Big Donation; Grants Awarded; a New Hire at Keller Williams

Biz Briefs
Compiled by Camas Frank

Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center and Twin Cities Community Hospital have received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s “Get With The Guidelines” Stroke Quality Achievement Award. Sierra Vista earned Gold-Plus status while Twin Cities earned Bronze. The awards recognize the hospitals’ commitment to leadership in stroke care in San Luis Obispo County and success in ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines based on the latest scientific evidence. To receive the Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award, hospitals must achieve 85 percent or higher adherence to all Get With The Guidelines-Stroke achievement indicators for two or more consecutive 12-month periods and achieved 75 percent or higher compliance with five of eight Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Quality measures.


Pacific Western Bank presentationBig Brothers Big Sisters of San Luis Obispo County announced its “2015 Big Event” and its new sponsor, Pacific Western Bank, which donated $5,000. This year’s Big Event will be held at “Villa Monte” in SLO on Saturday, June 27 from 4-8 p.m. Guests will sample cuisine and wines from local businesses with emcee, Adam Montiel and auctioneer Todd Ventura. The winner of the Kevin Main Jewelry raffle will also be announced. For more information and to purchase tickets, see the BBBS website at: www.slobigs.org or call (805) 781-3226. All proceeds benefit BBBS of SLO County’s youth mentoring programs. In the attached photo, from left to right are: Tom Strait and Machele Dubois of Pacific Western Bank (also a Big Brothers Big Sisters board member) present a check to Patty Carpenter, Karen Colombo and Anna Boyd-Bucy from BBBS. Business partners include: Etna Interactive, Oso Libre Wines, JW Construction, JED Nicholson Law Office, BHE Renewables, TekTegrity, American General Media, KSBY, Promo Plus, New Times, SLOCO Data, Cannon, Whitaker Construction, Wacker Wealth Partners and Tolosa Press.


The Morro Bay Chamber of Commerce is looking for a new director after the departure of former director, Kelly Wells. The position directs the Chamber administration and membership. For information about the job requirements and applications, call the Chamber Office at 772-4467 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. weekdays.


Alisha Engle’s Pilates Studio, tucked away on Lyon Street in San Francisco, is a tiny nook of a place easily overlooked but, her modern Pilates facility has been serving the neighborhood for the past 10 years. Originally from SLO, Engle made a success in the big city over 12 years.. She ended up working on Lyon Street with May 5 marking her 10th anniversary in the space, and she told Bay Area papers, she couldn’t be happier. If you’re in the neighbor hood giver her a call (415) 531-2433 or email her at: .


SLO’s current Congressional Rep. Lois Capps has announced that the Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo County  (CAPSLO) was awarded a $6.39 million grant from the Department of Health and Human Services to fund its Head Start program. SLO County Head Start is currently in the first year of a 5-year grant cycle with a funded enrollment of 387 children ages 3-5 and 254 Early Head Start infants and toddlers up to age 3. “Head Start gives our children access to quality early learning that has been proven to make a tremendous difference in the life of a child,” Capps said. “This grant will allow CAPSLO to continue to provide high quality child care and education services for children at an early age, which will help close the achievement gap and put our community’s children on the road to success.”


Comptroller1The California State Controller’s Office has started issuing millions of dollars in local funding to the “early bird” applicants for the $25 million Low Carbon Transit Operations Program, “which improves public transportation and reduces greenhouse gas emissions,” according to an announcement by Caltrans.
The funding comes from California’s Cap-and-Trade Program for combating climate change. “This program not only benefits California’s effort to address climate change but fits in with Caltrans’ goal to support and push more alternative transit choices for Californians,” added Caltrans Director, Malcolm Dougherty.
The list of approved projects will be announced in June for the remainder of the $25 million. “These grants will help bring low carbon options to transit agencies throughout California,” said Air Resources Board Chairman, Mary D. Nichols. “The funding, which comes from the sale of carbon allowances to the State’s largest carbon polluters, brings real environmental benefits, as well as enhanced service and savings to the communities that use and depend on transit. Visit: www.arb.ca.gov/cc/capandtrade for more information.


nancyfiskeNancy Fiske, a real estate sales professional in Paso Robles, has joined the Keller Williams North County Market Center. Nancy Fiske has been a Paso Robles resident for 31 years. She is an advocate for woman in business and supporting the local economy, as well as volunteering time to the Rotary Club, Humane Society, NC Performing Arts, and the Main Street Association. “We are truly lucky to have Nancy join us here at Keller Williams,” said team leader Jay Peet. “Keller Williams offers its associates unparalleled career growth and lifelong learning opportunities in the real estate industry. We know that Nancy will be a great fit and that it is our customers who will truly benefit from Nancy joining us.” To learn more about Keller Williams, call Peet at 234-4008 or see: www.kw.com.


Tracy Mauldin, assistant chief at the State Labor Commissioner’s Office will speak at a Pismo Beach Chamber of Commerce luncheon at 11:45 a.m., Monday, May 20 at Steamer’s of Pismo Beach. Mauldin’s topic is employer information regarding the labor law changes affecting sick leave. Reserve before Friday, May 15 by contacting the chamber at 773-4382. Prices vary from $19-$25.


Pacific Western Bank recently presented Peoples’ Self-Help Housing with a $10,000 check in recognition of the award winning nonprofit’s 45th Anniversary. “Community partners like Pacific Western Bank are what have helped Peoples’ to grow from a small, community initiative to a nonprofit that owns and manages more than 1,500 affordable rental units and has helped more than 1,100 low-income families build their own homes across the Tri-Counties,” said PSHH CEO/President John Fowler. “Each dollar donated helps make sure hardworking, low-income families, seniors, veterans and others in need have a safe place to call home.” For more, see: www.pshhc.org.

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