Bruce Coleman, economic director for the City of Murrieta, talks with James Duggan of The Truax Group, a commercial development company. (Chris Jennewein/SWRNN)
Local business leaders gathered Wednesday for the second annual Southwest California Business Summit to pitch their products and services and learn about some of the latest ideas in marketing, human resources and technology.
Despite the unseasonal rain that briefly covered tables and displays, 40 businesses, cities and government agencies were exhibiting along the patios and in the courtyard of the South Coast Winery in Temecula.
Morris Myers, executive director of the Economic Development Corporation of Southwest California, said 325 people had registered by mid morning. That was down 10 or 15 percent because of the rain, he said, but “people got a little more one on one.”
Many were pitching products and services to city governments and school districts in the winery’s barrel room.
“For 50 bucks you can get in front of all five cities and the county for their procurement,” Myers said.
Hope Suhr with California Manufacturing Technology Consulting explained that manufacturing businesses can improve their performance by following the “Five S” program: sort, simplify, systematically clean, standardize and sustain.
“It’s an excellent way to impact your bottom line,” she said.
Several presenters discussed the impact of social media on business practices. Vikita Poindexter advised businesses not to rely on Facebook for background checks of potential employees. Traditional references are necessary to avoid possible discrimination, she said.
“You really want to be careful in using these social media sites solely as a reference check,” said Poindexter, whose Poindexter Consulting Group assists businesses with human resources tasks.
Ryan Andrews, owner of the Integrity business and consumer journal, left attendees with the message that all businesses must focus on people. “It’s about people and you have to understand grace,” he said.
Chris Jennewein is president of U.S. Local News Network, the publisher of SWRNN.com and similar Web sites in San Diego and Orange County.
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