Spotlight

Beginning in March, unemployed Santa Barbara County residents will have an opportunity to take free classes in Lompoc and Santa Maria to gain new skills in high-demand occupations. Courses in “Computer Applications with Social Media Marketing for Business” will cover Microsoft Office, word processing, spreadsheets, and Internet and e-mail applications, as well as social networking. […]

Contractors are invited to attend the fifth annual Vandenberg Air Force Base Small Business Conference, held March 16 and 17 at the Pacific Coast Club. The conference will highlight the latest updates on Air Force contracting opportunities, marketing to the government, and teaming strategies with large businesses. It runs from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. […]

LPL Financial recently recognized Robert T. Bruno, an independent financial advisor at Bruno Strategic Wealth Management in Orcutt, as a top financial advisor, naming him to the LPL Financial Patriot’s Club. The distinction is based on a ranking of all registered advisors supported by LPL Financial, and is awarded to less than six percent of […]

The Diani Companies announced the completion of their new LEED silver certified corporate office, an 11,000-square-foot facility in Santa Maria. The company achieved the LEED certification for energy use, lighting, water, and material use. The U.S Green Building Council established the certification to encourage the design, construction, and operation of high-performance green buildings nationwide. The […]

Santa Lucia Bancorp, the parent company of Santa Lucia Bank, posted its fourth quarter earnings for 2010, reporting a net loss of $1.2 million. The figure compares with a net loss of $4.6 million in the third quarter of 2010, and a net loss of $2.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2009. For the […]

Marco Polo’s Pizza in Santa Maria, now under new ownership, will be holding a fundraiser for local schools on Feb. 22 and 23. A percentage of all pizzas ordered on those two days will go toward “Keep the Music Playing in Santa Maria,” an event to raise money for school music programs. Marco Polo’s has […]

The Home Builders Association of the Central Coast installed its officers and board of directors for 2011 at its recent Leadership Installation and Awards Banquet. The group named Dennis Moresco of Midland Pacific Homes as Builder of the Year; First American Title as Associate of the Year; Lenny Grant of LGA Associates and The Towbes […]

Atlas Performance Industries will be giving a tour of their facility during the next Santa Maria Valley Manufacturers Association meeting on Feb. 22. API owner Ted Martino will talk about how the company has grown from a small leasing company to a fleet of more than 1,000 office trailers and modular buildings. Also included in […]

The Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce is looking for exhibitors for the 26th annual Business Trade Show, scheduled for June 16 at the Santa Maria Fairpark. Businesses large and small, as well as nonprofits, will have an opportunity to showcase their products and services to other business people and thousands of community members at […]

Learn how to take your business to the next level at the live EntreLeadership simulcast, featuring syndicated radio talk show host Dave Ramsey, on April 1. Attendees will discover ways to develop a unified team, gain knowledge to build a recession-proof business, and have the opportunity to network with other local business leaders. The nationwide […]

The Santa Maria Association of Realtors, an organization of 500 licensed real estate professionals, announced its officers for 2011. The association installed Era Polly as president; D’Ann Bartley (also named 2010 Realtor of the Year) as past president; Pat O’Brien as president-elect; and Shay Murphy as secretary/treasurer. The group also named Martha Beckman, Susan Gelt-Garcia, […]

Community Bank of Santa Maria released its annual earnings report on Jan. 31, reporting gains in profits, total assets, deposits, and net loans for 2010. The bank reported total assets of $152 million at year’s end, a 12.7 percent increase over the $134.9 million reported at the end of 2009. Deposits increased 13.9 percent, from […]