Round 1: Titans 2025 Nominees
Each week, we're pulling back the curtain to spotlight the incredible individuals you've nominated for the 2025 Titans Awards. From unsung heroes to industry heavyweights, these are the folks who've truly made their mark.
Think of this as your weekly dose of inspiration (and a little friendly rivalry). We can't promise any dramatic acceptance speeches yet, but we can promise to showcase the best of the best, as chosen by you.
Check back each week to see who's in the running for a coveted Titan award. You won't want to miss seeing which of your favorite people—or maybe a surprise contender—is making the list!
If you like or know any of these nominees and want to give an additional nudge of support or want to submit your own nominee, head here to submit! The final list of Titan award recipients will be announced in mid-December after committee review and selection has taken place.
Please submit nominations by no later than 5pm on December 1, 2025.
Save the Date! 2025 Titans Awards: January 28, 2026
Charles Pasternak
Artistic Director, Santa Cruz Shakespeare
“Since taking the helm of Santa Cruz Shakespeare in 2023, Charles has proven to be a visionary leader whose impact on the Santa Cruz community extends far beyond the stage. Under his guidance, Santa Cruz Shakespeare has dramatically expanded its educational outreach, pursuing the ambitious goal of giving every high school student in Santa Cruz County the opportunity to experience live theatre.
Charles spearheaded the creation of a touring troupe that brings professional performances to schoolchildren across the region—from Santa Rosa to Hollister, Oakland to Watsonville—making the magic of theatre accessible to thousands of young audiences.
At the same time, he has overseen remarkable artistic growth. Under his leadership, the company’s festival offerings have expanded from three productions in 2023 to five planned for the 2026 season, along with a Christmas holiday production and a springtime show. Each additional production creates meaningful local employment opportunities, as well as internships and apprenticeships for emerging artists and artisans throughout Santa Cruz County.
Perhaps most importantly, Charles has achieved this growth while deepening Santa Cruz Shakespeare’s commitment to inclusivity and gender equity in casting and staffing across all areas of production.
Artists are too often overlooked in conversations about innovation, yet Charles Pasternak exemplifies how visionary leadership in the arts can generate profound economic, cultural, and social benefits for a community. His foresight, creativity, and commitment make him truly deserving of the title: TITAN. “ - Amy Gardner
Marcella Gomez
UC Santa Cruz, Associate Dean for Diversity Equity and Inclusion Baskin School of Engineering and Associate Professor of Applied Mathematics
“Marcella Gomez is redefining what it means to be a tech innovator in Santa Cruz. As a UC Santa Cruz professor and Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Baskin School of Engineering, she combines world-class research in harnessing the power of the natural world with AI-driven control strategies that span from wound healing to cell-based therapies. At the same time, she is deeply committed to empowering local students and communities. Through Girls in Engineering, the SciAI Pathways Program, and her mentorship of first-generation scholars, she is building an inclusive tech ecosystem that starts in Santa Cruz and reaches the world. Marcella’s work shows that here, innovation and equity grow together — and that Santa Cruz is where global breakthroughs, both technical and societal, begin.Marcella’s work proves that in Santa Cruz innovation and equity grow together, and that Santa Cruz is a place where global breakthroughs both technical and societal begin.” - Marco Rolandi
Judson Ward
CTO and Founder, Ohalo Genetics
“In 2019, Jud Ward left his career as Lead Scientist at Driscolls Research and Development to start a new kind of plant breeding company. Recently out of stealth mode, his company Ohalo Genetics located in Aptos, has grown with 100s of millions of dollars of venture capitol to employ 40 people locally, received multiple patents, and are posed to change plant breeding forever. Ohalo develops novel breeding systems and improved plant varieties that help farmers grow more food with fewer natural resources, increasing the yield, resiliency, and genetic diversity of crops. Ohalo's breakthrough technology, Boosted Breeding™, will usher in a new era of improved productivity to radically transform global agriculture. Jud is a scientific titan in our community doing complex, ground-breaking science in a field that helps to define our county. The son of a butcher and baker (sorry, no candlestick maker) he has followed a passion for plants straight to the cutting edge of genetics and is helping to define our region as one of technological innovation.”
Stephanie Sumarna
EdTech and Innovation Coach, Santa Cruz County Office of Education
“…Stephanie’s community contributions are both practical and visionary. She provides hands-on professional learning for educators, including post-COVID support on distance learning, collaboration, and engaging instruction—work she has discussed in local public media to amplify resources for our schools. She also helps run creative, student-centered initiatives and programs, giving young people authentic ways to create, communicate, and interact with technology in meaningful and engaging ways.
A natural connector, Stephanie helps lead county efforts like AI Explorers, which invites teachers and community partners to explore responsible, equity-minded uses of AI in classrooms…Her leadership also extends to the broader regional and state educator networks. She serves on the Monterey Bay CUE (MBCUE) Board, frequently shares classroom-ready practices, and presents at statewide conferences (including Spring CUE), bringing back ideas and partnerships that directly benefit Santa Cruz classrooms.
Stephanie has been an exceptional advocate for women in STEM, providing educational activities such as TechGirlz coding playgrounds and AAUW TechTrek all-female Engineering summer camp. She envisioned and created the now-annual HERStory event, honoring women who have made a lasting impact on Santa Cruz County—past, present, and future...” - Elizabeth Shaw
Tammie Weigl
Director of Information Services, County of Santa Cruz
“I've nominated Tammie for the past several years and I'll keep doing it till she's recognized. As Director of Information Services in Santa Cruz County I can quite literally think of on one who has done more for advance technology access in our region than Tammie. She defines Titan of Tech. For many years she has been a wonderful partner in expanding broadband access. When the pandemic hit she partnered with Cruzio to champion our Equal Access program and bring direct funding that established dozens of new affordable internet distribution sites. Not only that, she's a wonderful person, a joy to work with and will be sorely missed when she retires to spend more time with her beautiful grandson. Honor her now!” - James Hackett
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