Something near and dear to me is education. I have been a professor at Sonoma State University since 1995, so I am about to complete my 20th year on campus. In my time as the CEO at Marin Economic Forum, the teacher has become the learner; I have learned a lot about local politics, economics, and communities using Marin County as a living laboratory for almost every angle on these topics. In many ways, my experience at Marin Economic Forum has acted like an “externship”, where a faculty person goes into actual business, gets out of the academic bubble, and sees more about the real world.
Internships can do a lot of the same and more for students as they get closer to graduation from high school or undergraduate work at a university or college. One of the key ways in which Marin County businesses can reduce the lack of talent or the shortage of younger workers in professional positions. This is a lament I have heard since 2009 when I started at Marin Economic Forum, and this is not a new issue that local businesses face. However, it is something that internships can help as a bridge between a newly minted worker and possible job opportunities.
As 2015 begins, we are seeing some continued, downward movement in gas prices at the pump. Gasoline prices are determined, in large part, by the price of crude oil on global markets. Future markets for oil also play a major role. Many people understand this, as gasoline is derived from crude oil. The gas price going down is a reflection of a global glut of oil. As in any markets when there is an excess supply of a commodity (supply greater than demand currently), prices begin to fall. Demand for gasoline is falling in the United States seasonally; the winter usually shifts demand from gasoline to heating oil and natural gas in part as people stop driving as much and need to stay warm.
by Paul Perlite/David Hofele, Intl. ProInsurance Associates, LLC
The outlook for the Commercial Insurance sector in 2015 overall is positive. Rate reductions and increased carrier competition for most industry segments are projected for Property and Casualty insurance. Multi-family and the Construction industry will however continue to see rate increases ranging from 10-15%. The available marketplace of insurance carriers offering Multi Family insurance will constrict in 2015. Wood Frame construction projects will also experience rate increases and a limited marketplace due to recent fire losses in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Non wood frame construction projects will not be impacted and expect to see more competitive rates and wide availability of insurance carriers offering the coverage.
with Redwood Credit Union President & CEO Brett Martinez
“What You Should Know About Credit Unions and How They Might Be a Good Resource For Your Business”
Mr. Martinez oversees all aspects of the Credit Union, which serves 240,000 Members with $2.4 billion in assets. He will be giving an overview of Redwood Credit Union and discussing the relevance of credit unions in today’s market, how they compare to banks, their push towards financial literacy and the importance of establishing a budget for businesses and consumers. It will be an educational evening with insight into a sometimes forgotten, but important community focused financial resource.
Since the middle of 2013, Marin Economic Forum has been considering a change to Marin County’s targeted industries that were established in 2004. Such industries are groups of businesses that set Marin County apart in terms of economic opportunity, providing relief to social inequities and also reducing harm to the environment. MEF’s reconsideration of these industries will be finalized in a document called a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy or CEDS document. Formally, this document is used by the federal government when local applications for infrastructure grants and other assistance come to Washington D.C. The CEDS describes the local economy in the recent past, now, and in the future such that a federal grant reviewer can understand the context in which new infrastructure dollars would support the local economy. Specific areas of concerns, need and stress are identified through both data analyses and focus groups.
Each Thursday and Sunday the Marin Farmers Market, operated by the nonprofit Agricultural Institute of Marin, brings together hundreds of farmers, specialty food purveyors, and artisans, with thousands of patrons, to celebrate our vibrant local food movement. But the Marin Farmers Market is more than just a great place to shop – with more than $15 million in goods sold each year, the Market is an important driver of the local economy – and a healthy community – providing direct access to exceptional goods from regional fields, dairies, and ranches. The Market is the economic engine and critical venue for the survival of local family farms and ranches, who depend on this direct access to consumers to make a viable living.
Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) Focus Groups
You are invited to Participate in CEDS Focus Groups
Sponsored by the Marin Community Foundation; Employment and Training Branch of Marin County HHS (Health and Human Services); and Union Bank of California
I am pleased to announce that I have joined the national independent brokerage firm of LPL Financial, my business will operate under the name of Alpha Wealth Management and Planning, LLC. My clients’ needs are always my first priority, and access to a wider range of investment options and the latest investment tools and technology is my main driver for making this change.
LPL Financial has established a network of more than 16,000 independent financial professionals located in over 7,000 offices in all 50 states and is the #1 independent broker/dealer in the country. LPL shares my dedication to help preserve and grow your assets through a careful program of investment planning and selection and to the integrity of my investment advice. The one and only focus of LPL Financial is providing advisors with the tools, training, and support they need to offer professional advice to their clients. LPL does not offer any proprietary products with any investment or insurance companies, no product quotas or sales goals or any influence. Clients’ needs come first. Amid an ever-changing investment landscape, investors need an expert and experienced partner who can guide them objectively through the intricacies of investing and financial planning. I am proud of my new affiliation and am confident that you will be pleased with the range of services you will receive as a result.
October 2014 was a wild month on financial markets and also on global issues, specifically around communicable diseases. The geopolitics in 2014 have already been shaky, as well as the global economic forecasts. Europe, as an entry point from many from West Africa into the emerged world, had risks popping up all over the place during October 2014; the European economy’s forecast for 2014 overall was downgraded by the IMF, and then reports about the German economy and also the British economy not growing enough on the consumption side to drive prices up signaled a possible triple dip recession in Europe. A disease scare can easily contract both business investment and consumption simultaneously and have a deleterious effect on world financial markets. While November is approaching and it seems as if the Ebola scare is slowing down, the recent events tell us that the American economy is vulnerable to an outbreak of disease anywhere in the world if the expectations change about spreading to the United States.
