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E C O N O M I C V I TA L I T Y C O R P O R AT I O N N E W S L E T T E R

Central CoastBusiness Watch

expensive third-party interfaces. IQMS

offers one cohesive ERP package that’s easier

to use, maintain, and implement.

“Because we are a high-tech company we

can really be located anywhere,” says Randy

Flamm, President of IQMS. “We choose to

be in San Luis Obispo County because of

all the benefits we receive in return. With

easy travel distances to both Los Angeles

and San Francisco, gorgeous surroundings

to entertain clients, we feel very fortunate to

be on the Central Coast.” An EVC sponsor,

IQMS also has offices in

Chicago, Toronto, Taiwan

and Sweden.

www.iqms.com

The decision to grow a technology

company on the Central Coast has paid

off for IQMS, a leading software com-

pany headquartered in Paso Robles since

1988. Founded by Randy and Nancy

Flamm, IQMS is a leader in the design

and development of Enterprise Resource

Planning (ERP) software for manufac-

turers. It is a global company that serves

more than 700 customer locations and

25,000 users. Mid-level manufacturers

around the world are turning to the com-

pany for help to streamline operations

and optimize profitability. Its flagship

product, EnterpriseIQ, is the only system

capable of handling all manufacturing

and financial needs without requiring

S U C C E S S S T O R I E SEVC MISSION STATEMENT

The EVC’s mission is to stimulate

the economic vitality of San Luis

Obispo County, generate jobs,

increase investment in the community

and promote the start-up, growth

and attraction of businesses.

More success stories

Keeping SLO County Business Vital | www.sloevc.org | Vol. 3, 2007

Fertile Ground for High-Tech

Welcome to Central

Coast Business Watch, a

report about the San Luis

Obispo County business

community and local economic issues.

As a non-profit corporation in its 13th

year, the Economic Vitality Corp. provides

business resources to strengthen and

diversify the local economy by helping

to start and grow businesses. In June,

the EVC ended its fiscal year with a 55

percent increase in new corporate spon-

sorships. There was also an increase in

the number of people who were helped

to start and expand businesses. With

the Wine Industry Study complete, the

EVC is now commissioning a Tourism

Industry Study.

EVC resources help create jobs and a

larger tax base for the needs of our com-

munities, creating positive, long-term

benefits for everyone. Please visit our

website at www.sloevc.org and sign-up

for email announcements of upcoming

events and to find out how you can

become an EVC sponsor.

Michael Manchak, President & CEO

mmanchak@sloevc.org

President’s Letter

Photographer: Jennine DureauRandy and Nancy Flamm

Tim Williams cre-

ated an Internet

hosting company

from a closet in

downtown San

Luis Obispo just

nine years ago.

Now Digital West

Networks has a

state-of-the-art

Internet data cen-

ter and a reputation for being the tech-based

secret weapon on the Central Coast. Digital

It takes a particular kind of scientist to know

how to transform a firefly’s glow into sophis-

ticated tools used to research disease and to

explore the human body. Bioluminescence

and fluorescence products are among

the specialized tools created by San Luis

Obispo–based Promega Biosciences. The

company’s organic chemists create a number

of key chemicals for scientific discovery that

enable its Wisconsin-based parent company

to develop cutting-edge life-science research

products. This includes the manufacture

compounds that further expand the bound-

aries of new market areas. Promega has

West’s growth has helped the Central Coast’s

business community succeed with a facility

that rivals those in large cities. “The pieces

were all there,” says president and founder

Tim Williams. “They were just harder to see

back then. We didn’t have an advertising

budget, but we knew how to provide great

customer service in an industry that had yet

to understand that.”

The company houses web sites, data and

client IT equipment for both high-tech and

traditional businesses. Its round-the-clock

staff focuses on helping their customers

succeed, while keeping hundreds of servers

running smoothly. Tim Williams also at-

Bright Light for Bio-Tech evolved in San

Luis Obispo since

its start in 1974

as JBL Scientific.

Today it employs

55 employees

with 13 doctorate-

level researchers

and other science

professionals.

Bioluminescence

is best known as

the flashing light of a firefly. This technology

has been expanded to yield tools that can be

used to study certain gene functions, enzyme

S U C C E S S S T O R I E S

President & CEOMichael Manchak, EVC

Ed Arnold, Council Member, City of Arroyo Grande

Karen Bright, Council Member, City of Grover Beach

Michael Cannon, President, Cannon Associates

Andrew Carter, Council Member, City of San Luis Obispo

Carl Dudley, Vice President, Coast National Bank

Maury Froman, Senior Vice President, The Rottman Group

Rick Grantham, Council Member, City of Morro Bay

Steven Harding, Regional President, Rabobank, N.A.

Alan Iftiniuk, President, French Hospital Medical Center

Kevin Irot, Senior VP & County Manager, First American Title Company�Tom Jones, Sr. Regional Manager Governmental Relations, PG&E

John E. King, Principal, King Ventures Candy Markwith, CEO, Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center

Tim Mahoney, District Manager, Southern California Gas Company

Noreen Martin, President & CEO, Martin Resorts

Rebecca McMurry, Executive Director, San Luis Obispo County Chamber Executives

Harry Ovitt, Supervisor, 1st District, County of San Luis Obispo

�Tim Perry, President & General Manager, KSBY-TV� Charlie Richardson, President, Richardson Properties

Eric Schwefler, Partner, Barbich Longcrier Hooper & King

Charley Senn, President, Senn-Lee & Associates

John Shoals, Principal Planner, RRM Design Group

Fred Strong, Council Member, City of Paso Robles

Tom Sullivan, Emeritus Board Member

Kris Vardas, Council Member, City of Pismo Beach

Chip Visci, President & Publisher, The Tribune

EVC BOARD OF DIRECTORSChairTom O’Malley, Council Member, City of Atascadero

Vice Chair Dave Christy, Dean, Orfalea College of Business, Cal Poly State University

TreasurerKathleen Corey, Assistant Vice President, Heritage Oaks Bank

SecretaryJackie Crabb, Executive Director, SLO County Farm Bureau

Past ChairDave Juhnke, Managing Partner, Sinsheimer Juhnke Lebens & McIvor, LLP

Expanding Network has Deep Roots in SLO

tributes the company’s success to its location.

San Luis Obispo County hosts trans-Pacific

undersea fiber optic cables, connecting North

America to Pacific Rim countries. Digital

West taps into these cable landings, bringing

national and international carrier connectiv-

ity to local companies. Only three other places

in the West Coast provide such speed and

capacity. The company works closely with the

EVC to connect local companies with this

big city resource.

www.digitalwest.net

activities, metabolism and interactions

of new pharmaceuticals, and bacterial

contamination of food processing equip-

ment. Fluorescence is a physical property

of certain chemicals that provides a way

to assess the location, action or level of a

variety of interesting PROMEGA biological

compounds.

“As an EVC sponsor, Promega supports

efforts to attract and retain promising

companies to assure a future healthy

business environment.”

—Kristen Yetter, President

www.promega.com

Photographer: Jennine Dureau

Photographer: Jennine Dureau

Tim Williams

Kristen Yetter

The EVC assists local companies and entrepreneurs

with a range of resources.These include business loans,

seminars, site location services, international trade

and business connections.

Business Loan Programs Two loan programs for business

startup and expansion. Helps

entrepreneurs determine their best

bank loan options.

Workshops & SeminarsHeld on a variety

of business topics

throughout the year.

Includes Web-based

seminars and more.

Venture Capital & Angel Investor Network Provides entrepreneurs with access

to investment capital from investors

throughout the state. Includes the

region’s largest annual venture

capital event.

Jobs Network Assists employers and trailing

spouses find jobs through a network.

Search resumes and job listings on

the EVC web site.

Business Retention & Expansion Services

Provides local businesses with the

information and resources they

need to grow on

the Central Coast.

Site Location Service A comprehensive

resource that helps

local businesses

find office space,

commercial

properties.

Local Business Information Provides key business information

and industry cluster studies.

Business Advocacy Working closely with governmental

entities to assist businesses with

contacts and resources.

Resources

IT IS IN THE BEST

INTEREST OF OUR

COMMUNITIES TO

TAKE CARE OF THE

BUSINESSES THAT

ARE ALREADY HERE.

SLO County Economic Outlook 2008UCSB Economic Forecast ProjectReport available at www.ucsb-efp.comCo-sponsored by the EVC

EVC Events & WorkshopsUPCOMING EVENT TOPICS• Venture Capital & Angel Investor Event

• Emergency Preparedness Event

Seminars on a range of business topics including:

• Marketing

• International Trade

INTERNATIONAL TRADE COURSEThe EVC last hosted a trade course with a record number of students. We congratulate businesses that were created or expanded as a result of these courses:

Economic Studies• Wine Industry Study is available on the EVC web site

• Tourism Industry Study will be launched soon to develop vital information about this large sector

New Resource Technology Company DatabaseA San Luis Obispo Chamber resource that connects technology businesses on California’s Central Coast:Visit tac.slochamber.org Co-sponsored by the EVC

Sign-up for emailed news and announcements at www.sloevc.org

• Accessories Marketing

• Frederick Export• Infinity Tile & Stone

• Life Elements

• VS Athletics

In the News

Client SpotlightExamples of recent EVC clients that have started or expanded business through the EVC:

For a complete list of clients, visit www.sloevc.org/clients

• Nipomo Ace Hardware• Central Coast Custom Water • GROW, the Nursery

at Moonstone Gardens

• Jenkins Framing

• LePell Tile & Stone• Love to Learn Preschool• Nipomo Furniture Market• Tilde Translations• and many more…

• Business Capital

• and much more

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Read articles from the EVC’s business experts online at www.sloevc.org/experts

Experts’ Corner

Economic Vitality Corporation of San Luis Obispo County P.O. Box 5257 • San Luis Obispo, CA 93403 • (805) 788-2012 • www.SLOEVC.org

Diamond Level $10,000+20 | 20 Creative Group City of AtascaderoCity of Paso RoblesCounty of San Luis ObispoPacific Gas and Electric CompanyPaso Robles Wine Country Alliance The Tribune

Special Level $7,500+AT&TCity of Grover BeachCity of Pismo Beach

Platinum Level $5,000+Central Coast PrintingCity of Arroyo GrandeCity of Morro BayCity of San Luis ObispoEdna Valley VineyardFirst Bank of San Luis ObispoKing Ventures Martin ResortsRabobank, N.A.SLO Botanical Gardens

Gold Level $2,500+Barbich Longcrier Hooper & King ChevronChicago Title Co. Collaboration LLC ConocoPhillipsCuesta Title Co.DiopticsDynegy KSBY TV KVEC 920-AM

Estrella AssociatesFirst American TitleMadonna Inn Mee Memorial HospitalMiraVista HoldingsParagon Vineyard RRM Design Group

Smart Business Interiors (Deborah Krueger)Sinsheimer Juhnke Lebens & McIvor, LLP Software SolutionsSystems & Marketing SolutionsThe Rottman Group Vina Robles

Silver Level $1,000+ACCO Engineered Systems Airport Road Business ParkAndre, Morris & ButteryBermant Development Co.Best Western Colony Inn– Atascadero California Space AuthorityCannon AssociatesClever ConceptsCoastal Business FinanceCoast National BankCook, Ekmanian & AssociatesCountry Real EstateCuesta CollegeDigital West Networkseda-design professionals Founders Community BankFrench Hospital Medical CenterFilipponi & Thompson DrillingGlenn Burdette Phillips & Bryson CPA’s Home Builders Associationof the Central CoastHeritage Oaks BankIQMSJ.B. Dewar, Inc.KCBX Public RadioKronick Moskovitz Tiedemann & GirardMaddalena RealtyMission Community BankMorris & Garritano Nash HR ServicesOrfalea College of Business, Cal Poly Pacific Energy Company

Promega BiosciencesQuaglino PropertiesRichardson PropertiesRick Engineering Company Rutledge CompanySan Luis CapitalSan Luis Sports TherapySanta Lucia BankSenn-Lee & AssociatesSierra Vista Regional Medical CenterSLO County Farm BureauSLO Beauty CollegeSmart Business Interiors(Bryan Steward) Southern California Gas CompanySpecialty ConstructionSpecialty Silicone FabricatorsTalley Vineyard TechXpressThoma Electric, Inc.TriActive AmericaTwin Cities Community HospitalVistageWells Fargo BankWestberg + White ArchitectsYour People Professionals

Bronze Level $500Tom MartinTom Sullivan Jeff WadeJeff CederbergMyraline Morris Whitaker

Micro Loan Fund ContributorsRabobank, N.A. $89,000Coast National Bank$21,000Mission Community Bank $21,000Heritage Oaks Bank $20,000Santa Lucia Bank$20,000Los Padres Bank$10,000

EVC Partners

Sponsors

Internet Marketing Best Practices: Managing online marketing campaigns.

Doug Klien Senior Strategist Web Associates, Inc. www.webassociates.com

Selling Online:What you need to know.

Dennis Clevenger FounderClever Concepts www.cleverconcepts.com

International Importers and Exporters: Opportunities & challenges for local businesses.

Ray Bowman EVC’s International Trade ConsultantBowman Business Services

Become an EVC sponsor. Help keep our communities vital! (805) 788-2013 or info@sloevc.org

Become an EVC sponsor (805) 788-2013 or info@sloevc.orgHelp keep our communities vital.

Join EVC’s email list Sign-up for business related news andannouncements at www.sloevc.org

EVC is a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Corporation