The Greater Palm Springs Annual Summit is the premier business event of the year, traditionally drawing more than 850 of the region’s influencers and decision-makers as well as businesses from outside the area that are looking to relocate, expand, and invest in Greater Palm Springs. In a typical year, it’s an excellent — and rare — opportunity to network with the area’s most influential business leaders and decision-makers.

Due to Greater Palm Springs’ reliance on leisure and hospitality, the shutdowns that began in March 2020 as a result of the pandemic greatly affected the businesses and overall economy of the area more so than many other areas of the country.

The 2021 event theme was Pursuit, to highlight the regional economic opportunities and strategic goals for sustainable, diversified growth in the Coachella Valley. “We chose Pursuit as the theme because this past year brought a level of business development collaboration unlike any we’ve seen before,” says Joe Wallace, CVEP President and CEO. “Over the years, we have made great strides in raising awareness of the potential here in the Valley and building collaboration with various entities. Due to the pandemic, several organizations came together to facilitate economic collaboration. The event showcases our region’s business diversification strategies and goals to mobilize a long-term sustainable effort to elevate the economy of the Coachella Valley.”

The Summit was held virtually for the second year in a row, and was filmed in advance at the ABC local affiliate News Channel 3’s studios at KESQ.com. The Summit included the presentation of the annual economic report and forecast by Dr. Manfred Keil of Claremont McKenna College, and with CVEP’s Vice President of Innovation Laura James as Emcee, the event featured a number of speakers, including:

  • Jan Harnik, Chairperson, CVEP
  • Joe Wallace, Chief Executive Officer, CVEP
  • Dr. Stone James, Director of Economic Development, City of Cathedral City
  • Dr. Mike Stull, Director and Professor, Inland Empire Center for Entrepreneurship, CSUSB, School of Entrepreneurship, CSUSB
  • Ezekiel Bonillas, Adjunct Professor, Entrepreneurship & Strategy, School of Entrepreneurship, CSUSB, Doctor of Management candidate, Case Western Reserve university, Fowler Center Fellow, Weatherhead School of Management.

The Summit presentation can be viewed at cvep.com/summit.

Hunter|Johnsen created and implemented a fully integrated, comprehensive campaign incorporating digital, television, radio, print, collateral materials, on-site signage and materials. With economist Manfred Keil’s report available just in time for release at The Summit, the 100-page digital report was available online (at cvep.com/summit) and in printed form as a perfect-bound, glossy, magazine-style format in the first quarter of 2021.