Jackie Scott, founder of Inland Empire Women’s Business Center, sees the return of the Inland Prosperity Conference

and dozens of other races she is now training for.

Coming up on August 18, Scott’s IEWBC is leading the returning Inland Prosperity Conference at the Marriott Riverside at the Convention Center that will feature keynote speaker Tara Lynn Gray, the director of the California Office of Small Business Advocate and a number of other women in state and county government offices who have made a success of their lives.

a reputation as the company that would ‘take care of it’.

Staff Writer

It took inspiration and determination for business entrepreneur Jackie Scott to found the Inland Empire Women’s Business Center in Murrieta that promotes the growth of women- owned businesses through free low-cost mentoring, teaching everything from management strategies to marketing and more. Her life as an entrepreneur is also tied in with taking advantage of business opportunities at an early age along with staying fit and running in eight Boston Marathons

Jackson explained how she and a partner engaged in their first wholesale business in 1996 in Down East Maine called the Hardshell Lobster Company. The business was failing so they took it over from a third-generation family. The business specialized in importing live Maine lobsters from the east coast and selling them to restaurants, hotels and some retail stores. Their thought to salvage the business was to find a market in San Diego which became successful and now supplies the product to major retailers, hotels and restaurants. She explained,”Through these relationships we were able to expand into a full line of fresh and frozen seafood. The seafood wholesale industry and major retail business are male dominated. As a 22-year-old, I focused on business and service, and I gained

“At the time, I didn’t realize how ambitious I was and how I didn’t let gender limit my success. This was key in the growth of my business. Our company focused on high quality products and developing solutions for our customers. We knew they had a million other issues to deal with and we made their lives easier, were a valuable partner and an extension to their business. We sold our business due to some personal issues that could not be overcome along with operating a very challenging business.”

Since selling the business, Jackson now guides women through the challenges of owning and managing a business, sharing her experience and knowledge.

“Now I have made it my life purpose to help entrepreneurs avoid the pitfalls I encountered, instill confidence, and teach the importance of taking ownership in all areas of your business, “ Scott said.

“I provided business consulting with the Inland Empire Small Business Development Center for almost three years before I joined the IEWBC as the Director. Our center ‘Empowers women through entrepreneurship’ by providing the technical training and counseling needed to succeed in business.”

She said her determination to stay fit has also been important in her success as a woman in business.

“I started running in 2008 when my business partner asked if I would like to run a half marathon. He introduced me to the Boston Marathon. I supported him when he ran his first in 2008 and I was inspired by the atmosphere and all the runners. I decided I would try to qualify for the Boston Marathon. I qualified in my second attempt at the Tucson Marathon. I went on to run eight Boston marathons…18 marathons in total, over 20 half marathons and some 5Ks and 10Ks.” Now despite an injury she hopes to do her best in the 2024 Boston Marathon.

The upcoming 11th annual IPC will feature Gray; Eloise Gomez Reyes, Assemblywoman for District 50; Karen Spiegel, Riverside 2nd Dist. supervisor; Christopher Earl, deputy director California Office of the Small Business Advocate; and Caudia Viek, founder of Invest in Women Entrepreneurship Initiative.

Registration for the IPC conference is $25 with sponsorships available. Visit the IEWBC website or contact Jay Hernandez at 833-939-3709. Or email jhernandez@iewbc.org

Tony Ault can be reached at tault@reedermedia.com

CALIFORNIA – The COVID-19 pandemic changed the dynamics of workplaces around the globe. The adaptation to remote work has also been advantageous for many employees. Parents have found it easier to balance familial responsibilities, and others have invested in home office setups or relocated further from their workplaces. For the past three years, however, tens of millions of office workers have navigated through an ever-evolving landscape of working from home and intermittent attempts to return to the office. A recent survey, however, conducted by Authority Hacker throws light on employees’ perspectives on returning to the office, showing that the majority are reluctant to give up the flexibility to which they have grown accustomed.

Authority Hacker surveyed 3,000 full-time remote employees, posing a hypothetical question: “What cash lump sum payment would entice you back to the office full time?”

The average respondent required no less than $12,188. There were significant differences based on location. For example, North Dakotans would demand $28,176 to migrate to the office full time.

Californians, on the other hand, would need $15,978 to return back to their pre-pandemic places of work. West Virginians seem less bothered about a full time return –they would settle for $5,626.

The survey also revealed other interesting statistics.

Notably, 63% expressed a willingness to unionize to prevent a forced return, while 72% believed returning to the office would negatively impact their mental health.

This data is particularly relevant in the light of recent developments.

Companies such as Disney, Amazon, Meta and Lyft announced definitive plans for returning to the office. For example, Disney has called for four days a week, while Amazon proposed three days. Google is taking a hybrid approach but has indicated that performance reviews may be affected by lengthy unexplained absences.

Meanwhile, Salesforce introduced an initiative where employees who come into the office are associated with a charitable donation of $10 per day for a 10day period. It aligns with Authority Hacker’s finding that charityrelated incentives could be an effective measure to encourage office returns. The survey found that over two-thirds, or 68%, were more likely to consider returning if their employer offered charitable contributions as incentives.

Finally, beyond the immediate concerns of returning to the office, employees have expressed concerns regarding the future of work itself. The Authority Hacker survey found that over half of the respondents, or 53%, are more concerned about the impact of artificial intelligence on their jobs than the idea of returning to the office.

“As businesses look to define their post-pandemic work structures, the preferences and concerns of employees will play a significant role in shaping the future of work,” Mark Webster of Authority Hacker said. “Be it through monetary rewards, contributions to social causes or adopting a lasting hybrid work approach, companies must discover the balance that ensures both their operations and their workforce can thrive.”

To access an interactive map showing the survey results, visit https://www.authorityhacker.com/ cubicle-comeback/. Submitted by Authority Hacker.

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