Pacifica Tribune, Horace Hinshaw/Editor, 9/22/15. "Chamber Board selects new CEO."
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| Vickie Flores, new CEO 10/5/15. Technology entrepreneur, grew-up in Pacifica. |
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| Courtney Conlon, outgoing CEO 10/5/15. |
.... Flores' business background is in information technology, specializing in such areas as budget management, customer service, contract negotiations, problem solving, disaster recovery, product development, sales, market and finance. She has managed million dollar budgets. After working for several technology companies, in 2014 she built her San Jose based company from the ground up, now with 15 employees. .... Flores does plan to continue to oversee her own company, saying, 'I have people to manage it. I don't have to be there.'
'She's the perfect successor as she's ready to bring our Chamber and community into the digital age and beyond,' exclaimed Courtney Conlon, who has served as CEO for the past five years." Read article.
Related professional background, new Chamber CEO, 10/5/15. Vickie Flores, CEO, Final Key Consulting, LLC/Services, (computer software, consulting), also see Linkedin. NAPW Member Spotlight, 8/19/15, scroll down. ..."I work very closely with my team. Group discussion always produces great results."
Related, news article, Courtney Conlon, Chamber CEO, 5/24/10. Pacifica Tribune/Jean Bartlett, Correspondent, 5/20/10. "Introducing the Pacifica Chamber of Commerce new CEO, Courtney Conlon." .... " 'Ms. Conlon has demonstrated years of excellence in marketing, managing a sizeable budget and has been well connected with the Economic Development Committee, Council members, our Mayor and our City Manager,' Susan Vellone continued."
Related - Pacifica Tribune/Sports/Horace Hinshaw, 9/29/15, "Super Bowl 50 showcase. New Chamber CEO." "When I called the new Chamber of Commerce CEO, Vickie Flores, to introduce myself, she replied, 'I know who you are. You wrote a story about me when I was in high school.' .... Flores graduated from Oceana High School in 1986, where she was an honor student and also an athlete. She played both basketball and volleyball, as well as being a member of the concert band. She took college classes at Skyline College. ... She took computer science and computer programming classes and believed technology was her calling. But, it wasn't until three or four years after graduation that she put her computer skills to work. .... She says her first mission is, 'to meet a lot of people, look at the Chamber budget and meet with city planners. I'm ready to start work.' ...Her first official day on the job will be next Monday."
Note photographs. Courtney Conlon by Lynne Fried from the related Pacifica Tribune article, 5/24/10. Vickie Flores from her related LinkedIn account (above).
Posted by Kathy Meeh
71 comments:
Something doesn't pass the sniff test on this: http://finalkeyconsulting.com/
Me thinks the Chamber of Horrors is getting scammed BIG TIME!
Don scammed the chamber
Courtney scammed the chamber
why do you expect any different?
Started her own company in 2014 with 15 employees and "doesn't have to be there to manage it"? WTF!?! Good one! Well she will do well in Pacifica. She won't have to be there either to manage the Pacifica COC. In fact, she doesn't even have to phone it in. All for the paltry sum of $120k/year. I swear, this town must be first up on the Rolodex of every scam artist and two bit hustler on the West Coast and beyond!
Perfect! Now we will be able to see in digital spreadsheet format that no one brings their commerce to Pacifica. No one - except the scam artists.
920, what is it you expect the CEO of our Chamber of Commerce (for Tourism) to do for you; other than run the organization, and provide local business information to the public?
And so it begins. 847 through 928 is a smorgasbord of jealousy, innuendo, ignorance, fear, self-loathing, and a liberal dose of pure stupidity...typical Pacifica welcome for Ms. Flores.
The hippies lose it and start foaming at the mouth whenever the Chamber of Commerce is mentioned.
922 Scam artist? Hustler? Got proof? Of course not, you sick twisted jackass. Bet you made every one of those nasty posts.
10:32
The hippies don't post on fix pacifica. They are firmly implanted over on Riptide.
Hippie Bumper Stickers:
IF YOU'RE RICH I HATE YOU
BUSINESS PEOPLE SUCK
DEVELOPERS GO BACK TO HELL WHERE YOU CAME FROM
MONEY'S ONLY GOOD IF IT BUYS POT
GET OUTTA MY COMMUNE
Can anyone confirm first link is actually her website?
810, "hippies" are firmly implanted as NIMBIES here too, under the name "Anonymous", same as your name. They are too C-S to use their real names, same as you.
1046 Final Key Consulting, LLC/Services. Looks correct. I'll add the link to the related article information. Otherwise, an internet search is available to all. Try...
So Kathy: You allow 1:23AM to call me "a sick twisted jackass" and you censor my response referring to the meaning of "sniff test". Certainly my language wasn't nearly as strong and I certainly had the right to respond. Your reputation on this blog speaks volumes. Very disappointing... You bring disgrace to the memory of Pacifica Watchdogs.
@1:23AM-
I dare you to show me any evidence, Google search or otherwise (other than her own statements), that Ms. Flores' company has 15 employees and that they ever were employed by a legitimate company for their Microsoft CRM consulting services. Who's the jackass?
Her Tweets are very pro-Trump.
I like that, finally a chamber leader who isn't afraid to be political and guide us to victory on the national stage where it matters most
https://twitter.com/search?q=%40finalkeycrm&src=typd
1211 Sarcasm, right? Right?
Curious minds want to know? Where did the $120,000 paltry salary figure come from?
What was the source?
Troll 1137, 1143, 922 (847, 920, 928, etc.), you manipulated your responses to target the Chamber of Commerce CEO, both generally and specifically.
Your attacks include the descriptive terms of "scam, scammer, sniff test, chamber of horrors". Your comments trashed the last CEO, the newly hired CEO (10/5/15), and the Chamber of Commerce itself. Your comment in spam even suggests low IQ as a qualification for Chamber CEO.
At 1137, you extend your lame trashing of others to me-- which again "speaks volumes about you". Only you. (That personal projection has nothing to do with me whatsoever). And to that extent, your choice of wasting our time and planting incomplete, inadequate, misleading and potentially false information is "very disappointing", (your words).
1143, as described in the full article, "Conlon said they cast a wide net for her successor. The Board reviewed 20 potential candidates." From that review, generally final CEO candidates are vetted (background fact checking).
Also, Vickie Flores grew-up in this City, her family lives here. To that extent, she is somewhat a known. (See the related Horace Hinshaw editorial on the article.)
I love Vickie, love Trump, and love this country and think she is exactly what the CoC needs right now.
Anybody who thinks Trump isn't small business didn't understand he started from nothing and built all this himself from scratch.
He is the dream and most you hippies are just jealous
300, and your comments indicate you may be the same hippie schizo flip Troll plaguing this thread.
The chamber doesn't get any tax money does it?
Makes their salary nonurbidness.
Yes, I think 3:00 is trolling. Trump did not start from nothing and he did not build it all himself. He inherited his money, received bailout from the government, and filed bankruptcy 4 times.
3:00
TROLL!
If you had half a brain you'd know Trump started with daddy's considerable wealth.
Your stupidity betrays you. Go back to RIPTIDE and riff with your "commie" buddies.
Eyes they are a-rolling 'cause schizos they be trolling. Rolling, rolling, rolling, Rawhide!
300 So twisted! Not even Donald Trump in his most vain glorious moment claims he started from nothing.
Donald Trump did not come from humble beginnings. He's the most public member of a prominent family. And, immigration is a recurring them in Donald's life. In fact he could be the poster boy for immigration--legal immigration. His family's rise from immigrants to billionaire Presidential politics in one or two generations is astounding. Is this a great country or what? His father was prominent NY/NJ real estate developer Fred Trump, the son of German immigrants (family name was Drumpf). Fred Trump's fortune at the time of his death 15 years ago was in the 200-300 million dollar range. Donald worked for him after college and he bankrolled Donald's first independent ventures into Manhattan real estate. While extremely successful, Fred lacked Donald's glitz and glamour and preferred to make his fortune in NJ and the outer boroughs. Donald's German-immigrant paternal grandfather was in the restaurant and lodging business in Alaska during the Klondike Gold Rush. Donald's mother was Mary Anne MacLeod who immigrated in her early twenties from the Isle of Lewis in Scotland's Outer Hebrides. Donald isn't self-made in the typical sense, but his family is certainly an American immigrant success story on steroids. And of course of his three wives, two were immigrants...the formidable Czech, Ivana, and the current wife, Melania from Slovenia.
Why does it matter if Flores supports Trump?
Not like she votes for everyone by proxy.
The corporate address for Final Key Consulting, LLC is 3032 Coral Ct, San Jose, CA 95121 (see https://www.linkedin.com/company/final-key-consulting-llc). That address boasts a 3 bed, 2 bath, 1900 plus square foot residence which is currently on the market (see Zillow http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/3032-Coral-Ct-San-Jose-CA-95121/19739629_zpid/). The listing date for the home is 9/15/2015. Wonder where those "15 employees", including the the manager who runs the business for Ms. Flores while she is busy fixing the Pacifica CoC, are going to work?
I suppose some of you are still in denial and will never admit you and the CoC have been scammed. I'm just wondering what it will take?
Gotta agree with 7:05. An LLC located at a private residence should be a huge red flag to anyone paying attention. Would also love for someone to explain why an LLC whose specialty is Microsoft CRM implementations runs a Baby's First WordPress site that looks amatuer as hell.
None of this passes ye olde smell test. Typical PacChamber, of course.
705/929 Still on the trail? You're a dog with a bone and a very suspicious nature which is sort of, you know, suspicious. Are you a creeper?
If we're talking creepy, I've got nothing on you, bud. At 1:50 AM I was sleeping. And what were you doing? Up posting to Fix Pacifica in order to protect the honor of our fair Chamber. God bless you, Sir Galahad of the Internet!
821 Now, you know it's not about the Chamber, their new CEO, or the hour. You're in the throes of another full blown obsession and I'm LMAO. 20 Hail Marys and an Act of Contrition, but you being the way you are, I think I'm going to sin, again. I just can't help myself.
I'm glad the Chamber has a White Knight like you, 10:14. Stay vigilant, even if this means trolling local blogs at 3 AM, cuz you never know what evil lurks in the hearts of men. People might call what you do pathetic, but I call it God's Work. Love the cape and mask btw.
1213 Cape and Mask? You can see me, huh?
Don the chamber maid set the chamber back 20 years.
Courtney ran the information booth at Seton Hospital. She could go to grand openings and cut a ribbon with a city council remember. Go to council shilling and begging for a few scraps.
This new lady never ran a city chamber also? Can we say epic failure number 3
I just love some of the ethically challenged individuals on this blog and in this town. The Gang of Four (i.e., DeJarnatt, Vreeland, Lancelle and Digre) had their die hard supporters, and they managed to make over $4 million dollars disappear in plain sight. Bravo! But that's just the tip of the iceberg. How many millions have been wasted on pet projects, faux environmentalism and keeping big, bad people out of Pacifica over the years? Would it surprise you if it were to the tune of over $50 million? When is enough enough? When are you willing to put your political leanings and personal ego aside and do what's right for Pacifica and yourself? What do you see when you look in the mirror? A flack/shill or an honest person who is willing to take on their own side if they see that something dishonest, unethical or untoward is taking place? Or, do you just take comfort in the mantra that "the end justifies the means"? World history is replete with those that felt that way, so you are not alone. But consider the company you are keeping. These are not people that history remembers fondly.
The evidence is overwhelming that the Chamber of Commerce did not do their requisite homework in screening this individual. Clearly, something is very, very wrong here. That cannot be denied. Perhaps the candidate fit the profile the CoC had painted in their minds and they decided to discard customary due diligence and forego her screening process. But this will not end well for the CoC, the new CEO, the businesses of Pacifica and Pacifica itself. I promise you, this will NOT end well.
Well, get in there 1250 and show 'em how it's done!
The Gang of Four supporters are completely devoid of ethics and morality.
They will never own up to the damage that their puppet crooks and incompetents did to Pacifica. It doesn't matter to them. They only care about themselves and their "I got mine" philosophy of life. It is truly sad that somehow these very evil people got a hold of Pacifica politics and ruined our little city.
Let's not kid ourselves, they're already recruiting the next generation of self centered reality deniers. Our only hope is to wake up, get involved and challenge.
258 What's the MPG for that bug juice you're on?
Oh no, we're all in trouble now.
An anonymous man promised something IN ALL CAPS so you just know it's true.
Thank you, anonymous man, for having the courage of your all-caps prediction!
PS - double up on your meds tomorrow, m'kay?
This candidate will lead the Chamber of Commerce to greatness.
Large multi national companies protect small business interests in Pacifica when they protect their own.
Sometimes small business men just don't understand the big picture.
Vicky worked for Microsoft so she knows and her business will be moving to Pacifica hopefully hiring another fifteen people because they have experienced incredible first year growth.
She's not a candidate - she's been appointed CEO.
(Didn't bother to read the rest!)
641 Cut him some slack. It's hard to be informative when you're nuts.
"Gang of Four", or do you mean "Gang of No"?. The Gang of Four were four people who held political power in China before and after the death of Mao in 1978. They are blamed for the Cultural Revolution in which tens of thousands were killed during the 1960s and 1970s. They were overthrown, put on trial and either died in prison or served long prison sentences. I personally think that the Pacifica Gang of No is like Spanky and our Gang!
Chamber members concerned this candidate could not provide copy of college diploma
Now we hear candidate never even worked for Microsoft.
Lets not rush to another bad hire.
While everyone was debating the new chamber maid.
In previous unreported Pacifica News. Someone broke into Luigi's pizza and destroyed the place.
1030 That's hateful. Luigi has helped so many people and groups in Pacifica. What is wrong with this town?
No doubt when you unpeel the onion that is Ms. Flores, you are bound to find many more surprises. It appears as though her resume his a product of her imagination. But who knows, maybe the CoC is screening for a vivid imagination?
What's wrong with this town is that we have NOBIES who have made sure that we are broke and can't afford a well resourced and staffed police department to catch these little bastards.
As far as the bad guys, that's a problem with the whole world. People are very defective and harmful to each other. It' a sad reality.
9:06, From what I can tell, the new Chamber CEO never claimed she worked for Microsoft.
I'm in the tech biz, and her resume seems fine to me.
Steve can you post the resume so we get the truth?
From what i heard Flores never needed college because she was such a tech wiz
The plot thickens.
She doesn't own the above mentioned house in San Jose.
I'm not in the tech business but it sounds like she used a Microsoft platform to move a client to or from salesforce.
That's right Steve. Her company web site says they consult on Microsoft CRM implementation (customer relationship management software) and are a Microsoft certified partner. The history page mentions previously working for Magma Design Automation and then Hitachi Solutions. Interestingly, the web site does not list any names or company officers and also does not give a phone number or address for the company. Ms. Flores is not mentioned on the web site, nor is anybody else. That seems odd.
906, using your own words, "let's not rush to another bad": ANONYMOUS COMMENT.
Wikipedia explains "Microsoft Solutions Framework (MSF)", which does not require working for Microsoft-- but may include specialized individual MSF education Certificates. There may also be a system leasing agreement for the vendor and the businesses which use the systems.
Example, another consulting vendor that uses advanced Microsoft system technology to build systems for business: Integrated Systems Solutions. And another (this one from India, the country): Microsoft Dynamics.
Also, the related article mentions classes from Skyline Community College, and graduating. Skyline degrees and certificates are listed here.
125, the resume for Vickie Flores is posted on the above article, her LinkedIn account, scroll to the end, education: BA, Business Management, Phoenix College.
906, if all else fails, college degrees may be verified through the College. Next...
Why the witch hunt? Seems twisted. The guy behind it has his own motives. And they're not admirable, they're destructive, just like the little bastards vandalizing Luigi's, breaking in to the Sanchez Library, etc. It's all the same disease. Hateful.
So she's claiming an undergraduate degree she does't hold or they can't verify it?
Is her blog credible to a techie like you steve?
@3:12-
You call it "hate" and a "witch hunt", I call it being smart, not lazy and performing due diligence - the same thing I would demand when hiring for my own company.
I wouldn't have even weighed in on this except for her assertion that she started a high tech company in Silicon Valley in 2014 with 15 employees, and then claimed it runs itself (her words paraphrased, not mine) in order to rationalize taking on another full time job. Anyone with half a brain would question her veracity on this. If you told me that the only thing that matters is that she was a resident in Pacifica at some time, I would shut up and say good luck. But if that is really the CoC's criteria for their CEO, there are about 40,000 people who are qualified for the position and some of them are quite impressive. I'm sure there would have been a lot of interest since I understand the pay is quite good and the unemployment rate is quite high. But really, can't we raise the bar just a little higher on this? And if you want to tell me it's the CoC's business and not mine, then perhaps the blog owners shouldn't post something so controversial here for comment.
415, we took a poll and no one wants to work for you, sorry.
If you're a Chamber of Commerce member, you might want to ask the "half a brain" Board Members, individually or collectively, why they chose Vickie Flores rather than any of the other 19 applicants for the advertised position of CEO.
And especially why they (Board Members) avoided "due diligence", couldn't assess that 15 employees (most who may be consultants) couldn't run a shell company; and why they (Board Members) failed to consult you of "whole brain" in advance).
312 read your prior comments and "got it", just as most of us have. Moving on...
Final Key Consulting LLC was formed in January 2015. Address of the LLC is listed as a private residence with the SecState. Agent for Service is also Vickie Flores, so this is bush league and one step above a dba run out of a PO box. Eight months later the house is sold.
She also claims Ballmer personally awarded her a CRM award in 2011 which is not true. She is not named on the award she claims to have received. She also takes credit for awards presented to companies before/after she worked at those companies.
But hey, nothing to see here. Let's all move along.
she attended Phoenix College. Presumably Arizona. "Phoenix College, the flagship of the Maricopa Community Colleges." So it appears she attended something similar to Skyline...
That's too bad that no one wants to work for me, Kathy. I was going to hire you as the Public Relations VP and Ms. Flores as, well, whatever the job du jour is for her today. Also, thought I would see if Mr. Sinai would sign on as the automated resume acceptance bot. With all of you on board, don't see how my company can't win some of the big awards Ms. Flores claims her company has won. Kathy you love to attack anyone who disagrees with you. But you don't have the integrity to allow them to counter back. I'm sure you will spam this one too. Have a nice day.
"Pacifica Watchdig" comes off as one of our angry artist and musician friends who see sinister conspiracies in everything, and who always start foaming at the mouth whenever the Pacifica Chamber of Commerce is mentioned. They also know nothing about how the high-tech industry works.
It's very common for tech people to be running businesses, even corporations and LLCs, out of their homes. If you're selling customized software services, all you need is a computer, an internet connection and a phone.
I also haven't seen where she took personal credit for winning an award from Microsoft. The award was obviously for her team, which is what she wrote on her LinkedIn page. So Pacifica Watchdig dishonestly misrepresents what she was saying.
Yeah, her Final Key website stinks. Lots of commercial websites stink. I've been doing software development for over 30 years, and I've never seen someone hired to do the type of work Final Key does because of their website. Most people I know who have Final Key-type companies don't even bother with websites.
832, the Chamber Board made it's choice for CEO, not following your questionable guidelines. Their "due diligence" is up to them, and apparently that "due diligence" has nothing to do with you or your mean-spirited campaign on this local pro-progress blog.
If you had true CEO candidate issues to discuss with the Chamber Board, it seems you might have been talk to them (the Board) directly-- you know the relevant authority.
Rather, it seems your "integrity" has lead you away from the direct source (the Chamber Board) to post public trash about the CEO candidate (new CEO from 10/5/15) under your Anonymous (no name) non-identity.
Wonder why you've got flack back from Steve, from others, and from me-- that's our ethical integrity to say, "your BS does not stand".
Hopefully, Vickie Flores will continue organization stability; while bring-in good energy and ideas, advancing technology, and providing a good partnership team effort. At the same time, may she continue to support needed city progress, and win a few more "good job" prizes too.
Congratulations, best wishes, and good luck to her!
I couldn't disagree with Mr. Sinai's statements more.
1. Pacifica Watchdig clearly comes across as someone with common business sense. I see nothing in their post that indicates a bias against the CoC or any axe to grind. Mr. Sinai seems a bit conspiratorial on this one.
2. Ms. Flores and her "company" are not involved in software development as you claim you are, Mr. Sinai. According to her own statements, Ms. Flores' Final Key Consulting only does turnkey, on site implementations/installations of the Microsoft CRM modules. This is quite different than software programmers/developers who can work anywhere and are typically doing heads-down coding based upon written specs and have limited, if any, interaction with the client.
3. Ms. Flores stated that she has 15 employees. Anyone would interpret this to mean that these are permanent positions. One would never assume that these could be 1099 sub-contractors or temporary W2's which is what Mr. Sinai is describing. There are many body shop/contract agencies out there that place the people Mr. Sinai is referring to. That is not the case here. If so, Ms. Flores would be acting in the role of a head hunter. Her firm has a very specific, single purpose expertise, i.e., implementing the Microsoft CRM.. Big difference.
4. To be able to place 15 consultants in various companies implementing Microsoft CRM takes a lot of ground work. Who is doing that work at Last Key? Where is their office located? Does anyone have a phone number. Who do I contact if I want to retain their services? It appears to me that the single point of contact to Final Key is an embedded form on their web site. So much for Mr. Sinai's position that a good, professional web site, or any web site, for that matter, is not necessary.
5. A web site for standalone software development programmers is not important. But this is about a company that is trying to market itself as an expert at Microsoft Dynamics CRM and a good website is necessary to help market their services. If Final Key Consulting is trying to effectively compete with the big boys, e.g., Hitachi Solutions (where Ms. Flores claimed to have formerly been employed) they must maintain a competitive, professional website presence. Check out Hitachi Solutions website: http://us.hitachi-solutions.com/products-solutions/microsoft-dynamics-crm/
Note the difference. Not even close. And also notice how HS lists its "satisfied" customers. Please, show me one customer that ever hired Ms. Flores' company Final Key Consulting.
6. It usually takes a good 5 years to develop a successful company/business. Ask any small-medium sized business founder. I beg you to show me anyone who built a successful company of the magnitude of 15 permanent employees and then left it to pursue other options all in the span of less than one year.
Glad you said that, Kathy. The attacks were particularly vile and unrelenting. Oddly so. Nice of Sinai to share his "neutralizing" views as well. I'm neither a Chamber fan nor foe, but I think they can manage their own hiring process and whomever they hire should be given a chance to do the job without being smeared and savaged by some loon on here.
In other previously unreported Pacifica News.
Errold Changs family filed a lawsuit against Pacifica and Daly City.
Jogger files lawsuit against the city of Pacifica for falling into a man hole.
Unlike public money predators, Loeb and Bohner, at least these suits have merit.
810 And Pacifica and Daly City deserve to be sued. Civil suits and the jurors that hear them have enormous power to expose flaws in the system and change public policy. Money talks.
11:22, You have some extremely naive and outdated views of how the software consulting business works. CRM systems tend to be very large and complicated, and companies have gone out of business because they spent all their money on unsuccessful switch-overs from one vendor to another. I've worked on these types of projects, and they're a pain. They often can take several years and require dozens of programmers. You seem think it's just a case of downloading software from the new vendor, installing it, and it's done. Nope. Not even close.
The belief that software developers can code offsite using written specs is a myth. People tried it, and learned that it only works for the simplest of requirements. Most software projects are too complex, and requirements change too often, to be able come up with specs that cover everything.
Small consulting companies like Final Key get their work through contacts, not their websites. Just because some companies need websites doesn't mean all companies need websites.
I won't speculate on whether the people who work for Final Key are employees or independent contractors, or whether they're currently working on a project or not. I haven't got a clue about that. If it is currently working on a project for a client, it could very well be the case that the client wants to keep that project quiet for competitive reasons, and doesn't want Final Key disclosing anything about it.
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