The Los Angeles County Small Business Commission (County SBC) elected Commissioner Cecilia S. Wu as Chair of the Board of Directors. She has been on the SBC since its beginning as an Advisory Board. Ms. Wu is the Managing Partner of the Alhambra office of Wasserman. Comden & Casselman, LLP. The Small Business Commission (County SBC) was created by the Board of Supervisors (BoS) in May 2001with the following mission: to provide ongoing advice and support to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to help business grow and do business in and with Los Angeles County.

Los Angeles County Internal Services Department in doing its part for the much needed Economic Stimulus, is conducting a series of “Bridging the Gap” workshop. A recent event at the Business Technology Center in Altadena was the gathering of over 50 interested entrepreneurs in connecting with the “Los Angeles County Purchasing & Contracting” Opportunities” workshop. The seminar included an, overview of the County’s buying process – step-by-step guide: Commodities vs Services – Who buys what and how do small businesses participate? Purchasing Methods- vendor agreements, purchase orders, website for open bids>$10,000 and more. The workshop forums are being coordinated by: Office of Small Business & Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PYAC), 323-881-3964, www.laosb.org. Additional information can bereceived for Doing Business with Los Angeles Count at the web portal: http://doing business.lacounty gov/main_db.htm. At the Altadena forum were, Pamela Cressel-Smith, GSB moderator, Bob Lane, Business Consultant, Federal Technology Center, Alice Estrada, Program Manager, Office of Small Business Procurement Technical Assistance Center and PeterLouie, Phd, MBA, Executive Vice President, Help-U-Check Diagnostics, Inc a firm located in the Business Technology Center (BTC), an attendee of the workshop. The BTC is a project of the Community Development Commission of LosAngeles County, 626-296-6300, www.labtc.org.

Windsor Manor recently hosted an informative Senior Fair especially designed for seniors’ and their adult children. The event was held at their facility located at 1230 E. Windsor Road, Glendale. Public safety, finance and adult care experts spoke to more than 40 seniors about some of the challenges that come with living longer. “I just believe the more information they have, the better they can make important choices,” stated Michael Walper, manor executive director. Residential Living, Reverse Mortgages, Senior Banking Needs Long Term Care Insurance, Elder Abuse, Identity Theft, Trust/Wills, Staying fit & Active, Real Estate Options of transitioning from your home into Residential living were covered at the Senior Symposium. Present at this Senior Event was from the left: Kelly Finney, director of community relations; Michael Walper, executive director Windsor Manor; and Jeanette Beurekjian, director of marketing Windsor Manor.

The San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership Board of Directors recently announced that former Pasadena City Manager Cynthia J. Kurtz has been selected as the new President and Chief Executive Officer replacing retiring Ron Wood. Mr. Wood has served as the Partnership’s CEO since 2006 during which time he greatly expanded the organization’s reach and community support and raised its profile considerably. Wood, best known as the long serving former publisher of the San Gabriel Valley
Newspaper Group, also lead the creation of www.VisitSanGabrielValley.com, a comprehensive regional marketing concentrated website. Kurtz, who served as the City Manager of Pasadena from 1998 to January 2008, will begin working with Mr. Woodin January and assume full time responsibilities on April 1, 2009. Currently, she is serving as the Interim City Manager for the City of Covina, a position she will hold until March 31, 2009 when the selection of a new manager is expected to be made.

Business leaders kick off 2009 campaign to support the Santa Anita Family YMCA’s Financial Assistance Program. Funds raised help assure that no one is ever turned away from receiving the YMCA’s programs and services for an inability to pay. In 2008, nearly 15% of the 332 kids from the YMCA’s service area in Arcadia, Monrovia, Duarte and Bradbury participating in SAFYMCA’s day camp and after school programs were able to participate because of the Financial Assistance Program. From left to right: SAFYMCA Chief Executive Officer, Damon Colaluca; SAFYMCA Chief Volunteer Officer, Donna Baker of Dickson Podley Realtors; and campaign co-chairs Patrice Reinhard of Dreams Built True; and Todd Adamson of Adamson Chiropractic.