Consolidation wave hits region
UncategorizedThe information technology landscape is changing in the Tri-Counties, with two acquisitions in San Luis Obispo County and more possible in the future. The buys come as companies that have remained strong are looking for opportunities to grow and position themselves for when better times return. They’re also showing the pains and opportunities in what’s Read More →
Find the bag, follow the money: Tech veteran builds business on lost luggage
UncategorizedYou’ve just stepped off an airplane in London. You’re tired and jetlagged, and your bag is nowhere to be found. Looks like you’ll be presenting to the head of European operations in the clothes you’ve spent 16 hours in. Santa Barbara technology veteran Cleveland Motley wants to make sure that doesn’t happen again. Motley is Read More →
UCSB’s two solar powers
UncategorizedThe burning question in energy research is how to harness the power of the sun in a cost-effective way. Nobel laureate and UC Santa Barbara Professor Alan Heeger’s answer — plastic solar cells that can be printed cheaply like photographic film — has drawn interest and more than $100 million from investors. But other researchers Read More →
First Solar buys Cuyama array site
UncategorizedThe first proposed commercial-scale solar energy project in Santa Barbara County has changed hands. The Cuyama Solar Array Project is now being shepherded by First Solar, the same company proposing the much larger 550-megawatt Topaz Solar Farm on San Luis Obispo County’s Carrizo Plain. The Cuyama project was originally proposed in September 2009 by Edison Read More →
Designed for success: Top minds at RKS Design share their secrets
UncategorizedOver the past 30 years, Thousand Oaks-based RKS Design has proved it knows how to design stuff. It’s won nearly every award in the industrial design world. It’s helped turn around troubled companies. A rethinking of the controls on Amana’s washing machines, for example, added about 30 cents in costs but helped swing the appliance Read More →
Editorial: Let the sun shine on city, county salaries
OpinionThe Bell scandal has put public payrolls in the spotlight. That’s why the Pacific Coast Business Times has connected the dots up and down the Tri-County region, with a comprehensive survey on city manager and county executive officer pay. Our survey was conducted over the past few weeks under the direction of Executive Editor Tony Read More →
Editorial: Goodbye and good luck
OpinionFor the past six years, we’ve gotten to know and respect Ashish Vaidya, who rose through the ranks to become dean of the faculty at CSU Channel Islands. He’s a thoughtful economist with a knack for reading the thoughts that are in the minds of those in the audience at his public talks on global Read More →