Business of the Month: InControl Electric

Business of the Month: InControl Electric

Today I got the pleasure of interviewing one of our frequently used vendors for electrical work, Rico Juarez owner of InControl Electric. He was nice enough to let me come to one of his job sites to show me a little more of the behind the scenes of what he and his crew do on the job. This current job is new construction that is about 5,000 sq ft ocean view home in Santa Barbara where they are doing the electrical, audio and visual installation. 

What is really amazing about Rico is he doesn’t view himself as the “boss” though he is the owner of his company. He likes having his crew “tight knit like a family” in his words, which we can appreciate because Kat and I have become close as well, and consider each other family. Having the blessing of that in a work environment is hard to find and sustain. Read more about Rico and his business: 

How long has InControl Electric been in business?

4 years

How did you get into this line of work? How did this start?

No, I actually worked GrayBar which is an electrical whole sale house and got into it from there. Started selling materials and eventually started doing the electrician work.

How long have you been in the industry in total?

About 15 years now

How many guys are on your crew?

6 guys 

You do more than just electrical, as you were showing me here. What other services do you offer?

Electrical, audio, video, and security systems.

What areas do you service?
LA County, Ventura County, Santa Barbara County out to Santa Maria.

Wow!

What do you think makes you stand out from your competitors?

You know, it’s not really a competitive thing to us, everyone is pretty much blessed with work. We work as a team. I think also, honesty, 

Disclaimer * we love recommending Rico and his team for our clients because they are communicative and professional and good at what they do.

What’s the best part of your job? What do you love most about it.

Everything, getting up every day and having a job to go to and lay out the guys and answering all the questions. I am doing work that I am confident in.

If there is something we can’t handle we are honest and we tell the client straight forward. 

What do you think is the hardest part of your job?

Trying to be at ten different places at one time. :) 

Do you guys service commercial and residential clients?

Yes. Mostly residential, commercial is sometimes too massive where I would refer it out to another electrician I know personally.

What jobs do you take the most pride in?

We take pride in everything we do whether it is a service call or something like this where it’s a 5,000 sf new construction project. We don’t take short cuts. We stay and get it done right.

It seems it helps a lot too that you have been doing it for so long you know exactly what needs to be done and what needs to happen for city requirements etc.

That is exactly right.

You can hire Rico and his crew at InControl Electric for all of your electrical needs at : 805-331-9463

Business of the Month: Time to Shine

Business of the Month: Time to Shine Window Washing

Tomas Castelo- Owner of Time to Shine Window Washing

This month I sat down with Tomas Castelo, owner of Time to Shine. Time to Shine offers window cleaning, power washing and more. They keep homes and businesses shining and looking their absolute best. Tomas and his team were there after the mudslide to get the Montecito Inn looking great for their grand re-opening.

Read more about Tomas and his amazing team:

How long has Time to Shine been in business?
In 10 days it will be 11 years

How did you get into the industry?
I got into this business through another business. I owned a clothing company and I needed something to generate a little bit of revenue. I had a friend who had a window washing business and he kind of showed me the ropes. I went down to Home Depot, picked up a bucket and a squeegee and started knocking on doors. It’s pretty cool, we’re very lucky.

Awesome! I noticed you have a crew, so you have grown since then! How many people are on your crew! 
5. I have 1 guy that works for me in Ventura, 2 part time guys in Santa Barbara, and 3 full time guys here in Santa Barbara. 
 

That leads me to my next question which is what areas do you service?
From Ventura to Goleta.

What do you think makes you stand out from your competitors?
I believe it is our service. I try to pride myself on paying attention to detail and listening to customer’s needs. We try to tailor our services to give our clients exactly what they are looking for. 

What do you love most about what you do?
The job satisfaction of doing a great job as a perfectionist. I have a great functioning case of OCD. It doesn’t stop me from living my life but it certainly keeps me up if I say forgot a window, or didn’t do a good job. 

So you do commercial and residential businesses, correct?
Yes

Is it mostly commercial or residential customers you are servicing right now?
It’s about 40 % commercial. 

How does someone hire Time to Shine?
People can find us on Yelp! or call us directly. Our business is largely word of mouth.

We do a lot of work here in Santa Barbara. We were lucky enough to get hired to clean the Montecito Inn after the fires and mudslide. We did the whole hotel, we pressure washed the entire building and cleaned all the windows, did the final clean up before their grand re opening. 

Tomas and his family

That is amazing! So you do more than just window cleaning?
Yes, we do pressure washing, we can repair and fabricate screens, we do gutter cleaning and we can do some exterior house painting. I have a crew of three guys that have been working with me that I subcontracted out and together we have painted 12 homes so far. 

You can hire Tomas and his team by calling (805) 965-6777

Click here to see Time to Shine on Yelp!

Business of the Month: CI Fiduciary Group- Courtney De Soto

BUSINESS OF THE MONTH: CI FIDUCIARY GROUP-   COURTNEY DE SOTO

Tell us about your company and what services you offer.  
It’s fun to explain because not everyone knows what a fiduciary is, let alone how to spell it! I describe it as an umbrella term which encompasses various positions of trust and legal authority, including trustee, executer of a person’s will, Court-appointed administrator of a person’s estate, and Court-appointed conservator of a person and/or his or her estate. I step in and manage people’s medical, financial, legal, and other affairs by acting as a liaison between him or her and involved family and friends, and the various professionals providing medical treatment, day-to-day care, financial guidance, legal counsel, etc., when they are no longer able to manage these things for themselves. It’s a largely a decision-making role that may need to be filled where a person is mentally or physically incapacitated, or has died, and there’s a need for objective and efficient oversight and action on his or her behalf. Generally, my clients are older and have some form of dementia or Alzheimer’s, though occasionally they are younger people with mental illness, cognitive impairment and/or brain injury.

That’s amazing it’s probably good too if it’s a large family with a lot of different personalities in different situations, to have you there as a third party. 
I handle a lot of cases where family dynamics are highly complex and contentious, and, oftentimes, that is the very reason a neutral, private professional like myself becomes necessary. I manage a lot of different personalities, and, though I can’t make everyone happy, I can act in the best interest of the incapacitated person from a well-informed and objective perspective.

What brought you into what you are doing now and how long have you been in the industry?
I have been working as a private professional fiduciary for five years, and I own Channel Islands Fiduciary Group. I previously worked as a Court Investigator for the probate judge here in Santa Barbara. In that capacity, I investigated people like me who had been appointed by the Court to manage the affairs of incapacitated, and often also elderly, people. I made home visits to oversee the fiduciaries’ work and ensure the conservatees’ well-being. I liked getting out there and checking in on these people - they are vulnerable and I think they are too often forgotten in our society. I enjoyed seeing them, but, legally, visits were only required about once a year. I wanted to get more involved, so I learned what the fiduciaries did by watching and talking with them. With the number of seniors growing exponentially, I recognized the need for more fiduciaries (there are only about six fiduciaries in town currently), and the match between that need and my interest, education and training. Before going out on my own, I networked with attorneys in the community because I knew that in order to be successful in this business, they would have to know and trust me, as referrals are mostly word-of-mouth, and it’s difficult to market a service that many people don’t know exists or fully understand.

I think it’s genius. I ran into this situation where it was a complicated family situation and I felt like there wasn’t really an advocate for the parents. Which was a hard position for me to be in I wish I would have known then about your services. 
So many people tell me that, and it’s so true, but some people say “we don’t have that kind of family drama, so we wouldn’t need someone like you”. As unlikely as conflict and disagreement may seem, the reality is that these situations can be highly stressful and emotional, and appointing a neutral professional can help agreeable families stay that way! Also, while it may seem like a great honor to be appointed, it is actually a highly demanding job with a steep learning curve, and most people don’t have a lot of time and energy for responsibilities beyond their own jobs, families, etc. It gets even more complicated when responsible parties live out of the area and are unfamiliar with the laws, procedures, etc. It’s much more efficient for families to use someone like me who does this work on a regular basis and has established relationships with qualified, local professionals and vendors, and it can keep families united and focused on the well-being of their loved ones.

I feel like everyone has a story, whether its them or someone they know has an experience where maybe someone’s passed away and it rips the family apart. Maybe the estate planning wasn’t crystal clear or there’s a family member who changed it at the last minute or... I just feel like there’s horror stories. 

What do you love most about your job? 
This may sound silly, but I love my clients. I love checking in on them, especially if they spend a lot of time alone and bored. Some of them don’t remember who I am, but some do, and they are almost always very appreciative when they do. I appreciate them and I like getting to know them and helping them feel like they’re protected. I enjoy doing everything we do for them, and I have peace of mind knowing their money is safe and no one is taking advantage of them. Sometimes I see my clients more often than their own families do! 

What makes you stand out from other fiduciaries?
I think there are a few reasons: 1. I have considerable experience, and a lot of working years ahead of me, so I am neither too green nor too near retirement. Often, I am close in age to my clients’ children, and this can be advantageous in that I will likely outlive my clients and therefore be able to carry out their wishes after they’ve passed. 2. I think my background in the legal and social spheres helps me navigate difficult family dynamics. 3. Fiduciaries have to have thick skins because they have to make significant, life-altering decisions, and not everyone will agree with all of them all of the time. A fiduciary can’t be indecisive. I have 47 unique client cases right now and there are so many decisions that have to be made on a daily basis that there is little time for indecision or in efficiency.

Business of the Month: Drew Maley

BUSINESS OF THE MONTH:
DREW MALEY, FAMILY LAW ATTORNEY

Kat and Drew met for a morning coffee in the Fernald Conference room which boasts local history of the founder of the firm dating back to 1852. The long existing firm, which has been serving Santa Barbara for 166 years, brought Drew on as their Family Law Division Attorney 6 years ago. This is their interview:

How long have you been practicing law?
I have been practicing since 2013, so I am in my 6th year of practice.

How long have you been at Price, Postel & Parma?
I lived in Santa Barbara before I became a lawyer and about 3 and half years ago I had the opportunity to come back to Santa Barbara and start a family law practice at Price, Postel & Parma. I have been developing the practice from scratch since then.

Charles Fernald via PPPLAW.COM

What is the story behind Price, Postel & Parma? 
This firm is well established in the community dating back to 1852; the longest lasting law firm west of the Mississippi. We’re doing this interview in the Fernald Conference Room which is named after Charles Fernald, who was the founder of the firm back in 1852. He was also the first judge in the County. The firm is what you would call full service, we have a lot of different practice areas ranging from estate planning, to real estate, to litigation, and so on. But for the 6 years prior to my joining the firm in 2015, PPP did not have a family law practice. They were keen on re-growing the practice, as they kept receiving inquiries from their clients asking for referrals. However, they were unsure whether they wanted to grow the practice in-house from scratch or hire somebody local to bring in their book of business. With the latter option, you run the risk of not having the new practice gel with the culture of the firm and so the firm had been reluctant to pull the trigger. Ultimately, the firm decided that they wanted somebody who was experienced and entrepreneurial enough to take on the challenge of growing a family law practice from scratch, while still being fresh enough to become a natural part of the firm culture. All of this just happened to be around the time that I was wanting to come back to Santa Barbara and, once I was introduced to the firm, it was clear that it was serendipity and I was the guy to grow the family law practice for PPP. It also checked all of my boxes; an entrepreneurial opportunity but with the support and backing of a well-established firm. It’s been a great fit so far.

What made you want to get into practicing law?
I had worked here in town for a tech company for several years between college and law school and I was fortunate to work with a lot of really great people, but I ultimately found myself feeling unsatisfied with the work I was doing. After some soul-searching, I realized I want to have a career where I am continually challenged, and where I can work with people I can learn from. I also wanted to feel like I was applying my time in a worthwhile way. I was in my mid-20s and so I spent some time traveling the world and trying to decide where to go next with my career that would satisfy all of those things. After a jaunt in New Zealand and some backpacking through Eastern Europe—during which time I was strictly pondering the direction of my life, of course, and not having any fun whatsoever, I settled on law school. Law school had always been in the back of mind, and so I made the decision to attend Northwestern and I haven’t looked back since. 

What do you love most about your job?
What I find the most rewarding about my job is being able to help people through a difficult time.  While I am practiced at and enjoy negotiating premarital and other agreements, a large part of my practice is centered on litigation matters. Essentially, marital dissolutions or contested child custody cases, and so on. What my clients are going through is probably one of the most difficult and consequential times of their lives. Let’s face it—nobody gets married expecting a divorce; in almost all cases it is unexpected. Maybe someone sees it coming, but this was never part of the plan, and, in every case, it is a major life-disrupting event. So, what I do is very important personally to my clients, which is a lot of responsibility and pressure. However, if I can apply my skills in a way that makes those difficult experiences easier for my clients, then I feel like I’ve contributed in a worthwhile way and that I am, frankly, doing something good with my legal degree. Divorce lawyers get a bad rap, and don’t get me wrong, there are a lot of bad ones out there who enjoy the fight (and running up your bill with it), but there’s also a tremendous amount of good you can do in my field. Your work, as a family law attorney, will impact your clients’ lives in profound ways and if you can help them navigate their matters in a way that minimizes their suffering and gets them to a resolution they can live with , you are truly doing good.

I also enjoy the opportunity that practicing law, and family law, in particular, gives me to dive deep and gain some mastery at the craft. I recently passed the Certified Family Law Specialists Exam and now I am working on the long and arduous requirements to become a CFLS. Yet another way I can bring to bear the best for my clients. 

For layman out there, what exactly ‘family law’ encompass? Is it all divorce and custody, or is there more?
Family law is actually a fairly broad area of the law. The bulk of the practice tends to be what you would think of; cases for marital dissolution (divorce), child support, spousal support, or child custody matters. But it could include adoptions, paternity or parentage actions, and a wide range of contractual work, like pre- and post-nuptial agreements. I have had clients consult with me pre-filing (e.g., before filing for divorce) to ask my help in determining if they want to get divorced in the first place. I’ve taken clients through the dissolution process all the way from start to end. But, it’s also very common for me to get calls from people who are somewhere in the middle of the process; they have been battling for years and want new counsel, or they have already been through most of the process, received their judgements and just need help closing it out. I have experience working on any and all of those types of matters. The other interesting thing about family law is that it touches on so many other areas of the law and so I have to be conversational in a lot of them: bankruptcy, tax law, real estate transactions, estate planning, trusts… Oftentimes, it’s my job to work with other experts and counsel as well to ensure that the client is protected—so that a dissolution or premarital agreement doesn’t conflict with a will or trust document, or create some unfortunate tax consequences, for example. So, my day-to-day work often extends to much a broader prospective than just family law. 

Can you share any interesting stories with us?
I have been involved in a handful of cases, maybe half a dozen, where, by the time I got involved, the case had already been pending for seven or eight years. In a lot of these cases nothing has even been accomplished during that time except fighting and spending a lot of money on lawyers. That is something that tends to surprise a lot of people. That proceedings can go on that long. How can it really take years to get divorced? But it can; though it certainly doesn’t have to. Oftentimes, the parties are highly emotional and a bit irrational, and certainly unwilling to compromise. But, the reality is, the lawyers are almost always, at least partially at fault, when a case to goes on that long. You can always help your client see that a given path might lead to a more contentious, expensive, and drawn out process, and provide them with alternatives. I think the longest dissolution proceeding I’ve ever seen was almost ten years. I got involved  and resolved it as quickly as I could for my poor client. Of course, with attorney-client privilege, that’s about as much detail as I can divulge with the stories. 

What do you say is the quality you pride yourself most on? 
One thing that distinguishes me is the level of focus that I give to each of my clients. Personally, I think it is required to successfully navigate these often very complex family law matters. To apply the law correctly, you need to know your client and you need to know the facts. I am able to apply a professional and rational lens to the facts for clients, even when they can’t see it that way for themselves. I have been down this road many times before and I know what twists and turns might be out there. I am able to help my clients stay on the path to get to where they want to be.  Usually where they want to be is done with their legal matter and feeling as though they have been treated fairly by the judicial system. That is not necessarily the case with a lot of attorneys. I hear a lot of stories about people being unhappy with their experience because of the quality of their attorney, or because they simply haven’t heard from their attorney for several days or weeks. I pride myself in being responsive and responsible to my clients; assuring them I am on track and keeping them on track with what we have to do in order to accomplish their goals.

Business of the Month: Alana Clumeck

Artist, Entrepreneur and Mother of Two - Alana Clumeck   Photo by Brittany Taylor Photography www.brittanytaylorphoto.com  

Business of the Month: Alana Clumeck

Inspired by our recent trip to the Santa Ynez Valley we have a new Business of the Month! We were honored to interview our favorite artist a Mother of 2 and entrepreneur: Alana Clumeck. Her story is truly inspirational and her art is one of a kind. The minute you see her work you will always know when you see an Alana Clumeck. 

 

How long have you been painting? 

Write here…

I began painting 4 years ago when pregnant with my second child. I never expected ‘artist’ to be my career path, yet I look back at the past 4 years and I pinch myself at how life has unfolded. While pregnant with my son, River, I suffered from antenatal depression. From somewhere deep within I had an overbearing desire to be creative. So I purchased some art supplies, and once I started, I couldn’t stop. It became my therapy, time stood still, and I’d lose myself in my paintings for hours on end. Once River arrived, painting took on a different therapeutic role as my ‘mommy time’ away from the busy life of raising 2 young children.

Your paintings are all so full of life and color, where does your inspiration come from?

My inspiration definitely comes from things of "God made" beauty. I know that is broad, however when I look at nature, landscapes, animals, even humans... I am usually planning (in my head) how I can portray that beautiful thing in a delicate way on the canvas. 

What medium or mediums do you use? What would you consider your style of painting?

Typically I paint acrylic on canvas, I enjoy the way the paint mixes easily on the canvas and it is quick to dry. I also like to dabble in oil and water color. Since I am completely self taught I am always looking for other mediums to try and master. I would say my style of painting is contemporary realism... I like to paint my subjects to look realistic but include some sort of twist to the painting. 

 Brittany Taylor Photography www.brittanytaylorphoto.com   

What is your creative process like?

Most of the time an idea might pop into my head and I will put it into the queue with my other ideas until i find the time to get to it. I work from photographs, so, while I am preparing to "birth" my idea, I am usually snapping photographs and collecting a pile of images to use as reference for my paintings. I have come to realize (after many failed paintings) that every good painting must begin with a good plan. Once I have planned out my idea and drawn out the painting on the canvas I start to paint it... I rarely deviate from the idea that I had concocted in my head.  

Do you paint in a studio or outdoor more often?

Since I am "mom" first, and then artist, I usually paint from my home studio so I can keep an eye of the kids as they play. This can be challenging at times to keep my creative tangent focused on my painting. However, I feel wonderfully blessed that I am able to work from home whilst juggling motherhood. On the rare occasion, (usually when the kids are at school) I am able to paint en plein air, and I find that to be a real refreshing treat!

What are your favorite subjects to paint?

Its so hard to pin point my favorite subject, as there is a certain amount of satisfaction gained from painting all subjects. That being said I am really enjoying my wallpaper series that I am currently working on. This is a mash-up of masculine meets feminine ( see my painting "wonder" as an example), this way I can pick all my favorite subjects and put them into one painting. 

Artist, Entrepreneur and Mother of Two - Alana Clumeck   Photo by Brittany Taylor Photography www.brittanytaylorphoto.com  

Living in the Santa Ynez valley, do you pull inspiration from your surroundings?

Yes, absolutely. I definitely draw inspiration from my country roots and the beautiful Santa Ynez Valley. Having grown up in rural Western Australia, wildlife, nature and the outdoors bring a certain amount of nostalgia to me. I love the simple beauty of what God has created and I try to portray it in colorful and vibrant ways, and there is no shortage of that type inspiration in the Santa Ynez Valley.

Do you do custom paintings?

I do! I really enjoy working with my clients to see their vision realized on the canvas. I currently have a 6 deep waiting list, so if you have something in mind, don't wait to get your name on the list. 

What do you love most about what you do?

I grew up in an artist family; my parents owned a pottery for 20 years, which was attached to our house, so there was never a moment in my childhood where they weren’t throwing pots, decorating, or working on other artistic ventures. My mother also painted beautiful, vibrant, and abstract oil paintings. I have memories of her being lost in her paintings for days on end, and now I can relate! I was born to be a maker / creator, and what I love most about being an artist is living out a career that I was born to do. I feel extremely blessed! And... I am not going to lie, my kids talk A LOT, painting allows my brain to be quiet for hours on end, which gives this momma the mental downtime that I need!

To see more of Alana's work or purchase or request your own (recommended!)  go to:

www.alanaclumeck.com

instagram / facebook : @alanaclumeckart

email: info@alanaclumeck.com

 Photo credit: Brittany Taylor Photography www.brittanytaylorphoto.com  

Berkshire Hathaway Innovation 2018

Berkshire Hathaway Innovation 2018

Had a wonderful time at the Berkshire Hathaway Innovation 2018! Innovation is Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Sales annual convention, this year it was held in picturesque downtown San Antonio, Texas, along the banks of the alluring River Walk, the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center hosts the top companies in the world and their more than 500,000 sq. ft. facility showcases modern art, innovative design and cutting-edge technology.

We headed to Freeman Coliseum for a true Texas experience – for Rock On Rodeo! It was an evening of unbridled fun featuring exciting rodeo, great music and yummy southern food.

Grammy-winning country artists Little Big Town also performed after the Rock On Rodeo! 

To top it off our office here in Santa Barbara/Montecito was awarded 2nd office in the nation!  

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Business of the Month: Richie's Barber Shop

Business of the Month: Richie's Barber Shop

Richie's Barber Shop

March business of the Month we are with Richie Ramirez owner of Richie’s Barber Shop on Coast Village Road in Montecito. Richie has made major changes to the definition of what a barber shop should be. He's not only the owner but he is a long time barber himself and the identity of the brand that is Richie's. He is quoted by the Santa Barbara Young Professionals as "someone who is involved in giving back to our community and helping other small local businesses thrive." He was one of many businesses during the recent mudslide that was effected, but had the optimism and strong support from clientele and their following to get through that rough time. Here is our interview with him:

How long have you open?
The shop has been open for 7 1/2 years.

How did Richie’s come to be, what was your initial reason for opening Richie’s Barber Shop?
The whole thing was that I wanted my own business, and where I was cutting at before I felt like it wasn’t….I wanted to do something bigger. I felt like where I was at was kind of stagnant. I felt like the people there were never going to grow. So, in order for me to build Richie’s Barber Shop I had to go off on my own and start it. 

There was a level of service you wanted to provide your customers that you felt wasn’t at the previous barber shops you have worked at, which leads me to my next question, what sets Richie’s apart from other barber shops?
Everything. The service, the haircuts, everything we provide is full service. Everything from the music that we play, down to what is on the television is all thought out. I have been doing this for 20 years now and I worked at shops before this and saw what could have been better, and what could be improved on so I took all of that and I built this. ( Richie’s ) 

That’s great! Have you always been at this location on Coast Village Road?
Yes.

Master Barber Richie Ramirez

What do you love most about owning this business? 
I like the sense of community. You make so many friends, and coming into work every day it’s not like coming to work. You get to hang out, I am watching sports on the TV, cutting my buddies hair, I have got a great team. I built this for that reason. I can come to work every day and be happy, and the other people enjoy it so it’s very rewarding. Every day it’s like I am hosting a super bowl party. 

I know you are really involved in the community, so tell us more about some organizations or things you are involved in that you enjoy giving back to.
We get involved in a little bit of everything. From Toys for Tots to the Teddy Bear Foundation, and we do as much as we can. One of the girls who works from me coordinates that stuff for us. 

Accepting the Young Professional of the Year Award 

So I also know you recently received the Young Professional of the Year Award, how was that?
I wasn’t expecting it. There was a lot of stiff competition, I figured there was no way I would win so when I received it I was really excited. I want to use it as a platform for small businesses. 

Well it’s well deserved, you are more than barber shop it sounds like. 
Richie’s is more than just a barbershop, it’s a brand. 

How long have you been involved in young professionals?
2 years.

Richie with Jamie Slone Wines 

What was it like for you as a small business during the recent natural disasters? 
It was rough, it was a hard spot. But we did have so many people who came to help us like our clients and we opened a pop-up shop so we were still able to take care of our clients. We have so many faithful and loyal clients that they made that time way easier. 

That’s fantastic, where was your pop-up shop?
We did one at Jamie Slone Wines on Anacapa, it was a perfect location, we were there for a week and were able to tend to a lot of our clients. 

Visit Richie's Barber Shop next to the new Juice Ranch on Coast Village Road or online at www.richiesbarbershopsb.com / instagram @richiesbarbershop / facebook.com/richiesbarbershop805

SOLD! OVER LISTING PRICE • 536 PINTURA DRIVE

3  🛏   2  🛁  🗝 PRIVATE ACCESS TO BLUEBERRY HILL PARK

 It was an honor to represent our wonderful clients on the sale of their beautifully remodeled Goleta home.
+ Exceptional location backing up to Blueberry Hill Greenbelt
+ Carrara Marble Counters
+ Custom Cabinetry
+ Stainless Appliances
+ Open Floor Plan
+ Abundant Natural Light
+ Built-in Speakers
+ Brand New Professionally Landscaped Yard
+ New Driveway
+ Avocado Tree
+ MUCH MORE


OFFERED AT $1,015,000
SOLD FOR $1,023,500

If you have anyone looking to relocate to any of our beautiful neighborhoods please keep us in mind. Your referrals are our priority.

Business of the Month: Central Coast Brush Clearing and Consulting

So Chris I know you have a background in the fire fighting industry, tell us how this idea came about?

I began my fire career in 2009 at the Allan Hancock Fire Academy. Upon graduation I spent my first two seasons on Crew 7, a hand-crew based out of the Santa Lucia District Ranger’s Office in Santa Maria. I’ve spend my six season career with the US Forest Service on crews, engines and a helicopter fighting fire across the western United States. 

There are Federal, State, County and City agencies. USFS is federal, CalFire is state, Santa Barbara County is county and Santa Barbara City is city (municipal). The main difference is that the USFS is primarily concerned with Wildland Fire where as CalFire, County and City are all risk meaning they respond to fire, medical, car accidents, hazmat, etc.

I love the thrill and excitement of fighting fire. However, as a career path I’d like to dedicate my time to various entrepreneurial endeavors. I want to carve out my own niche and start my own business that I feel brings much needed attention and value to fire prevention.  I’m currently involved with the Wildland Residents Association (NOTE: https://www.wildlandresidents.org - great link to information plus lots of radio shows to tune into w/good local info.) and the San Marcos Pass Volunteer Fire Department teaching fire behavior, fuels, defensible space and other topics I’m trained in.

Having been on numerous fires throughout the state I’ve noticed a lack in Defensible Space and began to wonder why this is an issue. I researched educational material and found plenty. Every fire department I’ve looked at has good information and will even assess properties for free if requested. My next step was to figure out how to get the work gets done. I contacted local tree services companies and asked about defensible space as if I were a homeowner. I quickly realized that although they provide and advertise Defensible Space Clearing on their websites, many were not able to convince me they understood fire behavior and why the work needs to be done other than to remove brush. This is why I started Central Coast Brush Clearing - a Wildfire Defensible Space company ran by firefighters.

I want to be out there educating homeowners the basics of fire behavior and the logic behind Defensible Space. Hopefully I can alleviate the burden of “expensive yard work” and further define and explain the “why” behind the work

 How did you join forces with Chris Willingham from Santa Barbara Tree Care?

Chris Willingham, owner of Santa Barbara Tree Care, was very receptive to my initial line of questioning and was quite knowledgable on Defensible Space. Having 20+ years as a professional arborist I knew this would be a great partnership opportunity. 

Santa Barbara Tree Care is capable of Defensible Space and Fire Clearance services but it isn’t their expertise. Our partnership provides the best of both worlds, Central Coast Brush Clearing has the Fire Clearance and Defensible Space expertise and Santa Barbara Tree Care has the tree care and arborist and tree care expertise. Together we are able to provide our clients a service backed by experience and the know-how to get the job done safely and quickly. 

My goal is to work with Real Estate and Insurance Companies to educate homeowners and implement proper Defensible Space. We focus on properties with large hillsides, homes up and down the 154, Camino Cielo, Mission Canyon, Toro Canyon, Carpinteria to name a few. Where there’s a hill and a house there’s a need.

As of right now we are a crew of four Wildland Firefighters with three to twelve seasons of experience and training in fire behavior, fuel characteristics and first-hand experience fighting fire. Together we bring over twenty years of experience to the job and love every hard working minute of it.

Do you just service Santa Barbara county?

Right now we are growing, Santa Barbara and Santa Ynez are where most of our calls are coming from. I named the company Central Coast Brush Clearing with the intention of serving the central coast from Paso Robles down into Ventura. I spent college years in San Luis Obispo and have plenty of firefighter connections in those areas. With seasonal firefighters all over the Central Coast we are able to provide exceptional service everywhere. 

Would all homes benefit from defensible space or just homes in high fire areas?

There’s always something that can be done to a home. Car accidents happen, power lines fall and there is no shortage of dry combustible fuel around homes in city limits. Defensible Space is as much providing a safe working environment for responding firefighters as it is defending your home. Keeping weak tree branches from extending over access roads, driveways, roofs, chimneys, etc. “Hardening” (http://www.readyforwildfire.org/Hardening-Your-Home/) homes is a very important part of Defensible Space. As far as value, our efforts are most effective doing what we have been trained to do quickly and safely on fires - cut fire line and remove vegetation with chainsaws and hard work. 

What’s the process, how can someone hire you and what are the costs?

Anyone can hire us by going to our website (https://www.centralcoastbrushclearing.com) or messaging us through our facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/firelandscapespecialst). Our phone number is listed and I respond to emails, texts, messages, calls and just about any medium people use these days.  Part of our mission is education as well and we are happy to give free assessments for homeowners interested in the conversation. Should they decide to hire us we are very flexible with pricing and work that cater to each project’s needs. Typically a crew of us four, fully self-sufficient, licensed and insured, ready to go ranges from $1,200 - $1,400 per day depending on travel or special needs. Some homeowners just want us to cut and other’s would like everything done. We’re here to fill in the gaps and work within their budget!

What’s the most important reason why home owners shouldn’t wait until fire season?

It’s too hot and typically we are out of town fighting fire! Take advantage of cool winter weather and lower temperatures. We run all kinds of machinery and these engines get hot. Obviously starting a fire is extremely counter-productive and we will actually limit summer working hours or will not work at all on days that are just too hot. Our employees are active and former firefighters so many of us are just too busy to be available during the fire season months of May - November.

Business of the Month: Bea Furnishings

Business of the Month: Bea Furnishings

 

So tell us about your background? How did this all begin?

I am from the 805. I grew up in Solvang, and got my AA here at SBCC in interior design. Then I transferred to San Francisco State University and graduated with a BS in Interior Design. After, I explored trades, interior design wasn’t for me. I found it to be a lot of purchase orders and busy work. That was a time where you would turn on TV and there were designers painting walls and chopping wood: things that really don’t exist as an interior designer. I believe I pursued interior design to create uniqueness, and for the actual production of it all. ID was good in the sense that it made me able to do renderings and I those detailed assignments, it was also good for me to learn the architectural background of it all and start to be familiar with measurements.

SO after college I explored trades and I did some metal sculpture work and some wood work. I loved it all but I found it not to be my calling either. Then I moved back to Santa Barbara with hope that SOMETHING was going to come and workout but I didn’t know what that was. I got a job off of Craiglists, because with these trade jobs, there’s no LinkedIn or proper way of finding the jobs - other than to roam. So on Craiglist I found a job - Todd Gutshall the number one  upholstery shop here in Santa Barbara was looking for an upholsterer, but I responded to the ad asking if I could be an apprentice. To start, he had me doing tear downs which is essentially the bottom position of an upholstery shop. All you’re doing all day long is removing staples. It’s not exciting to say least, but I had fallen in love!- I was STOKED. My mind just went off!

In order for me to learn all the proper things in this trade I was either going to work for somebody else, who had say or control over how much or how fast I learned. In this day and age you hold on to those lower laborers who can shut up and do their job and do it fast. I needed for myself to have control of my learning curve.  And so, I moved to High Point, North Carolina the once furniture capital of the world. I went out the as they had a local technical community college- which is a rare thing- they had a certificate program to get a degree. It was a DIY person’s dream. There was infinite amount of scrap, everyone had their own sewing machines, and you could make anything and everything you wanted. We had bare frames, and there was someone there to answer every question you had, to show you what you should be looking for, the ideal teaching situation really. 

In North Carolina I got a job with Stickley which is a very renowned furniture maker. They are the creme de la creme of American Made furniture. I was this Jewish California girl with  tattoos just TOTAL opposite of the south, so at first it was a little bit rough. I made the most of it! After that experience I moved to Brooklyn New York because I wanted to experience living the dream in New York, then I escaped New York for Colorado, and I was there for about three and a half years working for some guys who did custom work so I could learn about producing custom frames, and how to make a skeleton of a frame come to life based on a picture or design. Then I worked at a place that does old antique style furniture which was kind of like my master degree program, that was literally a year ago. 

Now I feel like I am ready to learn the business aspect of it. I think I did about 6 or 7 years of learning this trade and I still have a lot to learn. I am proud of the work I do now and it speaks for itself. I have nothing to show but the work that I do. 

This trade consists of predominantly men - and they have been typically doing  upholstery since before I was even alive. A lot of these guys I met, didn’t want to initially become upholsterers, they fell back on the trade. For the most part who I was and what I was doing was a turn off to most people I’ve worked with. I was an educated woman, who was passionate and excited about something majority saw as labor  with little to know enthusiasm in the work.

You obviously do upholstery, but you also do fabric curation and design furniture. Can you tell me a little more about about that?

So right now it exists mainly as re-upholstery, because I don’t have a wood shop of my own or a carpenter quite yet. How we exist now is just a step towards what I hope it will become. 

Right now at the typical upholstery shop it’s “okay what do you want, okay here’s what it costs.” You’re in you’re out. I would like to think Bea is a place that you can create character, I love what I do. I want my shop to be inviting. I want people to get into each piece, and have imagination. 

I hope in time I can be able to make some custom pieces I have been dreaming about since I first started working in this trade. I think furniture is way more important than what we make it out to be. Everybody has furniture whether you’re wealthy or you’re sharing a flat with a bunch of people. Everybody has a sofa and everybody sits on that thing. We have all these priorities like car we’re driving…having an appreciation for what furniture we have will slow people down more and make them appreciate their living room more. Right now we have our eyes in our screens but we should pull it in more.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

Ooo, definitely other artists, I like to think I am going into this world of design with an expertise. I know that my game is upholstery and to see people work their trade whether it be metal or wood it’s amazing. When I see how well they can do- and how I could maybe put a cherry on top with a tufted cushion in the back. Thats exciting to me. I do hope to have custom furniture very shortly. But I want to make sure that I collaborate. Kind of how we’re working together- you’re taking the time with me I want to take the time with you. It’s a win win. I want to be a team with everybody. 

 

How does it work if someone wants to work with you? 

I want people when they think of me that maybe they have a chair that needs to be redone of course and they want “cool” I want them to think of me as innovative. I want them to think “Grandpa is turning 70 and he loves boats. Lets make him a boat inspired sofa.”

I want people to challenge me.  It’s hard to do those things but I love it. I love the learning process. Anybody and everybody can go to my website which I have made super convenient. They can go to that inquiry form and can submit their photo with their ideas and I can get back to them. For now since it’s just me myself and I. I try to do innovative upholstery and challenging projects. There’s infinite possibilities. 

I would ideally like to tailor myself to designers and people with more daring and flamboyant taste. With plans to create my own designs someday, the more I can work with people who are like minded in style, the more I can showcase my work.

https://www.BeaFurnishings.com

🔥 N E W🔥 536 PINTURA DRIVE

🔥 N E W🔥 

Carrara, navy and geometric light fixtures. This contemporary kitchen at our new listing is defining kitchen goals.

First showings coming up this Friday December 1st 9:30 am - 12:30!