Henry Dubroff Gets Down to Business
Editor of Pacific Coast Business Times
Offers Thoughts on Central Coast Economy
"The business climate of the Central Coast has changed dramatically over the past 17 years," said Henry Dubroff, editor of Pacific Coast Business Times, a weekly print and online publication that spotlights business activity and economic trends from Ventura to San Luis Obispo Counties. Launched in March 2000, it is now the largest business publication between Los Angeles and San Francisco. In addition to publishing 52 regular issues annually, Henry noted that his company generates 24 special reports and produces eight special events each year.
Reflecting on the Central Coast economy, Henry noted that there has been a major shift from locally based banks to larger regional institutions, with the former dropping from 15 to four during his tenure as editor of the Business Times. He also observed that tech companies have blossomed on the Central Coast during that same period, and he attributed their growth to three principal drivers: innovations in bio-technology, development of hybrid semi-conductors, and ongoing creation of cutting-edge software. Looking ahead, Henry pointed to travel/tourism, health care, and higher education as sectors to watch for strong growth.
As far as potential business issues are concerned, Henry noted that housing in the Central Coast could limit growth, and he observed that millennials tend to favor busy urban areas over suburban-based communities, although they are adaptable in that regard. "All-in-all," he said, "the Central Coast continues to be an exciting, vibrant area for business development."