Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin

In past addresses Mayor Swearengin has recounted the past and defined where Fresno has stood during those times. Going through the years, the mayor depicted the ups and downs of the City as well as future plans and desires for the community. This year the mayor will talk about recent successes, important issues and express even more determination in the fight for a better home, a better community, a better city.

Enjoy Fresno’s luncheon of the year as Mayor Ashley Swearengin reflects on the state of the City, and shares her vision for Fresno’s future, Thursday, May 16, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at the Fresno Convention and Entertainment Center in the New Exhibit Hall (program begins at noon). For more information on the event call (559) 495-4825 or send a message to avasquez@fresnochamber.com.

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Thousands are entertained by Mexican music sensation Carmen Jara on Fresno’€™s Fulton Mall during the annual celebration for Mexican Independence Day.

More than 65,000 individuals attend this celebration each year and even more are expected this time around. Many vendors will be there selling their products and offering a fun experience. The event is to celebrate the Mexican heritage and culture of the past and bring pride to the community.

Kevin O’Rorke, the general manager of the event stated, “Every year La Buena 101.9 and Exitos 107.1 put on the largest Cinco De Mayo celebration concert and day of family fun in the San Joaquin Valley and this year will be no exception.” O’Rorke continues saying, “An incredible talent lineup on stage, the best authentic foods, a kids zone and an interactive sports zone sponsored by ESPN Deportes 1600 AM, make this a fun for all ages event you don’t want to miss.”

There is no charge to get into the festival, and there are many different attractions for everyone. The Cinco De Mayo festival is  hosted by Downtown Fresno Partnership.

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The event will have statistical data and information pertaining to future projects happening in Fresno. A networking reception follows the presentations so attendees can connect and ask questions freely with the experts.

Kathleen Smith

Bobby Fena, SIOR, senior vice president/principal of Colliers International and Phil Souza, senior vice president of Pearson Commercial have been the masters of ceremony for the past nine events and will continue to be this year.  They will introduce each of the experts from the eight diverse sectors, and then each expert will offer their predictions for the upcoming year.  Over 500 professionals are expected to attend the Real Estate Forecast.

“The Real Estate Forecast Publication is highly respected and utilized as a resource and marketing tool,” said the EDC’s Investors Relations Manager Kathleen Smith.  “The attendees each receive a complimentary publication, with an additional 1,000-plus publications circulated across Fresno County.”

The title sponsor for this year’s event is Monster City Theme Works, a full-service theme and environment building company.  Monster City will have some of its pieces and props on display, including the event backdrop it designed.

“This event has an emphasis on commercial real estate, which is obviously a category that we serve,” said Richard Deaver, president of Monster City Theme Works.

The 10^th Annual Real Estate Forecast event is being held Thursday, April 11, 2013 at the Radisson Hotel & Conference Center in downtown Fresno from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. Tickets are available for purchase at www.fresnoedc.com. Last year’s presentations are also available on the website.

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Local animal partners throughout the valley are coming together to host the Fresno Pet Expo, coming to the Fresno Fairgrounds May 18 and 19 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days. All sorts of vendors ranging from health care, to food products, to at-home, daily care products will be offering information and have items for purchase. The expo is meant for people of all ages offering sites to play, shop, adopt, learn, and enjoy everything about pets. Attendees will be able to adopt a pet, learn about which medical treatments pets should have, and gather information on how they can support their community and keep animals safe and taken care of.

For those seeking fun, competitions such as Frisbee throwing contests, dress-up pet look-alikes, and a grooming contest will be held for prizes.

Tickets start out at $7 for children, $10 for adults, and $25 for a family pack of four.  For more information, visit www.fresnopetexpo.com.

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The business professionals come from a variety of backgrounds and careers. Some focus on helping others receive an education and earn a living; others comfort and aid those who have faced injury from accidents, abuse and drug consumption; some work to prevent people from ever facing illness or accident.  However they may spend their time, it is all for the benefit of the future of the San Joaquin Valley.

“These men and women have all worked hard to stand out from their co-workers and show their promise of becoming rising stars,” said Lance Cardoza, president and publisher of Business Street Online.  “Because of the effort by these business professionals, their peers felt confident and nominated them as unique and qualified individuals who represent the future of the Central Valley.”

The public is invited to help honor the Class of 2012 during the “40 Under 40” Ultimate Networking Event this Thursday from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Skyroom Lounge in the Holiday Inn Fresno Downtown.  Tickets to the event are on sale for $55 and are available for purchase on www.40u40.com. The public is encouraged to purchase tickets soon because the event will sell out.  Be sure to read about each member of the Class of 2012 on www.BusinessStreetOnline.com and sign up for the daily news alerts.

The following is the list of the “40 Under 40” Class of 2012.

Adam Avila – The Alvarado Group/Highlands Energy Services

•  Alysia Sofios – KMPH FOX 26

•  Amy Guerra – Law Office of Amy Guerra

•  Arthur Moye – MBS Accountancy

•  Audra Donaghy – Donaghy Sales

•  Mayor Brett Frazier – City of Madera

•  Byron Watkins – Windsong Productions/I Bike Fresno

•  Carrie Miranda – Carrie Anne Miranda Photography

•  Casey Creamer – California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association

•  Chelsi Johnston – Central Valley Business Incubator

•  Chris Bridger – Clovis Fire Department

•  Christina Musson – KMJ Radio

•  Christopher Stetsko – Rose Strategic Advisors

•  Cinderela Co – HealthPoint Home Health

•  Claudia Ruiz – City of Fresno

•  Clayton Clark – KMPH FOX 26

•  Dallas Neumann-Johns – Arnold Law Group

•  Daniel Castro – Coleman & Horowitt, LLP

•  Daniel Hartwig – Nisei Farmers League

•  Danika Heatherly – Visalia Convention & Visitors Bureau

•  Elana Landau – Narcotics/Violent Crime Unit – U.S. Attorney’s Office – Eastern District

•  Elena Stefanopoulos – Stamoules Produce Company

•  Hank Charles – Fresno State Alumni Association

•  Jarrod Lyman – Yosemite Sierra Visitors Bureau

•  Jeanna Antonino – JP Marketing

•  Katie Stevens – Fresno Mayor’s Office

•  Kurtis Willey – Agri-Valley Irrigation, Inc.

•  Leigh W. Burnside – Dowling Aaron Inc.

•  Mario Zamora – Griswold, Lasalle, Cobb, Dowd & Ginn, LLP

•  Senator Michael Rubio – California State Senate

•  Nick Maxwell – LPL Financial

•  Nicole Emmert-Hamaker – Pinch My Salt

•  Pha Mouavangsou – ITT Tech

•  Reggie Ellis – The Foothills Sun-Gazette

•  Seth DePiano – Sober Guys Inc.

•  Sonja Speck – Chick-fil-A

•  Steven Spencer – Spencer Enterprises

•  Steve Carter – Citibank

•  Tim Finegan Jr. – Fresno Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram

•  Tracy Barnes – Premier Bride Magazine

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The event, dubbed The Central Valley Expo, focused on bringing non-profit organizations throughout the Central Valley together in order to present them to the public and spread an idea. The idea is that the Central Valley was more than most believed it to be. That it was not just a boring, run-of-the-mill place, but actually a destination site comparable to San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Sacramento.

“The vendors were quite friendly and had said they were happy to have been a part of our event,” said Brandon Mitchell, a student of the Hospitality and Event Management lab.  “I really enjoyed my time.”

On typical school days, the students of the Hospitality class spend their time learning what it takes to host and run an event. Skills taught in the class range from how to keep customers happy and coming back for more, to organizing budgets and income statements to predict sales and costs, all the way to in-depth research of what modern day businesses need to do in order to keep in business.

Students of the Hospitality and Event Management lab of CART are seen here running the silent auction.

On this day, however, the students of CART put all the skills they had spent time learning to use. The event was held in the gallery of CART and ran from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., and hosted an audience of roughly 150 people. Many smiles were seen across and people left feeling satisfied.

Donell Stiers of Clovis said, “This is wonderful! I loved the presentation from 59 Days of Code.”

“It was nice to hear that we have such technology rich people within the valley who know what they are doing,” Stiers continued.

This was the first public event put on by the newly created Hospitality and Event Management lab of CART. A variety of people showed up to show their support and everyone left with a smile. Before the event, the students and teachers were frantic with worry. But the nerves quickly settled when it began and everyone went to do their jobs.

At the end of the night, Bruce Hoffman, a teacher of the Hospitality lab, briefly said “It was nice.”
 

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