A Chat with Creativity Champion, Dave Elliott

Dave Elliott became a fast friend of Child Creativity Lab in 2022. Providing us with resources and connections, Dave Elliott has been and continues to be a connector for the good of Orange County. This year, we have the pleasure of honoring Dave at our upcoming event “From The Heart” on Friday, April 19, because of his passion for our program and his commitment to our organization. 

Director of Partnerships, Katy McInnes, met with Dave Elliott, CEO and President of the Santa Ana Chamber and CEO of the Passkeys Foundation, to chat about his career path, his work in the Orange County community, and the importance of relationships.

KM: What does creativity mean to you?

DE: Great question. A couple of words come to mind. One word, and this is typical, is innovation. I also think creativity is freedom—freedom to express—and individualization because every child in their creativity is expressing their own personality and experiences.

KM: Why is creativity important to the Orange County community, especially the business community?

DE: Well, everything in our world, and specifically in Orange County, is in a mode of change. As the world is changing, creativity keeps the business community abreast of what's going on and what’s relevant to good business. Creativity is also hugely important to develop skills and look at new ideas like new ways to connect to your stakeholders, improve business models, and develop new opportunities. STEAM programs—and I always add the “A” for arts in there—are hugely important to this effort. Having been involved in music in years past, I can see how it’s important to have an arts background when being creative in business. People don't know that I have a master’s degree in choral conducting from Azusa Pacific University, and I think it has lent itself to creating new ideas.

KM: Do you think that your experience in choral conducting has helped you at all in your career?

DE: Definitely. For example, with our Difference Makers1 event. We wanted to create something new that would honor people making a difference for the good of Santa Ana while also integrating our scholarship program into this event. Now we've provided $1,000 scholarships to over 175 students and recognized about 75 or 80 individuals in the community.

KM: Why do you support Child Creativity Lab?

DE: It's unique. There aren't any other organizations doing something similar to what you all are doing. I think that's the biggest thing. You're serving thousands of students per year with hands-on STEAM, while also tying in the repurposing of natural resources.

KM: At Child Creativity Lab, we're all about career pathways for students. As the CEO of the Santa Ana Chamber of Commerce and the founder of Passkeys Institute for Impact, serving on several boards, and even recently receiving a lifetime achievement award, can you tell me about your career path?

DE: I went to the University of Arizona for health education with a minor in coaching, and the first 20 years of my career was a blend of high school athletics and administration. I was a school principal twice, and then I got into music full-time with a couple of churches. Then in 1994, I got connected with Vanguard University, which was Southern California College at the time. They hired me to start a program for adult learners, and I thought I'd be there a year. I was there for 15 years. By that time, I had gotten very involved with the Santa Ana Chamber as a board member and an ambassador. And then the CEO of the Santa Ana Chamber retired. One thing led to another, and I was approached by a good friend of mine who was the interim CEO. He said, “Hey, why don't you come and take over the Chamber of Commerce?” This was 2010...and I thought about it and I said, “I don't think so.” But they set up a meeting for me to sit down with some key people involved. I met them for lunch, and we agreed that I would come in as the CEO of the Chamber and I would try it for four months. Six months in, they made me the permanent CEO, and I've been the CEO since 2010. And the old guy is still hanging around! So that's kind of the progress. I mean, the first 15 to 20 years, every 3 to 4 years, I changed jobs, but now I've only been in just two positions in the last 29 years…not in any kind of planned career path. Just stuff that comes up and makes sense. We launched the Institute for Community Impact in 2016. It was just an idea that I had about community engagement. I believe that we all have opportunities to help with the needs of our community, where you can make a difference by stepping up and just getting involved. It could be in government, education, etc. My good buddy, Russ Williams, who founded the Passkeys Foundation 30 years ago, said, "Why don't you put the Institute into the existing foundation? You and I can run it." And then he retired a couple of years back, so now I'm the CEO of the Passkeys Foundation and the CEO and President of the Santa Ana Chamber.

KM: If you could pass anything on to the next generation of critical thinkers, leaders, and innovators, what would it be?

DE: Relationships, relationships, relationships. Who do you know? Who do they know? Do they know you? If they don't know you, go out and meet them! My philosophy has always been that I'll meet with that person because I don't know where it may lead, but if I don't meet with them, then nothing happens. I always say, too, that we are only as good as the people we surround ourselves.

KM: Do you have a favorite moment from your work at the Chamber or the Institute?

DE: I think my favorite thing with the Chamber is our Difference Makers event, which we have done for 14 years, and even during Covid, we were able to make it happen remotely. With the Institute, our OC Influencers for Good2 event, where we honor 4 or 5 outstanding influencers for good in Orange County, is one of my favorites. In both events, we're shining a light on the work of individuals. The people we honor have made an impact in the arena that they serve in. And to me, that's leadership. I've been blessed over the years to be in places of leadership my entire career and I used to say that I was more of a builder, not a maintainer, but I've become both with the Chamber and certainly with the Institute. Building and maintaining good things for our community—that's important to me.

[1] The annual Difference Makers event held by the Santa Ana Chamber of Commerce will be held on April 23, 2024, from 11:15 am-1:15 pm. For tickets and sponsorships, please click here.

[2] The annual OC Influencers for Good event held by the Passkeys Foundation, Institute for Community Impact will be held in November. For updates, follow the Institute for Community Impact on LinkedIn.