Kevin G. Walthers, Ph.D., is the current president of Las Positas College in Livermore, California.  The college is one of two in the Chabot-Las Positas Community College District and one of the 112 community colleges in the state.  He will serve as the fifth permanent superintendent/president in the history of the Allan Hancock Joint Community College District.

Walthers was selected from a nationwide search that was launched after Superintendent/President José M. Ortiz, Ed.D., announced his departure in 2012 to become chancellor of California’s Peralta Community College District.  Elizabeth A. Miller, Ed.D., has been the interim superintendent/president since July 2012.

Walthers will begin his new duties on July 8, 2013.

“We are extremely pleased to welcome Dr. Walthers to Allan Hancock College.  He is a great fit for this college and our community.  Dr. Walthers’ enthusiasm for the position and the community, coupled with his excellent leadership and management experience, will serve us well,” said Larry Lahr, president of the board.  Lahr praised the search process as thorough and inclusive.

During his tenure at Las Positas, Walthers said he is most proud of fostering college relationships with the community, creating innovative fundraising programs, leading mid-term accreditation requirements and building a strong and diverse administrative team.

Prior to joining Las Positas College, Walthers served in executive roles with the Utah State Board of Regents, the College of Eastern Utah, and most recently held a joint position with the West Virginia Community and Technical College System and the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission.  As the Vice Chancellor for Administration in West Virginia, Walthers provided oversight of WVNET, the state’s central network service and internet provider for colleges and universities.

Walthers began his career as an educator by teaching high school in north Texas.  He has taught at all levels of higher education and is a guest lecturer on leadership, management and social justice issues.

“It may sound trite, but this is a dream come true for my family and me,” said Walthers. “I have been aware of the good work and great success of Allan Hancock College for many years, and had hoped that someday I might be a part of this wonderful college and community.  Now that day has come and I could not be more pleased.”

Walthers attended Eastfield Community College in Mesquite, Texas, holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin, a master’s of educational administration from Texas A&M University – Commerce, and a Ph.D. in educational leadership and policy from the University of Utah.

Born in Dallas, Walthers was raised in an Air Force family and lived in several states before moving back to Texas..  He and his wife, Shannon Elliott, have a ten year-old son, Trey.

“I’m thankful for the years I spent on the South Campus,” Girty said.

“I love the college and the people who work here,” she added.

In 1975, Girty transitioned from student to employee and never looked back.  After earning her certificate as a medical assistant, she went to work in secretarial services, a department that no longer exists at the college.

“It was similar to a secretarial pool,” Girty explained.  “Back then we actually typed by hand the purchase orders on six-sheet carbon paper.  I remember being very excited when we got a programmable typewriter.”

From secretarial services, Girty moved on to administrative work for public safety on the college’s South Campus.  She is currently the academic affairs coordinator/administrative secretary in the Academic Affairs department.

“It was time for me to retire with lots of great memories,” Girty said.  “It has been especially rewarding to see students come through the college and then go on to transfer and succeed in their own careers.”

Girty is retiring after 38 years at the college and is the most “senior” full-time Allan Hancock College retiree in 2013.  She was honored along with six other retirees at a college-wide retirement and recognition event Wednesday, May 15, at the Santa Maria campus.

In total, this year’s retirees have contributed 143 years of service to the college.  The other retirees are: Gloria Ramirez, administrative secretary, learning resources, 23 years; Ethelwynne Reeves, department chair, languages and communication, 23 years; Cynthia Fuggs, administrative secretary, counseling, 18 years; Sandra Lopez, coordinator/instructional assistant, Computer Resources Center, 16 years; Rafael Alvarez, automotive mechanic, Plant Services, 14 years; and Rocky Graziano, courier, Plant Services, 11 years.

Also honored at the reception were three faculty members who achieved tenure during the 2012-2013 academic year: Andrew Densmore, public safety; Scia Maumausolo, kinesiology/recreation/athletics; and Frederic Patrick, learning resources.

The reception included recognition of the department of the year, employees’ years of service and awards to classified employees.  Department of the year honors went to the Early Childhood Studies program.  Classified employee achievement awards recognize employees whose suggestions, services or accomplishments resulted in improvements for the college.  This year’s winners were Mary Girty; Armando Gonzalez-Diaz, kinesiology/recreation/athletics department; and Matt Meddings, lead groundskeeper, Lompoc Valley Center.

The 2013 Trade Show Planning is well under way and now is the time for you to get ready too!

Take advantage of the biggest networking opportunity of the year!!
There is even a FREE seminar on Wednesday, May 23 to give you tips on how to get ready for it and we will be giving away a few FREE BOOTHS at this event. The seminar will be held at 510 Event Center at noon and includes free lunch. Register by contacting Marcy at marcy@santamaria.com or call her at (805) 925-2403 x 816.

Here is some more information on the Business Trade Show

This year’s show  - which will be our 28th Annual Business Trade Show – will take place on Thursday, June 20th at the Santa Maria Fairpark and has been deemed the  Time Travel Trade Show

The theme aims to give attendees the experience of being transported through time by giving exhibitors the opportunity to choose their favorite era or decade to choose from for their decor – whether it be past, present or future.

Spaces are first-come, first-served and they are already being snagged up so if you have a business or organization to promote, grab yours while it lasts! (Non-Profit rates available!)

This event is THE BIGGEST of its kind between San Francisco and Los Angeles! We fill both the Park Plaza and Convention Center building with booths – each is 10′ x 10′ and comes with full skirting, table, chairs and access to electricity. Outdoor spaces also available.  The event will have a business-to-business only hour from 3-4:30 where exhibitors and their invited guests only (passes will be distributed) can attend. Following that, the show will be open to the public from 4:30-7. Guests can then be admitted for free with a business card or for $2 without.

Every year this event becomes bigger, better and more successful! So don’t miss out! Get in your pod, capsule, booth or portal and get ready to us for the biggest networking event of the year!

Online registration page & booth maps can be found here: http://santamariavalleychamber.chambermaster.com/events/details/business-trade-show-06-20-2013-60

Direct any questions to Marcy Lariz, events coordinator, at marcy@santamaria.com or by calling (805) 925-2403 x816

We Help You Legal, LLC  hosted a Ribbon Cutting and Grand Opening Celebration on Wednesday, May 8^th 2013 from 4pm to 6pm At 221 Town Center West, Santa Maria

Carl and Cristina Knoll of “We Help You Legal” are excited to announce the opening of their Santa Maria Location. “I want to meet and serve the customer at their convenience,” states business owner Carl Knoll. Carl is a Registered Legal Document Assistant with over twenty years of experience. The legal document preparation business based in Paso Robles has served clients who traveled from as far as Santa Maria, Orcutt and Lompoc. “We realized that to serve our clients better we had to grow, expand and open more store locations,” states Carl.

We Help You Legal, LLC is a “self-help” legal Document assistance company that provides document preparation assistance without the high cost of an attorney. Many legal procedures are form, requiring documents to be filled out and filed with the Court.

Services Include:

Living Trusts, Wills, Corporations/LLC, Divorce, Bankruptcy, Name Change, Adoptions, Modifications, Guardianship, Probate, Unlawful Detainers, Deeds, and Notary.

www.wehelpyoulegal.com

Tamara Richardson

Regional Manager

Phone 805-928-8222

tamara@wehelpyoulegal.com

A Celebration of Art, Drama and Poetry will be presented by Youani Arts on Saturday, May 18th at Cafe Noir, 1555 South Broadway in Santa Maria from 1 PM- 2:30 PM.
An original Midrash (Story about a bible story) “Adam and Eve and the Persimmon Tree”, written by Michael Corob will be performed in reader’s theater. In this short play, Adam and Eve are invited back into the Garden of Eden. They are shown a persimmon tree, and are told to wait until the fruit is ripe before enjoying it. Through trial and error, then learn to look beyond appearances to appreciate inner beauty.

Michael Corob will demonstrate sublimation printing and will exhibit his joyful watercolor paintings. Original poetry written by BJ Riley and other local poets will be read.  BJ Riley says this about her poetry: “If I touch you with a poem, no matter in what way, then I have succeeded, personally and artistically.  If we provoke thought, insight even or show different points of view, this then is work worthwhile”  BJ has written several books of poetry, including, Love Lost Found, and Body Felt, Body Beautiful,.

There is no cost to attend, but seating is limited, so reservations are requested by contacting Michael at 264-6722 or e-mailing youani@aol.com.  Poets wishing to read should also contact Michael in advance.

In April, the school district held its annual golf tournament to raise money to donate to the D.A.R.E. Program. The tournament, held at Cypress Ridge Golf Course, raised nearly $15,000 to help fund the D.A.R.E. program which teaches children to resist drugs, alcohol and violence. The tournament would not be successful without the support of many, many sponsors and donors. The major sponsor was Sysco, and the tournament committee is grateful for Sysco’s generous support. Other tournament sponsors to be thanked include: Brakebush Chicken, Worker’s Compensation Administrators, Smucker’s, Piazza Pizza, Furniture Medic by Ron Steller, Hitching Post, Industrial Truck Bodies, Alpine Refrigeration, All About Produce, The Fisher Group, Vernon Edwards Constructors, Arey Jones, Guardian Life Insurance, Food 4 Kids, Fargen Surveys, Richandre Inc., Kleanerette Cleaners, The Standard, Live Oak Management, Tim Cary & Associates, J. Lord Food Sales, Santa Maria Youth and Family Center, Superior Foods, Phillips Metsch Sweeney Moore Architects, Office Depot, Schwan’s, Student Transportation of America, Stifel Nicolaus, Home Motors, Ng & Ng, Flir, State Farm-Rabska Insurance, and Producer’s – Lintner & Sons.

A big thank you also goes to the many businesses and people who donated raffle prizes for the golf tournament: Hitching Post, Office Depot, Harrah’s in Laughlin, Roger Dunn Golf Shop, Home Motors, Mallard Lake Ranch, Kamran & Company, Aramark, Julie Fish, Papa John’s Pizza, Sunset Ridge Golf Center, Las Vegas Marriott Grand Resort donated by Bob and Rebecca Herrick, Coca-Cola, Pepsico Food Service, F. McLintock’s Restaurant, Black Lake Golf Course, Cypress Ridge Golf Course, Boomers, Cottonwood Canyon Winery, Producer’s Dairy, Dr. Phil, General Mills, Santa Barbara Zoo, Gold Coast Limos, Rancho Maria Golf Course, Monarch Dunes Golf Course, Sky Blue, Domino’s Pizza, Santa Barbara Botanic Gardens, Rancho Bowl, Passion Restaurant, Trader Joe’s, Carl’s Muffler Shop, Apio, Sea World, Miracle Springs Resort and Spa, Great American Melodrama, Sawyer & Company, Big 5, Discovery Museum, The Nail Affair, Marshallia Ranch Golf Course, Zada Salon and Spa, Bryon’s Winery, PCPA Theaterfest, Old Town Market, Panera Bread, and Costco.

Ontiveros School would like to thank Jose Solis (DJ Sol) for providing music for the school-wide Jog-a-Thon, Gilbert Tello at HomeTown Buffet for providing oranges for the Jog-a-Thon, and Ontiveros School parents for providing water for the fundraising event. The school also thanks Gerry Starowicz, a teacher and cheerleading coach from Pioneer Valley High School, for bringing the Panther cheerleading squad to Ontiveros to introduce April’s Life Skill lesson, Team Spirit.

Scholarships ranging in amounts up to $10,000 each will be awarded to students from all parts of the Central Coast, from the Santa Ynez and Lompoc valleys to Atascadero.

More than 750 students, relatives, friends, donors and community members will attend the 44^th annual event at the Allan Hancock College Joe White Memorial Gymnasium.

This year’s keynote speaker is Allan Hancock College alumna Lucerito Salgado.  Salgado graduated from Allan Hancock College in 2009 with degrees in liberal arts and transfer studies and received the prestigious Marian Hancock Scholarship.

She continued her education at Fresno State University, graduating summa cum laude in May 2012 with a bachelor of arts degree in mass communication and journalism with options in broadcast journalism and public relations and a minor in Spanish, along with a Co-Curricular Leadership Certificate.  She was selected as the Outstanding Undergraduate Mass Communication and Journalism Department Student and the Undergraduate Dean’s Medalist for the College of Arts and Humanities.

In addition, she is the founder of the ¡Motivate! Conference and movement, which motivates and inspires Latino students to continue their education.

Salgado currently works for Central Coast Future Leaders, a grassroots organization dedicated to the youth of the Central Cost.  She plans to pursue both a master’s and a doctoral degree.

The program begins at 6 p.m.  Contact the foundation at 925-2004 for more information.

Join us at our Santa Maria tasting room (3940 Dominion Rd.) on Sunday May 19^th from 11-4 for Wine & Art at the Caves.  Enjoy award winning wines while relaxing and browsing works of art by local artists.  Appetizers and wine will be available for purchase.  Live music will be provided by singer/song writer Laura Vios.  Featured wines will be from both Red Carpet Winery and Cottonwood Canyon Winery.  If you have any questions about this event please contact Aimee Ritz at 805-478-8323.

• June 5 - Marian Regional Medical Center Education Room D 5:00-8:30 pm
• August 12 - Arroyo Grande Community Hospital Annex 5:00-8:30 pm
• October 14 - French Hospital Medical Center Auditorium 5:00-9:30 pm
• December 4 - Marian Regional Medical Center Education Room D 5:00-8:30 pm

The Heartsaver class trains community members to use the AHA’s Chain of Survival, which includes adult, child and infant CPR, and to use an automated external defibrillator (AED).  Participants will also learn what to do for choking in adults, children and infants. A community American Heart Association CPR Card (Non-Healthcare Provider) will be issued to each participant upon completion of the course.

Classes are limited to 24 participants at MRMC, 12 participants at AGCH and 16 at FHMC. Register online at www.marianmedicalcenter.org

Questions? Call 739-3585.

The New Venture Laboratory class is a way to help encourage entrepreneurship on the Central Coast.  Students receive assistance with market research, advertising, creating prototypes of their product and finally, applying for a provisional patent.  At the end of the 16-week class students present their business plans in front of a panel of judges to compete for the grand prize at the New Venture Challenge culminating event.

“It’s nothing like any class you’ve ever taken,” said Anne Cremarosa, director, Small Business Entrepreneurship Center at Hancock.  “You’re graded, but the ultimate grade is the $1,000 prize waiting for you.”

The New Venture Challenge is sponsored by the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Small Business Entrepreneurship Center.  The event includes dinner and a speech by keynote speaker Bob Dumouchel, CEO of Systems and Marketing Solutions and president of the Central Coast Software & Technology Association, Inc. (Softec).

“Small businesses in Santa Maria employ 70 percent of the city’s workforce so it makes sense to provide every opportunity for new and existing businesses to develop and grow,” said Dave Cross, director of the Economic Development Commission at the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Tickets to the event cost $25 or $10 for students.  An iPad raffle will be held during the New Venture Challenge, with proceeds going to the Small Business Entrepreneurship Center.  For more information, visit www.santamariaedc.com, call (805) 925-2403 ext. 817 or email sbec@hancockcollege.edu.