North County Exchange

By: North County Times | Wednesday, January 9, 2008 11:49 PM PST ∞

Real Estate Forecast seminar set -- A Real Estate Forecast seminar will be held from 8 to 11:30 a.m. Friday at the UC San Diego Extension Mission Valley Center, 404 Camino del Rio South, Suite 102. Registration and networking will begin at 7:30 a.m.

Led by some of the county's leading real estate professionals, the seminar will provide an overview of the real condition of the economy and the real estate market in San Diego.

Cost is $95. To register, call Elizabeth Stiles at (858) 882-8020 or e-mail unexbusa@ucsd.edu.

Health and wellness expos planned -- Lifestyles InFocus will present a Health & Wellness Exposition on Jan. 19 at the Bernardo Winery, 13330 Paseo del Verando Norte, Rancho Bernardo; and again Jan. 26 at Quail Botanical Gardens, 230 Quail Gardens Drive, Encinitas. Both will take place from noon to 5 p.m.

The events will include food tastings, giveaways, interactive demonstrations, opportunities to meet top local chefs, a chef's challenge and a health fair.

Cost is $15 in advance; $20 at the door. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International.

Call (619) 987-9937 or go to http://www.lifestylesinfocus.com.

Learn how to win Caltrans contracts -- The Small Business Development Center, North San Diego County, offers free counseling and training for small businesses seeking to win Caltrans contracts.

The center offers free one-on-one business management counseling designed to help small

businesses obtain Disadvantaged Business Enterprise certification and assist small

businesses in the development and improvement of long-term business management, record keeping and financial accounting capabilities required for contracting opportunities. Counseling is offered by appointment.

In addition, the SBDC will present a series of 15 free courses covering the requirements and tools needed to successfully navigate the bid and RFP process. The first two courses will be offered from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 22 and 9 a.m. to noon Jan. 23 at Point Loma Nazarene University, Mission Valley campus, 4007 Camino del Rio South.

Call (760) 795-8740 or go to http://www.sandiegosmallbiz.com.

San Diego business owners to speak at bizExchange -- BizSanDiego magazine's January bizExchange Speaker Series will feature Brett Miller, chief executive officer of Eat Drink Sleep, and Michael Robertson, CEO and founder of Gizmo5 and MP3Tunes.

Miller will discuss how his acquisition of a neighborhood bar led him to become one of the most successful business developers and restaurant entrepreneurs in San Diego's beach areas. High-tech entrepreneur Robertson will discuss how he has found success by creating competition, and empowering consumers with a freedom of choice.

The event will be held from 7 to 9:30 a.m. Jan. 24 at Anthology, 1337 India St., San Diego. Tickets are $35. Go to http://speakerseries.bizSanDiego.com or call (619) 308-0420.

'Authors Day' scheduled for Jan. 25 -- Infinity Publishing will present its fourth annual "Authors' Day" beginning at 8 a.m. Jan. 25 at the Doubletree Hotel San Diego-Mission Valley, 7450 Hazard Center Drive.

Writers who are serious about selling books can get information from experts on the essentials in editing, formatting, distribution, promotion and creative marketing.

The event precedes San Diego State University's annual Writers Conference to take place at the same location.

Cost is $80 if registered by Jan. 14; $100 thereafter; and $120 at the door. Go to http://www.AuthorsConference.com.

Carlsbad Chamber to host awards dinner -- The Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce will host its 40th annual Business Awards Dinner, "An Affair to Remember," at 6 p.m. Feb. 22 at the Four Seasons Resort Aviara, 7100 Four Seasons Point, Carlsbad.

Awards will be presented in the following categories: Businessperson of the Year; Small Business of the Year (1 to 15 employees); Medium Business of the Year (16 to 99 employees); Large Business of the Year (100 or more employees); Lifetime Achievement in Business; Entrepreneur of the Year; and Community Leadership.

The Hollywood-themed event will feature students from Carlsbad High School TV interviewing guests on the red carpet. MiraCosta College theater students will impersonate legendary actors and pose for photographs with attendees. The event also will feature a cocktail reception, entertainment, dinner, a live auction and free valet parking. Cocktail attire is suggested.

Cost is $100 per person; $975 for a table for 10. The deadline to register is Feb. 8. Go to http://www.carlsbad.org; or call (760) 931-8400.

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