CURIOUS MINDS | OPEN DISCUSSIONS | UNLIMITED POTENTIAL

Mark is a 1989 Cal Poly Crop Science graduate. He grew up mostly in Southern California with a three year stint in Germany and two years in the Netherlands. He joined Bejo Seeds, USA in 1991 and currently serves as President/Managing Director, responsible for the US and Canadian regions. Bejo Seeds global base is in the Netherlands, with 30 subsidiaries around the world. Bejo is engaged in breeding, production and sales/marketing of high quality vegetable seeds for both home gardeners and large scale commercial growers.  

Mark enjoys living on the beautiful central coast with his wife, Edie and 5 children. He has been an avid gardener since childhood and continues to enjoy digging in the dirt and harvesting fresh vegetables after work on his way to the dinner table. He enjoys kayaking on the ocean and backpacking the High Sierras.

MATRIX has been an important part of my ongoing development as a business leader and manager.  My background is in the sciences, so having this advisory group with diverse experiences and business backgrounds to bounce ideas off of, trade stories with and engage with speakers in a small group setting has been invaluable.  

As a member of MATRIX you will find yourself part of a team of close knit local business leaders, supporting each other with the exchange of ideas, problem solving, and exploring cutting edge business developments and concepts in a small group setting with outstanding speakers organized by Uta and her expansive network of thought leaders throughout the country and the world.

As a group we welcome new members who are insightful local business leaders who want to grow      their businesses and engage with other local business leaders to build a healthy community.  

Suzy is the CEO of Competitive Edge a Full Service Marketing and Media agency of 20 plus years. Her early experience in direct to consumer media placement has helped grow Competitive Edge into a traditional marketing and media agency with an eye for performance, data and optimization. Her team of experts have worked for the largest Brands and Marketing agencies in the world and love the ability to help clients succeed and grow. Managing over $25+ million in marketing, media and management services for clients that range from CPG, Wine and Spirits to Sports/Health. 

As a sole owner in the business, the MATRIX group acts as a sounding board for ideas, concerns and issues small and large. The group has a wide range of business types and stages of development which allows for differing viewpoints. The speakers almost always have a take away I will implement due to relevance. Great way to get honest feedback for yourself and your company.   

Advice from a counsel of seasoned CEO’s is priceless. 

Personally, I love learning about new businesses and their successes, goals and struggles. I look forward to a member who is passionate for their business and just wants to share their insights and be open to learning and growing as a leader.

Brad grew up in a military (Air Force) family where he moved 9 times before attending Cal Poly many years ago. While at Cal Poly and for the next 5 years he worked in a small local civil engineering and surveying firm with a focus on land development. He joined John L Wallace & Associates in 1988 (now Wallace Group) and has since risen to his current responsibilities as a President and Chief Executive Officer. 

Brad’s more than 30 years’ experience includes a full range of civil engineering design and management services. Perhaps most rewarding were several local golf course projects and communities which include Black Lake, Cypress Ridge, Dairy Creek, and the Trilogy at Monarch Dunes. His current focus is company strategic planning while mentoring peers and younger professionals through his leadership and active project participation. 

Brad is active with several non-profits and professional organizations with a focus on home building, infrastructure and economic/business development. When he’s not at work or involved with one of these organizations, Brad enjoys spending time with his wife (Jane) and 2 sons (Jason and Joshua), which often includes basketball, biking, hiking (with their 2 dogs), skiing, and an occasional triathlon.

MATRIX has a diverse group of community leaders with different backgrounds and business models. This diversity provides me the opportunity to learn how other businesses operate and compete for qualified staff in our respective fields. On a personal note, the time together in this group has allowed me to better reflect and improve on my work-life balance.

If you are looking for a unique opportunity to work with leaders from different professions who are open and willing to listen and engage in thoughtful feedback, MATRIX will benefit you. Uta is always prepared and does a great job keeping us on track.

Creative and engaged business leaders who are committed to improving themselves, their business (and ours), and the community we live in.  . 

Joanne grew up in South Dakota in a family with a love for great food. She received a degree in accounting from the University of Maryland School of Business with the goal of owning her own business. In 1986 Joanne moved to California and managed a small but very successful restaurant chain. In 1991, Joanne and her husband Ross purchased Splash Café in Pismo Beach, CA. The first nine years of 100% annual growth coupled with first place wins at competitions helped to begin a 30+ year journey that has seen her perfect the Clam Chowder recipe that is now award-winning and world famous. This growth led to a second location in San Luis Obispo, distribution to Costco stores and to other restaurants, and a catering division. Joanne has also developed a specialty hot sauce and a trio of spice rubs that she markets online, through her own cafés, and in small gourmet markets. Joanne is active in the business community earning ‘Business of the year’ in 2009 and ‘Volunteer of the Year’ in 2014 from the Pismo Beach Chamber of Commerce. 

The group benefits me because it gives me an opportunities to see my own issues through other people's eyes, providing different perspectives

If you're looking for a support system of collaborators who help you make big business decisions, this group is for you!

We are looking for thoughtful, ambitious, team-spirited, community-minded individuals. If that's you, reach out!

Michelle graduated from Cal Poly from the ARCE Department in 1998 and was fortunate enough join a small firm on the Central Coast and stay in the area. The small firm eventually grew to a 30+ person firm with multiple offices. After the founding principals retired, Michelle became CEO in 2016 and has been working to increase the firms revenue year over year every since. Her biggest accomplishment to date includes transitioning the firm to a 100% employee owned entity. Michelle lives with her husband, two sons, mother-in-law and dogs Jocko and Max. Free time is enjoyed raising livestock, gardening, traveling, exploring food and wine, and playing cribbage with the family.

Having solely studied engineering in college, MATRIX has helped me learn how to run a business effectively. It's also provided me a place to process both business and personal issues in order to help me be a better leader for my firm.   

Business leaders often feel alone in their positions without a place to turn to get unbiased advice.  This group has been a sounding board for me on issues I do not have anyone to confide in within my organization. If that sounds like something that would be of benefit to you, I highly recommend Uta and the MATRIX Group.

We're looking for business leaders committed to learning, sharing and being fully present for the meetings and the members of the group. 

Mike is the CEO for the North American Fire Hose Corporation, which manufactures fire hose products for the municipal, industrial and forestry fire protection markets. The company was founded in 1991 by Mike and his father, after many years of leadership positions with one of the largest manufacturers of fire hose products globally before that time. 

With his educational background as a Chemical Engineer, he has been involved in Quality Control, Research and Development, and Executive VP of Operations. In 1991 the father-and-son-team was ready to take the next step and create their own manufacturing facility in Santa Maria, CA. At this time the company is expanding its existing facility in order to double their current production capacity.

The company currently employs about 90 people involved in the manufacture of the highest quality, American-made fire hose in the industry. 2022 marks the 30th anniversary of the company.

As the surviving founder in a complex manufacturing environment, MATRIX has provided me with the opportunity to dive deeply, and with the strictest of confidence, into complex and sometimes emotional issues involving both the business and my personal life. I have learned a tremendous amount through our world-class speaker programs in areas that I would not have been exposed to outside of the group.

Having a group of executives from other companies provides you with a critical opportunity to discuss and process and issues in a confidential environment. 

We are looking for business leaders with a desire to improve themselves and to review issues affecting themselves and their businesses with personal access a confidential advisory board.

Born and raised on the Central Coast, Tim started in the construction industry with his family-owned business and then spent the last 30+ years in the construction industry. His background in construction includes land development, design, residential, commercial and industrial—with a focus on construction management.

He joined Anderson Burton in 2013 as an estimating manager, got promoted to COO in 2015 and to CEO in 2017. Anderson Burton transitioned to an employee-owned business in 2021.

Seeing other people’s perspectives helps me gain new perspectives as well. Having the time to shut everything off at work and focusing on myself. Separating myself from my phone for our monthly meetings is life-changing, allowing all the background noise to go away and focus on what’s really going on in my life and work. 

Be open-minded, vocal and present.

We welcome new members who are energetic, offer a diverse background and are looking to grow and help others.

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