Santa Cruz County Chamber Staff
Casey Beyer
Chief Executive Officer 2017 - present With over 30 plus years of business and public policy advocacy in the public, private and non-profit environments Casey assumed the role of Chamber’s CEO in April 2017. Beyer was most recently the Executive Director of the Santa Cruz County Business Council and a senior adviser to the President and CEO of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group. As leader of the Santa Cruz County Business Council, Beyer led the successful fundraising effort that propelled Measure D’s success as well as being a frequent presenter supporting the ballot measure in forums and to many civic and community organizations throughout the county. Known for his consensus driven approach to public policy and business development, Casey’s work with the Silicon Valley Leadership Group (SVLG) to develop and support the legislative and regulatory policies that promote the economic vitality that drives the innovation economy. In 2009, Beyer was appointed by the Governor of California as a member of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) Board of Governors, which he chaired in 2015-2016. The TRPA, a bi-state agency charged with environmental protection and economic vitality of the Lake Tahoe Basin. The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency leads the cooperative effort to preserve, restore, and enhance the unique natural and human environment of the Lake Tahoe Region, while improving local communities, and people’s interactions with our irreplaceable environment. Beyer is an avid bicyclist and has been a leader of bicycle advocacy groups including the South Bay Bicycle Coalition Board of Directors in the Beach cities of Los Angeles County. He has rich experience in the housing industry managing public policy and regulatory affairs for a large private homebuilder in the L.A. region. He has political experience includes service as U.S. Congressman Tom Campbell’s Chief of Staff and Chief of Staff for a California state senator, Chief Assistant to the California Secretary of State and other public and private sector roles over his career. His academic work is in urban and regional planning from San Jose State University and a bachelors degree from UC Santa Barbara in Urban History and Environmental Studies. Amy Sousa
Director of Membership, Marketing, and Events 2023 - present Amy Sousa joins the Chamber as the Director of Membership, Marketing, and Events, bringing with her an extensive background and a deep commitment to supporting businesses, nonprofits and community organizations. With over 20 years of senior-level experience in various aspects of marketing, communications, and public relations, Amy has honed her skills in areas such as content creation, digital communications, social media management, event coordination, and strategic planning. Amy's educational background, which includes a master’s degree in public relations and a bachelor’s degree in journalism, has shaped her unique approach to marketing and business strategy. She values data-driven insights and believes in the power of evidence-based communication. Her goal is to provide organizations with the insights they need to drive growth and build meaningful relationships with today's highly-engaged customers, consumers, and stakeholders. In 2019, accompanied by her husband, Amy undertook a significant relocation from North Carolina to the Central Coast. This move marked her transition to the role of Director of Marketing and Business Development at Watsonville Community Hospital. During her tenure, she played a pivotal role in elevating community engagement, physician relations, and the hospital's social media presence. Throughout her career, Amy has been a trusted partner for diverse institutions, including community hospitals, county health departments, wellness programs, physician groups, mental health professionals, and health and human service organizations. In every role, she has passionately championed diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, fostering strategic insights and embracing inclusive leadership. As the new Director of Membership, Marketing, and Events at the Chamber, Amy Sousa is excited to apply her experience and passion to support the organization and its members in achieving their goals. |