Brett Martinez Joins MSIV as Advisor
Q&A with Redwood Credit Union’s President/CEO
Monday, August 19, 2024 from Santa Rosa, CA
Today, we are very excited to announce that Brett Martinez, a longstanding North Bay business and community leader who has served as President/CEO of Redwood Credit Union (RCU) for the past twenty years, is joining Marin Sonoma Impact Ventures as an Advisor.
Under Brett’s leadership, RCU has grown to more than $8.6 billion in assets and to serve over 475,000 members, making this North Bay based financial institution the 39th largest credit union in the country. In 2023, RCU was named the healthiest credit union in all of California.
Brett serves on the national board of TruStage, a Fortune 1000 provider of insurance and financial services to credit unions and is highly engaged in the North Bay business and philanthropic community. He has twice been recognized as the North Bay’s Best Community Business Leader by NorthBay biz and is past Chairman of the Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce.
He currently serves on the Board of the North Bay Leadership Council and the Napa Chamber of Commerce and is a Strategic Advisor to MSIV portfolio company Union Credit, based in Santa Rosa.
MSIV Founder & Managing Partner Zachary Kushel sat down with Brett to discuss his passion for building the North Bay’s economic future and what he sees as the opportunity ahead for the growing Marin + Sonoma startup community.
Brett moderating a discussion on "The North Bay Startup Flywheel" with MSIV's Founder at the 2024 North Bay NEXT conference
ZK: Brett, I’m honored that you’re engaging in a big way to boost MSIV in our next stages of growth.
What has been your experience in promoting the North Bay’s economic vitality in your past twenty years as a local leader, and what gets you excited for the role MSIV can play in kicking this into a new gear?
BM: I've been deeply engaged in this community since I moved here in the early 2000s, leaning in to support numerous efforts to drive our local economy. Many of these initiatives have been organized by government agencies or local business non-profits, such as economic development offices and chambers of commerce. They have also included startup efforts like Sonoma County BEST and the various groups formed to coordinate our fire recovery.
MSIV is unique in our community's history because this is the first time a for-profit has been entirely focused on helping local entrepreneurs bring high-paying jobs to the North Bay. This community-first approach, with mentoring and connectivity at the center, means startup founders can now tap into resources right here at home, making them more likely to expand across Sonoma and Marin.
MSIV is also pooling local capital to kickstart an 'Invest Local' movement, unlike any effort before it. I am excited, and we are just beginning to uncover the true economic potential of the North Bay, with MSIV accelerating things in a big way.
Brett with MSIV Advisor Craig Nelson and CataCap Founder Ken Kurtzig at the 2024 NEXT conference
ZK: We oftentimes talk about three structural economic challenges hampering our community’s economic future – an aging population, poor levels of job creation, and a forecasted population decline. How might growing local startups stem the tide with these issues?
BM: These three challenges are staring us in the face, and I feel that, as a community, we need to do more to raise the alarm and have candid, long-term discussions about what we can do to ensure prosperity for the next generation. I fully endorse MSIV's viewpoint that high-quality local jobs are vital to addressing these challenges. We must bring to our community the types of jobs that young people want, and that ensure they can afford to live here.
Startup companies have the potential to grow from zero to dozens of employees in a very short period, so we need to support local entrepreneurs who have dreams of building the next “great” North Bay company. We also want them to understand that the local community has all the infrastructure, resources, and financing options they need to succeed. Ultimately, our role is to inspire the next generation to think bigger and feel empowered to stay here and be a part of building the future of our community.
ZK: You joined me on stage at MSIV’s North Bay NEXT conference back in May – what surprised you the most in your interactions with participants in the North Bay’s growing startup community?
BM: I was genuinely impressed to learn about the extent of startup activity in Marin and Sonoma, most of which is flying under everyone's radar. The North Bay Startup Showcase at the NEXT conference was eye-opening and inspiring. It featured 20 local companies, all no more than a few years old, with five minutes and five slides to share with the broader community what they're building right here in our backyards.
As a collective North Bay community, we have a rich history of innovation, including organizations such as AVE, Autodesk, Keysight, and Enphase. We know success can happen here, and we need to do a better job telling the story to outsiders and, more importantly, to the residents already living here to show that they can also create successful local startup companies.
ZK: You engage with many fintech startups through your work at RCU and on the board of TruStage – what do you enjoy the most about working with entrepreneurs?
Brett taking the stage at a 2024 RCU charity event
Photo credit: Will Bucquoy/Redwood Credit Union
BM: It takes a particular type of person to build a company from scratch – not only to have core insight on improving a problem or industry, but also to persevere from a starting point of no customers and no revenue toward an uncertain future on an unknown timetable. It's motivating to work with and support community leaders who have a shared vision for positively impacting the lives of others and who seek innovative solutions to meet our community's needs.
I applaud those who do it and encourage those North Bay residents with the personal runway to go ahead and take the leap. The energy startup founders bring to the table is contagious. The more we can foster their success, the more collective success we will have across our communities.
ZK: You are a long-time resident of Santa Rosa – how do you see startups playing a role in revitalizing downtown?
BM: It's imperative that we bring new and diverse businesses of all types to downtown Santa Rosa. I'm encouraged by some recent discussions I've heard about the vision for a new convention center. In the meantime, there is lower-hanging fruit to attract young companies to make city centers a hub for growth and innovation. I am a big fan of MSIV's vision to bring multiple high-growth startup companies to downtown Santa Rosa and other North Bay cities.
It's not just about business opportunities but about building our communities' economic strength, vitality, and resiliency. It's also about developing and retaining top talent from our local universities and the trades. I'm excited to play a role in my new capacity with MSIV and help make that vision a reality for many generations to come.
