Published on San Fernando Valley Business Journal in News on May 30, 2016
By Mark R. Madler
EDUCATION: Students can take final exam in cockpit with local instructor.
Channel Islands Aviation this month started issuing licenses to students who successfully completed its private pilot course. The license allows them to fly non-commercial aircraft.
The Camarillo charter company and flight school was given examination authority by the Federal Aviation Administration, which allows the company’s chief flight instructor David Koble to give a final check to students and award the license.
Sarah Bartush, chief marketing officer for the family-owned business, said that before the flight school got examination authority, an FAA-approved pilot examiner had to be called in to do the final test with the students.
“We no longer have to do that for the private pilot course because our customers, when they take their final flight with our chief flight instructor and if they meet the standards for the course, he can issue a pilot certificate right there,” Bartush said.
Having that ability means a streamlined process for the school but also helps students in that they are doing the final flight check with a pilot they know rather than bringing in an outsider, she added.
Sky: Channel Island Aviation's David Koble, right, with student.
“That can allow for them to perform better,” Bartush continued. “It takes the edge off the stress.”
Channel Islands Aviation received its approval for examination authority in April and did its first check flight the week of May 16. Bartush believes her flight school is the only one given that authority in Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. Channel Islands was first approved by the FAA as a flight school in 2009.
The private pilot course is among eight offered and requires 35 hours of instruction. On average about 40 students complete the program annually, Bartush said.
The firm is now going to apply with the FAA to receive examination authority on the other courses it offers, starting with its instrument rating course.
“Now that we have the initial approval other courses should come much more quickly,” Bartush said.
New Charter
JetSuiteX started service this month between Hollywood Burbank Airport and Las Vegas and expanded service to the San Francisco Bay area.
The charter service will operate three daily roundtrip flights on weekdays and Sundays between the San Fernando Valley airfield and McCarron International Airport using Embraer 135 aircraft.
Chief Executive Alex Wilcox said that JetSuiteX is going after passengers who want a short-haul flight absent the hassles of flying out of a large commercial airport.
“After all, who wants to spend more time in the airport than in the air?” Wilcox said in a prepared statement. “JetSuiteX was created for people who prefer to fly but want to avoid crowded airport terminals and long security lines.”
Irvine-based JetSuiteX’s model is for passengers to purchase a single seat on the planes or to charter the entire aircraft. It differs from that of Surf Air, which also flies out of Hollywood Burbank with service to Oakland and San Carlos, which operates on a subscription model in which customers pay a flat fee each month and fly as often as they want.
In addition to the new Las Vegas service, JetSuiteX expanded its service between Burbank and Concord, outside of Oakland, to three roundtrips on weekdays from two daily roundtrips. That service started April 19.
JetSuiteX offers departures from private jet terminals and its Embraer aircraft feature 30 seats with legroom comparable to business class on a domestic airline and free Wi-Fi and inflight entertainment streamed to passengers’ personal devices.
Drone Bills
The Valley Industry & Commerce Association Aviation Committee voted on May 11 to oppose a state Senate bill governing the use of unmanned aircraft, or drones, in California.
The group is against Senate Bill 868, the State Remote Piloted Aircraft Act, because it is overly broad and could negatively affect innovation in drone development, VICA said.
The bill lays out where drones would and would not be allowed to operate. For instance, drone operators could not fly over state parks or lands and water managed by the state Department of Fish and Wildlife without a permit. The aircraft would be allowed in appropriate spaces at an airport or over private property where an owner’s permission has been given.
The committee tabled a vote on a second piece of pending drone-related legislation, Assembly Bill 2320. That bill would keep people with a restraining order or registered as a sex offender from operating drones.
Published on Ventura County Star in Business on May 29, 2016
Cristian Arrieta, Partner of Lowthorp, Richards, McMillan, Miller & Templeman
The law office of Lowthorp, Richards, McMillan, Miller & Templeman has named associate Cristian R. Arrieta as a partner of the firm, according to Patrick T. Loughman, managing partner.
Based in Oxnard, Lowthorp Richards specializes in business, estate, family, and injury law. The firm maintains the highest possible legal rating in the national attorney directory of Martindale-Hubbell.
Arrieta's areas of expertise include trusts and estates, business and property law. A graduate of CSU Northridge with a bachelor's degree in philosophy, Arrieta received his juris doctor from the California Western School of Law and was admitted to the State Bar of California in 2005.
Outside of the law office, he is a volunteer member of Women's Economic Ventures as well as Senior Concerns in Thousand Oaks. Other philanthropic activities include serving as past chairman of SCORE and past president of the Camarillo Breakfast Rotary Club.
Arrieta is a native Southern Californian, was raised in the area, also lived in Lima, Peru, and is fluent in Spanish. He and his family live in Newbury Park.
Published on Noozhawk in News Releases on May 20, 2016
By Jennifer Goddard Combs
An Ablitt’s employee delivers freshly laundered prom dresses for purchase. (Ablitt’s Fine Cleaners photo)
Ablitt’s Fine Cleaners & Launderers, the environmentally friendly dry cleaners based in Santa Barbara, is taking its green philosophy to prom. In a different take on reduce, reuse and recycle, the award-winning dry cleaning business is making prom dresses available to those who can’t afford to buy one.
According to Sasha Ablitt, business owner, “we pick up donated gowns from the Assistance League and clean them after the prom as a way of helping. We also collect gowns for donations.”
Ablitt’s also is gearing up to partner with the Assistance League, which has a “store” with an inventory of special-occasion dresses for young women to choose from. It’s a common charity for dry cleaners because of the easy fit, noted Ablitt.
“And now is the time to get on people’s minds: what will they do with the prom dresses after the prom?” she added.
Ablitt’s currently is accepting prom gowns in good condition. To donate, call Ablitt’s Fine Cleaners & Launderers at 805.963.6677.
For information regarding buying a prom dress, contact the Assistance League at mailto:pieters@sbceo.org or mailto:marycma@aol.com.
The last opportunity to buy a dress for this year is Saturday, May 21, from 10 a.m. to 2p.m.
Ablitt’s is located at 14 W. Gutierrez St. in downtown Santa Barbara. Its hours are Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For more information on Ablitt’s Fine Cleaners & Launderers, visit ablitts.com.
Published on Noozhawk in Business on May 1, 2016.
By Jennifer Goddard Combs
Dave Pintard, President of Pintard Commercial Real Estate
Local real estate veteran David Pintard has opened Pintard Commercial Real Estate specializing in commercial real estate leasing and investment properties, including syndication, ground up development and development entitlements.
Pintard has been active in local real estate since 1979. Before launching Pintard Commercial Real Estate, he served as Director of Leasing at Investec for past 20 years, responsible for the leasing and tenant retention of more than 1.350 million square feet, asset re-positioning and development of commercial buildings from Camarillo to San Luis Obispo.
Prior to his successful tenure at Investec, Pintard was president of Stewart Title of Santa Barbara and senior marketing consultant at Grubb & Ellis Commercial Real Estate.
Working primarily in Santa Barbara, his impressive achievements include negotiating leases, on behalf of the landlord, with well-known names in the financial industry, including Chase Bank, American Riviera Bank, Rabobank, Scottrade, Citizens Business Bank, First Republic Bank, Bank of the West and Wells Fargo Advisors.
Recently, he secured the new lease with Vons in the Mesa Shopping Center in the former Haggen site, and extended the lease term with Metropolitan Theatres in Paseo Nuevo.
Additionally, he represented the landlord in lease transactions with prominent national and international brands such as Pier 1 Imports, Walmart, Claire’s, Clark Shoes, Swarovski, Foot Locker, Metropolitan Theatres, Verizon, BevMo!, GameStop, Petco, Leslie’s Swimming Pool Supplies, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, PizzaRev, Brighton Retail, Zumiez, Subway, Payless ShoeSource, Vons, Rite Aid, FedEx Kinkos, The Shade Store, GNC, Supercuts, Trader Joe’s, Sally Beauty, Massage Envy, European Wax Spa, Great Clips, Chili’s, McDonald’s and Starbucks.
His professional affiliations include an active membership in the International Council of Shopping Centers and associate member of Downtown Santa Barbara.
Pintard studied economics at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. An enthusiastic community volunteer, he is a past president of Santa Barbara Pony Baseball, the Santa Barbara Foresters Semi-Pro Baseball Organization and the Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table. Pintard was inducted into the SBART Hall of Fame in 2006, and previously served as a board director for the Page Youth Center and Santa Barbara Family YMCA.
Pintard Commercial Real Estate is located at 201 W. Montecito St. in Santa Barbara. For more information, contact Pintard at 805.895.4071 or email dave@pintardgroup.com.
Published on Noozhawk in Nonprofits on April 21, 2016
By Jennifer Goddard Combs
Kim Hardy and Leanne Wood have been announced as the co-chairs of the sixth annual Teacher’s Fund Golf Tournament and Dinner Extravaganza, scheduled for Oct. 7, 2016, at Glen Annie Golf Course. The day will begin with registration at 10 a.m with a 12 p.m. tee off, and the Dinner Extravaganza is scheduled for 5 p.m.
From left to right: Leanne Wood and Kim Hardy
Quickly becoming a Santa Barbara tradition, the golf tournament includes multiple contests, a silent auction, fantastic giveaways and gourmet food and drink. All money raised is earmarked for the Teacher’s Fund.
The Teacher’s Fund was created by Village Properties co-owners Renee Grubb and Ed Edick in 2002 as a way to deepen their commitment and give back to the community they serve.
The purpose of the nonprofit is to raise money for Santa Barbara-area teachers so they may enrich the classroom experience with added supplies, materials and equipment in addition to outside classroom activities not covered by school funds.
To date, more than $1.5 million has been donated to Santa Barbara County elementary, middle and high school teachers in both public and private schools.
Leanne Wood, a New Zealand native, has lived in Santa Barbara for the past three years after moving from North Carolina, where she owned a real estate company for ten years.
Prior to that she lived in Europe where she managed a nonprofit and ran extensive fundraising projects for relief and development in Eastern Europe. She has been a real estate professional since 2003 and joined the Village Properties team in 2015.
Wood currently works in Village Properties’ Montecito office. She makes her home in Santa Barbara with her husband.
She may be reached at 805.284.7177 or Leanne@villagesite.com.
Kim Hardy is a native Californian and has called the Central Coast home since 1995. She is currently serving as a consultant specializing in sponsorship, promotion and event coordination.
Hardy also sat on the board of directors from 2004-07 for the Teacher’s Fund. She, her husband and their two sons live in Santa Barbara.
Hardy may be reached at 805.453.2343 or kimhardy87@gmail.com.
To learn about participating in or donating to either the Teacher’s Fund or in the 6th Annual Teacher’s Fund Golf Tournament and Dinner Extravaganza, contact the Teacher’s Fund at 805.284.7177 or visit www.teachersfund.org.
To learn more about Village Properties, call 805.969.8900 or visit www.villagesite.com.
We nominated our client, Renee Grubb, co-founder of Village Properties for Pacific Coast Business Times' Top 50 Women in Business. Congratulations Renee, for not only being named Top 50, but also receiving Editor's Choice!
Published on The Ventura County Star in Business on March 19, 2016
Channel Islands Aviation Flight School chief flight instructor David Koble (right) conducts a flight lesson with Danny Zarachoff, of Moorpark. The school has received examination approval from the Federal Aviation Administration.
Flight school OK'd to issue licenses
Camarillo-based Channel Islands Aviation Flight School has received examination approval from the Federal Aviation Authority, the family-owned business said.
FAA examination authority means flight school has the privilege to conduct end-of-course checks and testing for student pilots and to issue pilot licenses. An outside FAA-designated pilot examiner previously had to conduct the exam.
"One advantage of receiving examination approval is the scheduling end-of-course checks. We don't have to wait for an outside examiner's schedule to coincide with a test date," said David Koble, the flight school's chief flight instructor, who will be issuing pilot certifications. "We can streamline student activities and the test dates. It's more expedient."
Started in 1976, the Channel Islands Aviation Flight School offers private pilot, instrument rating, commercial single engine, certified flight instructor, and advanced ground instructor courses. A youth aviation academy is offered in the summer.
We arranged for our client, Village Properties, to be on the cover of Voice, aka Casa Magazine.
Congratulations to Village Properties on 20 years!
Brad Tisdale spoke with radio hosts Dianne Duva on Duva and Neil Kreisel's "Money Talk" radio show on KZSB 1290 AM to discuss the introduction of the Long-Term Care Benefit plan at Life Care Funding. The Long-Term Care Benefit Plan converts a life insurance policy into a monthly benefit that pays for any form of Senior Care including Homecare, Assisted Living, Nursing Home, Memory Care, and Hospice.
Published on Noozhawk in Business on January 27, 2016.
By Gina Potthoff, Noozhawk Staff Writer
Jeff DeVine and Joanne Funari have finished consolidating their two community banks in a merger that now goes by the American Riviera Bank name. DeVine will remain CEO as Funari, former interim CEO and COO at the Bank of Santa Barbara, will stay on as COO. (Gina Potthoff / Noozhawk photo)
A large-scale meet-and-greet went on last week within the walls of the American Riviera Bank in downtown Santa Barbara, where employees of the former Bank of Santa Barbara settled into new digs.
The merger between the two community banks became official Jan. 1, but the Jan. 16-17 weekend marked moving day and consolidation of the downtown offices, both right next door on Figueroa Street between State and Anacapa streets.
Last week was also the first chance for customers of the respective banks to run into each other at the 1033 Anacapa St. headquarters, where American Riviera Bank has operated since 2006.
“We pretty much doubled overnight,” said Jeff DeVine, who has stayed on as CEO of American Riviera Bank. “It went surprisingly well.”
That’s thanks to some six months of preparation to combine efforts since the merger was announced in July 2015, he said.
With the union, American Riviera Bank becomes the second-largest community bank based in Santa Barbara with assets over $400 million and three South Coast branches.
American Riviera Bank already had a location at 525 San Ysidro Rd. in Montecito.
Bank of Santa Barbara, which opened in 2005 before being recapitalized by local investors in 2009, already had a Goleta branch at 5880 Calle Real.
Its former 12 E. Figueroa St. headquarters will be subleased to a yet-to-be-determined tenant.
Bank of Santa Barbara’s small business administration lending department complements American Riviera Bank’s mortgage department.
The American Riviera Bank merged with the Bank of Santa Barbara in a deal that places the community banking institutations in a position to better lend and conduct business. (Gina Potthoff / Noozhawk photo)
American Riviera Bank had the better online system, dedicated parking lot and two levels of offices. A Bank of Santa Barbara program inspired the partnership to add a two-vehicle courier fleet to ferry non-cash deposits.
What DeVine sees now is a manageable — and scalable — full-service community bank that can process two times the loans while splitting the cost of complying with ever-changing federal banking regulations.
“It’s really difficult for a small bank,” said DeVine, who sat down with Noozhawk this week to discuss the changes along with Joanne Funari, who went from interim CEO and COO of Bank of Santa Barbara to executive vice president and COO of the combined bank.
Both view the merger as an opportunity to serve more clients — many of them small business owners — without compromising on quality.
The two institutions went from a combined 78 employees to 62, 10 of which were displaced because of overlap and some who chose to leave prior to the merger, DeVine said.
With the overall bump, Funari said American Riviera Bank could hire a dedicated human resources director, IT professional and regional bank manager along with a loan and central services expansion.
“It’s a community bank feel,” Funari said.
“Small business people want to know their banker. Now we cover Goleta all the way to Montecito.”
A branding study helped the institutions pick the name after learning that American Riviera Bank had more potential for two reasons: it didn’t pigeonhole the bank to stay inside Santa Barbara or Santa Barbara County and it turned up fewer options under a Google search.
American Riviera Bank is also focused on toeing the line to cater to those who prefer to scan checks with their cell phones or ATMs as well as the old-school clients who still want to shake an associate’s hand.
It’s too soon to say when the bank might grow. Funari said the team is much more focused on making sure clients and employees are happy with and understand the changes, with potential to add more services as needed.
Channel Islands Aviation has been featured in the Ventura County Star to announce their partnership with Liberty University in Virginia. CIA has teamed with the university to promote students getting their pilot's license, while simultaneously getting a Bachelor of Science in aeronautics.
Congratulations, Channel Islands Aviation!
