Street smarts: Ventech returns with event focused on AI agents
Ventech, the premier hub for business and technology innovation in the Central Coast region, will host an event titled “The Future of Work: Humans + AI Agents” on Oct. 21 at the Cabrillo Pavilion in Santa Barbara. The event begins at 5:30 p.m.
The talk will explore how a new generation of AI agents can take on increasingly complete business workflows, from conducting research and coordinating tasks to supporting customers, driving sales processes, analyzing information and even building software.
It will also highlight what companies are building and deploying now, lessons from successes and failures and how increasingly capable AI systems could reshape operations, talent, leadership and the way work gets done.
Panelists for the event include Josh Narva, a partner at Riviera Partners. Narva advises technology companies on talent and organizational strategy. Before joining Riviera Partners, he served as a talent advisor in Google’s Office of the CEO.
Diana Pereira, the CEO and founder of Balance Financial Management, is also on the panel. She brings more than 25 years of financial and operational leadership spanning private equity, M&A, wealth management, government, nonprofits and technology.
Today, she is building internal AI development capabilities to create systems for clients, giving her a firsthand view into the opportunities and realities of moving AI from experimentation into actual business operations.
The final panelist is Jimi Smoot, CEO of Assist Technologies. As CEO, he works with operations, IT, and business leaders to turn fragmented AI experimentation into secure, scalable workflows connected to the systems where work happens.
Smoot will bring firsthand experience of building the technology infrastructure that allows businesses to scale as a software engineer and entrepreneur focused on helping companies operationalize AI.
The event will be moderated by Mike Wald, a board member of Ventech and one of the founders of Coastal Intelligence, an AI consultancy helping organizations move from AI experimentation to practical adoption based in Santa Barbara.
Tickets can be purchased at eventbrite.com/e/the-future-of-work-humans-ai-agents-tickets-1997653579632?aff=oddtdtcreator.
KEEPING PEOPLE SAFE
The city of Santa Maria received a $55,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) for its Bicyclist and Pedestrian Safety Program. The program promotes safe walking and bicycling practices and emphasizes drivers’ responsibility to watch for people outside vehicles.
FEEDBACK REQUESTED
The City of Santa Barbara and Santa Barbara Airport (SBA) are seeking public feedback on the Airport Climate Adaptation Plan. The CAP outlines a proactive approach to protect the airport and surrounding coastal resources from increasing climate change hazards, including sea level rise and severe flooding. Community members are invited to submit feedback via email by Nov. 13 to [email protected].
COMMUNITY WALK
The Santa Barbara Police Department invites community members to join Mothers Against Drunk Driving Tri-Counties for Move with MADD Santa Barbara, a 3K community walk bringing people together to raise awareness about impaired driving and to support safer roads for everyone. The event will take place on Oct. 18 at Chase Palm Park Field in Santa Barbara. Learn more at give.madd.org/event/2026-move-with-madd-santa-barbara/e760412.
PUBLIC ART PROJECT
The city of Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department invites local and regional artists to submit original designs for a new public art installation at Jim May Park. The selected artist or team will receive a $1,000 award, and the winning design will be professionally fabricated as an exterior vinyl wrap for a new shaded bench overlooking the park’s lake.
AI AND BUSINESS
AI Think Tank and Consultancy Coastal Intelligence and The Better Business Bureau of the Tri-Counties announced a practical, hands-on workshop for business owners and leaders who want to get more value from AI in the work they’re already doing. The free virtual event, Put AI to Work in Your Business, will take place Oct. 20 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Learn more at eventbrite.com/e/put-ai-to-work-in-your-business-tickets-2002298575941?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true.
RAISING AWARENESS
The Santa Barbara Museum of Art is hosting Let the Good Times Roll, awalk-and-roll procession and event on Oct. 23 beginning at 10 a.m. This joyful community gathering will bring people with and without disabilities together to build connections and foster pride in our diverse community. Advance registration is requested to participate by emailing [email protected] or call 805-566-9000.
FINAL SCENES
FREE CONCERT: Award-winning pianists Alvise Pascucci and Jacopo Giacopuzzi join forces for “Note D’Italia,” an extraordinary afternoon of classical and cinematic masterpieces on Oct. 18 at 3 p.m. at Christ Lutheran Church in Goleta, 6595 Covington Way. For more information, contact Christ Lutheran Church council president Scott Craig at [email protected] or (805) 252-3987.
FALL FESTIVAL: The Atascadero Fall Festival returns to Sunken Gardens from Oct. 16-18 for three days of live music, carnival excitement, family-friendly entertainment and fall festivities in the heart of downtown Atascadero. Featuring free admission, more than 40 bands across two stages, carnival rides and games for all ages, the annual event offers something for everyone to enjoy throughout the weekend. Learn more at AtascaderoFallFest.com.
VIRTUAL TALK: The Santa Barbara County Genealogical Society invites the community to attend its free monthly meeting on Oct. 17, featuring genealogist David Flint, who will present “Finding Your Ancestors in England: Overview of England Genealogy Research.” The event is free and open to the public, and virtual attendance via Zoom is available with advance registration at SBGen.org.
IMPORTANT EVENT: District216, Santa Barbara’s membership-driven psychedelic social club, will host Athletes, Traumatic Brain Injury & Psychedelics on Oct. 17 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. at LoDo Studios in downtown Santa Barbara. The event brings together former professional athletes, neuroscientists, advocates and wellness practitioners for an evening exploring one of the most pressing challenges in professional sports: the long-term physical and psychological consequences of repeated head trauma. Learn more at district216.com.
