In her weekly look at Santa Cruz County business, Jessica M. Pasko relays how Joby Aviation has fared in the courtroom lately, crunches local summer tourism data and spotlights more names, numbers and dates to know.
Jessica M. Pasko
Jessica M. Pasko has been writing professionally for more than two decades. She cut her teeth in journalism as a reporter for the Associated Press in her native Albany, New York, where she covered everything from plane crashes and arts & culture to state politics, including assisting with the coverage of former New York State Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s resignation. After getting her master’s degree at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, she moved to the West Coast and covered crime and breaking news for the Santa Cruz Sentinel. She has also worked for KION and written for a variety of local, regional and national publications on both coasts, including Evanston Patch, The Good Times, Santa Cruz Waves and many others.
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Two more local Starbucks stores close; looking at the toll of ongoing closure of Watsonville Community Hospital’s NICU
Starbucks locations in Soquel and Watsonville are among the 250 nationwide affected by another wave of closures at the coffee giant, Jessica M. Pasko reports in her weekly look at Santa Cruz County business.
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Summit on economic opportunities for local arts; Verve workers reach tentative contract; voting underway for Lookout List
A Monterey Bay Economic Partnership summit focused on improving the economic health and quality of life of Santa Cruz, San Benito and Monterey counties, a union deal for local Verve Coffee Roasters employees and how to show your favorite local businesses some love – it’s all part of Jessica M. Pasko’s weekly column.
This week in Santa Cruz County business: New executive director of Volunteer Center sets out his goals; Joby embarks on national tour
In her weekly look at local business, Jessica M. Pasko reports on Shawn Peterson’s focus as he takes over the Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County from Karen Delaney, Joby Aviation’s electric aircraft taking to the skies in Texas and more.
Karen Delaney helped build Santa Cruz County’s Volunteer Center. Now she’s handing it off
Karen Delaney has passed the torch to Shawn Peterson as leader of the Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County, leaving a legacy of impact and big shoes to fill. Peterson is already launched on his own plans for carving out new goals and moving the organization forward.
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Paystand branches into AI agents; court hearing for former Scotts Valley executive; Barilla snaps up Goodles
In this week’s survey of local business, Jessica M. Pasko reports on the rollout of a new AI tool for Santa Cruz-based fintech company Paystand, notes a court date for a former executive of Scotts Valley’s Ambient Photonics and runs down other numbers, names and dates to know.
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Leadership shakeup at Driscoll’s; Watsonville’s new distillery takes inspiration from the sea
In her weekly look at local business, Jessica M. Pasko reports on high-level departures at Watsonville-based berry giant Driscoll’s, a new distillery in South County and plenty of names, numbers and dates to know.
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Workbench files pre-application for new housing on site of Seabright business plaza; Joby makes moves in Texas
In her weekly look at local business, Jessica M. Pasko reports on a proposed six-story mixed-use development in Santa Cruz, Joby Aviation’s latest maneuvers and names, numbers and dates to know.
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Volunteer Center names new director as longtime exec retires; new life ahead for Casalegno’s market
Shawn Peterson takes over for Karen Delaney at a powerhouse local nonprofit, a revival for a Soquel institution and names, numbers and dates to know – Jessica M. Pasko runs it all down in her weekly survey of Santa Cruz County business.
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Local nonprofit partners to help veterans transition into aviation careers; rental market takes dubious top honors for most expensive in the nation
In her latest business column, Jessica M. Pasko highlights a tricounty nonprofit aiming to give veterans more career opportunities, along with dates to keep in mind and more.

