Content about News

The Bank of Santa Clarita released its first quarter results Thursday, reporting net earnings totaling $68,000 as compared to $29,000 for the first quarter of 2011.

The bank also reported that net interest income increased $135,000 or 9 percent over the first quarter of 2011. The bank reported $1.7 million of net interest income for the first quarter of 2012 as compared to the $1.5 million reported for the first quarter of 2011.

Title
“Just Start: Take Action, Embrace Uncertainty, Create the Future”

Authors:
Leonard Schlesinger, Charles Kiefer, Paul Brown

Synopsis:
Written by a trio of seasoned business leaders, the authors share their own deep and varied experiences and draw from a source where striving amid constant uncertainty actually works: the world of serial entrepreneurship. In this world, people don’t just think differently—they act differently, as well.

Last week, about 15 people attended the Lunch and Learn to better understand how cloud computing differs from their current server situation and if it’s worth making the switch.

“We want to know what the heck ‘the cloud’ is,” said Steven Lettau, marketing director for Advanced Audiology.

Lettau attended SCV Chamber event about cloud computing April 6, hosted by Jeremy Stepan, president of Valencia-based Adage IT.

Adage IT has been selling cloud-solution packages for about six months, Stepan said.

It is hard to believe, but a quarter of the year is now history. Why are some businesses thriving and others not doing as well? 

The gap can be explained comparing and contrasting the best versus the rest.  

The best have strong business models. These organizations have clients and allies, not customers. They have ongoing revenue streams and strong relationships in the supply chain. 

The rest think, say and act “we hope customers do business with us.”

So Pontius Pilate, the governor, went out to them and asked, “What is your charge against this man?”

“We wouldn’t have handed him over to you if he weren’t a criminal,” they retorted.

“Then, take him away and judge him by your own law,” Pilate told them.

“Only the Romans are permitted to execute someone,” the Jewish leaders replied.

For local golf fans, Scratch Golf of Santa Clarita is holding a contest in honor of the 2012 Masters Golf Tournament. Fans pick which player they believe will win the men’s tour, and predict the score the winning player will shoot under par.

Winner of the contest earns a weekend for two at the La Quinta Resort and Golf in Palm Springs, to include two nights and two rounds of golf.

Whenever I drive on Interstate 10 through Palm Springs, I think about the lessons taught to me by “Wild Bill” Sweeney. I worked with Bill at Nestle.

That was first lesson I learned from Bill: Focus on what you have been directed to do, and do it well.

He had his marching orders to sell coffee to a certain set of customers, and nothing was going to stop him. Bill was a man on a
mission. He wanted people on his side, but if he had to, he would run you over; it was your choice.  

The Signal, being essentially a local paper, sometimes doesn’t cover all of the breaking national news.

Being an intrepid columnist for The Signal (the newspaper hasn’t quite recognized that yet, but it will after this), I wanted to get the scoop on legislation from Washington being signed into law today.

More Santa Clarita Valley companies could benefit from the Enterprise Zone tax credit program if they make themselves aware of it, or work with their CPAs to claim the credits, said Laura Biery, administrative analyst with the city of Santa Clarita’s Economic Development division.

Tax credits for hiring employees who qualify can offset the payroll costs for hiring employees, said Tim DiTomaso, keynote speaker and president of DiTomaso Incentive at Thursday’s Enterprise Zone lunch seminar.

The city of Santa Clarita is extending its Shop Local partnership with the Santa Clarita Valley Auto Dealers Association for another year.

The $60,000 one-year extension comes at a time when local dealers need the support the most, as many dealerships had fewer new cars on their lots this year, as a result of the earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan in March.

About six months ago, when I began writing this column, I had one goal in mind: to inform and protect you, the reader.

I want you to have all the information and warnings necessary to make effective and educated decisions. That’s usually what separates the haves from the have-nots in the world of finance.

I’ll repeat some important factors again here.