Josh Metz Email & Phone Number

California, United States

Oversee the management and implementation of the Sonoma Mendocino Economic Development District programs and strategic projects including on-going CEDS progress reporting, economic diversification opportunity identification and convening, funding support, and inter-agency government relations.

Carmel Valley, Ca, Us

Leading the Regional Government Services Authority, Economic Development Strategic Services team. Bringing my years of public and private sector experience to work expanding economic development, strategic planning and executive management services for local governments, universities, non-profits, special districts, and joint powers authorities throughout the West. Current and recent projects:- Leading strategic development of Monterey Bay Drone, Automation and Robotics Technology (DART) innovation ecosystem focused good-fit, climate-smart, DART innovation in entrepreneurship, workforce development infrastructure and policy development (Client: MBDART.org).- Supporting expansion of regional business recruitment in the Monterey Bay region of California’s Central Coast focused on good-fit target industries (Client: SelectCentralCoast.org).- Providing District Management services to the Sonoma-Mendocino Economic Development District (Client: SMEDD.org).- Provided strategic advisory, academic visioning, and market alignment for 400-acre, UC Santa Cruz - Monterey Bay Education Science and Technology Center research and innovation district. Focus on Mobility/Artificial Intelligence, Agricultural Technology, and Marine Science/Conservation (Client: UCSC.edu).- Lead retention and expansion of Joby Aviation at the Marina Municipal Airport. Lead coordination, development and completion of municipal retention package involving, state, local and universities partners (Client: CityofMarina.org). - Lead economic development diversification strategy for productive reuse of 250-acre former mill site on the northern California coast in Mendocino County (Client: City of Fort Bragg)- Provided Mendocino County drought emergency response coordination, communication and grant funding, leading to improved community engagement, delivery of critical water supplies to coastal communities, and securing $12.9M drought response grant funding (Client: County of Mendocino).

Marina, California, Us

Co-founder of economic development oriented non-profit focused on growing Drone, Automation & Robotics Technology (DART) center of innovation around the Monterey Bay. The opportunity is to align industry, academia & government towards these future growth sectors for jobs growth and regional vitality. The DART mission includes convening and educating stakeholders; identifying, pursuing and securing public & private funds to support R&D and cluster development; and advocating for safe & secure facilities and airspace access.

Provided executive leadership at Fort Ord Reuse Authority focused on completion of key Fort Ord base reuse programs including economic development, planning, habitat conservation, building removal bond financing and capital improvements. Lead multi-disciplinary teams providing staff support to 23 member Board of Directors comprised of elected leaders from 8 cities, County, State & Federal jurisdictions along with the California State University, University of California, US Army, and other regional agencies.

Served as FORA Assistant Executive Officer supporting completion of key Fort Ord base reuse programs including economic development, planning, habitat conservation, building removal bond financing and capital improvements. Key member of senior leadership team providing internal staff management and mentorship. Working with Executive Officer to provide key staff support to 23 member Board of Directors comprised of elected leaders from 8 cities, County, State & Federal jurisdictions along with the California State University, University of California, US Army, and other regional agencies.

Led regional economic recovery efforts and economic development initiatives focused on clean tech, agriculture, tourism, and higher education. Met with wide variety of businesses to strategize on growth opportunities and provide ongoing case management to facilitate their ongoing needs and contributions to the business ecosystem. Led multi-party strategic initiatives related to key industry sectors involving, research, analysis, marketing and networking events. Managed effective intergovernmental and community relations, complex real estate negotiations, strategic planning, digital marketing and communications, persuasive public speaking, and general management.

Led planning team focused on educational reuse and regional economic recovery from historic Fort Ord closure. Reuse plan included university facilities, subdivisions, transportation, parks, conservation, urban design, and site analysis. Facilitated community engagement and created new regional urban design guidelines focused on walkable town centers, mobility alternatives, connecting urban and natural landscapes, and regional economic development. Liaised with municipal planning and development staffs and ensured all plans met regulatory compliance/consistency determinations. Oversaw urban planning, economic development, housing, tourism and finance research, website development, GIS database management and integration, multi-media map and graphics production, public engagement and communications, design charrettes, and consultant management.

Responsible for guiding strategic direction and operations of non-profit organization representing leading business friendly communities along California’s beautiful Central Coast. Work with partner jurisdictions, businesses and ngo’s to find best fit for new and relocating businesses. Responsibilities include strategic planning, finance, membership development, programmatic implementation, marketing, and communications.

Us

Founded specialized land use planning, strategy, and information services consultancy. Provided consultation services to public and private sector clients throughout California. Led, developed, and managed projects focused on sustainable resource management, economic development, tourism and hospitality planning and development, sustainable agriculture, geographic information systems, remote sensing, regional conservation, and sustainable water demand planning.

Lead business development for boutique wine brand and hospitality center. Drove national sales, supported strategic project development, and increased partnerships.

Santa Barbara, California, Us

Taught lab and lecture sections for ESM 264: Geographic Information Systems with Professor James Frew. Coursework covered GIS principles and applications for Bren School Master in Environmental Science and Management students. Developed and taught new lab and lecture content each semester. Highlight content included vineyard site selection analysis, watershed analysis, image analysis and stream segmentation.

Berkeley, Ca, Us

Taught lab courses for the UC Berkeley Geographic Information Science Center (GISC). Course material included GIS principles and application for a broad range of GIS users in the campus community.

Washington, Dc, Us

1. Managed a systematic inventory of 24 watersheds on the eastside of the Tahoe NF2. Managed personnel, field protocol training and refinement, project intranet website development, database design and development, data management, field visits and inter-departmental coordination3. Managed development and implementation of a pilot field study to map spatial distribution, abundance, and ecological condition of special aquatic habitats on the Tahoe and Lassen National Forests4. Evaluated methods to map the spatial extent of ephemeral stream networks in forested watersheds of the northern Sierra5. Developed and presented training's on the use of GIS for Forest personnel

Washington, Dc, Us

1. Managed two watershed inventory teams conducting watershed assessment field studies in 14 drainages, on 10 National Forests in the Sierra Nevada2. Managed site selection, logistics, databases, and sampling quality control3. Established effective working relationships with many Forest and resource professionals4. Compiled GIS and other resource data for development of a historical impacts assessment5. Drafted project reports and presented to oversight committee6. Researched and developed a GIS dataset for retro-actively tracking timber harvest activity on the Sierraville Ranger District7. Collaborated on the development of a GIS dataset displaying priority conservation watersheds in the Sierra for the Sierra Nevada Conservation Framework

Washington, Dc, Us

Served as aquatic ecology specialist on 14-person watershed inventory team documenting the ecological conditions and biological diversity in drainages feeding Lake Tahoe.

Mla, Landscape Architecture

Bs, Environmental Biology