This week in Santa Cruz County business: La Selva Beach drone company inks Spanish partner; Watsonville’s economic matchmaker

Quick Take

Parallel Flight Technologies has enlisted help in adapting its Firefly drone for maritime environments, Jessica M. Pasko reports in this week's look around Santa Cruz County business.

Each week, we’re taking a closer look at the movers and shakers, the growth of industries and what’s really driving the Santa Cruz County economy. I’ll be spotlighting some of the biggest areas for opportunity, updates on local development and all things underpinning the regional business scene each Wednesday.

Got ideas? Send them my way to news@lookoutlocal.com with “Business News” in the subject line.

La Selva Beach-based Parallel Flight Technologies working with Spanish company to support Navy research

Drone developer Parallel Flight Technologies announced it’s now working with Spain’s Alpha Unmanned Systems to further its efforts in unmanned aviation for the U.S. Navy.

The La Selva Beach company is the creator of Firefly, a special type of drone that combines heavy lifting and long duration, designed for use in defense operations, firefighting, agriculture and more. Unmanned Systems is a European leader in fuel-powered helicopter-like unmanned vehicles.

A Parallel Flight Technologies drone in flight. Credit: Parallel Flight Technologies

Unmanned Systems will help Parallel Flight continue its work adapting Firefly to operate on what’s called heavy fuel (essentially, aviation-grade fuel), which will enable longer trips carrying heavier loads in demanding naval environments.

The U.S. Office of Naval Research awarded Parallel Flight Technologies a $3.74 million contract last fall to modify Firefly for maritime operations.

ICYMI: Watsonville hires ‘matchmaker’ to spur economic development

To aid efforts to attract national retailers, Watsonville city officials have hired a consultant firm to market the city at trade shows attended by national retailers and restaurants.

As Lookout’s Tania Ortiz reports, the firm, Retail Strategies, will essentially act like a matchmaker to find businesses that would make a good fit for the community. It’s part of an ongoing effort by Watsonville leaders to spur economic development.

The firm will conduct a comprehensive analysis of the city’s demographics, consumer behavior and market conditions to help build relationships with national chains that might be interested in opening a location in Watsonville.

Ch-ch-changes

Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce seeking nominees for annual awards: Nominations are open for the Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture’s 64th annual awards program, which will be presented in July. Categories include man and woman of the year, organization and event of the year, and business of the year. Nominations are due Thursday, April 9, by email to shaz@pajarovalleychamber.com or by mail to Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 1748, Watsonville, 95076.
Bingo promotion kicks off to benefit Harbor and Seabright businesses: Businesses in Santa Cruz’s Seabright and harbor areas are struggling amid the disruption of the ongoing, on-again-off-again Murray Street Bridge closures. In an effort to promote them, customers who spend $15 or more at participating Harbor and Seabright businesses can earn a bingo square by saving their receipts from Feb. 1 to March 31. Once a customer completes one row, they can turn in their card and receipts at either Day’s Market or the Crow’s Nest Beach Market for a chance to win a prize. To get a bingo card for yourself or your business, email Shiri Gradek at sgradek@santacruzca.gov. The Murray Street Bridge partially reopened two weeks ago, but business owners in the harbor and Seabright areas are still struggling, as Lookout’s Lillian Schrock-Clevenger reports here.
Scotts Valley’s Universal Audio wins big at music industry trade show: Universal Audio, creator of audio production tools, took home six Technical Excellence and Creativity Awards last month at NAMM, the annual industry trade show held by the National Association of Music Merchants. The Scotts Valley-headquartered company won in the categories of signal processing hardware, computer audio hardware, amplification hardware, musical instrument amplification and effects, musical instrument software and signal processing software. See the full list of winners here.

Nicole Beaver, manager of Bay Federal Credit Union's Capitola branch. — Nicole Beaver will oversee Bay Federal Credit Union’s Scotts Valley, Santa Cruz, Capitola and Freedom branches. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

Bay Federal Credit Union promotes two: Santa Cruz-based Bay Federal Credit Union has promoted Nicole Beaver and Ruben Muñoz to assistant vice president, regional manager. Beaver will oversee the credit union’s Scotts Valley, Santa Cruz, Capitola and Freedom branches, while Munoz will support the Aptos, Watsonville, Salinas and Marina branches.
Pogonip Pizza opens on upper Westside: Pogonip Pizza is now open at 222 Cardiff Place in Santa Cruz, near the 7-Eleven on High Street. It’s the brainchild of co-owner and chef Ryan Thompson, a Santa Cruz native and third-generation restaurateur.

Got hires, promotions or departures to report? Send them to news@lookoutlocal.com with the subject line “Career changes.”

What’s new on the Lookout Job Board

Locksmith FT at Coast Lock and Safe
Architectural Design Professional III / Job Captain at 19six Architects
Patient Care Coordinator at Santa Cruz Pelvic Health
Associate Director for Clinical Services at UC Santa Cruz
Family Office Associate at Private Family Office
Senior Cook, Early Education Services at UC Santa Cruz

Want more? Browse all openings on our job board. | Hiring? Post your job today!

Save the date

Wednesday, Feb. 11: The Santa Cruz Area Chamber of Commerce and the Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County will host a workshop for business leaders on mastering difficult conversations, held at the Community Foundation’s Aptos headquarters. The presenter is Candice Elliott, vice president of people and culture at Lime Technology and the founder of Fortress and Flourish, a human resources strategy firm based in Santa Cruz. Tickets are $50 for chamber members and $75 for others. Details and registration here.
Thursday, Feb. 19: The Aptos Chamber of Commerce will hold its February luncheon with guest speaker Jenn Capps, the new president of Cabrillo College. The event takes place at Seascape Golf Club from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tickets and registration here.
Thursday, Feb. 26: Santa Cruz Pride will hold a workshop for executives, business owners, human resources professionals and managers at the Hotel Paradox in Santa Cruz from 9 a.m. to noon. The event, titled Elevate LGBTQ+ Workplace Inclusion: The Power of Belonging, will include real stories from local businesses, networking and more. Speakers include Santa Cruz County Supervisor Monica Martinez and Sharon Papo, the CEO of LGBTQ eLearning. Register here to attend.
Thursday, Feb. 26: Santa Cruz Core Fitness & Rehab will host a “mix and mingle” at its Watsonville location at 50 Penny Lane from 5 to 7 p.m. with refreshments and a chance to meet with staff.
Friday, March 13: The Capitola-Soquel Chamber of Commerce’s annual awards gala takes place from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at Chaminade Resort and Spa in Santa Cruz. Nominations are currently open for person of the year, business of the year, educator of the year, outstanding youth and the community spirit awards. For registration, details and the nomination form, click here.
Thursday, April 16: The Santa Cruz Area Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual community recognition awards event at The Grove in Santa Cruz from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Early bird registration is available through March 15.