Guest commentary: Lessons from Starbucks’ digital pioneer
By Starr Hall Artificial intelligence may run on software and large language models, but Adam Brotman reminds us it’s far more than lines of code. For him, AI’s real story begins with people and culture. I had the pleasure of hearing him share this perspective at a recent Coastal Intelligence Fireside Chat in Santa Barbara, Read More →
Guest commentary: 50 years of giving back in Ventura County
By Crawford Coates When Mohammed Hasan arrived at 24 years old in New York from what is today Bangladesh, the idea was to pursue a PhD at the University of Florida. But plans quickly changed when he discovered that a PhD in the United States is often associated with professorship. “People kept saying to me, Read More →
Guest commentary: How to protect your wealth from cybersecurity scams
By Sarah Reznick As a financial advisor, my work typically focuses on helping clients grow their wealth through saving, investing and planning for the future. But just as important as building wealth is protecting it. No one wants to spend a lifetime working hard, only to see their financial security drained away by a scammer. Read More →
Guest commentary: When ‘Hang in There’ can be lethal
By John Grace For decades, the traditional investment model has been a set-it-and-forget-it approach: keep 95% in a mix of stocks and bonds, 5% in cash, and let the “long term” work its magic. That works fine for young investors adding new money during dips. But for retirees taking withdrawals, especially those with Required Minimum Read More →
Guest commentary: California can lead on recycling without leaving small businesses behind
By Kristen Miller Here on California’s South Coast, small businesses are the backbone of our economy. From family-owned manufacturers and food producers to specialty retailers and service providers, our region thrives because of the entrepreneurial spirit that defines our communities. Our work in public policy and advocacy to support business includes carefully watching State legislation Read More →
Guest commentary: Trade, the trade deficit and the tariff rollercoaster
By Gerhard Apfelthaler California Lutheran University Surprise, surprise! The U.S. trade deficit dropped sharply in June 2025. According to a recent report by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the goods-and-services deficit fell to around $60 billion, down nearly 16% month-over-month and 18% year-over-year. And more good news – by July, year-over-year receipts in tariff revenue Read More →
Guest commentary: Why now is the right time to switch to an electric vehicle
Tia Kordell Community Environmental Council It’s official: when it comes to protecting us from the growing threat of a climate crisis, the federal government is not just asleep at the wheel — it’s driving us in reverse. Regressive climate policies, funding rollbacks, and the purge of environmental agencies threaten to permanently set the climate movement Read More →
