Scotts Valley Chamber News

Shaeffer Chamber Ambassador of the Year

Tobin Shaeffer is a real estate agent for Intero Real Estate Services and Intero Commercial Real Estate. Tobin primarily focuses in Santa Cruz County, helping clients sell, buy, and lease property. His clients enjoy his integrity, professionalism, and commitment to the community.

After serving in the U.S. Navy from 1988-1992, Tobin settled in Santa Cruz to be near his family. He is a graduate of Cabrillo College and raised his children in Santa Cruz. Originally a volunteer for the Scotts Valley Art, Wine, and Beer Festival, Tobin joined the Scotts Valley Chamber of Commerce and became a Chamber Ambassador.

He has been the Chairperson for the Beer Committee for the festival since 2019 helping to secure quality vendors and promoting the Festival.

Tobin is also luthier who has been building acoustic guitars since 1993. He got his start at Santa Cruz Guitar Company before understudying at English Violins and eventually building his own designs.

“To surrender dreams — This may be madness.” — Miguel de Cervantes

Saavedra

Ten years ago, long-time Scotts Valley resident and performing arts enthusiast/theater operator, Lee Besse, created the Scotts Valley Community Theater Guild (SVCTG) and staffed it with fellow diverslybackgrounded enthusiasts.

Shortly after its creation, SVCTG began in its grand adventure, comparable to the fabled, noble quest of Don Quixote, de la Mancha.

With help from hundreds of volunteers, contractors, and financial support from Scotts Valley citizens, the SVCTG overcame countless challenges and conquered many windmills, including:

1) demolishing and repurposing the space into a professional theater, featuring 264-velour seats from the Bellagio Hotel, a 5,000 sq. ft. stage from Arizona State University, and 3 tech operation towers;

2) navigating regulations and City concerns;

3) managing the building progress through the pandemic and making the space available to CAL FIRE during the 2020 fires.

Since its Grand Opening in October 2022, SVCTG aka “The Venue at Scotts Valley” has hosted the Santa Cruz Film Festival, Hitchcock Film Festival, dance recitals, jazz concerts, choral performances, children’s ballet recitals, city government presentations, and

Christian Youth Theater’s winter musical production. It has received an official visit/recognition from the California State Senate as well as a major grant from the California Nonprofit Performing Arts Grant Program.

While the roads traveled were similarly treacherous, the glorious difference between Don Quixote’s and SVCTG’s quests is that Scotts Valley has a brand new, gorgeous, and operational cultural and performing arts center for all to enjoy.