Content about Social Issues

In any economic state, and even more so in an unhinged economy, new global competitors and challenges abound ranging from the uncertain successes of emerging markets, to the instability of the skills gap and quality of the workforce pool. The upswing in emerging markets has placed significant pressure on traditional industries to enhance competitive competencies; a strong workforce at the foundation.

A law practice is built one case at a time. But a successful law business is built upon victories, reputation and referrals.

When the Santa Clarita-based law firm Owen, Patterson & Owen took on pharmaceutical giant Merck & Company Inc., one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world, it became a saga of David and Goliath proportions.

“We were the first in the nation to file suit against Merck July 21, 2001,” said partner Richard Patterson.

Many business people will tell you the product or idea is only a fraction of what matters – the execution and marketing of the service will make or break your venture. Four Santa Clarita-based entrepreneurs shared their experiences in successfully building a business around their idea for a new product.

AMS Fulfillment Services announced it is welcoming its second group of people Monday, Oct. 24 in an ongoing partnership with Pleasantview Industries, an organization that has served the developmentally disabled adults in Santa Clarita since 1969.

Four people work with an on-site counselor, to highlight the individual’s skill set in a safe and positive environment, while interacting with other AMS associates. This will make for the second group of disabled adults AMS has brought into the company, at two of its locations in the Valencia Commerce Center.

Mike Quick is a busier man than usual this weekend. He’s part of a team of four who joined forces to bring the Santa Clarita Jazz Festival to town for its inaugural event at the Valencia Country Club on Saturday.

“I’m pretty pleased with the people in the Santa Clarita Valley, and we wanted to bring recognition to the city,” Quick said. “This was a good way to do it and make it the first of a yearly event.”

A discussion on health care and health care reform, led by a group of panelists from the medical community, was the focus of the Valley Industry Association's luncheon Tuesday.

Health care in the last 10 years has changed so dramatically," said Jonathan Emerson, association administrator for Providence Holy Cross medical center.

Going forward the medical community will be paid based on making patients well rather than being paid "by the test," Emerson said.

As a leading voice of business and industry in the Santa Clarita Valley for the past 30 years, the Valley Industry Association announces Earvin “Magic” Johnson, an American icon and NBA legend, will keynote the luncheon address at the 2012 Business-to-Business Industry Show on Thursday, March 1, 2012, at the Hyatt Regency Valencia.

The Valley Industry Association announces Diana Meyer, president of Meyer Marketing Intelligence, Inc., has been named VIA’s incoming chairwoman of the board of directors for 2012. Appointed for next year’s term by the current board of directors, Meyer now serves as vice chair of education.

Meyer will assume the chair position in December from VIA’s 2011 Chairman of the Board Tim Burkhart, who has served in that capacity for the past year.

In 2009, Congress passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. One portion of it, the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, or simply HITECH, was intended to accelerate the adoption of EHR (electronic health record) systems among health providers.

L.A. County Supervisor Michael Antonovich spoke before an enthusiastic crowd at the State of the County Luncheon held on Wednesday, May 18, at the Hyatt Regency Valencia.

It is important to remember the full value of banks. Businesses often become satisfied with their bank’s efforts because their various financial services seem to be – and very well could be – working to their advantage and covering their various needs. But pure accounting, loans and deposits aren’t the whole story of what business and community banks can provide for their clients.

Successful economic development in today’s global economy requires high-tech solutions. At SCVEDC, we have built a series of online tools to add value to local businesses, community leaders and site selectors. Our new website – www.scvedc.org – serves as the face and backbone for our high-tech outreach.