Joel Heinrichs

Co-founder/Lead consultant, Thrive Haus Consulting

MPA (1989)

Jumped into community life after college, working to help elect the first female Kern County Supervisor; served as her chief of staff.
Joined the Kern County Administrative Office as a budget analyst, earned his MPA, and became the youngest chief administrative officer in Kern County history when appointed at age 38.
When the Internet began to revolutionize work and play, he left the public sector to lead a fast-growing start-up ISP and from 2003-2016 served as CEO of Lightspeed Systems, an educational software company.
Served as a high school district trustee
Was CEO of mapEDU, which uses AI to provide fast, comprehensive curriculum mapping for professional skills in 2021
In May 2020 he co-founded Thrive Haus Consulting, which helps Central Coast technology firms grow.

Notable CSU Alumni in science & technology