BCA sends best wishes to Dave Congalton who was hospitalized March 17. We wish you a speedy recovery … New show. Familiar face. Former KSBY news anchor Lynn Diehl is back in front of the camera with a new venture, “Wine Region News Weekend,” airing 5 p.m. Saturdays on KION and Sundays on KCOY. Loud buzz about the show at this month’s World of Pinot Noir event … Speaking of wine, San Luis Sourdough founders Dave and Charlie West will soon uncork the first release for their Westbound Wine label: “Anticipation,” a 2006 syrah/cab blend. Grapes are from Denner Vineyards west of Paso and Jacob Toft is the winemaker. They’ll start with 88 cases, with bottles to be available online. Dave and Charlie will add their new offering to the 20 or so “old” wines from their cellar that they’ll be serving at their annual Old Wine Dinner, April 23, at Bistro Laurent … You’re sure to thrill at the resonance of the Forbes Pipe Organ at the PAC during an onstage Champagne reception April 21 to support FPAC and Cal Poly Arts. Premiere organ master Olivier Latry of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris will give an improvisational performance. Prepare for goose bumps.
Entries from March 2009
LOCAL BEAT
March 19th, 2009
Cal Poly’s Orfalea College of Business is using Dialogr, a virtual idea-generating and ranking tool developed by faculty member Jeff Danes, to launch a marketing symposium and foster ongoing discussions between faculty and marketing executives … California Fine Wire and CFW Precision Metal Components found success on their first foray into the trade show world. The Grover Beach companies made more than 100 new contacts at the Medical Design and Manufacturing West Expo in Anaheim, with several contracts expected in the next few months … Help is on the way for first-time homebuyers at Midland Pacific Homes, where the staff is ready to share their knowledge about new federal and state tax credits now available to novice buyers. Find out more at Midland’s Mission Meadows, Apple Valley or Del Oro neighborhoods … About 40 hoteliers, restaurateurs, bankers and others took part in the Arroyo Grande Chamber tourism promotion workshop led by John Dunn a couple weeks ago, and the ideas and wish lists for attracting visitors to the seaside village are still pouring in. A visitor survey and branding effort are next on the to-do list.
Categories — Business Successes
BRAGGING RIGHTS
March 19th, 2009
The VCB’s SLO County Visitors Guide has been nominated for a Maggie award for the fall 2008 issue. Something like the “Oscar” of magazines, the Maggies are handed out by the Western Publishers Association … The Monarch Club at Trilogy Central Coast celebrated its one-year anniversary Mardi Gras-style Feb. 28 with a Cajun feast from Adelina’s Bistro and dancing to “Unfinished Business” … Moms, preheat your ovens and rev up your rolling pins. For the 25th year, Idler’s Appliances is searching for the next award-winning baker during its annual Mom & Apple Pie contest in April. Sign up at an Idler’s Appliances store in SLO, Atascadero or Paso Robles.
Categories — Awards, Celebrations
GOOD WORKS
March 19th, 2009
The Sister Soldier Project, founded by Myraline Morris Whitaker, has shipped more than 1,000 care packages (5 tons) containing ethnic hair care products to African American female troops serving in the Middle East. Now, Myraline has partnered with manufacturers of several popular products to supply even more. Visit new Sister Soldier Project Web site … The SLO County Senior Nutrition Program serves 900 free meals daily. Call 541-3312 to get tickets for their May 16 “Night of a Million Meals” fundraiser at Madonna Inn … The “new” Old Mission School thrift store, named A Peek in the Attic, has opened at 4620 Broad St., with a fascinating display of vintage clothing and household goods. Kudos to OMS parents Carol Paquet and Wendall Hall and their team of volunteers.
Categories — Business Successes, Charity, Fundraising, New Locations
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
March 19th, 2009
Margaux Sky, dubbed the nation’s best sandwich maker by Oprah Winfrey, is now cooking up a storm at Sierra Vista’s All Spice Café. On the menu is Oprah’s favorite, chicken curry salad on spicy white pepper jack bread, and other delectables like green chili chicken stackers and sweet butter muffins … Former Cal Poly VP Bill Boldt is once again taking university fundraising to a new level, this time at UNLV where as University Advancement VP he’s heading up the most ambitious effort in UNLV history: raising $500 million … Former local hospital administrator Chad Chadwick has taken his CEO status to Hi Desert Medical Center near Palm Springs by way of chief exec gigs in Singapore and Salinas … Miss seeing Jennifer Thoma around town? The former Cal Poly IT guru is a long-distance commuter, sharing her tech expertise every week way up the coast at Humboldt State University.
Categories — Business Successes, New Locations
BCA BLURB
March 19th, 2009
BCA staffers this week will get a sneak preview of scenes from “The Winemakers,” a new six-week series airing soon on PBS. Filmmaker Kevin Whelan of DOC City Productions filmed portions of the reality show at the BCA office, with our BCA folks acting up, as usual … Bravo! Bravisima! BCA and new client Pacific Repertory Opera will open the curtain on a fresh look and new marketing for the opera this spring after the run of Madama Butterfly March 27-28 … Add Advanced Hearing Aid Center to BCA’s client list. Husband-and-wife Dr. Aaron Marquis, Ph.D. and Anja Sedar offer hearing evaluations and a full range of services at 1495 Palm St., SLO.
Categories — Business Expansions
Local Beat
March 5th, 2009
Spring forward Sunday, March 8, when Daylight-Saving time begins. It’s a good time to test your smoke detectors as you change your clocks forward one hour … Sierra Vista celebrated the addition of six beds to its award-winning Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in the nick of time last month. Within days of opening, the now 21-bed unit was completely full of critically ill infants who otherwise would have been sent to another hospital outside of SLO County … ConocoPhillips will bring in 300 contractors early April for a four-to-six-week “turnaround,” or shutdown of the Santa Maria Facility for maintenance. The visitors should turn around some slow sales at local hotels, restaurants, shops and other businesses … Poor Richard’s Press has a new sales exec, Cal Poly graphic communication alum Zach Brenner, who’s excited to show off the venerable SLO printing company’s new Web-based collateral and direct mail marketing campaigns … New face and new location for Chevron. Suzanne Parker joins Bill Almas, Marlea Harmon and other teammates at the company’s new office on South Broad.
