Stephen Bonser

My portfolio: www.StephenBonser.com Bio and background: I have 20 years of experience as communications manager, copy writer and marketing strategist in the public relations, e-commerce, consumer products, and technology industries. My experience includes B2B and B2C copywriting, case study and feature article writing and I have created a variety of public relations and marketing programs for technology and consumer product companies. As a senior copywriter, editor and marketing consultant I have worked with several firstto-market technology vendors such as Sugar Mill Farms (CBD), Canine Best Delights (CBD), AdECN/Microsoft, QS Energy, Software.com, Jabber, ICL-Fujitsu and as a freelancer at a variety of ad agencies and public relations firms. In addition to planning creative services and media management programs, I was the business reporter at the Santa Barbara News-Press and Business Editor of the Santa Barbara Daily Sound. Stephen John Bonser 4007 B Via Diego, Santa Barbara, CA 93110 Tel:- E-mail:- Summary of Skills and Experience • • • • • Copywriting, business journalist (AP Style Book) White papers, case studies, sales materials Public relations and marketing campaign planning and implementation Technology sector market research and analysis Extensive knowledge of media relations and story placement techniques Professional Experience SJB Creative Santa Barbara, CA 2011 – Present Freelance Copy Writer and Public Relations Consultant I provide clients with a wide spectrum of public relations, copywriting, and digital marketing services, including: • • • • • News release copywriting White papers and case studies Website and blog content Social media posts and ad content Drip email campaign design and management 1 • • • Landing pages and sales funnels (copy and design) Placement of client articles in B2B and B2C news outlets Investor relations services (IR) Cloud Commerce (formerly Warp 9, Inc.) Santa Barbara, CA 2009 – 2011 Business Development Manager Responsible for all sales, marketing, public relations and business development. Following the departure of the long-time CEO launched an initiative to re-position the company as a provider of 'end-to-end' e-commerce systems based on a new open source platform with a strong focus on apps for mobile devices and "lifestyle apps" for the iPhone and Android platforms. Completely re-wrote and re-designed the corporate website to emphasize Warp 9's new direction. www.cloudcommerce.com Christie & Co. Santa Barbara, CA 2007 – 2011 Head Writer Freelance copywriter for full-service branding, public relations, marketing, and advertising agency specializing in ‘triple-bottom line’ and green and sustainable clients. Responsible for writing all news releases and online content in support of client marketing campaigns, branding and positioning. Website: www.christieand.co Microsoft / AdECN, Inc. Carpinteria, CA 2007 – 2009 Director of Public Relations/Head Copy Writer Developed and managed marketing and media relations programs for the AdECN Exchange, the industry's leading neutral and auction-based market for the buying and selling of online display ad inventory. Provide ongoing leadership in disseminating the company's corporate messaging in trade publications, blogs and the mainstream media. Results have ranged from briefings with top analyst firms and placements in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, The Red Herring, Forbes, The Deal and Online Media & Marketing magazine. Firm purchased by Microsoft Corp. in July 2007 for an undisclosed sum. Web: www.AdECN.com Santa Barbara News-Press Santa Barbara, CA 2007 Business and Technology Writer Staff writer for the South Coast's largest daily newspaper. Wrote regular columns, features and news coverage of area's technology companies. Web: www.newspress.com Santa Barbara Daily Sound Santa Barbara, CA Business Editor Business editor and primary business reporter for the region's largest free daily newspaper. Web: www.santabarbarafree.com 2006 2 Software.com - Openwave Santa Barbara, CA 1996 – 1997 Director of Sales Post.Office Managed sales and account development of the industry's first standards-compliant email server software positioned for emerging ISP market. Introduced product to thousands of regional ISP's, replacing popular freeware such as Sendmail with Post.Office, a commercially licensed product. Durand Communications Network Goleta, CA 1993 – 1996 Marketing Manager Managed publicity, sales and marketing for software startup focused on pre-World Wide Web dial-up BBS (bulletin board system) software. Managed sales and marketing of the industry's first Windows-based BBS product, MindWire. Education Algonquin Community College Nepean, Ont. 1980 – 1982 Major: Radio/Television Broadcasting Steve Bonser Newspaper Writing Samples Business articles, technology company profiles, columns New devices make it easy to store digital content February 5, 2007: Now that you've got your music, family photos and videos on your computer, what's next? For starters, wouldn't it be great to move those sounds and images effortlessly to the devices that can play them? And what if your computer's hard drive were to crash? Are you ready to lose everything? With even neophyte users of technology now building large libraries of multimedia content, hardware companies are tackling these challenges with innovative media storage devices. They offer capabilities and ease-of-use unheard of just a few years ago -- not to mention super computer-like storage capacities. HITACHI DESKSTAR 7K1000 1TB HARD DRIVE More» THE MUSIC MEN: Rick Beveridge carries on Father's legacy February 5, 2007: If you aren't listening to music through a Beveridge speaker system, then you aren't hearing natural sound -unless the orchestra or rock band is in your living room, according to Rick Beveridge, son of cult audio pioneer, the late Harold N. Beveridge. Carrying on a tradition of handcrafting high-end speakers started by his father in 1974, the bearded and gregarious Mr. Beveridge is a one-of-kind entrepreneur in an industry dominated by billion-dollar global conglomerates. Beveridge speakers -priced in the "$7,000 to $9,000 range" per pair even 30 years ago -- have been owned by perhaps not more than a few hundred people. (The "Rolls- Royce of loudspeaker systems" reads the headline of a brochure from 1977.) More» BOUND FOR BEIJING: Chamber packs for a second trip to China just one year after its first February 2, 2007: It was such a remarkable experience, they just had to do it again. That's how Marcia Reed describes the reasoning behind the Santa Barbara Region Chamber of Commerce's return to China for members and local businesspeople, barely a year after their first visit. Initially, an encore to last March's "Business Mission Tour of China" wasn't going to happen again for several years. Upon returning to Santa Barbara, chamber Executive Director Steve Cushman said that although the trip was "very worthwhile and extremely educational," he didn't expect a repeat visit for some time, perhaps not until after the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. More» Local VoIP firm CrystalVoice sold January 30, 2007: In a deal that will combine two vendors of Internet-based voice processing, or VoIP, technologies, CrystalVoice Communications Inc. of Santa Barbara has announced an agreement to be acquired by Global IP Solutions, headquartered in San Francisco with corporate offices in Stockholm, Sweden. According to officials with both companies, the purchase will result in the expansion of the existing local CrystalVoice work force of 10 with an increase of management and engineering positions, all in Santa Barbara. Terms of the deal were not disclosed beyond a statement that it was an equity transaction. "The combination of these companies creates the powerhouse technology provider in the VoIP industry," said Steve Zola, CEO and president of Crystal Voice. "Global IP Solutions provides embedded voice processing technologies to companies such as Skype and Yahoo! Voice 3 while we are on the applications side, delivering ready-to-deploy software to clients like United Online for their NetZero Voice service." More» Festival organizers are singing in the rain January 30, 2007: The first weekend of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival is in the can and festival officials say that, despite wet and cool weather, they are generally pleased with attendance at screenings and the gala events. "People want to stay inside when the weather is wet," said Carol Marshall, director of publicity. "We've had great crowds, especially for the screenings when the directors, producers and cast attend." Ms. Marshall added that the festival's many world premieres and domestic debuts of films are particularly popular. In all, there are 28 world and 17 U.S. premieres among the 200-plus features and 50-plus shorts being presented.More» Miniature laptops might be the next big thing January 29, 2007: How small can devices become before they're too frustrating to use? How much functionality can be packed into one gizmo before it's too complicated to figure out ? A new category of gadgets is pushing the envelope hard in both directions. Called Ultra-Mobile PCs, or UMPCs, these mini-laptops offer almost futuristic capabilities by blending the features of several devices into a form factor small enough to fit neatly in your palm or pocket. During 2006, the first full year that UMPCs appeared, there had been lots of speculation and some confusion among technophiles about exactly what role these mighty mites are supposed to play. Are they full-featured PCs or super-charged PDAs? The good news for consumers is that a UMPC specification, developed jointly by Microsoft, Intel and Samsung and now involving other manufacturers, ensures total compatibility between UMPC vendors and makers of related accessories. More» OUT OF THE CAN January 29, 2007: The Santa Barbara International Film Festival showcases some of the best films Hollywood has to offer before the Oscars are handed out. And one would think that in the high-definition-TV-in-every-living room age, movie theaters here would be showcasing those films in the same crystal-clear image quality filmgoers can now get at home. However, that has not been the case on a large scale. But hold on to your popcorn; good news is on the way, promises David Corwin, president of Metropolitan Theatres Corp., the company that operates most of the movie screens on the Central Coast. Beyond obvious improvements such as upgrading existing theaters with stadium seating and entirely new facilities at Fairview Shopping Center, the Camino Real Marketplace and Paseo Nuevo, Mr. Corwin said the audience experience will be even more enhanced by what's going on behind the scenes in the projection booth. More» It's official: Miramar's new owner on board January 27, 2007: Rick Caruso, the new owner of the long-shuttered Miramar Hotel in Montecito, made his purchase of the seaside property from Ty Warner Hotels & Resorts official Friday, with the proclamation, "If the community wants blue tiles on the roof, that's what they'll get." That was the message the Montecito Association and other homeowner groups wanted to hear. Although they were not invited to the morning press conference, Mr. Caruso stressed his company would be arranging meetings soon. More» Chamber of Commerce bestows honors January 24, 2007: Area business leaders, volunteers recognized during 101st awards ceremony The Santa Barbara Region Chamber of Commerce recognized the achievements of area business leaders at its 101st annual awards ceremony Wednesday night with a reception and dinner at Fess Parker's Doubletree Resort. Joe Howell and Jose Lozano accepted the Volunteer of the Year award on behalf of County Superintendent of Schools Bill Cirone for his work with Computers for Families, a nonprofit group that provides students from low-income families with refurbished computers, Internet access and training. More» 1st Thursday returns downtown January 23, 2007: Hoping the third time is the charm, the Santa Barbara Downtown Organization is again launching 1st Thursday to entice shoppers and diners to hang around downtown on a weekday night. The art and cultural evenings will debut Feb. 1, beginning a year-round program that will run the first Thursday of each month and feature artist receptions, wine tastings and live music and performances. There have been previous efforts in Santa Barbara to have evening art gallery walks that have been successful in bigger cities like Seattle and Las Vegas but have foundered here, but this go-round, organizers feel they have the ability to make it succeed. Spearheaded by the cultural committee, 1st Thursday is now being funded with a $50,000 annual marketing budget, money raised through member dues and revenue generated by popular events such as the Art and Wine Tour. Future marketing plans call for a 1st Thursday coupon book as a giveaway for attendees. "The idea of doing an art walk here has been around for several years," said Marshall Rose, executive director of the nonprofit group of downtown business owners. "With the success of our Art and Wine Tour and the Museum of Art's 'Nights' program, the timing seemed right." More» New devices keep travelers powered up while on the go January 22, 2007: Whether on the road or in the skies, people seem to be on the move more than ever. In response, there's now a huge array of electronic devices to make mobility less stressful and more fun. Here's a selection of portable devices to keep you plugged in and help you bring some of the comforts of home along with you: LG FUSIC LX550 If the definition of "convergence" is the dovetailing of functionality from two different devices into one, it's likely never been done more elegantly than with the LG Fusic. More» 4 IS IT JUST A PIPE DREAM? Governor's biodiesel initiative may be a good sound bite, but can he give it teeth? January 16, 2007: In his State of the State address last week, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger underlined his administration's commitment to what his office calls "the world's first greenhouse gas standard for transportation fuels." Part of an executive order expected to be issued within weeks, the clean energy policy will set targets for the use and production of bioenergy fuels with the goal of "reducing global warming pollution, cutting petroleum dependency and creating a sustainable market for cleaner fuels." If successful, the initiatives could mean that by the end of Mr. Schwarzenegger's second term in 2011, California may be a much "greener" state with significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions and less reliance on fossil fuels. That is welcome news to the faculty of UCSB's Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, although they and a local biodiesel distributor said the measures will take time to show results and face hurdles such as insufficient availability of biodiesel at the pump. More» Gadgets galore January 15, 2007: The holidays are over but it's not too late to buy a new toy for the family -- or something for yourself. At the Consumer Electronics Show last week in Las Vegas, there were more cool gizmos in one place than anywhere else in the world. Rivaled only by Germany's CeBIT show, CES is the industry's largest electronics showcase, featuring 2,700 exhibitors in over 1.7 million square feet of space. This year the show was dominated by the twin themes of wireless connectivity and the sharing of digital content across multiple devices. Here are some highlights of the best of CES: VERIZON WIRELESS V CAST MOBILE TV More» KEEPING PRODUCE SAFE:Local growers back state efforts for new, voluntary rules January 11, 2007: Responding to the concerns of growers and processors still reeling from a series of contamination incidents last fall that sickened hundreds and killed three elsewhere in the nation, the California Department of Food and Agriculture is reviewing suggestions from farm groups to prevent further occurrences and ensure quicker response should it happen again. Among the measures being considered are voluntary safety rules that would enable growers, shippers and processors of leafy green vegetables to place an official state "seal of approval" on their produce. To police the process, a self-regulating board of industry representatives would be established with the state providing oversight and inspectors to verify compliance. The County of Santa Barbara Agricultural Commission, area grocers and restaurateurs say they look forward to any action by the state to address the food-safety issue. More» SONOS spreads its wings: Santa Barbara-based company will unveil major upgrade at CES January 8, 2007: Santa Barbara-based SONOS Inc., which made a big splash at the 2005 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas with its award-winning SONOS Digital Music System, will showcase a significant improvement to its wireless home audio system at this year's convention, which begins Monday. According to company spokesperson Thomas Meyer, a free software upgrade to the system that will support Microsoft's Media Player, will be unveiled before the approximately 150,000 attendees. The device now will be able to download songs from a variety of popular music services such as Yahoo! Music, MTV Network's URGE, AOL Music Now, Zune Marketplace and others. Launched in 2003 by several former Software.com executives, including John MacFarland, privately held SONOS has emerged as a pioneer in the wireless home stereo market, focusing on what the company calls "multi-room audio." Company founders describe themselves as music enthusiasts frustrated by the prohibitive cost of wiring a home for high-quality sound and the difficulties of downloading music from the Internet. More» Nutricate secures venture capital March 7, 2007: Nutricate Corp., a local startup that provides restaurants with a system that prints nutritional information on customer receipts, has announced the firm has secured approximately half of an expected $1.5 million investment round in expansion capital. The Series A funding comes from a combination of institutional and angel investors led by Numenor Ventures LLC, a Santa Barbara-based venture capital firm. "We are confident that this funding will help Nutricate emerge as the leading provider of personalized nutritional information at the point of sale," said R. Scott Greer, managing director of Numenor Ventures in a statement. "Nutricate's technology is easy to implement and requires no action on the consumer's part, aside from reading a receipt." Founded by Jay Ferro, co-owner of Silvergreens, an Isla Vista salad and sandwich eatery, the Nutricate solution automatically generates customized receipts detailing caloric, fat, carbohydrate and protein content based on the food and beverages ordered. The system has been in use at Silvergreens since April 2006, and the firm says it's being tested at several other restaurants. More» Factor in the 'cool' when labeling a new product 'hot' March 5, 2007: What makes a hot product truly "hot?" Innovative design and unusually clever functionality all help, but what makes a gizmo undeniably "hot" is its cool factor. HERMAN MILLER LEAF PERSONAL LIGHT If you were to look up the word "stylish" in the dictionary, you shouldn't be surprised to see an illustration of the Leaf Personal Light. Designed by San Francisco's Yves Behar of industrial design shop Fuseproject, and manufactured by Herman Miller of Aeron chair fame, the Leaf tabletop lamp really is cool -- to the touch, that is. More» MEAN 'GREEN' MACHINE: ECOPOD HELPS HOUSEHOLDS RECYCLE USED CONTAINERS March 5, 2007: Are you a recycling recidivist? The environmental tenets of "reduce, reuse, recycle" entered mainstream consciousness years ago, yet apparently some of us are returning to our old wasteful ways, tossing recyclables into the trash can instead of the familiar blue and green bins. While most Santa Barbara County residents still steadfastly separate plastic, glass, 5 aluminum, cardboard and paper out of the garbage, in many parts of the nation, recycling efforts fall far short of the 60 percent "diversion" rate common to counties in California. In fact, statistics provided by the Environmental Protection Agency indicate that in 2005 the national recycling rate stood at just 32.1 percent. More» Sansum researchers receive awards March 3, 2007: Researchers at Sansum Diabetes Research Institute have recently been honored with two prestigious awards from the health-care community. Lois Jovanovic, M.D., CEO and chief scientific officer at the institute, was presented with the 2006 Josiah Kirby Lilly Sr. Distinguished Service Award from the American Diabetes Association at an event in Indianapolis last month. The award is presented annually to an individual who has made a significant impact upon the understanding of diabetes and on improving the quality of life for persons with diabetes and their families. Dr. Jovanovic has been director of Sansum Diabetes Research Institute for 10 years and is a clinical professor of medicine at the Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, an adjunct professor of biomolecular science and engineering at UCSB, and has authored more than 390 books and scientific articles. More» Westmont forum plants a S.E.E.D. March 3, 2007: Imagine a device that allows stroke victims to "speak" by translating neurological signals from the brain into words. Picture a wristband that can wirelessly transmit the vital signs of an elderly relative to your cell phone. Or envision yourself on a cross-country flight when an alarm sounds, warning the crew of dangerous airborne pathogens, and prompting a lifesaving emergency landing. More» Celite mining plant, union reach accord March 2, 2007: LOMPOC The possibility of a strike at the Celite mining company plant here was averted early Wednesday when a tentative agreement was reached between management and the International Chemical Workers Union. The pact, which still must be ratified by the 240 union members employed at the facility, came on the day that the current four-year contract expired. According to union officials, members will have a chance to review the proposed new contract's provisions and vote on it at a meeting Saturday evening at the Chemical Workers Union Hall in Lompoc. As the contract's expiration date neared, union president Tom Hansen had indicated that workers would walk out Thursday if negotiations had not produced an agreement by Wednesday. In the event of a strike, Celite management had maintained that the plant's operations would continue with replacement workers. Celite is one of area's largest employers and is owned by Imerys, a French producer of industrial minerals and pigments. More» Downtown Organization names director March 1, 2007: After a three-month search that began when Marshall Rose announced last November that he planned to step down, the Santa Barbara Downtown Organization has selected Mark Chaconas as its new executive director of the merchant group. "Santa Barbara's downtown is our economic engine," Mr. Chaconas said in a prepared statement. "I can't wait to get to work." More» WEV receives $250K loan from Wells Fargo February 28, 2007: Women's Economic Ventures, a Santa Barbara-based resource program for women-owned small businesses, has announced that Wells Fargo Bank has provided the organization with a long-term loan of $250,000. Marsha Bailey, founder and president/CEO of the nonprofit, said the money will be distributed through the WEV Small Business Loan Fund and be used to make capital available to low- and moderate-income individuals, including women and minorities. "Since 1991 we've loaned approximately $1.5 million to area business owners," Ms. Bailey said. "Many of the businesses we work with are too new or have no collateral to qualify for traditional loans." Called an EQ2, or "equity equivalent investment," the new loan provided by the bank is a 10-year, low-interest loan, the second such arrangement made with Wells Fargo Community Development Corporation. Five years ago, Wells Fargo loaned WEV $100,000 on a similar basis, which has since been paid back. More» A BETTER MOUSETRAP: Repeated Signal Solutions of Goleta solves problem of dropped cell calls in buildings February 27, 2007: Can you hear me now? You happen to be in the middle of an important cell phone conversation and just as you enter a building or drive into an underground garage . . . silence . . . another dropped call. It's such a common -- and annoying - occurrence that garbled words and fractured conversations are the punch line of innumerable cell phone TV commercials. You might be tempted to blame it on the phone or curse the carrier, but the reasons for the lost signal are all around you: thick concrete walls, steel girders and even the metallic tinting on windows. "Buildings are not architected or constructed to facilitate wireless signals," said Aaron Nelson, 28, the founder of Repeated Signal Solutions, a Goleta firm making sure that the answer to the "Can you hear me now?" question is an emphatic, "Yes!" More» Peripherals add enjoyment to everyday computer use February 26, 2007: Until an electrical engineer named Doug Engelbart carved a small piece of wood into a crude mouse at Stanford Research International in 1964, interacting with a computer was mainly accomplished with "on-off" switches and a keyboard. Today, your computer stands ready to obey your every command, whether conveyed by a tap of your finger or the sound of your voice. MOGO MOUSE X54 More» 6 Businesses view Vista February 22, 2007: Local business executives got a first-hand look at the just-released Microsoft Vista operating system at a seminar Wednesday morning at Fess Parker's DoubleTree Resort. Jointly hosted by Santa Barbara-based computer services vendor CompuVision and accounting firm Bartlett, Pringle & Wolf, the four-hour demonstration featured presentations of the newest iteration of the popular Windows platform and Microsoft Office, the first makeover of the suite of applications in four years. "The interest level for Vista is high, although we anticipate a faster adoption of Office 2007," said John Hunt, CEO and president of CompuVision. "Past revisions of Windows and Office have been somewhat minor in scale, but this time around the look and functionality of Microsoft products has changed significantly." More» Goleta-based Inogen gets $22 M in funding February 22, 2007: Inogen Corp., the Goleta developer of portable oxygen devices that began as a UCSB business plan competition winner in 2001, announced that it has closed a $22 million round of funding. The firm says the capital will support new manufacturing capabilities and the company's expansion into international markets. Leading the new injection of capital was Denmark-based Novo A/S and Arboretum Ventures of Ann Arbor, Mich., both first-time investors in Inogen. Other participants are existing investors Versant Ventures, Avalon Ventures and Accuitive Medical Ventures. More» Flights of fancy: Private jet travel is no longer just a lifestyle for the rich and famous February 20, 2007: You've seen them while waiting in line for your flight at the Santa Barbara Airport. Off in the distance they sit: sleek aerodynamic silhouettes on the tarmac. They're the planes used by Santa Barbara's "Jet Set," those dot.com millionaires, attorneys,business executives and bicoastal socialites, people in a hurry and willing to pay upward of $4,000 per hour to avoid the indignities of commercial air travel. So as we stand in security lines, waiting to take off our shoes, belts, watches and hats, are those gleaming private jets just one of our never-to-be-attained fantasies? More» Heavy traffic? Who cares with these road warriors February 19, 2007: If you spend more time in your car than at home, take solace in the fact that at least your vehicle's interior is the one environment you can control to your heart's content. So what if the only factory-installed option in your humble jalopy is an analog clock that hasn't worked since the rainstorms of February 1998? The consumer electronics industry has developed a showroom's worth of after-market gadgets to entertain and guide you, wherever the road leads. GARMIN NUVI 660 More» SBIA hands out awards February 14, 2007: Several prominent community and business leaders were honored by the County of Santa Barbara Industrial Association at its recent annual meeting and awards dinner at the University Club of Santa Barbara. The ceremony was co-hosted by Executive Director Joe Armendariz and association Chairman Tim Mahoney. Also in attendance were 2nd District Supervisor Janet Wolf, Santa Barbara Mayor Marty Blum and former Santa Maria City Councilman Marty Mariscal. Among the award recipients were Kristen Amyx, president and CEO of the Goleta Chamber of Commerce, who received the "Spirit of Free Enterprise" award; Andy Caldwell, executive director of public interest group COLAB, who was presented with the "Distinguished Public Servant" award; and John Davies chairman and CEO of Davies Public Affairs, who was recognized as the "Executive of the Year" for 2006. Named the organization's "Industrial Sector Company of the Year" was L3 Maripro, a developer of undersea cable systems. More» Hot products almost as good as your own personal robot February 12, 2007: Smart stoves, brainy digital butlers and microwave ovens with memory -- here come the intelligent appliances. Using the latest in inexpensive microprocessor technology, this new generation of programmable workhorses is definitely out to change the way you run your household. Like Rosie the Robot, the ever efficient, always helpful maid in the Jetsons, these wily devices are designed to save you time and make your life easier. CRESTRON TPMC-8X WIFI TOUCHPANEL While the digital home of the future is still, ahem, under development, promising pieces of the technology puzzle continue to emerge. Take for example the very futuristic, yet practical "home automation" solutions from Crestron Electronics Inc. Headquartered in Rockleigh, N.J., and with a worldwide network of dealers, Crestron is the kind of tech outfit typically known only to audiovisual aficionados and gadget geeks. More» WHAT'S NEXT: Local company leverages power of Internet to reinvent alarm services February 12, 2007: Jim Wooster, a retired investor, brings up a Web page on his laptop in his New York high-rise condo. After a few mouse clicks, he's viewing the activity log of the security system that's protecting his upper Riviera home. Spending just six months a year in Santa Barbara, he and his wife hired a couple to check in on the property once a week for their peace of mind. Seeing that they haven't made their regular Saturday morning visit, he telephones them from his hotel room. "It turned out that they had a perfectly legitimate reason why they couldn't stop by until the next day," he said. "Just knowing what's going on in your home 3,000 miles away is a tremendous benefit." The next generation of home security systems is here -- and it's firmly rooted in the better, faster, cheaper credo of today's competitive business environment. Fittingly named NextAlarm.com, the local company is finding success by leveraging the power of the Internet to reinvent alarm services for the residential and commercial markets. More» Parties a la Carte bought by chain February 9, 2007: BUELLTON Parties a la Carte has been acquired by national rental outfit Classic Party Rentals, it was announced Thursday. Founded by Joy and Steve Sawin, Parties a la Carte has provided rental services for parties and events 7 throughout Santa Barbara County for 16 years. El Segundo-based Classic Party Rentals has 17 locations nationwide and operates two facilities locally, a showroom and warehouse in Carpinteria and a showroom in downtown Santa Barbara. More» CHLA honors Hilton official February 6, 2007: Local hotel executive Tim Bridwell and two other area hospitality industry workers were honored recently by the California Hotel & Lodging Association at a dinner held at Fess Parker's Doubletree Resort. Mr. Bridwell, an area vice president of Hilton Hotels, was inducted into the association's Hall of Fame, the organization's highest honor. The award is presented annually to California hoteliers and executives for their outstanding contributions to the industry and the community. Mr. Bridwell is the 20th recipient of the award. "I'm very thankful," commented Mr. Bridwell, who, prior to his promotion to area vice president for Hilton, was general manager of the Doubletree Resort on Cabrillo Boulevard for 12 years. More» Lights out for incandescent bulbs by 2012? February 6, 2007: Just weeks after Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's State of the State address that announced sweeping measures to encourage the use of bioenergy fuels, Assemblyman Lloyd Levine, D-Van Nuys, said he plans to introduce legislation to ban incandescent light bulbs in California. Humorously dubbed the "How Many Legislators Does it Take to Change a Light Bulb Act," the law would ban the sale of incandescent light bulbs by the year 2012 in favor of low wattage compact fluorescent bulbs. If passed into law, it would make California the first state to take such action. More» Carpinteria firm debuts software to check firewalls April 2, 2007: Corporate firewalls continue to feel the heat from hackers, according to Redspin Inc., a network security firm based in Carpinteria. In response, the company has introduced the Redspin Firewall Configuration Analysis Tool, a software program that simplifies and automates the process of auditing firewalls and identifying weaknesses. "Everyone thinks firewalls are solid," said Redspin President John Abraham in a statement. "We logged firewall configuration problems during a year's worth of security audits and found that 30 percent of them violate their organization's own security policy." Developed for audits that Redspin conducts for its clients, the software creates a visual representation of an organization's firewall rules with a graphical interface that reflects the forms of access the firewall allows and denies. The company says the software helps managers and technicians simplify and automate the complex task of auditing firewalls and identifying configuration problems.More» RIGHT ON TIME April 1, 2007: Record cold weather this past winter -- and near draught-like conditions so far this spring -- have made the past several months into a veritable roller coaster ride for area growers and winemakers. However, despite January's mid-teens temperatures and rainfall levels approximately 62 percent below normal, the wine industry anticipates a generally satisfactory crop this year. "It's very early but it looks like the crop level will be good," said Jeff Frey of Frey Farming, a company that manages 800 acres at 15 properties. "It's been my experience that in years when we have to irrigate, growers put the water on when the vines need it, resulting in more control and better quality fruit." County precipitation records show that since Sept. 1, just over 5.5 inches of rain has fallen in Santa Barbara. More» S.B. sisters package beautiful flavors, scents March 28, 2007: Pink champagne, passion fruit cocktail and mint chocolate may sound more like deliciously guilty pleasures than bath and beauty products, but thanks to the decadent inventiveness of the Jaqua sisters, they're now both. Developed by spa industry veterans Sara and Jennifer Jaqua (yes, they really are siblings), the tempting line of fragrant lotions, crèmes and oils are making the mouths of celebrities water and capturing the attention of national consumer magazines. According to the company's gallery of famous devotees on their Web site, Teri Hatcher says she's a "desperate housewife" without her Peach Parfait Body Butter, and Virginia Madsen is absolutely "sideways" for Buttercream Frosting Dry Oil Spray. Pop diva Christina Aguilera orders her favorite Jaqua offering, Pink Champagne Shea Body Butter, directly from company headquarters. "Once you pick up a Jaqua product and smell it, you just have to take it home with you," says Jennifer Jaqua, president. "The Peach Parfait smells like fresh peaches and the Buttercream Frosting smells just like a real cupcake." More» Local business makes it work with Verizon March 28, 2007: When Verizon's customers ask "Can you help me now?" the No. 2 telecommunications firm is answering, "Make It Work." In a marketing agreement announced this week, Verizon Communications has selected Santa Barbara-based Make It Work, a residential technical services firm, to provide customers with help integrating their new FiOS service with existing home electronics. More» YOUTUBE, PERSONAL WEB SITES ARE HOME TO HOUSES FOR SALE March 26, 2007: Buying a home is the largest financial transaction most of us will ever make. Yet, increasingly, it's a process that begins with a click of the mouse and an Internet search on a myriad of Web sites. Posting homes for sale on the Internet, once the domain of specialized real estate sites such as Realtor.com, is going mainstream, proving that high traffic destinations such as YouTube can do more than simply host goofy home videos and clips from TV sitcoms. Home buyers say that viewing photos, streaming videos and even panoramic virtual tours of homes puts them in the driver's seat. And brokers are embracing the Internet as a powerful marketing tool with almost limitless potential. More» 8 These pet shop toys are sure to please March 26, 2007: Snta Barbara County is an animal lover's paradise, full of open fields, vast beaches and quiet lanes for our fourlegged friends to explore. If you don't have a pet in your life, or have room for "just one more," consider paying a visit to a Santa Barbara County Animal Services shelter. You're certain to meet some new best friends, and should you find that you aren't alone on the drive home, here are some suggestions for that special someone's next birthday. More» TEACH YOUR CHILDREN WELL: Money Camp founder opens doors to local educators March 24, 2007: On Wednesday afternoon last week, a text message lit up Elisabeth Donati's cell phone with news of a downtown gang fight, sending a chill down her spine. As the co-founder of the popular Money Camp program read about the loss of a young life, she thought of the hundreds of students who have passed through her financial literacy camps. Although the nonprofit she started with the late Larry Stein five years ago teaches children, teenagers and adults life skills centered on wise money management and wealth creation, she says deeper lessons often emerge. "One of the most basic needs of young people is that their community give them a sense of belonging, a sense of purpose and to make them feel like they're being heard and provided for," Ms. Donati said. "A key benefit of teaching young people about money is that it also prepares them to grow up to be selfreliant, responsible adults." More» Hot topics on chamber's breakfast agenda March 22, 2007: A thriving downtown fueled by tourism, a record-setting film festival, and concerns about traffic congestion and last week's disturbing gang-related slaying are among the topics to be discussed at the eighth annual State of the City Breakfast next week at Fess Parker's Doubletree Resort on Cabrillo Boulevard. The March 29 event, which is open to the general public, is expected to draw 600 area business owners, community leaders and local residents to hear remarks by Santa Barbara Mayor Marty Blum, City Administrator Jim Armstrong and Santa Barbara Region Chamber of Commerce Chairman Earl Armstrong. Hosted each year by the Santa Barbara Region Chamber of Commerce, the 7 a.m. breakfast provides an overview of the city's accomplishments of the previous 12 months and highlights some of the opportunities and challenges for the future. More» Local firm's device stops sneezes in their tracks March 21, 2007: Editor's Note: "Started in Santa Barbara" will be showcasing area businesses that are manufacturing goods being distributed nationally to consumers. If you know of a county business that fits this criterion, please e-mail:- Today marks the first day of spring, a sure sign that pollen season and the misery it causes is just around the corner. Here on the South Coast, grass, flower and tree pollen counts typically peak between the months of March and June, prompting many allergy sufferers to reach for a variety of medications and nasal sprays to combat uncomfortable symptoms. Local medical device inventor Rich Ambrose had an idea some 20 years ago -- why not stop pollen, dust and other irritants from entering the respiratory tract right at the point of entry, the nostril? But, he wondered, would people be willing to walk around with something, however discrete, stuck to their face? More» Bring out the vino snob in you with these keeno devices March 19, 2007: 'Wine makes daily living easier, less hurried, with fewer tensions and more tolerance." So said Benjamin Franklin, statesman, scientist, publisher and wine connoisseur. (His pal Thomas Jefferson is considered by many to be the founding father of American viticulture). Here's a sample of helpful gadgets designed to bring out the wine lover in everyone. COOPER COOLER Guests on the way over and the white wine is at room temperature? Chill out with the Cooper Cooler, a handy device that can drop a warm bottle of wine down to a refreshing 43 degrees in approximately six minutes. It can also chill beer bottles and soft drink cans to an ice-cold 33 degrees more quickly than you can find the TV remote. More» Goleta's Deckers joins Million Pair March March 17, 2007: How would you like someone to walk a mile in your shoes? Local footwear maker Deckers Outdoor Corp. is asking area residents to check their closets for unused shoes to be donated to Hurricane victims of the Gulf Coast and the needy in various countries. The company hopes to collect 250,000 pairs of shoes for a campaign called the Million Pair March, organized by Soles4Souls, a New York City-based nonprofit. "If we look in our closets, we might be embarrassed by the number of shoes we own that rarely, if ever, get worn," Angel Martinez, CEO and president of the Goleta-based manufacturer of Teva, Ugg and Simple brands, said in a prepared statement. "Why not donate those pairs to people in need?" More» New Sun Nutrition wins beverage honor March 16, 2007: CARPINTERIA Local health-drink vendor New Sun Nutrition was honored with a "Best New Health Initiative" award at the recent World Beverage Congress in Madrid, beating out soft-drink giant Coca-Cola Company. The Carpinteria-based developer of nutritional supplements, snacks and beverages won for FRS, the company's flagship line of single- serving antioxidant health drinks. "The judges were looking for products that set themselves apart through science-based innovation," said Richard Lamb, company CEO. He added that a primary factor for the award was the use of quercetin as an ingredient in the product. Quercetin is a highly purified plant extract that can function in humans as an antioxidant. Founded in 2003, New Sun Nutrition has developed a patented formula of flavonoids and vitamins called Free Radical Scavenger, or FRS, which is used as the basis for the company's health products. More» 9 Stedman Graham to address group March 16, 2007: SANTA BARBARA Stedman Graham, motivational speaker, bestselling author and long-time companion of Montecito local Oprah Winfrey, will speak today at a sold-out luncheon hosted by the Channel City Club at Fess Parker's DoubleTree Resort. Mr. Graham's talk, "Diversity, Not Labels," will focus on topics culled from his recent book, "Diversity: Leaders Not Labels -- A New Plan for the 21st Century." The former high school basketball star and frequent guest on TV talk shows is a popular fixture on the speaker circuit, providing life lessons on topics ranging from leadership, diversity and personal development. "What is most important is breaking through labels and understanding who you are," says Mr. Graham on his Web site. "Realize that everyone brings uniqueness, talents, and skills that add value to our experiences, work environments, businesses and communities. When you operate from this perspective, you will emerge in the 21st century as a true leader to yourself, to others, and to society." More» Speech device wins S.E.E.D.'s top award March 16, 2007: Proving the old adage "silence speaks louder than words" wrong, a student project that allows patients deprived of speech to talk again won top honors at the fourth annual Spirit of Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development (S.E.E.D.) forum held recently at the Hotel Andalucia in Santa Barbara. Judges from a variety of investment and venture capital firms gave the Best Emerging Venture Investment Opportunity award to the Audeo, a device that uses a proprietary software algorithm to translate neurological signals from the brain into words. The team from University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana beat out eight other semifinalists, whose entries included a wireless wristband that monitors vital signs, a device that can detect minute amounts of airborne pathogens, and a manufacturing process that improves the potency of insulin. More» Jimmy's Oriental Gardens preserved: Restaurant last link to Chinatown March 15, 2007: With financing from a local bank and several nonprofit foundations, Jimmy's Oriental Gardens, the last remaining piece of Santa Barbara's colorful Chinatown, will be preserved and become a part of the El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park. The Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation purchased the East Canon Perdido Street property from Tommy Chung with the intention of eventually selling it to the state Parks Department. Funding for the purchase was provided with a commercial loan from Montecito Bank & Trust and low-interest loans from the Santa Barbara Foundation, Hutton Foundation, Outhwaite Charitable Trust and Wood-Claeyssens Foundation. "The board is excited with the purchase and pleased that Mr. Chung felt that we were the best choice to ensure its preservation," said Jarrell Jackman, executive director of the Trust for Historic Preservation. "We look forward to having meetings with stakeholders from museums, the state parks department and the community to hear suggestions on how to move forward with the property." More» New board may review construction March 14, 2007: In an atmosphere of cooperation between homeowner rights advocates, public interest groups and architectural designers, at least one element of long-debated revisions to the city's Neighborhood Preservation Ordinance appears headed to the Santa Barbara City Council. In an afternoon session Tuesday at City Hall, the Ordinance Committee approved a plan that would create a Neighborhood Preservation Board, splitting design oversight of single-family structures away from the Architectural Board of Review. "We are pleased that the committee supports the creation of a Neighborhood Preservation Board to review single-family residential projects," said Heather Baker, planner for the Neighborhood Preservation Ordinance update project. "We look forward to adoption of the entire package at City Council as soon as possible. The public has been ready for final adoption of the NPO update since the full council gave direction on the item last August." More» With these assistants, there's no excuse not to shape up March 12, 2007: Still working off those extra pounds you picked up over the holidays? As the winter rains evaporate under spring skies, and early sunsets are banished by daylight-saving time, you may find your fancy lightly turning to thoughts of, well, being lighter. Lace up your runners and grab a bottle of Glacier water; a gym locker's worth of fitness products stand ready to shape you up and trim you down. More» GOLETA FIRM CAPITALIZES ON HIGH-DEFINITION TREND March 12, 2007: We live in an increasingly digital world -- the music we listen to, the photographs we take, the films we watch -and all are more often than not created with invisible packets of digitized information. Among the alphabet soup of digital formats already in use or coming online are DVD, HD DVD, DTV, HDTV, BD (Blu-ray Disc) and, of course, the ubiquitous CD. As our eyes and ears come to expect razor-sharp images and crystal-clear sound, we're unknowingly fueling an explosion in the demand for high definition television (HDTV) programming. Also accelerating the move away from analog are the growing popularity of flatpanel televisions and a Federal Communications Commission mandate that all TV broadcasts be digital by Feb. 17, 2009. More» SCE offering customers 'cold' cash for cutbacks March 10, 2007: Are you willing to sweat it out this summer in exchange for a lower electricity bill? In response to an order from the California Public Utilities Commission designed to prevent electricity shortages during peak usage months, Southern California Edison is offering cash incentives to customers who sign up for voluntary air-conditioning outages in the event of a power-supply emergency. More» Local company launches stolen identity program March 8, 2007: Local startup Truston has introduced a new online service to help consumers avoid being victimized by identity 10 theft and recover from the increasingly common crime if they are targeted. Consisting of an interactive set of self-serve tools and free credit inspection resources, the myTruston service is designed to alert individuals of unusual activity in their credit card accounts or unauthorized use of their personal data. To put suspicious consumers at ease, the only information required by Truston to set up an account and use its service is an e-mail address. "Credit monitoring is just a small part of protecting consumer identity," said Tom Fragala, founder and CEO of Truston. "The process of dealing with a deliberate act of identity theft is different than, for example, losing your wallet. The prevention and recovery tools of myTruston are able to advise you in the event of a variety of highly specific situations." More» Salad dressing puts Petrini's on the map April 25, 2007: There are two things Julio Petrini is adamant about -- the best olive oil in the world comes from Lucca, Italy, and the best salad dressing he's ever tasted is the recipe his family brought with them to America in 1921. Years later, when the family relocated from Chicago to Santa Barbara, the three sons of Eugenio and Philomena Petrini were itching to find opportunity in the sleepy early-1950s beach town. "When we moved here we couldn't find a pizza place, so we opened one," he said. The restaurant he and his brothers Geno and John started in 1958 -- Pizza by Petrini's -- quickly became a family favorite and a Santa Barbara landmark. "We were the first place to specialize in pizza," Mr. Petrini, now 73, said. More» Don't be square: It's time to buy a flat-panel TV April 23, 2007: The world really is flat. At least it is if you're looking to replace your faithful but hopelessly outdated cathode ray tube TV. Over the past few years, flat-panel displays have not only become ubiquitous in restaurants, bars, airports and the living rooms of your "early adopter" friends, but the technology has improved considerably. Brighter, sharper images, and increasingly more affordable price points are making large, widescreen TVs a must-have for even the most modest home theater. More» Green trend brings back the 1970s for eco-fair veteran April 22, 2007: For some involved in today's burgeoning environmental movement, it's starting to look like the 1970s all over again. "This is dèjà vu for me," said Alan Tratner, referring to the recent uptick in interest in biodiesel, solar and wind power and myriad other eco-friendly trends. As the founder of Green2Gold, a technology incubator headquartered in Santa Barbara dedicated to commercializing innovative "green" technologies, he said the market for natural and alternative goods has a momentum reminiscent of the early days of the environmental movement. "Thirty-five years ago we were promoting renewable energy and green or recycled products at events like Earth Day and eco-fairs around the country," Mr. Tratner said. "We were the first eco-inventor workshop. Everywhere we went, we'd assemble our exhibit space with a prototype of the environmentally sound office and home of the future." More» 11