsbad. We conducted a survey recently to hear from our local firms about what we can do to improve the business climate.
One of the things we heard is that attracting good talent is at the top of your list, and we've developed a program to address that need. We're looking into recruiting a higher education research or educational institution that can help develop a professional workforce and spawn innovation.
Vincent is well-suited for her new tasks because she understands Carlsbad's unique position in the region, and she has a strong background in working with local business communities. She'll continue our collaboration with neighboring cities and economic development councils in North County, as well as with the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce and the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corp.
While in Colorado, Vincent worked with a business incubator, and the City of Carlsbad recently leased the old Farmers Insurance auto claims building to scientists who have opened a new community lab/life sciences incubator, "Bio, Tech and Beyond." Their objective will be to cultivate new products that will cure disease and launch new companies, and will be a complement to our thriving life sciences cluster.
"In theory you want a community to have large industries and innovative companies, and small, retail-oriented businesses," Vincent said in a recent conversation. "You want both to be thriving, and Carlsbad is perfectly positioned to accommodate both large industries and small ones.
"Of all San Diego communities Carlsbad is one community that has been able to grow in a smart and strategic way," Vincent said. "It has attracted headquarters of national and international firms, and has structured itself very well to continue to expand in established industry clusters."
Vincent will take over for me, but I won't be leaving. As the City of Carlsbad's new director of Community & Economic Development, I'll continue to work with many of you in moving the city to new heights. I'll also continue to work very closely with former Community & Economic Development Director Gary Barberio, who is our new assistant city manager.
Please welcome Christina to her new position, and I'm confident you'll become very familiar with her as she works hard to propel Carlsbad to new economic successes.