BZP Palm Springs: Coachella Valley Innovation Alliance Launch

The Coachella Valley has no shortage of people building meaningful things. What it’s been missing is a shared room.

CVIA is designed to bring locals together—from Palm Springs to Coachella, Indio to La Quinta—into one ongoing, moving conversation. Each gathering will take place in a different desert city, creating space for the Valley to connect with itself, city by city.

At the center of every convening are local innovators—people leading across a range of industries—who are shaping how things are built, run, and reimagined here, in the Valley. Not outside voices. Not abstract ideas. Real builders, rooted in this place.

This isn’t about a single event. It’s about building a regional culture of curiosity, connection, and shared momentum.

What to expect:
Thoughtful conversations, diverse perspectives, and a room intentionally designed to bring together people who don’t usually cross paths.

Who it’s for:
Locals from across the Valley—entrepreneurs, civic leaders, business owners, creatives, and anyone invested in what’s next for this region.

We’re starting in Palm Springs.
From there, we move across the Valley—together.

Featured speaker:

Mona Babauta, CEO of Sunline Transit Agency

Mona Babauta is a seasoned transit professional with over 27 years of experience serving communities across the Inland Empire, Bay Area, and the Los Angeles Metropolitan area.She currently serves as the CEO/General Manager of SunLine Transit Agency in Southern California, a recognized leader in clean transportation innovation, particularly in hydrogen fuel cell buses and supporting infrastructure for over 30 years.

In addition to her professional experience, Babauta is an active leader in the transit industry and a passionate advocate for sustainable transportation and building healthy, engaged communities. She has contributed to numerous state, regional, and national efforts, including serving on the CALACT Board of Directors, the Executive Committee of the California Transit Association and the Board of Directors for The Center for Transportation and the Environment.

Mona holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Notre Dame and a Master of Public Administration from Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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Host or Publisher Blue Zones Project Palm Springs