Pacific Coast Business Times is heading into 2009 with special recognition, new editorial projects and preview of what lies ahead as we enter our 10th year of publication.

First, the recognition. It was pretty stunning to receive an e-mail shortly before New Year’s announcing that I would be joining legendary entrepreneur Paul Orfalea, Clipper Windpower Chairman Jim Dehlsen and Julie McGovern of Cox Communications as one of the Santa Barbara Region Chamber of Commerce Business Star award honorees for 2009. It’s quite an honor to be associated with such a distinguished group, and I think you all realize that none of it would be possible without the efforts of the fine crew that makes up the Business Times team.

The other winners and I will be feted at a luncheon at the Four Seasons Santa Barbara on Jan. 30. I hope you can join us.

Next, our new products. Our first launch was the “Green Business” focus section that made its debut with the Jan. 4 edition. Green Business builds on the region’s growing reputation for innovation in alternative energy and it will also provide regular updates on the role that AB 32 will play in encouraging innovation and also adding new regulatory burdens to area companies. Green Business will appear the first week of the month in March, May, July, September and November and will alternate with our popular Technology section.

Next up is “Women & Co.,” a focus section that will debut in February and alternate with Small Business in the second week of every month for the rest of the year. We developed Women & Co. in coordination with NAWBO, National Association of Women Business Owners and other groups that encourage us to think outside the old boy network that still guides a lot of business in the tri-county region.

Both Green Business and Women & Co. are designed to build on existing special reports which remain on our editorial calendar — Top Women in Business, which publishes on March 20 and a Green Business pull-out special report which will appear April 10.

Speaking of special reports, I’m pleased to announce a new special report, “Angels of Medicine,” which will be published in May 29.

Angels of Medicine will profile roughly a dozen front-line members of the health care and first responder network in our region who performed exemplary duties in delivering care to the public. We’re really excited about providing special recognition to health care and emergency services professionals who always step up when the need is greatest and expect that several sponsors will step forward to underwrite an awards reception to go along with our special report.

We’re also adding two reports to our existing family of successful Who’s Who sections. Who’s Who in Advertising, Marketing & Public Relations will appear Feb. 20. In it, we will profile the top professionals in the image-making and branding business in the region. This will be the first-ever publication designed to showcase the marketing and advertising industry in the Tri-Counties.

Who’s Who in Nonprofits & Foundations will appear Nov. 6 and will spotlight the movers and shakers in the philanthropic community, just in time for the peak of the giving season.

Finally, the 10th anniversary preparations.

In the coming weeks, our front-page masthead will tick over another year and we will begin our 10th year of publication March 13. That will give us a year to reflect on a remarkable decade for financial journalism until we officially celebrate our 10th anniversary on March 17, 2010.

Stay tuned to hear more about exciting programs to mark a decade of covering tri-county business.

And don’t forget that our annual series of awards events begins with Family Business Awards, a breakfast celebration at the Pierpont Inn in Ventura, on Feb. 24.

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