Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/7717
Manufacturing in Today's Economy is the topic of a half-day con- ference for Northern California manufactur- ers on Friday, April 2, at the Sierra Nevada Brew- ing Co. in Chico. "Manufacturing is key to California's eco- nomic success and our local economy," says conference host Stewart Knox of the Northern Rural Training & Employment Consor- tium (NoRTEC). "We want to ensure Northern California has a strong economic base and that our local manufacturers have access to the resources and human talent to help them be competitive in the glob- al market." Speakers from the Corporation for Manu- facturing Excellence (Manex) will be on hand to talk about the chal- lenges that companies must overcome to remain competitive, dis- cuss some strategies local manufacturers can use to improve competi- tiveness, open new mar- kets, and manage lean and green operations. Accessing financing resources will also be addressed. USDA Rural Devel- opment State Director, Dr. Glenda Humiston, will kick off the meet- ing. Conference attendees will be able to meet with representatives from Manex, USDA Rural Development, financing, workforce development, training and other service providers from the pub- lic and private sector. The meeting is hosted by NoRTEC and its six One-Stop Workforce Development Centers as part of the Clean Energy Initiative, which is focused on helping small and emerging businesses in rural Northern California to understand the opportu- nities in the green econ- omy and introduce them to the resources and technical assistance available. To register for the conference, which runs 7:30 a.m. to noon, visit www.mfgconference.co m. The registration price of $45 includes a conti- nental breakfast. For more informa- tion, call Knox at 892- 9600 or Vicki Doll at 345-0364 ext 26. 4A – Daily News – Wednesday, March 10, 2010 ADVANCED HYDROPONICS Indoor Lighting 1417 SOLANO ST., CORNING 824-1100 & Gardening 10-25% OFF MSRP NOW OPEN SUNDAYS Smog Check starting at $ 29 95 (most cars and pick-ups) Pass or FREE retest COMPLETE AUTO REPAIR + cert. All makes and models. We perform dealer recommened 30K, 60K, 90K SERVICES AT LOWER PRICES 527-9841 • 195 S. Main St. Fast, Friendly, Reasonable Fees Fee for Short or Long form includes all the tax credits and E-filing with direct Deposit. PREPARATION P RALPH CAMPBELL, EA Enrolled Agent 20639 Walnut St., • 530-529-9540 Also Bookeeping, Payroll and Financial Services available "Your neighborhood pharmacy since 1952" We've got you covered • Healthcare Including Prescriptions & Non-Prescriptions • Wide Variety of Gifts, Cards & Picture Frames • We Deliver Locally Jerome Wells, Pharmacist PRICE'S PHARMACY 1322 Solano St., Corning 530.824.3495 Fax 530.824.9227 $ Money $ 2 Lend Cash 4 Notes McKinley Mortgage Co. CA DRE # 01773837 Call 530-241-0977 800-909-1977 DW PLUMBING INC. Local Plumbers Serving all Your Plumbing Needs Since 1993 530 527-6403 Lic. No 679492 Major Credit Cards Accepted Commerce business&enterprise Chamber welcomes gift shop as member • New Member – The Corning Chamber of Com- merce welcomes This and That Unique Gifts as new member. It is located inside Interland Business at 1122 Solano St. Phone: 824-0775. • Spotlight – The Paskenta Community Hall is a non-profit that joined the Corning Chamber of Com- merce in 2006. The Board of Directors consists of President, Vice-president, Secretary and Treasurer and 3 other members. The original hall was built after World War II with wood donated by Crane Mills, but it burned some time around 1977 and was rebuilt in the early 1980's. The hall has 10,000 square feet and is available for all kinds of events from memorial services, wedding receptions, and family reunions to birthday parties. There is a large, fully equipped kitchen and a smaller dining room that is also available for rent. The stove that heats the hall was made from a net buoy by one of the resi- dents of Paskenta. It also has air conditioning for the hot weather. Dick Hunnicutt is the president of the Paskenta Community Hall and has been in the Corning area close to 6 years. He and his wife came from the Bay Area after retirement. They have owned property in Paskenta since 1976. This Saturday, March 13 at 6 pm, the Paskenta Community Hall will have their annual fundraiser that enables them to keep up general maintenance of the building, paying for the insurance, electricity, etc. The corned beef and cabbage dinner includes potatoes, carrots, salad and rolls, homemade desserts made by community members, coffee, tea, punch and water. Tickets are $15.00 for adults, children 6- 12, $5.00 and under 5, free. Tickets are being sold at the Flournoy Country Store & Deli, Butte Communi- ty Bank, and by Emily Murphy. For more informa- tion or to donate items to be auctioned please call 833-5308. • Seeds of Opportunity III – It's not too late to register for the Seeds of Opportunity, the third annu- al Tehama County Economic Forecast Conference. It begins at 8 am, Monday, March 15 at Rolling Hills Casino. This conference is sponsored by the Job Training Center, Tehama EDC, Rolling Hills Casino, St. Elizabeth Community Hospital, Red Bluff Daily News, Red Bluff-Tehama County Chamber of Com- merce, Corning Chamber of Commerce and the Los Molinos Chamber of Commerce. The cost is $25.00 per person and breakfast will be provided. Pre-regis- tration is required. You may call the Job Training Center at (530) 539-7000 or visit www.jobtraining- center.org. • Business Expo – The expo is coming up March 27th and the chamber would like to help promote our member's business or organization. We are asking that you bring your promotional items to the cham- ber office in the next two weeks. We will pass them out to the hundreds of people that attend. If you would like to have your own booth there may still be space available. If you would like more information you may call directly to the Orland Chamber of Commerce at 865-2311. • Heritage Shopping Plaza – Attention Corning and surrounding areas business owners. There is an opportunity of a life time to lease a space in the most modern shopping center in the north valley and a great incentive to local business owners: free rent for the first 6 months, only $.50 a sq. ft. for 2nd 6 months, only $.90 per sq. ft. for the 2nd year. Owner financing for tenant improvement on approval of credit. For more details contact Harry Finefrock, ReMax Top Properties at (530) 586-0293. ——— This column is prepared and submitted by the Corning Chamber of Commerce. Leading in a new economy The challenges of leadership in today's economy are many. Some are tried and true, while others are unlike any in recent history. Regardless, leadership is what will separate the good from the great as our country works to rebuild a thriving, stable economy. Today, businesses everywhere are ramping up to come out of this recession stronger than before and rise above the rest. That's why business leaders at all levels must assess their current skill sets to make sure they can effectively lead their team to pro- duce positive outcomes for their departments and companies. "As the economy and business market changes, it's essential for business leaders to grow and develop with it," said Robert A. Funk, co-founder and CEO of Express Employment Professionals. "Their success as a leader and as a company depends on it." These four tactics can be beneficial in that process. Be Flexible. Some managers believe they always have the answers, are always right, and never need to compromise. But, today's successful leaders realize that a heavy-hand approach can be coun- terproductive. The best leaders will be the ones who aren't afraid to say "I'm not entirely sure, what do you think?" or "Hey, let's try something new and see if it works." The changing economy brought uncer- tainty to the workplace, so a flexi- ble leadership style can help navi- gate in this new business environ- ment. Leaders who are open-mind- ed are more likely to capitalize on new ideas. Delegate Tasks and Trust Others. The truth is, most people learn by doing. And in today's workplace, it's essential to allow others to grow within their career and take on more responsibility. Most people in upper management worked hard to get where they are by doing things themselves. So, they often rely on continuing to do things the same way. But, effective leaders know how to trust others to help them accomplish their goals and delegate tasks to team members. They understand the importance of equipping their team members to accomplish individual goals. Micromanagers will not only have difficulty thriving in this new envi- ronment, but they may also lose valuable employees in the process. Hire for Success. Hiring for suc- cess means hiring based on skill sets a leader lacks. Because a great leader knows their limitations, they're not afraid to admit their faults. In order for business leaders to achieve desired results, they must put the right people in place. Employees who will compliment the skills of the entire team. Being surrounded by the best employees will ultimately be a boost to any leader – and will set the entire com- pany up for success. Coach Regularly. Mentoring employees has always been an important part of leadership, but now more than ever, it's a necessary ingredient for any successful man- ager. Taking time to coach employ- ees will result in higher productivi- ty and increased engagement. Many employees have worked harder than ever this past year, and showing employees you're invested in their career development will foster loy- alty and respect. Leaders, even those who generally don't consider themselves to be good mentors, will need to coach their employees and help them develop their careers. The time for leaders to step up and focus on being effective is now. Those who achieve success will be the leaders who grow, develop, and change with the new economy. By focusing on coaching, delegation, flexibility, and hiring right, leaders will create a strong workforce that will outlast their competition and create a company that will rise above the rest. To find out about your leadership style, go to www.myleadershipin- stinct.com, or contact your local Express Employment Professionals office. Submitted by Lisa Hansen, owner of Express Employment Professional in Red Bluff. She can be reached at Lisa.hansen@expresspros.com. Tax service salutes police, firefighters Liberty Tax Service offers free tax preparations next week to salute firefighters and police and law enforce- ment officers. These tax breaks on preparation fees will be in effect from March 8-14 for those who are first-time customers. "This week we'll honor the courage and dedication of our men and women in law enforcement and public safe- ty to show appreciation for their work to keep this com- munity safe," said Amber Nickell, Manager of Liberty Tax Service. For more information, call 528-8879, or stop by the office, 1060 S. Main St. Manufacturing conference set If you go... What: Manufacturing in Today's Economy When: Friday, April 2 Where: Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, Chico How much: $45