Corporate Governance Not-for-Profit

Director
San Diego Regional Economic Development Corp.

Robert Watkins has served as director at the San Diego Regional EDC for nearly 25 years and is a member of the executive and compensation committees. Known for bringing his business acumen to the not-for-profit arena, his behind the scenes influence has been vital to the EDC’s development and the economic development of the region’s business climate. He sits on the boards of the San Diego World Trade Center and the San Diego County Taxpayers Association among others. He is the former president of the San Diego County Board of Education, chairman of the San Diego Regional Airport Authority, chairman of the San Diego County American Red Cross, and trustee of the YMCA of San Diego County. He is founding member of CONNECT and the San Diego National Sports Foundation. Watkins also played a pivotal role in the building of the U.S. Olympic Training Center in San Diego. He is the president and chairman of R. J. Watkins & Company, Ltd. which he established in 1980, and currently serves on two corporate boards Regenesis Biomedical and Urigen Pharmaceuticals.