SAN DIEGO - s4story -- Connect, the nonprofit organization supporting San Diego's innovation ecosystem for more than 40 years, announced the appointment of Zeb Hastings as Head of Partnerships & Growth.

"Zeb understands what it takes to build and sustain relationships that drive real growth, whether that's with a founder, a sponsor or a board member," said James Zanewicz, CEO of Connect. "His background spans business development, program design and investment inside a global startup ecosystem, and he's also tried his hand at entrepreneurship along the way.. That combination of operational discipline and hands-on experience across startup ecosystems, is exactly what this role needs."

In this newly created role, Hastings will lead Connect's board and member stewardship, oversee partnership and sponsorship growth, and help build the systems and follow-through that support the organization's long-term sustainability. He will also support the early development of Connect's philanthropic pipeline in partnership with Zanewicz. Hastings reports directly to the CEO and his team will include Connect's Partnerships & Board Relations Manager, as well as the Directors of Life Science and Tech & Defense.

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Hastings spent over three and a half years at Seedstars, a global platform supporting startups in emerging markets, progressing from business development and operations into program and investment management, and later into strategy and operations. Along the way, he spent a stint as a firefighter and emergency medical responder in Antarctica with the National Science Foundation, a detour he credits with sharpening his ability to stay calm and organized under pressure.

"Connect has spent four decades earning trust across San Diego's innovation community, and that trust doesn't happen by accident. It comes from consistency and follow-through," Hastings said. "I'm looking forward to building the kind of stewardship systems that let Connect's partners, sponsors and board members see and feel the value of being part of this ecosystem."

Hastings' appointment reflects Connect's continued investment in the relationships that sustain its work, as the organization deepens its role as a convener across San Diego's technology, life sciences and defense sectors.

Learn more about Connect and the team at https://connect.org/.