> The Economic Development Collaborative-Ventura County has launched an enhanced website to ensure that business leaders can easily and efficiently access the latest information to help their companies grow, the organization reported in a media release. The site, www.edc-vc.com, has…
Category: Business
Commentary: Santa Barbara at-risk students get help from $7,500 Bank of America grant
By Frank X. Moraga / Amigos805 With a success rate of 79 to 84 percent for students completing college courses with a C grade or better, compared to the college-wide rate of 67 to 70 percent, the Santa Barbara City…
Local news briefs
CAMARILLO — A grant from Edison International, parent company of Southern California Edison (SCE), will fund student scholarships in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and an energy conservation innovation lab at CSU Channel Islands (CI), university officials reported June…
CSU Channel Islands’ Henry L. Lacayo Institute receives Edison International grant
CAMARILLO — A grant from Edison International, parent company of Southern California Edison (SCE), will fund student scholarships in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and an energy conservation innovation lab at CSU Channel Islands (CI), university officials reported Wednesday in a…
Business: How to impress when hosting a business dinner
By Metro Editorial Services (MS) Hosting a business dinner is both an honor and a responsibility. Employers typically entrust only their most valued employees with the responsibility of hosting a business dinner, and such opportunities are not to be taken…
Local business information
> Women’s Economic Ventures will present a series of free one-hour orientation sessions” from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, July 9 in Buellton; Thursday, July 10 in Santa Barbara; Tuesday, July 15 in Santa Barbara; and from noon to 1…
Bilingual report: VCCDC to present ‘Homeownership Fair & Grand Opening Celebration’ on June 28 in Oxnard
OXNARD — The Ventura County Community Development Corporation will present a “Homeownership Fair & Grand Opening Celebration” from 11 a.m.to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 28 at 2231 Sturgis Road, Suite A in Oxnard. “You have a dream of owning your…
Realtor Michael Delgado joins real estate team of Coldwell Banker Oxnard Beach
OXNARD — After entering his second successful decade in Real Estate, Michael Delgado is joining the Real Estate team of Coldwell Banker Oxnard Beach, according to a media release. Every year from 2003 to 2013, Delgado was awarded “Top Listing…
2nd annual Job Fair to be held June 12 in Santa Maria
SANTA MARIA — The California Employment Development Departement, in partnership with Santa Barbara County Workforce Investment Board, will present the “Second Annual Job Fair” from 1 to 4 p.m. Thursday, June 12 at the Veterans Memorial Building, 313 W. Tunnel,…
Local
CAMARILLO — The Ventura County Community Foundation and the Ventura County Housing Trust Fund have teamed up to create the first permanent revolving fund in Ventura County dedicated to building farmworker housing, the organizations reported in a media release. The…
Business: How to avoid distractions when working from home
By Metro Editorial Services (MS) Telecommuting has made great strides over the last decade. U.S. Census Bureau statistics have identified key telecommuting trends, noting that 45 percent of the American workforce holds a job that is compatible with at least…
Local business information
> The Institute for Global Economic Research (IGER) at CSU Channel Islands (CI) and the Port of Los Angeles will present “Meet Consul Generals and Export,” a free workshop on the opportunities and nuances of conducting trade in some of…
May cover story: The search is on for summer jobs for youth
Variety of training, placement programs are available for youth if they know where to look By Frank X. Moraga / Amigos805 Monique Marquez recalls when she was 16, in high school and went looking for her first summer job. “I…
Business: Online reviews can benefit shoppers, retailers alike
By Metro Editorial Services (MS) Word-of-mouth has long been an ally of small business. Customers who have positive experiences with a small business often share those experiences with friends, family members and coworkers, and that word-of-mouth can help hardworking small…
Local business information
> CSU Channel Islands’ Martin V. Smith School of Business and Economics will hold its final Spring 2014 Speakers Series program with a presentation by Joe Schroeder, president/CEO of Ventura County Credit Union, from noon to 2 p.m. Friday, May…
Bilingual commentary: Internet marketing — The new frontier
Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes guest columns, letters to the editor and other submissions from our readers. All opinions expressed in submitted material are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of Amigos805. By David Magallanes / Guest contributor We…
April cover story: Empowering youth, adults through education
Ventura-based GOCARE Inc. seeks to expand its efforts to business education in Nicaragua By Frank X. Moraga / Amigos805 Nicaragua is the poorest country in Central America and the second poorest in the Western Hemisphere. Much of the nation’s infrastructure was…
Local
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Lois Capps (D-Santa Barbara), along with many of her colleagues, demanded that the House of Representatives vote on a comprehensive immigration reform bill by signing a discharge petition on H.R. 15, the bipartisan Border Security, Economic…
Business: Regaining your work-life balance
By Metro Editorial Services (MS) Balancing work and family life is a major challenge for many professionals. Many established professionals find it stressful to juggle the demands of successful careers with the obligations they have to their families and regaining…
Local business information
> Allan Hancock College to present its second annual “54-hour Startup Weekend Santa Maria” on April 4-6. “Bring your business idea, and we’ll help make it happen,” said Anne Cremarosa, director, Small Business Entrepreneurship Center, and one of the organizers…
Chicana and Chicano Studies scholar to receive II Galardón Don Luis Leal
UCSB’s María Herrera-Sobek is the first woman to be so honored By Kateri Wozny / UCSB María Herrera-Sobek, professor of Chicano and Chicana Studies at UC Santa Barbara, has been named to receive the II Galardón Don Luis Leal…
Bilingual commentary: Leaping over the wage gap
Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes guest columns, letters to the editor and other submissions from our readers. All opinions expressed in submitted material are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of Amigos805. By David Magallanes / Guest contributor Much…
Rigoberto Vargas, Marvelle Berry appointed to board of Boys & Girls Club of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme
OXNARD — Rigoberto Vargas and Marvelle Berry have appointed to board of Boys & Girls Club of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme, the organization reported this week in a media release. Vargas is public health director at the Ventura County Health…
March cover story: Health care issues take centerstage
Affordable Care Act March 31 deadline, new health agency chief and health plan’s improvement of services top the list By Frank X. Moraga / Amigos805 With the deadline looming for open enrollment in the Health Insurance Marketplace, the announcement of…
Business: Improving office productivity
By Metro Editorial Services (MS) Productivity is paramount to a company’s success. A productive staff tends to meet or even exceed its goals, strengthening a company along the way. As a result, business owners often find themselves looking for ways…
More local business information
> California Lutheran University will present “The Equipped Mind,” a free public workshop to help entrepreneurs deal with the psychological issues that come with launching new businesses, from 1 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, March 9, in Lundring Events Center on…
Leah Lacayo elected president of Ventura County Fair board
VENTURA — The board of directors of the Ventura County Fairgrounds has elected Leah Lacayo president, the organization reported in a media release. The board also elected Bonnie Weigel vice president. Lacayo is serving her second appointment to the board of…
Guest commentary: Obamacare — Greed and Health Care gap
Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes guest columns, letters to the editor and other submissions from our readers. All opinions expressed in submitted material are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of Amigos805. By Rodolfo F. Acuña / Guest contributor In…
Business: What are consignment shops?
By Metro Editorial Services (MS) Consignment stores have grown in popularity in recent years, particularly among bargain hunters. In addition to offering great deals, such shops also buy clothing, giving shoppers a chance to make a little money when retiring…
More local business information
> Dave Power, founder of J.D. Power and Associates, will be the first speaker in the Martin V. Smith School of Business & Economics at CSU Channel Islands’ Spring 2014 Speaker Series, “Lessons from Successful Entrepreneurs and Executives,” from noon…
More local financial news
> California Lutheran University this summer will open a Westlake Village center to house a new business incubator and provide expanded facilities for its Community Counseling Center and School of Management, the university reported in a media release. At the…
Bilingual commentary: The Demise of the Mall?
Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes guest columns, letters to the editor and other submissions from our readers. All opinions expressed in submitted material are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of Amigos805. By David Magallanes / Guest contributor When…
Bilingual report: Rep. Brownley reports on $1.5 million in overdue federal benefits delivered to Ventura County
THOUSAND OAKS – In the year since Rep. Julia Brownley (D-Westlake Village) took office, Brownley and her staff have successfully delivered $1.5 million in overdue federal benefits to her Ventura County constituents, Rep. Brownley reported Friday in a media release.…
El Concilio wins award from Bank of America
OXNARD — El Concilio Family Services in Oxnard was selected by Bank of America for a $3,000 award to support its effort to enhance the community, El Concilio reported in a media release. “El Concilio relies on the contributions of committed…
Business: 4 Steps to becoming a Certified Personal Trainer
By Metro Editorial Services (MS) Kelly Smith was like most young moms —she struggled with her weight after having her second child, but eventually managed to shed the pounds through setting and achieving fitness goals. But the triumph of getting…
Local business information
> CSU Channel Islands will host Federal Reserve Economist Gary Zimmerman from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 16 in the university Grand Salon in Camarillo. Zimmerman, senior economist with the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, will discuss the bank’s…
Rep. Brownley announces $850,000 in funding for Clinicas del Camino Real to improve health access
VENTURA COUNTY — Clinicas del Camino Real Inc. will receive more than $850,000 in funds from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Community Health Center Program, Rep. Julia Brownley (D-Westlake Village), reported in a media release. Through its 13…
Assemblymember Das Williams recognized for work on Gold Coast Transit District bill
OXNARD — Gold Coast Transit (GCT) awarded Assemblymember Das Williams a special proclamation and his very own GCT bus stop sign at the Nov. 6 board of directors meeting in recognition of his leadership and sponsorship of Assembly Bill 664, the…
Local news
Santa Barbara County Second District Supervisor Janet Wolf recently visited the Center for Lifelong Learning (CLL) at SBCC Wake Campus, where she met staff and teachers and toured the campus with CLL Executive Director Andy Harper. Supervisor Wolf visited CLL…
Bilingual commentary: On strike for more pay
Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes guest columns, letters to the editor and other submissions from our readers. All opinions expressed in submitted material are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of Amigos805. By David Magallanes / Guest contributor On…
Bilingual commentary: The Importance of becoming a webmaster
Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes guest columns, letters to the editor and other submissions from our readers. All opinions expressed in submitted material are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of Amigos805. By David Magallanes / Guest contributor Many…
Guest commentary: The Affordable Care Act: What is it?
Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes guest columns, letters to the editor and other submissions from our readers. All opinions expressed in submitted material are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of Amigos805. By Robert Freeman / CenCal Health…
Cover story: Migrant students introduced to college life
CSU Channel Islands hosting its first Migrant Summer Leadership Institute By Frank X. Moraga / Amigos805 Building multidimensional shapes out of plastic tubing and using Mentos and soda to propel race cars. While at first glance the exercises seem like children’s…
Growing share of Latinos get their news in English
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The language of news media consumption is changing for Hispanics: a growing share of Latino adults are consuming news in English from television, print, radio and internet outlets, and a declining share are doing so in Spanish,…
Bilingual commentary: Careers and jobs in a technical world
Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes guest columns, letters to the editor and other submissions from our readers. All opinions expressed in submitted material are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of Amigos805. By David Magallanes / Guest contributor Not…
Trula Breuninger named new interim CEO at Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics
SANTA BARBARA — Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics (SBNC) has announce the appointment of Trula Ann Breuninger, MPH, MBA, as interim CEO, the organization reported Thursday in a media release. Breuninger’s extensive experience as a leader of community health, as well as…
Network of Emerging Leaders (NEL) to hold monthly reception on July 19 in Oxnard
OXNARD — NEL (Network of Emerging Leaders) will hold its free monthly social gathering from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, July 19 at 5th St. Steak & Seafood, 231 W. Fifth St., Oxnard. “The Network of Emerging Leaders is a group of…
Bilingual report: Farmworker Fair to be held on July 21 in Oxnard
OXNARD — The California Employment Development Dept. will present the 6th annual “Farmworker Fair — Feria Campesina” from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, July 21 at the EDD office/West Oxnard Job & Career Center, 635 So. Ventura Road, Oxnard. The…
‘Dia de las Comidas’ fundraiser for Hospice of Santa Barbara to be held on July 11
SANTA BARBARA — The third annual “Dia de las Comidas” will be presented from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday, July 11 by Hospice of Santa Barbara Inc. Three popular family-owned restaurants will open their doors to support Hospice’s Latino…
SCORE Ventura Hispanic Program to present free workshop, mixer on June 20
OXNARD — The SCORE Ventura Hispanic Program to present a free workshop, mixer from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 20 at The Kitchen, 529 So. A St., Oxnard. The Best of SCORE Expo for business owners and startups will feature…