Cal Poly engineering students team with firms to tackle projects
An in-bottle wine aerator, a Spider-Man-like robot that can climb walls and a peach pit detector were among the projects on display at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo’s mechanical engineering expo on Nov. 21.
Philanthropist Fred Kavli dies at 86
Fred Kavli, a Norwegian-born entrepreneur, scientist and philanthropist who created thousands of jobs and gave millions for the study of theoretical physics, died at his home in Santa Barbara on Nov. 21. He founded KavliCo Corp., a Moorpark-based maker of advanced sensors for cars and aircraft. He also invested in real estate for more than 50 years.
Central Coast leads the way as solar, tourism boost SLO County recovery
In remarks prepared for the 2014 SLO County Economic Forecast Breakfast on Nov. 22, Jordan Levine of Beacon Economics said only San Luis Obispo, San Jose, San Francisco and Bakersfield have gone positive when it comes to the pre-recession jobs peak.
Apollo cashes in on CKE with $1.6B sale
CKE will join Roark affiliated companies, which include Arby’s, Cinnabon, Carvel, Wingstop, Corner Bakery and a number of others. “The cultural match is very positive, and we look forward to taking full advantage of their experience and expertise in the restaurant segment,” CKE chief executive Andy Puzder told the Business Times.
Defense leaders say industry faces skilled worker shortage
Some of the nation’s top defense industry executives said at a forum at the Reagan Presidential Library on Nov. 16 that they have grave concerns about the nation’s ability to supply the workers needed to maintain the nation’s technological superiority.
Shaky job security at defense firms, competition for talent from non-defense companies and a shortage of science and math graduates are making it hard to hire and retain the kind of skilled people who have made the United States a world leader in technology for decades, panelists said.
