Ventura County to pay $3 million to settle sexual harassment suit against former CEO
Ventura County will pay $3 million to a former employee who sued her boss, then-county CEO Mike Powers, for alleged sexual and racial harassment and discrimination from 2019 to 2021. A notice of a conditional settlement of the lawsuit between the county and the plaintiff was filed in Ventura County Superior Court Feb. 24. But Read More →
Guest commentary: Support employee health and wealth
By Brian Hutchin In today’s economy, it’s more important than ever for employers to focus on attracting and retaining employees. The current competitive market environment and higher expectations from candidates mean employers need to differentiate themselves, and one way to do this is with workplace benefits. WORKFORCE RETENTION SOURCES While some employment metrics are promising — Read More →
Top women 2026: Michelle O’Malley
She’s engineering nexgen biology By L. Wayne Hicks Special to the Business Times When Michelle O’Malley’s older brother went off to college to study chemical engineering, she was at a loss. She wasn’t quite certain what that was, but she became a quick study. Her initial understanding was that it involved “making oil and chemicals Read More →
Top women 2026: Melinda Cabrera
Nonprofit veteran passionate about youth development Melinda Cabrera says her brand-new job as CEO of the United Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Barbara County is going great. “There’s a lot to learn, but I’m excited to jump in and really understand the organization, understand the needs of our families and just really devote myself Read More →
Top women 2026: Leila Noël
Meaningful impacts at the heart of her law practice Leila Noël, name partner at business litigation law firm Cappello & Noël, has certainly had her share of accolades during her 40-year career at the Santa Barbara-based organization. She was named one of the “Top 75 Women Litigators” in California for 2011 and one of the Read More →
Top women 2026: All-star honoree Kathy Odell
She’s got the prescription for success By Paula Aven Gladych Special to the Business Times Kathy Odell has reinvented herself many times over the years, since she helped found Medical Concepts Inc. in Santa Barbara in 1985. Some might even call her a serial entrepreneur. “For me, my career has sort of been a dream Read More →
Top women 2026: Keynote speaker & special honoree Megan Tremer
Space imaging is her universe As a kid, Megan Tremer was used to moving around. Her father, a metallurgist, relocated his family from her hometown of Pittsburgh to Oklahoma and France. And though it was tough constantly being on the move, Tremer said it “made me very adaptable to change,” something that has suited her Read More →
