Cathy Anderson

In the film industry, there's always been a struggle between the people creating and those financing. Yet Cathy Anderson, film commissioner and CEO of the San Diego Film Commission, not only links business and art - she makes them symbiotic. 

Anderson's impact during her two-decade tenure at the commission has been far-reaching. She established it as an independent, nonprofit corporation to better promote San Diego as film-friendly. This had a strong hand in bringing millions of dollars to the region via entertainment industry projects. San Diego is now the third largest television production center in the United States.

True to the art itself, Anderson founded the San Diego Film Commission Foundation to garner grants and develop local filmmakers. Anderson's efforts have been recognized locally and nationally, but the main reward is the economic and artistic growth of the region - stemming from her drive to make business and art true partners.