Halter Ranch Vineyard opened a new tasting room, located across the covered bridge and next to the winery in Pas Robles.

The new tasting room features floor to ceiling windows with sweeping views. The design is crafted after local cabins and barns and incorporates cedar siding and rusted metal roofing.

The tasting room is open daily, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. with a variety of tours and tasting experiences available by appointment. The new building replaced the old tasting room next to the historic Victorian guesthouse on Adelaida Road.

The new tasting room is just over 6,000 s.f. and was built by J.W. Design & Construction. Look for a grand opening in early May.

Tractor Supply Company has “officially” started construction a new location in San Luis Obispo, the company’s 38th store location in California.

The site is at 120 Tank Farm Rd., and will employ an estimated 15 retail workers. The store will be approximately 19,097 square feet, including sales floor and support service space.

A fenced exterior yard will be used for storage and items like fencing, sprayers and livestock equipment. A completion date is tentatively set for mid-June.

Visit San Luis Obispo County, the City of San Luis Obispo Tourism Business Improvement District, and California Highway 1 Discovery Route received the “Visit California Poppy Award” for efforts in marketing, public relations and community service.

Tourism organizations are honored and selected by a panel of industry marketing professionals in 10 categories including Best Overall Marketing Program, Best Digital Campaign, Best Social Media Campaign, Best Public Relations Campaign and Commitment to Community.

“San Luis Obispo County was well represented at the Poppy Awards,” said Chuck Davison, president and CEO of Visit San Luis Obispo County. “For our county to receive three out of 10 statewide tourism awards is quite an achievement and really speaks to how far tourism promotion has come in San Luis Obispo County. The honor is amplified because we are being recognized by our peers.”

The campaign was funded and overseen by the City of San Luis Obispo’s Tourism Business Improvement District and San Luis Obispo’s hotels saw a 12.3% increase in transient occupancy taxes collected and paid to the City.

Rachell Newburn, marketing consultant at Collaboration Business Consulting and vice president of public relations for SLO Toastmasters Club 83, has earned her Advanced Leadership Award Bronze from Toastmasters International.

Through the strenuous public speaking program, Newburn strengthened her skills as an, “expert communicator and leader.” To be eligible for an ALB Award, a Toastmaster member must have achieved a Competent Leader Award, a Competent Communicator Award, served for at least six months as a club officer, participated in a district-sponsored officer training program and conducted multiple presentations from The Leadership Excellence Series.

Less than 2-percent of Toastmasters are distinguished with both the Competent Communicator and Competent Leader Awards.

“As a professional, I strive toward becoming a strong communicator and leader to my clients and my community, which ultimately can inspire and motivate change,” said Newburn. SLO Toastmasters, Club 83, is a non-profit educational organization that teaches public speaking and leadership skills and part of the worldwide network of Toastmasters International. Learn more at: www.slotoastmasters.org.

Verdin Marketing won eight American Advertising Awards at the 2016 Coastal California American Advertising Awards competition.

Verdin was the only SLO County firm to receive that many.

“We take a strategic approach to our work and it pays off,” said Mary Verdin. “These campaigns were successful in reaching the goals set by our clients, which is our first objective. Getting this industry recognition is icing on the cake.”

The ADDYs judge work in local AAF Club competitions, with over 40,000 entries submitted every year.