Henry Dubroff

Pacific Coast Business Times has undergone a substantial expansion during 2013, so I thought I would exercise my editor’s prerogative and talk a little about what we’ve accomplished this year and where we are headed in the New Year.

First, I’m delighted to introduce two recent additions to our news team. Erika Martin, a recent graduate of UC Santa Barbara, joined our staff as special reports editor this fall.  She will be managing our special report calendar, our Top 25 lists and our public records reports as well as contributing articles to our main news section. She’s one of a long line of former Daily Nexus editors who have launched their careers at Pacific Coast Business Times.

On Dec. 9, Christine De La Cruz joined our staff as senior editor. She has taken over our coverage of health care, agribusiness and travel and tourism. A former multi-platform editor at the Los Angeles Times, she was relocating to Santa Barbara at precisely the time we were looking for someone to take over some of the region’s most exciting news beats.

De La Cruz went to high school in Cambria, so she is quite familiar with the Highway 101 corridor; her family still calls San Luis Obispo County home. Before the L.A. Times, she worked on the copy desk at Newsday in New York.

We also took a big step forward in our corporate philanthropy this fall when we established the Pacific Coast Business Times Scholarship Fund in conjunction with Ventura County Community Foundation and its Destino Hispanic Legacy Fund.

The Business Times scholarship fund was founded with a $1,000 donation that reflects our commitment to turn some of the proceeds from our annual Latino Business Awards program back to the community. We expect that during the next years the Business Times and a few partners will increase the size of the fund to $10,000, which will provide sustained scholarship funding to worthy students from the area. Thanks to VCCF President and CEO Hugh Ralston, who came up with the idea of a permanent Business Times scholarship program.

During 2013 we took home several awards, beginning with Managing Editor Marlize van Romburgh, who was named one of the news industry’s “25 Under 35” rising stars by Editor & Publisher Magazine for her work on our digital transition. We’ve continued our digital efforts since, rolling out a new tablet-friendly website this fall that has gotten rave reviews from readers. Remember, digital access is included with your print subscription at no additional charge.

In August, I was honored with the Joseph Nida Entrepreneurial Spirit Award by the Central Coast Venture Forum.

And on Dec. 12, Pacific Coast Business Times was recognized as the Mid-Sized Business of the Year at the Ventura Chamber of Commerce’s 17th Annual Poinsettia Awards.

Looking forward to 2014, we begin our special report calendar with our annual Dealmakers of the Year special section, followed by the reintroduction of our Who’s Who in Business Leadership report, which will profile leaders in economic development, higher education and chambers of commerce. You can nominate candidates online by clicking here or on the “Special Sections & Events” tab at the very top. There, you’ll also find the line-up for all of our special sections for 2014.

In May and October, we will be introducing new spring and fall Economic Forecast special reports to help you navigate the economy, manage your investments and learn what business owners and managers are thinking about in 2014.

For those of you who are new to the newspaper, we will be wrapping up 2013 on Dec. 27 with a “Year in Review” issue that includes a copy of our 2014 Book of Lists for paid subscribers. It is an essential tool for anyone who wants to do business in the Tri-Counties.

Enjoy the Book of Lists, and best wishes for continued success for you and your business in the New Year.

• Contact Editor Henry Dubroff at hdubroff@pacbiztimes.com.