Finance & Technology Department receives GFOA Recognition & Certificate of Achievement

The Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting has been awarded to the City of San Buenaventura  by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) for its Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR). The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management.

The CAFR has been judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards of the program including demonstrating a constructive “spirit of full disclosure” to clearly communicate its financial story and motivate potential users and user groups to read the CAFR.  “Our goal is to serve the community in a fiscally responsible and transparent manner. This is a great achievement that shows our commitment to transparency and excellent work on behalf of our City staff,” said Mayor Cheryl Heitmann.

The GFOA established the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting Program in 1945. The goal is to encourage and assist governments to go beyond the minimum accepted accounting principles and prepare CAFR’s of the highest quality according to a stringent set of guidelines; and to recognize individual governments that succeed in achieving that goal.

The GFOA is a nonprofit professional association serving approximately 17,500 government finance professionals with offices in Chicago, IL, and Washington, DC.

The City of Ventura CAFR is available online at www.cityofventura.net/ft and select “2013-2014 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report”.

Panelists shared the benefits and challenges of giving back the WEV evening

business WEV - CopyPanelists Maria Durant, owner of Dance 4 Wellness; Cory Pironti, owner of Dandyline Designs; and Emily Barany, owner of Emily Barany Consulting discuss their strategies on giving back to the community

Over 40 Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV) clients, supporters and members of the community enjoyed an evening of inspiration and networking at WEV Connects at the Ventura City Hall Community Room.

“Many of our WEV clients care deeply about the community and desire to give back, but new business owners are often overwhelmed by the number and size of requests they receive for donations,” said Marsha Bailey, Founder and CEO of Women’s Economic Ventures.

Panelists shared the benefits and challenges of giving back, as well as best practices they’ve learned to ensure philanthropic efforts do not hurt cash flow or prevent business growth. Panelist Maria Durant, owner of Dance 4 Wellness, teaches ballroom dance lessons to promote physical, mental and emotional wellness. She gives back to the community by offering free dance lessons to community members affected by cancer, as well as local students at school sites. Panelist Cory Pironti, owner of Dandyline Designs, pushes the boundaries of small design to help local client businesses create big impressions through web design. Panelist Emily Barany, owner of Emily Barany Consulting, works with nonprofits and corporate businesses to help develop partnerships that are mutually beneficial, and works to help clients make the greatest difference with the resources available to them.

The WEV Women’s Business Center offers a comprehensive 14 week, 56-hour Self-Employment Training (SET) program, for women and men who want to start a business.

WEV is now holding free 1-hour orientations to determine readiness for SET course beginning in September. Orientation is required to enroll.

Upcoming Ventura County Orientations include:

Oxnard: Tuesday, August 11th from 6 -7 p.m.
Ventura: Wednesday, August 12th from 12-1 p.m.
Ventura: Tuesday, August 18th from 6 – 7 p.m.

To register or for more information, visit http://wevonline.org/orientations.

Fashion Forms announces move to Austin, Texas

Ventura based Fashion Forms, a Bra Solutions and Bra Accessories company, has announced that the company will be moving to Austin, Texas in the Fall of 2015. In addition to the company’s office and distribution center expansion, Fashion Forms will add 40 staff and operations positions.

Ann Deal, Owner and CEO of Fashion Forms, started the company in 1993 from her garage in Calabasas. Her backless/strapless bra was an immediate hit and the first in a long line of Fashion Forms products to revolutionize the Intimate Apparel industry. Ann is also the inventor of the Original Water Push Up Bra®. The company holds 14 patents and 18 trademarks for its innovative designs, and its products are sold in more than 9,500 stores worldwide.

Ann Deal’s and Fashion Forms’ generous support of numerous industry, art and local charities is well known. She has received the Underfashion Club’s “Lifetime Achievement” Femmy Award in support of intimate apparel education, the H.U.G. (Help Us Give) Award from the Intimate Apparel Square Club in support of pediatric programs and children’s services; Ventura County Woman of the Year 2015 and Pacific Coast Business Times’ Top 50 Women in Business.

Ann Deal stated “The past 22 years in California, and the time in Ventura have been a wonderful and fulfilling journey for me and Fashion Forms. Our products are constantly evolving and as a company we are expanding to meet the needs of our customers. Austin has welcomed us with some amazing growth opportunities, and we look forward to becoming a part of this thriving business community.”

In a previous Ventura Breeze article she stated “I came to California in 1990 and opened a company in Los Angeles but the timing wasn’t right.  A friend suggested I relocate to Ventura because it had a great climate, a large pool of potential employees and some really great people living there.  I fell in love with Ventura, moved my operation here in 1993 and I’ve never looked back.”

Consortium Media to provide public relations for The Collection

Consortium Media, an award-winning brand development agency, will provide public relations for local shopping center, The Collection at RiverPark.

The Collection is built around a town grid of retail streets, a carefully crafted assortment of established and contemporary designer shops, distinctive dining, and signature entertainment venues.

“We are delighted to be partnering with The Collection at RiverPark and provide our best PR services to them,” said Denise Bean-White, President and CEO of Consortium Media. “Consortium Media has worked closely with The Collection over the past few years during the successful annual CAN-Tree event, so we have already established a strong business relationship. It’ll be exciting to work closely on The Collection’s very own special events and upcoming grand openings.”

For 25 years, Consortium Media has been building client partnerships based on the shared passion for getting it right. Consortium Media works with a number of clients, both non-profits and retail accounts.

Denise Bean-White opened Consortium Media over 25 years ago as a brand development agency which works locally, regionally and nationally. She created the Five Pillars of Marketing Success™ which strategically combines advertising, promotions, public relations, web, social media and creative together to improve brand recognition and development. Consortium Media has helped hundreds of local, regional and national businesses, nonprofit organizations and corporations achieve greater success, improve their brand and bolster their bottom lines.

 

New Location, New Look and New Name – Red Brick Art

art Red BrickWith the passage of almost a decade in downtown Ventura Red Brick Gallery is going through some new changes with a new look, new location and morphing into Red Brick Art.  Their new location at 4601 Telephone Rd #112 will focus more on classes with new weekend and weekday fine art classes for all skill levels and ages, as well as bi-monthly featured art exhibits.

The first exhibit “The Sweeter Side of Life” features Jen Livia’s newest series of food inspired paintings.  Wanting to challenge her painting abilities Jen set out on a new series of paintings all about things that are sweet from ice cream to cupcakes, brownies and donuts all with a realistic feel, vibrant colors and a whimsical feel.  “This new series was created to make you smile and be happy without the calories.”

Stop in and see the new location as well as enjoy an evening of Art with the girls of Red Brick Gallery. Please join in for their grand opening/ artist reception and evening of sweet things Saturday, August 22nd 5-7pm at Red Brick Art 4601 Telephone Rd #112.

Bruce David McFarland featured solo artist at Buenaventura Art Association’s Harbor Village Gallery

art McFarlandFine art photographer and digital artist, Bruce David McFarland, will be featured as the solo artist at Buenaventura Art Association’s Harbor Village Gallery during the month of August.

McFarland’s Solo show, “East Coast West Coast,” will feature images from California, New York, and Massachusetts. His images include traditional and altered photography; digital paintings and digital watercolors, as well as unique and intriguing multiple exposure compositions.

The public is invited to meet the artist at the Artist’s Reception, August 15, 4 pm to 7 pm.

He has won numerous awards for his work. His most recent award was the prestigious David Holt award, presented in June by the Santa Barbara Art Association, for “Chelsea Market,” a multiple exposure study highlighting the human experience in Manhattan’s trendy shopping district of the same name.

“I make my images in a variety of sizes and on different media, so everyone can afford to own my work,” McFarland stated. Images will be available as fine-art greeting cards, 12 X 16 fine-art prints, and hand-signed larger versions.

Harbor Village Gallery is located at 1591 Spinnaker Dr., 177C, 644-2750. The Gallery is open Tuesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

 

Vita Art Center presents Horacio Martinez

art martinezVita Art Center presents Horacio Martinez

Opening Reception: Friday, August 7 from 6-9 p.m.

Exhibit Dates:August 7 – August 31

Gallery hours: M-F 10-4 pm Sat. & Sun. by appointment

There is something deeply personal about Horacio’s portraits.  Apart from the obvious skill with which they are made, they show us something about the connection he has to each sitter.  They are not glitzy, glamorous, or slick, but rather, are  earnest expressions of human qualities, whether  a dignified display of masculinity, or a demure, genteel sense of the feminine. These portrayals have a sense of the quiescent–a peaceful, non-judgmental view of what is so, tenderly rendered, elemental traits of strength and love expressed and honored above flash, fame, notoriety and all superficial worldly success.

Vita Art Center, located in the Bell Arts Factory 432 N. Ventura Ave. Studio 30 www.vitaartcenter.com

End of summer show at The HUD Gallery

art HUD galleryThe end of summer show at The HUD Gallery is their most progressive exhibit to date! This show is all about applications and this group of multi-disciplined artists have truly raised the bar. Featuring artists from Italy, New York, Texas and more! Exhibit curated by Dab Art. For more information visit  www.dabart.me

Opening Reception  Friday, August 7th 6pm -10pm

Exhibition Dates August 7th – 30th

Regular Gallery Hours | Weds/Thur/Fri 5-9pm

1793 East Main Street

626.8876

VPD and Union Pacific join forces to prevent train accidents and deaths

stuff railroad-vpdThe goal of this operation was public awareness.

On July 2 the Ventura Police Department and Union Pacific Railroad held a joint  violation enforcement operation that involved a Union Pacific police officer and Ventura police officers. The Union Pacific officer was Jorge O. Villaescusa, Senior Special Agent Public Safety.

Agent Villaescusa road on the train (actually just 2 engines connected back to back) and Ventura officers were on the train, were stationed at crossings and were on bicycles riding next to the tracks monitoring autos and people for violators.

The enforcement went from the Santa Clara River to Emma Woods campground as the train made several trips between the 2 areas.

It takes from one mile to 1 ½ miles for a loaded train to stop so pedestrians or vehicles that are on the tracks will most likely be hit as was the truck several months ago in Oxnard that resulted in the death of the train engineer and others. Amtrak trains can be extremely dangerous because they are so quiet and not heard by people thinking that it is romantic to walk down train tracks.

stuff railroad-vpd insetSeveral pedestrians waking along the tracks fled when confronted (to be issued tickets for walking adjacent to the railway) by police when the train stopped to speak with them. They were chased down and booked on miscellaneous charges by the VPD. Drivers who failed to yield at safety signals were also cited.

The Breeze asked Officer  Jason Kohagen of the Ventura Police Department why this enforcement operation took place.

He told us “As far as the railroad operation goes, I started planning this operation in early May 2015.  We had two pedestrians struck and killed along the tracks in the city in a very short time frame, and this perked my desire to try and come up with a solution plus the fatal Metrolink collision in Oxnard.  I reached out to my supervisor and after getting the go ahead from him, I contacted the railroad.  Logistically this was a challenging and complex operation to coordinate between the multiple agencies, and even the different work groups within the different agencies.”

“ The goal of this operation was public awareness.  Often times motorists and pedestrians take for granted their ability to cross the tracks, not realizing that, legally, the only place to cross the tracks, is at the marked and designated crossings.  Additionally at these crossings, if the lights are flashing, and bell sounding, it is illegal and unsafe to cross the tracks.  If there are arms associated to the crossing, it is illegal to cross until the arms are completely back up, despite the train having passed.  As a result of the enforcement associated with this event, two motorists were cited for going under the crossing arms as they were descending, and six pedestrians were cited for walking along the railroad right of way.  Two of those pedestrians were arrested for outstanding warrants, and a third pedestrian was arrested for interfering with the operation of a train and assault on an officer.  During this event Operation Life Saver information was handed out to inform  pedestrians regarding grade crossing safety.”

For more photos of this operation visit www.venturabreeze.com.