The first ever Central Coast Cancer Challenge, presented by Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center, is a multi-sport event taking place at Laguna Lake Park Sept. 18 and benefiting the Wellness Center. Too much to tell here – 5k and 10k run/walk, 50k/100k cycling, kids run and bike rodeo; wellness expo and Damon Castillo Band – this event has it all … It’s a busy time for the Collaboration team. Tonight at 5:30, Collaboration hosts a “State of Small Business in SLO” mixer at the Crooked Kilt at 1865 Monterey. Free food and intriguing conversation; and Friday, Sept. 10 at noon their Business Education lunch features Andre, Morris & Buttery principal (and all around impressive) Beth Marino discussing buy-sell agreements. Reservations required … Corri Perry, manager of Fence Factory Rentals Atascadero, is the newly elected president of the SLO County Builders Exchange, joined by VP Patrick Kimbell (Kimbell-Brown Construction of Los Osos); secretary Mike Bray (Michael Bray Construction of Paso Robles) and treasurer Steve Stillman (Stillman Enterprises of Arroyo Grande). And welcome to Lindsay Newcomb, Fresno transplant and new marketing director for Limberg Lasik Institute. You could say she set her sights on the Central Coast.
Local Beat
August 26th, 2010
Categories — Business Workshops, Charity
August 13th, 2010
The Giving Bean Co., special gifts for special clients
You’ve been looking for a fresh alternative to a gift basket to give your clients. We’ve found something extraordinary. The Giving Bean Gift Co., launched by Maalaea Quirk, provides custom gift boxes filled with classic home and office décor gifts, edibles and gift certificates. The gifts are presented in The Giving Bean Gift Co.’s signature black box with satin ribbon and delivered for you. Your clients will love it and remember you. Visit Maalaea’s website to place your orders today … In September a documentary on the local fashion industry will be screened at the Palm Theatre. Two BCA pals are prominent in the credits; filmmaker Robin Chilton, who produced the trailer promoting the film, assisted by videographer Joel VanZeventer. Take a peek for yourself … The ConocoPhillips Battle of the Blazing BBQ’s pits refinery chefs Tim Seidel, Jim Anderson, Derron “Bubba” Johnson and Dane Underwood against some of Santa Maria’s best grillers on Aug. 27. It’s a BBQ throwdown at the Santa Maria Airport, part of the “Thunder Over the Valley” air show. High stakes cooking – winner takes a ride in an A-6 (a very cool jet for you lacking in aeronautical knowledge). The dueling mitts prep food for air show pilots and flight crews. Up, up and away and come on, ConocoPhillips, do us proud.
Categories — Business Expansions, New Locations
July 29th, 2010
Eight companies with big dreams and solid business plans will make a case for investor funding at an inaugural event produced by SLO Seed Ventures and Cal Poly’s Innovation Quest. The hopefuls present Friday, July 30, from 9:30 a.m. to noon at Cal Poly’s Orfalea College of Business … Drowning in e-mails? Grab a Mission Community Services Corporation life vest on Aug. 6, when ORGANIZE coach Erin Hoffman offers a brown bag session on managing that pesky inbox. RSVP to info@mcscorp.org (hmmm…they must have e-mail under control) or by phone to 595-1357 … Grade Potential Tutoring, a tutoring service founded by then-Cal Poly student (and now owner) Dave Serwirtz, knows something about making the grade. The SLO and Santa Barbara offices of Grade Potential were joined last week by a third location, this one in San Diego. We give Dave an A for ambition and drive.
Categories — Business Expansions, Events
July 1st, 2010
The SLO Symphony team, Executive Director Brian Hermanson, John Baer, Music Director Michael Nowak and Music Education Director Andrea Stoner
Former talk show host Jenny Jones is no stranger to the Central Coast. She performed in SLO years ago as a standup comedienne on stage at the old William Randolph’s (now Holiday Inn Express). Her path crossed ours again recently when her “Jenny’s Heroes” Foundation surprised Arroyo Grande resident John Baer with a phone call and great news: a $4,000 grant to fund instruments for the SLO Symphony’s Music Van. The van travels the county to expose kids to the hands-on fun of music. Baer is a devoted Symphony volunteer … John Ewan and his team at Pacific Energy help with the juice that
Pacific Energy's installation at Cass Winery. While the field produces wine, the solar installation produces 45 KW per hour.
produces the juice at Cass Winery. A new solar array designed and installed by Pacific Energy is now keeping company with the vines … Two local photographers share their art in collections that will stir your home town pride. Tom Peck’s “The Fair” captures the many moods of California Mid-State Fairgoers in a month long show at Paso Robles’ Studios on the Park. And Chris Leschinsky’s talent for showcasing Central Coast landmarks and scenery can be enjoyed on his stock photo website, www.theCaliforniaArchive.com … Paso native son and much loved, fab-o media sales rep John Osman (his dad was the famous and equally well loved “Coach O” at Flamson Middle School in Paso for 38 years) has been on the sidelines battling a debilitating bout of Valley Fever for the last eleven months. John beat it back and has returned to work, tearing up the circuit for KPRL Radio in Paso Robles. Welcome back, Johnny-O … And kudos to local favorite and the just-wrapped Atascadero Wine Festival. Changing the event hours from mid day to 4-8 p.m. made for a perfect evening at the lake. 80 wineries and several thousand people agree.
Categories — Awards, Business Successes, Good Press
June 17th, 2010
Tim Haley’s name is a familiar one in SLO County, and now his contributions as a military veteran have won statewide recognition. The Atascadero resident, former Marine and recipient of a Purple Heart Medal, led the campaign to create the recently dedicated SLO County Purple Heart Trail. Tim has been named 2010 Veteran of the Year for our 33rd Assembly District, an area that reaches from Lompoc to the Monterey County line, and includes 35,000 vets. Our warmest congratulations – and thanks – to Tim and other veterans and service members for what they do. If you’d like to acknowledge Tim, consider a contribution in his honor to support the Trail at www.purpleheartca101.org … SLO Seed Ventures, a great new program of the SLO County EVC, helps startup companies with that one all-important piece: finding capital. In addition, SLO Seed Ventures helps mentor and educate entrepreneurs. Kudos to organizers EVC exec Mike Manchak, venture capitalist Jo Anne Miller and program sponsor Gerry Frigon of Taylor Frigon Capital Management … We ran into John Shoals when he was wearing his Mayor-of-Grover-Beach hat, and he shared a boatload of great news: the city’s lodge and conference center proposal is making progress; the City is working to create a landing station for the Trans-Pacific Fiber Optic cable that goes through Grover Beach’s municipal network, and Grover Beach has moved up the ladder for Federal stimulus funding that, if secured, will help the city tie in to Digital West’s enhanced new Internet backbone. All that and Grand Avenue improvements. Go Grover … Cal Poly’s Orfalea College of Business offers a popular MBA program for fulltime students, and now the college is extending its program to working professionals in the Santa Barbara area. A new part-time MBA program launches this fall, with classes held at the popular Canary Hotel in downtown Santa Barbara.
Categories — Awards, Business Successes
May 20th, 2010
Dan Walters
Can you really resist Sacramento smart guy Dan Walters just days before a statewide election? Last call for tickets to the June 2 SLO County UCSB Economic Forecast Project “Mid-Year Update.” Spirited debate and a free ride on the SLO-departing “espresso express.” Visit the websites of the Atascadero Chamber or the Paso Robles Chamber for more information … Local history meets a new wine venture when the Hearst Ranch Winery hosts its grand opening in the tasting room at the historic Sebastian Store in Old San Simeon Village on May 22 and May 23. Wine tasting, BBQ and music benefit the Hearst Cancer Resource Center at French Hospital in SLO … Upcoming Brown Bag Dialogues on tap at Mission Community Services Corporation: May 21, HR consultant Betsey Nash and DSS’s Cassandra Blangsted explain the HIRE Act and SLO Works Subsidized Employment Program; May 28 the topic is Low Cost and No Cost Services for Businesses, presented by Lynn Kranich of Shoreline Workforce Development … We keep hearing about great deals in local real estate. How about a brand new, 2300-square-foot home at Trilogy Central Coast for $100? It’s possible if you buy the winning ticket in the St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway on the Central Coast. A limited number of tickets will be on sale starting July 7. Call (800) 834-5794.
Categories — Business Workshops, Promotions
May 6th, 2010
When Chris Thornberg and Dan Walters share the stage, a good show is bound to follow. Get tickets today for the June 3rd UCSB Economic Forecast Mid-Year Event in Paso Robles. Attendees from south of the grade can add a free ride on the “Espresso Express” shuttle bus provided by PG&E and departing from Sierra Vista’s new parking structure. Register with the Atascadero or Paso Robles chambers … It’s hard enough to be a start-up business, but if you launched any time in the last three years, recession challenges can be staggering. Get a morale boost and solid knowledge in a free presentation by SCORE on Saturday, May 22 at the SLO City-County Library. Presentations will focus on financial reporting, marketing, customer management and human resources. Register online.
