By Kathy Chouteau
Richmond Main Street Initiative (RMSI) Executive Director Andrea Portillo and CoBiz Richmond CEO Wesley Alexander and other local business people recently represented downtown Richmond at East Bay Economic Development Alliance’s (East Bay EDA) “East Bay Now” event Sept. 14 at Uptown Station in Oakland.
The evening celebrated East Bay innovation now and for the future and was the culmination of its Meet the Innovators series, according to East Bay EDA. Companies from Alameda County, Contra Costa County and beyond came together for what organizers called a “one-of-a-kind event showcasing our region’s talent and innovation ecosystem.”
NBC Bay Area news anchor and reporter, Gia Vang, served as the host for East Bay Now. Her work as co-founder of the Very Asian Foundation has spearheaded efforts to combat racism and create change for AANHPI communities, organizers said.
Kev Choice of Oakland provided music during the evening event, which included entertainment, networking and community building. Richmond’s own El Garage provided catering, while Diego Garcia of Leftside Printing served as emcee.
Some of the other guests that evening hailed from the Solano County Hispanic Chamber, Main Street Launch, Oakland and Pittsburg, according to RSMI’s Portillo.
Nominations for East Bay EDA’s 2024 East Bay Innovation Awards are open until Sept. 29. Vote by clicking here.
