A New COO, Zoo Passes Test and Fitness Guru Honored

Business News and Announcements
Compiled by Camas Frank

San Luis Obispo County is celebrating National County Government Month in April with several public activities, including tours at SLO County Regional Airport and a volunteer workday to clean up areas around Lopez Lake Recreation Area. The theme for this year’s National County Government Month focuses primarily on transportation and infrastructure as, “the building blocks for a safe, healthy, livable, prosperous and well-governed community.” See: www.slocounty.ca.gov for details.


Grocery Outlet_8967The SLO Chamber welcomed new member, the Grocery Outlet, with a ribbon cutting ceremony last month. Grocery Outlet is a national bargain chain with the newest branch at 1314 Madonna Road in the Laguna Village Shopping Center. The store is owned and operated by Ryan and Shannon Parrish, who relocated to SLO from Washington. The store sells refrigerated and frozen foods, fresh produce, meat, organics, dry groceries, beer and wine, household, and health and beauty products.


Mike Z. Robinson, founder of San Luis Obispo-based Personal Training Studio, MZR Fitness has again been selected by the IDEA Fitness Committee as being one of the “Top 3 Personal Trainers in the World.” He’s had the distinction for three of the last four years. The IDEA Health & Fitness Association is the world’s largest for fitness and wellness professionals with over 250,000 members. “This Top 3 award recognizes individuals whose outstanding leadership inspires staff and influences both active and under active people to commit to a healthy lifestyle through successful, creative and diverse fitness programming,” said Robinson. “The IDEA Health & Fitness Awards are considered to be the fitness industry’s highest form of recognition and have been presented annually since 1985. So it’s a really big deal in our field to be recognized as a Top 3 finalist and again. I’m just excited and humbled by this opportunity to be included with such a prominent group of fitness professionals.”


Swim CenterThe 5 Cities Swim School was recently honored with a Chamber of Commerce Business Beautification Award for new landscaping surrounding the center. Notable but not pictured are colorful fish designed and made by a French artist hanging above the pool. In the photo left to right are: Mary Giambalvo, Adriana Pitchford, David Aldana, Nan Fowler, and Linda Osty.


The International Chardonnay Symposium kicks off at the end of May in Pismo Beach. Featuring top global Chardonnay winemakers, the event will be held May 28-30 at The Dolphin Bay Resort & Spa and The Cliffs Resort. A sampling of panel discussions includes a Hanzell Vineyards and Mount Eden Vineyards retrospective tasting moderated by Fred Dame, and “To Oak Or Not To Oak? Exploring Chardonnay as the Chameleon of Vitis Vinifera,” moderated by Brian McClintic. Additional events include a vintners’ wine tech symposium, artisan sausage and Chardonnay pairings, a sommelier Chardonnay challenge, two grand tastings and La Paulée Dinner and Awards Ceremony. To learn about and for tickets, see: thechardonnaysymposium.com.


MarielleDeFazio of PathpointMarielle DeFazio has been hired as PathPoint’s first Chief Operations Officer.  Founded in Santa Barbara in 1964, PathPoint provides support services that empower people with disabilities, economic disadvantages, and mental illness to live and work as valued members of their communities. PathPoint serves San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Kern and Los Angeles counties. As the nonprofit’s first COO, DeFazio will concentrate on advising and supporting divisional operations in each of the six PathPoint divisions.


Morris & Garritano has been named “2014 Brokerage Firm of the Year for the Greater Los Angeles Area,” including San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, by Anthem Blue Cross, Large Group Division. Morris & Garritano’s innovative benefit strategies and multi-year solutions were commended by Anthem Blue Cross for working to provide employers with creative solutions to minimize the transitional effects of complying with the new healthcare provisions of the Affordable Care Act. “With healthcare reform,” Employee Benefits Manager, Celia Silacci, said, “we’ve been working so hard to ensure that our clients are getting the best possible solution, so to receive this recognition lets us know that all our hard work is paying off.” Morris & Garritano is one of just five brokers in the state that have been working hand-in-hand with Anthem to introduce a new product line over the past six months. Founded in 1885, Morris & Garritano is a full-service insurance agency focusing on business insurance, workers compensation, employee benefits, personal lines, surety and life insurance. See: www.morrisgarritano.com for more on the firm.


paddock-zooThe Association of Zoos & Aquariums announced that the Charles Paddock Zoo in Atascadero was granted accreditation by AZA’s Independent Accreditation Commission. “Only zoos and aquariums that meet the highest standards are accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums,” said AZA President and CEO, Jim Maddy. “The community should take great pride in knowing that the Charles Paddock Zoo is a proven leader in the care and conservation of wildlife, and in inspiring people to take action to protect the natural world.” To be accredited, the zoo underwent a thorough review to ensure it has and will continue to meet ever-rising standards, which include animal care, veterinary programs, conservation, education, and safety. AZA requires zoos and aquariums to successfully complete this rigorous accreditation process every five years. The accreditation process includes a detailed application and a meticulous on-site inspection by a team of trained zoo and aquarium professionals. The inspecting team observes all aspects of the institution’s operation, including animal care, keeper training, safety for visitors, staff and animals, educational programs, conservation efforts, veterinary programs, financial stability, risk management, visitor services, and other areas. To learn more, see: www.aza.org.

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