Editorial: Shared sacrifice
OpinionUnions hate making concessions. The very purpose of a union is to secure better pay and benefits for its members. The idea of lower compensation is usually a non-starter. That’s why it’s refreshing to see so many public-sector unions in the Tri-Counties accepting wage and benefit concessions. In some cases, unions have agreed to reductions Read More →
Kids' clothes, grown-up businesses
Small BusinessAny parent can tell you that children can be an endless source of joy, tears, laughter and stress. For two Santa Barbara County moms, they’re also a source of business inspiration. In Solvang, children’s clothing company Lollybean has seen steady growth since owner Amy McConnell started the business in 2007. With the clothes she designs Read More →
Making cement green: Oxnard firm leads the way
UncategorizedJim Price, president of Oxnard’s Diversified Minerals, has entered a range of businesses with his 26-person company, but it all adds up to single-minded focus: greener cement. Diversified Minerals builds giant cement silos, runs a railroad spur and blends specialty cements for projects like dams and levies. But its main thrust is to remanufacture Read More →
Limoneira
ColumnsSanta Paula-based Limoneira Co. has come a long way since its early days as a family-owned lemon grower. Today, it’s traded on Wall Street and enjoys tens of millions of dollars in sales each year. And it’s not just a citrus business — Limoneira is now one of the largest players in the tri-county real Read More →
With Towbes, L.A. takes notice of our region
ColumnsFor the past five years, the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year awards — aka the Oscars of business in Los Angeles — have followed an annoyingly familiar script. Really cool South Coast companies get named finalists and they look good in awards videos. But they haven’t exactly lit a fire under the judging Read More →