InSoCal CONNECT Appoints New Executive Director

MURRIETA, Calif., July 15, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- InSoCal CONNECT, a nonprofit dedicated to the growth of business in the Riverside County area, has appointed Jay Goth as Executive Director effective immediately. The organization is focused on creating a sustainable jobs economy within an "Innovation Triangle" anchored by the University of California Riverside to the northeast and bounded by Corona to the west and the Murrieta/Temecula Valley to the south. InSoCal CONNECT is the catalyst between startups, technology companies, local government, educational organizations, business mentors, professional service providers and venture capitalists.

Steve Austin, Chairman of InSoCal CONNECT, stated, "We are excited by the path Jay has laid out for the organization for the rest of this year and the years to come. The last two years have seen us build a strong foundation and now it's time for us to begin making an impact in the local business community. The programs we are launching this fall are based on the proven strategies and tactics used by the extremely successful San Diego CONNECT program that has spawned over 50 CONNECT groups around the world."

The Springboard program that will begin in September is a structured mentorship program in which Entrepreneurs in Residence (EIRs) from the CONNECT organization are matched with entrepreneurs who are selected to enter the program.  Over a period of time, the selected companies are groomed and mentored by a series of successful marketing, legal and financial professionals until they are ready to approach investors. At that time appropriate introductions are made and the graduating companies have a greater than average chance of securing a seed funding round.

Technology Transfer is the process of identifying innovative research projects in educational or national laboratory environments and bringing them to market. This can be achieved in a number of ways, from licensing the technology to existing companies, forming new companies with proven management teams to take the technology to market, and even assisting the researchers to commercialize the technology on their own. InSoCal CONNECT will be working closely with the University of California Riverside and the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Corona, along with other higher education entities and national laboratories to foster innovation and build new companies in the local area.

Jay Goth is a veteran entrepreneur, having launched several new companies over the last thirty years. He has seen the heights of taking a company public to the lows of having to declare a venture a failure, and has been a senior consultant with TriTech SBDC for the last four years. Jay has been very active in the local area, orchestrating events, making public appearances and working with regional and city governments. As a former investment banker, Jay knows what investors would like to see in a company and has access to investment professionals, venture groups and accredited investors.

"I can't wait to get started," Mr. Goth said. "We have so much to offer in this area. I could live anywhere in the country, and chose this part of California because it is so great. We have three international airports within an hour, the ocean is close by and we get the best weather in Southern California in my opinion. That's why so many people make this their home – now we want to make it their place of business as well! There are too many people commuting to San Diego and Orange County or even Los Angeles, and we are changing that. It's time to grow great businesses here in the Innovation Triangle."

About InSoCal CONNECT:

InSoCal CONNECT is a private sector led tax exempt organization committed to accelerating innovation and promoting the expansion, formation, and development of technology companies, entrepreneurship and export opportunities in the Inland Southern California region.  By expanding the best practices of San Diego CONNECT, InSoCal CONNECT works to advance the technology economy to create higher paying jobs, a more diversified and robust economy, more export opportunities, and sustainable Inland Southern California communities.  InSoCal CONNECT is headquartered at Swenson Advisors, LLP located in Murrieta, California.

Contact:

Jay Goth
InSoCal CONNECT
Phone: 951-676-6509
Email:  [email protected]

SOURCE InSoCal CONNECT