Envision to highlight technology, innovation

Pasadena Star News

By: Cynthia Kurtz

Posted: 10/22/2014 

If you live or work in the San Gabriel Valley you already know that there is a lot on cutting edge research and entrepreneurship. Space exploration, robotics, business technology, and personalized medicine are just a few of the research areas that the San Gabriel Valley excels in and now there is a summit planned to "inform, inspire and connect" the Pasadena and San Gabriel Valley innovation community.

ENVISION 2014 kicks off tonight at 5:30 p.m. at the Pasadena Convention Center sponsored by Innovate Pasadena - an organization dedicated to sustainable economic growth through technology and design innovation. It is the first of what will become an annual event about innovation. This year's summit focuses on technology, entrepreneurship and design. In a nutshell - it is about the future of our economy. 

On Wednesday night the keynote speaker will be Scott Painter, founder and CEO of TrueCar, a company that has been disrupting the retail auto business by using big data and transparent pricing. TrueCar is just one of several technology based companies Painter has founded. He was also an early adviser to Tesla.

Thursday morning, October 23 ushers in a full day of fabulous speakers and interactive displays. The sessions get underway at 8:30 a.m. with a conversation about Business Innovation.

Sharon Vosmek, CEO of Astia is the day's kick-off speaker. The mission of Astia is "to create an inclusive community that provides the precise support women entrepreneurs need to thrive in their enterprises and ultimately impact today's global economy." Under Ms. Vosmek's leadership, Astia has grown from 20 to 5,000 investors, entrepreneurs and industry leaders from around the world.

Next up is Prof. Frances Arnold, The Dick and Barbra Dickinson Professor of Chemical Engineering, Bioengineering and Biochemistry at Caltech. Prof. Arnold's Caltech research focuses on green chemistry and alternative energy. She has numerous patents and is co-founder of Gevo, Inc. a leading renewable chemical and advanced bio-fuels company.

At 10:30 a.m. the Technology Innovation session begins with Patricia Moore, President of Moore Design Associates. Ms. Moore is an industrial designer and gerontologist. Gerontology is the study of the social, psychological and biological aspects of aging. Her company specializes in developing new products and services for consumers of all ages and abilities.

Dr. Jack Kreindler MD is a leading expert in health optimization and is internationally recognized in the field of risk management with a particular interest in high altitude physiology and human performance. He has founded several healthcare businesses that use technology to better serve patients.

The afternoon session on Design Innovation begins with Mark Meadows, Co-Founder and Creator of Geppetto Avatars, a company dedicated to artificial intelligence and the use of avatars. Mr. Meadows is an author, artist, entrepreneur and accomplished concertina player.

 Andra Keay, Managing Director of Silicon Valley Robotics - a group supporting innovation and commercialization of robotic technology - will wrap up the afternoon session. Ms. Keay is a dynamic evangelist on behalf of robotic start-ups.

This is definitely a world class line-up and forum entrepreneurs should not miss. It is all conveniently happening at the Pasadena Convention Center. It is not too late to register at www.innovatepasadenasummit.org. 

Temp hiring has become more common

Pasadena Star News

By: Cynthia Kurtz

Posted: 10/15/2014 

Often we think of temporary employees as the folks who operate a cash register or answer the phone. But that's not the case any longer. Today, 42 percent of temporary workers are in light manufacturing and warehousing. 

Temporary hiring has become a significant part of sectors where it was seldom used in the past. A recent study released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics stated that 233,000 of the 285,000 jobs created in business and professional services in the last year were temporary positions. This includes lawyers, engineers, computer programmers, and marketing professionals.

School districts are using temporary staffing agencies for substitute teachers.  Even hospitals have turned to temp agencies for doctors and nurses.

The number of temporary workers is higher than it has been in decades. According to the American Staffing Association (ASA), a non-profit organization representing staffing and recruiting firms, there were 2.92 million temporary employees in September 2014, an increase of 8.61 percent from just a year ago.

In 2013, industry experts estimated that temporary jobs made up 10 percent of the positions lost during the recession and 20 percent of the positions added since.

High levels of temporary employee hiring are not unusual following periods of business contractions. When businesses are forced to reduce their workforces, contract and temporary employees are the first to be let go.  When the recovery begins, though, businesses are often still hesitant to commit to permanent hiring. Temporary employees provide more flexibility should a recovery begin to lag.

The cost of permanent long-term employees has increased as retirement, healthcare, and other benefit costs have gone up. Many businesses believe they cannot compete in today's global economy unless they carefully control the size of both inventories and workforce. Upjohn Institute of Employment economist Susan Houseman explains, "You have your just-in-time workforce. You only pay them when you need them."

Getting people back to work and reducing the unemployment rate is paramount on everyone's mind. Temporary jobs can be the way to learn new skills and transition into permanent employment. A survey done by ASA showed that 90 percent of temporary employees think the positions make them more employable and 49 percent think it is an entry to a permanent position.

But the dramatic increase in temporary positions does have downsides.  Wages are often lower. Temporary employees typically get less training which studies show increases the likelihood of accidents. Most temporary positions don't have benefits.

There is no way to be certain if the increase in temporary employment is a long-term trend or a reaction to the slow recovery. But many CEOs agree that it will take a much more robust economy and confidence in its ability to sustain growth before they will consider more permanent hiring. 

Educated workers: key to economic growth

Pasadena Star News

By: Cynthia Kurtz

Posted: 10/08/2014 

Educated workers are the key to sustained economic growth. Graduation rates are beginning to rise but too many youth are still lag behind. In the San Gabriel Valley, 22 percent of people over the age of 25 have less than a high school degree.

According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the United States had the world’s highest rate of high school graduation in 1970. By 2012 we had slipped to 21st.

The California Department of Education tracks graduation rates by gender and ethnicity.  According to the Department’s April 2014 release, 80 percent of the students who started high school in 2009 - 10 graduated with their class - a 1.3 percent increase from the prior year even though schools had experienced substantial budget cuts. In Los Angeles County the graduation rate in 2013 was 77 percent.

There are significant variations in graduation rates by gender and ethnicity. In 2013, Asian females had the higher graduation rate at 93 percent; 92 percent of all Asians and 90 percent of Asian males graduated.

Black males had the lowest graduation rate at 63 percent. Black females were a full 10 points higher at 73 percent for an average rate of 68 percent. Seventy-six percent of Hispanics graduated. Females led the way with a rate of 80 percent while males had a 71 percent rate. Eighty-eight percent of non-Hispanic whites graduated - 90 percent of females and 85 percent of males.

Those who fail to graduate cost the country an estimated $200 billion each year in reduced tax revenues with cost increases for public welfare and crime amounting to an estimated additional $24 billion a year.

School districts are trying to increase graduations rates by adding pre-school, smaller classes in early grades, and focusing on students with the greatest needs. Community groups are also helping.

The Boys and Girls Club of America is squarely focused on the impacts their after-school programs have on graduation rates. For every one hour spent in school, students spend two hours out of school. One in four kids have nowhere to go after school.

The Boys and Girls Club fills that time with structured activities. The 4,000+ chapters offer programs in career education, leadership, health, arts, and sports. “When school is out, Clubs are in.”

A recent study commissioned by the CA Alliance of Boys and Girls Clubs found that every $1 invested in a Boys and Girls Club created $16 of economic impact including reducing social problems, enabling parents to work, giving teens volunteer service opportunities, and promoting graduation rates. Boys and Girls Club members have a 90 percent graduation rate. 

Nearly 102,000 youth participate at 117 Boys and Girls Club sites across Los Angeles County. Make a point of supporting your local Club. It is good for young people and for the economy.

Millennials shop using technology

Pasadena Star News
By: Cynthia Kurtz
Posted: 10/01/2014

Regardless of the Southern California heat, we have officially entered the Fall season. Four weeks until Halloween, eight weeks until Thanksgiving and then we all know Christmas is just a blink away. While three months may be a bit too early for the average shopper to be making holiday plans, it is definitely time for retailers and brands to be thinking about how to stand out this season.

It's not as easy as planning for sales and buying advertising. Merchants need to be appealing to Millennials and that requires a new way of selling.

Millennials are persons who were born between 1981 and 2000. They constitute 27 percent of the U.S. population - about 79 million - and are more ethnically diverse than any previous segment of the population. By 2030 they will outnumber non-millennials.

They live at home with their parents longer and marry later. That makes baby clothing and household goods less of purchasing priorities. But they do have a major purchasing weakness - technology. Thirty percent of Millennials use four or more electronic devises a day. On average they check those devices 43 times a day. That's about once every 15 minutes.

Millennials are "digital natives." They grew up using technology and it is a part of every aspect of their lives. So, it should come as no surprise that that is also how they shop.

According to Stifel Finance Corp., in 2014 retailers will generate half their sales growth from Web purchases. That means about $18 billion in revenue growth will be generated from on-line purchases.

E-commerce has been doubling every five years and analysts say there is no end in sight. Enclosed malls may be taking the biggest hit. Sixty-percent of Millennials say they rarely go the mall but about half spend an hour a day shopping or browsing on-line. It is all about speed and convenience.

How Millennial consumers make purchasing decisions is also different - 68 percent say they are totally unimpressed by celebrity endorsements; instead they will ask family or friends for advice. Eighty-nine percent say they trust recommendations from family or friends over brand advertising claims.

Millennials want to give their opinions about products and experiences whether they are negative or positive - 59 percent share those opinions primarily on social media and 93 percent say they read reviews prior to making a purchase.

Retailers and brands who want to open Millennials' wallets are rethinking their advertising and marketing and especially how to create a seamless experience between physical and on-line stores. Get ready. The future promises big changes in retailing.