Contra Costa Herald

News Of By and For The People of Contra Costa County, California

East Bay Leadership Council honors Annual Small Business Award winners at luncheon, Friday

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EBLC 2016 Small Biz AwardsNearly two hundred people joined the East Bay Leadership Council (EBLC) in Concord on Friday to celebrate the 16th Annual Small Business Awards in conjunction with National Small Business Week.

The Awards were hosted by the EBLC, along with Title Sponsor Wells Fargo, and honored twelve small businesses selected by their local Chamber of Commerce that exemplify the spirit of entrepreneurship, hard work, and community.

“Today we honor a law firm, two auto shops, a theater company, a pharmacy, a clothing boutique, and many more. Each different but all grounded in the desire to help the community,” said Kristin Connelly, President & CEO of the EBLC. “The diversity represented by these businesses highlight the diversity that makes the East Bay so dynamic.”

See the entire list, below.

Honorees were recognized for inspiring the next generation of entrepreneurs, enduring a recession thanks to sheer determination and brilliant marketing, providing much needed services to the vulnerable, bringing world class performances to our backyard, getting to know each of their customers by name, serving the best pasta in town, and caring deeply for the communities they serve.

We are thankful to have many innovative businesses and growing opportunities here in the East Bay—something recognized by Alex Wilcox, the CEO of JetSuite, who provided the event’s keynote address.

JetSuite X, the newly-established program of JetSuite, chose Concord’s Buchanan Field as the location to help launch their new service.

“By far, the East Bay opened its arms the widest,” said Wilcox.  “The community made clear that they wanted JetSuite X here and they did everything they could to help us bring commercial flights to Concord after more than 20 years.”

Congressman Mark DeSaulnier also took the stage and shared his unique perspective as both a longtime elected official and a former small business owner.

“Small businesses create more than 50 percent of the jobs in California, but they are also a very important part of the cohesiveness of a healthy community,” said Congressman DeSaulnier as he reflected on his time managing restaurants across the Bay Area.

The EBLC could not agree more with Congressman DeSaulnier. These determined, creative, and community-driven businesses make the East Bay an incredible place to live and work and we were thrilled to help honor them.

“And though she be little, she be fierce,” said Honoree Susie Falk of the California Shakespeare Theater during her acceptance speech.

A line worth repeating as Small Business Week comes to a close and we continue to honor the small businesses that make such a big difference in our community every day of the year.

ABOUT THE EAST BAY LEADERSHIP COUNCIL

The East Bay Leadership Council (EBLC) is a private-sector, public-policy organization that advocates on issues affecting economic vitality and quality of life and represents leaders of business, industry, education, government, and the nonprofit community. For more information visit www.eastbayleadershipcouncil.com.

2016 HONOREES

Winners are selected by local Chambers of Commerce

Brookvale Pharmacy – San Pablo Economic Development Corporation

Comerica Bank of California – Danville Chamber of Commerce

Connolly & Taylor – Martinez Chamber of Commerce

California Shakespeare Theatre – Orinda Chamber of Commerce

De La Housaye & Associates – Walnut Creek Chamber of Commerce

La Strada Italian Cuisine – Richmond Chamber of Commerce

Moraga Motors – Moraga Chamber of Commerce

Tower Grille – Concord Chamber of Commerce

UPS Store – Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce

Wealth Management Associates – Pleasanton Chamber of Commerce

Venture Quality Goods – Lafayette Chamber of Commerce

925 Collision Repair – Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Assemblywoman Baker honors Lafayette’s ECOlunchbox as Assembly District 16’s Small Business of the Month for April

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State Assemblywoman Catharine Baker presents her Business of the Month honor to ECOlunchbox owner Sandra Ann Harris.

State Assemblywoman Catharine Baker, left presents her April Business of the Month honor to ECOlunchbox owner Sandra Ann Harris.

Assemblywoman Catharine Baker (R-San Ramon) honored ECOlunchbox as the Small Business of the Month for the month of April on Friday, April 22, just in time for Earth Day. ECOlunchbox was founded in 2009 by Sandra Ann Harris of Lafayette with the mission of helping people reduce their dependence on plastics by providing an ecofriendly alternative to the standard plastic lunchware.

“I am pleased to recognize ECOlunchbox as our April Small Business of the Month, and I thank ECOlunchbox founder, Sandra Ann Harris, for contributing to the vitality of our local economy,” said Baker. “Sandra is not only running a highly successful business in our community, she is also leading the way for a cleaner environment by reducing waste from our landfills and oceans one reusable container at a time, and doing so as a mom working from home.”

ECOlunchbox produces non-leaching stainless steel lunchboxes and cotton lunch bags, all of which are plastic- and waste-free. In addition to selling its products online at ecolunchboxes.com, ECOlunchbox uses its website as a resource to share information about the impact plastic has on our planet and advice for families about reducing exposure to toxins found in plastics.

“We’re a small, green, woman-owned social venture based in Lafayette,” said Harris. “What a thrill to get a call that we’re being recognized by Assemblywoman Baker as business of the month. Forward-thinking leaders, like Assemblywoman Baker, know that businesses like ECOlunchbox are good for the economy – as well as for people and planet.”

ECOlunchbox has sold more than 280,000 lunchboxes since it was founded seven years ago on Harris’ kitchen table, and is responsible for averting the use of tens of millions of pieces of plastic trash from use and disposal.

“It’s important we be good stewards of our environment,” Baker added. “Let’s treat every day like it’s Earth Day.”

Forum on how technology is changing employer-employee relationships in Walnut Creek, Thursday

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WHAT: Forecasting the Future – Navigating the Internet of Things: New Opportunities and Risks

This Thursday, April 21, The Internet of Things will intersect with philanthropy, when prominent insurance professionals gather in Walnut Creek to discuss technological disruption while benefiting local Alameda/Contra Costa charities. During the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation’s CAPP Educational Forum, local insurance leaders will gather to discuss opportunities/risks during a panel entitled, “Global Technology Platforms and their Role in the Disruption of the Traditional Employer/Employee Relationship: Employee? Contractor? Who Decides?”

WHO: Featured speakers and panelists include:

  • Lex Baugh, President of Liability & Financial Lines, AIG
  • Mark Locke, Vice President Worldwide Manufacturing and Government Contractors, Chubb
  • Davidson Pattiz, COO, The Zenith Insurance Company
  • Jeff Phelps, CEO, iWorkGlobal
  • William Weissman, Attorney & Shareholder, Littler Mendelson

Proceeds from the IICF CAPP Educational Forum will benefit child abuse prevention programs serving Contra Costa and Alameda Counties.

WHEN: April 21, 2016 – 8:30 am to 12:00 pm (Continental Breakfast at 7:30 am)

WHERE: Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr. Walnut Creek, CA 94596

East Bay Leadership Council: BART labor agreement a welcome development

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EBLC logoBy The East Bay Leadership Council

On Monday morning, BART and its major unions announced that a tentative agreement had been reached on a new four-year contract, a deal that helps put the brinkmanship of the 2013 strike behind us and five strike-free years ahead of us.

That is a welcome development, but a stoppage is still a threat. BART is plagued by $9.6 billion in deferred maintenance and a shutdown caused by equipment problems would be no better for riders than a strike.

The degraded condition of the BART system did not develop overnight and it is fair to question past decisions made by the Board and management. Ultimately, the Board is accountable for the system’s performance.

The East Bay must invest in this vital public service and demand accountability from an organization that our region needs to be at its best.

While the East Bay may not be pushed to the brink by a BART labor dispute for the next five years, its infrastructure is still at the brink of breakdown.

The EBLC has not endorsed the possible BART bond measure and will not take a formal position until the measure is approved by the Board, but we do believe it is time to face our reality and make wise infrastructure investments.

ABOUT THE EAST BAY LEADERSHIP COUNCIL

The East Bay Leadership Council (EBLC) is a private-sector, public-policy organization that advocates on issues affecting economic vitality and quality of life and represents leaders of business, industry, education, government, and the nonprofit community. For more information visit www.eastbayleadershipcouncil.com.