Innovation Night
San Diego’s premier arts and sciences networking event
Monday, October 20, 2025
5:30 – 8:30pm
On site at La Jolla Playhouse in the Taper Plaza
Thank you to all who attended and supported in honor of Dr. Martha G. Dennis.
Your support contributes to La Jolla Playhouse’s own R&D efforts to create the new and the next in American theatre.
Thank you to our Co-Chairs, Host Committee, Sponsors and Gallery Exhibitors.
Photos by Jenna Jo Photo
TICKETS AND SPONSORSHIP | SPONSORS | CO-CHAIRS | HOST COMMITTEE | GALLERY SNEAK PEEK | TESTIMONIALS
Join us at La Jolla Playhouse’s signature event! Innovation Night is San Diego’s premier networking event for the arts and sciences industries. An elegant cocktail reception for 500+ C-level executives, innovators, and guests with delicious cuisine and an open bar. Plus, an Innovation Night gallery featuring interactive exhibits from leading San Diego companies and delightful Without Walls-inspired theatre to enjoy.
Your attendance supports innovation at the Playhouse, including our new work development programs; immersive, interactive and site-inspired theatre at the annual WOW Festival; and ongoing artist commissions and residencies.
We are thrilled to announce that the distinguished Dr. Martha G. Dennis will serve as this year’s Honorary Chair.
During her 50-year career, Dr. Dennis has been a telecommunications technologist, entrepreneur and venture capitalist, becoming a leader in the technology and software industries in San Diego since starting her career in the 1970s. La Jolla Playhouse takes great pride in acknowledging and commemorating Dr. Dennis’ exceptional contributions to our region.
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Martha holds a doctorate from Harvard University in Applied Mathematics (Computer Science) and a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from Smith College. She was the recipient of an Athena “Pinnacle Award” for Technology, a “Women Who Mean Business” award, recognition as an American Heart Association “Legendary Woman of the Heart,” recognition as a “Woman of Dedication” from the Salvation Army, a “Cool Woman” award from the Girl Scouts and a Founder’s Medal from the UC San Diego Rady School of Management. She is also a member of Sigma Xi, the San Diego Rotary Club 33, the Wednesday Club and the International Women’s Forum (The Trusteeship).
Currently, Martha is Principal at Gordion Knot, an advisory firm to emerging technology business in San Diego, and serves as a Director of Mundoval (NASDAQ: MUNDX). Formerly she was a Venture Partner with Windward Ventures, a firm that invested in early-stage Southern California technology companies. Previously, Martha was Co-founder and President and CEO of WaveWare Communications, Inc., which sold software for wireless handheld connectivity. Prior to that, Martha co-founded Pacific Communications Sciences, Inc., a San Diego wireless communications equipment company that was acquired by Cirrus Logic. Earlier, Martha led software development at Linkabit Corp. as Assistant Vice President. She served as Chairman of the Board of Netsapiens, Inc. which was acquired by Crexendo in June 2021. In addition, she served as Director of SpaceMicro which was acquired by Voyager Space Holdings in December 2021.
Martha and her husband, Dr. Edward Dennis, are active philanthropists in San Diego and have each demonstrated exceptional civic and charitable leadership through their ever-growing service, dedication and ability to inspire others to engage deeply with the organizations they support. They have been supporters of La Jolla Playhouse, where Ed has been involved in Board Leadership for more than three decades. Martha has been Chair or President of several boards and commissions including La Jolla Music Society, the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, the Bishop’s School, The Charter One Hundred, Athena, the City of San Diego Science & Technology Commission, the San Diego Telecommunications Industry Association and the Dean’s Council of Advisors of the UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering. She is currently on the Board of Directors at the San Diego Symphony. She is also an Emerita Board Member of Harvey Mudd College, of the Dean’s Advisory Council of the UC San Diego Rady School of Management and of inewsource. In addition, she has been a trustee of the Tech Coast Angels, the San Diego Museum of Art, the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, the San Diego Foundation, the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation and the YMCA of San Diego County. She has been on the Advisory Board of CALIT2 and a member of Chairmen’s RoundTable.
Tickets and Sponsorship
Ticket sales for this event have ended.
Learn about sponsorship
For more information or to secure your sponsorship, please contact Becky Pierce Goodman, Deputy Director of Philanthropy, at [email protected] or (858) 228-3059.
2025 Innovation Night Co-Chairs
Adam Jacobs
President, Xzōm, Inc.
Tim Scott
President and CEO, Biocom California
Mary Walshok, Ph.D.
Retired Associate Vice Chancellor, UC San Diego
Host Committee
Denise Bevers | Co-founder, President& CEO; VetmAb Bio
Tasia Blazevich | Managing Director, Deloitte
Matthew Bosinger | Corporate Director of Leisure Sales & Partnerships, The Lodge at Torrey Pines
Daniel Bradbury | Managing Member, BioBrit, LLC
Ann Chaplin | Registered In- House Counsel, Qualcomm
Stephan Coleman | Market Managing Director, PNC Bank
David Crean | Managing Partner, Cardiff Advisory
Matthew D’Alessandro | Senior VP, PNC Bank
Brett D’Arcy | Chief Investment Officer and Portfolio Manager, D’Arcy Capital
Susan Dubé | Founder & CFO, Sorriso Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Hal Dunning | President, Emeritus, Marsh McLennan Agency
Luke Gulley | Director of Sales and Producer of Special Events, Show Imaging
David Hale | Chairman and CEO, Hale BioPharmaVentures
Kelly Hayes | Principal, Financial Services, Ernst & Young, LLP
Nishma Held | Associate Director Corporate Counsel, CareDx
Greg Horowitt | Director of Innovation & Design, UC San Diego
Bryan Knox | General Manager, Catalent Pharma Solutions
Mike Krenn | Managing Director – Prebys Ventures, Prebys Foundation
Derek Legg | Senior Director, Corporate and Community Partnerships, University of San Diego
Alyssa Levin | CFO, Radionetics Oncology
Lynelle Lynch | CEO, Bellus Academy
James Mackay | Founder and CEO, Kateran Consulting, Inc
Hala Madanat | Vice President of Research and Innovation, San Diego State University
Stanley Maloy | Assistant Vice President for Research and Innovation, San Diego State University
David Marchesani | CEO & Founder, Iapetus Capital
Kurt Marek | Chief Research Officer, Sanford Burnham Prebys
Sabrina Martucci Johnson | CEO &Founder, Daré Bioscience, Inc.
Kerry Millar | Principal Strategy & Operations, Deloitte
Chris Montgomery | SVP, Business Development, CNM LLP
Juli Moran | SD Office Marketplace Leader, Deloitte
Tom Murphy | Partner, Calibre One
Albert “Al” P. Pisano, Ph.D. | Dean, UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering
Ivor and Colette Royston | Carson Royston Group
J’Keren Sears | Senior Manager, Public Affairs, Alaska Airlines
Trent Selbrede | General Manager, Residence Inn – Marriott
Scott Stanton | Managing Member, Mintz
Ian Stone | President, LifeSci Communications
Kelly Thomson | Regional Managing Director, Ascent Capital Management
Erin Trenda | Litigation Partner, Cooley
Sara Vaz | Director of Busness and Community Collaboration, CSU San Marcos
John Wieland | Industry Director – Biotechnology, Thermo Fisher Scientific
James Zanewicz | CEO, Connect
Innovation Night 2025 Sponsors
List as of Oct 15, 2025
Innovation Gallery Sneak Peek
PAIN-FREE RESULTS: Persperion Diagnostics
As a spinoff from UC San Diego in 2022, Persperion Diagnostics developed a non-invasive glucose monitoring system that uses natural fingertip sweat and enzymatic electrochemical sensing to provide accurate, pain-free, and affordable glucose readings.
HEAD-TO-TOE FASHION: MAVERiC & Resonance
First showcased at 2025 Comic-Con, UC San Diego’s MAVERiC Studio partnered with New York’s “Resonance” Fashion Company to design and create head-to-toe fashion looks through a 3D model pipeline. Come and learn about virtual fashion creation from the MAVERiC alumni!
CLIMB INTO THE COCKPIT: Alaska Airlines
Learn more about our exciting growth in San Diego and step inside our event flight simulator for a fun, hands-on flying experience. Whether you’re curious about aviation, dreaming of the flight deck, or just want to test your skills, this is your chance to see what it’s like to fly with Alaska!
TRY BEFORE YOU BUY WITH VR: Thermo Fisher
Explore lab solutions with virutal reality tools: spin, zoom, rotate, and discover detailed features of electronic pipettes, centrifuges, environmental chambers, and more. This immersive experience allows you to explore and understand the functionality and benefits of our products before making an investment.
REAL-TIME BIO-FEEDBACK: UCSD School of Engineering
Peruse examples of wearable sensors which provide real-time feedback that enable a wide range of new preventive-health, security and fitness applications. Powered by the Center for Wearable Sensors, this technology takes the lab with you wherever you go.
TECH THAT MAKES YOUR HOUSE A HOME: Enlighted by Janet Hansen
Janet Hansen is an LED artist based in Encinitas, CA. She specializes in creating mesmerizing effects with color-changing lighting embedded in textiles, in the form of wall hangings, soft sculptures, home decor, clothing, and costumes.
And more!
Testimonials
