Less than three years since inspiration hit to concoct a better canned cocktail, Nick and Jamie Sanyal are winning awards for their West Peak sparkling spirits and expanding operations from their base in Santa Cruz’s Sash Mill.
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: A deeper dive on Climatize, temporary new digs for Santa Cruz Metro
In this week’s local business roundup, Jessica M. Pasko brings more on a Santa Cruz High grad’s work in microfinancing renewable energy projects, reminds us about Metro’s change of scenery and covers other notes and numbers around the county.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
Crowdfunding climate action: Homegrown Climatize matches money with missions
Launched last May by Santa Cruz High grad Will Wiseman and partner Alba Forns, Climatize has helped secure over $2 million in microloans to support renewable energy projects.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Santa Cruz County Bank marks two decades, new funding rounds for local tech & new CEO for Santa Cruz Bicycles
In this week’s local business roundup, Jessica M. Pasko looks at how a pillar of the banking community has navigated choppy waters, has the latest on capital infusions for Netleaf and Bastille Networks and more news, notes and numbers.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
In turbulent year for regional banks, Santa Cruz County Bank keeps growing
It’s been a choppy stretch for small local banks, but Santa Cruz County Bank, now with eight locations in three counties and approaching $2 billion in assets, has weathered the storm and celebrates a milestone Saturday.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Local company in running for prince’s climate award, Food Bin update and ‘Shark Tank’-style student event
In her weekly column, Jessica M. Pasko covers a big moment for environment-focused local business Climatize, where the project on the current Food Bin site stands and other news, notes and numbers from the Santa Cruz County business community.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Joby chargers, Westside tech acquisition, Dungeness crab season opens
In her weekly roundup of Santa Cruz County business, Jessica M. Pasko covers the sudden closure of all Kelly-Moore Paints stores, including three in Santa Cruz County, Joby’s new air taxi charger in Southern California, and the acquisition of a Westside software company that helps businesses track their carbon footprint.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Santa Cruz County Bank a top SBA lender; new grocery store coming to former Kmart
In her weekly roundup of Santa Cruz County business, Jessica M. Pasko covers a homegrown bank’s key role in regional small business lending, a SoCal grocery chain setting up shop on Freedom Boulevard and other news, notes and numbers from local biz.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
This week in Santa Cruz County business: economic inequality, storm recovery and The Midway opens
In her weekly roundup of Santa Cruz County business news, Jessica M. Pasko reports on a new study on inequality across the Monterey Bay, changes to minimum wage and sick leave laws in California and the opening of The Midway restaurant.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
Stark racial, economic inequalities persist across Monterey Bay, new study finds
The entire Monterey Bay region, including Santa Cruz County, is grappling with significant disparities in homeownership rates among racial groups, but is making strides in other areas when it comes to reducing inequality, such as combating food insecurity and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, according to a recent study.