Spokes Symposium 2021

Wendy Lewis is the President and CEO of the El Camino Homeless Organization (ECHO). The organization has seen a dramatic increase in need for services since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Wendy will share her insights on how they met the challenge. In her three years with ECHO she has helped expand the organization’s reach, from 50 beds at one facility to 140 at three facilities. Before ECHO, Wendy worked at the Food Bank Coalition for 10 years and led the building of their 20,000 square foot headquarters. Wendy grew up in Lompoc, attended Cal Poly, and resides in Atascadero with her family.

Kevin Harris is the Managing Artistic Director of San Luis Obispo Repertory Theatre (SLO REP). Kevin will showcase how SLO REP, like many other performing arts organizations nationwide, has adjusted to a new reality of providing programming during the pandemic. He served as the Artistic Director of Centerpoint Theatre Group in San Luis Obispo and co-wrote and directed an original play with Ashtar Theatre in Palestine. Kevin has taught at the University of Iowa, University of Chicago, and has led dozens of workshops on A Practical Handbook for the Actor across the country. He is very happy to be here on the Central Coast with his two beautiful children, Dominick and Ella.

Bettina Swigger serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Downtown SLO. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a dramatic impact on downtown SLO businesses and hindered most regular events. Bettina will share how the organization has adapted to help their members in crisis and continue to attract visitors to Downtown SLO. She served as the executive director of Festival Mozaic for 7 years and was voted one of the Top 20 under 40 by the SLO Tribune in 2012. Bettina is interested in creative place-making, bringing people together in public spaces, surprising and delighting visitors and residents, and having a great time with a fantastic team while doing so.