Susan Petrella

Due Diligence/Education Director
Susan´s motto:

from Henry James, " It is art that makes life, makes interest, makes importance"... or "Art is my Life, My Life is Art", Yoko Ono

Susan Petrella

Susan’s first love is the arts; she has given back to the SoCal’s arts + culture scene as Board Member, Board of Directors - Inglewood Cultural Arts, Chair, Arts Committee, City of Fullerton CA; President, Fullerton ArtsCulture, as a Consultant to Arts for LA and WESTAF (the Western States Arts Federation), as a frequent guest/participant at LA arts + culture events and as a present member of several LA arts + culture museums...

Susan also has significant nonprofit/civic leadership expertise having served as Board Member, Board of Directors, Community Action Partnership of Orange County, Orange County Visitors Association, as a Development Consultant to Compton Junior Posse and thru her volunteer activities with 826LA and the LA Urban League’s Biz Camp...


Susan´s Bio:

Susan L. Petrella, Due Diligence Director, Keiretsu Forum SoCal has been connected to SoCal’s innovation/start-up/entrepreneurship ecosystems for many years...

  • Since relocating to SoCal in 2004, with an MBA, Marketing/Strategic Management/Entrepreneurship, University of Illinois at Chicago, Susan’s experience and expertise - - CEO, WowThinkOC, A "consultancy"…We strategize with + mentor “creative economy” entrepreneurs with start-ups + on-going B2B, B2C, nonprofit or social enterprise ventures 
  • A Consultant/Business Coach with Vermont Slauson Economic Development Corporation (VSEDC)
  • Led as Professional Expert/Consultant – Business Development + Branding; North Orange County Community College District (NOCCCD)’s Center for Training, Development, Innovation (TDI), a California Community Colleges Economic and Workforce Development Initiative to enhance TDI’s brand, visibility and reputation, advance its strategic goals and reinforce its brand identity among key local, state and national constituencies. 
  • Led/Managed CSUF’s Center for Entrepreneurship’s High Impact Project Initiative (HIPI), a brand-new Economic Development endeavor that supported TriTech SBDC which targeted high-growth companies in Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
  • Taught the Marketing Capstone and other Marketing courses at California State University, Fullerton

Susan’s also Coached/Mentored Nonprofit Executive Directors, Social Venture Partners (SVP) LA’s Fast Pitch Competition 2009 + 2010...  

As Creative Director, Creative Orange County, Susan visioned, curated and produced TEDxFullerton, 9.10.10, 1st ever TEDx event in Orange County CA and one of only a handful worldwide in 2010... Susan also hosted for 1 1/2 years, Creative Orange County, the Radio Show (podcast), where she interviewed 70+ of SoCal’s Creative Stars… 

Susan’s first love is the arts; she has given back to the SoCal’s arts + culture scene as Board Member, Board of Directors - Inglewood Cultural Arts, Chair, Arts Committee, City of Fullerton CA; President, Fullerton ArtsCulture, as a Consultant to Arts for LA and WESTAF (the Western States Arts Federation), as a frequent guest/participant at LA arts + culture events and as a present member of several LA arts + culture museums...

Susan also has significant nonprofit/civic leadership expertise having served as Board Member, Board of Directors, Community Action Partnership of Orange County, Orange County Visitors Association, as a Development Consultant to Compton Junior Posse and thru her volunteer activities with 826LA and the LA Urban League’s Biz Camp...