Welcome to a lecture on business environment in the US, where we will discuss why the development and support of the entrepreneurial ecosystem is important for society.

Speaker’s bio:

Marcia C. Smith joined the City of San Diego in January 2017 as a Public Information Officer in the Communications Department before becoming an Economic Research Specialist (Community Development Specialist IV) in the City’s Economic Development Department in August 2017. Her versatility and expertise in both quantitative and qualitative analysis and content creation have allowed her to elevate the quality of research, reporting, oversight, digital presence, marketing (print, digital and web) and promotion of the City’s economic development programs. Her efforts earned her City Department to Department recognition in June 2017 as a Public Information Officer and Employee of the Quarter in the second quarter of Fiscal Year 2019. Prior to coming to the City of San Diego, Marcia was the Senior Marketing Manager in 2016 at Visit Anaheim, a nonprofit destination marketing organization promoting the City of Anaheim, California. She had successfully transition into a marketing and business intelligence career after 20 years as a national award-winning sports columnist and journalist at the Orange County Register (California) from 1999 to 2016 and the Philadelphia Inquirer from 1996-1999. In 2012, Marcia was named a National Top 10 Sports Columnist in the large newspaper circulation category by Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE). Marcia received APSE distinctions in 1996, 1998, 2004 and 2010. Marcia earned her Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Princeton University. She holds a dual Master degrees in Business Administration from the Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University and the Smith College of Business at Queen’s University (Kingston, Ontario, Canada). She resides in San Diego, California.