Celebrating Business Excellence on the Central Coast

From left to right: Blake Perdue, Jody Kurlas, Sylvie Gilbert, Bailey Hochhalter, Lindsay Campbell, Katie Tompkins, Philippe de L’Arbre

On June 18, 2026, the Pacific Coast Business Times held its Hall of Fame & Best Places to Work event at Direct Relief Headquarters, celebrating standout companies setting the standard for workplace culture and community impact, and inducting local leader Joey Zumaya into their prestigious Business Hall of Fame.

We were invited to the event upon being named one of Pacific Coast Business Times’ “Central Coast Best Places to Work” in their May 2026 issue—an entirely employee-driven recognition that measures employee enthusiasm and employer effectiveness.

Beyond the opportunity to connect with other leading businesses in the area, the evening held a special moment for our team: Clear Group founder Bailey Hochhalter spoke at the event, representing Clear Group among an inspiring group of Central Coast leaders.

A unique connection: Our Media Manager Sylvie Gilbert’s grandfather was the very first inductee into PacBiz’s Business Hall of Fame! The company he started, TOLD Corporation, is now run by Sylvie’s father, Rod Gilbert. TOLD Corporation continues to support PacBiz, and this year, they graciously shared event tickets and podium time with the Clear Group team.

During the speech, Bailey gave a nod to the synergy between Clear Group and TOLD Corporation noting, “To me, this connection is a perfect example of running a business in the Central Coast. While this community is geographically large, it’s the strong current of close personal connections that drive your business forward.“

It was a proud night all around—a reminder of the caliber of companies we work alongside on the Central Coast. Congratulations to the incredible individuals and businesses recognized that evening!