Visit Santa Cruz County Welcomes Two New Board Members

Press release from Visit Santa Cruz County (VSCC):

Feb. 4, 2021

Visit Santa Cruz County (VSCC) announces the election of new members to the Board of Directors.

Each member will sit on the 25-member Board for two-year terms.

New Board members are:

Sonja Brunner, Vice Mayor, City of Santa Cruz

Berkeley native Sonja Brunner came to Santa Cruz in 1992 where she continued a 25-year career in retail business management with Cat n' Canary, Sockshop and Shoe Company, and Old School Shoes. Currently, Sonja is the Director of Operations for the Downtown Association of Santa Cruz, and a Board Commissioner for the Housing Authority of Santa Cruz County. Sonja also recently stepped into her role as Vice Mayor for the City of Santa Cruz. She was appointed to the city’s Ad hoc Revenue Committee, the Homelessness Two-by-Two Committee, and is an alternate board member for the Santa Cruz Public Library Financing Authority, the Central Coast Community Energy Policy Board, and the Area Agency on Aging Advisory Council. In her free time, Sonja deejays for special events in and around Santa Cruz County. In the past, Sonja has served on the Board of Directors for the Downtown Association of Santa Cruz, City Arts Master Plan Steering Committee, the Downtown Santa Cruz Improvement Task Force, the Women in Business Steering Committee, the Santa Cruz County Chamber Women In Business Steering Committee, the Cruzin' Courses Committee, and the Visit Santa Cruz Board in 2006-2008.

Martine Watkins, City Councilmember, City of Santa Cruz

Martine Watkins is currently a Councilmember and former Mayor of the City of Santa Cruz. Martine earned her Master’s Degree in Public Policy from CSU Monterey Bay and the Leon & Sylvia Panetta Institute of Public Policy, and has dedicated her career to public service. She has served as a Senior Community Organizer at the Santa Cruz County Office of Education for nearly 15 years and has overseen several youth and family support service programs ranging from cradle to career. She is a strong advocate for climate adaptation, champions the Health in All Policies initiative to improve the health of the Santa Cruz community, and has organized the Tobacco Use Prevention and Education Program in Santa Cruz County school districts. Martine is committed to the health of all Santa Cruz County and our environment. In 2019, Martine was named Woman of the Year by the Santa Cruz Chamber of Commerce.

VSCC board members determine policies which govern the agency, review and approve VSCC’s annual work plan and serve on committees that directly support tourism promotion for the County. The board also oversees the Tourism Marketing District budget and program of work.

This press release was produced by Visit Santa Cruz County (VSCC). The views expressed here are the author's own.