Updated: Embattled California Lutheran University president stepping down
The article was updated on May 22 to add more detail on Varlotta’s tenure at CLU. Four months after the faculty at Thousand Oaks-based California Lutheran University passed a no-confidence resolution in her, President Lori Varlotta announced she will be stepping down from her role effective May 31. John Nunes, most recently pastor at Pilgrim Lutheran Church Read More →
Small business owners, in the nation and in the region, keep rosy outlook
A new Bank of America study finds that a majority of small and mid-sized business owners have an optimistic outlook about their businesses over the next year. Among other things, many expect their revenues to increase and plan to expand their businesses, the survey, released May 1, found. Jenn Kennedy, who has a Santa Barbara Read More →
HTSI aims to bring robust superconductor industry to Santa Barbara
Ray Karam is no stranger to the startup world, but his latest company — High Temperature Superconductors — is more than a startup, it is a true passion project that is beginning to make a big impact from its Santa Barbara headquarters. “It’s not as though I had to start another company. Financially, I could have retired,” Read More →
Precision Construction Services earns prestigious Prime Contractor of the Year from SBA
San Luis Obispo-based Precision Construction Services was highlighted for yet another award on May 6, with the Small Business Administration honoring the company with the 2024 Small Business Prime Contractor of the Year for the Pacific Region of the United States. Prime Contractor of the Year is the SBA’s highest award for Federal procurement. According Read More →
Amgen shares pop 12% after excitement from obesity drug candidate
Shares of Thousand Oaks-based Amgen gained 12% on May 3, one day after the company disclosed its earnings for the first quarter of 2024 and highlighted the excitement around its weight-loss drug. During the company’s earnings call, Amgen CEO Bob Bradway commented on their obesity drug candidate, MariTide. He noted that while the company does Read More →
Nexstera Tech, Mense win big at AngelCon 2024
Female founders stood proudly in the spotlight on May 2 as two women-founded companies took first and second place at the seventh annual AngelCon Pitch Competition. Hosted by the Cal Poly Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Small Business Development Center, six teams competed at AngelCon, which raised a total of $215,000 from 21 investors. Nexstera Tech, a Read More →
Conception captain sentenced to 4 years
The captain of a dive boat that caught fire in the Santa Barbara Channel in 2019, resulting in the deaths of 34 people, was sentenced to four years in federal prison on May 2. Jerry Boylan of Santa Barbara was convicted in a federal jury trial in November of one count of misconduct or neglect Read More →
