(Family Features) Today’s students are tomorrow’s leaders. Young people who aspire to become prominent business professionals can now get a head start on the knowledge and skills necessary to become successful entrepreneurs before they ever leave high school.

Training for a particular field is an essential step in career preparation, but success comes from more than academic training. Developing ingenuity and creativity can take young professionals far, and those skills aren’t necessarily found in a classroom.

If you, or a student in your life, is set on embarking on a challenging and rewarding path toward economic success, explore those entrepreneurial interests with these tips from the experts at Junior Achievement (JA), whose research shows 61% of teens would rather start their own businesses than have traditional jobs.

Tap Into Your Network
Role models can provide immeasurable insight into the world of business and economics, demonstrating what it takes to build a successful and sustainable career. Identify someone in your circle who can serve as a mentor as you plan for the future. This might be a teacher, neighbor, someone who attends your church or a business owner in your community. Meeting and chatting even a couple of times a month can help you channel your ambition.

Participate in Leadership Events
Leaders put their skills into action. As a student, you can begin practicing your leadership skills by participating in events that challenge and engage you. For example, the JA National Summit allows student teams – through the support of leading businesses like Staples, the Pacific Life Foundation and Chick-fil-A – to demonstrate their business acumen, creativity and entrepreneurial thinking in a competitive environment, showcasing their companies to Members of Congress.

Through one of the four dynamic competitions, the Company of the Year Competition, students launch and operate real business enterprises under the guidance of dedicated local business volunteers, conceptualize and market a product or service that addresses unmet consumer needs and attracts investors for their ventures. By most effectively demonstrating its company’s achievements, as well as the personal development of each team member, FlameGuard, which offers a variety of fire safety products, was crowned this year’s JA Company of the Year.

Understand Your Intended Industry
It’s never too early to begin following notable happenings in professional fields that interest you. That might mean monitoring news stories and setting up search terms to alert you to the latest articles. You may also be able to subscribe to publications dedicated to the industry and join professional organizations connected to the field as a student ambassador. Researching the field can give you a stronger idea of how you can become more directly involved as a student.

Expand Your Education
As a student, you may have limited opportunities to explore your career field while also meeting the requirements for your high school diploma. However, you can join (or start) a club to sharpen your focus on areas you have a special interest. You can also look for ways to learn more about your chosen field outside of school hours by attending camps, seminars and workshops. You may even be able to land a part-time job, internship or apprenticeship that provides greater visibility to your future career plans.

Find more ideas to support your growth as a future business leader at ja.org.

SOURCE:
Junior Achievement

The Bridge is a section of the STM Daily News Blog meant for diversity, offering real news stories about bona fide community efforts to perpetuate a greater good. The purpose of The Bridge is to connect the divides that separate us, fostering understanding and empathy among different groups. By highlighting positive initiatives and inspirational actions, The Bridge aims to create a sense of unity and shared purpose. This section brings to light stories of individuals and organizations working tirelessly to promote inclusivity, equality, and mutual respect. Through these narratives, readers are encouraged to appreciate the richness of diverse perspectives and to participate actively in building stronger, more cohesive communities.

https://stmdailynews.com/category/the-bridge

The Santa Monica Hotel, nestled at the bustling intersection of Grant Street and Lincoln Boulevard, has recently undergone a stunning makeover, shedding its previous identity as Santa Monica Motel to emerge as a chic and upscale establishment. The ribbon-cutting ceremony, graced by local dignitaries and community members, heralded the dawn of a new era for this iconic hotel.

Leading this ambitious transformation is Jon Farzam, a luminary in the hospitality industry and the visionary owner of Santa Monica Hotel. Farzam’s innovative vision and dedication to excellence have been instrumental in reshaping the property into a premier destination that promises to surpass guest expectations.

The revamped hotel boasts a fresh color palette, a striking mural created by a local artist, and carefully curated lighting that highlights the central palm tree, infusing the space with a vibrant ambiance. The courtyard has been transformed into a welcoming oasis, offering breakfast services and access to electric bikes, enriching guests’ experiences as they immerse themselves in the local surroundings.

Guestrooms have been meticulously redesigned, featuring elegant palm frond wallpaper and luxurious rattan furniture that evoke a sense of tropical retreat. State-of-the-art amenities such as LED mirrors, Nespresso machines, and device charging stations in each room, coupled with tabletop games on the patio, ensure a harmonious blend of comfort and entertainment for guests.

A standout feature of the hotel’s transformation is the conversion of its parking lot into a versatile outdoor event space, poised to host a myriad of community events, from art exhibitions to movie premieres. This innovative addition underscores Santa Monica Hotel’s commitment to serving as a cultural hub for the local community.

To elevate the guest experience further, the hotel has introduced a convenient texting service that enables guests to communicate seamlessly with guest services for any requests, from room service orders to special accommodations. This personalized touch ensures that guests’ needs are met promptly and efficiently, enhancing their overall stay.

Strategically situated near the famed Third Street Promenade, Santa Monica Hotel offers guests easy access to this renowned shopping and dining destination, enriching their visit with convenience and local charm.

As Santa Monica Hotel embarks on this exciting new chapter, Jon Farzam’s passion for collaboration with local stakeholders and the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce shines through. The hotel’s intimate size fosters a warm and personalized atmosphere, where the dedicated staff’s commitment to exceptional service is evident in every interaction.

For more information on the transformed Santa Monica Hotel, its updated amenities, and booking details, please visit SantaMonicaHotel.com. Experience unparalleled hospitality and comfort at Santa Monica Hotel, where every stay is designed to be memorable.

Contact:
Santa Monica Hotel
2102 Lincoln Boulevard
Santa Monica, CA 90405
Email: info@santamonicahotel.com

Source: Santa Monica Hotel

https://www.newswire.com/news/santa-monica-hotel-unveils-remarkable-transformation-with-ribbon-22367274

 (Family Features) With temperatures forecasted to run at least 2 degrees higher than historical averages across more than half the country, according to projections from AccuWeather, heat waves may lead to soaring air-conditioning bills this summer.

“The summer is when we see homeowners strategizing about how to keep their homes cool and comfortable while sticking to their household budgets,” said Michael Williford, HVAC service manager at Hiller Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electrical. “We work with customers to keep their current HVAC systems running smoothly or upgrade to more efficient systems, which can make a huge difference in their utility bills. In addition, there are many other ways homeowners can keep their energy costs down during the hot summer months.”

Consider these smart, practical, cost-cutting tips for dialing down your energy bills.

Service HVAC Systems Regularly
To ensure the best cooling performance and efficiency possible, find a licensed contractor to keep your heating and cooling system well-maintained and serviced throughout the year. There are some tasks many homeowners can handle on their own, like keeping outdoor units free of debris and changing air filters. However, bringing in a professional 1-2 times a year for maintenance and to ensure proper function of ductwork and electrical components is also essential.

Use Appliances During Non-Peak Hours
Rather than using stoves, ovens and clothing dryers in the afternoon hours, consider doing so early in the morning or late in the evening. Peak time for many electricity providers is noon-6 p.m., meaning using appliances that heat up your home outside of this timeframe when conventional heating and cooling systems are likely running full throttle can help lower energy costs.

Upgrade Your Systems to an Energy-Saving Heat Pump
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) incentivizes homeowners who opt for energy-efficient HVAC upgrades, including qualified heat pumps, which can boost seasonal energy efficiency ratios and increase efficiencies. For example, Mitsubishi Electric heat pumps provide more energy-efficient cooling that may equal cost and energy savings as well as a reduced carbon footprint for homeowners. These systems are equipped with inverter or variable-speed technology that allows systems to automatically ramp up or down the required amount of energy depending on the room’s capacity. Although annual savings vary, some homeowners can save as much as $1,000 per year by switching to an all-electric heat pump.

Fire Up the Grill
When temperatures soar, use the grill for cooking to help lower energy usage and save on air-conditioning costs. Alternatively, toaster ovens, air fryers and slow cookers use less energy than larger conventional stoves or ovens. Get creative by cooking a pizza in a chiminea or smoking favorite meats as alternatives to using your oven.

Stop Cooling Empty Rooms
One mistake many homeowners make is forgetting to adjust their temperature settings when leaving the house. Whether you’re headed to the beach for the weekend or just headed to work for the day, blasting the air conditioner in an empty house can result in unnecessarily high utility bills. Multi-zone, all-electric heat pumps like those from Mitsubishi Electric allow homeowners to set the comfort level and adjust the temperature in each room, so you don’t have to waste energy cooling unoccupied rooms. With a smartphone app, you can even adjust the settings remotely.

Install a Smart Electric Panel
Installing a smart electrical panel alongside an all-electric heat pump enables homeowners to monitor and control energy consumption on-site or remotely using a smartphone for better overall efficiency and utility cost savings.

Harness the Sun’s Energy with Solar Panels
According to the Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, the amount of sunlight that strikes the Earth’s surface in 90 minutes could power the world’s total energy usage for a full year. Investing in solar panels can help decrease energy bills and increase your home’s sustainability. Additionally, some utility providers and government entities, including the IRA, offer incentives to help reduce installation costs. Plus, solar-sourced power pairs well with all-climate heat pumps, which require minimal electricity to operate.

Find more ideas to dial down energy usage (and bills) this summer at MitsubishiComfort.com.

Photos courtesy of Shutterstock

SOURCE:
Mitsubishi Electric

https://stmdailynews.com/category/consumer-corner