What began by a group of parents joining together to improve the lives of their adult children with disabilities has transformed lives and made the community a better place. ABLE Industries was founded by parents and has stood the test of time as 2012 marks the 50^th anniversary of the Visalia non-profit. Today ABLE Industries employs over 200 workers (trainees) and provides quality job training, employment, life skills education, and community supportive services to disabled adults 18 and older. 

In addition, ABLE Industries provides vocational evaluation, work adjustment, supported employment, and competitive placement services. Trainees are given the chance to work in the community as they make progress and show potential in the agency's onsite work center. “Some trainees have been with us more than 25 years,” explains CWC Coun   Read More...

 

 

 

This diplomatic approach has worked well for AR Group. Since opening their doors in June of 2006, the agency has collected $10 million in debts for their clients ranging from large companies to small business owners. Patrick a   

Stephen Peck, AICP, is president of Peck Planning and Development, LLC, a Visalia company which provides planning entitlement services, project management, and economic development consulting to developers, cities, counties, and redevelopment agencies. Steve has 35 years of experience as a planning consultant, developer, and as a planning director for the City of Visalia.

Steve's experience includes development of over 50 specific plans, 35 general plans, 15 redevelopment plans, and 125 environmental documents, including such projects for the City of Visalia (General Plan, Redevelopment Plans, Specific Plans) and the County of Tulare (General Plan Policy Summary and Background Report), as well as similar projects for other Central Valley and Tulare County communities. As a consultant and City official he has worked on retail centers totaling 5,000,000 square feet anchored by Gottschalks, Costco, J.C. Penney's, Circuit City, Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Lowe’s, Target, Save-Mart, and others.

Prior to forming his own company, Steve was a vice-president with Mangano Company, Inc., as well as the executive vice-president, chairman of the board, and planning services director for Quad Knopf, a 350-person architecture, engineering and planning firm with offices in Bakersfield, Visalia, Fresno, Sacramento, and Reno.

In addition to his Chamber involvement, Steve has served in numerous leadership positions for organizations such as Friends of the Fox, VEDC, Tulare County EDC, and the California Chapter of the American Planning Association. He is a certified planner with graduate degrees in both Economics (University of Colorado) and City and Regional Planning (California State University, Fresno).&