Pacific Coast Business Times

Weekly Photo

A kart racer turns on the MB2 track in Sylmar. A similar track is planned for Thousand Oaks.

Weekly Update

Zooming ahead - MB2 raceway revs up June 1

Star shines as News-Press and Tribune lag

Berries caught in squeeze

Countrywide sale on despite huge loss

Stuff dreams are made of

The science of carbon - South Coast firm devises ways to reuse CO2

Regional Headlines

Capps backs Obama campaign

Rep. Lois Capps, D-Santa Barbara, on April 30 endorsed Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., in the U.S. presidential race. In a written statement, Capps said she was torn between Obama and Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y. Among the reason she sided with Obama, Capps said, is that she said she believes the Illinois senator can beat presumptive Republican nominee John McCain in November. Capps is one of the Democratic Party’s superdelegates. With the pledged delegate count likely deadlocked for the remainder of the Democratic primary, both Obama and Clinton need to woo superdelegates to clinch the party’s nomination at the party’s national convention in Denver starting Aug. 25.

Ex-Amgen worker sentenced

A judge in Ventura County Superior Court handed down a two-year prison sentence to Jason Rimmer, a San Mateo man and former Amgen worker, for Rimmer’s role in bilking $300,000 from the Thousand Oaks company, the district attorney’s office said April 24. Rimmer, a former event planner with Amgen, gave Robert Nipar of Simi Valley information to set up accounts with American Express for fake businesses whose names were strikingly similar to Amgen’s vendors, the district attorney’s office said. For a year, Nipar charged Amgen for fake services and Rimmer approved the requests; the money went to Nipar’s bank account. Last September the men pleaded guilty to felony grand theft. Nipar is scheduled to be sentenced May 16.

UCSB seeks comments

The University of California, Santa Barbara, gave the public 45 extra days to comment on its long range development plan, a blueprint for its future to 2025. The university released the draft earlier this year after several years of work and presentations to 40 neighborhood, civic and community groups. Written comments are now due June 23. Also, an April 29 meeting about the plan was moved to 7 p.m. June 4 at UCSB’s Isla Vista Theater in Isla Vista. For more information, visit www.ucsbvision2025.com.

Dole wins Web award

Westlake Village-based Dole Food Co. said April 29 that the Web Marketing Association awarded the Dole Nutrition News its International Advertising Competition Award for Outstanding Achievement in Internet Advertising – Best Food Industry On-line Newsletter Award. In the publication, subscribers can pose their nutrition questions directly to a registered dietician via the Dole Nutrition Institute’s partnership with the American Institute for Cancer Research. With 2007 revenues of $6.9 billion, Dole is the world’s largest producer and marketer of fresh fruit, fresh vegetables and fresh-cut flowers. The company also markets a growing line of packaged and frozen foods.

Occam and CalAmp honored

Oxnard-based CalAmp Corp. and Santa Barbara-based Occam Networks will present to investors at the annual American Electronics Association’s Micro Cap Financial Conference May 4 to 6 in Monterey. The American Electronics Association, or AeA, is the nation’s largest technology trade association representing all segments of the high-tech industry. It lobbies on behalf of its partner companies and connects businesses to capital, advice and networking opportunities. “The unique, neutral format at AeA’s Micro Cap Financial Conference allows high-tech executives to connect with investors and pair off for intimate discussions about various technologies, strategic missions, trend analyses, and investment potential,” JoElla Lapiana, the executive director of the association’s Los Angeles council, said in a release.

Upcoming Special Reports

April 25 101 ONE HUNDRED
The Business Times’ annual listing of the top companies in the region, with profiles of the best-in-category winners. A gala reception is held on Thursday, May 15, to honor the winners.

May 9 WHO’S WHO IN PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
This section includes profiles of the region’s leading attorneys and CPAs.

May 30 BEST PLACES TO WORK
The tri-counties’ best places to work based on survey feedback from employees.

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For advertising information, email gwolverton@pacbiztimes.com

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