k e e p i n g
BUSINESS JOURNAL
b u s i n e s s e s
VOLUME 6 ■ ISSUE 4
c o n n e c t e d ™
APRIL 2021
PLAY BALL
IN PROFILE
Jem Juicery, with offerings of nutritious fruits and vegetables, has found a forever home in Turlock. PAGE 4
NEWS
Glen & Cellar — a premium natural food products firm headquartered in Ireland’s Tipperary County — has selected Manteca as its base to break into the United States market. PAGE 8
Stockton, Modesto teams prepare for return of baseball BY SABRA STAFFORD
C
209 Business Journal
rews are busy out at the Stockton Ports and Modesto Nuts ballparks as the teams prepare for opening day, and after a season that wasn’t, the return of baseball is both a morale boost and an economic driver for the communities. “Our organization is ecstatic to finally bring professional baseball back to the Central Valley after such a tough year,” said Modesto Nuts General Manager Zach Brockman. “We are excited to unveil our 2021 season schedule and to have professional baseball back at Banner Island Ballpark,” said Ports President Pat Filippone. This season will start May 4 for both teams with the Modesto Nuts playing at home against the Stockton Ports. The return of baseball does signify a step towards normalcy, but this will be a season that will look unlike any other season because of the various coronavirus precautions.
We are excited to unveil our 2021 season schedule and to have professional baseball back at Banner Island Ballpark. —Pat Filippone Both Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties are currently in the red tier and if that stays through to May, the teams will have to limit attendance to 20% of capacity. Tickets will have to be purchased in advance and masks will be required. This season when guests want to snack on a hot dog or nachos they’ll have to
order it on a mobile device. The seventh-inning stretch will remain, but the tradition of the first pitch will have to be set aside this season. “We’re looking at possibly doing a virtual first pitch and showing it on our video board,” Filippone said. Because of COVID-19 guidelines the teams have to restrict player access to fans but they are looking at some creative alternatives. “We will try to build a bridge from fans to players since they won’t be able to come up and meet face to face,” Filippone said. Besides being a morale boost to a local economy, the return of baseball will also be an economic boost to both communities. Both clubs have previously employed approximately 200 people each at the height of the seasons. Game days attract visitors which can benefit local hotels and restaurants and generate sales tax revenue for the cities. Additionally, the clubs have a variety of needs during a season and look to local vendors.
“We try to buy and use local vendors as much as we can,” Filippone said. Baseball games also are economically-friendly for people looking for something to do without emptying the wallet. “For our county, I can’t see a more valuable venue in the summer,” Brockman said. “Everyone can come out and enjoy a baseball game even if you’re not a baseball fan. The majority of our fans who come out probably couldn’t tell you the final score of the game, but they know they had fun and it didn’t break the bank for them.” The Seattle Mariners made a complete purchase of the Modesto Nuts this year and have already made some improvements at the stadium, most notably by replacing the infield and laying new sod. “Our organization is overjoyed and excited to now be exclusively owned by the Seattle Mariners,” Brockman said. “Since our initial partnership in 2016 they have been nothing short of extraorSEE BASEBALL, PAGE 8
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209 BUSINESS JOURNAL
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IN PROFILE
Redwood and Reata partner for downtown Oakdale hot spot BY TERESA HAMMOND 209 Business Journal
One can’t help but wander along North Third Avenue through Oakdale’s downtown area and wonder, what is going on? A sign hung most recently would be the first clue for the unknowing as a “Redwood Café” sign now lights up the east side of the former Reata Events Center. But not to be confused or concerned, Reata owners John and Ann Maddox have partnered with Modesto’s Redwood Café owner Bob Campana to bring the best of both worlds to downtown Oakdale. “We have the building. We’re improving the building and Bob is just doing his thing,” Ann Maddox said of the popular 160 N. Third event location, noting she and husband John have been long time acquaintances with Campana, who has played with the idea for several years. “It was good timing for a number of reasons,” she shared of the partnership coming to fruition. “On our part, obviously just being a
venue was dead in the water (since COVID). But also, just Oakdale’s changed over the last several years.” As a longtime resident, as well as business owner in Oakdale, the building owner shared her excitement for bringing something new to the downtown area. Maddox also noted the history of the building and the couple’s passion for maintaining the integrity and partnering with someone who recognized its uniqueness as well as honored its history. “This is the neatest building,” Maddox stated, explaining its history as a former brewery as well as a long-ago Dodge dealership. “It’s a unique building. It’s unique in Oakdale and the venue was perfect because it was right for Oakdale. Now we think it’s perfect timing, Bob is enthusiastic and using his creativity.” Though much of the building is mid-renovation to create quaint and cozy dining spaces, the large Reata Banquet Room remains for future weddings
and special events. The Reata maintains its entrance on East E Street. The once pool company owner/designer turned restaurateur, Campana shared he was approached by the Maddox’s midsummer of 2020 during the shutdowns of COVID. A venture not typical during that time, the Modesto Redwood Café owner noted he wondered if the couple had lost their minds. “They really felt that Oakdale would support a Redwood type venue,” Campana said, adding the couple presented an offer which made sense for all parties involved. “Redwood would not be here without the Maddox’s,” he continued. “I just love this building. I’ve admired the building for a long time. If it proves to be successful, which we all think it will, the credit should go to them because they’re the ones who pulled the trigger.” Not new to the dining business, John and Ann Maddox own nine area Mountain Mike’s pizzas,
as well as also being building developers for other Mountain Mike’s, yet the couple have committed to making this fun. “Bob’s running the restaurant, so we don’t have to do that part. They do a great job,” Maddox said of the Redwood team. “We are definitely different segments of restaurant. We like quality, we like the way it’s run.” “Bob is calling the shots on how that goes,” Maddox said, “but it is fun to see the parts and pieces of it coming together.” Campana shared his love for the restaurant business happened sort of by default after semi-retiring from the pool business. With more time to visit his daughters in the San Francisco Bay area, going out to eat at a variety of nice restaurants became a thing and sparked his interest. “There’s so many horror stories about it,” he said of the restaurant business. “Then I just decided to do it and the outcome is where we are now.” Transforming his Dale
TERESA HAMMOND/209 BUSINESS JOURNAL
Co-owners, Ann Maddox and Bob Campana, photographed in the Redwood Cellar room of the soon to be opened Redwood Café in Oakdale. The restaurant will host private as well as common dining areas just as its sister Modesto location does.
Road Vintage Gardens location to the now popular Redwood Café dining experience came by way of much reading, research and television watching from some of the experts. “It gave me a creative outlet. When I was selling pools I was able to create stuff with other people’s
money all day long, that was my job,” Campana said. “Our customer is buying experience. They’re buying a meal, but they’re buying experience. Most restaurateurs don’t understand that or aren’t willing to put the capital into it.” SEE REDWOOD, PAGE 5
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209 BUSINESS JOURNAL
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APRIL 2021
IN PROFILE
Jem Juicery finds forever home in Turlock ANGELINA MARTIN 209 Business Journal
In 2018, mother-daughter duo Valeria and Elvia Jimenez opened Jem Juicery with the goal of helping people heal through the power of nutritious fruits and vegetables. Without a storefront of their own, the business operated out of a small space at I Am Yoga in hopes to eventually move on into a space they could call home. After surviving the pandemic’s hardest months, Valeria and Elvia have now moved into a location that is completely their own — a 400 square-foot commercial kitchen behind One Church, where Valeria attends service. The opportunity came as a blessing after plans to move into a downtown storefront fell through due to electricity issues. “As wonderful as it would have been to be downtown, it didn’t work for what we needed with all of our blenders, refrigerators and juicers. We have so many appliances,” Valeria said. “The One Church pastors are some of our best cus-
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY JEM JUICERY
Valeria and Elvia Jimenez recently moved Jem Juicery into a larger, more permanent home.
tomers...It was kind of one of those wonderful turn of events.” Soon, outdoor seating will be set up at Jem Juicery’s new location where customers can enjoy fresh-
pressed juices, blended smoothies and acai bowls. After finding that juicing helped them overcome a variety of ailments themselves, Valeria and Elvia SEE JEM, PAGE 5
Jem Juicery Location: 200 North Ave., behind One Church, in Turlock Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday; 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Friday and Saturday Contact information: 209-585-9817
SABRA STAFFORD/209 BUSINESS JOURNAL
Molly Allen and Amy Clingan opened Made In Amador as a venue to highlight local talent and offer classes to those looking to learn more arts and crafts.
MADE IN AMADOR Shop showcases Amador County artists BY SABRA STAFFORD 209 Business Journal
Molly Allen and Amy Clingan were strangers when they both attended the Farmers of Amador dinner almost three years ago. “We sat down at the same table,” Allen said. “And started talking crafts,” Clingan added.
“We had a lot of things in common and a lot of aspirations that were the same,” Allen finished. One of those aspirations was to open a shop that would celebrate the creativity in their community, both as a retail platform and an experience for those wanting to learn new crafts or hone their
skills. “We wanted to make a space where people would come in and be inspired by the creativity,” Clingan said. It all became a reality when the two women opened the doors two years ago for their shop SEE AMADOR, PAGE 5
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209 BUSINESS JOURNAL
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IN PROFILE
Graceada Partners, Osso Capital purchase 196-unit multifamily apartment complex in Modesto STAFF REPORTS 209 Business Journal
Graceada Partners and Osso Capital have acquired The Edge at Lakewood on 1401 Lakewood Avenue in Modesto. The 196-unit apartment community is located a few miles outside of downtown Modesto and within walking distance of Lakewood Elementary School. “We continue to see great potential in the Northern California region and a great deal of upside in multi-family assets here. And we’re excited to be working alongside a trusted partner like Osso Capital on this deal,” said Joe Muratore, CCIM, Principal with Graceada Partners. “As a Modestobased firm, this property
REDWOOD
FROM PAGE 3
The man behind the downtown creation shared the location will be a fine dining, casual restaurant. “Our saying is going to be ‘Dusty boots welcome’,” he said. “The thing is if you have dusty boots you get preferred seating in this town. I want that message to be there. If someone wants a good steak they don’t have to dress up to come in and get one. I want that customer.” The business partner shared he himself can be found regularly wearing shorts as he visits with and greets guests at the Modesto location. “This is a vibrant little town,” Campana said of Oakdale. “I am getting a sense that this is really going to be a part of this community. We’re going to have a tiger by the tail I think here. This is going to be a little gem.” Both Maddox and Campana shared they’re looking forward to many things as they bring Redwood to Oakdale. One of those things is being participants in the weekly Farmers Market that traditionally runs during the summer and early fall and offering theme night dinners with a portion of proceeds going back to the
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has been on our radar, and we thought this was an ideal acquisition given our knowledge of the market and ability to add value.” Built in 1985, the Edge at Lakewood was partially renovated by the former owner between 2019 and 2020. Graceada and Osso plan to continue the renovation and add amenities, such as a renovated clubhouse and fitness facility, pet park, and various sustainability features. “We look forward to making The Edge a cutting edge example of sustainability by adding electric vehicle charging stations, community Wi-Fi, and solar power,” said Olivia John, Founder & CEO of Osso Capital. “We have
strong conviction in the Modesto multifamily market and the Central Valley region more broadly, and we are excited about expanding our presence in the area.” The Lakewood neighborhood of Modesto boasts one of the highest median household incomes in the region at $83,000. With over $500 million of assets under management, Graceada Partners invests in value-added real estate by renovating, rebranding, and leasingup space. Osso Capital is a New York City-based multifamily-focused investment firm led by Olivia John, a former Managing Director at Blackstone.
community and a number of local causes. Now, however, the focus remains on all the details of creating a space where people will not just want to go, but speak fondly of their experiences there. For Campana it is about the “memory moments” and creating an ambience which is both cozy and welcoming and that comes from the details. Every inch of the space renovation is due to the mastermind of Campana, from the lighting, to the custom tables, even the floors, walls and ceiling; Campana directs it all. Walking through the process of creating a one of a kind space downtown, the Modestobased businessman is also coming to learn why the Maddox’s love their hometown of Oakdale and its community. As Campana speaks of building needs and the overall process thus far, he offers great kudos to the City of Oakdale and the response to whatever has been needed. Sharing there have been no delays, he said he simply makes a call and everything falls into place. “Brian Odom particularly has stepped up and made this experience truly a pleasure to do,” he said. “He has really, really supported this. He wants this for the com-
munity, we’re getting a vibe that the city wants this to happen and we are extremely humbled by that.” “What we wanted was just not a restaurant and their staff is fabulous, that’s part of it too,” Maddox said of she and her husband approaching Campana. “It’s one thing to have a building but you really have people that have been in the business a long time and do an excellent job. “It fit all the way around to look to him,” she continued. “This is a moment that I think Oakdale wants something in their community. I want something in my community. I want to be able to say hey, you want to come to Oakdale? We can go to dinner here. It’s just perfect timing.” For Campana, he agreed that the time is right. “I think that people are longing for socialization. They’re longing to get out of their environment,” he shared. “They want to go somewhere and treat themselves. I’m very optimistic. This will be a true escape.” Current plans are to open the dinner-only eatery by late April or early May. Upon initial opening the location will be open five days a week. Further details will continue to be shared on the Redwood Café social media pages.
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SABRA STAFFORD/209 BUSINESS JOURNAL
Made In Amador features products from more than 50 local artisans as well as products that represent the region and California.
AMADOR
FROM PAGE 4
Made in Amador. The women have stocked their shop with the creations from more than 50 local artists or has been selected by Allen and Clingan for the connection to the region and California. “We found all these people that needed a cute store that displayed their stuff in a way that wasn’t a gallery, but also not a craft store,” Allen said. The products coming
JEM
FROM PAGE 4 have taken to helping others in the community heal through nourishment. “Ultimately our goal isn’t about just blasting out fun, colorful juices for pictures, it’s about bringing out holistic medicine,” Valeria said. “How can we conduct
from local artisans include jewelry, beauty and skin products, wood designs, glassware, candles, home decor items, wreaths and floral arrangements, and food items like olive oil, honey and toffee. “It’s grown and grown and more and more people want to sell their stuff here,” Clingan said. “Turns out there’s a lot of creative people here.” The abundance of creative talent in the area, along with Allen and Clingan’s own skills, helped them fulfill another aspect of their business - offering
classes. The classes they have offered range from wreath making to jewelry design. They plan on holding the classes again outdoors when weather permits. “Having classes and retail all in the same spot has worked amazingly well,” Allen said. Made in Amador is located at 14183 Old Route 49 in Amador City. The store is currently open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. For more information visit madeinamador.com.
food and juice that actually heals the body?” Online ordering (via www.jemjuicer y.com), delivery and to-go orders helped them survive the pandemic, they said. The new space has more refrigerator storage, meaning Jem Juicery can now keep up with orders without selling out — something that used to happen frequently due to the juicery’s
supportive customer base. “It’s been a long journey with a lot of challenges. We just kept pushing through and had a lot of support from the community,” Elvia said. “It’s just amazing to think that we can move around, we have space and we can continue to dream and expand. We’re just in awe of how it’s all coming together.”
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209 BUSINESS JOURNAL
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APRIL 2021
NEWS
Blue Diamond first business in Stanislaus to earn ‘green’ certification BY ANGELINA MARTIN 209 Business Journal
Locals who enjoy Blue Diamond products can rest assured that their favorite almonds are one of the most sustainablyprocessed commodities in Stanislaus county following the organization’s recent recognition as Green Business Certified. Following a comprehensive certification process, the Blue Diamond Growers facility in Salida recently earned the prestigious distinction and is the first business in Stanislaus County to be recognized by the California Green Business Network, Stanislaus County, for demonstrating sustainability as a top business priority. “Blue Diamond has a long 110-year history as an almond cooperative, and within that history has been a commitment to sustainability across all our facilities — Sacramento, Salida and Turlock,” said Blue Diamond’s Senior Vice President, Global Supply, Brian Barczak. “As we look
toward the future, our investment in sustainability strengthens our relationship with our customers and consumers, provides benefits to our local communities, and lays the groundwork for the continuation of our legacy as a cooperative. This recognition means a great deal to us as it shows that we are doing our part to build a healthier and more sustainable future for our local communities.” The Green Business Certified recognition goes to companies that achieve a verified set of standards, including reducing water use, conserving energy, preventing pollution, increasing recycling, avoiding waste, encouraging alternative transportation, and partnering with other local vendors. According to Dennis Bettencourt, Salida Site Leader, Blue Diamond doesn’t cut any corners when it comes to conservation and sustainability, from all 600 employees utilizing reusable coffee cups to several
lighting and capital projects on site meant to help the cause. The Salida site even captures condensation from the facility’s pasteurization systems to reuse as recycled water and has separate waste streams for cardboard, metal, plastic and more. “We’ve been able to divert more than 18 tons from landfills to more optimal uses,” Bettencourt said. Blue Diamond’s sustainability team is working to get all three sites Green Business Certified, and Turlock should receive the recognition in the coming months, Bettencourt said. The Turlock facility recently completed phase two of its three-phase, 15-year project that began when Blue Diamond purchased 88 acres at the intersection of North Washington and Fulkerth Road in late 2011. This latest Blue Diamond Growers’ honor comes on the heels of growth and positive milestones at the Salida facility. In 2020, a multi-year construction
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY BLUE DIAMOND
The Blue Diamond facility in Salida was recently feted for becoming the first business in Stanislaus County to become Green Business Certified.
plan was completed including the addition of a 50-million-pound-capacity Brown Almond Bulk Warehouse. The new warehouse is the second facility of similar capacity recently built at the site. Additionally, also in 2020, the Salida facility achieved its fifth consecutive year – representing five million work
hours – of no lost-time accidents. “We are proud that Blue Diamond’s priority on sustainability is being recognized and wish to thank the Modesto Chamber of Commerce - California Green Business Network, Stanislaus County for their efforts to advance the importance of sustain-
ability in our community,” said Bettencourt. “We are honored by this recognition, as well as motivated to continue providing Blue Diamond almonds to the world in a way that honors, respects and preserves the planet and the natural resources that mean so much to all of us.”
Visit Stockton launches Stockton Taco Trail with 50 plus locations STAFF REPORTS 209 Business Journal
Visit Stockton has launched the Stockton Taco Trail, a mobile experience that will allow locals and visitors to eat their way across the city and discover why Stockton is famous for its diverse and flavorful Mexican food scene. The Stockton Taco Trail includes over 50 restau-
rants, taquerias, markets and food trucks featuring the largest collection of mouthwatering tacos ever assembled in the city’s history. From beef, birria, chicken to pork, every corner of the city will be involved in this traveling taco experience. The free mobile-exclusive pass will allow users to check-in and win Stockton Taco Trail
prizes all while supporting local dining establishments. Stockton Taco Trail user’s check-in to unlock the following prizes: • Check into 10 locations and receive a Stockton Taco Trail decal and a Stockton Taco Trail car air freshener. • Check into 25 locations and receive a Stockton
Taco Trail T-shirt. • Check into ALL locations for a Stockton Taco Trail trucker hat, a Visit Stockton swag bag, and be featured on Visit Stockton’s social media as a Stockton Taco Trail Master! Taco lovers can download the free Stockton Taco Trail at StocktonTacoTrail. com and will have until December 31, 2021 to com-
plete their Stockton Taco Trail check-ins and collect prizes. There is no-cost for local businesses to participate. Select Stockton Taco Trail locations will also offer check-in deals including a free gravy and cheese appetizer at Mi Ranchito Cafe, a free taco at Maria’s Taqueria & Meat Market, and $1 tacos on Thursdays
and Fridays at Micheladas El Patron Trailers. Be sure to check the website for additional deals. The Stockton Taco Trail is the first of multiple experience passes that Visit Stockton will launch to spread fun throughout the city while helping to support local businesses.
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209 BUSINESS JOURNAL
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OPINION
Vol. 6 No. 4 ■ April 2021 PUBLISHER Hank Vander Veen
Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.
EDITOR Sabra Stafford
NEWSROOM Dennis D. Cruz Kristina Hacker Teresa Hammond Angelina Martin Vince Rembulat Virginia Still Dennis Wyatt
CREATIVE DIRECTOR Harold L. George
—Helen Keller
GRAPHIC DESIGNER Sharon Hoffman
SALES & MARKETING Chris Castro Beth Flanagan Karen Olsen Corey Rogers Melody Wann Charles Webber
DIGITAL
Frankie Tovar Rich Matheson
Cheat me once, shame on you; Cheat me twice... To advertise in 209 Business Journal, call Manteca • 209.249.3500 Oakdale • 209.847.3021 Turlock • 209.634.9141 209 Business Journal is published monthly 122 S. Third Ave • Oakdale, CA 95361 Information: sstafford@209magazine.com 209businessjournal.com The Oakdale Leader USPS No 178-680 Is published weekly by 209 Multimedia, 122 S. Third Ave. Oakdale, Ca 95361 ©Copyright 2021. 209 Business Journal All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part of any text, photograph or illustration without written permission from the publisher of 209 Business Journal is strictly prohibited. The opinions expressed in 209 Business Journal are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of 209 Business Journal management or owner. 209 Business Journal assumes no responsibility and makes no recommendation for claims made by advertisers and shall not be liable for any damages incurred.
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Spring has sprung, and with the arrival of flowers, bunny rabbits and taxes come a trove of emails from building contractors proving beyond a doubt that “April is the cruelest month” for many small-business owners. “I recently had an addition put on my house, and I became very friendly with our contractor and his son. While our contractor was great at doing his job, by his own admission he wasn’t very good at running his business. We had to wait forever to get an invoice out of him, and at the end he confided that he had lost money on our project. I’m thinking of suggesting that I join them as a partner. I would be their ‘business manager’ doing all the estimates, budgeting and billing. We would take on projects by a ‘team decision,’ and the contractor and his son would do the actual work on each project. Do you think that’s a good idea?” I think just about anyone who’s ever had work done on their house fantasizes at some point about getting into the construction business. Those of us who work with our brains often envy those of us who work with our bodies, and vice versa, as “the other person’s grass is always greener.” But you should be careful
CLIFF ENNICO CREATORS SYNDICATE
lest your emotions get in the way of common sense. Your contractor may admit now that he’s not great at business, but how will he feel when: — he really wants to take on a particular job, but you don’t think it’s a good idea from a profit point of view?; — you feel he should use fiberboard instead of knotty pine on a particular job to keep the costs down, and he disagrees?; — the father is heading toward retirement, and his son wants to play a bigger role in making the business decisions than his father did? Just about every one of my contractor clients who’s hired “business managers” has ended up firing them because “they started telling me how I should do my job.” If you do go forward with this, make sure that (1) the three of you form a limited liability company with an airtight operating agreement (similar to a partnership agreement) giving you the final say on all business decisions and (2) that you specifically
include a clause permitting the father and son to buy you out for fair value in the event the three of you don’t see eye-toeye on a regular basis. “Well, it’s happened again. Another self-centered, manipulative, narcissistic general contractor has decided to delay his payments to myself and seven other hardworking subcontractors by an unknown quantity of time. The reason? He just doesn’t want to pay us until he has some more sales. This from his front office man, who is quitting tomorrow as he is tired of having no control over paying honest, hardworking people.” First, let me say that I feel this guy’s pain: It really hurts when you knock yourself out on a construction job and the general contractor starts playing games after you’ve finished your piece of it. But I’m not 100% sympathetic with his plight. In my experience, when a homeowner or GC starts delaying payments and otherwise playing games with you, you are almost always partly to blame for not being on top of things. As the delay in payment is “happening again,” this isn’t the first time this guy has had trouble with GCs (or this particular GC). As we used to say on Wall Street, “cheat me once, shame on you; cheat me twice,
shame on me.” In this case, either there was no written contract with the GC specifying when payment is due, or the GC’s contract said that payment is due “upon completion of construction” without specifying exactly when the construction was “completed.” It should have been made clear that payment in full is due “upon completion of construction but in no event later than 30 days after the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy” for the home in question. That way the GC has no wiggle room to play around with. The subcontractor should send the GC a letter by certified mail stating (1) that no further work will be performed until all past due payments have been made, (2) that all payments must be made within 10 days to avoid legal action, and (3) that if payment is not received within the 10-day period, a “mechanic’s lien” will be placed on each home the subcontractor has worked on. Placing a mechanic’s lien on a new construction project will prevent the homeowner or developer from ever selling the house, and the GC won’t get paid until the lien is lifted, so the threat is certain to get his attention.
209 BUSINESS JOURNAL
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APRIL 2021
NEWS
Say cheese: Manteca set to become international artisan cheese hub It’s a long way from Tipperary to Manteca but Family City is perfect midway locale between San Diego and Seattle BY DENNIS WYATT 209 Business Journal
Glen & Cellar — a premium natural food products firm headquartered in Ireland’s Tipperary County — has selected Manteca as its base to break into the United States market. The venture represents a co-op of Ireland artisan cheese producers that has been working for the past 2½ years with City of Manteca Economic Development Manager Don Smail to distribute its products to American consumers. The lure of Manteca is three-fold. *Manteca had a shuttered cheese factory with an expansive area in place to store and age up to 1,600 pallets of cheese wheels. *It is midway between Seattle and San Diego just off Interstate 5 that serves one of their four targeted American regional markets. *It is close to a point of entry via the Port of Oakland. Glen & Cellar is taking what could be a four phased approach. The first test shipment arrived in early April at San Francisco International Airport. It cleared customs and initially was shipped to Sunnvalley Meats due to
the need of an established American firm to receive the goods. The company is now distributing samples to potential retail vendors as well as a number of ecommerce sites. It already has a deal in place with igourmet.com — a high price point specialty gourmet food website. Glen & Cellar cheese will soon be available via that site. Smail said while COVID-19 issues delayed plans for the firm to break into the American market, the shift in shopping habits during the pandemic has made consumers more receptive to having food shipped to their homes. Shipping directly to American retailers from Ireland is problematic for several reasons. First it would take weeks to do so. The other issue is the dearth of refrigerated storage in Ireland. This way once enough cheese is produced to fill a temperature controlled shipping container it starts what can be a six to eight weeks or longer journey to Oakland. Even if the cheese is delayed in route, nothing is lost as it is aging. The co-op produces more than a hundred varieties of cheese. Among the
first samples being distributed are cheddar, gouda, and emmental. Glen & Cellar is also working with European producers with the goal of selling hundreds of various artisan cheese varieties produced on farms on the Continent. They deal only with producers that grass feed their cows. As the firm ramps up its retail network, which will include e-commerce sites as well as specialty delis, they will start shipping temperature controlled containers that can hold 22,000 pounds of cheese. They will be shipped via the Panama Canal to the Port of Oakland. They will then be taken to the former Cal Suprema Cheese plant on North Airport Way in Manteca just north of Crothall Laundry Services and south of 5.11 Tactical. The cheese plant had a large refrigerator area expansion completed just before closing 15 years ago. It is large enough to hold 1,600 pallets stacked with cheese. The goal is to have the cheese age for roughly 18 months in Manteca. Then it would be cut, wrapped and shipped to customers. Given there is a 25 percent tariff on imported
DENNIS WYATT/209 BUSINESS JOURNAL
City of Manteca Economic Development Manager Don Smail with three examples of artisan cheeses that will be aged, cut, packaged, and shipped from Manteca. Artisan cheeses may eventually be produced in Manteca as well.
cheese, the company’s business plan uses the aging process to its advantage. How it works is simple. If the cheese is 2 months old when it arrives in Oakland, it could be valued at $5 per pound. Since cheese grows in value as it ages, at 18 months it could be worth $12. Under existing law when the product is actually sold it is taxed at the value that it was when it entered the country. The Manteca location would double initially as an aging, cutting, and packag-
ing facility as well as a West Coast distribution center to retailers. It would also supply packaged cheese to three other regional distribution centers in the country. The company hopes to eventually start making artisan cheeses in Manteca. If it does they will employ a process mandated in Ireland that eliminates the smell and prohibits the dumping of brine that creates havoc with underground water supplies due to its high salinity. While firms such as Hil-
Stanislaus County appoints Ag Commissioner STAFF REPORTS 209 Business Journal
The Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors appointed Kamaljit K. Bagri to the position of County Agricultural Commissioner and Sealer of Weights and Measures for a four-year term on March 16. Milton O’Haire, the County’s current Agricultural Commissioner and Sealer of Weights and Measures, retired from County service in March. Food and Agriculture Code regulations require the Board of Supervisors to appoint new Commissioners serving in the capacity of the Agricultural Commissioner and Sealer of Weights and Measures.
The California Department of Food and Agriculture provides a Board of Supervisors with a list of persons who are licensed and eligible for the position. Bagri was identified as the top candidate through a recent selection process and will serve as the first female agricultural commissioner Stanislaus County has appointed. Bagri will began employment with Stanislaus County on March 29. Currently serving as the San Joaquin County Assistant Agricultural Commissioner, Bagri holds more than 20 years of experience in this field, including prior work in Stanislaus County and Merced County (where she
began her career in 1999 as a seasonal trapper, later promoting to Biologist in 2001). In March 2015, she began as San Joaquin County’s Assistant Ag Commissioner. She is a graduate of Guru Nanak Dev University where she received dual bachelor’s degrees in education and science. The role of Agricultural Commissioner is critically important to our region. California is the only U.S. state with an Agricultural Commissioner system overseeing agriculture related regulatory processes. Stanislaus County has a $3.5 billion annual crop value. The Agricultural Commissioner serves the local industry in a myriad of
ways; pest detection and abatements, permitting, inspections, export services and employee safety to name a few. As Sealers of Weights & Measures, the oversight assures equity in the marketplace. Bagri looks forward to serving the Stanislaus region. “As the Ag Commissioner of a county which ranks 5th in agricultural sales throughout California,” she said, “I will strive to guide the County in supporting the ag industry locally.” The Stanislaus County Agricultural Commissioner and Sealer of Weights and Measures oversees a staff of forty and an annual budget of approximately $5.7 million. Who will be the
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mar Cheese ship their brine to a de-salinization plant in Oakland, the Irish cheese concern has perfected a process that recycles the brine and adds what salt was lost in the cheese making process. Smail noted the brine they are using is more than five years old. That eliminates the odors that plagued Cam Suprema Cheese when it operated in northwest Manteca. Smail is hopeful that Glen & Cellar will get to a fourth phase involving retail sales from the Manteca location.
BASEBALL
FROM PAGE 1
dinary and I’m sure our new arrangement will help us grow significantly in the future.” The Stockton Ports are continuing their partnership with the Oakland A’s. “The Stockton Ports would like to thank the Oakland Athletics for the invitation to continue our partnership as an affiliated club. We have had a strong partnership for 16 years and look forward to many more as a member of the California League,” Filippone said. Earlier this year Major League Baseball completed a realignment of minor league teams and this season California will be a low Class-A league. In addition to the Ports and Nuts, will include the San Jose Giants, Visalia Rawhide, Inland Empire 66ers, Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, Lake Elsinore Storm, and the Fresno Grizzlies. Ticket packages and individual tickets are available from both clubs on their websites. For more information and complete schedules visit modestonuts.com and stocktonports.com.
209 BUSINESS JOURNAL
EXPERTS WEIGH IN ON
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DIGITAL MARKETING
Reduce labor costs by outsourcing to a marketing agency
Drive revenue growth through digital marketing and SEO campaigns
BETH DEVINE
PHILIP LAN
209 Business Journal
Marketing is one of the most vital processes in any business, regardless of type or size. Effective marketing leads to growth and the truth is, it’s not easy. Marketingrelated tasks can be difficult to juggle and stay consistent, especially if you have a small team — or if it’s just you. As a result, many business owners decide to outsource their marketing to professional agencies. Below, we discuss the value of outsourcing your marketing initiatives and show you some of the benefits. WHAT DOES OUTSOURCING MARKETING MEAN? Outsourced marketing is the process of delegating all or some of your marketing activities to a third-party. You can choose to outsource some, most, or all of your marketing and business development tasks which typically include the following: ●C ontent production and distribution (blogs, articles, press releases, social media content, etc.) ● Social media marketing ● Website design and development ● Search engine optimization (SEO) ● Graphic design and branding ● Email marketing ● Pay-Per-Click (PPC) marketing The best way to see which of these you need to outsource is by communicating your business goals to a professional marketing agency and gaining insight as to their approach about the best methodologies to meet your goals. Ideally, outsourcing your marketing efforts is best if you: ●A re planning for growth but don’t have (enough) people to actually do the work ●A re lacking marketing experience ●N eed help with specific aspects of marketing ●A re you not seeing the results you wish to see with your current strategy. THE 5 KEY BENEFITS OF OUTSOURCED MARKETING Now, let’s see the benefits of outsourcing your marketing to a professional marketing agency. 1. SAVE TIME AND RESOURCES Did you know that the cost of outsourcing marketing services is way more affordable than hiring one person as your Marketing Manager. Many agencies have marketing experts across multiple disciplines that you get access to. Agencies usually offer many services that can be leveraged vs. you hiring one person to project manage in-house. If you are launching new marketing or brand campaigns, you know how time-consuming that is, not to mention the time you will spend training your staff. With outsourced marketing support, you can reallocate your internal resources and align your core processes. 2. A CCESS THE LATEST TECHNOLOGIES Marketing agencies that are effective continually innovative and are constantly testing new technologies. Investing in new platforms comes with a steep learning curve – so, having a specialized marketing partner means you can benefit from their tools and guidance. 3. IMPROVE YOUR ROI Hiring a marketing agency needs to be a decision that takes your ROI requirements into account. The best way to define ROI success with marketing agencies is to ensure they are reporting on specific key performance indicators that highlight their efforts and results. Working with an outsourced marketing agency gives you access to measurable results that you can track through the return of investment on your ongoing campaigns. 4. GAIN A NEW PERSPECTIVE Change is difficult if you keep doing what you have been. Technology changes rapidly and the risk you have is you don’t know what you don’t know to level-up your SEE DEVINE, PAGE 10
BAY VALLEY TECH
Jeff Romero is a digital marketing strategist and search engine optimization expert with years of experience growing online traffic and revenue. As the co-founder of Octiv Digital, he and his team help companies develop and execute digital marketing strategy, leveraging web design, conversion optimization, SEO and data analytics. Q: JEFF, CAN YOU TELL OUR READERS A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND AND HOW YOU’VE SEEN PROPER DIGITAL MARKETING CAMPAIGNS DELIVER STRONG RESULTS, ESPECIALLY IN THIS TIME WHEN COVID IS HAMPERING MANY TRADITIONAL BRICK-ANDMORTAR BUSINESSES? A: I got my start in the industry by obtaining degrees in Marketing and Information Systems, then used my training to help local businesses with SEO and pay-per-click (PPC) advertising. I then took my knowledge and experience to e-commerce brands that catered to national audiences. Today, I prefer to be back in the little pond working with small to midsize businesses at our agency, Octiv Digital. The businesses that are the most successful with digital marketing are the early adopters of new technologies and strategies. This past year saw many businesses turn to online strategies, and those who quickly made the change are now prospering. SEO and digital
marketing tend to be a zero-sum game where you always need to be thinking ahead to new technologies and strategies or else your competitors will be gaining an advantage on you. Q: WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT FOR COMPANIES TO HAVE A WELL-PLANNED DIGITAL MARKETING CAMPAIGN? HOW DOES A WELLDESIGNED WEBSITE, PAID SEARCH, SEO AND SOCIAL MEDIA FIT TOGETHER RELATIVE TO THE MARKETING FUNNEL OF AWARENESS, ENGAGEMENT, CONVERSION AND ADVOCACY? A: Business owners tend to think that one digital marketing strategy operates in a silo without considering how all things work together to achieve results. When we break down the digital marketing process, we’re really just trying to answer a person’s questions and help them solve a problem with a product or service. You need a website to be able to present your solution to their problem and a search engine marketing (SEO / PPC) program to be able to show them that you have a solution to their problem. Once you solve these two issues with great content and your website’s experience, you then leverage analytics tools to further understand questions your visitors have and turn them into long-term customers with email and social media marketing strategies. Some channels will play a bigger role than others, but it’s important to plan out each channel and understand how they work together.
Q: WHAT ARE THE KEY STEPS TO CREATING HIGHLY EFFECTIVE DIGITAL MARKETING CAMPAIGNS AND CAN YOU SHARE SOME OF YOUR “SECRETS’’ FOR SUCCESS? A: The secret to a successful digital marketing campaign is threefold: understand your product, identify your target audience and deliver on an execution plan. One area in which business owners can struggle is being able to properly define their product. Too much time is spent identifying and communicating the features of a product or service, when in reality the benefits are what connect with the consumer. A good marketing partner can, and should, help define these points and bridge the gap.
Jeff Romero
To the second point, there are many useful tools to help business owners understand their audience. Google provides its services (Google Analytics, Google Search Console) for free. These are a great way to identify who your customers are, where they are from, how they are finding your brand, and a variety of other data points to help when making marketing decisions. For more indepth analysis, most marketing agencies subscribe SEE SEO, PAGE 10
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FROM PAGE 9 to other paid tools that can help dissect this data even further to help make better informed choices. Lastly, taking your product and audience data into consideration, it’s time to put together the bones of your marketing plan. Your customer data is key to identifying which channels to focus on (social media, search engine, paid advertising) and which can reasonably provide the biggest returns on investment. Most importantly, once you have a strategy, it’s time to set measurable goals and define what metrics will determine success: Are you looking for increased sales revenue? Are you focused on getting customers to sign up for a newsletter and provide contact information? Maybe you’re looking for increased brick-andmortar visits. These are the questions that must be answered so you can effectively gauge the success of a campaign. With these in place, you can make tweaks based on informed data and analytics. Q: WHAT ARE SOME CURRENT DIGITAL MARKETING TRENDS THAT BUSINESSES AND MARKETING TEAMS SHOULD
DEVINE
FROM PAGE 9
business. By outsourcing your marketing, you can avoid stagnation and leverage new technologies and platforms. This enables you to gain a new perspective which will help you get more customers. STILL NOT SURE IF YOU SHOULD OUTSOURCE TO A MARKETING AGENCY? If you are still not sure whether to outsource to a professional marketing agency or use your budget
BE AWARE OF? HOW HAS DIGITAL MARKETING AND SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING CHANGED IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS? A: A big trend we have seen as of late is just how crowded the space is getting, especially with the onset of the pandemic. Many business owners took a step back during this time to see what they were doing online and how they could improve, thus leading to new web designs, more social media campaigns and a much more competitive landscape in Google. For any business owner who has not redesigned their website in the last five years, is not active in social media networks (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube) or is not paying attention to Google, they’re destined to be left behind. Business owners need to understand that digital marketing isn’t just a phase, and it’s not going to stop growing. Businesses need to enable themselves to work in several different online marketing channels and develop content that will really connect with their audiences. Another trend we have noticed that is specific to SEO deals with what is called “zero-click searches.” This occurs when Google serves content to
answer a searcher’s question directly in the result page and the searcher interacts with Google rather than clicking through to a website. For this reason, it’s important for brands to own their search engine result page, take advantage of Google tools–like Google My Business–and have great website content that will display directly in Google. Lastly, businesses should not sleep on TikTok. Although it’s aimed at a younger demographic, it’s an emerging channel that business owners should have a presence on. TikTok allows for quick-hitting video content that has a huge reach with a constantly growing user base.
to hire more people inhouse, our quiz can help you make a final decision. https://devinedigitalmarketing.com/businessquiz/ Choose Devine Solutions Group for Your Outsourced Marketing Needs
rate, and brand authority, while getting access to the latest technology. Gain a fresh perspective and see how easy it is to reach your goals. Are you interested in hearing more? Beth Devine is one of the most sought-after marketing experts in the Central Valley. She is the founder and principal of Devine Solutions Group, an awardwinning digital marketing agency headquartered in Tracy, CA. Connect with Beth by either calling 510773-0528 or email her at b eth@dev inesolutionsgroup.com
Devine Solutions Group is a multiple award-winning digital marketing agency based in Tracy, California. We plan and execute successful marketing campaigns for brands from all around the globe. With us, you will improve your search rankings, lead generation, conversion
Q: WHAT ARE SOME OF THE COMMON MISSTEPS YOU SEE COMPANIES MAKE WHEN THEY TRY TO IMPLEMENT A DIGITAL MARKETING CAMPAIGN? A: Everyone wants results fast, but the reality is that any marketing strategy takes time to develop and introduce to online customers. Additionally, due to the extent digital marketing has grown in the last few years, you have to be prepared with a budget to be competitive. From SEO to social media campaigns, to competing using Google Ads, more businesses are online now and you need
to have a solid budget to be competitive. Unfortunately, having a $200 budget for digital marketing won’t cut it. For this same budgetary reason, we see a lot of business owners try to DIY for their own digital marketing. While this may work for a few marketers posting to an intuitive platform like Facebook or Instagram, often businesses don’t understand how to fully leverage and get the most out of the services. Other tactics like SEO, pay-per-click advertising and a strong marketing strategy are not so easy to implement and may actually be detrimental to a business if not executed correctly. Finally, we see a lot of businesses overlook their investment in content. Website copy and content for social media is paramount to defining a business and its services. Creating the same web copy and graphics that every other business owner uses does not lend itself to a long-term growth plan. Q: WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF WORKING WITH A DIGITAL MARKETING AGENCY LIKE OCTIV DIGITAL, AND HOW SHOULD A BUSINESS OR MARKETING TEAM DETERMINE WHEN TO USE AN AGENCY OR DO THE WORK INTERNALLY? A: Without a solid under-
APRIL 2021
standing of marketing and technology, business owners could end up spending a lot of time and money on things that don’t drive any results. This is the exact reason why I hire an electrician. I’m no expert and it would take me quite a bit of time to learn how to install new electrical outlets in my house without getting electrocuted, not to mention the investment in tools and materials that I don’t have an additional use for. The same is true for digital marketing–hire an expert and spend time doing what you do best for your business. By working with an agency, you get access to expertise, expensive sophisticated tools and valuable time back to focus on and improve strategy and profitability. With that said, agency partners do require that businesses budget for a monthly retainer but offer the flexibility that permanent employees cannot. Finally, when deciding whether to partner with a digital marketing freelancer or agency, be wary of so-called experts and gurus who offer “quick fixes” and “guaranteed results.” Growth marketing requires expertise, good tools and grit. Out-growing your competition is not easy. Agencies promising easy solutions are most likely scams or are using shortcuts and ‘black hat’ tactics
that can severely backfire for their clients. For example, improper SEO methods may be able to produce a quick temporary boost in your visibility, but these can and often do lead to penalizations by Google later on, which in most cases are near impossible to recover from. Make sure you do your due diligence when hiring an agency–ask for case studies, portfolio examples, references, etc., to make sure your agency acts with integrity on your behalf. Q: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME, JEFF. DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER ADVICE FOR COMPANIES LOOKING TO IMPROVE DIGITAL TRAFFIC AND REVENUE GROWTH? A: If you are a business owner without a digital marketing strategy, get started today. There are very few businesses that can survive without a good website and digital presence, and the space is only getting more competitive. If you are struggling with growing your traffic and revenue, it may be worthwhile to contact a marketing agency for a consultation. In most cases, they can help identify pain points, recommend fixes for long-term results and significantly improve your internal team’s digital marketing expertise.
FREE SOCIAL MEDIA TRAINING 1 hour of consultation to help increase brand awareness and improve lead conversion for your business using social media as your platform
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ACCOLADES
PROMOTIONS, APPOINTMENTS, HONORS, ETC. Doctors Hospital of Manteca names new Chief Financial Officer
Doctors Hospital of Manteca has appointed Gregg Garrison as its new Chief Financial Officer. “Gregg brings a high level of expertise to support our financial and growth strategies as we expand to meet the needs of our growing community,” said Murali Naidu, M.D., CEO of Doctors Hospital of Manteca. “He has many years of experience in understanding the various services we provide from a financial perspective and we are Gregg Garrison thrilled to have him on our team.” Garrison was the CFO at Emanuel Medical Center in Turlock, a sister hospital of Doctors Hospital of Manteca, and will now serve as CFO over both hospitals. Prior to joining Emanuel in 2020, Garrison served as CFO for HCA Houston Healthcare West for nearly 11 years, CFO for Spring Branch Medical Center in Houston, Texas, and CFO for Twelve Oaks Medical Center, also in Houston. He’s no stranger to Manteca. Garrison served as CFO of Doctors Hospital of Manteca for two years from 19951997. Garrison earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg, Missouri, as well as his Master of Business Administration degree from the same university. He also completed graduate studies in Health Services Administration at the University of Kansas. Garrison is affiliated with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Healthcare Financial Management Association.
EMC and DMC recognize Tenet Heroes
Emanuel Medical Center and Doctors Medical Center have named Clinical Informatics Director Doug Roszell, Susan
Ybarra, RN, NCCU Shift Manager, and Ricky Villavicencio, RN, Clinical Operations Coordinator, have all been honored by Tenet Healthcare as part of its annual recognition program “Tenet Heroes” for their contributions in 2020. The Tenet Heroes program celebrates individuals who make a meaningful imDoug Roszell pact within their respective communities that goes above and beyond their daily job responsibilities. Nominated by fellow colleagues, Tenet Heroes exemplify the company’s core values and key tenets of its Community Built on Care.
Susan Ybarra
Roszell was recognized as a Tenet Hero for his dedication and hard work. One year ago, as hospitals were beginning to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, Emanuel was keeping a strong focus on its supply chain management. When asked to take over the warehouse, Roszell stepped up and accepted the challenge without hesitation. He brought his skillset of infrastructure and a data-driven approach to help prevent and resolve any potential issues within the warehouse. “Doug has inspired us through his actions to make a positive and meaningful difference in our community,” said Lani Dickinson, CEO of Emanuel Medical Center. “We are grateful for Doug’s efforts, selfless nature and commitment to compassionate care particularly throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and we are proud to
work alongside him.” Ybarra was recognized as a Tenet Hero because of her amazing efforts introducing Honor Walks at Doctors Medical Center to honor organ donors and provide closure for their loved ones and their care teams. Viilavicencio was designated as the hospital’s ECMO program lead and after ten months of planning, training and preparation, Doctors Medical Center launched its life-saving ECMO program.
Ricky Villavicencio
since 2018. She was a partner and an attorney at Parish Guy Castillo PC from 2014 to 2018. Guy Castillo was an associate at William H. Parish PC from 2009 to 2014 and at Dowling, Aaron & Keeler Inc. from 2007 to 2009. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of San Francisco School of Law. Marcus L. Mumford, 51, of Modesto, has been appointed to serve as a judge in the Stanislaus County Superior Court. Mumford has served as a deputy public defender at the Stanislaus County Public Defender’s Office since 2001. He was a sole practitioner from 2000 to 2001 and a law clerk at the San Diego County Superior Court from 1997 to 2000. Mumford earned a Juris Doctor degree from the Thomas Jefferson School of Law.
Court reporter earns national certification
“Susan and Ricky have both inspired us through their actions to make a positive and meaningful difference in our community,” said Warren Kirk, CEO of Doctors Medical Center. “We are grateful for Susan and Ricky’s efforts, selfless nature and commitment to compassionate care particularly throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and we are proud to work alongside both of them.” Each year, a smaller group of nominees are inducted into the Tenet Heroes’ Hall of Fame, the company’s most prestigious honor for employees. In addition to being recognized as a Tenet Hero, Ybarra was also selected as a Hall of Fame winner. This year, a total of 24 individuals across the country were named to the Hall of Fame.
Stockton, Modesto residents appointed to serve as judges
Erin E. Guy Castillo, 40, of Stockton, has been appointed to serve as a judge in the San Joaquin County Superior Court. Guy Castillo has served as a commissioner at the San Joaquin County Superior Court
Stockton native Christine Chan has earned the nationally recognized Registered Professional Reporter certification, having demonstrated her ability to produce a high-quality verbatim record. RPR certification distinguishes stenographic court reporters as being among the top contributors to the profession in terms of reporting skills, transcript production, reporting and opChristine Chan erating practices, and professionalism. Earning RPR credentials is quite an accomplishment given the amount of preparation and knowledge that successful candidates must possess to pass. Those who hold RPR credentials are not only among the top stenographic court reporters in the profession, but they also embark on a path of lifetime learning with continuing education requirements. Chan currently works as a freelance deposition reporter in the Los Angeles area. She is also a licensed Certified Shorthand Reporter for the state of California.
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We’re thinking about the delta’s waterways. Twenty years from now.
WELCOME TO THE PORT OF TOMORROW. At the Port of Stockton, we’re improving water quality for today, and for the future. How? We’re oxygenating local waterways to support aquatic life. Soon a new storm ditch will be rebuilt as a constructed wetland to naturally lter pollutants from storm water. We also use safe drains that prevent spills, train our tenants to reduce storm water pollution, and inspect our stormwater system daily. We're taking these measures now so that th our waterways will thrive tomorrow.
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