How does a sleepy government town become a destination city? Ask Mike Testa. As President and CEO of Visit Sacramento, Mike has spent the last decade reshaping how the world sees Sacramento — from birthing the Farm to Fork Festival and Aftershock to landing Terra Madre on a ten-year deal.

In this conversation with Mary Daffin, Mike gets into the real mechanics of city-building: how you convince elected officials to turn a family park into a concert venue, why art is what truly sets a city apart, and what calculated risk looks like when there's no precedent and no guarantee.

What you'll learn:

- How Sacramento went from government town to Farm-to-Fork Capital and why not everyone liked it

- The stories behind creating Aftershock, Farm to Fork, and Terra Madre

- Why art and performing arts are what truly set a city apart

- What calculated risk looks like when there's no precedent and no proof

Perfect For: Anyone who loves Sacramento and wants to know the stories behind the city's biggest moments and anyone who's ever had to lead without a guarantee.

Guest: Mike Testa, President and CEO of Visit Sacramento

Sponsors:

⁠https://meropictures.com⁠

Learn more about the Jacquelyn social club:

⁠https://www.thejacquelyn.com/⁠

Get In Touch:

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LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-jacquelyn/⁠

Email:

⁠[email protected]⁠