California’s labor shortage can be fixed
Central Coast, Higher Education, Latest news, Op/EdsBy Jordan Cunningham California has a huge hole in our skilled labor force. Construction companies scramble to find carpenters, electricians, iron workers and those in other specialized careers that make up the construction workforce. Nearly 70 percent of California contractors said they’re having difficulty filling positions for installation specialists. Roughly 50 percent said it’s difficult Read More →
Help is available for small business owners
Latest news, Op/Eds, Opinion, Small BusinessBy Brian Gabler and Bruce Stenslie More than 23,000 businesses operate in Ventura County — three quarters of which have 10 employees or less. There are another 20,000 to 30,000 sole proprietors. Anyone who runs his or her own business knows that it can be a daunting task. Business owners often do very well at Read More →
Managers need to develop social capital
East Ventura County, Higher Education, Latest news, Op/Eds, OpinionBy Kapp Johnson You might be well aware of John Donne’s poem “No Man is an Island.” Written in 1674, it was not originally a poem but prose. It speaks profoundly of what we might call social capital today. The poem speaks beyond networking to a depth of relationships that are more than instrumental. In Read More →
Puente Power Project needed and should be approved
Energy, Latest news, Op/Eds, OpinionBy David Grau NRG Energy is proposing to build a new power plant at its existing Mandalay Generating Station on Harbor Boulevard at the beach. The plan, called the Puente Power Project, calls for the new plant to replace two existing facilities that are required by state law to discontinue by 2020. This proposal will Read More →
Involve your children in philanthropy
Banking & Finance, Banking Industry, Latest news, Op/Eds, Personal FinanceBy Mike Feldman Over the next few decades, an estimated $30 trillion is expected to pass from baby boomers to their heirs in the biggest wealth transfer in history. Unfortunately, most family wealth is earned and lost within three generations. Engaging the younger generations in philanthropic efforts is one way to prepare them for future Read More →
Liberal arts education good for entrepreneurs
Latest news, Op/Eds, OpinionBy Mike Panesis Question: What’s the one question a liberal arts university graduate needs to know? Answer: Do you want fries with that? When you’re the butt of jokes, you hear them all. The public concludes that a liberal arts education is useless without truly understanding it. So, let’s first reflect on its true purpose Read More →
Vacations good for employees and employers
Latest news, Op/Eds, OpinionBy Jonathan Fraser Light As we near Labor Day, it is important to remember that vacations for employees are a good idea. We all need to re-charge our batteries. Western Europe has it figured it out; employees receive several weeks off a year and companies don’t even bother to try to get much commerce done Read More →
