Business People

Firing up the Valley’s future

Local businesses help spur Valley jobs and growth. Every year, the Business People section is published in conjunction with the Business Outlook Conference, hosted by the Antelope Valley Board of Trade.

This year, things will be a bit different. The conference, scheduled for Feb. 24, will be held virtually because of health precautions due to COVID-19.

Another change is the Greater Antelope Valley Economic Alliance and the AV Board of Trade, to form AV EDGE.

“The blending of the two legacy organizations, in collaboration with our local public institutions, will create a formidable partnership for the attraction and retention of business throughout the High Desert,” Past AVBOT president Bret Banks said at the time of the merger.

As in past years, the point of the conference is to give attendees the chance for a fresh perspective on the Valley’s prospects for growth, jobs and industry. Civic leaders, business people and investors, as well as elected officials typically attend the conference, but it’s not limited to locals. Executives and investors from outside the Antelope Valley also attend. The fact that it will be virtual will only give more people the opportunity to attend this year’s conference.

Each year, the conference chooses a different speaker. This year’s keynote speaker will be Geological Strategist Peter Zeihan.

The business people featured in this special section are among those who continue to contribute and help sustain the Antelope Valley’s economy. But they’re more than that. They are also our friends and neighbors.

To view the conference, visit avedgeca.org

For more information on AV EDGE, visit avedgeca.org or call 661-441-2957.

Jennifer A. Garcia Antelope Valley Press Editor