By Pacific Coast Business Times Staff Monday, August 17th, 2009

Do individuals really make a difference?Or is our fate—in business and in life — determined by trends that are largely out of our control?

This is a debate that goes on in my head constantly as I try to understand how the Great Recession is playing out in our small corner of the global economy. Call me a hopeless romantic. This week, I’m coming down on the side of individuals.

Here’s a look at two people who will play a big role in shaping what the Tri-County economy looks like in the next few years.

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