August 2016
1
www.cvbizjournal.com
AUGUST
2016
VOL 11 • NUMBER 12
FOLLOW US
@cvbizjournal
SERVING SAN JOAQUIN, STANISLAUS
& MERCED COUNTIES
HOW TO LAND AN AIRLINE Valley efforts to add passenger service are often met with a head wind of resistance from airlines
cover story on pg. 24
WHAT’S WHAT’S INSIDE INSIDE Publisher’s Notes...........................Page 2 On the Web.....................................Page 4 Real Estate...................................Page 28 Jobs & Economy..........................Page 34 Briefs....................................Pages 42, 43 Legals...................................Pages 44, 45
New President
pg. 7
Fair Fun
pg. 8
Boat Airbnb
pg. 32
Visit our website at www.cvbizjournal.com & “like” us at facebook.com/CVBIZJOURNAL
PERMIT NO. 305
SACRAMENTO CA
PRTSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID
2
Central Valley Business Journal
August 2016
A call for national decorum and unity At my age you’d think you’ve seen or heard just about everything. Then come the 2016 presidential nominating conventions! Geez, there were no-shows from some Republican party leaders. Sen. Ted Cruz shows up only to shoot his political career in the foot. Names being called. Fast forward to the Democrats, and it’s no better. ComSharon mittee Chair Alley Calone Debbie Wasserman Shultz resigns opening day over emails published by Wikileaks that reportedly show the party favored Clinton over Sanders. Bernie supporters feel they got burned. Protesters everywhere. Paul Simon sings “Bridge Over Troubled Water” on opening night, and the beat goes on! I felt like I was watching a vaudeville act. The good news is this ends in November. One way or another we will elect a new commander in chief. I’m staying positive, and lately I do a lot of praying.
Publisher’s Notes
Something’s gotta give. I’m proud to be an American, so enough of the name calling, lying, and disrespect for each other. Let’s get down to business and put this country back to work, keep us safe and for God’s sake, let’s take better care of our veterans. I don’t profess to be all-knowing, but I do know that when you give your word to endorse someone, then you need to man up and do it. Win or lose, your word is your bond! If you never intended to honor your word, don’t pledge it. It’s time our public figures remember that our children are watching. We need to teach by example, practice honesty and deliver back to our country its dignity. Americans deserve better than what we are being fed. Watching the news is unbearable, from the killings in Germany to the cold blooded murder of a Catholic priest in France. I only mention a few as I fear the entire world has come uncorked. We need leadership and backbone. We need compassion and empathy, but most of all we need to feel safe in this country. As the mother of a serviceman, I want to know my son is serving under a strong leader with access to the brightest minds available when making the difficult decisions that lie ahead. I believe we must rebuild our military; that only makes sense. We need to keep
BUSINESS JOURNAL PHOTO
The United Way’s CEO, Andy Prokop, makes presentations to support the workplace campaign.
our men and women serving this great nation as safe as possible. Our leaders need to give us reasons to trust in their leadership. I demand it as a law abiding citizen. I’d also like to say that “all lives matter.” Anything else is divisive. In God’s eyes, we are all created equal. Speaking of unity, here’s one way for your business to help make San Joaquin County a better place: the United
Way’s workplace campaign. It’s a streamlined way for you and your employees to donate money to the local, nonprofit organization of your choice. To set up a United Way presentation for your business, contact Darcy Koster at 209-469-6980 or email at dkoster@unitedwaysjc.org. God bless our men and women in blue. Thank you for your service! – Sharon Alley Calone
August 2016
3
www.cvbizjournal.com
Food manufacturers focus on saving water By CRAIG W. ANDERSON Business Journal writer canderson@cvbizjournal.com
MODESTO — California’s drought is in its fifth year. While that has prompted many businesses to change their operations, looking for ways to use water more efficiently has long been a priority in the Valley’s food manufacturing sector. “It has always made good economic sense for manufacturers to carefully manage their water use,” said California Manufacturers & Technology Association President Dorothy Rothrock. “For decades they’ve been investing in water-saving technologies and best practices to significantly reduce water use.” She added that California companies are more competitive because they’ve reduced their water bills and lowered energy costs used in water treatment or disposal. Nestle, for example, is transforming its Modesto milk factory into a “zero water” facility that won’t use any local freshwater resources for its operations. “We apply a product life cycle approach … from farm to consumer,” said Nestle USA Director of Safety, Health and Environment Michael Desso. “Specific to our food and beverage business, we focus on water preservation, natural resources efficiency … and zero waste.”
It has always made good economic sense for manufacturers to carefully manage their water use. President Dorothy Rothrock, CA Manufacturers & Technology Assn.
The Modesto plant, which produces evaporated milk, is using technology developed at its zero-water plant in Mexico to extract water from milk which it then recycles and uses to make its dairy products. “Technology we’ve already deployed successfully elsewhere in the world … will improve our water use efficiency, relieving pressure on California’s water resources,” Nestles Head of Operations Jose Lopez said in a report on its website. Nestle estimates its Modesto plant will save nearly 63 million gallons of water annually, about 71 percent of the water it used in 2014. The company considers that a good return on the $7 million invested in the facility PHOTO COURTESY PACIFIC COAST PRODUCERS
Please see MANUFACTURING Page 11
Pacific Coast Producers in Lodi have implemented water-saving measures on its peach processing line.
August 2016
ONLINE EXTRAS The Lists for September ► Telecommunication/ISP IT-Network Consultants ► Advertising/Graphic/Web
STOCKTON • TRACY • LODI • MANTECA • LATHROP MODESTO • CERES • TURLOCK • OAKDALE • SALIDA
► Recycling & Waste Disposal ► Outpatient Surgery Centers
4512 Feather River Dr., Suite E • Stockton, CA 95219 Phone: (209) 477-0100 • Fax: (209) 477-0211 Web: www.cvbizjournal.com
San Joaquin County Account Executives Tom Gorman Research Danette Conley
Contributing Writers Craig W. Anderson Kent Hohlfeld Patricia Reynolds Sim Risso Nora Heston Tarte Bob Balgemann
Creative Director Sophia Machado Administrative Assistant/ Subscriptions Desiree Arias Accounting Sal Calone
Photographers Wayne Denning Philip Johnson Legal Adviser Calone & Harrel Law Group, LLP Richard Calone Printer Southwest Offset Printing
The Central Valley Business Journal, LLC published monthly at 4512 Feather River Drive - Suite E, Stockton, CA 95219. Circulation 17,000 verification letter available upon request. Contents copyright 2016 by the Central Valley Business Journal, LLC. No part of this publication may be reproduced, reprinted or placed on any electronic medium, without strict, written permission from the publisher.
DETACH AND MAIL OR FAX
Subscribe Today!
Receive 12 months of the issue mailed to you Gain online access to special business content Enjoy a copy of our annual Book of Lists All for a FULL Year
75
$
Annual Subscription
Name:__________________________________ Company:_______________________________ Address:________________________________ City:___________________State:____Zip_____ Check one:
Check enclosed
Charge my:
Visa Discover
MasterCard American Express
Card #:_____________________ Exp. Date:____ Signature:__________________Sec. Code:_____ Business Phone:___________________________ Email Address:____________________________
4512 Feather River Dr. # E, Stockton, CA 95219, (209) 477-0100 www.cvbizjournal.com
Slideshows & Video (Find these in our Media Gallery) News Tips
Contact our editor directly with story ideas, new hires or promotions, business expansions or information about events. Email Elizabeth Stevens at editor@cvbizjournal.com.
► Modesto Con
Events: If your business has an event you would like added to our CVBJ calendar, email the information, including date, time, location and cost to editor@cvbizjournal.com.
Subscribe
► Eggs, Issues & Economics
Call 209-477-0100 and ask for subscriptions.
► State of Business & Education Breakfast
Advertise with us
Aug. 17, 7 a.m., Turlock Golf & Country Club, Turlock Aug. 17, 7 a.m., Martin G. Petersen Event Center, Modesto
For advertising information, call 209-477-0100.
► Stockton Con
Digital and Social Media
Aug. 20-21, Stockton Arena
► Twitter: Follow us at @cvbizjournal
(Find details on our calendar at www.cvbizjournal.com)
► Find us: LinkedIn, Google+, Facebook
Notable Quote
► Daily newsletter: Sign up for our free daily
“I went to get my business license, and I thought it was just going to be some little thing that I would do to make a $1,000 a month.”
digest of local business news. Send your email address to editor@cvbizjournal.com. ir business,
m grow the -- Hilary Zwahlen, of Modesto, who just sold her company, to readers by helping the counties. Providing value news in San Joaquin aus ss nisl ine Sta bus l and n loca e, qui Joa White Plum, which had itiv annual revenue of $9.5 Sanmillion. rce of positiv e, local business news in print, digital and ” “The most trusted sou
of pos through l events. “The most trusted source h print, digital and loca increase their bottom line se their bottom line throug ss, grow their careers and rea positive, local business ine of inc bus rce ir and s sou the eer w sted car gro tru ir m st the the g grow nislaus counties. “The mo Sta value to readers by helpin ing and se their bottom line n vid rea qui Pro inc s. Joa ntie and San s in cou and Stanislaus iness, grow their career e, local business news bus itiv ir pos the of w rce gro sou m ing value to readers the sted g vid tru pin Pro Stanislaus counties. local events.” “The most and ing value to readers by hel n vid qui Pro Joa s. San ntie in s cou rce of posinew aus Stanisl .” “The most trusted sou positive, local business news in San Joaquin and t, digital and local events e most trusted source of counties. prin “Th h ” . aus oug nts nisl thr eve l Sta line loca and n tom and qui bot ir through print, digital l business news in San Joa ir careers and increase the loca the e most e, w itiv “Th gro ” . pos ss, nts of ine eve rce l bus sou ir loca trusted e mostCOUNTIES h print, digital and nties. “Th by helping them grow the couSTANISLAUS SANaus JOAQUIN, & MERCED Stanisl grow their case their bottom line throug quin andSERVING ss, rea Joa ine inc San bus and in ir s s the eer w new car ss gro ir ine m the the grow tive, local bus ue to readers by helping them grow their business, n and Stanislaus viding valand by helpin nties. Pro San Joa readers source aus cou ue totrusted ss news invalue most ofgpositive, local business news in San Joaquin, Stanislaus Merced Providing to qui readers by Stanisl ing val local busine Provid“The quin and e,counties. Joa itiv San pos of in s rce new sou ss ine sted and bus tru l ital ” local events.” t, dig e, loca “The mosttheir bottom line through h prin nts.” increase of positiv througand l eveand them grow theiroug business, grow their careers print, digital local events. line loca tom and trusted sourcehelping bot ital ir dig the t, se prin rea iness, h inc bottom line thr ping them grow their bus grow their careers and reers and increase their ing value to readers by hel them grow their business, g vid quin pin Pro Joa hel s. San by ntie s in s cou der rea new aus ss to nisl San Joaquin and Sta of positive, local busine counties. Providing value e, local business news in “The most trusted source print, digital and itiv ” . h nts pos oug of eve APRIL thr l rce line loca sou tom and sted bot ital tru ir “The most ough print, dig and increase the w their 2016 rease their bottom line thr iness, grow their careers ir bus ders by helping them gro grow their careers and inc by helping them grow the s. Providing value to rea s ntie der San cou in rea s to FOLLOW US aus ue new nisl ss val Sta ine ing bus and vid s. Pro countie this $75 membership, you get 1 new year s in San Joaquin & source of positive, local Stanislaus and With MAYsted ough print, nts.” “The most tru of positive, local business thr eve rce l sou line loca sted tom and tru bot st ital ir mo dig the e t, se .” “Th through prin eers and increa 2016 local eve w their car their bottom line ofntsthe Central Valley Journal, increaseBusiness readers by helping eers and grow their business, gro nties. Providing value to business, grow their car FOLLOWcou aus readers by helping them US to nisl ue Sta busival and ing n vid qui Pro Joa s. countie & source of positive, local More restaurants, fewer l business news in San e mo stores e, loca delivered toaus your business or home, as well quin and Stanisl : st trusted Joa events.” “Th tom lin and loca bot trusted source of positiv ital ir st dig the Howlthe Internet is t, mo se e rea prin “Th h ” inc . oug nts and thr s eve l careerRKING w theirWO digital and loca se their bottom line changing real-li iness,fegro and increa retail to reader eersLists their carof as the annual Book directory ping them grow their bus grow counties. Providing value coverSta story nisl on pg. 24aus ing value to readers by hel them grow their business, and vid n Pro qui s. Joa ntie San cou in s aus rce of positive new nisl sou ss Sta ine sted bus and tru l n st qui loca mo e, e Joa itiv “Th San ” . pos ness news in (retail value of $50). trusted source of ir digital and local events local events.” “The most ir careers and increase the tom line through print, through print, digital and w their business, grow the eers and increase their bot gro car m ir ing the the vid g w Pro pin gro s. hel ss, ntie by ine s bus also have accessProviding value to reader them grow theirwill quin and Stanislaus cou by helping Members Stanislaus counties. business news in San Joa e most trusted source of positive, local ss news in San Joaquin and sted ital and local events.” “Th tru dig st t, mo e local busine prin h “Th ” . oug nts thr eve to all premium website content, l line loca tom their careers and bot w ir ital gro the dig ss, se t, ine rea bottom line through prin w their careers and inc ping them grow their bus gro hel ss, by s ine der bus ir rea to the w Stanislaus ue gro val and them monthly issue. nislaus counties. Providing ders by helpingeach including news in San Joaquin value to rea of positive, local business San Joaquin and Sta l events in rce s loca sou new and ss sted ital ine tru st dig bus l t, mo e loca prin hnia could learn “Th throug Califor source of positive, ir bottom lineWhat the digital and local events.” se t, rea iness prin inc bus h ir oug and the s thr w WHAT’S WHAT’S eer INSIDE INSIDE gro line car ir tom to receive a subscription, g theumm ’s minim their botlike helpin byOregon s wage rease readerfrom their business, grow the and If inc you would compromise. ss news in San Joaqui nties. Providing value to s by helping them grow cou der rea aus to nisl ine ue Sta val bus l and ing n loca vid e, in San Joaqui counties. Pro source of positiv cover story on pg. 24 ss news477-0100 l busine please contact Desiree by: phone (209) e, loca of positiv through print, digital a l events.” “The most trusted “The most trusted source increase their bottom line ough print, digital and loca and thr s WHAT’S eer WHAT’S line INSIDE INSIDE w th car tom ir bot the ir w the gro se ders by helping them gro s and increa ir careersubscriptions@cvbizjournal.com. m grow their business, theemail growor s. Providing value to rea s in Sa to readers by helping the aus countieWWW.CVB ue new nisl ss val Sta ine ing bus and vid l n Pro loca qui IZJOURNAL s. e, Joa .COM ntie itiv San and Stanislaus cou business news in FACEBOOK trusted source of pos source of positive, local local events.” “The most .COM/CVBIZJOURNAL increase their bottom line through prin trusted most nts.” “Theus out or sign up for a daily blast through print, digital and eers and local eve*Check line car ir tom the bot w ir gro the se ss, rea ine ue to readers by helpin ir careers and inc w thenews ping them grow their bus groour hel by s counties. Providing val business,of der aus rea to nisl ue at www.cvbizjournal.com Sta val ing n and WWW.CVBIZJOURNAL vid qui Pro Joa itive, local bu .COM s. San ntie in s rce of pos cou new sou aus ss ZJOURNAL Joaquin and Stanisl nts.” “The most trusted FACEBOOK.COM/CVBIse of positive, local busine eve l rce loca sou and sted tru ital ir bottom st dig the t, mo e l events.” “Th *Like usand onloca Facebook - faceboook.com/cvbizjournal w their careers and increa ir bottom line through prin digital grow their business, gro ue to read m ir careers and increase the val the the ing g w vid pin gro hel Pro ss, s. by ine s ntie bus der cou ir rea them grow the Joaquin and Stanislaus nties. Providing value to San cou in s aus new nisl ss ” . Sta ine nts bus and l eve n l ness news in San Joaqui h print, digital and loca ed source of positive, loca
Subscribe to us today!
April 2016
www.cvbizjournal.com
1
VOL 11 • NUMBER 8
@cvbizjournal
SERVING SAN JOAQUIN, STANISLAUS
MERCED COUNTIES
May 2016
www.cvbizjournal.com
Shopping shifts
1
VOL 11 • NUMBER 9
@cvbizjournal
SERVING SAN JOAQUIN, STANISLAUS
MERCED COUNTIES
WAGES
TUNNEL VOTE?
pg. 6
FEEDING ORGANICS
Publisher’s Notes...........................Page 2 On the Web.....................................Page 4 Close Up.......................................Page 14 Startup Spotlight..........................Page 18 Health Care..................................Page 22 Education....................................Page 23 Jobs & Economy..........................Page 32 Briefs....................................Pages 42, 43 Legals...................................Pages 44, 45
pg. 8
SELLER’S MARKET
NEW CHAIRMAN
pg. 14
TINKER TANK
pg. 5 Health Care....................................Page
2 On the Web.....................................Page 4 Education.....................................Page 18 Startup Spotlight..........................Page 22 Jobs & Economy..........................Page 28 Opinion........................................Page 38 Briefs....................................Pages 42, 43 Legals...................................Pages 44, 45
STOCKTON STATE?
Scan to visit “Like” us at
pg. 12
pg. 23
&
SENATE DEBATE
PRTSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID
Stanislaus County Sales Manager Ron Posey
PRTSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID
Editor Elizabeth Stevens
PERMIT NO. 305
Columnists Peter Johnson Jason Harrel Dan Natividad David Darmstandler John Parker Bruce Sarchet
SACRAMENTO CA
Publisher Sharon Alley Calone
If you have a business in one of these industries and haven’t been contacted, you can request a survey by emailing Danette Conley at research@cvbizjournal.com.
PERMIT NO. 305
Business Journal
Central Valley Business Journal
SACRAMENTO CA
4
pg. 7
STARTUP: ROAD FINCH
pg. 22
Scan to visit
“Like” us at
SAVE THE BEES
pg. 14
&
August 2016
www.cvbizjournal.com
RENDERING COURTESY DCT INDUSTRIAL
DCT Industrial’s design underwent revisions to make it more visually attractive from I-205.
New spec building goes up in Tracy By ELIZABETH STEVENS Business Journal editor estevens@cvbizjournal.com
TRACY — Less than a year from now Tracy will have another building to further cement its reputation as a logistics center. Commercial developer DCT Industrial held a groundbreaking ceremony July 6 to celebrate the 800,000-square-foot facility it is building along I-205. “We should get underway any day and hopefully be complete in about 10 months,” said DCT Senior Vice President Dave Haugen. The project suffered some setbacks as Tracy’s City Council debated how to manage growth along the I-205 corridor. DCT’s original proposal was rejected when council members decided they didn’t want people driving into the city to be greeted by a landscape that looked too industrial. DCT went back to the drawing board and modified plans so the facility would look more like an office building than a warehouse. “We did change the elevation of the building so the corners now have much more glass,” Haugen said. “They do look like like office buildings on the corners. We added some glass along the freeway between those two corners.” The facility will be built on Arbor Avenue near MacArthur Drive with 1,300 feet of freeway frontage. The building’s overall height was lowered from 44 to 40 feet to meet city code. Trees and other landscaping will be added to further soften the building’s appearance. The facility is one of nine industrial buildings currently under construction by various developers in San Joaquin County. When all are finished, they will add more than 3.5 million square feet of industrial
space. Another six buildings for a total of 3.4 million square feet are in the planning stages. “The market fundamentals for San Joaquin County are really healthy, probably the healthiest they’ve been in most people’s memory,” Haugen said. “We have more users than we have buildings.” DCT does not have a tenant in line for the building, but some businesses have shown interest, and Haugen expects to hear from more businesses once the building is up. “Being under construction will be important to showing people that it’s real,” he said. The facility includes 30,000 square feet of office space that could accommodate a local or even regional operation, Haugen said. It is also a cross dock building, which allows for material to be loaded off of trucks on one side and onto trucks on the other side for increased efficiency. Truck ports will also be deeper than most facilities offer. Haugen said the building has also been designed with employees in mind. “They have an outdoor break area, what we call ‘people spaces,’” Haugen said. The facility will also provide twice as much parking as required by code, which will allow whoever leases the space to use it as a manufacturing facility or for e-commerce. Even though the building’s height was lowered, Haugen said it won’t affect the way the facility could be used. “The building will be 32 foot clear on the inside. And that’s really, that’s a very high functioning dimension,” he said. “There is a movement in the business that 36 feet should be standard that hasn’t been universally adopted. And many, many users can’t take advantage of 36 feet anyway.”
5
6
Central Valley Business Journal
August 2016
Fund shortfall jeopardizes new courthouse By KENT HOHLFELD Business Journal writer khohlfeld@cvbizjournal.com
MODESTO — Hopes of replacing Stanislaus County’s aging courthouse have taken a hit. The Judicial Council of California’s Court Facilities Advisory Committee says the Critical Needs Account, responsible for funding new courthouse construction, is critically low on funds. “These funds are crucial as they are the only funds used to build any and all new courthouses,” said Brandi Christensen, facilities support services supervisor for the Stanislaus County Superior Court. The committee, which oversees the account, will meet on Aug. 11 to develop a framework for replenishing the fund and prioritizing current projects. Those decisions are crucial to the future of the $267 million project in Modesto. “We are in a holding pattern until the Aug. 11, meeting at the judicial council,” Christensen said. The fund has been beset by a multitude of problems during the last decade. During the Great Recession, California transferred about $1.4 billion to its general fund to deal with the budget crisis. The state never repaid the money. In addition, fines and court fees, the major source of money for the fund, have fallen dramatically
PHILIP JOHNSON/CVBJ
The current Stanislaus County Courthouse in downtown Modesto saw its last major update in 1960.
in the last five years. “The cumulative impact of the fund redirections and the reduction of revenue from fines and fees creates a perfect storm,” said committee chairman Justice Brad Hill in a release about the fund’s dire condition. “Unless revenues increase or another funding source is found, the construction program cannot proceed as planned.” That would have consequences statewide. Currently, there are 23 courthouse
projects in some state of development across the state. Six projects, including one in Stockton, are in the construction phase. The remaining projects are in the site acquisition, scope definition or design stages of work. Stanislaus County’s project is in the preliminary plan and design phase. Construction on a 309,000 square-foot facility, bounded by H and G streets and 9th and 10th streets, had been planned to begin in June 2018. It was
hoped that the construction would be completed by 2020. The funding issues have now put those plans in flux, which impacts daily court operations. “The court struggles daily to use the entire building as efficiently as possible,” said Christensen. “Any budget cuts by the state will also impair any efficiency improvements.” The current facility is a combination of two buildings. One was built in 1871 and remodeled in 1939. The more modern half of the facility was built in 1960. The use of the aging facility presents an array of challenges. Lines waiting to get into the building can stretch to 100 people. Waiting times can be excessive. There are no holding cells adjacent to the courtrooms. Officers have to escort defendants across the halls where visitors mass, which presents a security issue. Concerns about the funding issues are so severe that presiding judges and court executive officers from eight superior courts, including Stanislaus County, sent a letter July 6 to the committee which highlighted the consequences of delaying projects. “To stop all projects at this time ... risks increased costs for all phases of projects as escalation costs continue to rise each year a project is delayed,” the judges wrote.
August 2016
7
www.cvbizjournal.com
Junn takes reins at Stanislaus State By ELIZABETH STEVENS Business Journal editor estevens@cvbizjournal.com
TURLOCK — Ellen Junn took over as president of Stanislaus State University July 1. She replaced Joseph F. Sheley, who is retiring. The 58-year-old academic has a long career in the California State University system. She has held various posts at CSU campuses in Dominguez Hills, Fresno, San Bernardino Fullerton and San Jose over the last 25 years. Her last position was provost and vice president for Academic Affairs for CSU Dominguez Hills. Throughout her career, she has focused on supporting under-served students, encouraging universitycommunity engagement and developing strategies to support non-tenure track faculty, especially women and minorities. Junn talked with Business Journal editor Elizabeth Stevens shortly after she began her new job in Turlock. CVBJ - You’ve worked at campuses throughout the state. Is there anything that strikes you as unique about our part of the Central Valley? Junn - I think the thing that’s unique about our campus is that there’s only two CSUs in the entire
PHOTO COURTESY STANISLAUS STATE UNIVERSITY
Stanislaus State’s new president, Ellen Junn, took over at the Turlock campus July 1.
state of California that are in the Central Valley. That is, Fresno State and us. And then there’s a UC, Merced and then there’s one private – University of the Pacific. So we are a small group of fouryear institutions that are trying to move the needle in terms of access and quality. So there’s lots of opportunity to really showcase the unique-
ness of the Stanislaus campus as fulfilling that mission of access and high quality for our students ... when they graduate to become employees for our local business regional areas, whether it’s civic, artistic, nonprofit, for-profit industry. CVBJ - How do you see the university’s relationship with the business community?
Junn - Absolutely critical. The CSUs, there are 23 campuses. It’s the largest system of its kind in the nation. And maybe you’ve heard this statistic, but one in 10 residents in California has a CSU degree. Isn’t that amazing? We have 3 million living alumni that graduated from the CSU. For the CSU, many of our students are place-bound, so they stay in the region. So, it’s extremely important that we recognize our regional roots and that is to say, for students who graduate with a Stanislaus degree, they need to have options and pathways in the local business and industry, arts, civic, nonprofit world in our region. I know already a number of departments on campus have internships that are with local businesses, so students as undergraduates are getting an experience, either paid or unpaid internships, which then can foster job opportunities for them. We can create these pathways and think about what emerging fields (where) business and industry might need more qualified baccalaureate graduates to help grow their business. CVBJ - In our region, we have a really low percentage of college graduPlease see JUNN Page 10
8
Central Valley Business Journal
August 2016
County fairs continue to prove popular By PATRICIA REYNOLDS Business Journal writer preynolds@cvbizjournal.com
TURLOCK — Summer is fair season. This year Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties hosted fairs that drew more than 300,000 visitors combined. It was the first time since 2013 that the region enjoyed fairs in both counties. The San Joaquin County Fair was suspended in 2014 and 2015 because of financial headaches. But fair culture runs deep within the Central Valley’s agricultural landscape, and with encouragement from the community, the fair returned and ran for five days from June 15-19. “We tagged most of our advertising as ‘back by popular demand,’” said San Joaquin County Fair CEO Kelly Olds. “There were lots of requests from citizens of San Joaquin County to bring the fair back to what everybody had previously experienced.” Approximately 50,000 guests visited the fair, about 10,000 more than expected. The event offered fairgoers’ favorites such as the carnival, livestock exhibits, musical entertainment and the judging of agricultural products and textiles, fine art and photography works. However, the 2016 fair included some new components as well. This year hungry visitors had additional meal choices alongside the deep fried options that are staples found at most fairs. Food Truck Alley offered a lineup of vendors providing higherend food truck cuisine. Smitty’s Wings & Things, a Stockton restaurant recently featured on the Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives,” operated its eatery exclusively from the fairgrounds’ commercial kitchen. The 2016 fair also introduced more grounds acts which involved strolling performers doing routines including comedy, dance or balloon sculpting. One new grounds act was particularly popular with youngsters. “We had a dragon that wandered around, a guy wearing an 80-pound rubber suit, and he looked like a dragon,” Olds said. “Smoke would come out of his nostrils occasionally and he’d have
pictures taken with the kids, and that would draw a big crowd around him.” Other popular exhibitions included BMX bicycle acrobats, Mexican-style professional wrestlers, an antique truck and tractor display, pig races and canine and monkey shows. Music played an important role at the fair. Couples were lured to dance by performing bands, many featuring Mexican music. “One of the things we did was really look at the demographics and try to play to the whole community and not just one or two groups,” Olds said. While the fair featured both traditional and new elements, the purpose and benefits of the San Joaquin Fair have remained constant over the years, according to Olds. “It’s the entertainment value for the community but also to put a spotlight on agriculture,” he said. “Agriculture is so important here in San Joaquin County as an industry, and it’s to educate the public about agriculture.” The fair’s purpose in Stanislaus County is also to emphasize the area’s agricultural background while providing local family entertainment. It’s been that way since 1911. Approximately 220,000 people visited this year’s Stanislaus County Fair, held from July 8 -17 at the county fairgrounds in Turlock. “We always look and cater to our demographic as always, but at the same time we always want to keep the nostalgia with the fair,” said Stanislaus County Fair Marketing and Communications Director Adrenna Alkhas. “With our fair it is really Ag-focused and having the livestock, the competitive exhibits, and keeping those, is very, very important to us.” Walking through the fairgrounds is like taking a stroll through history according to Alkhas. The event started as the Melon Carnival in 1911 and later became the Stanislaus Fair in the late 1920s. The event evolved into the Stanislaus County Fair when the state purchased the current Turlock fairgrounds in the 1940s. “Over the last 105 years we’ve been a family affair,” said Alkhas. “If you
ELIZABETH STEVENS/CVBJ
Stanislaus County fair fun included pig races where children could cheer on their favorites. The animal barns at both fairs are still a mainstay.
look back at photos from 1911 and compare to photos now, it’s the same thing. It’s Mom and Dad holding their child’s hand walking around the fairgrounds looking at the rides, eating the food.” The Stanislaus County Fair is an event that Dawne Hamman’s family of Modesto has enjoyed every summer. Over the past eight years, Hamman’s four sons have raised and shown animals at the fair, a tradition that was not only fun but helped shape them as well. “Our county fair and FFA chapter experience has given us lifelong memories, lessons and friendships that have, in turn, make our kids wellrounded, productive, responsible, funloving young men,” said Hamman. Still, changing with the times in order to keep the fair fresh and inviting to younger visitors is important as well. “That’s why we also created the Gaming Expo this year where kids
ELIZABETH STEVENS/CVBJ
and families could fly their own drones, and there was an interactive component inside where kids could play video games,” Alkhas said. Other new events at the 2016 fair included the High Diving Pirates show, pig races and a lounge targeted at inspiring young girls to become leaders. The EmpowHER Lounge offered workshops and presentations on leadership and technology skills along with ways to build confidence among girls.
employers.org 800.399.5331 Call today and mention CVN to receive your free gift of:
HR Advice • Training • Recruiting
• HR Webinar, or (valued at $109), or • 2016 Labor Law Poster (valued at $39)
August 2016
www.cvbizjournal.com
9
10
Central Valley Business Journal
August 2016
JUNN Continued from Page 7
ates, which holds us back when it comes to attracting businesses. What’s the strategy for that? Junn - I’d actually like to see the data on that because, of course, our campus has about 9,000 students total for undergrad and grad. Every campus has a different way of doing outreach to high schools and even programs to junior high kids or sometimes elementary school kids come to the campus and think about college degrees and then how to help them take the right courses so they’re eligible to come as freshmen. And then, similarly with the community colleges. What programs do we have at the community college level to help students transition with a AA to a four-year institution? Statewide, it’s interesting to note that community college students, of those enrolled at community college, only about 25 percent actually transfer and graduate with a fouryear degree. That’s another area we could explore to see how we can help students who have already had success achieving their AA understand that with an additional two years get a BA, that can improve their professional success. CVBJ - What do you think CSU needs to do to make college more affordable? Junn - We are among the most af-
fordable systems in the whole nation. I think very few states can rival the total cost of a four-year degree. But still, even saying that we have many students that have financial need. The federal grants and the state grants help make that possible. A majority of students on this campus, are accessing financial support to attend and get their degree from Stan State. But this is a national trend, that is sad to say, but tuition continues to rise in many states because a state institution means the state is supporting. That means the budget that the state allocates for higher ed has been going down. A couple years ago, I think, 48 out of the 50 states had reduced their state appropriations to the state universities, and if you reduce that, then the only way the university can continue to function is to increase the tuition. So as states decrease, then tuition goes up, and that’s where the public then gets caught in the crossfire, right? To the extent that the state recognizes the extreme need and desire to want to put their kids through a fouryear degree, we should try to see if there could be some movement where the state would at least maintain or increase a little bit their appropria-
There’s lots of opportunity to really showcase the uniqueness of the Stanislaus campus. Ellen Junn, Stanislaus State President
tions to higher ed. CVBJ - Do you see the business community playing a role in that? Junn - You know, I think the business community absolutely can help. The difficulty is the business community can’t give us baseline dollars. So, for example, if we wanted to hire more faculty, the business (community) can’t do that. The business could – I have seen this – sponsor an endowed professorship. An endowed professorship is a minimum of $3.5 million dollars as an investment in endowment because your gain is about a 3 and a half, 4 percent possible gain on an annual basis, and you have to be able to generate enough salary to pay for a person’s salary and benefits as a professor.
County growth is booming STOCKTON — The Valley’s population is rising fast. A new study from the San Joaquin Council of Governments, Stanislaus Council of Governments, Merced County Association of Governments and the Business Forecasting Center at University of the Pacific illustrates the fact. According to the projections, San Joaquin County’s population will rise most. It is expected to surpass the 1 million mark by 2040, up from its 2015 population of 728,633. The driving force in population growth is the Hispanic community. By 2030, the number of Hispanics is expected to increase by nearly 100,000 to 400,000. Caucasian and Asian populations will also grow, but by slower margins while African American populations are expected to remain steady. Stockton is expected to pass the 400,000 mark in 2035 from 309,000 residents in 2015. Lathrop is projected to more than double its current population of 23,107 to more than 50,000 by 2035. Stanislaus and Merced counties will grow but not as dramatically. Stanislaus County’s 2015 population of 540,794 is expected to jump to 674,019 by 2035 and hit 836,635 by 2060. Modesto’s is expected to grow to 265,545 by 2035 from its current 210,000. Merced will increase from 272,718 in 2015 to more than 334,000 by 2030.
August 2016
Development awakens at Kiernan Business Park By KENT HOHLFELD Business Journal writer khohlfeld@cvbizjournal.com
MODESTO — A section of Modesto’s commercial real estate market that has been stagnant for years is beginning to show signs of life. A new development in the Kiernan Business Park East in north Modesto will provide between 145 and 165 jobs. The development will include a 96unit Marriott Residence Inn, Koelsch Memory Care facility and a Koelsch Independent Living center. The area also has other parcels that are available for retail and office facilities. “We haven’t had any development in that area since the Kaiser hospital,” said PMZ Real Estate commercial broker Brian Velthoen. “We hope this will get the tire kickers to step up and make a commitment.” Development for the parcel at Dale Road and Kiernan Avenue has been planned since 2006. Then the recession hit and those plans were put on hold. “When the recession came along, it changed the whole nature of what the vision was,” said Velthoen. “The plans were overly optimistic and very grand for our area.” Another issue was a high infra-
structure burden. The original plan, approved by the city, required the developer to add roads, sewer and lighting for the entire area ahead of selling any lots or building structures. “The infrastructure had to be planned and was to be installed and once the infrastructure was in place, they could sell lots,” said Velthoen. “The burden was too high waiting for a market that may not materialize.” That changed when developers came up with a new infrastructure plan that was approved by the city. The new plan allows developers to put the infrastructure in as needed, rather than having to put it all in at once. The builders also developed a new storm water system that will save on costs. “The changes are consistent with new state laws and saved a lot of costs,” said Velthoen. “That made it possible for a few brave souls to make a commitment.” Velthoen’s hope is that this development will spark more interest in the area. “It’s really what changed the dynamics in the area,” he said. “ Everything has become really positive dealing with the city of Modesto. We hope, and it is our expectation, we will have more land opportunities.”
MANUFACTURING
Your business should have everything it needs.
FREE Business Checking1 Are you still paying too much for a checking account that delivers too little? Now it’s even easier to avoid a monthly maintenance fee with FREE Business Checking from F&M Bank. It has all the extras you want, with no extra maintenance fees or hassles. Easy, right? n NO Recurring Monthly Charge or Account Maintenance Fee
Continued from Page 3
which is scheduled for completion by the end of the year. Food and beverage manufacturing plays a major role in California’s economy, and the Central Valley is a manufacturing center. According to the California League of Food Processor’s 2012 report, the state’s food processing sector output was $221.4 billion. The food and beverage sector generates 198,000 full and part-time jobs in California. In Stanislaus County, 24,922 people were employed in 2012, according to the report. In San Joaquin County, the number was 14,870. They process tomatoes, peaches, pears, cherries, walnuts and produce assorted food products such as fruit cocktail. In addition, the Valley produces dairy products, wines, nuts, tomato paste and more. Pacific Coast Producers, headquartered in Lodi, is a co-op and processor of a wide variety of foods. Its farmers reduce their water use depending on the crop. The company’s peach processing uses the latest water conservation methods. “For example, stone fruit uses micro-spray irrigation and tomatoes use drip irrigation, both for efficiency,” said spokeswoman Mona Shulman. “Our growers have been focusing on water use and improving sustainability for at least the past five years,” Industry-wide, water is recycled, often by using various filtration meth-
11
www.cvbizjournal.com
ods commonly dispersed over forage crops and landscaping. Food and beverage processors’ decades-long focus on water conservation has coincided with their No. 1 goal of producing safe food. “Using less water makes economic sense,” said California League of Food Processors CEO Rob Neenan. “Energy is needed to pump water around a facility, so pumping less water to do the same job means money savings, makes the whole process more effective.” Water efficiency is also a priority for wineries, which have invested heavily to reduce water use from the crush stage to bottling. Modesto-based E&J Gallo, for example, began focusing on water conservation in 2012. The company has a team of 90 employees who have come up with myriad ways to change the way they work in order to save water. Gallo’s Principal Engineer Keith Bader explained at the Central Valley Facilities Expo in 2015 that some changes were small, such as sweeping work areas rather than hosing them down. Others, such as buying more water efficient equipment, required bigger investments. The goal, Bader said, was to increase the number of times water is used before it goes down the drain. “We’ve been able to save millions of gallons by not using potable water but using an alternative indirect water source,” Bader said.
n NO Minimum Balance Requirements n Low $50 Minimum Opening Deposit n Up to $10,000 Cash Processing Per Statement Cycle2
Open your FREE Business Checking account at your local branch: HILMAR Ken Olds • 209-664-5438 LINDEN Kim Sparrowk • 209-339-2588 LODI Mickie Nuss • 209-367-2444 MODESTO Steve Hinds • 209-571-4023 STOCKTON Bob Harmon • 209-337-6008 TURLOCK Gary Ericksen • 209-664-5420 1 Other fees such as non-sufficient funds, overdraft, undeliverable mail, etc. may apply. Please refer to the Farmers & Merchants Bank of Central California Customer Agreement & Schedule of Charges, Book I & II, for terms and conditions and a complete list of fees and charges that may apply. 2 If cash withdrawals and deposits exceed $10,000 per statement cycle, account may be moved to Ultimate Business Checking or Business Account Analysis. Effective 6/6/16 and subject to change without notice.
fmbonline.com
Member
12
Central Valley Business Journal
August 2016
Modesto fashion startup sells to L.A. firm By PATRICIA REYNOLDS Business Journal writer preynolds@cvbizjournal.com
MODESTO — When Hilary Zwahlen decided to start a business in late 2012, her intention was to supplement the family’s income while staying at home raising two small children. “I went to get my business license, and I thought it was just going to be some little thing that I would do to make a $1,000 a month,” said Zwahlen, founder and chief creative officer of White Plum, a Modesto-based e-commerce fashion retailer. White Plum turned out to be much more than the small enterprise Zwahlen originally envisioned. In just four years, the company grew to employ 75 people and enjoyed a customer base of 300,000 while generating up to $9.5 million in annual revenue. White Plum attracted industry attention and in June was purchased by Stikeleather Apparel, a contemporary men’s clothing and accessories company located in Los Angeles. Still, White Plum came from humble beginnings. Situated in the family’s living room and with the ghost of an idea in mind, Zwahlen developed a website and began reselling costume jewelry she sourced from importers. The learning curve she faced was
significant. “I did not know what I was doing at all. I really didn’t,” she said. After several months of constant work with little payoff, Zwahlen was tempted to give up. Instead she reached out to the blogging community and was approached by a company that suggested White Plum sell products on boutique daily deal sites such as Jane.com and Zulilly.com. The idea required a change in the way Zwahlen had structured her operation but ended up being a major turning point for White Plum. “You need to have at least 50 units of one product, which I didn’t,” she said. “I had a lot of onesie, twosies because of how my business was set up.” She decided to give it a try with some tote bags she had purchased for $2. White Plum sold 150 at $10 each in one day and Zwahlen knew she had to redirect her company. “It was really scary at first because you had to buy so many units up front,” she said. Zwahlen started by studying the market and zeroed in on a target consumer she understood well enough to invest in. “I understood that there was this customer,” said Zwahlen. “I was a young mom. I had just had two kids. My body had changed. And I knew this customer because it was me: a
Follow us on:
PRIVATE RESORT • COMPANY PICNICS • SPECIAL EVENTS • CATERING FULL SERVICE EVENT COORDINATION • TUSCAN PAVILLION TEAM BUILDING • RELAY RACES • SOCCER * VOLLEYBALL LAKESIDE BEACH • KAYAKS • PEDDLE BOATS • TUBING • RELAX & PLAY!
HAVE YOUR COMPANY PICNIC AT THE COOLEST FAMILY RESORT IN SAN JOAQUIN. OUR TEAM WILL MAKE YOU LOOK GOOD! CALL (209) 640-4252 TO SCHEDULE YOUR PRIVATE TOUR TODAY OR VISIT EAGALLAKES.COM FOR MORE INFORMATION. CORPORATE AND FAMILY MEMBERSHIPS NOW AVAILABLE. JOIN TODAY!
PHILIP JOHNSON/CVBJ
White Plum founder HIlary Zwahlen recently sold her multimillion-dollar business.
budget shopper, a mom. And you want something that is going to cover you but is still cute.” White Plum started sourcing quality clothing pieces that manufacturers had overproduced, and resold them at bargain prices. “We started to build a business on that and within six months I had done probably $500,000 in sales,” said Zwahlen. White Plum generated $2 million in
sales by the end of its first year and outgrew the Zwahlen’s living room. With 20 employees, the company moved to a small warehouse for just two months, then to a 12,000-square-foot facility in Modesto. A reseller at the onset, White Plum began developing its own label and designs. Demand for the company’s leggings Please see WHITE PLUM Page 17
August 2016
www.cvbizjournal.com
13
Amazon expands Stockton cargo service STOCKTON — Amazon.com’s air cargo delivery business has added a second plane to its service at Stockton Metropolitan Airport, and soon there will be a third. The second plane began flying in and out of Stockton on July 17, according to Airport Director Harry Mavrogenes. The third is scheduled to begin service Aug. 8, although that date may change. “As soon as they put the second one down, I get a phone call. They said, ‘Well, starting in August we’re going to have a third flight,’” Mavrogenes said. He said the airport has room to accommodate a third of the Boeing 767 cargo jet. Air Transport International, which manages the cargo service for Amazon, began flying out of Stockton’s airport on Feb. 1. It’s part of Amazon’s plan to cut shipping costs related to providing one- and two-day deliveries for Amazon Prime customers. ATI runs service at a half dozen airports throughout the company, all of which are located within 30 miles of an Amazon fulfillment center. Amazon has a center in Tracy, 17 miles from Stockton’s airport. Another is located in Patterson, 38 miles away. Mavrogenes said the flights support the increasingly important logistics industry in San Joaquin County and provide jobs at the airport. He said the parking lot that was created for the service is filled with workers’ vehicles.
Banks given OK to merge
FRESNO — The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and California Department of Business Oversight have given regulatory approval for Community Bancorp (the parent company of Central Valley Community Bank) to acquire Sierra Vista Bank. Community Bancorp is the parent company of Central Valley Community Bank, which operates 23 branches in the Central Valley, including offices in Stockton, Tracy, Lodi, Madera, Merced and Modesto. The sale is expected to close Sept. 30, depending on the outcome of a special Sierra Vista Bank shareholder meeting, Aug. 30. The Sierra Vista Bank name and signage will be changed to Central Valley Community Bank during the fourth quarter of this year. Central Valley Community Bank has assets of nearly $1.3 billion while Sierra Vista Bank, headquartered in Folsom, reported assets of $157,259,000. Sierra Vista Bank operates full service branch offices in Folsom, Cameron Park and Fair Oaks. “We are proud of our 36-year history of solid financial performance which will be enhanced with the addition of the Sierra Vista Bank team,” James M. Ford, president and CEO of Central Valley Community Bancorp.
“That first flight, they said they were going to hire 30, 40 people — and they hired locally to do all the groundwork here,” said Mavrogenes. “And now, with three flights, I suspect they’re going to be adding.” The flight that began Sunday also makes stops in Charlotte, N.C. and Dallas. According to Mavrogenes, Amazon
has created a similar partnership with Atlas Air, which shows the company is focused on delivery costs down. “They’re working on building it up as a business for their own use and one of the articles I saw claimed they’ve saved over $450 million by doing this, by creating their own air cargo company and not relying on someone else,” Mavrogenes said.
BUSINESS JOURNAL PHOTO
14
Central Valley Business Journal
August 2016
MEETING AND BANQUET FACILITIES In San Joaquin and Stanislaus Counties. Ranked by Total Square Footage. Ties are Listed in Alphabetical Order. Address
Local Contact Phone Web Address
Total Square Footage
1
Lodi Grape Festival Fair Grounds 413 E. Lockeford Street Lodi, CA 95240
Liz Armstrong (209) 369-2771 grapefestival.com
77.000
100 - 3,500
No
7,000 stage seating spread over 7 buildings Tables, Chairs, free parking, coolers, heaters, stage risers, picnic tables, benches, portable bar and PA system
2
Sherwood Executive Center 5250 Claremont Avenue Stockton, CA 95207
Barbara Schott, Building Mgr. (209) 478-6600 sherwoodexecutivecenter.com
75,000
Classroom style seating 60 people max
Podesto’s provides bag lunch
Coffee (a fee), water, vending machines, bag lunches or Danish pickup, copies and fax services provided at an additional charge. Atkinson Baker, Anthem Blue Cross
3
Hutchins Street Square 125 S. Hutchins Street Lodi, CA 95240
Jennifer Winn (209) 333-6782 hutchinsstreetsquare.com
71,000
784
Yes
WiFi accessible, AV equipment available N/C, tables, chairs, full kitchen, caterer’s kitchen. Delta Blood Bank, CIF, Michael David Winery, LEVOC
4
University Of Pacific Conference Services 901 President’s Drive Stockton, CA 95211
Business Office (209) 946-7743 venues.pacific.edu
55,000
600
Yes
5
San Joaquin County Fairgrounds 1658 S. Airport Way Stockton, CA 95206
Janet Covello (209) 466-5041 sanjoaquinfair.com
6
Stockton Golf & Country Club 3800 W. Country Club Boulevard Stockton, CA 95204
7
The Vista Ranch and Cellars 7326 E HWY 140 Merced, CA 95340
8
Stockton Arena 248 W. Fremont Street Stockton, CA 95203
9
Rank
Facility Name
Total Theater On-site Other Amenities Capacity Catering Seating Provided Clients
Specializing in event services and planning, AV equipment available United Way Launch, Senate Debate, Bridal and other events
46,000 +
NA
No
Many options available for large groups San Joaquin Kennel Club, Lao Family Community, Junior League of Stockton, Port City Roller Girls
Bob Young, GM (209) 466-4313 stocktongolfcc.com
43,000
600 400 Delta 48 Founder’s 18 Board
Yes
Dance floor, podium, sound system, grand piano; WiFi, AV Chamber of Commerce, UOP, St. Mary’s High School, Sutter Health, Dignity Health, Rotary Club
Stephanie Marchini (209) 722-8200 info@vistacellars.com
20,500
800 Garden 300 BBQ area
Yes
WiFi, Event Center, garden and lawns Corporate events, Weddings to small parties and events Paint and Sip, Summer Concerts
SMG Stockton Management (209) 373-1400 stocktonarena.com
20,400
11,300
Yes
Full rigging and stage development, sound system High school graduations, Funny Fest, Kevin Heart
Brookside Country Club 3603 St. Andrews Drive Stockton, CA 95219
Alecia Escajeda, CCM (209) 956-6200 brooksidegolf.net
20,000
300
Yes
18 hole golf course, practice facility, state of the art tennis complex, putting green and resort style pool Wells Fargo, YMCA, SJ County, Grupe
10
The River Mill 1672 W. Bowman Road French Camp, CA 95231
Jim Silveria (209) 983-9114 therivermill.com
20,000
400
Yes
On site event coordination, food, flowers, historic building and beautiful gardens Kaiser, Delta Blood Bank, Nulaid, Doctors MC
11
Carnegie Arts Center 250 N Broadway Turlock, CA 95380
200 loft 125 Gemperle Gallery
No, but outside catering is permitted
12
Stockton Hilton 2323 Grand Canal Boulevard Stockton, CA 95219
13
University Plaza Waterfront Hotel 110 W. Fremont Street Stockton, CA 95202
14
San Joaquin County Office of Education 2901 Arch-Airport Road Stockton, CA 95206
15
Elkhorn Grill & Banquet 1050 Elkhorn Drive Stockton, CA 95209
16
Jackson Rancheria Casino Resort 12222 New York Ranch Road Jackson, CA 95642
17 18 19 20
WiFi accessible, AV equipment available. Rentals can include museum-quality art gallery; Loft includes theatrical lighting system, dressing rooms and green rooms. Tables an chairs included with rental Gallo Winery, CareMore, Turlock Chamber, AspiraNet, Yosemite Credit Union, Turlock City Police and Fire
Lauris Conrad (209) 632-5761 carnegieartsturlock.org
18,000
Karla Detmer (209) 957-9090 hilton.com
13,450
500
Yes
Largest trade-show space in San Joaquin County, personalized event coordinators Power of One Women Luncheon
Warren Porter (209) 944-1140 universityplazawaterfronthotel.com
12,500
450
Yes
Full service hotel, restaurant, bar PG&E, Holiday event parties, New Years Eve Party
10,000 +
400
No
Multiple meeting rooms, tables, chairs, risers, podium, ample parking, easy accessibility. School districts, public agencies, youth related organizations, faith-based organizations
22,000
325 72 60 20
Yes
Full banquet facility, restaurant, bar and golfing 3 rooms expand to 1 large room SIRS #46, Wal-Mart and Unified Grocers
Emily Tirapelle (209) 223-8477 jacksoncasino.com
9,000
1517 Outdoor 836 Indoor
Yes
24 hour casino, 86 hotel rooms available, Suites, 24 hour business center, free WiFi, coffee bar, bell and valet service, heated outdoor pool, hot tubs and arcade. Kamps Propane, Professional Golfers Association, Amador Council of Tourism, CBS, CA Department of Forestry, Sutter Amador Hospital
Turlock Country Club 10532 N. Golf Link Road Turlock, CA 95380
Kellie Corkery (209) 634-5471 turlockgcc.com
8,507
300
Yes
Dance floor, linens, tables, chairs, plates, silverware, and glassware all included in rental MedicAlert, Foster Farms, Y. F. Credit Union
Wine & Roses 2505 W. Turner Road Lodi, CA 95242
Dana Petitjean (209) 334-6988 winerose.com
8,500
500
Yes
Event detailing, business services, award winning cuisine and hotel rooms McCay Cellars, Lodi Winegrape Commission
Varying from 713 - 5,500
Four venues 15 to 40 - 80 200 - 750
Yes
Banquet rooms, bars, WiFi and AV, Indoor and Outdoor seating PG&E, Kiwanis, Almond Board, Gallo
5,100
200
Yes
Ceremony site, reception site, complimentary WiFi, and many other extras
Brenda Ross (209) 544-8156 charitywayballroom.com
5,000
300
Yes
RV Parking, full staff. Costco, MPD, Westmark, Kiwanis
Bob Campana (209) 545-9232 vgmodesto.com
5,000
150
Yes
WiFi accessible, full service restaurant & bar, off-site catering Kaiser Permanente, Save Mart, Valley Oak
Jocelyn Venable (209) 521-1612 clarionhotelmodesto.com
4,580
300
Yes
Complimentary WiFi, AV equipment available, on site pub & grill, free parking PG&E, Central Valley Medical Group, AT&T
Seasons Catering & Event Center 945 McHenry Avenue Modesto, CA 95350 The Reserve at Spanos Park 6301 W. Eight Mile Road Stockton, CA 95219
21
Charity Way Ballroom & Catering 645 Charity Way Modesto, CA 95356
22
Vintage Gardens/The Redwood Café 4342 Dale Road Modesto, CA 95356
23
Clarion Hotel & Conference Center 1612 Sisk Road Modesto, CA 95350
Office of the Superintendent (209) 468-4802 sjcoe.org R. Hale (209) 477-2200 elkhornbanquet.com
Carlos Ayala (209) 523-4000 gotoseasons.com Emily Taliaferro, Events Director (209) 477-4653 reserve-spanos-park
These lists are provided as a free service by the Central Valley Business Journal for our readers. As such, inclusion is based on editorial consideration and is not guaranteed. If you would like your business to be included in a list, please write to: Research Department, Central Valley Business Journal, 4512 Feather River Drive, Ste. E, Stockton, CA 95219, fax your information to Research Dept. at (209) 477-0211 or email us at research@cvbizjournal.com. Copyright Central Valley Business Journal. Researched by Danette Conley 07/2016
hefeweizen malt
August 2016
www.cvbizjournal.com
porter
COME ENJOY AN AFTERNOON FILLED WITH BEER, MUSIC, GAMES AND FUN!
BEER WEEK
Brew Fest 09.11.16 | STOCKTON ARENA
STOCKTON BEER WEEK IS BACK!
SEPTEMBER 16-25
Stockton bars, pubs, and restaurants will be flowing over with beer-related events, so come out and celebrate all that Stockton’s craft beer culture has to offer!
Visit Stockton / 125 Bridge Place, 2nd Floor / 877.778.6258 / visitstockton.org
15
16
Central Valley Business Journal
August 2016
Business Journal Startup CENTRAL VALLEY
Tuleburg Press promotes love of books By BOB BALGEMANN Business Journal writer bbalgemann@cvbizjournal.com
STOCKTON — Paula Sheil is on a mission to promote the arts and literacy in Stockton. Her vehicle is her nonprofit Tuleburg Press and center for authors, the Write Place. “(It’s) a place for the book. A place for stories. A place to develop your voice,” Sheil said. “That’s what I’m going to take on.” Tuleburg Press is a book publishing startup, based at Huddle co-working space in downtown Stockton. It was created in 2013 to acquire and distribute fiction, non-fiction and poetry that captures the Central Valley’s voice and experience. Sheil has roots in Stockton’s literary community. She teaches composition and Shakespeare at Delta College. For 10 years, she wrote feature stories for The Record. She is a published poet and in the late ‘90s published a quarterly poetry journal. However, Sheil said she and her board learned book publishing has its own challenges. They learned a lot with
their first project, “Desperation Passes,” local author Phil Hutcheon’s novel about exploitation of black athletes at a fictional California university system. “We learned how tough it is to get reviews, to distribute books that aren’t backed by the publishing behemoths,” Sheil said. “We learned that it doesn’t matter much because Phil’s is a story that’s going over well right here at home.” “Desperation Passes” is in its third printing, and three instructors at Delta College use the book in their classes. “There’s been 900 copies of this book printed, and there’s a boat load of writers who can’t say that,” Sheil said. Sheil arrived in Stockton in 1971 to attend the University of the Pacific. She has worked with the Stockton Arts Commission and in the 1990s, started open mic poetry readings at a nowdefunct coffee shop on March Lane. “I was very much a part of the whole poetry, open mic, small press publication machine, Joyce Jenkins, poetry flash, Berkeley — I mean, we were all of a kind,” Sheil said. She started a poetry magazine called Zambmba! that was distributed
WAYNE DENNING/CVBJ
Members of Tuleburg Press’ board, Alicia Arong, Paula Sheil and Sarah Neely meet to discuss projects.
through local libraries and mailed to coffee shops on the West Coast. “The press for me, is a natural culmination of pretty much everything I’ve ever done,” Sheil said. It was Hutcheon’s book that was the
catalyst to start Tuleburg Press. He’d published one book and had a manuscript for “Desperation Passes,” but his publisher went out of business. Please see TULEBURG Page 17
Gomez named CEO of Children’s Home STOCKTON — The Children’s Home of Stockton has a new permanent leader. Joelle Gomez will take the helm of the organization on Oct. 3. She will replace Phil Kolodziej who has retired. “It’s really very familiar and where I have dedicated my life,” said Gomez. “It was such a natuJoelle Gomez ral move.” The 48-year-old Lockeford native was chosen, after a national search, based largely on her history of work in the nonprofit sector. Gomez has spent the last 24 years working for the Women’s Center – Youth and Family Services in Stockton. She was CEO for 20 of those years. It’s a position she believes has given her the experience to lead the Children’s Home of Stockton into the future. “The work that we do (at the women’s center) has ties with what we do at the Children’s Home,” she said. The home, which began as an orphanage in 1882, serves at-risk youth by offering treatment and education in a safe environment. The facility, on
Lindsay Street, between Airport Way and N. Pilgrim Street provides K-12 education as well as treatment and counseling services. The Children’s Home can provide full-time housing for up to 52 students. “We have a full scope of residential services,” she said. “We operate cottages and a whole host of safety-net services.” One of the biggest challenges Gomez faces will be changes to child welfare laws that take effect Jan.1, 2017. The new law’s goal is to reduce residency programs to 90 days. Agencies will be required to continue follow-up work with students and their families. The specifics of the new law are still being fleshed out in Sacramento. “I am a real strategic thinker,” Gomez said. “I have experience working and navigating the political landscape. I plan to just jump right in.” She also hopes to give the organization a higher public profile. Despite the group’s long history, many people don’t know much about what the Children’s Home does. “I think one my strengths is building partnerships and collaboration,” said Gomez. “ I know there are a lot of individuals that could be more engaged. I want to build (the Children’s Home’s) visibility.”
August 2016
www.cvbizjournal.com
TULEBURG Continued from Page 16
“His second manuscript was languishing. So I said, ‘Well, I’ve always wanted to start a legitimate press,’” Sheil remembered. One of the first decisions Sheil and the board had to make was whether to be a for-profit or nonprofit organization. In the end, Sheil decided to rely on her nonprofit experience. “I’ve been working in nonprofits almost all my life, and I thought it needed to have community legs, so if I stopped doing it, it would have community support, community interest,” she said. However, it quickly became clear that the organization had to be run like a business even if profit was not the goal. Sheil said they learned how to write a business plan and promote their idea to raise money. They hired employees and contracted with outside consultants to help them with marketing and grant writing. Participating in the 2015-16 Entrepreneur Lab, sponsored by the city of
WHITE PLUM Continued from Page 12
brand in particular exploded, and by the time the company was sold, 60 percent of sales were of White Plum’s designs. Grit and determination are what Zwahlen says catapulted White Plum from a home-based hobby to a successful multimillion-dollar business. During White Plum’s beginnings, Zwahlen acted as buyer, shipper, and customer service representative. She sometimes stayed up until the early morning hours to get things done. Meanwhile, she was taking care of her family. “It’s all you are doing,” Zwahlen said. “There was no exercising. There was no hanging out with my friends. There was nothing but my children and my business for at least a good 18 months.” Her advice to hopeful entrepreneurs is to be flexible and adapt whenever the market dictates. “When you see the opportunity, there’s a need to constantly be changing,” she said. “What worked for us on our flash sales sites our first year did not work for us our second year. You’re always having to modify to the needs of the marketplace. Your’e always having to think strategically.” While that first year was tortuous, it was also thrilling to watch her business start to grow. “If you really want to grow a brand and you have big vision for what you’re doing, just be ready that this is what it’s going to take,” she said. Zwahlen expects she and her husband will start another business, but next time she plans to take a back seat. Meanwhile she hopes to expand her family and write a book. “There are more young women who are doing businesses now who want to be home with their children,” she said. “I want to target that group — young women or women in general who are entrepreneurs.”
Stockton, has been a big help, Sheil said. That gave Tuleburg Press space at Huddle and 24/7 access to printing, a conference room, parking, its event space, Wi-Fi and a front-desk attendant. But she said Huddle offered more than just amenities. “It was going to the mixers, and it was really reintroducing myself to a lot of people who had been my students,” Sheil said. Sheil is drawn to the grassroot arts movement that is growing in downtown Stockton. She believes her Write Place project will fit in well.
The Write Place will be a center where students of all ages can participate in workshops. The space will be available to writing groups and book clubs, and there are plans for author readings. There will also be classes where students can learn paper making, book binding and other paper crafts. “I’m trying to create a writing center where we make books and we publish books,” Sheil said. “We write our stories, and we read our own stories.” “This is Paula,” said Tuleburg Press board member Bill Walker. “Paula is a force of nature. Once she sets her
17
mind on something she will work tirelessly to do it.” Walker is a longtime friend of Sheil’s who has been in the book business since 1975. He said The Write Place is an effort to raise the literacy rate in Stockton, to expose people to a broader range of literary arts and to provide a service that isn’t currently available here. A fundraiser for The Write Place project, “Fully Booked,” has been set for 6-10 p.m., Sept. 30 at St. Basil’s Greek Orthodox Church in Stockton. For more information, contact Sarah Neely at 209-662-4335.
18
Central Valley Business Journal
New Modesto Office Open to Better Serve our South San Joaquin and Stanislaus County Clients
• Tax Litigation (and Controversies) • Tax Planning to Avoid Controversies • Estate and Wealth Management Planning • Post Mortem Estate and Trust Administration • Trust and Estate Litigation • Business and Commercial Transactions • Real Estate Law/Exchanges • Bankruptcy Planning and Filing
Calone & Harrel Law Group, LLP Es tate Pl anning , Ta x a nd Busi ness At t o r n ey s
WWW.CALONEANDHARREL.COM 3509 Coffee Rd., Ste. D-10 Modesto, CA 95355
209.557.0138
1810 Grand Canal Blvd., Ste. 6 Stockton, CA 95207
209.952.4545
Huddle opened two years ago in downtown Stockton.
August 2016
ELIZABETH STEVENS/CVBJ
Huddle expands to Belding Building STOCKTON — As it reaches its second anniversary, Huddle Cowork has outgrown its current space and is moving a block away to the historic Belding Building at the corner of San Joaquin Street and Weber Avenue. Huddle will occupy the second, third and fourth floors of the 100-yearold building. The new space will double the business’ square footage and provide space for 30 private offices and multiple conference rooms. Huddle offers a range of memberships which include use of the conference rooms, printing, front desk attendants and business-class internet connections. “The idea is to have a variety of different organizations and individuals populating Huddle, from one person who just needs an office to themselves to a company like Valley Vision that has employees and needs space for multiple people,” said Huddle cofounder David Garcia. Huddle’s reception area will be on the building’s second floor along with a half dozen private offices, a conference room and a co-working space that can also be used for events. There will be more private offices on the third and fourth floors. They range in size from 180 to 500 square feet. “We have a lot of individuals who are interested in being part of Huddle, but not necessarily right in the thick of all the action,” Garcia said. The fourth floor corner office has already been leased to a legal adviser who signed a five-year agreement. Its large windows provide a view of the city looking southwest. The building underwent renovations throughout the summer to open up the space and accommodate new technology, but care was taken to preserve its architectural features. “Floors are staying, mosaic tiling,
original flooring, which is beautiful -- 100 years old,” said Huddle’s Executive Director Matt Amen. “We’re using reclaimed wood to put all throughout the ceilings here.” The building’s fifth floor will be occupied by Ten Space, the development company responsible for the Open Window Project, which seeks to spark growth in downtown Stockton by rehabilitating its oldest buildings. Garcia is also the chief operating office at Ten Space. Garcia says his vision is for Huddle to be an incubator to help businesses grow. “The goal with a space like Huddle is that those individuals outgrow the space entirely, and they have to move on to a brick and mortar spot. And that opens a spot and the cycle continues,” he said. Amen said Huddle is more than just office space. It provides a collaborative, supportive atmosphere where entrepreneurs and freelancers can try out new ideas. “I just want to make sure that this program is used as a filter to let people know that there is opportunity if you have that next big idea and that there’s people out there that want to invest in them,” he said. “We will help you grow so that you can possibly have your own storefront in the 400,000 sf that was approved for the Open Window project. I want to see this place as a revolving door.” To that end, the Downtown Stockton Alliance has made Huddle its home base for its Entrepreneur Lab, which has helped launch startups such as marketing company, Road Finch, and website developer, Frankemuffin. Huddle will host a pitch night for entrepreneurs in August with a cash prize of $5,000 for the startup that has grown the most.
August 2016
19
www.cvbizjournal.com
Disney animator brings film work to Lodi By SIM RISSO Business Journal writer srisso@cvbizjournal.com
LODI — For many people, working in entertainment and making a living in Hollywood is a pipe dream. But it’s something animator and filmmaker Mark Teague has made a reality. Teague has done work for Disney, Marvel Films and Lionsgate, among others, in addition to producing films of his own. He recently moved to Lodi to be closer to his family — his brother and mother live there. But he also views it as an opportunity to become involved in the local community. “This is now my home base,” said Teague. “So I’ll probably always have a project or two that’s linked to animation or the entertainment business, but I also want to sort of give back a little bit, and teach workshops, and reveal some of the animation-inHollywood secrets and really empower people to do their own thing.” Teague has already spoken with Hutchins Street Square about teaching classes. He’d also like to partner with wineries and teach to offer painting and wine nights. His other ideas include presenting a haunted house and potentially putting on a Lodi film festival. Even though Teague’s no longer liv-
ing in Los Angeles, he is still active in the entertainment business. He works on branding for businesses that want to advertise their projects. “I’m kind of a full-service shop, where we do anything from commercials, to movies, to motion graphics to print,” Teague said. “Mostly I work at home because I have a client and they want me to do everything.” For Teague, “everything” can include building a website, filming commercials and producing graphics. Teague has worked for Taff Optical in Southern California, which captures and reproduces sound from acoustic instruments. He has also done work for DotChakra in Portland, Oregon, which makes products designed to help open energy points in the body. Teague also recently finished doing some work for Disney on its cruise ship, the Disney Wonder. He and the other animators and filmmakers produced “The Golden Mickeys,” a live, make-believe Disney-based awards show featuring characters such as Mickey Mouse, Goofy and Snow White. “It’s tons of work,” said Teague. “I thought some of the shows I worked on for Disney were hard. This was tough because you’re projecting the image onto different parts of the stage. So in 3D space you have the map of the stage.” Teague first moved to L.A. in 1994 and
“The most trusted source of positive, local business news in San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties. Providing value to readers by helping them grow their business, grow their careers and increase their bottom line through print, digital and local events.” “The most trusted source of positive, local business news in San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties. Providing value to readers by helping them grow their business, grow their careers and increase their bottom line through print, digital and local events.” “The most trusted source of positive, local business news in San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties. Providing value to readers by helping them grow their business, grow their careers and increase their bottom line through print, digital and local events.” “The most trusted source of positive, local business news in San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties. Providing value to readers by helping them grow their business, grow their careers and increase their bottom line through print, digital and local events.” “The most trusted source of positive, local business news in San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties. Providing value to readers by helping them grow their business, grow their careers and increase their bottom line through print, digital and local events.” “The most trusted source of positive, local business news in San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties. Providing value to readers by helping them grow their business, grow their careers and increase their bottom line through print, digital and local Ron & Colleen Winter, Owners events.” “The most trusted source of positive, local business news in San Joaquin and Direct Appliance Inc. and Direct by Flooring & Home Inc. their business, Stanislaus counties. Providing value to readers helping them grow 2424 McHenry Ave., Modesto, CA 95350 grow their careers and increase their bottom line through print, digital and local events.” “The most trusted source of positive, local business news in San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties. Providing value to readers by helping them grow their business, Advertising in the Business Journal getsprint, ourdigital message grow their careers and increase their bottom line through and local events. “The most sourcebuyers, of positive,and localalso business news in San in” front of trusted qualified supports a Joaquin news and Stanislaus counties. Providing value to readers by helping them grow their business, the local that and arelocal growmedium their careersdedicated and increase to their bottom linebusinesses through print, digital events.”the “Thebackbone most trusted source local business in San Joaquin of ourof positive, communities. Wenews always see and Stanislaus counties. Providing value to readers by helping them grow their business, salesand results the Business grow their careers increasefrom their bottom line throughJournal! print, digital and local events.” “The most trusted source of positive, local business news in San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties. Providing value to readers by helping them grow their business, grow their careersCENTRAL and increase VALLEY their bottom line through print, digital and local events.” “The most trusted source of positive, local business news in San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties. Providing value to readers by helping them grow their business, grow their careers and increase their bottom line through print, digital and local events.” “The most trusted source of positive, local business news in San Joaquin and
Positive, local business news
Business Journal www.cvbizjournal.com
STOCKTON • TRACY • LODI • MANTECA • LATHROP • ESCALON • RIPON MERCED • LIVINGSTON
MODESTO • CERES • TURLOCK • OAKDALE • PATTERSON LOS BANOS • ATWATER
WAYNE DENNING/CVBJ
Mark Teague does animation and graphics work for film companies and other businesses from his Lodi home.
worked as an orderly at a psychiatric ward while he established his career. His first full-time gig was with Marvel Films, where he worked on the “Fantastic Four” cartoon for a couple of seasons. From there, Teague worked for various studios before landing a job with Disney doing animation on the “Jungle Cubs” TV show in 1995. He stayed with Disney for six years and worked on sequels to films such as “Pocahontas” and “Lady and the Tramp,” all the while
working on side projects of his own. The first big project was a film called “SuperGuy: Behind the Cape.” In addition to writing the screenplay, Teague played the main character, SuperGuy. The film attracted some notoriety, and Teague l anded on the cover of the entertainment trade magazine, Variety. That led to an opportunity to animate “Comic Book: The Movie,” where Please see DISNEY Page 23
20
Central Valley Business Journal
August 2016
FOOD & BEVERAGE MANUFACTURERS In San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Merced Counties. Ranked by Number of Employees. Ties are Listed in Alphabetical Order. Rank
Company Name Address
1
Foster Farms 1000 Davis Street Livingston, CA 95334
2
Del Monte Foods 4000 Yosemite Boulevard Modesto, CA 95357
3
Sensient Natural Ingredients 151 S. Walnut Road Turlock, CA 95380
4
Sconza Candy 1 Sconza Candy Lane Oakdale, CA 95361
5
Local Manager Number Square footage or Acreage of of Local Phone Manufacturing Facility Local Web Address Employees Products Produced Ron Foster, CEO (209) 667-2777 sensientnaturalingredients.com
Robert Waid, Plant Manager (209) 900-6171 delmontefoods.com
Top Products or End Product
Headquarters
Year Est.
1939
3000
Several local hatcheries, farms and plants Chicken and turkey
1. Fresh chicken 2. Frozen ready to cook chicken 3. Chicken corn dogs
Livingston, CA
514 FT 1500 seasonal
84 acres, 490,000 Sq Ft Holding & Manufacturing Plant,Modesto Distribution facility Lathrop Canned Fruit, several labels
1. Apricots 2. Fruit cocktail 3. Peaches 4. Pairs and other varieties of fruit
Walnut Creek, CA 1968
Ryan Goularte, G.M.
498
980,000 square feet Dehydrated onions, garlic, capsicums, herbs and vegetables
1. California garlic 2. Onion and parsley 3. Chili varietal
Turlock, CA
1976
Ron Sconza, CEO (209) 845-3700 sconzacandy.com
185
500,000 square feet Candy manufacturing
1. Jordan Almonds 2. Yogurt Raisins 3. Chocolate Almonds
Oakdale, CA
2008
J. R. Simplot Company 16777 Howland Road Lathrop, CA 95330
John Yanak (209) 858-2511 simplot.com
150
22,000 acres Fertilizer for agriculture, feed, turf and horticulture
1. Agricultural fertilizer 2. Feed fertilizer 3. Turf & horticulture fertilizer
Boise, ID
1952
6
Morada Produce 500 N. Jack Tone Road Stockton, CA 95215
Skip Foppiano (209) 546- 0426 moradaproduce.com
1. Cherries Varies 2. Onions Cherries, onions, bell peppers and walnuts 3. Bell Peppers
Stockton, CA
1849
7
Linden Nut Company Turkhan Foods 1550 Industrial Drive Stockton, CA
Processing facilities, Ripon and Linden 126 sqft 16 acres, Stockton facility Walnuts and almonds
1. Walnuts 2. Almonds
Stockton, CA
1984
8
Crown Nut Company 31995 S. Chrisman Road Tracy, CA 95304
Pinderjit Sandhu, CEO (209) 834-4404 crownnutcompany.com
48
75,000 square feet Almonds
1. Almonds 2. Pistachios
Tracy, CA
2010
9
Fascalini Farms & Cheese 7206 Kiernan Avenue Modesto, CA 95359
John and Brian Fiscalini Laura Genasci (209) 545-5495 fiscalinicheese.com
23
540 acres Cheese
1. Signature cheese 2. Artisan cheese 3. Specialty cheese
Modesto, CA
1912
10
Lagorio Property LP 772 Pershing Avenue Ste. 1-A Stockton, CA 95203
Chris Lagorio (209) 982-0734 lagorio.com
25
3,109 Acres Tomatoes
1. Tomatoes 2. Walnuts 3. Wheat
Stockton, CA
1945
11
Sciabica Olive Oil 2150 Yosemite Boulevard Modesto, CA 95358
Nick, Daniel and Jonathan Sciabica (209) 577- 5067 sciabica.com
15
Varies Olive Oil
1. Olive oil varietal 2. Vinegar 3. Tomato sauce 4. Beauty products
Modesto, CA
1936
12
Gigli Hay Inc. 12333 Manthey Road B- C Lathrop, CA 95330
Donald Gigli (209) 367-5914 giglihay.com
12
Local growers Two storage locations Hay supplier
1. Hay 2. Alfalfa 3. Oats 4. Straw
Lathrop, CA
1970
13
Bruno Pepper Company 11291 N. Ham Lane lodi, CA 95242
Chris Bruno (209) 367-5914 brunosmarketplace.com
9
NA Pickled peppers and gourmet foods
1. Pepper variety 2. Olives 3. Vinegar
Lodi, CA
1947
14
Crystal Creamery 529 Kansas Avenue Modesto, CA 95351
Frank Otis, V. P. (209) 576-3400 crystalcreamery.com
NA
5 local Dairies Modesto plant Milk and milk products
1. Milk 2. Ice Cream 3. Cottage cheese 3. Varies dairy products
Modesto, CA
1901
15
Diamond Pet Food 250 Roth Road Lathrop, CA 95330
NA (209) 983-4900 dimondpetcompany.com
NA
Facilities in Lathrop and Ripon Pet food
1. Diamond brand dog food 2. Taste of wild 3. Various brands and blends
Meta, Mo
1999
16
NCS Wholesale, Inc 1192 Vanderbilt Circle Manteca, CA 95337
NA
1. Formula 2. Baby Food 3. Juices
Manteca, CA
2008
Gary Davenport (209) 887-3731/982-9933 lindennut.com turkhanfoods.com
Ayman Sulaman, CEO (209) 239-8000 earlyon.com
120 FT 1600 seasonal 100 FT 250 seasonal
WND
Manufactures baby food products
These lists are provided as a free service by the Central Valley Business Journal for our readers. As such, inclusion is based on editorial consideration and is not guaranteed. If you would like your business to be included in a list, please write to: Research Department, Central Valley Business Journal, 4512 Feather River Drive, Ste. E, Stockton, CA 95219, fax your information to Research Dept. at (209) 477-0211 or email us at research@cvbizjournal.com. Copyright Central Valley Business Journal. Researched by Danette Conley 07/2016
August 2016
www.cvbizjournal.com
21
22
Central Valley Business Journal
August 2016
Business Journal CEO Spotlight CENTRAL VALLEY
Cruz puts professional spin on fundraising By NORA HESTON TARTE Business Journal writer nhestontarte@cvbizjournal.com
STOCKTON — Susan Cruz is making a name for herself in nonprofit fundraising. She is the CEO and mastermind behind Cruz Integrated connecting businesses to causes. “I would say one of the main differences between advertising sales, marketing sales and sponsorship development is that sponsorship development does take a long time,” Cruz said. “I always make sure that I help nonprofit organizations understand that.” Cruz is the only registered commercial fundraiser for nonprofits in San Joaquin County. Registered commercial fundraisers are required to follow a stringent set of requirements set by the state, including filing annual financial reports. California’s attorney general oversees their work. Cruz started in newspaper advertising sales before branching into websites, social media and graphic design.
She has used her 20 years of experience to create her Stockton-based business. Now she is working to expand into the foothills, Sacramento and the East Bay. “A lot of times (nonprofits are) so excited about their mission, but they need to learn the skills of marketing themselves and of speaking the right language to sponsors,” she explained. Nonprofits are created to make a difference in the community, but they still have to be run, marketed and sold like a business. In order to meet client needs, Cruz offers different levels of service. Involvement can be a s simple as attending one of her free, one-hour workshops. Nonprofits can also hire her team to handle marketing, social media, websites and partnerships. She also offers longer workshops and a four-month program in which she consults and teaches nonprofits how to handle their own sponsorships. Robin Boriack of Challenge Failure, a nonprofit that raises awareness for heart failure, hired Cruz to help the organiza-
WAYNE DENNING/CVBJ
Susan Cruz is San Joaquin County’s only registered commercial fundraiser, which adds a layer of accountability to her sponsorship efforts.
tion ramp up efforts for its sixth annual fun run. Its goal is to raise $100,000. Cruz has been helping with ongoing sponsorship efforts. After working with the team to develop a proposal, she started contacting potential sponsors on its behalf. As of mid-July, Challenge Failure had secured six donors with Cruz’s help. “We had decided that the hardest
part of our venture in Challenge Failure was getting sponsors,” Boriack said. “The hardest part that we had in previous years was finding hospital contacts... That’s really difficult because (they are) so big that they wouldn’t really talk to us.” It’s a hurdle Challenge Failure has Please see CEO SPOTLIGHT Page 23
August 2016
23
www.cvbizjournal.com
CEO SPOTLIGHT Continued from Page 22
been able to overcome with Cruz’s help. “She’s very professional. She’s very clearly organized,” Boriack said. “But in any grassroots event, it’s just hard. It’s just constant.” Some of the most successful partnerships include a little give and take, according to Cruz. The person handling sponsorships within the nonprofit needs to consider how the sponsor can benefit from the partnership, too. “I always talk to my nonprofit organizations about the possibility of bringing in their sponsors to speak,” Cruz said. Other times it’s simply giving their brand a platform. For example, a wine company sponsor could purchase wine glasses needed for an event with the stipulation that its name appear on the glass, she explained. “It’s difficult to get a lot of good, high quality sponsors three months before your event,” Cruz said. “I think that any client that I deal with, I’m trying to listen to what exactly they are looking for and are their expectations real?” Her best solution? Get creative. Sometimes the answer is getting a celebrity involved, and then companies sponsor the celebrity’s involvement in the campaign. Other times it’simply going back to the original proposal and re-evaluating how to create excitement around the cause. Bringing in media is
another possible solution. “We try new things,” Cruz said. “We’re not trying to grasp at straws. We go back to the drawing board a little bit and brainstorm.” Perhaps her biggest hurdle comes when she hits a wall with sponsorships, and she is struggling to get anyone on board. “I’ve learned that you can’t just approach a national brand without having a local or regional contact. It’s not impossible but it is difficult,” Cruz said. One of the biggest lessons Cruz has learned over the years is the impor-
tance of communication. Effective communication between herself, potential sponsors and the nonprofit she is working with is key to success, she said. Past struggles have led Cruz to always require a designated contact at the nonprofit. On her end, she does the same. “I’m the point person,” she said. “Most organizations don’t want to have multiple point people because it can cause confusion.” While Cruz Integrated does not have any employees, Cruz does opt for experts to handle specific needs. It all comes back to the customizable
business model she has created. If a person needs a new website, she brings in an expert for that. If social media is failing, there’s an expert for that, too. However, she always remains at the helm, directing the overall project. After the services have been decided up front, additional needs may arise. A small amount of additional consultancy will not affect price, Cruz assured, but additional services rendered will raise cost. “I am willing to sit down with any nonprofit for 30-60 minutes and … offer some strategy,” Cruz said.
Did you hear about the banker who helped a nonprofit
save thousands of dollars a month?
DISNEY Continued from Page 19
he worked with actor Mark Hamill. “All of these projects take a while. Then they finally get done, and you start working on the next one,” said Teague. “You don’t really have the luxury of working on one thing, and it’s done, then you work on another thing until it’s done. It doesn’t work that way. The years go by, and you do studio jobs, and you pitch your stuff.” Like anything, some aspects of the job are better than others, Teague said. The conceptual stage of a project is Teague’s favorite. He enjoys story-boarding, sketching his ideas and making notations next to them. But as he stresses to students when teaching workshops, there’s no exact formula to it. “There is no right way,” said Teague.” It’s whatever way you want to do it, what makes sense to you.” But with the way technology is set up now, there are more avenues to making a career in entertainment, according to Teague. You no longer have to move to L.A. If you want to get into animation and build a portfolio. You can submit it to studios online. If you have a film, you can publish it online. According to Teague, the two keys are having the talent to produce quality work and the confidence to pursue it. “I guess in the end, you’ve got to just follow your heart and just do it,” Teague said. “If you do it for you, it’s probably going to be successful. I think if it’s good, and you follow your heart, get out there and promote it.”
Bob Irvine, Executive Director of a nonprofit serving adults with disabilities, attended a Tri Counties Bank seminar looking for ideas to run his organization more efficiently. Tri Counties Bank Branch Manager Travis Barker and his business banking team helped Bob identify missed financial opportunities. They put their hearts into finding new solutions and presented Bob with a finance restructuring deal that saved the nonprofit thousands of dollars per month. Now that’s Service With Solutions and heart! For personalized problem solving, switch to Tri Counties Bank. BUSINESS LENDING CASH MANAGEMENT HEARTWARMING RESULTS
Branches located throughout Northern and Central California including Modesto, Turlock, Patterson, Gustine and Fresno.
Start your own story! Call or visit us online today. Member FDIC
1-800-922-8742 | TriCountiesBank.com
24
Central Valley Business Journal
August 2016
Business Journal Cover Stor CENTRAL VALLEY
Up in the air Stockton is a big step closer to air service to L.A. Why did it take so long? By ELIZABETH STEVENS Business Journal editor estevens@cvbizjournal.com
STOCKTON — Ask anyone in the Central Valley if they’d like to be able to fly to Los Angeles from Stockton or Modesto, and you’re likely to hear a resounding yes. Many people are tired of driving to the Bay Area or Sacramento to get a flight to Los Angeles or another a major hub. Some are business travelers who want to go to Harry Mavrogenes Southern California and come back the same day. Others are vacationers who want to get to L.A. so they can transfer to other destinations. The region has new hope for service to L.A. thanks to a federal grant the Stockton Metropolitan Airport received at the end of June to help subsidize an airline’s startup costs. Airport Director Harry Mavrogenes calls the grant a “game changer” because it removes some of the risk airlines face when they start a new service. “This money provides a cushion for an airline in that first critical year when they come in,” said Mavrogenes. The grant comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Small Community Air Service Development Program and will be used to provide “a revenue guarantee, marketing, and fee waivers to recruit, initiate and support new daily service between Stockton Metropolitan Airport and Los Angeles.” The grant will be combined with money from other sources, including a portion of the $9.7 million the San Joaquin Council of Governments awarded the airport last year. In addition, there is $65,000 from the county’s transient occupancy tax. According to the federal grant’s stipulations, the airport has to use money from outside its budget in order to demonstrate support from the community. “I think they feel it enhances the chance of success with the grant if you have that local commitment out there,” Mavrogenes said.. The airport has received a letter of
interest from Utah-based SkyWest Airlines, but Mavrogenes has also taken calls from other airlines that have expressed interest in Stockton. The next step is to file the paperwork to get the money from the grant and to work out details with an airline before actual service begins. “It could be as little as eight or nine months. It could be a year and a half,” Mavrogenes said. The timeline depends on whether an airline is set up to expand with enough pilots and equipment. Mavrogenes said SkyWest just bought a fleet of 70-passenger planes, which is the size Stockton’s service would need. “What I’d like to work with them on is daily, at least six days a week, service — morning and evening,” Mavrogenes said. “With the theory being you can fly to L.A. for a business meeting, come back home and have dinner with your family.” The grant is the Stockton airport’s latest win. In April, Allegiant Airlines announced it is adding service to San Diego from Stockton. The airline already has flights from Stockton to Las Vegas and Phoenix. But Los Angeles is the area’s top priority, according to Joseph David White Pickering, who works for airline consulting firm Mead & Hunt and has put together reports for Stockton. “Mead & Hunt completed a 2014 air service demand study (for Stockton) which identified Los Angeles as the largest market in need of direct service.” Pickering said in an email. The city of Modesto reportedly has made getting flights to Los Angeles the primary goal for its airport and has hired a consultant to study demand. The city hasn’t had passenger air service since SkyWest Airlines stopped its flights between Modesto and Oakland two years ago. Modesto City-County Airport Manager Mark Germanowski declined to be interviewed, but David White, CEO of Opportunity Stanislaus (formerly the Stanislaus Business Alliance) said Stockton and Modesto face challenges expanding air service because the cit-
Allegiant Airlines has been flying out of Stockton’s airport since 2006 and is adding service to San Diego.
ies are in the shadow of the Bay Area. However, he said, it’s important for the region to try. “If we do attract scheduled service from this area, it makes it easier for people to fly, and it cuts the cost of business,” he said. “It helps people. It improves their quality of life. It makes it easier for us to attract business and to retain business. So, it’s important that we go after these flights.” Pickering has studied the Stockton market and said it has several things going for it including a large regional population of 800,000, an improving economy and low airport costs. He also said the fact that Allegiant has
been adding service out of Stockton shows there is passenger demand. The challenge is that more and more cities are competing for fewer airlines. According to a report by the air travel consulting firm Intervistas, 37 percent of mainland U.S. airports produce 97 percent of consumer demand. That means smaller airports have to work harder to get the airlines’ attention. According to Pickering, airlines look for “an underserved market that can generate enough ridership to generate the economic returns (revenue) necessary to provide a return (profit) on the airlines investment.” In order to to achieve that, airlines
August 2016
25
www.cvbizjournal.com
ry
ELIZABETH STEVENS/CVB
Boutique Air makes daily flights from Merced to Los Angeles and Oakland.
Boutique Air offers low fares, upscale service By KENT HOHLFELD Business Journal writer khohlfeld@cvbizjournal.com
ELIZABETH STEVENS/CVBJ
need to be confident there is enough passenger demand to fill seats for all their flights. White, who in his career in economic development has experience trying to attract air service to smaller cities, says assuring airlines of reliable passenger demand is the problem for Central Valley cities. That’s because people here have access to Bay Area airports, even if it is somewhat inconvenient. “Our challenge is we’re just too close to other airports, and the airlines know that,” White said. It can take years to get an airline interested in a new market, Mavrogenes said. The process involves going
to conferences, lobbying government representatives, commissioning market studies and applying for government grants. “For a couple of weeks, this was taking up easily 60 percent of my time -- getting letters from the community, getting support, putting the grant application together, making phone calls, checking in with our Congressional delegation,” Mavrogenes said. “We’re pretty confident that we’ll make something work,” he added. “It’s just going to take a little bit of time to negotiate to get everything ready with the airlines. I would suspect before the end of 2017 we will have service.”
MERCED — One of the biggest challenges facing economic development officials in many Central Valley cities is finding reliable air travel. Merced has a found an alternative answer to its travel challenges in the form of Boutique Air, a low-cost airline that offers corporate-like service. “Having air service is important to this community, “ said Merced Airport Manager Janet Young. “It saves five hours right off the bat to get to (a flight in) Oakland. It really does work. It is quite good for business people.” Merced, home to UC Merced, sits on Highway 99, 115 miles from Oakland and 277 miles from Los Angeles International Airport. In October, Boutique Air began serving the city with three daily flights to LAX and two to Oakland International Airport. From there, passengers can connect to destinations anywhere in the world. “Air service makes a difference,” said Young. “Start-up companies and venture capitalists want to have air access. It is very well known factor.” Securing air service to cities such as Merced can be a challenge. Merced is one of four California airports that benefit from the Department of Transportation’s Essential Air Service program. The program subsidizes airlines up to $200 per passenger to connect small communities like Merced to a large- or medium-hub airport. The program provides a total of $2.9 million annually in subsidies for the Merced service. The program was started after deregulation allowed many airlines to drop less profitable routes in 1978. That led many cities, like Merced, to lose air service. The EAS program also subsidizes air service to El Centro and Crescent City. Visalia is also
eligible for the program but doesn’t currently have air service. “The Merced route is our most popular route,” said Greg Roberts, project manager at Boutique Air. “The route has been in extraordinarily high demand.” Boutique Air began as an aviation technology company in 2007. It soon purchased a fleet of Pilatus PC-12 aircraft and offered a charter service from points in the Southwest to events such as Burning Man in Black Rock Desert, Nevada. In 2013, it began commuter service to Hawthorne Municipal Airport near Los Angeles and McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas. The company now flies routes in states from California to Georgia. “Primarily we are working with a lot of communities that work with the EAS program that provides subsidy for communities that would be unprofitable to service otherwise,” said Roberts. “So that is the rationale.” The service provides an upscale flying experience. The company’s Pilatus PC-12 fleet is made up of single-engine turboprop planes that have eight or nine seats. Flights range in price from a low of $19 to Oakland to a $99 refundable ticket to LAX. The planes have the feel of a private jet. They are small, with leather seats and a restroom. However, they lack some amenities, such as Wi-Fi, found on larger carriers. The flights are short, averaging under an hour, with a flight crew consisting of a pilot and first officer. One of the unique features of a trip on Boutique Air is that the first officer also serves as the flight attendant, giving safety instructions and offering sodas or snacks before takeoff. More so than at a major carriers, having the ability to interact with passengers is an important part of a Please see BOUTIQUE Page 29
26
Central Valley Business Journal
August 2016
BUSINESS AND TRADE ASSOCIATIONS In San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Merced Counties. Ranked by Number of Members. Ties are Listed in Alphabetical Order. Rank
Company Name Address
1
Almond Board of California 1150 9th Street, Suite 1500 Modesto, CA 95354
2
San Joaquin Farm Bureau Federation 3290 N. Ad Art Road Stockton, CA 95215
3
4
Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce 445 W. Weber Avenue, Ste. 220 Stockton, CA 95203 Modesto Chamber of Commerce 1114 J. Street Modesto, CA 95354
5
Lodi District Chamber of Commerce 35 S. School Street Lodi, CA 95240
6
Western United Dairymen 1315 K. Street Modesto, CA 95354
7
Lodi Winegrape Commission 2545 W. Turner Road Lodi, CA 95242
8
San Joaquin Medical Society 3031 W. March Lane, Ste. 222-W Stockton, CA 95219
9
San Joaquin County Bar Association & Lawyer Referral Service 20 N. Sutter Street, Ste. 300 Stockton, CA 95202
10
11
Tracy Chamber of Commerce 223 E. 10th Street Tracy, CA 95376 The Greater Merced Chamber of Commerce 1640 N Street Ste. 120 Merced, CA 95340
Top Local Executive Phone Web Address Richard Waycott, President/CEO (209) 549-8262 almondboard.com Bruce Blodgett, Executive Director Andrew Walkins, President (209) 931-4931 sjfb.org Douglass W. Wilhoit Jr., CEO (209) 547-2770 stocktonchamber.org Cecil Russell, CEO (209) 577-5757 modchamber.org Pat Patrick (209) 367-7840 lodichamber.com Paul Martin, CEO (209) 527-6453 westernuniteddairymen.com
No. of Members Annual Dues No. of Total Staff 6,000 No dues 40 staff 3,700 $320 business $245 agricultural $72 associate 5 staff 1,000 Based on number of employees 18 staff 1,000 9 staff 900 $392 and up 9 staff 900 Fees vary 13 staff
Services Provided
Year Est.
Dedicated to researching, growing, harvesting and marketing California almonds
1950
Work on issues such as: water, rural health and safety, land use, air quality, agricultural education and more Bronze, Copper, Silver and Gold memberships available.
1914
To aggressively develop and promote an economically vibrant business community
1901
Improve the business climate so they grow and thrive
1912
Serves members by influencing public policy and fostering a climate in which business and industry can operate profitably. Promote well-balanced economic growth
1923
Resources in lobbying, economic analysis, environmental compliance, and policy
1984
Camron King, Executive Director (209) 367-4727 lodiwine.com
750 --15 staff
Advocacy and promotion of Lodi wine grape growers Research/education, regional marketing/advertising
1991
Lisa Richmond, Executive Director (209) 952-5299 sjcms.org
700 4 staff
Advocates for quality healthcare for all patients and serves the professional needs of its members
1873
Lawyer referral service; Dispute resolution services
1940
450 $225 - $1,500 4 staff
To strengthen the business community, take a leadership role in promoting economic vitality, influence public policy and promoting the welfare of our members
1910
433 Varies 16 staff
Promote a strong economy, advocate on behalf of businesses, advance effective leadership, foster productive citizenship, support responsible community stewardship.
1936
Online plan room, safety related seminars and project information
1947
Created to add value and positive economic growth
1949
Rebekah Burr-Siegel, Executive Director (209) 948-0125 sjcbar.org Sophia Valenzuela, Operations Director (209) 835-2131 tracychamber.org Shawn Dwyer, Chairman (209) 384-7092 merced-chamber.com
500 $40 and up 8 staff
12
Valley Builders Exchange, Inc. 1118 Kansas Avenue Modesto, CA 95351
Karen Bowden, Executive Director (209) 522-9031 valleybx.com
13
Turlock Chamber of Commerce 115 S. Golden State Boulevard Turlock, CA 95380
Sharon Silva, President/CEO (209) 632-2221 turlockchamber.com
430 $200.00 entrance fee $425.00 3 staff 424 Dues vary 6 staff
The Builders Exchange of Stockton 7500 West Lane Stockton, CA 95210 San Joaquin County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce 7500 West Lane, Ste. 111 Stockton, CA 95210
Mike Self, Executive Director (209) 478-1000 besonline.com
420 $200 Associate $565 Members 9 staff
Plan room, newsletters, safety services, events, scholarship programs, networking and advocacy
1924
(209) 943-6117 sjchispanicchamber.com
300 $150/$275/$600 3 staff
Provides assistance in opening businesses, accessing capital, and business plans. Offer workshops and programs for local Hispanic market and community.
1972
16
Ripon Chamber of Commerce 929 W. Main St. Ripon, CA 95366
Tamra Spade, President/CEO (209) 599-7519 riponchamber.org
Networking, mixers, annual events, new member orientation, ribbon cutting, event sponsorship, certificate of origin, committees: government relations, ambassador and downtown, seminars and workshops
1922
17
San Joaquin Partnership 2800 W. March Lane, Ste. 470 Stockton, CA 95219
Michael Ammann, President/CEO (209) 956-3380 sjpnet.org
Economic development and job development programs
1991
18
African American Chamber of Commerce of San Joaquin 42 N. Sutter Street, Ste. 218 Stockton, CA 95202
19
Opportunity Stanislaus 1010 10th Street, Ste. 1400 Modesto, CA 95350
20
Stockton Convention and Visitors Bureau 125 Bridge Place, 2nd Floor Stockton, CA 95202
14
15
270 Dues vary 3 staff 121 $2,000 - $25,000 5 staff
Paulette Gross, CEO (209) 320-5564 aachambersj.org
90 $125 5 staff
Promotes the creation, growth, expansion and general welfare of African American businesses in the Stockton/San Joaquin County area
1979
David White, CEO (209) 567-4985 stanalliance.com
WND Varies 21 staff
Economic development, workforce training, SPDC services for new and expanding companies in Stanislaus County
2002
Wes Rhea, Executive Director (209) 938-1555 visitstockton.org
NA No fee 5 staff
Dedicated to promoting Stockton as both a business and tourism destination
1979
These lists are provided as a free service by the Central Valley Business Journal for our readers. As such, inclusion is based on editorial consideration and is not guaranteed. If you would like your business to be included in a list, please write to: Research Department, Central Valley Business Journal, 4512 Feather River Drive, Ste. E, Stockton, CA 95219, fax your information to Research Dept. at (209) 477-0211 or email us at research@cvbizjournal.com. Copyright Central Valley Business Journal. Researched by Danette Conley 07/2016
August 2016
www.cvbizjournal.com
Proud winner of the 2015 President’s Award for Customer Satisfaction, Ford’s most prestigious award! Thank you to all of our customers and staff, this wouldn’t be possible without you!
Stockton Auto Mall | Hammer Lane off 99 Check out our website at bigvalleyford.com or call us at 209.870.4473
27
28
Central Valley Business Journal
August 2016
Business Journal Real Estate CENTRAL VALLEY
> CASH SALES
Valley cash sales still dropping Cash sales of homes continue to drop as the housing market continues to improve from the crash that sparked the Great Recession. Cash sales accounted for 31.6 percent of sales in April 2016 nationwide, down 2.8 percent from one year ago and down 1.6 percent from April. For the first four months of the year, cash sales accounted for 33.9 percent of the sales, the lowest start to a year since 2008. Cash made up an even lower percentage of transactions in the Stockton-Lodi area. Cash accounted for 25.1 percent of sales in April, down 1.6 percent over the previous year. Bank-owned real estate accounted for the lion’s share of cash transactions, accounting for 56 percent of REO sales. Thirty-one percent of resales were in cash, followed by short sales at 28.6 percent.
Stockton, Modesto homes selling fast STOCKTON — Home sellers are having a good summer, according to Realtor.com. Nationwide, the median age of properties on Realtor. com is 68 days, but in California houses are moving much more quickly. In Stockton, houses spent an average of 38 days on the market in July. In Modesto, the median age is 39 days. On Realtor.com’s list of the hottest markets in the country, Stockton and Modesto are holding on to their top 20 rankings. Stockton was No. 5 for July, down from fourth place in June. Modesto was 12th, down from ninth place the month before. Home prices are remaining
> FORECLOSURES MODESTO — Foreclosure rates remain below a half percent in Modesto and Stockton, according to data from CoreLogic. Modesto’s foreclosure rate
fairly steady in the Central Valley. In June, according to the most recent Metrolist figures, The median sale price was $315,000 in Stockton; $275,000 in Modesto and $237,000 in Merced. California markets continue to dominate Realtor.com’s “Hot List.” That list ranks markets based on inventory and home price. VallejoFairfield is at the top. San Francisco-Oakland is fourth; Stockton, fifth; San DiegoCarlsbad, seventh; Santa Cruz, Sacramento and Santa Rosa round out the top 10. Across the nation, it’s been a record-breaking summer, according to Realtor.com. Homes for sale in July moved
SOURCE: MLS PRO
2 percent more quickly than last year as prices continued to hit new highs.
The national median home was listed for $251,000, 7 percent higher than a year ago.
Valley foreclosures still dropping was 0.45 percent for May 2016. That’s down .12 percent compared with the year before. In Stockton, the foreclosure rate was 0.44 percent, down 0.19 points from May 2015.
Both are considerably lower than the national foreclosure rate of 1 percent. Mortgage delinquencies are also declining. In Modesto, 1.81 percent of loans were late
by 90 days or more in May, down 0.40 percentage points from the year before. In Stockton, the 90-day delinquency rate was 1.75 percent, down 0.51 points from last year.
August 2016
www.cvbizjournal.com
BOUTIQUE Continued from Page 25
pilot’s job at Boutique Air. “Passengers get to meet the pilot and often they say how funny and nice the pilots are,” said Roberts. “That is a unique aspect. Our pilots are exceptional for their customer service and their ability.” Having more interaction with passengers than pilots do at major carriers also makes it a unique place to work. “It’s a fun plane to fly,” said Boutique Air pilot Steven Kellerman. “The passengers can unbuckle their seatbelt and walk around to the flight deck and talk with us. You can’t really do that at an airline, so they definitely feel a little bit closer to the operation, I think.” He said that some passengers are surprised by the size of the planes when they first fly with the airline. The airplanes are small, really small. “The general public has no idea, has no aviation knowledge whatsoever,” he said. “They just think, ‘big plane, let’s go.’ So this is strikingly smaller.” The airline’s atmosphere creates a different vibe from that found flying on other carriers. “For the most part people are relaxed,” he said. “You know, I think we get a combination of people being really excited, like, ‘Oh my gosh. It’s my own private plane!’ and other people going, ‘Oh my gosh, this is really small. I’m freaked out.’ But we try and help them get over those fears as much as possible.” Some passengers have concerns about the safety of flying in such a tiny aircraft. The pilots work during the flight to get passenger over those fears. “For the most part, flying is the safest form of transportation and just because the plane is smaller doesn’t necessarily mean it’s less safe,” Kellerman said. “So I would say it’s a mixed bag of excitement and a little bit of anxiety, but once we’re flying some people want to relax. Other times we get a little bit rowdier passengers that are excited. They want to come up to the cockpit and check stuff out. So we like to encourage that as well.” So far, the service has been popular with area travelers. Between 800 and 900 passengers fly out of Merced every month. Boutique Air flights have been running at 76 percent of capacity. One of the challenges in attracting air service to smaller communities is that they are often located close enough to major hubs that leisure travelers are willing to drive to the hub for a cheaper fare. At the same time, they are far enough from such hubs to cause a major inconvenience for business travelers. Boutique Air has managed to avoid that pitfall by keeping fares low enough to attract leisure travelers while also providing service that is convenient for business travelers. “We see a fair number of travelers from UC Merced,” said Roberts. “We also see a lot of business travelers.” Keeping and expanding reliable air service in Merced is crucial to the city’s economic development.
29
“We have not been contacted about expanding service, but depending on the future it could happen,” said Young. She said right now the priority is making sure the current service is successful. Reestablishing service once it’s lost can be an uphill challenge. “We want to do everything we can to help them,” said Young. “If you look at Modesto, it is taking a lot of money to try to get service back. Any community that has lost its air service, it takes a lot time and money to get a service to come back.” ELIZABETH STEVENS/CVBJ
A BETTER WAY TO TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS
Keep employees focused with healthier meetings American workers attend more than 60 meetings a month on average.* Help your workforce get their energy back. Visit us online to download our healthy meetings guide, and help your employees stay more focused throughout the day.
Choose better. Choose Kaiser Permanente. * “Meetings in America,” Verizon white paper, 2013.
kp.org/workforcehealth
30
Central Valley Business Journal
August 2016
SECURITY AND ALARM COMPANIES In San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Merced Counties. Ranked by Number of Employees. Ties are Listed in Alphabetical Order. Services and Systems Offered
Residential
Fire
Patrol Services & Security Guards
CCTV/Video
Access Control
Number of Local Staff
Commercial
Top Local Executive Phone Web Address
Kelly Davis, Area VP (209) 473-7892 securitasinc.com
100
p
p
p
p
p
p
Armed patrols and Security officers Tracy, Stockton, Lodi, Modesto Merced
1978
Ontel Security Services, Inc. 108 L Street Modesto, CA 95355
David Ackerman (209) 521-0200 ontelsecurity.com
80
p
p
p
p
p
p
Canine patrol, Armed/unarmed guards, agricultural security Out sourced Video installation
2003
3
ADT Security Services, Inc. 4725 Enterprise Way, Ste. 5 Modesto, CA 95356
Chelsea Kent (559) 374-1243 adt.com
70
p
p
p
p
p
p
Medical alert, pulse smart home, professional security reviews by experts
1875
4
Arvin Home Systems, Inc. 334-A N. Main Street Manteca, CA 95336
Arvin Reed (209) 823-3565 arvinhomesystems.com
40
p
p
p
p
Central vaccum, structured wiring, home theater and intercom
1976
5
Bay Alarm Company 3819 Duck Creek Drive Stockton, CA 95215
Bill Metzinger (209) 465-1986 bayalarm.com
32
p
p
p
p
Lock and Key
1983
6
Bay Valley Security 26 S. 3rd Street, Suite D Patterson, CA 95354
George Odhiambo (209) 589-7070 bayvalleysecurity.com
30
Security guard and patrol services Alarm response
2007
7
Alamo Alarm Company, Inc. 108 E. Walnut Street Lodi, CA 95240
Dana Buck (209) 463-9971 alamoalarm.com
24
p
p
p
p
p
8
Charlie’s Day and Nite Security & Lock 706 N. El Dorado Street Stockton 95202 526 W. Benjamin Holt, 95207
Steve Skobrak, President (209) 465-2667 (209) 477-4814 dayandnitelock.com
21
p
p
p
p
p
24 hour monitoring service and locksmith Installation of panic hardware and safes
1962
9
1st Security and Sound 1025 Lone Palm Avenue, Ste. 1-A Modesto, CA 95351
Robert Wright (209) 522 -6180 1stsecurityandsound.com
20
p
p
p
p
p
Home theater/entertainment systems and environmental lighting Total connect system
1996
14
p
p
p
p
p
Voice and data
2002
Brian Petrille (209) 948-2551 sonitrolsecurity.com
11
p
p
p
p
p
Lock and key Stanislaus, San Joaquin and Merced Counties
1977
Paul Butler (209) 225-9160 bicsecurity.com
10
p
p
p
p
p
Free estimates and consults UL certified
1987
Live scan fingerprints, bailbonds
2005
Company Name Rank Address
1
Securitas Security Services USA, Inc. 1776 W. March Lane Stockton, CA 95207
2
10
Protech Security & Electronics, Inc. 1322 7th Street Modesto, CA 95354 104 East 13th Street Merced, CA 95341
p
p
Other Services
24 hour surveillance and monitoring
Year Est.
1980
Gerry Adams (209) 571-1174 Debbie Baker (209) 388-1376 paradigm-inc.net
11
Sonitrol of Stockton 250 Cherry Lane Ste. 103 Manteca CA 95337
12
B.I.C. 1656 Herndon Road Ceres, CA 95305
13
Maxx One Security 121 E. Orangeburg Avenue Modesto, CA 95356
Paul Chahal (209) 480-2100 maxxonesecurity.com
10
p
p
14
Paradigm Integration, Inc. 192 W. Larch Road, Ste. C Tracy, CA 95304
Bob Johannsen (209) 839-8686
8
p
p
p
p
p
Home theater, automation, central vacuum, structured wiring, audio & video alarm monitoring
2000
15
Secure Cal Security 9594 E. Kettleman Lodi, CA 95240
Eric Handel 800-605-5809 None
7
p
p
p
p
p
Burglar alarm systems and monitoring
2003
16
Armor Clad Security 716 Kearney Avenue Modesto, CA 95350
Denis Cooke (209) 522-3325 armorcladsecurity.com
6
p
p
p
p
All Guard alarm systems
2002
17
Ispy Vision 586 Commerce Court Manteca, CA 95336
Cliff Rogers (209) 823-9500 ispyvision.com
6
p
p
p
p
Automated control systems, high tech security and on-demand video interconnectivity
2007
18
ABS Alarm Company 793 S. Tracy Boulevard Tracy, CA 95376
Janet Anderson (209) 835-6003 absalarmcocom
3
p
p
Lock and key, personal and medical emergencies and new construction
1999
19
California Built In Systems 1032 W. Yosemite Avenue Manteca, CA 95337
Ken Fogg (209) 239-1413 californiabuiltins.com
3
p
p
20
Stockton Alarm, Inc. 2910 Raintree Court Stockton, CA 95219
Ed McPheeters (209) 478-5186 stocktonalarm.com
2
p
p
p
p
p
p
p
p
Security, automation, central vacuum
1976
p
p
Security cameras, TV and home theater, window tinting
1977
These lists are provided as a free service by the Central Valley Business Journal for our readers. As such, inclusion is based on editorial consideration and is not guaranteed. If you would like your business to be included in a list, please write to: Research Department, Central Valley Business Journal, 4512 Feather River Drive, Ste. E, Stockton, CA 95219, fax your information to Research Dept. at (209) 477-0211 or email us at research@cvbizjournal.com. Copyright Central Valley Business Journal. Researched by Danette Conley 07/2016
August 2016
www.cvbizjournal.com
31
32
Central Valley Business Journal
August 2016
Airbnb helps showcase Delta region By SIM RISSO Business Journal writer srisso@cvbizjournal.com
STOCKTON — The Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta is regarded by tourism officials as one of the city’s best assets. Now, thanks to Airbnb, there’s a new way to showcase it. Wendy Foulks and her husband, Tom, use Airbnb to rent their yacht, The Island Oasis, so people from outside the area can experience the Delta. They fell in love with the Delta after moving to San Joaquin County in 1992. “The Delta is such a treasure, and Stockton is such a gem,” said Wendy Foulks. “It’s a river city. It’s got so much going for it that we just don’t make the most of it. We don’t advertise it. So this gives people a way of finding out about it.” The Island Oasis is berthed at Village West Marina next to Garlic Brothers and Bob’s. It can be rented for $112 per night. The yacht can accommodate up to four guests and offers kitchen, Wi-Fi, air conditioning, paddleboards and a paddleboat. Stephanie Heise and her fiancé found The Island Oasis and rented it for a Valentine’s Day getaway. Heise, who lives in San Francisco, said most people from the Bay Area travel north to Sonoma and Napa for their get-
aways. For the last couple of years, she and her fiancé have headed to the Central Valley for Valentine’s Day. Heise saw The Island Oasis on Airbnb’s website and was intrigued. She had been unaware that a marina even existed in Stockton. While they were in town, they visited the Haggin Museum, walked around downtown Stockton, checked out Lodi and ate at Garlic Brothers. Spending time in the area and seeing a different side of Stockton changed her perspective on the city. “Stockton is so undervalued as a tourist destination,” said Heise. “People have a lot of negative associations with it because of violence, bankruptcy and other issues, but there’s actually a lot of discoverable, interesting stuff there that is really worth visiting.” Making sure tourists find out about the Delta is the key, according to Visit Stockton CEO Wes Rhea That is why Visit Stockton focuses on it in many of its marketing campaigns. As Rhea pointed out, a lot of people — even Stocktonians — don’t know much about the Delta because one needs to use a boat to really experience it. Rhea said people can have that experience by renting kayaks on the waterfront or boats at various marinas. But there are other things tourists can do without a boat. There’s the Delta Loop recreation area, which offers sites
WAYNE DENNING/CVBJ
Wendy Foulks rents her boat on Airbnb, partly to help bring tourists to the Delta.
to see and restaurants to visit. Tower Park Marina offers camping and rents cabins. There are also a swimming pool and Sunset Sweets, which sells brownies and sundaes. Windmill Cove Marina is presenting a summer concert series. If you don’t want to rent a boat, you can get on the water this summer through the Port’s tour cruises, put on by Opportunity Cruises. It operates on alternate Saturdays and Thursdays and provides people a free tour of the Port of Stockton by water. “People love it because it’s hard to really grasp that once you get on this water, it really becomes its own little world out there,” said Rhea. “You can be a mile out on the water and not see any part of the city. You see wildlife that’s out there and the natural beauty of the Delta. I think people are always amazed at how beautiful and how lucky we are to have this asset.” In addition to the opportunity to stay on The Island Oasis at the marina, Foulks also provides cruises. In fact, that’s how it started in 2011. Foulks got her captain’s license with the intention of sailing the Caribbean when she and her husband retire. In the meantime, she takes people out for cruises on the Delta. A TV crew from Japanese Public Television spent a week cruising the Delta with Foulks. The TV crew produces a documentary-style show, similar to “60 Minutes.” It was doing a story
on Ephemerisle, which is a temporarily constructed community on the on the Delta located at Mandeville Point. Yuri Osugi is the associate producer on the show. She now lives in New York City and helped to organize the event with Foulks. She also spent a week on The Island Oasis. Osugi came to Stockton in 2008 to do a story on home foreclosures. “I really highly recommend Wendy’s service,” said Osugi. “We’re really happy about what she provided us on the Delta. Really nothing compares that we can find in New York or Tokyo. So we felt kind of envious that you have that kind of environment close to where you live and that you can share with everyone who comes to visit.”
> MORE INFORMATION Port Tours Stockton Marina 445 W. Weber Ave. in Downtown Stockton Aug. 19, 20 & 21 Sept. 16, 17 & 18 Register: www.portofstockton.com/boat-tours
Get daily local business news, delivered free! Stay current with Central Valley Business news... send your email address to: newsletter@cvbizjournal.com and put “please subscribe” in the subject line.
August 2016
33
www.cvbizjournal.com
Four Friends boosts Valley arts and crafts By NORA HESTON TARTE Business Journal writer nhestontarte@cvbizjournal.com
SALIDA — When Mallory Hill, Brittany Thayer, Jessica Grimbleby and Bryana Porter met at a local Moms of Preschoolers meetup, they had no idea they would hit it off. Their friendship blossomed during frequent craft nights held after their children and husbands went to bed. Eventually, their shared passion for all things artsy morphed into a business opportunity called Four Friends Market. “Our goal is just to help vendors be successful,” Porter said of the curated marketplace they founded. “There’s not really a profit in this at all. It’s just trying to make a place where people can come and showcase their local small businesses.” “It’s all local, small businesses,” Hill said of the market. There are no direct sales companies and it’s not to be confused with a yard sale. Four Friends Market, an annual curated marketplace in the Central Valley, is hosting its second event Sept. 24. From 9 a.m.-2 p.m., people can shop more than 50 local vendors, hawking goods from coffee and pastries to refurbished furniture and kid’s accessories. The event will be held at 5219
PHILIP JOHNSON/CVBJ
Jessica Grimbleby, Brittany Thayer, Mallory Hill and Bryana Porter started Four Friends Market as a place for crafters and artisans to sell their creations.
Covert Rd., Salida. Don and Audrey Rowe of Front Rowe Designs are gearing up to take part in the show for the second year. The 2015 event proved successful for the business that sells home goods made out of repurposed wood. “We had a good show. We sold over half of our stuff,” Audrey said. Audrey said she was impressed with how the friends took care of their ven-
dors, providing water and fans on the hot day. “They had some foresight, which I wouldn’t have expected for a first time,” she said. “I trust these four ladies because they are very energetic and they just had everything covered… Through social media they got a ton of people there and it turned out to be a really good show.” Buyers can expect a mixture of
new and used goods. Some vendors, like Hill herself, sell antique pieces gleaned from garage sales. Others create and sell new products. Porter, a mother of four girls, sells girls’ and women’s headbands and hair accessories. She said it gives her an excuse to buy ribbon, a personal obsession. The market is much like ModShop in Modesto or Stockmarket in Stockton without the array of food vendors. However, Grimbleby’s husband will sell coffee from his side business, Bean Counter Coffee Roaster. “He just really likes coffee,” Grimbleby said. Chessie’s Dreamery out of Turlock will sell baked goods. Thayer, the designated brains of the business, said the 50 available vendor slots sold out quickly. Some vendors even opted to share booth space. The 10-foot by 10-foot booth spaces sold for $75 each and 6-foot table spaces sold for $45. Costs are higher this year. Thayer said in addition to a larger space, they had to pay for permits and private security. “Those are probably some of our biggest costs,” she said. More than half of the 30 vendors that participated in the inaugural event signed up again. The market has grown to more than 75 vendors this year, and Please see FOUR FRIENDS Page 46
34
Central Valley Business Journal
August 2016
Business Journal Jobs & Economy CENTRAL VALLEY
Jobless rate up in Central Valley counties
> CASHLESS
Cash loses its luster with young
MODESTO — The unemployment rates in both Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties jumped 1 percent in June from their revised May numbers. In Stanislaus County, June jobless rate was 9.2 percent, up from 7.9 percent in May. In San Joaquin County, June’s unemployment rate was 8.3 percent. That was up from 7.1 percent in May. While both counties added jobs in the manufacturing and logistics sectors, they also lost jobs in education, health care and government. Stanislaus County lost 1,000 farm jobs in June as seasonal work shifted. The county’s biggest gain came in manufacturing where it gained 600 jobs. In San Joaquin County,
WASHINGTON — Most Americans believe that the country will become a cashless society in their lifetimes. That is according to a new Gallup poll released in July. Sixty-two percent of Americans said they believe the country would be a cashless society in their lifetimes. The belief is fueled by the expanded use of credit cards, debit cards and other electronic payments options. In short, the survey found that more people are becoming comfortable without cash in their pockets. While the highest percentages of those in younger age groups tended to believe cash is on its way out, 58 percent of those 65-and-older shared the view. Among people 18-29 years old, 56 percent are comfortable leaving the house without any cash. Among 30-49 year olds, 54 percent still prefer to have cash on them at all times.
> JOB PLACEMENT STOCKTON — The Conservatory of Music at the University of the Pacific placed 100 percent of its music education grads in jobs or graduate
total farm jobs were down 1,700. The county saw its biggest job gains in trade and transportation where it added 1,000 jobs. Statewide the unemployment rate for June was 5.7 percent. It was 5.1 percent nationwide. Nursing and trucking lead the way when it comes to job openings in the Valley. There were more than 850 trucking jobs advertised online. In nursing, there were about 840 jobs advertised. In Stanislaus County, West Suburban Medical Center, The Hospitals of Providence, Modesto City Schools , Sutter Health, and the California State University System were the top five entities advertising with open positions.
BUSINESS JOURNAL PHOTO
Trucking is the sector showing the most job growth in the Valley.
Dignity Health, Lincoln Unified School District , Stockton Unified School District, Manteca Unified School
District and Aspire Public Schools had the most open positions in San Joaquin County in June.
Pacific places 100 percent of music ed grads programs within a month of Commencement, the university said. The university said it has consistently placed all its
grads in jobs for years. It credits its success to its teachers, students and its program where students spend time in the classroom teach-
ing music. The program allows them to earn their teaching credentials a year sooner that students at other music education programs.
BiLL crawford AAI; LUTCF, AFIS PRESIDENT
Full Line Insurance Agency • Auto • Home
• Life • Health
• Commercial • Annuities
Lodi | 310 South Crescent, Ste. A (209) 365-9600
• Farm & Ranch • Long Term Care
Tracy | 1550 Tracy Blvd. (209) 835-5253
CA Lic# 0E22532
Serving San Joaquin County’s Insurance Needs For Over 40 Years!
August 2016
35
www.cvbizjournal.com
Handling heated political discussions at work • Ensure your harassment policies and harassment complaint system are posted and that employees are trained in the process. Similarly, make sure employees are aware of any guidelines that prohibit bringing campaign materials into the office. • Create a culture of open dialogue and mutual respect, but if conversations do turn heated, encourage em-
ployees to walk away. Stiener-Murphy said it is appropriate for supervisors to step if they need to. “I do think you want to have an open and a safe environment, but I think if you’re sitting somewhere and you’re hearing a conversation that could be construed as uncomfortable for anyone, I do think it’s appropriate to say, ‘You guys, I think this is getting
a little bit too heavy,’” she said. The nationwide survey was conducted online by Harris Poll on behalf of CareerBuilder among 1,902 managers ages 18 and over (employed full-time, not self-employed, non-government) and 3,244 employees ages 18 and over (employed full-time, not selfemployed, non-government) between May 11 and June 7.
© Modesto © Modesto Irrigation Irrigation District District © Modesto Irrigation District
As this presidential election year has progressed, it seems there’s nowhere you can escape political discussions. Not even at work. A new CareerBuilder survey has found that 30 percent of employers and 17 percent of employees have argued with a co-worker over a particular candidate this election season. Stiener-Murphy Kimberly StienerMurphy of Robert Half Staffing said she’s not surprised that political arguments break out from time to time. “Think about it, though. You’ve got all walks of life in the workforce,” she said. The survey was conducted by Harris Poll before the national conventions. At that time, it didn’t matter much which candidate was involved: 17 percent of people argued about Republican candidate Donald Trump, and 16 percent argued about Democrat Hillary Clinton. The survey did find that 20 percent of male employees said they’d had an argument at work over politics compared to 15 percent of female employees. At 24 percent, workers between 18 and 24 years of age were the most likely to say they’d engaged in heated political debates at work. Political arguments were more likely to break out in the following types of businesses: • IT: 47 percent • Manufacturing: 37 percent • Professional and Business Services: 30 percent • Financial Services: 29 percent • Health Care: 24 percent • Retail: 23 percent Human resources professionals point out that it’s possible for such discussions to become uncomfortable or unprofessional. The key to discussion in the workplace is to be fair and respectful, but if a conversation is becoming uncomfortable, Stiener-Murphy says you always have the option of walking away. “I think you have to know when things are getting heated, and I think you always have to be the bigger person and say, ‘You know what? I think I’m going to stay out of this particular argument,’” she said. Businesses walk a fine line between making sure the workplace is professional and appearing to censor expression. The survey found that half of workers believe their workplace has become too politically correct. Career Builder offered the following advice for businesses that want to be open but professional: • Recognize there’s a thin line between freedom of expression and a potential source of conflict. Consider providing respect and dignity behavioral training to all employees and emphasize tolerance for different ideas, beliefs and needs.
High efficiency motor rebates High efficiency Lighting rebates HVAC HVAC rebatesrebates High efficiency Lighting rebates motor rebates motor rebates Lighting rebates
HVAC rebates
36
Central Valley Business Journal
August 2016
Business Journal Community Voices Getting virtually real with your customers CENTRAL VALLEY
By MARTINA ORI Guest Columnist Virtual reality is the use of computer technology to create a threedimensional, simulated environment. To experience virtual reality, people no longer look at a flat screen in front of them, but they are immersed in 3D worlds that they can access via a dedicated virtual reality device, such as Martina Ori a VR-compatible smartphone and a headset. Virtual reality places people inside an immersive experience, simulating their physical presence in an environment. People feel they really are in the place and they can interact with the environment as if they were in a physical space. The first and main application of virtual reality so far has been games. Non-gaming use of virtual reality is still considered an experimental technology, and it is mainly limited to
certain sectors such as the military, health care and education. Virtual reality will however soon enter the business world, changing in particular the way companies do sales and marketing and engage with their customers. Brands and VR: Customers love it Brands are increasingly looking for new, immersive ways to engage their customers. Virtual reality can be a great tool for that. VR can help companies communicate with customers and partners as in real life, with the flexibility and accessibility of online communication. VR provides for more direct interaction between businesses and customers. According to marketing company, GreenlightVR, 71 percent of all the interviewees define a brand that uses VR as “forward-thinking and modern,” and more than 50 percent say they are more likely to purchase from a brand that uses VR. The vast majority of the people using VR for the first time express positive feelings about it, describing their experience as “amazing,” “exciting”
PHOTO COURTESY HYPERFAIR
and “surprising.” People also said they felt “happy” and “energetic.” Experimenting with VR in Business: Some Use Cases Some companies have recently started using VR for their marketing. Last December, Coca-Cola created a
Christmas advertising campaign in VR. Marriott now provides in-room virtual reality experiences as a way to showcase suites to potential customers. Volvo has created a virtual reality driving experience, and Audi gives Please see VIRTUAL Page 46
August 2016
www.cvbizjournal.com
37
Taking advantage of the Pokémon craze Businesses are always looking for new ways to place their products within easy reach of consumers and for new ways to spread the word about what they have to offer. Social media platforms have been invaluable places to link up with customers, but now new options are appearing. One of the most interesting new frontiers in online marketing Dan Natividad is multi-player Partner mobile games to Port City Marketing attract players. In theory, businesses can harness massive communities of gamers to promote their products. But is this realistic? Absolutely, and Pokémon GO is a great example of how powerful game-based marketing can be.
Brand Building
Pokémon GO Pokémon started as a popular cartoon in the mid-1990s. Its character, Ash, tries to catch as many Pokémon (fictional animals with their own special features) as possible. Video games followed for formats like the Gameboy Color, Nintendo DS and 3DS, and be-
came one of the best-selling franchises in the world. Pokémon GO takes the saga forward and has been released on iOS and Android devices. For the first time, the way players capture Pokémon is linked to the real world around them using augmented reality technology. Different Pokémon appear in physical locations linked to their properties. Players capture their Pokémon and train them into fighting machines, with the aim of raising their in-game level via combat with other gamers at special “gyms” that are located around the local area. There are also locations known as PokeStops. These could be anywhere, from museums or monuments to cafes and restaurants. At PokeStops, players can find useful in-game items such as Poke Balls, which can be used to capture Pokémon. Players can also purchase Lure Modules to use at PokeStops. These lures attract nearby Pokémon and provide an easy way for new players to improve their ratings. Gotta catch them all - Pokémon players, that is. If your business happens to be near a PokeStop, it is easy to see how to benefit from this phenomenon. Lures are extremely cheap, as they are targeted at ordinary players and, for a couple of dollars, small companies
can instantly gain footfall. By doing so, they can ensure a steady stream of players looking for Pokémon and PokeBalls, and plenty of these people will go on to make a real-world purchase at the business in question. If nothing else, it’s something that could make a difference, but if it doesn’t, it won’t cost the earth. Combine your lure with creative notices or posters and tell passing players about the chance to accumulate Pokémon in your store. It’s a good time to brand yourself as a fan of such a family-friendly, popular title. Even if it seems a little geeky, in an age dominated by geeks, that’s no bad thing. To be really successful at luring Pokémon players, companies should link their lures to their social media accounts. By posting regular Pokémon-based events and hooking up with fans, they can be ideally positioned to attract big gaming crowds. For instance, CoCoro Bistro, a great Japanese spot near our office on the Miracle Mile in Stockton, is in a unique position in that it is right next to a PokeStop and a Gym. I’ve noticed a player named “CoCoroBistro” placing lures throughout the Mile and posting the evidence on Instagram. Move quickly The future will offer all kinds of opportunities related to mobile gam-
ing. New games will emerge, which will offer completely new ways to promote your business, while existing games like Pokémon GO will change as their developers seek to maximize their revenues. Established games will inevitably become more professional, as the creators seek to marketize their advertising potential. But before that happens, there will always be a “wild west” situation for creative marketers to exploit. So it’s vital to act quickly if you want to reap the rewards. In the long-term, marketers need to adapt to how gamers think. Mass mobile gaming experiences are sure to become more popular, particularly as augmented reality devices catch on. Businesses that stay alert to how they work and how they can be used to reach customers will have a huge advantage. Gaming is one of the most exciting marketing arenas, even more so as games start to interact with actual communities. In a world where gamers roam cities battling with other players, businesses that understand where they go and why will prosper. – Dan Natividad, a Stockton native, is a partner at Port City Marketing Solutions along with Kristen Dyke and Erin Diego. Dan can be reached at dan@portcitymarketing.com.
Sure bets: death, taxes, cyber attacks The number of guaranteed, unfortunate realities you could count on in life used to be a short list. Death and taxes were as bad as it got. But for anyone who is even marginally connected in the digital age, I’d bet you agree “password” deserves to be included in that list. It’s the current bane of our existence. And if you’re anything like me, you have dozens of logins to a myriad of services: email, shopping, banking, social media, etc. Whether you’re a casual Facebooker or a full-fledged digital mastermind, protecting your online data is paramount. The news is ripe with stories of password leaks: LinkedIn, Kickstarter and Yahoo have all been recent targets of hacking, but the real victim is us, the user. The trouble with password theft is that your login name (typically your email address) is leaked along with the password. Therefore, if you use the same credentials with other services, they’re all potentially at risk. This brings us to the golden rule of passwording: use a different password for every site. I know this sounds horrifying, but it’s the only way to safeguard against security failings of the companies you interact with on the web. Another protection is to beef up the length of your password. It used
to be that adding complexity — a combination of upper and lowercase characters, numbers and symbols was a surefire way to boost security. However, with the recent advances made in password hacking, length trumps complexity. Instead of focusing on a single word, you might consider a phrase or string of unrelated words. Eighteen is the new eight. Go big. David So how do you create and keep Darmstandler track of dozens CEO of of long, comDatapath plex passwords unique to each and every site? A password manager is a great software tool that stores and sync your site credentials on all your devices. You’ve likely let Firefox or Safari save a password for you in the past. This is the same idea, only better. With a synchronized password vault, you’ll always have the latest login information on your computer(s), smartphone, tablet, etc. LastPass, RoboForm, Dashlane and
Tech Top 5
1Password are some the top-tier packages that leverage browser plugins that hang out in the background and take notice when you log in to password-protected sites. They’ll prompt you to save your info and auto-login from that day forward. So not only can you stop remembering the credentials, you won’t have to type them either. And the icing on the cake: once you’re comfortable using a manager, you can allow it to create unique passwords for you. You remember the single password for the vault, and let it generate and enter ridiculously long passwords on your behalf. Another protection many companies offer is two-factor authentication, where in addition to your password, a one-time code is required. This code may be sent to you via text message or generated by an app on your smartphone. Because most of us keep our smartphones at the ready, it’s a painless way to lock down an important account. Apple, Google, Dropbox and Facebook all offer two-factor authentication, and more are supporting the technology every day. In the end, common sense is your guide. The Post-it with your password stuck to the monitor is a horrible practice. Likewise, using 1234 or PASSWORD is not a good idea.
In a recent Cyber-Threat Defense Report conducted by U.S. Department of Homeland Security, several key finding were revealed and some may shock you: • 70 percent of U.S.-based organizations report having been compromised by a successful cyberattack in the past 12 months. • Cybersecurity incidents cause small to medium-sized businesses eight hours of downtime, on average. • 72 percent of cybersecurity incidents involve a current or former employee. The bottom line: don’t wait until it’s too late to properly secure your important data. Start now by improving your password protection and mobile device accessibility. Next, audit your business and how securely its data is protected. Are your important files in an unlocked file cabinet? Is your server room open and accessible to anyone in the organization? Are you backing up your data to disks and taking them home every night? Whether you choose to employ a password manager or strengthen your existing system, good luck out there. It’s a dog-eat-dog world, and you still have death and taxes to look forward to. –David Darmstandler is CEO of Datapath, an IT services company with headquarters in Modesto. You can reach him at david@mydatapath.com.
38
Central Valley Business Journal
August 2016
Giving great customer service on the phone If you answer your work phone with a conscious effort to offer service excellence, you’ve probably experienced the dangerous dark side too. After countless rings someone finally answers. We hope they are going to greet us — their customer — happily and with apologies for the delay. But, instead, John Parker we hear a Professional voice that hastDevelopment ily mumbles, “Thank you for Adventures calling the ‘Annoyed That You Are Calling Us Store.’ We are so busy talking to our friends on our personal cell phones that we don’t have time to answer this blasted store phone. “Anyway, this is Mumble Mumble, and I’m speaking really fast to make sure my name is completely incomprehensible. I’m tired and despise my job and don’t really give a rip what you need. “You may hear me say, ‘How may I help you’ or, whatever. Just get on with it and tell me what you want so I can
At Your Service
act like you are stupid, or, put you on hold and not come back, or, get someone else to deal with you, or, tell you we don’t have it and get off the phone.” Make sure your own staff doesn’t create such horror stories with your customers. Teach them the importance of first impressions, smiling tones and wise words. Let’s consider each. Make a great first impression Sincerity and friendliness matter most for great first impressions. Positive quick-start words and phrases with build confidence. Examples include: • Friendly language: Good morning. Good afternoon. Please. Thank you. You are welcome. It’s my pleasure. Pardon me. Excuse me. • Hospitable phrases: Hello. Hi there. Hi. How may I help you? Thank you for calling. I’m glad you called. • Caring comments: Certainly. I would be glad to. Here’s what we can do. May I help you? Sound as friendly as a smile Can you hear a smile? Telephone experts say, yes. A smiling, friendly voice can reassure customers that you are trustworthy, caring, and really want to help them. Speaking with a smile includes speaking clearly, naturally and with
“The most trusted source of positive, local business news in San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties. Providing value to readers by helping them grow their business, grow their careers and increase their bottom line through print, digital and local events.” “The most trusted source of positive, local business news in San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties. Providing value to readers by helping them grow their business, grow their careers and increase their bottom line through print, digital and local events.” “The most trusted source of positive, local business news in San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties. Providing value to readers by helping them grow their business, grow their careers and increase their bottom line through print, digital and local events.” “The most trusted source of positive, local business news in San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties. Providing value to readers by helping them grow their business, grow their careers and increase their bottom line through print, digital and local events.” “The most trusted source of positive, local business news in San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties. Providing value to readers by helping them grow their business, grow their careers and increase their bottom line through print, digital and local events.” “The most trusted source of positive, local business news in San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties. Providing value to readers by helping them grow their business, grow their careers and increase bottom line through print, digital and local Chad their Sublet, Vice President, events.” “The most trusted source ofVerve positive, local Networks business news in San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties. Providing value to readers by helping them grow their business, grow their careers and increase their bottom line through print, digital and local Verve Networks hassource partnered with thebusiness Central Valley Business events. ” “The most trusted of positive, local news in San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties. Providing valuethe to readers by helping them their business, Journal for years. Since very first edition, wegrow have seen grow their careers and increase their bottom line through print, digital and local an” “The increase in client inquires andlocal newbusiness client news growth. We look and events. most trusted source of positive, in San Joaquin Stanislaus counties. Providing value as to readers by helping their business, at the Business Journal an extension ofthem our grow marketing grow their careers and increase their bottom line through print, digital and local department and have often wondered how we ever got along events.” “The most trusted source of positive, local business news in San Joaquin and Wevalue looktoforward yearsthem of continued Stanislauswithout counties.them! Providing readers bytohelping grow their business, grow their careers and increase their bottom line through print, growth with the Business Journal! digital and local events.” “The most trusted source of positive, local business news in San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties. Providing value to readers by helping them grow their business, grow their careersCentral and increase Valley their bottom line through print, digital and local events.” “The most trusted source of positive, local business news in San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties. Providing value to readers by helping them grow their business, StOCKtOn • traCy • ManteCa • latHrOP • lInDen • rIPOn MODeStO CereS • tUrlOCK •print, OaKDale • rIVerBanK grow their careers and• lODIincrease their bottom line • through digital and local events.” “The most trusted source of positive, local business news in San Joaquin and
Positive, local business news
Business Journal www.cvbizjournal.com
assurance. Pitch, pace and pronunciation are vital. Pitch is also called tone or inflection. It takes the place of body language on the phone. A monotone, flat tone says, “I’m bored.” Higher pitch may sound enthusiastic. Lower pitch may sound depressed. Pitch reveals attitude. Monitor both. Talking too fast results in running together and mish-mashing words and phrases. Slow down enough so that every individual word is articulate. While it may feel awkward and boring to you at first, it will sound better and clearer for your customer. According to SpeakMoreClearly. com, “Speaking slowly may seem obvious to you, but often people have great difficulty putting this into practice. They may feel embarrassed to speak slowly or think they are speaking slowly, but it isn’t slow enough. “Secret: Your listener won’t notice you are speaking slowly (and won’t think you are being stupid), they will just notice that they can understand you.” When it comes to pronunciation, remember that customers can’t read our lips on the phone. They can only use their ears, and those frequently fuzzy phone lines are not their friends either. Good pronunciation, and oft-times fuzzy phone connections, challenge us to enunciate each word clearly. My challenge is to say, “something,” instead of “sumpin.” What yours? Wise words work Consciously or subconsciously, we hear unwise comments such as:
• Can’t • Won’t • Don’t • Our policy is … • You’ll have to call back. • I don’t know. • But • No.
Wiser comments include: • I will • I can • I assure you • May I suggest • I will to solve this for you; • I’d be happy to • Yes Unwise: “I’ll try to figure this out for you.” Wise: “I will get an answer back to you by 4 p.m. today. Will that be OK?” Unwise: “You have to complete this application.” Wise: “Will you please take a minute or two to complete this application?” Telephone customer service excellence is vital for business success. What are you doing to ensure it’s happening at your store or office? You may be thinking, “How can I make sure that my employees who are answering the phone are consistently following these examples of good phone service?” This is a very important question and I will be addressing it in future columns. Let’s answer our phones with excellent customer service! – John Parker is a customer service expert with Professional Development Adventures and an instructor for the UC Davis Center for Human Services. You can reach him at coachingparker@comcast.net.
MID, Modesto settle water treatment plant lawsuit MODESTO — The Modesto Irrigation District and the city of Modesto agreed to settle a lawsuit over the costs of the Modesto Regional Water Treatment Plant expansion. “This collaboration to resolve the construction litigation allows the city and MID to focus our efforts on efficiently providing essential Ted Brandvold water,” Mayor Ted Brandvold said in a news release. The dispute centered around the $9 million in additional costs for the problem-plagued expansion. The original plan called for the plant to be completed in 2009 at a cost of $63 million. However, delays and construction errors pushed the completion date to June 2016 and increased costs to $106 million. The lawsuit has been on hold since
September 2015 as the two parties negotiated a settlement. Modesto put $9 million in an escrow account so that the expansion could be completed as the parties negotiated. Under the settlement, MID will be paid the $9 million in the escrow account. The city and MID will each pay their own costs and attorneys’ fees, and the suit will be permanently dismissed at a savings of $2 million in legal fees for MID and Modesto customers. “Resolving this litigation means customers win,” said MID Board President Larry Byrd in a news release. “I’m happy we can now direct our full attention on working through and refining an agreement outlining our joint, future operations that will benefit all.” The expansion project doubles the plant’s water capacity. The plant, which was completed in 1994, currently delivers 30 million gallons of water per day or roughly half of the city’s water.
August 2016
www.cvbizjournal.com
39
How to make the IRS pay your legal fees Dealing with the IRS is not fun and can be a drawn out costly ordeal. However, some of those costs may be reduced by having the IRS pay for some of your legal fees. That’s right, the IRS may have to pay your legal fees if you substantially prevail in your dispute and other requirements are met. Internal Revenue Code Section 7430 is a fee Jason Harrel shifting statute Calone & Harrel that can require Law Group the IRS to pay a taxpayer’s legal fees if the taxpayer wins his or her dispute. Congress enacted Section 7430 to encourage the IRS to settle tax disputes with taxpayers and reduce lengthy court battles. Generally, the most common instance for legal fee requests under Section 7430 come after income tax audits. Income tax audits generally encompass a three step process. First, an IRS agent examines the tax return, asks for documents to support the return and renders an initial
Taxing Matters
determination known as a “30 day letter.” When taxpayers disagrees with audit reports, they can file a protest and have their matter heard by an IRS appeals officer. When taxpayers wish to further dispute the IRS determination after a hearing with the Appeals Division, they may file a petition in U.S. Tax Court once they receive a “Notice of Deficiency.” When the dispute is taken to Tax Court, a taxpayer must “substantially prevail” with respect to the amount in controversy or with respect to the most significant issue or set of issues. When taxpayers substantially prevail, they may recover a whole host of costs that include court filing fees, administrative fees and court reporter costs as well as attorney, expert witness and paralegal fees. In 2016, the hourly rate for attorneys is capped at $200. However, that rate can increase depending on the difficulty of issues presented or local availability of tax expertise. Taxpayers may request an award for legal fees only if they meet certain requirements. First, a taxpayer must meet certain net worth thresholds. An individual taxpayer must be worth less than $2 million or $4 million for a married couple filing jointly. A business must be worth less than $7 million and
Institute identifies ACE, Amtrak as key to growth SACRAMENTO — The Altamont Corridor Express and Amtrak San Joaquins services are key to helping relieve congestion in the Northern California Megaregion, according to a new report by the Bay Area Council Economic Institute. At its meeting in Sacramento, June 29, it discussed a new report it has produced with data from the University of the Pacific, which looked at the challenges the megaregion faces. Those include housing, economic development and education. Most of the meeting addressed transportation, however. The report found that while the megaregion’s workforce increased by 17 percent between 1990 and 2013, commuting increased by 78 percent to nearly 175,000 employees daily, due to housing shortages and rising real estate costs in the Bay Area. “We’ve got to figure out ways to get these people around,” said the institute’s research manager Jeff Bellisario. He said that while ACE and Amtrak will be key to improving transportation in the region, they need better funding to expand. “They’re fairly tapped out.” The study recommends supporting expanded investment in rail service in the region, including the Stocktonbased ACE and Amtrak San Joaquins.
It suggests that megaregional rail hubs in Livermore, San Jose, and Oakland should be priorities. Those steps would help expand ridership easing roadway congestion, reducing greenhouse gas emissions as well as strengthening competitiveness and economic growth in the Jeff Bellisario NorCal megaregion, the institute said. “This is something we can do. We have benefits of two very high performing, existing train systems (Amtrak’s capital corridor and ACE )” said Sacramento Area Council of Governments CEO Mike McKeever. “We’re all on the same page on this. Let’s do it.” The institute is a think tank devoted to economic development and cooperation among Northern California’s 21 counties, including San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Merced. It includes 164 cities, and has more than 12 million residents — almost one third of California’s population — encompassing the Bay Area, Sacramento, the Northern San Joaquin Valley and Monterey Bay.
have fewer than 500 employees. Second, the taxpayer must have exhausted all administrative remedies and be the “prevailing party.” For taxpayers to substantially prevail, they must show that the IRS did not have a reasonable basis for its determination against the taxpayer and file a motion for such fees with the Tax Court. Generally, the IRS fights hard to deny an award of legal fees and its most common defense was that agents were substantially justified in their administrative determinations. Taxpayers can prevent the whole battle by submitting what’s known as a “qualified offer” to the IRS. Under the qualified offer, if a taxpayer makes a settlement offer during a specified window of time and the IRS does not accept it and the taxpayer makes an equal or better offer at trial, the taxpayer is deemed to be the prevailing party. The IRS’ legal position is deemed not to be substantially justified. In that case, the taxpayer essentially wins his or her legal fee argument without having to prove the IRS was wrong. The good thing about qualified offers is that the IRS takes them very seriously and the offers must be reviewed by IRS Counsel. That is because once the IRS receives and re-
jects a qualified offer, the clock starts ticking on the accumulation of legal fees it may have to pay. In a recent case, a taxpayer was awarded $39,753 in legal fees for winning an innocent spouse claim against the IRS. The threat of a legal fee award puts pressure on the IRS to settle the case, as it now has something to lose. Qualified offers do not apply when a tax liability is not at issue because a qualified offer is made by reference to a precise amount of tax or a percentage of the tax determined to be due. Generally, if taxpayers are willing to settle tax disputes for a certain amount, there is no reason to not file a qualified offer. In that case a taxpayer suffers no consequences if the offer is rejected. Only, the IRS can lose by ignoring a good qualified offer. If you are having a dispute with the IRS, we encourage you to seek the advice of a tax professional and inquire about making a qualified offer. An accepted qualified offer can prevent a protracted legal battle with the IRS and allow you to move on to more productive endeavors. – Jason W. Harrel is a Partner at Calone & Harrel Law Group, LLP. He is a certified specialist in taxation. Mr. Harrel may be reached at jwh@caloneandharrel.com.
40
Central Valley Business Journal
Business Journal Op-Ed CENTRAL VALLEY
Tunnels hearing needs your voice By CHUCK WINN San Joaquin County Supervisor, District 4 DON NOTTOLI Sacramento County Supervisor, District 5 California decision makers are at a historic crossroads in the long-standing California water crisis. The outcome will permanently alter the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta. Your voice can steer these decisions in the right direction, and now is the time to speak up. The State Water Resources Chuck Winn Control Board is in the midst of a series of hearings that will help determine whether the governor’s proposed twin tunnels project will continue to move forward. During these proceedings, agencies and water contractors are suggesting that the governor’s proposed
$16 billion rate payer funded twin tunnels project is a necessary improvement to a water system on the brink of collapse. They will also claim the project is necessary to improve the Delta ecosystem. These claims are simply not true. In fact, replumbing the Delta may actually accelerate the decline of its environment. Don Nottoli The 44-foot diameter, approximately 35-mile long twin tunnels will siphon millions of gallons of water per minute out of the Delta and send it south. If constructed, this project will harm local economies amounting to a loss of tens of millions of dollars annually. It will negatively affect family farms, agricultural operations and Delta river communities disrupting a generationsold way of life. The project will also negatively impact recreation and water quality, degrade delicate environmental ecosystems and harm fish and other
endangered species. The Delta Counties Coalition consists of local elected leaders from five counties whose communities will be permanently harmed if the twin tunnels are built. The project was developed without adequate local input and would irreversibly damage the Delta by depleting its watershed, would benefit one region of the state at the expense of another and will not produce a single drop of new water. More cost-effective solutions exist that the Delta Counties Coalition supports, such as creating more surface and underground storage; improving Delta levees to help move water more efficiently through the Delta; and greater regional solutions such as storm water capture, wastewater reuse, and local desalination. We urge decision makers to implement these solutions, which are good for all of California. You can help. Speak up. Contact Gov. Jerry Brown and your local and state elected leaders to voice your opinion and concerns about the twin tunnels project. For more information, please visit www.delta.saccounty.net.
August 2016
Covered California health care plan rates to go up SACRAMENTO — Covered California announced its rates for 2017, and the hikes are steep. Recipients will face a 13.2 percent jump on average. Covered California had been one of the more successful exchanges when it came to keeping rate hikes manageable. Rate payers had only seen 4 percent hikes over the last two years. However, the state exchange couldn’t avoid large increases for 2017 as overall medical costs climb. Additionally, two federal programs that help insurers with expensive claims expire this year. Customers buying the silver plans will see an increase of 8.1 percent. Lower cost bronze plans will jump 3.9 percent. Those who shop for other plans can reduce the price hike and, in some cases, can pay less than they are currently paying. Nearly 80 percent of customers will pay less or see a rate hike of no more than 5 percent if they switch plans. Subsidies, which 90 percent of Covered California customers get, will absorb much of the hike. The amount of the hike will be impacted by a customer’s location and the kind of plan they have.
Keeping workers safe when it’s hot outside On June 1, the California Occupational Safety and Health Division issued a statewide high heat advisory, noting that temperatures in California this summer are expected to exceed 100 degrees. Cal/OSHA used the advisory as an opportunity to remind the state’s employers about the need to protect outdoor workers and comply with Bruce Sarchet Cal/OSHA’s Heat Attorney Illness PrevenLittler Mendelson tion Standard. Law Firm The standard applies to any outdoor place of employment and requires a written and effective heat illness prevention plan. This article will summarize California’s heat illness prevention requirements. However, as always, this article does not substitute for the advice of legal counsel. The standard requires employers to encourage workers to drink water frequently and to provide enough fresh water so each employee can drink at least one quart, or four eight-ounce
Human Element
glasses, of water per hour. The water must be fresh, pure, suitably cool and free of charge. It also must be located as close as practical to the areas where employees are working. Access to shade must be available regardless of the temperature, except in very limited circumstances. Employees must be allowed and encouraged to take a preventive cool-down rest in the shade when they feel the need to do so to prevent overheating. If the temperature is above 80 degrees, employers must maintain one or more areas with shade that are either in the open air or cooled or ventilated whenever workers are present. The amount of shade must be enough to accommodate the number of employees on recovery or rest periods. The shade must be located as close as practicable to the areas where employees are working. If the temperature is below 80 degrees, employers can either provide the shade described above or provide timely access to shade whenever an employee asks for it. The advisory states that employers should encourage employees to be proactive and take a cool-down rest when needed rather than wait until they start to feel sick. If an employee takes a preventive cool-down rest, he or she must be monitored
and not be ordered back to work until any signs or symptoms of heat illness have abated. In no case can this recovery period be less than five minutes in addition to the time needed to access the shade. An employer must provide appropriate first aid or emergency response if an employee shows signs or reports symptoms of heat illness. Employers must implement highheat procedures when the temperature is 95 degrees or higher. Among other requirements, those procedures include: • ensuring that effective communication by voice, observation or electronic means is maintained so employees at the work site can contact a supervisor; • observing employees for alertness or signs or symptoms of heat illness; • reminding employees throughout their shift to drink plenty of water. Agricultural employers must ensure that employees take at least 10 minutes of preventive cool-down rest every two hours. All employers must implement effective emergency response procedures that include responding to signs and symptoms of possible heat illness; contacting emergency medical services; and ensuring that, if an emergency occurs, clear and precise directions to the work site can be provided to the
emergency responders. The standard also includes training requirements for employees and supervisors, including providing training on heat illness and the employer’s procedures for responding to symptoms of possible heat illness. According to the advisory, Cal/ OSHA “will inspect outdoor worksites in industries such as agriculture, construction, landscaping and others throughout the heat season.” Under California law, an employer which requires an employee to work during a heat recovery period must provide an extra hour of pay to that employee, as is the case when an employee is required to work during his or her meal period. California employers with outdoor worksites should consider reviewing their current injury and illness plans to ensure that they incorporate the Heat Illness Prevention Standard’s requirements. Employers should also train managers and employees, and regularly inspect and audit worksites to ensure that outdoor workers are provided with the shade and water necessary to avoid illness. – Bruce Sarchet is an attorney with the firm of Littler Mendelson and represents employers in labor and employment law matters. You can contact him at bsarchet@littler.com.
August 2016
41
www.cvbizjournal.com
THE CENTRAL VALLEY’S MOST VALUABLE BUSINESS REFERENCE GUIDE DDD
D D DD D
Book Lists DD D
D
D
DD D DD
of
DDDDDDD DD DD DD
DD D DD DD
DD D
D
2 015
D DD
50
$
Feature your business with the most thoroughly researched industry reference guide in the Central Valley.
DD
ing
San
Joaq
uin,
Stan
DD
islau
DD
DD
DD
s an d Me rce
oup aw Gr
JC
DD
arrel L
d Wa Unite
DD
d Co un
y of S
ckton Bank
of Sto
of Sto Port DD
e&H
DD
Calon
Serv
DD
ckton
Bank F&M
Spons DD
D DDD
DD D D
DD
DD
ors:
Un ited We Stand
DD
DD
DD
DD
ties
Book of Lists
Reserve your copy today!
D
Reserve placement across from your business industry list and ensure your customers see you first! 4512 Feather River Dr., Ste. E • 209-477-0100 w w w. c v b i z j o u r n a l . c o m
42
Central Valley Business Journal
www.cvbizjournal.com
SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY
BRIEFS Pacific names new dean of education school STOCKTON — Vanessa Sheared is the new dean of the Gladys L. Benerd School of Education at the University of the Pacific. She assumed the post on July 11. “In addition to her years of leadership at Sacramento State’s College of Education, Dr. Sheared brings with her an extensive background and knowledge of California institutions of higher education and K-12 programs,” Pacific’s Provost Maria Pallavicini said. “I am delighted to welcome her to Pacific.” Sheared The university conducted a nationwide search to fill the post. Sheared holds an EdD in Adult and Continuing Education from Northern Illinois University, an MA in Education and Counseling from Louisiana State University, and a BA in sociology from Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois. Among her accomplishments, Sheared oversaw the implementation at Sacramento State of a doctorate of educational leadership, one of the first seven independent doctorates offered in 2007 and one of 15 currently offered by the California State University system.
Zeiter named to health commission board FRENCH CAMP — The San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors appointed Dr. John H. Zeiter to the board of the Health Commission, the governing board of Health Plan of San Joaquin. The appointment was announced by San Joaquin County Director of Health Care Services Greg Diederich. Zeiter is the managing partner of Zeiter Eye Medical Group, which has locations in Stockton, Lodi, Tracy and Manteca. He is also a clinical professor of ophthalmology at the UC Davis Eye Center and has been a Central Valley resident for more than 25 years. Zeiter graduated from Baylor Zeiter College of Medicine and completed ophthalmology training at the Kresge Eye Institute at Wayne State University. He also received a bachelor of science in biochemistry from UC Davis. Zeiter has published more than 20 articles in medical journals and books.
Doctors Hospital names new chief nursing officer MANTECA — Doctors Hospital of Manteca has appointed Antonio Garcia as its new chief nursing officer. Prior to joining Doctors Hospital of Manteca, Garcia was the service director for the emergency department and urgent Care at the Kaiser Permanente
San Jose Medical Center. He was also the clinical adult services director for the ICU, stepdown, telemetry, medical surgical unit and the orthopedic/surgical/oncology unit at the hospital. Garcia earned a nursing degree and a master’s degree in nursing administration at the University of Houston. He has also served as a nursing director in Houston and a firefighter in Toronto, Canada.
Palmer Ad Agency wins awards SAN FRANCISCO — The Palmer Ad Agency and the Financial Center Credit Union added a Sliver Marketing Association of Credit unions Award for their direct mail series of Lucha Loans Fast Cash Pre-approval mailers. The award was in addition to two other MAC awards earned for work done to promote the credit union’s services. The Lucha Loans campaign was targeted at the area’s large Latino community. The Lucha Loans campaign also won a Gold medal for point of sale efforts. The pair also ran a Game of Loans campaign that targeted fans of HBO’s series Game of Thrones. That campaign won a Bronze award.
ACE service available to 49ers games STOCKTON — San Francisco 49ers fans looking for a way to avoid the traffic and parking hassles of a game will be able to use ACE trains to get to games this season. For $35, riders can travel from the Stockton, Lathrop/Manteca, and Tracy stations to Levi Stadium in Santa Clara. Those heading to the game from the Vasco Road, Livermore, and Pleasanton stations will pay $30. Parking is free at the ACE stations. Prices are for transportation only and do not include game tickets. The trains will run for seven of the home dates. The trains will not serve the Aug. 26 preseason game against the Packers, the Sept. 12 Rams game or Oct. 6 game against the Cardinals. For information, visit ACE’s website at www.acerail.com/49ers.
Regional Transit hosts National Night Out STOCKTON — The San Joaquin Regional Transit District will host a crime prevention and safety awareness event. It will be held from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday Aug. 2 at the Downtown Transit Center, 421 E. Weber Ave. The free event is part of the National Night Out an annual crime prevention event. Nationally, the event involves citizens, law enforcement, public agencies, civic groups, businesses, neighborhood organizations and local officials from over 16,000 cities across the nation. San Joaquin Regional Transit’s event will highlight bus safety measures. It will also focus on the national Safe Place program, the “See Something, Say Something” campaign and its partnership with the Stockton Police and Stockton Unified School District Police Departments. The event will also feature food, beverages, and children’s activities. Downtown businesses and organizations will also be on hand to share information and activities.
August 2016
www.cvbizjournal.com
STANISLAUS COUNTY
BRIEFS Liang named new Kaiser Northern California region president MODESTO — Janet Liang has been named president of Kaiser Permanente’s Northern California region, the health care organization announced July 14. Liang has been the region’s chief operating officer. In that role she has been responsible for advancing the organizational strategy and performance of health plan and hospital operations, providing high-quality and affordable care and coverage for the region’s nearly four million members. Liang’s chief operating offiLiang cer responsibilities will be rolled into her new job as president. She has oversight of the region’s 21 hospitals as well as regional functions including Human Resources, Continuum of Care, Quality and Regulatory Services, and Information Technology. Her current responsibilities will be folded into her expanded role as president. Liang is from San Francisco. She has 25 years of experience in the health care industry. Previously, Liang was the regional president of Kaiser Permanente Hawaii for seven years and held multiple executive roles during her 15-year career at Group Health Cooperative in Washington State.
Chamber hosts State of Business and Education event MODESTO — The Modesto Chamber of Commerce will host its sixth annual State of Business and Education breakfast Aug. 17. This year’s event will look at how the business community can bring resources to education, how it can improve its workforce and how businesses can help prepare young people for jobs. The breakfast is at the Martin G. Petersen Event Center, 720 12th St., Modesto at 7 a.m., Aug. 17. Tickets are $25. Call 209-577-5757 for more information.
App challenge open to 10th Congressional District students WASHINGTON — California’s 10th District Congressional App Challenge is now open. Rep. Jeff Denham said the challenge will invite middle and high school students to create and showcase their software applications for mobile, tablet or computer devices. The best submission will be displayed in an exhibit in the U.S. Capitol. Denham said admissions will be accepted until midnight on Nov. 2. A panel of local judges will announce the winner durDenham ing the week of Dec. 5. Students can compete individually or in teams of up to four. Additional details are available on Denham’s website at denham.house.gov. Questions should be
August 2016
directed to Denham staff member Kassi Fortado at his Modesto office at (209) 579-5458.
www.cvbizjournal.com
Doctors Medical Center announces new chief nursing officer
MERCED COUNTY
MODESTO — Doctors Medical Center has hired a new chief nursing officer, the hospital announced July 7. Cheryl Harless most recently was chief nursing executive at Sutter Health’s Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley. She began her career in 1997 as a nurse. She later served as director of Patient Care Services until 2011. Harless earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from California State University, Dominguez Hills, a Master of Business Administration degree from Texas A&M University-Commerce, and a Doctorate in Nursing Practice from the University of Pittsburgh.
BRIEFS UC Merced expansion gets regents’ OK
Modesto CPA firm honored for public service
MODESTO — Grimbleby Coleman CPAs, earned the 2016 Public Service Award for Firms from the California Society of CPAs. The company was honored for its services to the community. The California Society of CPAs uses the award to recognize a firm for its public service contributions at the local, state or national level. Employees of Grimbleby Coleman CPAs donated more than 1,680 hours of community service in 2015. They participate on the boards of more than 25 local nonprofits, including Love Modesto, the Stanislaus Community Foundation, United Samaritans, Historic State Theatre and Community Hospice. The firm partnered with groups such as the Modesto Rotary, the United Way, Salvation Army, the Modesto Chamber of Commerce and other nonprofits to sponsor more than 60 community-related events.
Herrmann elected new Rotary president MODESTO — Modesto Rotary has announced its new leaders for the upcoming year. Longtime Modesto businessman and civic leader Pete Herrmann has been elected president. David Boring was chosen as the secretary/treasurer and president elect. Three new directors joined the Modesto Rotary board — Marilyn Dompe, Robert Hawks Jr. and Monica Ojcius. Others on the board include immediate past president Lynn Dickerson, Vicki Bauman, Patrick Dodd, Shannon Gilbert-Weaver, David Gingerich, Clint Mort and Gigi Sheriffe. Modesto Rotary, or MoRo, has 250 members and is 96 years old. Its projects have included scholarships and other education initiatives, work with other service clubs on the Virginia Corridor bike and walking trail, and support for the Miracle League of Stanislaus County baseball league for disabled children.
43
www.cvbizjournal.com
MERCED — UC Merced’s ambitious growth plan has been approved by the UC Board of Regents. The plan will nearly double the physical capacity of campus by 2020 and increase enrollment to 10,000. The plan was approved unanimously. Plenary Properties Merced will lead the obstruction phase. The plan also included proposed external financing, amendments to the project’s budget and scope and revisions of the commercial terms of the project agreement. The school has grown from 875 students in its first year in 2005 to more than 6,700 today. Groundbreaking on the new facilities is expected to take place in October. The plan will add approximately 1.2 million square feet of teaching, research, residential and student-support facilities adjacent to the existing campus. The first buildings are planned to be completed by 2018 with most construction being finished by 2020. The project will create more than 10,000 construction jobs in the San Joaquin Valley in the next four years. The one-time economic benefit to the region is estimated at $1.9 billion ($2.4 billion statewide). The project has $1.338 billion budgeted for design and construction.
Los Banos hires new city manager LOS BANOS — Alex Terrazas has been hired to be Los Banos’ new city manager. He started July 1. Terrazas was assistant town manager in Truckee. “Alex brings a broad range of experience to Los Banos that will prove valuable as we focus on important areas of economic and community development.” Terrazas’ experience includes over 20 years of experience working in two California cities, experience working with the League of California Cities, and experience working as a Congressional aide. Throughout his career Terrazas has been responsible for programs and projects including www.firstchoiceservices.com economic development, 209.467.4426 transit, redevelopment, state and federal legislative relations, emergency
preparedness, franchise agreement administration, and labor negotiations. Terrazas has most recently been working to support high tech startups and small businesses by helping to create small business loan programs and organizing a Startup Weekend in the Lake Tahoe region.
UC Merced gets humanities grant
Terrazas
MERCED — A $500,000 grant at UC Merced will help 60 humanities students continue their work next year. The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation is providing the grant to the school. The money will help fund UC Merced’s Undergraduate Research Opportunities Center. The foundation works to strengthen, promote and defend the contributions of the humanities. Through the grant, students will gain valuable research opportunities and support for transitions into graduate studies and scholarly careers. “The generous grant will provide crucial support for research here at UC Merced, supporting our diverse students and helping them develop the skills they need to join the next generation of world-class scholars in the humanities and humanistic social sciences,” Jill Robbins, dean of the School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts said. The Undergraduate Research Opportunities Center was established in 2013. Its purpose is to help undergraduate students and faculty mentors in their endeavors. “This grant will allow for even deeper collaboration and training, and it will bring our graduate students into the process as mentors who model the kind of academic distinction that the program sets as a goal for undergraduates,” Robbins said. “We look forward to future collaborations with Mellon, building on this first initiative.”
Castle Air Museum to host Open Cockpit Day ATWATER — The next Open Cockpit Day at Castle Air Museum is Sept. 3. Visitors to the museum will be able to see dozens of historic aircraft. There will also be helicopter rides available, and for an additional $10, visitors can tour the aircraft used by six presidential administrations. Children will be able to build their own models and take part in other activities. Open Cockpit Day is from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, Sept 3. Tickets are $15 for adults, $8 for seniors and $5 for youth from 6-17 years. Children 5 and under and active duty military are free.
Central Valley Business Journal
www.cvbizjournal.com
Johnson Brian Sign Serv Johnson Brian George 499 East French Camp Rd French Camp, CA 95231 Cyb Industries Costa Antonio 474 Goodall Street Mountain House, CA 95391 Lahere Innovations Hereria Lois 9579 Priscilla Lane Stockton, CA 95212
SJ COUNTY
LEGALS Fictitious Business Names Pure Form Pft Carl Hultgren Hultgren Carl 4533 Quail Lakes Dr Stockton, CA 95207 Ml Plumbing Lozano Marco A 1035 Locust Ave Manteca, CA 95337 Sugar Rush Body Scrubs Green Tammra 7936 E Collier Rd Acampo, CA 95220 Action Commun Document Assistance Rench Maria R 1201 N Center St Ste A Stockton, CA 95202 Audrina & Co Estrada Elizabeth 1110 Kettleman Ln 41 Lodi, CA 95240 Rocky Trucking Tony Mandeep 1547 Promenade Cir Tracy, CA 95376 Jr Entertainment Hudson Rayford Iv 10403 El Paso Way Stockton, CA 95209 One Stop Auto Repair & Smog Saucedo David 15151 Old Harlan Rd Lathrop, CA 95330 Season Daddy Phillips Shawn 950 W Manthey Road Lathrop, CA 95330 Wheels On Main St Ronquillu Cindy 418 N Main St Manteca, CA 95336
Valley Wine & Liquor Hundal Navjot K 2942 W Grant Line Rd Ste-104 Tracy, CA 95377 Fm Xpress Singh Pargat 1838 Pisa Circle Stockton, CA 95206 Zenith Machining Hampton Bryan 124 N E Street Stockton, CA 95205 J & A Homes Unltd Larribas John 26870 N Sacramento Blvd Thornton, CA 95686 Hst Hollins School Of Theology & Bible College Vanhollins Roland Jr 3601 Pacific Avenue Stockton, CA 95211 American Wireless Anaya Edgar Solis 1775 S Center Street Stockton, CA 95206 Central Valley Models Cerri Bruno J 1565 Terracina Cir Manteca, CA 95336 Witty & Bright Musser Rebekah 1716 Providence Way Lodi, CA 95242 Myers & Eby Mangmt Eby Stephen 19286 Desiree Lane Woodbridge, CA 95258 Absolute Cr Consulting Clemons Terry Ray 1116 Rusher Street Tracy, CA 95376 Cn Oneill Nunez Charles Joseph 901 Oxford Way Stockton, CA 95204 Trey Farms Carlson Trevor Dean 433 Daisy Aven Lodi, CA 95240 Suly Auto Trans Perez Luz M
3814 Montaro Ln Stockton, CA 95212 Brothers Painting Hernandez Jose Alberto Barrera 138 S Willow Ave Ap#2 Manteca, CA 95337 Hamsada Studio Hamsada Farhad 1129 N Airport Way Stockton, CA 95205 Jazz Hair Trends Haynes Jasmine M 638 N Grant St Stockton, CA 95202 Gsg Gas & Mart Gill Gursharan Singh 701 E Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd Stockton, CA 95206 Jade Fountain Chinese Restaurant Yee Kenvey W 2401 W Turner Rd 260 Lodi, CA 95242 Idt Manzano Steven Paul 20542 Davis Rd Lodi, CA 95242 Lodi Cigarettes Plus Mehrok Manmohan S 784 W Kettleman Lane Lodi, CA 95240 Mosaic Realty Godinez Irene 1131 Cabernet Lane Manteca, CA 95337 Ltb Serv Bettencourt Louis Ector Jr 9901 Fernwood Ave Stockton, CA 95212 Stitches N Time Studio Houston Olga I 971 Belle Ct Tracy, CA 95376 Carnegie Realty & Prop Mangmt Mitracos Mary Souza 407 W Eaton Ave Tracy, CA 95376 Delta Soccer League Lopez Vicente 21 Argillite Ave Lathrop, CA 95330 Gift Shop For Me Sheeran Lisa 4 West Pine Street Lodi, CA 95240 Church Folks Designs Lefall Kathy Lusandra 15 Hawthorne Drive Tracy, CA 95376 Aeinc1 Smith Armstead P 6436 El Capitan Circle Stockton, CA 95210 Budget Inn Jadav Shankajbhai 1075 North Wilson Way Stockton, CA 95205
Rose Gate Lawn Care Gill Kanwaljeet S 1030 S Hutchins St Ste #4-311 Lodi, CA 95240 Sana Food Mart Evaji Amir 101 W Main Street Ripon, CA 95366 Express Signs Smith David Curtis 1037 Hutch Cover Place Manteca, CA 95337
August 2016
1313 S Stearns Rd Oakdale, CA 95361
www.cvbizjournal.com
44
Calchem 241 Spenker Avenue Modesto, CA 95354 California Blue Guinea, Salvador Rodas 5532 Sungold Dr Salida, CA 95368 California Nuts & More 2288 Geer Road Hughson, CA 95326
Super Dollar Mart Ahmed Fatima B 443 S Wilson Way Stockton, CA 95205 Power Of Praying Women Fernando Marsha R 1128 Commerce St #2 Stockton, CA 95202 Drivon Consulting Group Drivon Zachary 2502 Beverly Place Stockton, CA 95204 Rashel & C Trucking Arroyo Juan Antonio 290 Fox Meadow Ct Tracy, CA 95376 Kaboora Auto Sahil Sahil 421 W 11th Street Ste 107 Tracy, CA 95376 Tko Cheer Co Robertson Heather 116 Mokelumne River Drive Lodi, CA 95240
STANISLAUS COUNTY
LEGALS Fictitious Business Names Aaa Fullarmor Locksmith & Doors Mendoza, Octavio 3433 Fremont St Modesto, CA 95350 Aggressive Welding Services, Incorporated 1520 Princeton Ave Modesto, CA 95350 Aguirre Landscaping Aguirre, Martha Patricia 1204 Florette Ave Modesto, CA 95351
Kam Trans Bhullar Kamaldeep Singh 2413 Inyo Avenue Manteca, CA 95337
Ahu’s Hawaiian Bbq Modesto 3848 Mchenry Ave #310 Modesto, CA 95356
Tire Hauler & Recyclers Gomez Saul Miranda 916 S Center St Stockton, CA 95206
Al’s Transmissions 1377 Lander Avenue Turlock, CA 95380
Lacosta De Acapulco Barrios Marlen Arciniegg 16444 Cambridge Dr Lathrop, CA 95330 Bharat Health Mission Vasudevan Mudalodu V 164 W Invitar Lane Mountain House, CA 95391 Valley Eviction Serv Ghio Carol 465 N Central Ave Stockton, CA 95204 Groom Albert Farm Sinigaglia Jacqueline Jean 8144 N Stephens Rd Stockton, CA 95215
B & B This To That Siebe, Barry Curtis 1237 Kansas Ave Ste H Modesto, CA 95351 Bettencourt Farms 3407 S. Mitchell Rd. Turlock, CA 95380 Billy’s Bar-B-Que (A Catering Service (Mobile) Owens, Billy J 1704 Cashmere Drive Modesto, CA 95355 Birch Embroidery 1336 Rose Ave Modesto, CA 95355
Caribbean Pools Consulting Montes, Francisco Javier 1100 Beverly Dr Modesto, CA 95351 Daquino Solar D’aquino, Anthony 1301 Sonoma Ave Modesto, CA 95355 Delight Pastry & Supplies Azargoshasb, Leila 290 W Rumble Rd #C Modesto, CA 95350 Delta Medical Transport Singh, Sat Veer 3009 Pembroke Dr Modesto, CA 95350 Direct Energy Business 7220 Avenida Encinas Ste 120 Carlsbad, CA 92009 Disease Reversing Foundation Pedro, Patricia A 1633 N Central Ave Ceres, CA 95307 Electronic Payments – California Osborn, Nicholas R 325 Standiford Ave. #8 Modesto, CA 95350 Elegant Dinnerware Noceti, Donna Jean 5178 Walnut Rd Hughson, CA 95326 Ewenity Creamery 5213 South Gratton Rd Denair, CA 95316 Exquisite Bee, The Melrose, Barbara E 701 Norwegian Ave Modesto, CA 95350 Fastco Magana, Zachary 120 Bonita Circle Modesto, CA 95354
Birla & Associates Birla, Ramesh 1226 11th St Ste D Modesto, CA 95354
Finance America Mortgage Altstatt, John 3321 Mchenry Ave Ste B1 Modesto, CA 95350
C & C Computer Sales Babb, Billy
Flutter Lash Bar Cardoza, Elisha 1423 K Street
Modesto, CA 95354 Fox Professionals Johal, Reecha 4001 Calais Ct Modesto, CA 95356 Fox Pub, The 1111 I Street Modesto, CA 95354 G & J’s Emporium, Llc 2245 Geer Road Turlock, CA 95382 Garnet Group Gerardo Anguiano Gutierrez 2117 Hidden Oak Lane Ceres, CA 95307
643 Balsam Dr Newman, CA 95360 Island Mist Naturals, Llc 1520 Sylvan Ave Apt C Modesto, CA 95355 J K Management Karan, Jyoteshna 946 Mchenry Ave Modesto, CA 95350
L Street Architects 1414 L Street Modesto, CA 95354 La Canasta Aguirre, Hilda V 560 Hartvickson Dr Turlock, CA 95380
George’s Gyro’s Salimkhan, George 3801 Yosemite Blvd Suite 3 Modesto, CA 95357
Las Palmas Landscape Maintanence Servin, Jose 2412 Roble Ave Modesto, CA 95354
Greater Modesto Dental Implant & Oral Surgery Center 201 E. Orangeburg Avenue, Suite A Modesto, CA 95350 Hamilton Financial Services 43267 Ranger Circle Dr Coarsegold, CA 93614 Harmony Home Improvement And Repair 6025 Willow Creek Court Riverbank, CA 95367
Gabe’s Custom Marine Upholstery Gabriel Garcia 3020 Apron Ave Atwater, CA 95301 Supreme Painting Juan G De La Torre 7487 Myrtle Ave Winton, CA 95388 Yosemite Apartments 3278 Denver Ave Merced, CA 95348
Kk Kouture Alberto, Kristen 920 Downie Rd Hickman, CA 95323
Gentry’s Custom Farming 342 Crawford Rd Modesto, CA 95356
Gingerie Media Montey, Andrea Nicole 405 Las Palmas Ave Modesto, CA 95354
Lasiter Travel Destinations Lasiter, Frank Derek 1570 East F St. #A163 Oakdale, CA 95361 Marcelina Vineyards 600 Yosemite Boulevard Modesto, CA 95354 Martha’s Quinceqnera And Bridal Mota, Martha 6622 3rd St Riverbank, CA 95367
St Anthony’s Senior Care LLC 2334 M Street #3936 Merced, CA 95344
MERCED COUNTY
LEGALS Fictitious Business Names KQ Temporary Help Services Kimberly Parker 2500 N Highway 59 #107 Merced, CA 95348 U.A.C.F. United Associates Customer Jesus Bolanos 541 N Kibby Road Merced, CA 95340 Fitness Junkie Treats Lisa Betschart 5569 Tegner Rd Hilmar, CA 95324
Martinez Pros Landscaping Martinez, Prospero 1323 Thorsen Ave Modesto, CA 95355
De Jager Farms North Edward De Jager 10623 S Ivy Rd Chowchilla, CA 93610
N & J Lawncare Lopez, Nicolas 1721 Volendam Ave Modesto, CA 95356
Allied Recycle Miguel Almejo Chavez 1416 Robertson Blvd Chowchilla, CA 93610
Homelink Real Estate Altstatt, John 3321 Mchenry Ave Ste B1 Modesto, CA 95350
New Tech Pest Control Cisneros, Martin T 3617 Highmore Lane Modesto, CA 95357
United Celings Gary Denham Jr 3560 Sepulveda Ave Merced, CA 95348
Hot Rod Diner 1515 Herndon Rd Ceres, CA 95307
Nor-Cal Sales & Distributing Holmboe, Larry R 3501 Pinenut Court Modesto, CA 95355
Home Care 360 Cisneros, Anthony Samuel 4217 Plemini Ct Salida, CA 95368
Hrh Trucking Kour, Harwant 1417 Lecourbe Ct Modesto, CA 95356 Ironhorse Express Transportation Miguel, Arturo 643 Balsam Dr Newman, CA 95360 Ironhorse Express Transportation Brokerage Miguel, Crystal
45
www.cvbizjournal.com
www.cvbizjournal.com
August 2016
Northwind Guitars Holanda, Peter 3120 Pelandale Ave. #12 Modesto, CA 95356 Oakdale Leader, The 122 S 3rd Ave Oakdale, CA 95361 Modesto, CA 95354
Commercial Construction Company 1425 Motel Dr Merced, CA 95341 Taste of Tequila Michelle Perez 1230 Drakeley Avenue Atwater, CA 95301 Delia’s House Cleaners Delia Amezquita 589 Monique Ct Merced, CA 95341 Secure Outcomes 18021 Grandville Rd Dos Palos, CA 93620
Sweet Tooth Treats Alicia Finley 1277 Verdon Ct Merced, CA 95348 GN Transport Maricela Nunez 129 Grenache Ct Los Banos, CA 93635 Trilotac Michael Lalonde 191 Birchwood Avenue Los Banos, CA 93635 R&R Cycles Rafael Muniz Jr 1789 Sycamore Ave SPC B Atwater, CA 95301
Silencer Pest Management Rickey Davidson 1506 Esplanade Drive Merced, CA 95348 Travelodge Bharat M Jadav 349 W Pacheco Blvd Los Banos, CA 93635 Fitness Evolution 1301 W Pacheco Blvd Los Banos, CA 93635 In-Shape: Merced R Street 3275 R St Merced, CA 95348
Pacheco Insurance Chris E Pacheco 863 I St Los Banos, CA 93635
Las Palmas Health Center 1010 West Las Palmas Avenue, Suite E Patterson, CA 95363
Grewal Transport Balkar Singh 1032 Briarwood Drive Livingston, CA 95334
Melissa Renee Photography 2615 Branco Ave Merced, CA 95340
Republic Service of Fresno 409 N Mercy Springs Rd Los Banos, CA 93635
Martinez Lawn Services Sergio Arzate-Martinez 43 Garden Dr Atwater, CA 95301
San Benito Glass, Incorporated 229 W 16th Street Merced, CA 95340
Money Mart 239 W 16th Street Merced, CA 95340
Homenet Realty William J. Baker 1507 W North Bear Creek Dr Merced, CA 95348
Menace Messiah Clothing Joseph A Lopez 703 Park Warren Dr Los Banos, CA 93635 Servicios America 1471 Yosemite Parkway Merced, CA 95340 Larry B Peterson Dairy Farms L Randall Peterson 20949 Bloss Avenue Hilmar, CA 95324 Neet Prints Edgar Nandino 526 Beckman Way Merced, CA 95324 Radiant Smiles 1180 Olivewood Dr Merced, CA 95348 Mondragon Trucking Max Mondragon Jr 20675 Overland Rd Los Banos, CA 93635 Jp Income Tax 1777 F Street Suite 10 Merced, CA 95340 Castle Antiques Otto W Rigan 1300 Broadway Atwater, CA 95301 Hilmar Fish Samuel Freitas 1003 Bethany Ave Turlock, CA 95380 Guru Nanak Sikh Society Merced Lachhman Singh Rathaur 1398 Jenner Drive Merced, CA 95348
JLR Mechanical Rudy F Tejeda 521 Industrial Dr Suite I Livingston, CA 95334
Green Horizon Lawn Care Services Shawn Nishihama 3225 Laura Ave Merced, CA 95340
CCL Juan Manuel Sanchez 1141 California Ave Dos Palos, CA 93620
Delhi Irrigation Supply 9935 4th Street Delhi, CA 95315
Greatness Walks Entertainment 148 Childs Ave Merced, CA 95341
Castle Pharmacy 3605 Hospital Rd Atwater, CA 95301
Martinez Janitorial Armando Martinez 2898 Oleander Ave Apt #F Merced, CA 95340 Zommy’s 3006 G St Merced, CA 95340 CV Transportation Inc 864 Place Rd Los Banos, CA 93635 Andrew Koehn Farm Andrew Koehn 4095 Arena Way Atwater, CA 95301 C.C.T. Central Cali Transport Jose Manuel Gonzalez 304 Los Altos Dr Atwater, CA 95301 I-Movers Damian Medina 2600 Ashby Rd Atwater, CA 95301 M & S Boba Fusion Mai Lee Vue 16709 Everton Street Delhi, CA 95315
JLR Mechanical Rudy Fernando TejedaVidrio 521 Industrial Dr Suite I Livingston, CA 95334 Ariah Properties Francisco MendozaGonzalez PO Box 1457 Merced, CA 95340 AG Towing Aurelio Gomes 1893 Gorgan Ave Merced, CA 95341 Best Transport 1266 Orion Ct Merced, CA 95348 Manuel Perez DBA Alta Cal Tech Manuel Perez 1905 Norvell St Atwater, CA 95301 Hamilton Financial Services George Hamilton 554 E Bellevue Suite B Atwater, CA 95301 M Marin Trucking Miguel A Marin 8680 W Christian Ave Dos Palos, CA 93620
46
Central Valley Business Journal
Almonds expected to top 2 billion pounds this year MODESTO — The USDA has increased its almond production forecast to 2.05 billion meat pounds, up from its May estimate by 2.5 percent. If the forecast pans out, it would be the first time production has been over 2 billion pounds since 2013. It would also be up 7.9 percent over last year’s crop of 1.9 billion pounds. The USDA said trees are showing Richard Waycott signs of recovery from the last few years of drought because precipitation was significantly better than 2015. The 2016 California almond crop began bloom in mid-February, after the winter provided better chill hours than last year. Bloom conditions were good; bloom was reportedly fast and uniform, according to the USDA. Almond Board of California President and CEO Richard Waycott says the fact that production has increased that much in spite of the
drought demonstrates growers’ commitment to innovation. According to the Almond Board, growers have reduced the amount of water they use to grow a pound of almonds by 33 percent since 1994. But Waycott acknowledges there is still work to do. “While growers have made significant advances, as an industry, we collectively recognize the need to take a leadership position on pressing issues facing both California’s residents and agricultural industry,” said Waycott. “That’s why we launched the strategic Accelerated Innovation Management program last year to address sustainability issues from water to air quality, building upon 40 years of Almond Board-funded research.” As for the current crop, the average nut set per tree is 6,159, up 4.9 percent from 2015. The Nonpareil average nut set of 5,583 is up 6.6 percent from last year’s set of 5,239. The average kernel weight for all varieties sampled was 1.48 grams, up 3.5 percent from the 2015 average weight of 1.43 grams. The Nonpareil average kernel weight was 1.65, up 2.5 percent from last year.
August 2016
Geeks and games
ELIZABETH STEVENS/CVBJ
Thousands of sci-fi, anime, fantasy and gaming fans turned out for Modesto’s inaugural Modesto Con, July 9-10 at Modesto Centre Plaza. More than 5,000 geeks and gamers showed up for the first day alone. Fans dressed in costumes posed for selfies and competed for prizes. Collectors shopped the booths of comic book stores and regional artists for memorabilia. Fans stood in line for autographs and photos with the stars including “Flash Gordon” and “Ted” actor Sam J. Jones and “Hellboy” and “Pan’s Labyrinth” actor Doug Jones. You have another opportunity to get your geek on at Stockton Con at Stockton Arena, Aug. 20-21.
VIRTUAL Continued from Page 36
potential customers the ability to design in VR their dream car by choosing colors, interiors and more. However, currently virtual reality has some limitations in terms of accessibility. Not everyone has a VRcompatible smartphone or a VR headset yet. Virtual reality devices are still expensive and not so easy to use. For these reasons, some companies have started offering VR experiences for the people visiting their retail stores so they can directly provide clients with the VR headsets required for the immersive experience. Tommy Hilfiger, Ikea, Lowe’s, Toms and North Face, just to name a few, are examples of companies that have introduced virtual reality in their stores. In the business world, VR has mainly been used in experimental mode as a
way for companies to be featured in the news, raise brand awareness and be ahead of competitors in this race to VR. However, as virtual reality becomes more accessible, it will soon start to be an important differentiator for companies as an effective marketing channel. Virtual reality has one feature that no other medium has: the ability to create the feeling of presence. Presence: a new “grammar” of VR enterprise communication Marketing is the ability to deliver a message and properly convey the corporate voice through a variety of channels, such as television, printed magazines, online advertising, websites and social media presence. Every means of communication, every medium, has its own “gram-
mar” that allows brands to consistently convey a given message through the different channels. This helps companies create a well-rounded brand experience. The medium is the message Because of the uniqueness of virtual reality, a new “language” of VR communication will also be created. Marshall McLuhan’s theory that “the medium is the message” is very important for content development in virtual reality. The way content is delivered changes how the content is received. This is what we have experienced with every new technology innovation and social media so far, from printed media to television and social media. The ability to create “presence” for the first time through virtual real-
ity has effects on cognition, and will change people’s way of thinking, including their emotional involvement with a content or brand. It makes people feel certain emotions that lead them to take certain actions. VR is a compelling way to create empathy between a brand and the people. A new “grammar” of communication, however, also means that professionals will need to learn how to make the most of the power of virtual reality and create compelling stories in VR. This is going to be an important part of the process as virtual reality is set to change completely the way businesses interact with their customers. –Martina Ori is vice president of marketing for Hyperfair, a virtual reality company based in San Francisco. She can be reached at m.ori@hyperfair.com.
FOUR FRIENDS Continued from Page 33
more than half of them are new. Holly Stavness owns Holly’s Handlettering. It’s a calligraphy business that specializes in invitations and prints. She credits Four Friends Market for getting her business started. “I didn’t know it would be so popular. It’s something that I just started for myself,” Stavness said. “They said, ‘You really need to come and just sell a few things.’ I took a big leap of faith and that market really started my business off. They really got my business going.” After selling $300 in home decor
prints last year, Stavness is coming back to try it again. “They are so impressive with how organized they are,” she said of Hill, Thayer, Grimbleby and Porter. The idea for the market was hatched during a craft night among the four friends. These aren’t rare occurrences; the women make it a point to get together often after the husbands are home and the kids are in bed. “Really it was all of us together,” Thayer said. “We thought it would be fun to have some sort of little market
maybe in someone’s house.” The idea took off. Everyone has a role. Thayer keeps the vendors organized, Grimbleby writes vendor spotlights for the blog and Porter and Hill handle much of the “crafty decorative, beautification stuff,” as Hill puts it. Sometimes, their children are in tow. Among the four families there are 13 in total, ranging in age from 7 months to 7 years. “(We’re) kind of embracing the chaos that life is right now,” Hill laughed.
The women admit any money they make at their own booths will likely be spent at the market’s other shops. “None of us plan on making any money at the market because we’ll all be spending it there at the other booths,” Hill said. She is most excited for the succulent and plant vendors. Businesses interested in participating next year’s market can register online or email Four Friends at fourfriendsmarket@gmail.com to get on the waitlist. Those on the list will be given priority registration.
August 2016
www.cvbizjournal.com
250
SUMMER SAVINGS EVENT
$
7000 1234 9876 3456
Prepaid Card
47
Central Valley Business Journal
August 2016
Helping Helping you take Helping you take control you take control control
“ I’m all about helping my customers reduce their costs. We want “ energy I’m all about helping my to know you have customers their “ you I’m all aboutreduce helping my options—ways to take energy costs. We want customers reduce their control and save.” you to know you have energy costs. We want options—ways take you to know youtohave Jerris robinson control and save.” options—ways to take Senior Service Representative control and save.” Jerris robinson Senior Service Representative Jerris robinson Senior Service Representative
PG&E wants to give customers more choices and control over their energy use. That’s why we offer a variety of rate plan options
PG&E wants to give customers more choices and control over their energy use. we serve. That’s whywants we offer to a variety rate plan optionsmore choices and control over their energy use. PG&E giveofcustomers tailored to fit the unique needs of the customers
tailored toyou fit the of the customers We want beunique able toneeds findofthe rate plan, That’s why weto offer a variety rate plan options we serve. programs services best your tailored to and fit the uniquethat needs ofmeet the customers needs. Explore your options and start saving we We serve. want you to be able to find the rate plan, at pge.com/rates. programs andtoservices that best your We want you be able to find themeet rate plan, needs. Explore your options and start programs and services that best meetsaving your at pge.com/rates. needs. Explore your options and start saving at pge.com/rates.
See your options
Choose a plan
Control your costs
See your options See your options
Choose a plan Choose a plan
Control your costs Control your costs
pge.com/rates
“PG&E”“PG&E” refers torefers Pacificto“PG&E” Gas Pacific andGas refers Electric and toElectric Company, Pacific Gas Company, aand subsidiary Electric a subsidiary ofCompany, PG&EofCorporation. PG&E a subsidiary Corporation. of PG&E Corporation. ©2016 Pacific andGas Electric Company. All rights reserved. Paid All for rights by PG&E ©2016Gas Pacific ©2016 and Electric Pacific Gas Company. and Electric All rights Company. reserved. Paid for reserved. byshareholders. PG&EPaid shareholders. for by PG&E shareholders.
48