A baseball infield isn’t where you’d expect to spot C3bank’s Chairman Michael Persall making financial commitments… but then again, banking was never meant to be confined to branches with withdrawal slips and velvet ropes.
A $2 Million Dollar Commitment to Greater Leadership
Last November, our team joined the University of San Diego’s 75th anniversary celebration at Petco Park, where the typical stadium roar was replaced by conversations about regional economic development. Standing on a baseball diamond instead of sitting in a conference room seemed to change how people engaged, with conversations becoming more direct and ideas more ambitious.
One such ambitious conversation happened when C3bank Chairman Michael Persall took the stage alongside Vuori CEO Joe Kudla to announce a $2 million commitment to USD’s entrepreneurial programs–a donation that would fund the inaugural Entrepreneurship Leadership Summit in tandem with USD’s Knauss School of Business.
Where Business Leaders and Education Converge
The Summit, hosted this past Spring at Vuori’s headquarters by Michael Persall and C3bank CEO A.J. Moyer, focused on articulating how Southern California’s entrepreneurs think about leadership, business ownership, and creating impact within their communities.
Former New Orleans Saints Quarterback Drew Brees shared candid insights about his transition from NFL star to business owner, highlighting both the advantages and limitations of sports celebrity when entering competitive business markets.
Casamigo Tequila Co-Founder Rande Gerber spoke about the practical aspects of building consumer brands, focusing on operational details that often get overlooked in standard business education.
USD President James Harris III and philanthropist Darlene Marcos Shiley emphasized how universities can respond more effectively to regional business needs while maintaining their educational integrity.
And A.J. Moyer contributed to discussions about financing approaches for early-stage companies in Southern California’s unique business environment, exploring how regional banks make decisions differently than national institutions or venture capital firms, particularly for businesses operating outside traditional tech sectors.
Breaking Out of Industry Silos
The Summit tackled two interconnected challenges facing San Diego’s business ecosystem. Kimya Massey presented data showing how capital access varies dramatically across the county, with investment patterns favoring certain zip codes while overlooking others with significant growth potential. Simultaneously, speakers highlighted how traditional industry boundaries are blurring as medical device companies incorporate software innovation, tourism businesses apply biotech advances, and defense contractors adopt sustainability practices.
Both issues share a common theme: conventional financial frameworks often fail businesses operating outside established patterns. Companies at industry intersections struggle to find appropriate financing because they don’t fit neatly into standard categories, while promising enterprises in overlooked geographic areas face similar barriers despite their potential.
Summit participants explored how financial institutions might develop more nuanced approaches based on regional knowledge and cross-sector understanding rather than rigid industry metrics. The discussions emphasized moving beyond standard classifications toward more flexible frameworks that recognize innovation often happens between established categories and outside traditional business centers.
Playing the Long Game
What began with an announcement at a baseball stadium has evolved into an ongoing effort to address Southern California’s unique business challenges. Now, as we look toward future gatherings of the Entrepreneurship Leadership Summit, the lesson from the baseball diamond remains relevant: by bringing finance, education, and business together in less formal environments, we can find better, more accessible ways to connect capital with opportunity.
Does your next big play require flexible funding? Reach out to C3bank to learn about how our tailored financing solutions can help entrepreneurs stay in the game and keep growing.
