Surfrider Foundation Implements OFG Program

Nita Charlton-Gomes has operated HB Business Consulting Services & Solutions in Huntington Beach, California, since 2015. Interested in giving back to the community, Nita Charlton-Gomes donates to the Surfrider Foundation. 

The Surfrider Foundation is a network of people dedicated to protecting the world’s oceans and beaches. The organization’s Ocean Friendly Gardens (OFG) program is designed to reduce human defilement of these essential resources.

Water runoff is the largest source of ocean pollution from urban areas. Runoff is not only a waste of water, which could be used to irrigate the surrounding landscape and refill groundwater reserves, but it also leads to dangerous flooding.

The OFG views the streets and landscapes as a means to control water pollution, noting that correctly designed land can capture rainwater and filter it through the soil before it is channeled into the ocean. 

Surfrider chapters disseminate critical information on techniques to reduce pollution through water runoff to both homeowners and landscaping professionals. They also lobby local governments to incorporate OFG thinking into their development policies.

The Surfrider Foundation’s Ocean Friendly Gardens Program

 


Business consultant Nita Charlton-Gomes is the owner of HB Business Consulting Services & Solutions in Huntington Beach, California. In this capacity, she handles everything from preparing financial statements and fulfilling accounting needs to coordinating marketing. In her free time, Nita Charlton-Gomes participates in beach cleanups with her local Surfrider Foundation chapter.

Committed to protecting oceans and beaches around the world, the Surfrider Foundation maintains numerous programs, including its Ocean Friendly Gardens (OFG) Program. Many individuals are unaware that water runoff is the top source of pollution in urban areas and contributes to wasting water. To combat this problem, OFG teaches property owners about how different landscapes and hardscapes play a role in preventing water pollution. OFG is a volunteer-run training and advocacy program.

The program is carried out by local chapters and applies the ideas of conservation, permeability, and retention to landscapes and streets. Rather than allowing excess water to run into the ocean, ocean-friendly gardens allow a landscape’s soil to absorb extra water. This attribute not only protects local water supplies but also reduces flooding and creates wildlife habitats. It also allows for more efficient irrigation and promotes the use of climate-appropriate plants. Over the years, these same principles have become recognized around the country as an imprtant part of the watershed approach to landscaping.

Dean Koontz - Reading and Writing in a Variety of Genres

 

Nita Charlton-Gomes is a respected Huntington Beach, California, entrepreneur who leads HB Business Consulting Services & Solutions and provides a host of strategic development as well as financial statement preparation services. Nita Charlton-Gomes is an avid reader who particularly enjoys the works of Dean Koontz, some of which take place in actual neighborhoods she is familiar with.

Interviewed by the New York Times in 2014, the author of The City described himself as a longtime fan of Charles Dickens for his detailed descriptions of even minor characters as well as his sense of humanity. Other favorite authors include Cormac McCarthy, and Koontz is also drawn to the classic Travis McGee series of John D. MacDonald.

Dean Koontz noted that he reads a wide range of genres, reflecting his own proclivities as an author. His works span comedies, love stories, suspense, and the spiritual, with books such as Odd Thomas considered pioneering cross-genre novels. Koontz notes that he is really a throwback to authors such as John P. Marquand and Mark Twain, who existed before genres got too firmly set.

Preparation for Beginning a New Business

The owner of HB Business Consulting Services & Solutions, a business development and expansion company in Huntington Beach, California, Nita Charlton-Gomes possesses more than 25 years of accounting and business executive experience. Nita Charlton-Gomes continues to expand her existing knowledge of topics relevant to her consulting practice, including event planning and new business start-up.

When launching a new business, there are many tips and suggestions one might take into consideration. The small business information website The Balance offers these recommendations for a successful start to a new business:

1. Prepare a business plan.
Before starting a new business, it is important to prepare a business plan that can help you determine if your idea is feasible, provide a good outline for potential funding, and guide future decision making.

2. Seek professional help.
New and potential business owners should seek out and connect with associations relevant to their industry. These organizations can provide helpful support and networking opportunities.

3. Enter the workforce already established as a professional company.
Before the doors first open, ensure your business is stocked with all the essentials: business cards, a dedicated phone line, and quality customer service representation. It is important to show your first customers that you are a poised to become a lasting business.

Two Critical Tips to Help Startups Enhance Possibility of Success

A business consultant and the owner of HB Business Consulting Services & Solutions, Nita Charlton-Gomes assists clients in diverse business areas, including marketing coordination. Additionally, Nita Charlton-Gomes harbors an interest is business startups.

Those interested in starting a business may want to consider the following pointers.

When you are brainstorming what to offer as a product or service, think about what your customers will want to buy, rather than what you want to sell. For example, if you were going to sell clothing, keep in mind what is already out there, do research, and find what people really enjoy buying. Don't just sell what you assume others will like based on your personal tastes.

Aside from brainstorming product or service ideas, ensuring that you have cash flow is highly important, as it's the lifeline of your business. One way you can increase cash flow is to ask for deposits on your products or services up front and then charge the balance upon delivery. The important thing is to make sure that there is a small gap, or no gap at all, between your out-of-pocket expenses for your products or services and the time when you receive final payment from your customers.