The inaugural issue of the “Central California Business Review” (CCBR) is hot off the press.

The new local magazine features a range of topics including the labor market, agriculture and banking. It reports on different economic conditions and will forecast in multiple business sectors of the Central Valley.

The magazine was written by faculty members from the Craig School of Business and by several other professionals from multiple business sectors in the community.

Initial interest in the production of the magazine began when the dean of the business school, Robert Harper, was approached by Sanjay Varshney, former dean of the business school at Sacramento State, about doing a business review magazine in the area.

Varshney, who is now a senior vice president at Wells Fargo bank, had a similar publication in the Sacramento area called the “Sacramento Business Review” and was an instrumental part of getting the magazine produced.

After talking to Varshney, Harper meet with several faculty and community members to see if there was an interest in producing the magazine.

Once Harper talked with the people interested in being part of the magazine, he started planning for the production.

“I am very appreciative of the faculty involvement. They were very enthusiastic about putting this magazine together,” Harper said. “I am hoping this [magazine] becomes an annual well-read publication.”

Faculty involved with the magazine’s production include Jacquelin Curry, assistant professor in the department of finance and business law; and Srini Konduru, chair of the department of agricultural business at Fresno State.

Curry was involved in the real estate feature that brought into context the real estate sentiment index.

“I was actually at the very first meeting when it was simply an idea — it is wonderful to see all of my colleges and my ideas in print,” Curry said. “I believe we have a great blueprint to success and can only imagine being able to expand on what we have created.”

Konduru was involved in the agriculture section of the magazine — a feature that brings in-depth analysis into the biggest business in the Central Valley.

“[I am] honored to be part of the team who accomplished this feat in a very short period of time,” Konduru said. “I would definitely like to be involved in the production of future CCBR issues.”

Harper thanked Wells Fargo, which provided financial support, along with other sponsors. He also thanked the Educational Employees Credit Union, Fresno County Farm Bureau and the San Joaquin Valley Manufacturing Alliance for providing data and information for the publication.

Harper wants to make it an annual publication that comes out around the beginning of the spring semester. He wants to launch the magazine every year with an event that will have faculty present their area of expertise.

“I hope students enjoy reading this magazine.” Harper said.