March 29, 2024 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

Santa Monica State of the City to Name Hack the Beach Winner:

Join us to talk about Santa Monica’s exciting future on January 28 at 4:30 pm at the 2016 State of the City event, a partnership between the Chamber and the City. This year’s event – held for the first time in the evening – will highlight the many ways that Santa Monicans “Innovate & Create” to push the boundaries of business, technology and government.

State of the City will take place at SGI Auditorium in downtown Santa Monica and is a who’s who of Santa Monica, bringing together business and resident communities with City leaders to hear first-hand about the city’s economic outlook, as well as the new initiatives aimed at helping all Santa Monicans thrive. Networking reception with sustainable small bites from 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm.

We will be celebrating the following business and community leaders this year: Water Garden for the Economic Excellence Award; Crossroads School for Arts and Sciences for the Community Excellence Award; and Science for the Impact Award. The winner of the inaugural Hack the Beach Award will be announced from the stage. Top sponsors include Metro, Santa Monica Place, Water Garden, Santa Monica Travel and Tourism and Cornerstone.

Tickets are $10 for students and seniors, $40 for members and $50 for non-members. Alternative transportation encouraged so there will be a Breeze Bike hub and free bike valet as well as Uber Promo codes and FreeRide shuttles. For more information can be found at smchamber.com/SOTC or by calling 310.393.9825. #SOTC2016

Adam Weiss, Vice President, Business Affairs & General Counsel, Cornerstone OnDemand

We hear a lot about disruptors. What does that mean to you?

Disruptors fundamentally change how business is done, and what we’ve done at Cornerstone is transform the way companies engage and enable their workforce. We have pioneered learning and talent management solutions that enable organizations of all sizes and across all industries to realize the potential of a modern workforce.

Sixteen years ago, we were a small Santa Monica startup. Today, we are one of the fastest growing cloud software companies in the world, publicly traded on the NASDAQ and with 19 offices around the globe. Over time, we have found that there are three main elements that keep us ahead of – and, at times, igniting – technology and workforce trends:

Listening to our clients. We initially built our company roadmap on client feedback, and today we continue to refine our product offering based on today’s workforce needs. 

Fueling the ecosystem. Having achieved growth and success, we appreciate the importance of having a viable ecosystem. Whether it is fostering innovation across our workforce through employee hackathons, or providing mentorship and funding to startups innovating in our space, we believe these things are essential to not only paying it forward in a sense but to also keeping that entrepreneurial spirit alive at our company.

Giving back. We launched the Cornerstone OnDemand Foundation in 2010 with the mission of providing our technology and capacity-building programs to nonprofits around the world and helping them to better develop, engage and empower their employees and the communities they serve. Our close collaboration with these organizations has sparked innovative initiatives such as DisasterReady.org, an online training platform we developed that provides disaster responders with free access to state-of-the-art e-learning courses and training tools covering all aspects of humanitarian aid and disaster relief.

The tech industry is exploding in Santa Monica. How should the city adapt to the particular needs of these businesses in order to help them succeed? 

Santa Monica has done many things right in recent years to foster the growth of a strong tech presence, and should continue to do more of the same.  This includes offering affordable office space to encourage tech companies (particularly cash-strapped startups), venture capital firms, incubators, accelerators, developer schools, and other members of the tech community to set up shop in the city. 

While accessibility to Santa Monica for non-locals will be significantly improved by the impending opening of the LA Metro Expo Line, the city should continue to improve its offering of low-cost housing so young tech talent from the Los Angeles region and elsewhere have sufficient living options.  Lastly, Santa Monica officials must continue to encourage tech conferences, meet-ups, and other events to take place in the city to further strengthen the local community.

As host of the “Hack the Beach” awards at the 2016 State of the City, what do you think are the next steps in continuing collaboration?

What we love about being a tech company in Santa Monica is that there really seems to be a sense of community and unity. People are excited and inspired by what’s happening here, and we want to continue to see it thrive. For companies like Cornerstone who have achieved success, we believe it’s important to play an active role in fostering the city’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

One way we’ve done this is by investing back into Santa Monica’s startup community through the Cornerstone Innovation Fund, which invests in early- to growth-stage companies that have transformative ideas in and around talent management. We also have the Cornerstone Accelerator in our Santa Monica headquarters, where we provide a unique workspace and mentorship program to startups.

Another way we support the community here is by shining a big spotlight on it via the LA Tech Summit. Now in its fourth year, the event promotes the Santa Monica and broader Los Angeles area technology ecosystem and celebrates the elements that make it unique. We’ve been able to bring together hundreds of entrepreneurs, VCs, influencers and more to form connections and hopefully attract added investment in and excitement around LA tech.

As one of our fastest growing, cutting edge companies in Santa Monica, what do you think the Santa Monica Chamber does to stay ahead of the pack to meet the needs of your company and help other companies like yours to stay relevant?

The Santa Monica Chamber is well-attuned to the nature and needs of the regional tech ecosystem. Fostering and supporting groups such as the Santa Monica Technology Council raises city and other officials’ awareness of sector needs, and it increases collaboration opportunities between and among tech companies based in the Santa Monica area.

in News
Related Posts

Customers at These Palisades Stores Can Get Cash Rewards for Sharing Their Experience

March 29, 2024

March 29, 2024

Thumzup is Starting its L.A. Footprint Expansion with Pacific Palisades Thumzup, a company which aims to democratize the social media...

Homeless Man Sentenced to State Prison for Crimes Against Homeless Women

March 29, 2024

March 29, 2024

Man Pleads No Contest to Series of Sexual Assaults Anthony Pittman, currently homeless, has pled no contest to a series...

(Video) Series A Coffee Now Open in Beverly Hills at 8328 Wilshire Blvd

March 29, 2024

March 29, 2024

Located in the space that formerly housed a Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf. Try the Black Pearl Iced Coffee. @smmirrornews...

Los Angeles County Braces for Heavy Rain, Snow, and Possible Thunderstorms Over Weekend

March 28, 2024

March 28, 2024

National Weather Service Issues Alerts for Flooding and Possible Tornado  According to the latest reports from the National Weather Service...

Hotel Workers to Speak Out on Harassment Endured at Santa Monica Hampton Inn

March 28, 2024

March 28, 2024

The Hotel Is One of Five Hotels in the Charter City That Are Still in a Labor Dispute By Zach...

Santa Monica Rotary Club Raises Over $21,000 for SMC Guardian Scholars Program

March 28, 2024

March 28, 2024

This Grant Will Provide Essential Support to Current and Former Foster Youth Enrolled at the College The Rotary Club of...

 (Video) Philz Coffee Set to Close Westside Location Next Month

March 27, 2024

March 27, 2024

The Franchise Recently Made Headlines for Changing Headquarters @smmirrornews Philz is closing its Santa Monica shop #coffeeaddict #coffee #coffeeshop #losangeles...

Fleurs et Sel Bakery Opens Storefront in West Adams, Welcomes Customers Three Days a Week

March 27, 2024

March 27, 2024

Indulge in Freshly Baked Cookies at the New West Adams Location Fleurs et Sel Bakery, known for its delectable cookies...

Easter Specials Guide: Brunch Spots, Desserts, and More in West Los Angeles

March 27, 2024

March 27, 2024

Discover the Best Easter Eats and Treats in LA for Your Holiday Celebration Easter is almost here, so here are...

Famous Literary Critic and Palisadian Passes Away at 92

March 27, 2024

March 27, 2024

A Memoriam Post Stated She Overturned Views on T. S. Eliot, Ezra Pound and Other Canonized Artists By Zach Armstrong...

Mixed-Use Development Set for Sloping Property along Chautauqua Boulevard

March 27, 2024

March 27, 2024

“Canyon Place” Is Set to Include Two Apartment Units and 1,415 Sq. Ft. of Office Space By Zach Armstrong A...

Over Five Miles of Venice Blvd. to Temporarily Close, Become Public Park in April

March 27, 2024

March 27, 2024

The Initiative, Which Started in 2010, Aims to Connect Communities and Promote Sustainable Transportation Options On Sunday, April 21 from...

(Video) Workers Strike at Luxury Hotel in Downtown Santa Monica

March 27, 2024

March 27, 2024

Meanwhile, Unite Here Local 11 Recently Announced a Contract Was Ratified at 34 Hotels @smmirrornews Workers are striking at Proper...

(Video) Director Adam Wingard Talks About His Influences While Making GODZILLA X KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE

March 27, 2024

March 27, 2024

Director Adam Wingard Talks About His Influences While Making GODZILLA X KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE at the Beyond Fest Screening...

Historic Union Contract Ratified by Thousands of Hotel Workers At 34 Hotels

March 26, 2024

March 26, 2024

UNITE HERE Local 11 Negotiates Agreement Ensuring Wage Increases  Hotel workers, who spearheaded the largest hotel strike in modern U.S....