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Brandon Cardwell has been tapped to lead the city of Livermore’s innovation and economic development department, according to a statement from the city.
Cardwell, who was appointed to the role by City Manager Marc Roberts, is set to officially start on Monday (Feb. 14).
“I am thrilled to promote Brandon to this leadership role,” Roberts said of Cardwell in the city’s statement. “He has contributed significantly to the city organization and to the community in his many years of service here. Brandon is a collaborative team member, brings a unique wealth of knowledge to this department and has demonstrated the skills required to succeed in this role.”
Cardwell has worked for the city for the past 16 years, beginning his journey in 2006 and joining the economic development team in 2011. During this time, city officials said that Cardwell helped shape Livermore’s economic development priorities, working in tourism and special events, land use planning, place branding and the technology sector.
In 2014, he became the executive director of i-GATE Innovation Hub, an independent nonprofit created by the cities of Livermore, Dublin, Pleasanton and the town of Danville along with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories. The organization provides business development services for startups.
In his executive director role at i-GATE, Cardwell oversaw the development of the Daybreak Labs startup incubator and the Startup Tri-Valley ecosystem development initiative.
Officials said Cardwell has also helped lead important land use projects in Livermore including the Isabel Neighborhood Specific Plan, SunCal and The Well at Sunset. He played critical roles in revamping the city’s outdoor dining program, designing Livermore’s COVID-19 small business relief program and the Innovation and Economic Development Strategic Plan.
Cardwell is a Livermore native who attended Rancho Las Positas Elementary School, Junction Avenue Middle School and graduated from Granada High School. He received an associate degree from Las Positas Community College and a bachelor’s degree in government from California State University, Sacramento.
“The opportunity to work in my hometown has been incredibly rewarding over the past 15 years,” Cardwell said. “I’m a product of this community and now I’m raising my kids here, so I know how important Livermore is to the people who live here. I couldn’t be more excited to work with the entire city team, the council and our incredible community partners to strengthen Livermore’s economy and quality of life.”
Cardwell succeeds Adam Van de Water, who departed from the role in December after three years for a position as executive director of Transbay Joint Powers Authority in San Francisco, which owns and operates the Salesforce Transit Center.
