Coastal housing groups help workers buy or rent
Live near work. It’s a concept that’s vexed tri-county businesses as they’ve struggled to recruit and retain employees. The Santa Barbara-based Coastal Housing Partnership has made a name for itself by helping the region’s employees buy homes and rent apartments near their jobs. The nonprofit works with about 50 business owners who pay an annual Read More →
Higher education faces disruption because of technology
Business scholar and consultant Clayton Christensen coined the phrase “disruptive innovation” in the 1990s to describe a breakthrough that reshapes a market and displaces its leading firms. Twenty years later, “disruption” might be the defining theory of the modern economy. Print newspapers, brick-and-mortar retail and taxis have been some of its chief victims. On a Read More →
Ronald Reagan’s legacy was in good hands with Nancy
There was a palpable hush in the packed auditorium at the Ronald Reagan Library & Presidential Museum as Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan entered the room with Nancy Reagan balanced on his arm. The date was May 2006 and Greenspan was talking about the Reagan legacy in one of his last public talks as Federal Read More →
Dubroff: In era of unusual calamities, Feinberg has faith in system
Kenneth R. Feinberg has had an up-close-and-personal view of human tragedy. As the nation’s premier attorney for dealing with disasters, both natural and man-made, he has a remarkably practical approach to what should happen when things go wrong. So, when I had the chance to talk to him on March 8, I couldn’t resist asking Read More →
Sonos announces layoffs
Santa Barbara audio technology company Sonos, the fast-growing startup that is now a major downtown employer, has begun layoffs as it refocuses on voice controls. Sonos founder and CEO John MacFarlane made the announcement late March 9 in a blog post on the privately-held company’s website. The number of layoffs was not disclosed. “We are Read More →
Implant scandal takes toll on Sientra
Months after a scandal erupted over contaminated implants, Sientra released earnings results that showed how much a suspension of sales hurt the company. The Goleta-based breast implant manufacturer released fourth quarter and year-end earnings on March 9. Revenues fell to just $1.5 million, compared to $12.1 million a year ago. Net losses ballooned from $3.2 Read More →
As Rush steps down, CSUCI welcomes first woman president
In a move that signals a new era of leadership, CSU Channel Islands will get its first woman president, and the current CI provost will take the helm at CSU Chico. The CSU Board of Trustees announced March 9 that Erika Beck, currently provost at Nevada State College will become the second president of CI. Read More →
