After his family lost their home in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, Paystand founder and CEO Jeremy Almond went back to school to figure out how to reduce the economy’s reliance on the traditional banking system. Paystand uses blockchain-based technology to allow mid-sized companies to do things like pay vendors directly without having to mail them a paper check or automate payments for recurring bills. Earlier this month, it acquired New York-based Teampay, which brings Paystand’s network of companies to more than a million.
Jessica M. Pasko
Jessica M. Pasko has been writing professionally for almost 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.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Cruz Foam’s national deal, REI employees vote to unionize, outdoor dining permit rules still pending approval
Cruz Foam is expanding the reach of its sustainable packaging, the Santa Cruz County labor movement takes another step and the latest chapter in what’s become a complicated transition to outdoor dining in Santa Cruz are all topics in Jessica M. Pasko’s weekly business roundup.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
This week in Santa Cruz County business: New fitness center planned for Midtown, Chamber honors local leaders, no ’24 salmon season
In her weekly roundup of local business, Jessica M. Pasko spotlights local gym owners with big plans for a former Rite Aid, covers the Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce’s annual gala and runs down names, numbers and dates to know.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
Santa Cruz Power Fitness owners aim to transform former Rite Aid into state-of-art fitness facility
The couple who owns Santa Cruz Power Fitness have found that their members often belong to several gyms as they seek different amenities. In swooping into the Midtown spot vacated by Rite Aid, they’re hoping to consolidate a variety of clients into one state-of-the-art spot.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
This week in Santa Cruz County business: REI employees’ union push, salmon decision day and East Cliff Village plans
REI is the latest among Santa Cruz County stores to move toward unionization, following recent efforts at local Starbucks, Jessica M. Pasko reports in her latest business roundup. Also included: when the local salmon fleet will hear about the upcoming season, development plans for the Live Oak farmers market’s current site, comings and goings and dates to save.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Wharf seeks new pop-up vendors; downtown housing developments
The City of Santa Cruz is looking for vendors to run a small pop-up space near the entrance of the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf this summer, Jessica M. Pasko writes in her latest business roundup. Plus, a major downtown Santa Cruz rental housing development begins accepting applications, while another developer proposes a 16-story tower. And plenty of business mixers are on the calendar this spring.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Paystand’s new philanthropic campaign and national accolades for local biz
Scotts Valley-based Paystand is bringing the benefits of blockchain and Bitcoin technology to underbanked and unbanked populations, Jessica M. Pasko reports in her latest business roundup. Plus, find more on local comings and goings, numbers to know and events to add to your calendar.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Bad news for commercial fishing, new deadline for outdoor dining permits, big grant for Pajaro Valley health trust
In her latest roundup of local business news, Jessica M. Pasko examines the impact of another severely restricted salmon season, updates the outdoor dining situation in the city of Santa Cruz and highlights upcoming events.
Posted inFood & Drink
California’s commercial salmon fishermen face another disaster of a season amid proposed federal restrictions
A regional fishery council is mulling three proposals for commercial salmon season, with one canceling the season entirely and the other two severely limiting how long the season would last and how many salmon could be taken.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Westside dispensary moves forward, local companies named top green tech businesses, search for new Open Studios leader
In this week’s roundup of Santa Cruz County business, Jessica M. Pasko reports on a cannabis dispensary proposed for the former Emily’s Bakery location, local companies making a green tech splash and other notes, numbers and events.