GOVERNMENT
Assemblymember Jim Patterson (R-Fresno) has been presented with the AMVETS, Department of California ‘Legislator of the Year’ award for his work to support California’s veterans, service members and their families. Assemblymember Dr. Joaquin Arambula (D-Fresno) will also be honored with the award. Assemblymembers Patterson and Arambula worked together in 2017 to co-author the CA Veteran Suicide Information Act. AB 242 made California one of 21 other states to accurately report veteran suicide rates. Data on veteran suicide is collected by county coroners but wasn’t being used by the state to help determine how to improve suicide prevention outreach and other programs.

MANUFACTURING
B-K Lighting + TEKA Illumination, landscape and architectural lighting manufacturers, announced the promotion of Nathan Sloan to president and CEO. Mr. Sloan, who currently serves as B-K Lighting + TEKA Illumination president, brings nearly 25 years of experience in manufacturing and sales to the lighting industry. Sloan began his career with B-K Lighting in 1995. He formerly held positions in Assembly, Machine Shop, Purchasing, General Manager of TEKA Illumination, Manufacturing Engineer and Manufacturing Manager at B-K Lighting. As president of B-K Lighting + TEKA Illumination, he has expanded product innovations, improved business operations, developed internal manufacturing processes for continual improvement to ensure sustained success. He is a graduate of California State University, Fresno with Bachelor’s Degree in business management.

EDUCATION
Board members of State Center Community College District (SCCCD) elected Bobby Kahn as board president at its December board meeting. Deborah Ikeda was elected vice president and Richard Caglia was elected secretary. Kahn was elected to the Board of Trustees in November 2014 and represents Area 1. His current term of office is until 2018. He accepted the position of executive director of the Madera County Economic Development Commission (MCEDC) in March of 2002. MCEDC is a Joint Powers Agency formed through an agreement between the City of Madera, City of Chowchilla and the County of Madera. Bobby handles all economic development related issues, including commercial and industrial development projects, for all three jurisdictions. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Pepperdine University and spent approximately 20 years in the real estate brokerage business. Bobby is a past chairman and currently serves as treasurer of the California Central Valley Economic Development Corporation. He is a 14-year member of the California Association for Local Economic Development (CALED), which is California’s premier economic development association.

HEALTH CARE
Trayce Pedro has been promoted to human resources manager for United Health Centers of the San Joaquin Valley (UHC) located in Parlier. UHC provides comprehensive primary care services in 14 health center locations in the three Central Valley Counties of Fresno, Tulare and Kings. Trayce recently completed her Masters degree in Human Resource Management from Colorado State University.

United Health Centers is pleased to announce the addition of Niccole Maldonado, RD to the team of health educators at the Parlier Health Center in Parlier. Niccole received her Bachelor of Science in Nutrition from California State University Fresno, completed her Dietetic Internship at Clinica Sierra Vista in Bakersfield and her RD Certification in Fresno, CA. Niccole was previously employed with the Women Infants and Children (WIC) Program at Clinica Sierra Vista in Fresno.

SMALL BUSINESS
After successfully launching the Move To End DV nonprofit in 2016 as a result of viral exposure and support from the public, Meathead Movers CEO Aaron Steed has announced his spot on the board of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV). Upon joining the board, Steed gifted the Move To End DV foundation and platform to NCADV to continue to spearhead the initiative and grow the available resources for those in need.