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Howard Smith

Chairman of the Board, VCEDA

Howard J. Smith is Chairman of the Board of VCEDA, the Ventura County Economic Development Association, and was honored this year as one of the top fifty Business Leaders in the Central Coast by the Pacific Coast Business Times. A Past President of the Ojai Valley Chamber of Commerce, Smith has also served in an advisory capacity to the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation, the Ojai Community Hospital Foundation, the Ojai Valley Youth Foundation, the Wild Foundation, the Ojai Film Festival and numerous other community organizations.

He recently organized an exhibit at the Ventura County Maritime Museum; "When China Ruled the Seas, The Treasure Fleets of the Ming Dynasty." Smith is an active member of the Estate Planning and Planned Giving Councils of Ventura County as well as the Business & Technology Partnership at CSUCI. He taught for five years at UCLA Extension and has lectured nationally. A frequent Op Ed contributor to the Ventura County Star and the Ojai Valley News, his articles have also appeared in the Washington Post, Horizon Magazine, The VCEDA News, The Journal of the Writers Guild of America, and numerous trade publications. Random House published the paperback edition of his second book "Opening the Doors to Hollywood."

Entries by this author:
February 01, 2010 - Brian's Song or why do people vote against their own interests?
November 30, 2009 - Hospital Auxiliary Needs Volunteers
November 05, 2009 - Blogging The Ojai-Ventura International Film Festival
October 21, 2009 - From Science Daily: Presidential Election Outcome Changed Voters' Testosterone
October 08, 2009 - Klezmer Band In Concert, October 17th
September 23, 2009 - Ojai Forum on the New Economy Starts Friday!
September 20, 2009 - Ojai Forum on the New Economy: Updated Schedule of Events
September 17, 2009 - Ojai Forum on the New Economy: Schedule of Events
September 12, 2009 - Ojai Forum on the New Economy - Register Now!
September 12, 2009 - Ojai Big Chili Cookoff!
September 08, 2009 - Mark Whitwell at Sacred Space Studio Thursday,Sept.10,8:30am-12:30pm
September 08, 2009 - Stop the "Gravel" Trucks: Live Video of Gravel Trucks Racing Down Maricopa Highway
September 08, 2009 - Ojai Forum on the New Economy,
September 07, 2009 - Ojai Studio Artists 2009 Tour - Save The Date
September 04, 2009 - Ojai Big Chili Cookoff!
September 04, 2009 - Ojai Economic Forum, September 25th - 27th
September 03, 2009 - Stop the "Gravel" Trucks: Diesel Exhaust Linked To Cancer
August 12, 2009 - Ojai Economic Forum - SAVE THE DATE!
July 31, 2009 - More on Ojai Bucks!
July 25, 2009 - Mark Whitwell - 4 Day Yoga Intensive
July 25, 2009 - 2009 Ojai Forum on the New Economy - Save The Date
July 25, 2009 - Ojai Big Chili Cook Off
July 16, 2009 - Saturday: Global Economic Dissolution & Evolution: A Creative Dialogue on Emerging Opportunities.
July 09, 2009 - Stop The Trucks: Follow Up to the Scoping Meeting
June 03, 2009 - Ojai Wine Festival
May 30, 2009 - Ojai Kundalini Yoga Retreat
May 06, 2009 - Stop The Trucks: OZENA MEETING TONIGHT; 6:00 PM AT CHAPARRAL HIGH SCHOOL
May 03, 2009 - Stop the Trucks: SIGN THE PETITION TO STOP OZENA
April 28, 2009 - Stop The Trucks: CRITICAL MEETING TO BLOCK OZENA, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6TH AT 6:00 PM AT CHAPARRAL
April 23, 2009 - STOP THE TRUCKS: Maricopa Highway: Road Low on Traffic but High on Tales of Death, Mystery
April 20, 2009 - STOP THE TRUCKS: SAVE THE DATE! CRITICAL MEETING TO BLOCK OZENA! WEDNESDAY, MAY 6TH AT 6:00 PM AT CHAPARRAL
March 29, 2009 - Stop the Trucks: Missing in Action
March 13, 2009 - Stop The Trucks: The First Casualty of War is the Truth
March 12, 2009 - Stop the Trucks: Complaints #52 - #59
February 28, 2009 - Stop the Trucks: Rejecting County Planning's Illogic
February 21, 2009 - Golda Meir Comes to Ojai in One Week!
February 09, 2009 - Golda Meir Comes to Ojai!
February 03, 2009 - Stop the Trucks: M.A.C. Calls for Termination of Ozena C.U.P.
January 25, 2009 - Stop the Trucks: Complaints & Possible Conflicts of Interest
January 23, 2009 - Stop The Trucks: Questions for the County
January 09, 2009 - Stop the Trucks: Naked & Topless No More?
December 31, 2008 - Stop the Trucks: Long Road Ahead in Gravel Truck Fight
December 31, 2008 - Did You Witness This Accident on November 7th
December 17, 2008 - Stop the Trucks: Ozena Loses Court Case on Trucking Hours
November 04, 2008 - Ojai Film Festival Begins on Thursday
October 29, 2008 - Why I Support Jerry Kaplan for the M.A.C.
October 29, 2008 - Ojai Film Festival: Just One Week Away!
October 25, 2008 - Stop the Trucks: City Council Candidate, Betsy Clapp, Answers Our Election Year Questions
October 23, 2008 - Stop the Trucks: County Planning Officials Failed to Heed Warnings About Potential Road Collapse
October 22, 2008 - Ojai Film Festival: Lifetime Achievement Awards
October 20, 2008 - Ojai Film Festival Announces Slate of Films
October 20, 2008 - Vote Jerry Kaplan for the M.A.C.
October 16, 2008 - Stop the Trucks: Ojai City Council To Help Fund "Stop The Trucks" Effort
October 15, 2008 - Jerry Kaplan is running for the M.A.C.
October 12, 2008 - STOP THE TRUCKS: Ojai City Council to Meet Tuesday on how to Deal with Ozena
October 12, 2008 - STOP THE TRUCKS: Ozena Wants to Expand Hours of Trucking Thru Ojai and Hand Pick the Consultant who will Review their new Proposal!
October 12, 2008 - STOP THE TRUCKS: County CEO Finds Ozena Violations Greater Than Reported
October 11, 2008 - Stop the Trucks: Early Morning Violators Now on Film
September 26, 2008 - OJAI FILM FESTIVAL ARRIVES SOON!
September 24, 2008 - Green is Gold: The New CA Gold Rush
September 22, 2008 - RAY BRADBURY at the Ojai Film Festival, Saturday, November 8th
September 21, 2008 - OJAI FILM FESTIVAL, NOVEMBER 6th - 9th, 2008
September 21, 2008 - GREEN IS GOLD: THE NEW CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH
September 14, 2008 - Stop the Trucks: County Planning Division Stalls
September 13, 2008 - Ojai Chamber of Commerce & The Ojai Business Journal Now Online
September 06, 2008 - Stop the Trucks: Ventura County Officials Finally Admit there are Problems and MAC Candidate Jerry Kaplan Responds to our Election Year Questions
September 01, 2008 - Stop The Trucks - Second Election Edition
September 01, 2008 - World Affairs Council Presentation: When China Ruled the Seas, the Treasure Fleets of the Ming Dynasty 1405-1433
August 29, 2008 - Stop the Trucks: Sneaking Through Town on Grand Avenue???
August 29, 2008 - OJAI FILM FESTIVAL
August 23, 2008 - Stop the Trucks: Election Year Edition
August 20, 2008 - Self-Employment Training Classes
August 09, 2008 - Stop the Trucks: Conflict over Gravel Trucking shifts from Santa Barbara to Ventura County and the Ozena Mine
August 05, 2008 - World Affairs Council Presentation
August 05, 2008 - Ojai Film Festival Party In Paradise
July 17, 2008 - Art Show At Ojai Community Bank
July 17, 2008 - HELP US "STOP THE TRUCKS!"
July 09, 2008 - New Art Show At Ojai Community Bank
July 09, 2008 - HELP US STOP THE TRUCKS!
July 09, 2008 - Ancient Hebrew Chants & Meditation
July 02, 2008 - Stop the Trucks: Ojai Complains of Gravel Trucks on Highway 33
June 28, 2008 - Ojai Film Festival Volunteer Needed for Microsoft Access
June 28, 2008 - STOP THE TRUCKS: Mine Opponents Suspect Official Bias
June 21, 2008 - Investing in Social Change
June 17, 2008 - Jen To Strike Again!
June 08, 2008 - Ojai Film Festival: Special Early Bird Ticket Offer
June 08, 2008 - OJAI FILM FESTIVAL: Volunteer Newsletter
May 22, 2008 - Stop the Trucks: Santa Barbara Gravel Haulers Prohibited Through Ojai
May 21, 2008 - Stop The Trucks: Praise for Ojai in the Press
May 19, 2008 - Stop the Trucks: Good News From Santa Barbara
April 30, 2008 - Ojai Film Festival Seeks Volunteers -- VIP Tickets Now On Sale
April 10, 2008 - "Stop the Trucks:" Expert cites problems in Ventura County's Resource Mangement Agency & Planning Division
March 30, 2008 - STOP THE TRUCKS: Gravel Truck Owners Suing Ventura County
March 21, 2008 - "Stop the Trucks:" Lost Horizon
March 21, 2008 - OJAI FILM FESTIVAL TO HONOR RAY BRADBURY AND RICHARD & LAUREN SHULER DONNER
March 10, 2008 - Stop the Trucks: The Damage Done
February 24, 2008 - Stop the Trucks: Collapse of Route 33
February 23, 2008 - Stop the Trucks: Highway 33 Bridge Collapses!
February 14, 2008 - Stop the Trucks: Complaint Against Ozena
February 13, 2008 - Stop the Trucks: Ozena Mine Seek Expanded Routes & Hours
February 02, 2008 - Stop the Truck: Between a rock mine and a hard place
January 26, 2008 - Stop the Trucks: Another Victory for Ojai!
January 18, 2008 - Stop The Trucks: Ozena's Revised Mine Application
December 18, 2007 - Stop The Trucks: Two Killed in Gravel Truck Accident
December 12, 2007 - Stop the Trucks: Gravel Mines Eye Expansion and a Clear Pattern of Risk Emerges from Smog
November 13, 2007 - Stop the Trucks: San Antonio Creek Bridge
November 06, 2007 - Stop the Trucks: Little Victories in a Long War
September 30, 2007 - Congratulations, Tyler!!!
September 26, 2007 - Ojai Film Festival: Free Outdoor Screening of Astronaut Documentary
September 11, 2007 - Stop the Trucks: Overweight Trucks Damage Infrastructure
September 03, 2007 - Stop the Trucks: Permit Violations
August 31, 2007 - Global Warming & Time/Warner Cable!!!
August 08, 2007 - 'NUFF SAID!
August 07, 2007 - Stop the Trucks: Smokin' Diesel
July 15, 2007 - Stop the Trucks: In The News, July
July 09, 2007 - Stop the Trucks: A Bridge Too Far
June 27, 2007 - Stop The Trucks: Monitoring Plan Proposed by Ventura Co. Planners!!!
June 23, 2007 - Stop the Trucks: Downtown, East End & Upper Ojai Threatened
June 16, 2007 - Catch A Truck Violation Reporting Form
June 14, 2007 - Stop the Trucks: Open Letter to the Governor
June 09, 2007 - Stop the Trucks: Questions & Answers
June 07, 2007 - Spirit of Small Business Awards
June 03, 2007 - Dodging Katrina, Part 2: Integrated Disaster Planning, Relief and Recovery for Businesses
May 30, 2007 - Stop The Trucks: Our Lawyers Attack Diamond Rock EIR & Link to our Environmental Experts Report
May 23, 2007 - Stop the Trucks: Santa Maria EIR Hearing, May 30th
May 19, 2007 - Stop the Trucks: THERE IS NO DEAL!!!
May 16, 2007 - STOP THE TRUCKS: PLEDGE FORM
May 07, 2007 - STOP THE TRUCKS: Chaparral Rally In the News, May 15th, 7:00pm
May 02, 2007 - STOP THE TRUCKS: WHO OPENED THE FLOOD GATES?
April 26, 2007 - STOP THE TRUCKS: COMMUNITY RALLY, MAY 15TH
April 20, 2007 - STOP THE TRUCKS: SAVE THE DATE
April 11, 2007 - “Stop the Trucks” will Monitor Caltrans Study of Route 33
April 09, 2007 - Stop the Trucks: In the News...
April 04, 2007 - Stop the Trucks: The City Speaks Up!
April 02, 2007 - Stop the Trucks: Possible link Between Ozena Mine & ATF Gun Bust in Oak View?
March 30, 2007 - Stop the Trucks: The Ozena Mine Proposal
March 28, 2007 - Innovation 101 and the Conquest of Fire
March 20, 2007 - Stop The Trucks - Update of March 20th
March 18, 2007 - Heron's Gate
February 25, 2007 - Lighting the Way
February 08, 2007 - Stop the Trucks; Update of February 9th
January 25, 2007 - COALITION OPPOSES HUNDREDS OF ADDITIONAL MINING TRUCKS ON SCENIC HIGHWAY 33
January 21, 2007 - Stop The Trucks: Community Meeting Jan 30th
January 02, 2007 - "Stop the Trucks" - Email Contacts for Letters
January 01, 2007 - "Stop The Trucks" Picks Up Speed
December 23, 2006 - Time for Action - Stop the Trucks!
December 02, 2006 - “In Search of Excellence – Or Not”
November 18, 2006 - Thomas Pynchon, illustrated; 'Gravity's Rainbow' in images
October 20, 2006 - Make History, Arnold! By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN
September 25, 2006 - “Dodging Katrina and Homeland Insecurity: Integrated Disaster Planning, Relief and Recovery for Businesses”
September 04, 2006 - Special Maritime Museum Exhibit by Painter Qi Pang
September 04, 2006 - Friday the 13th or Why Won’t We Prepare?
August 08, 2006 - Israel's Resolve in the Face of Unending Hatred
August 05, 2006 - Victory at the Regional Water Board!
July 21, 2006 - LA Sanitation District Continues Assault on Ventura County's Water
July 15, 2006 - DNC's Voting Rights Institute Calls for "Manual Count" of all Ballots in Busby/Bilbray Election
July 09, 2006 - Letter to The Regional Water Board
July 01, 2006 - Imagining the Unimaginable
April 27, 2006 - Baseball, Hot Dogs, Apple Pie and LNG…
April 26, 2006 - Village of Tales
April 08, 2006 - ALL NEWS IS LOCAL
March 09, 2006 - Dodging Katrina & Homeland Insecurity
March 04, 2006 - “When China Ruled the Seas, the Treasure Fleets of the Ming Dynasty: 1405-1433”
March 03, 2006 - The War At Home