Calavo ponders buyout as CEO retires
Santa Paula-based Calavo Growers announced that Lee Cole will retire as president and CEO on Dec. 8 — his second retirement in five years — as the company ponders an unsolicited proposal. Announced Nov. 12, this was Cole’s second stint as CEO, as his first go-round was from 1999 until 2020, and he also served as Read More →
Lompoc councilman charged with alleged misuse of city funds
Lompoc City Councilman Stephen Bridge has been charged with eight felonies involving the alleged misuse of city funds and conduct related to a city rebate program. Santa Barbara County District Attorney John Savrnoch announced the charges Nov. 19. They include forgery, grand theft by embezzlement, fraudulent use of a contractor’s license number and Identity theft. Read More →
Hardy Diagnostics founder retires after 45 years
It has been more than four decades since Jay Hardy first founded his manufacturing company, Hardy Diagnostics, in Santa Maria, and along the way, there have been a slew of victories. But after 45 years, Hardy decided to take a step back. Announced Nov. 19, Hardy officially announced he has stepped down as founder and Read More →
Calavo announces CEO succession plans
Santa Paula-based Calavo Growers announced that Lee Cole will retire as president and CEO on Dec. 8, and has appointed John Lindeman, a member of Calavo’s Board of Directors and former Calavo CFO, to succeed him. This was Cole’s second stint as CEO, as his first go-round was from 1999 until 2020, and he also Read More →
State of Ventura County report has pluses, minuses
The latest State of the Region report for Ventura County paints a mixed picture. On the plus side, in 2024 there was a record high of non-farm jobs in the county, housing starts rebounded and homelessness decreased for the second straight year, the report, released Nov. 10, shows. On the other hand, GDP is stagnant, Read More →
