January 28, 2015 / Published in News & Events
Open office plans like this one aren’t for every company. However, many other companies have used open floor plans to creative innovative, pleasing office space. Image source: Flickr CC user Rum Bucolic Sam Not too long ago, the open office plan was thought to be the answer to the confining, unnatural cubicle office that employees
January 27, 2015 / Published in Company Updates
Dutra Cerro Graden has hired six new team members to support continued, steady growth of new clients and projects. Over the past six months, DCG has welcomed Angelic (Angie) Williams, Lauren Jennings, Vanessa Kruze, Robert Lopez, Chris Gocke and Eric Ottinger to it’s growing family. As a Project Managers, Angie, Lauren, and Eric perform the
  In the rarified air of high-dollar fundraising, major foundations, hospitals, and universities regularly announce eye-popping, multi-million dollar gifts from wealthy donors. The big non-profit hospitals and UCLAs of the world can spin a few of these major gifts into a new teaching wing or medical complex, with the donor’s name prominently displayed on a
January 23, 2015 / Published in Education
  Around the country and especially here in sunny California, public and private schools have been among the first large institutions to embrace solar technology. According to one survey, more than 3,500 K-12 schools have put solar arrays on rooftops, in parking lots, and other unused areas of their campuses. Here’s why: Cost savings: Solar
January 21, 2015 / Published in Faith-Based
Church designs range from the traditional to the modern, and the only ‘right’ church design for the 21st Century is the one that best reflects the mission and personality of the church. Image source: Flickr CC user Laurelville Memorial Church Center At a time when many churches are struggling with attendance and members are aging,
January 19, 2015 / Published in News & Events
warehouse pic In this case, a former warehouse has been converted into an art gallery. Industrial space is often available at a good price, is highly flexible for development, and can be built more quickly and affordably than other traditional office buildings. Credit: Flickr user Don McCullough Developers in Culver City recently did what many entrepreneurs have done in California: they saw potential in some warehouse space that was for sale. The firms bought a former 30,000-square-foot building and plan to turn it into an office building.
January 16, 2015 / Published in Faith-Based
  Seven years ago, Interbay Covenant Church was an older congregation that did church in the traditional way, singings hymns from the bible in a quiet, brick church in Seattle. Across the street at the Quest Church, a much younger flock came to services in sandals and shorts and sang along to a rock band
January 14, 2015 / Published in Education
STEM pic Citing a lack of American-trained scientists and engineers, the federal government has made the teaching of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) a priority. Several STEM programs and schools have opened in California.
Image source: Flickr CC User RDECOM Citing a shortfall of American-trained engineers and scientists, the Obama Administration has made it a priority for schools to better teach science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) to students. In response, entrepreneurs, community leaders, K-12 public schools, private schools, and charter schools have begun developing innovative programs in existing schools, in addition to building so-called STEM schools from the ground up.
January 12, 2015 / Published in News & Events
bank repo pic Even though the economy is improving, there is still plenty of bank-owned, foreclosed commercial property available in the United States. But buyers should proceed with caution.
Image source: Flickr CC user Bart Everson On the steps of county courthouses, investors show up at foreclosure auctions with cash in hand and put in bids for hotels, strip malls, and other foreclosed commercial property. Others sit across a desk from hard-nosed bankers and haggle over a price. Sometimes these deals turn out to be a steal. But sometimes...
daycare in church building
January 9, 2015 / Published in Education
public school California schools have led the nation in using private funding to support programs and facilities. Although the issue of using private funding to support public education can be controversial, districts have several fundraising options.
Image source: Flickr CC user Maryland GovPics By now, you have probably heard that Facebook Founder Mark Zuckerberg famously donated $100 million to schools in gritty Newark, New Jersey. He recently followed that up with a pledge to contribute $120 million to California schools in the Bay area. While these massive donations got lots of news coverage, a lesser-known story in California is just as telling of how common private donations have become for public schools.
January 7, 2015 / Published in Faith-Based
Churches are adopting new technologies to help spread the faith almost as quickly as they're being invented. Image source: Flickr CC user brett jordan Churches are adopting new technologies to help spread the faith almost as quickly as they become available.
Image source: Flickr CC user brett jordan A Tampa Bay church recently did what many larger churches are doing these days: it opened two new branch campuses in other towns. Unlike in the past, however, the lead pastor doesn’t have to travel from church to church and give the odd sermon at a far-flung outpost. Many regular attendees have never seen him in the flesh – and don’t feel they need to. That’s because they can watch his message live every Sunday on a 9-by-16 foot screen, when it’s broadcast via satellite.
January 5, 2015 / Published in Education
21st Century classroom pic Opinions vary widely on what the 21st Century School should look like. It all depends on the school's vision.
Image source: Flickr CC user Cliff In Washington, D.C., a school district recently took what it felt was the fastest route to get the word out to students that it was now acceptable for them to bring their smartphones to class: the school district tweeted them. The district ended an all-out ban on mobile devices in the classroom in 23 high schools. Why fight against the current of the times? After all, their kids and most kids who attend a 21st Century school surf the Internet on their phones to discover what’s going on. Just as the blackboard went out of fashion, so too should this idea that students should leave potential learning tools in the locker. Or so the district believes.