Central Coast agriculture gross value up in 2024
By Mike Harris / Thursday, July 3rd, 2025 / Agribusiness, Central Coast, Latest news, Santa Barbara County, Top Stories, Top Story, Tri-County Economy, Ventura County / Comments Off on Central Coast agriculture gross value up in 2024

The gross value of agriculture in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties increased by 7% in 2024 over 2023, according to their recently released annual crop and livestock reports. In 2024, Ventura County’s estimated gross value was $2.3 billion, its findings, made public June 24, said. Santa Barbara County’s was $2 billion, its report, released July Read More →
Dubroff: UCSB names engineering school for former dean
By Jorge Mercado / Thursday, June 26th, 2025 / Higher Education, Latest news, middle, Santa Barbara County, Technology / Comments Off on Dubroff: UCSB names engineering school for former dean

When I met Teledyne executive chairman Robert Mehrabian at his office in Thousand Oaks earlier this year, I came away thinking I had just been introduced to a multi-talented scientist-entrepreneur. So, it was not entirely surprising to learn that UC Santa Barbara’s world-class engineering school will now be called the Robert Mehrabian College of Engineering, Read More →
Umbra launches new manufacturing facility in Goleta
By Jorge Mercado / Wednesday, June 25th, 2025 / Latest news, Santa Barbara County, Technology, Top Stories, Top Story / Comments Off on Umbra launches new manufacturing facility in Goleta

Santa Barbara-based Umbra is furthering its investment in the region with the opening of its new 50,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Goleta. Umbra is a space technology company that came out of stealth mode in 2021. The company provides access to satellite images and offers dedicated satellite missions. Announced June 25, the new space will boost Read More →
BofA appoints new market executive for Ventura/Santa Barbara region
By Jorge Mercado / Monday, June 16th, 2025 / Banking & Finance, Banking Industry, Latest news, left, Santa Barbara County, Ventura County / Comments Off on BofA appoints new market executive for Ventura/Santa Barbara region

Jacky Holler, a woman with more than 30 years of financial industry experience, has been named as the new market executive for Ventura and Santa Barbara counties by Bank of America. Announced June 13, Holler will work closely with the bank’s local market leaders across its eight lines of business and market president Midge Campbell-Thomas Read More →
Montecito Bank & Trust expands executive leadership team
By Jorge Mercado / Sunday, June 8th, 2025 / Banking & Finance, Latest news, Santa Barbara County, Tri-County Economy / Comments Off on Montecito Bank & Trust expands executive leadership team
Santa Barbara-based Montecito Bank & Trust is growing its C-suite after the bank announced that it has promoted Heather Ames to executive vice president and chief people officer. In this new role, Ames will join the MB&T Executive team and work alongside CEO and Chairman Janet Garufis, EVP Chief Financial Officer Bruce Stevens, EVP Chief Read More →
Amy Weaver is ready to helm Direct Relief
By Jorge Mercado / Thursday, June 5th, 2025 / Latest news, Nonprofits, Santa Barbara County, Subscriber content, Top Stories, Top Story / Comments Off on Amy Weaver is ready to helm Direct Relief

Amy Weaver has never been one to back down from a challenge. When she graduated from Harvard Law, instead of immediately going to work for a firm, she followed her heart and moved to Hong Kong, working for the country’s legislative council. After decades of working as an attorney, both in private practice and the corporate world, Read More →
Pacifica, Mattison agree to part at end of August
By Jorge Mercado / Sunday, June 1st, 2025 / Columns, Higher Education, Latest news, Santa Barbara County, Subscriber content / Comments Off on Pacifica, Mattison agree to part at end of August
Editor’s note: This story was updated on June 6 to reflect that Dr. Leonie Mattison did not confirm to the Business Times that she is departing. She had no comment and referred us to Pacifica. Pacifica Graduate Institute will be looking for a new CEO to steer the ship after current president/CEO Dr. Leonie Mattison Read More →