209 Business Journal - March 2022 by 209 Multimedia Publications

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MARCH 2022

VOLUME 7 ■ ISSUE 3

IN PROFILE

Needful Things in Turlock is a knitter’s paradise.

PAGE 2

IN PROFILE

TID will be first in the USA to cover canals with solar panels BY ANGELINA MARTIN

Ramen 101 has brought an authenticity to Riverbank with dishes like the Tonkotsu Ramen.

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209 Business Journal

urlock Irrigation District will break ground this fall on a pilot project that’s a first for the nation, building solar panels over a portion of its existing canals as part of a multifaceted partnership meant to create a more water resilient future. In collaboration with the Department of Water Resources, Solar AquaGrid and the University of California, Merced, TID will take part in Project Nexus — the first-ever solar panel over canal development in the United States. The project will assess reduction of water evaporation resulting from midday shade and wind mitigation; improvements to water quality through reduced vegetative growth; reduction in canal maintenance through reduced vegetative growth; and generation of renewable electricity. “In our 135-year history, we’ve always pursued innovative projects that benefit TID water and power customers,” TID Board President Michael Frantz said. “There will always be reasons to say ‘no’ to projects like this, but as the first public irrigation district in California, we aren’t afraid to chart a new path with pilot projects that have potential to meet our water and energy sustainability goals.”

The inspiration for the project came from a UC Merced study published last March, which illustrated that covering all of the approximately 4,000 miles of California canals could show a savings of 63 billion gallons of water annually, comparable to the amount needed to irrigate 50,000 acres of farmland or meet the residential water needs of more than 2 million people. According to the study, the 13 gigawatts of solar power the solar panels would generate each year would equal about one sixth of the state’s current installed capacity. “The Solar AquaGrid model provides a combined, integrated response to addressing our water-energy nexus,” UC Merced Professor Roger Bales said. “It helps address California’s underlying vulnerabilities while meeting both state and federal level commitments to produce renewable energy, preserve natural lands, lower greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change.” The $20 million project is funded by the State of California and

groundbreaking will take place this fall, with the project’s completion expected in 2024 at multiple locations throughout the TID service territory. The project will utilize already-existing infrastructure, and energy storage will be installed to study how storage facilities can support the local electric grid when solar generation is suboptimal due to cloud cover. DWR will oversee administration of the project, will provide technical assistance, as well as serve as a research partner. “We are excited to explore new efforts to advance the integration of renewable energy into our water supply delivery system,” Karla Nemeth, Director of DWR, said. “The project offers great potential, and we look forward to collaborating with our local and academic partners to advance these types of multibenefit projects.” There are a total of three project sites planned along various sections of TID’s canal system, and in total, 8,500 feet of solar panels will be installed. The three sections are areas of various orien-

The Solar AquaGrid model provides a combined, integrated response to addressing our waterenergy nexus

tations and canal widths, ranging from 20 feet wide to 100 feet wide. TID has retained Bay Area development firm Solar AquaGrid as project developers and program managers for TID and Project Nexus. The two agencies have been collaborating since the project’s inception. Solar AquaGrid originated the project after commissioning the UC Merced study in 2015 and has facilitated collaboration among the various parties to bring Project Nexus to fruition. “Research and common sense tell us that in an age of intensifying drought, it’s time to put a lid on evaporation,” said Jordan Harris, CEO of Solar AquaGrid. “We are excited to partner with Turlock Irrigation District, DWR and UC Merced to develop this first-in-the-nation pilot project and bring needed innovation to the Central Valley. Our initial study revealed mounting solar panels over open canals can result in significant water, energy, and cost savings when compared to ground-mounted solar systems, including added efficiency resulting from an exponential shading/cooling effect. Now is the chance to put that learning to the test.” For additional information about the project and project partners, visit www.tid.org/projectnexus.

209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

MARCH 2022

IN PROFILE

Needful Things a knitter’s paradise BY ANGELINA MARTIN 209 Business Journal

Since moving from downtown Turlock to the heart of Geer Road in 2020, Needful Things has continued to provide the community with a go-to gift destination and a variety of classes for knitting enthusiasts. Sisters Christina and Cassandra Carroll purchased the shop from its original owner, Charlene Fry, in late 2019. Fry had previously operated Needful Things on Thor Street since 2016, but the Carroll sisters moved their new business endeavor onto Geer Road just a few months after purchasing the shop — and in the middle of a global pandemic. Needful Things still serves as a source of vintage finds, one-ofa-kind items, salt water taffy and more, but now has some wellknown neighbors like Olde Tyme Pastries, Angelini’s and Dale’s Guitar. “We survived the shutdown, and then we moved here because there’s a lot more parking for our classes,” Christina Carroll said. The real star of the show at

Needful Things Type of business: Yarn and gift shop Location: 2243 Geer Rd., Turlock; www. shopneedfulthings.com Hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday Contact information: 209-6699009; needfulthingsturlock@ gmail.com

Needful Things is the yarn room, which boasts some of the most sought-after materials when it comes to knitting and crocheting. The shop also offers knitting and crochet classes, which have become quite popular recently as people take up new hobbies during the pandemic. Customers travel from as far as Merced, Modesto and Riverbank to shop the store’s wide variety of yarn, made from llama and alpaca wool as well as mohair. Needful Things has also shipped

yarn to places like Israel, Norway and Australia. “We concentrate on the yarn aspect of the store more than anything else,” Carroll said. “There are no other yarn shops like us here; you have to go to the cialty yarn that you can’t necessarily find at stores like Walmart or Michael’s.” In addition to materials for

the activity, knitting and crochet classes at Needful Things help locals learn the basics for as little as $15, and they can create some meaningful gifts or items to keep around the house. For example, one class teaches participants how to make a washcloth, Carroll said, and there are new classes every month. “We’ve had everyone from a

15-year-old to a great grandmother be interested in our classes, so it’s really for any age,” she said. “For a lot of people, it’s so satisfying to have a finished product where you can say, ‘yes, I made that myself.’” For more information on classes at Needful Things or to schedule a one-on-one lesson, call or email the store.

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The Oxford Kitchen brings London to Lodi BY VIRGINIA STILL 209 Business Journal

The Oxford Kitchen is newly opened in Lodi, bringing those in the 209 food all the way from the streets of London. As London is very cosmopolitan with multicultural cuisine, Lodi has its very own sophistication and charm with a multicultural population which made it just the right fit for the Oxford Kitchen. Founder Neil Ramarapu and Chef/Owner Srijith Gopinathan created an environment and menu with inspiration from the street markets in London that offer food from different parts of the world. There are flavors on the menu from the Mediterranean, Southeast Asia, Europe and the United Kingdom. “London is a very multicultural city and so is Lodi,” said Ramarapu. “So, this is a perfect place for global cuisine. I wanted to go into a small town where we could offer all these cuisines.”

London is a very multicultural city and so is Lodi. The contemporary design and modern London flare gives this ‘Kitchen’ a very welcoming and trendy, fun vibe. The full bar seats about 20 and has a bit of an old-world charm to it with a library ladder and several libations lit up. There are booths and tables available as well as a two-level patio for outdoor seating. Executive Chef Gopinathan lived in Oxford, England which inspired the name of the restaurant. He is the Executive Chef of Campton Place in San Francisco and is bringing his experience and skills to

Lodi. He created the menu and many of their offerings feature local, organic ingredients from businesses in the 209 like Fiscalini Cheese Company, Zuckerman’s Farm, Panorama Baking Company and Mary’s Chicken. The eclectic offerings begin with the small plates where guests can delight in Scotch Eggs, Ahi Tuna Tartare, Fresh Oysters, Stuffed Mediterranean Bread, or a Charcuterie Platter. What are Scotch Eggs, you might ask? Well, they are a traditional British dish that consists of a hardboiled egg and with the Oxford twist they are wrapped in a minced lamb crust where traditionally it would be wrapped in sausage topped with English mustard aioli, giving this starter two thumbs up. “There are not very many people that have tried Scotch Eggs before,” stated Ramarapu. “When they do try them, they always come

The Oxford Kitchen 110 W. Oak St., Lodi Contact: Visit oxfordlodi.com or call (209) 263-7234 Hours: 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday

back for them.” The fresh Ahi Tuna Tartare is not only pleasant to the eyes but very tasty with the Japanese white soy, maple sherry vinaigrette on crispy crackers washed down with an Oxford crafted Lodi Cosmopolitan. The bowl of Crispy Cauliflower takes guests to Spain as it is served in a Romesco sauce, garlic, red peppers and almonds giving this dish a little kick with earthy, rich flavors. All the sauces are made from scratch. The tour of global cuisine continues with the Oxford Classics includ-

ing the Charred Peri-Peri Chicken, the Original English Style Fish ‘N’ Chips, the Oxford Shepherd’s Pie, Chicken Pot Pie, Great Britain Chicken Tikka Masala, Seared Gnocchi, Macaroni Cheese and the Beef Wellington. While cooking in Oxford, England, Gopinathan learned the secret to making a light and crisp batter for fresh cod to get dipped into for the Original English Style Fish ‘N’ Chips. They are exactly that, light and crisp with perfectly cooked cod that is flaky and tasty served with pickled vegetable tartar sauce, lemon, and malt vinegar. “There are many customer favorites on the menu already,” added Ramarapu. “Everything on the menu has been a really big hit.” The Beef Wellington is another dish of English origin and although it may look like it is a medium steak with some pink, the steak is actually well done and wrapped in a puff pastry with kale melt and

mushroom duxelles served with mash and gravy. The combination of flavors melts in your mouth. The Charred Peri-Peri Chicken is a bone-in free range chicken served with Peri-Peri sauce, Peri-Peri rice and fries. The newly opened restaurant slated its Grand Opening celebration for Feb. 9 and in early spring they will be opening for weekend brunch. For those that want to take their Valentine on a food adventure they will have a romantic Valentine’s dinner with a special menu. The current hours are 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and until 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. “We are happy to serve people this multicultural cuisine and have them try something that they have never had before,” expressed Ramarapu. “They are able to have a nice global adventure tasting foods from different parts of the world under one roof.”

209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

MARCH 2022

IN PROFILE

AUTHENTIC RAMEN 101 AND BBQ IN CROSSROADS

The bowls were lined up at Ramen 101 as customers ordered Ramen. VIRGINIA STILL/209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

BY VIRGINIA STILL 209 Business Journal

Newly opened Ramen 101 in the Crossroads Shopping Center in Riverbank is a combination of authentic Ramen and Hawaiian BBQ. The restaurant opened earlier this month and Ramen 101 Manager Fiona Lo is extremely excited to be in the Riverbank complex. This franchise began in the Bay Area in 2018 and has been growing ever since with locations throughout Northern California including Riverbank and Modesto. Although they are a franchise and offer a diverse menu, some of the items at the different restaurants can vary. For example, the Riverbank location does not have the macaroni salad at this time. The Modesto location opened in June of 2021 and that is where Lo was working before managing the location in Riverbank. While in Modesto, Lo had several regulars from the Riverbank area that are pleased to have one a bit closer now in Crossroads. “I feel really happy about that and they come here more often and I am really happy I get to see them,” added Lo. “The main part is that we still have a lot of things like the Chicken Katsu and the Hawaiian BBQ chicken and Japanese street snacks from our starters and that is really good.” They already have some regulars at the newly opened Ramen 101 that have some favorites like the Tonkotsu Ramen that is more traditional Ramen with roasted pork, boiled egg, Kikurage Mushroom, bamboo shoots, fresh green onions, sprouts, and fish cake. The bowl is big enough to share and the presentation is very eye pleasing. The Black Garlic and Chicken Ramen are also a few guest favorites. They offer different bases like the creamy pork base that comes in the

People get a lot of the Ramen here. This is just another level of the cup of noodles; something that is filling but still good at the same time Tonkotsu, or the soybean base, and soy sauce base Ramens. For the most part all the Ramen’s are made with pork broth but they do have a vegetarian option. The Ramen’s can be customized specifically for your dietary restrictions or taste including the level of spiciness or no spice at all. They can remove the noodles and add more bean sprouts or whatever the guest would like. On the BBQ side the most popular dish so far is the BBQ mix which has chicken, beef and short ribs on a bed of rice and vegetables. They have the Chicken Katsu and the Teriyaki Chicken that are also some guest favorites. “Customers tell us that our food is reallwy diverse,” said Lo. “People come out for both lunch and dinner. People get a lot of the Ramen here. This is just another level of the cup of noodles; something that is filling but still good at the same time.” There are many options at Ramen 101 including a starter menu with some diverse option like the Grill Whole Squid, the Spam Musubi, Lumpia, Crab Rangoons, and the Edamame. They are open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

VIRGINIA STILL/209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

At Ramen 101 guests can customize their Ramen with a number of items that can be added on and a variety of toppings along with starters and BBQ plates.

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The grill whole squid is an option in the starter menu.

209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

IN PROFILE

Artisan shop opens doors in downtown Oakdale BY TERESA HAMMOND 209 Business Journal

Some might say the import business is in her blood and if they did, Escalon High alum and Oakdale resident Maria Moore would likely not disagree. The busy mother of two recently brought her passion for custom imports to downtown Oakdale, opening Maria’s Artisan Shop. Located at the front of Oakdale Pilates Studio, 143 N. First Ave., the roomy entry space of the studio has been transformed with colorful handbags, small leather goods, wall hangings and garments. Moore shared she grew up working for her family’s business Lopez Imports in Escalon. At the very same location, she first launched her passion for the finely made leather goods she now sells in her downtown shop over four years ago. “So that’s kind of what motivated me to try something and then I decided to go out on my own,” she said of working for the family business. “It was just small like a little box I ordered of wristlets and some handbags and little accessories,” Moore said of her initial order, “and I would post it on Instagram. I just kind of grew a following online and kind of built my name.” On-line orders quickly began to grow, prompting the business inventory to grow from taking over her living room, to a spare room in her Oakdale home. A growth Moore shared prompted her to seek a storefront. An initial opening in Riverbank in late 2019 proved to not be profitable, most especially with the pandemic hitting shortly after. With on-line sales continuing to climb, Moore shared she used the space more as a work space than an actual shop. In the fall of 2021, the

business owner shared she began considering relocating the business, targeting more foot traffic. A post indicating such on her personal social media page, gained the attention of Oakdale Pilates Studio owner Monica Harris. Harris still maintains the Pilates studio in the back half of the building. “The size was almost the same size,” she said of the current space versus her previous location. In mid-November of 2021 the doors opened and Moore shared she’s been very happy with the reception she’s received. Noting spring as her busier time, Moore shared she was pleased with the

I want people to have a nice, good experience when they come in foot traffic she received during the holiday season. Not one to turn to traditional advertising she shared both gratitude and pleasure with the word of mouth support. “I actually like it more when it’s word of mouth,” she said, “because that’s been an actual real experience. It feels good when somebody has been referred. “I want people to have a nice, good experience when they come in as well,” she continued. “A lot of the people that have come in, you can see they’re wanting to support a local business and it’s just a really welcoming feeling.” The artisan enthusiast also shared she feels it im-

TERESA HAMMOND/209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

Business owner Maria Moore stands among her colorful handmade goods in the recently opened Maria’s Artisan Shop on North First Avenue in Oakdale.

portant for customers to understand what they’re getting and experiencing. Many of the products sold in her shop come from small artisan workshops in Guatemala. Working with two main point people, representing two separate shops of artisans, it’s important to Moore that she stay clear of sweat shops. “They basically have their own workshops and small workshops so there’s not sweatshops or anything like that,” she said of her two main contacts, noting that they also work together on designing specific patterns based on what her customer base is seeking. According to Moore, most of the bags and small goods are built around colorful textiles which were once handmade blouses.

Those are then partnered with full grain leather to create unique accessory pieces. “It’s all real full grain leather,” she shared of the merchandise. “So there’s different types of leathers; there is leather that is comparable to particleboard that falls apart, that’s very inexpensive. Then there’s genuine leather and then there’s full grain leather which is the most raw form.” The unique bags, albeit with a higher price point, have a following and are widely appreciated by collectors throughout the US. So much so that the shop owner hosts a group on Facebook specifically for this clientele. “A lot of them are my regular shoppers, members

of Facebook group. So I’ll order enough to have new releases most of the time every Friday,” she said, adding that the weekly Friday releases are something she does primarily in the spring. The artisan shop owner also noted that her connection to the business and the products grew from a love of things that were pretty to more of a passion for the product as well as the artisans. A passion for the item (blouse) being used and its meaning to the owner who worked hard to make the garment they once wore. “I wanted to make sure that’s what I was representing,” she said of the Guatemalan artisans. “That they’re getting their fair pay and that they’re getting respect. This was their

clothing, and they’re taking it apart to make handbags.” As for business hours, Moore shared she’s still working those out and encourages customers to check her out on both Facebook and Instagram at Maria’s Artisan Shop for updated hours. Her merchandise may also be found on the website mariasartisanshop.com. “Pretty much I’m a one woman show,” she shared. “There’s a lot I enjoy. I’ve enjoyed the friendships that I’ve built with my customers and with the makers. I’ve enjoyed learning about the culture and the textiles, connecting more with the makers and the weavers. “I’m very, very happy here.”

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209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

MARCH 2022

NEWS

SJ County seeks funding for 120 Bypass/99 interchange BY DENNIS WYATT 209 Business Journal

Ground is breaking in the coming months for the first phase of the major overhaul of the Highway 99-120 Bypass but the hunt is already on to fund the next phase. The San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors included the interchange work when they adopted the top 10 list of pressing road projects that will be used to pursue federal and state money to augment revenue from the Measure K half cent sales tax. The first phase — a $51.6 million endeavor that adds a second transition lane from the westbound 120 Bypass to southbound 99, replaces the Austin Road interchange, and reconfigures segments of Woodward Avenue and Moffat Boulevard — is on target to break ground this spring. If all goes well, work on the first phase of the project would be completed in winter of 2023. The second phase costing $28.1 million involves widening the 99 northbound transition lanes to two. Doing so would require a new eastbound 120 to northbound 99 ramp and bridge across Highway 99. The current ramp and bridge would be converted to two lanes heading west by removing the median barrier on the existing

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The San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors included the interchange work when they adopted the top 10 list of pressing road projects that will be used to pursue federal and state money.

ramp. The second phase’s final design is expected to be completed in the spring of 2024 with construction underway by summer of 2024, and work completed by the fall of 2025. The third and final phase

would include braided ramps for southbound traffic on Highway 99 and eastbound traffic on the 120 Bypass to exit at Austin Road and a braided ramps for traffic from Austin Road headed north on Highway 99 and west on the 120 By-

pass. Other top priority roadwork includes: *Adding managed lanes on Interstate 205 as either high occupancy vehicle lanes or bus lanes. *Improving 11th Street from Tracy to Interstate 5.

*Upgrading Grantline Road from Kasson Road to the Tracy city limits. *Improving a segment of the Escalon-Bellota Road north of Escalon. *Upgrades to Highway 12/Highway 88 east of Clements.

*Lower Sacramento Road railroad crossing improvements between Stockton and Lodi. *Upgrades to the Byron Highway (State Route 239). The list also includes a countywide autonomous vehicle testing program.

Grants designed to expand small business assistance STAFF REPORTS 209 Business Journal

The California Office of the Small Business Advocate recently announced grant awards to technical assistance and grant making partners of the California Dream Fund Program. The California Dream Fund Program is a one-time $35 million grant program that will provide microgrants to seed entrepreneurship and small business creation in California. To qualify for the Dream Fund program, small startup businesses must complete a rigorous training and consulting program with one of 17 technical assistance centers selected from CalOSBA’s Technical Assistance Expansion Program (TAEP) network. Businesses that complete the program and qualify for the grant will be eligible to receive a microgrant of up to $10,000. Lendistry has been selected to

administer the grant making process. “Access to capital is critical for small business success and when matched with Technical Assistance, it can make the difference between success and failure for small businesses, and entrepreneurs, especially those who are under resourced to start,” said Tara Lynn Gray, Director of CalOSBA. “California’s stellar TA network is uniquely qualified and well positioned to provide services to diverse groups and communities across the state.” The Dream Fund builds on CalOSBA’s existing technical assistance network, which is centered by the TAEP and Capi-

tal Infusion programs. Since launching in 2018, technical assistance centers funded by TAEP and CIP have served over 500,000 small businesses with free consulting and no to low cost training in over 30 languages. Visit CalOSBA’s new website for more information and view the TAEP network. The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development serves as the State of California’s leader for job growth and economic development efforts. GO-Biz offers a range of services to business owners including: attraction, retention and expansion ser-

I want people to have a nice, good experience when they come in

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vices, site selection, permit streamlining, clearing of regulatory hurdles, small business assistance, international trade development, assistance with state government, and more. For more information, visit www.business.ca.gov. The Office of the Small Business Advocate helps support economic growth and innovation by working to ensure that California’s small businesses and entrepreneurs have the information, tools and resources they need to plan, launch, manage and grow their businesses successfully and be resilient. The CalOSBA serves to elevate their voices in state government and to advocate on their behalf to help ensure all aspiring and current small business owners and entrepreneurs are provided with the opportunity to access capital, access markets, and connect to the networks and resources they need to succeed.

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OPINION

Vol. 7 No. 3 ■ March 2022

Ask for help not because you’re weak, but because you want to remain strong.

PUBLISHER Hank Vander Veen

EDITOR Sabra Stafford

NEWSROOM Jeff Benziger Dale Butler Jason Campbell Kristina Hacker Teresa Hammond Angelina Martin Pawan Naidu Vince Rembulat Virginia Still Dennis Wyatt

—Les Brown

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Harold L. George

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Sharon Hoffman

SALES & MARKETING Chris Castro Beth Flanagan Karen Olsen Corey Rogers Melody Wann Charles Webber

DIGITAL

Frankie Tovar Rich Matheson

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 2022. 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.

Two all-too-human desires that thwart entrepreneurial success “Fake it until you make it.” “Move fast and break things.” Sound familiar? It’s no secret that Washington is giving Big Tech companies the stink eye these days. Probably the only thing Republicans and Democrats in Congress can agree on is that big companies need more regulation, more scrutiny. Why should a small business owner care? Because there’s something else going on under the surface of the “get Big Tech” consensus in government, and it’s something every entrepreneur needs to be concerned about. The quotes appearing at the beginning of this column symbolize the attitude many Silicon Valley entrepreneurs adopt when starting their businesses. A little bit of recklessness, if not ruthlessness, is considered necessary when trying to break through the startup crowd and stand out as a potential unicorn. Within limits, these attitudes can be predictors of entrepreneurial success. Taken too far, of course, you end up somewhere not so nice. By faking it too much, too long before you make it, or by moving too fast and breaking too many things, you risk becoming a Theranos. As always, when government steps into someone’s life, there’s a tendency to overcorrect and throw the baby out with the bathwater. Most people in Washington, having a bureaucratic orientation, are

CLIFF ENNICO CREATORS SYNDICATE

a wee bit jealous of those who break the rules and not only get away with it but get filthy rich doing so. Too much regulation and oversight kills the entrepreneurial spirit and leads to a nation of bureaucrats. But beyond government, there are some disturbing trends in society, especially (although not exclusively) among young people, that are threatening the entrepreneurial spirit in America. A growing population is being overcome (some would say “brainwashed”) by two common and extremely natural human desires that, if taken to extremes, make entrepreneurial success impossible.

NO. 1: THE DESIRE TO BE SAFE

Speak to any member of the millennial or Generation Z population, and sooner or later — usually within a minute or two — the word “safe” will be uttered. Somehow younger people have bought into the idea that the most important goal in life is to be safe — free from threats, free from hostility, free from contradiction of one’s worldview. The desire to be safe is of course one of humanity’s oldest and most deeply held desires. Our primitive ancestors were focused every day on

basic physical survival, to an extent our mollycoddled selves find difficult to comprehend. But they learned sooner or later that hanging around the cave too much meant you starved sooner or later. At some point, you had to take the risk of being chased by a saber-toothed tiger or eating the wrong type of mushroom to survive and reproduce. Taken to extremes, the desire to be safe is antithetical to the entrepreneurial spirit. The entrepreneurial life is anything but safe. You are sticking your neck out in a big way, working 100 hours a week and living on Red Bull and ramen noodles, with only the slimmest hope that your business concept will catch fire and grow. Getting where you want to go is largely a function of damning the torpedoes and going full steam ahead. If you want to be safe, go to law school. Better yet, get a government job.

NO. 2: THE DESIRE TO BE LOVED

You can blame this one on social media. Many if not most young people are consumed by the desire to look good to their peers. OK, that’s not such a recent development, but social media has magnified it thousandfold. When you are posting things online that can be seen by the entire world, you work hard to cultivate your online persona. When college students present their business plans in campus “Shark Tank” type competitions, they inevitably

focus on how their product or service will benefit humanity and make everyone love them. No one desires to be hated, of course, but many of the most successful entrepreneurial ventures were not viewed favorably at the onset. Let’s face it, people hate change, and entrepreneurs who swim against the tide are a little bit crazy. An entrepreneur is like the grain of sand in an oyster. He or she is an irritant. The oyster works very hard to expel the grain of sand by secreting fluids that try to dislodge it. If the oyster fails, those fluids coat the grain of sand and produce a beautiful pearl. Successful entrepreneurs — at least the vast majority of them — do not give a good damn what people think about them. They have a goal, and they are fixated if not obsessed by that goal to the point of ignoring everything else in their lives. (Thomas Edison went weeks without taking a bath sometimes.) Many endure opprobrium, divorce, estrangement from family, rejection and (increasingly) cancellation. If they think at all about society at large, their attitude is, “When I have a billion dollars in the bank, I will be sure to do some things to improve the lot of humanity.” But first you have to get those billion dollars, and the things you have to do sometimes to get there will not generate admiration. We all admire successful entrepreneurs, but only after they have become successful.

209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

MARCH 2022

NEWS

Air District receives $36.5M to deploy zero-emission trucks STAFF REPORTS 209 Business Journal

The Valley Air District took action recently to accept over $36.5 million in new California Energy Commission and California Air Resources Board funding to deploy 100 zeroemission battery electric Class 8 trucks and install supporting fast-charging infrastructure in the Valley. “Emissions from mobile sources and in particular heavy-duty trucks continue to be a significant challenge to the Valley’s air quality,” stated Robert Rickman, Valley Air District Governing Board Member and San Joaquin County Supervisor. “With these funds and matching investments by the Albertsons Companies and other local partners, we are bringing innovative zeroemission truck technology to the Valley and assisting this important sector of the economy in transitioning to cleaner equipment.” The Valley Air District has prioritized the deployment of new and innovative clean air technologies with a particular focus on mobile sources, which are the largest source of ozone and PM2.5 forming NOx and toxic diesel particulate matter emissions in the Valley, and are primarily under state and federal jurisdiction. Consistent with this priority and demonstrated success in competing for state and federal

funding, on Wednesday, the Valley Air District submitted the two proposals to the California Energy Commission (CEC) and California Air Resources Board (CARB) in response to the highly competitive CEC/CARB co-funded Zero-Emission Drayage Truck and Infrastructure Pilot Project solicitation. “The San Joaquin Valley will only be able to meet its clean air goals through strong and continued investment in clean air technologies such as these,” said Samir Sheikh, Executive Director/Air Pollution Control Officer, “We appreciate the State’s recognition of our region’s innovation in these cutting edge projects that will benefit all Valley communities.” The Valley Air District was recently notified by CARB and CEC that the following proposals were each selected for full funding under the solicitation. These public/private projects involve multiple partners, including the Valley Air District, local businesses, technology providers, community-based organizations, workforce development organizations, and others. • Deploy 50 zero-emission, battery electric Class 8 Volvo electric trucks and install supporting fastcharging infrastructure at a large distribution center operated by Albertsons in Tracy. The project will

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Part of the California Energy Commission and California Air Resources Board funding will go to deploy 50 zero-emission battery electric Class 8 Tesla Semi trucks in the Valley.

be fully deployed by mid2023. • Grant Amount = $23,422,298 • Partner Match = $28,874,289 • Total Project Cost = $52,296,587 • Deploy 50 zero-emission battery electric Class 8 Tesla Semi trucks, install supporting fast-charging infrastructure and a battery energy storage solution at the Pepsi Beverages Company located within the AB 617 community of South-Central Fresno. The

project will be fully deployed by mid-2023. • Grant Amount = $13,150,710 • Partner Match = $13,153,000 • Total Project Cost = $26,303,710 The goals of these projects are to reduce GHG, criteria pollutant and toxic air contaminant emissions in and around freight facilities, along truck routes and, with regard to the Pepsi project, in the AB 617 disproportionately pollution burdened South

Central Fresno Community. In addition, the project will provide economic, environmental, and public health benefits. This program is funded with a combination of CARB Low Carbon Transportation (Cap and Trade) Funding and CEC Clean Transportation Program funds. CEC’s and CARB’s goal under the Zero-Emission Drayage Truck and Infrastructure Pilot Project solicitation is to support large-scale deployments of on-road, zero-emission

Class 8 drayage and regional haul trucks as well as the necessary zeroemission vehicle charging infrastructure needed for service operation. The Valley Air District covers eight counties including San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced, Madera, Fresno, Kings, Tulare and San Joaquin Valley air basin portions of Kern. For additional information about the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District, visit www.valleyair.org

Withrow reflects on success in face of adversity in ‘State of the County’ address BY ANGELINA MARTIN 209 Business Journal

After nearly two years of pandemic life in Stanislaus County and beyond, Board of Supervisors Chairman Terry Withrow gave his 2022 State of the County address in February and shared what he believes the agency has done right during a time when so many have focused on the wrong. Withrow reflected on the past 23 months, which have seen supervisors faced with making public health decisions to protect county residents, dealing with state and federal mandates and, at times, questioning those orders. He mourned the nearly 1,600 Stanislaus County residents who have succumbed to COVID-19 during that time. The chairman thanked county health service leaders Mary Ann Lilly and Dr. Julie Vaishampayan for their integrity during trying times, and noted the county’s accomplishments despite recent hardships. “The opinions on what we should or shouldn’t do have often been split. The criticisms of our actions have been constant; we’ve been damned if we do and damned if we don’t, but that’s okay,” Withrow said. “For it is the ‘doing’ during this pandemic, from our Board and staff, that I am the proudest of…That’s what true leadership is all about and I couldn’t be prouder of how Stanislaus County government has responded during these trying times.”

Stanislaus County is in one of its strongest financial positions yet thanks to COVID relief funds, and has received $216 million, or 15 percent of its budget, since the pandemic began. The county’s ag-heavy economy also allowed for sales tax revenues and property values to remain unscathed, but running COVID testing sites, producing public information campaigns, providing personal protective equipment, conducting contact tracing and more has cost $118 million to date. Some of that cost went to grants and nonprofits, however, and Stanislaus County distributed $15 million in direct cash assistance to its nine cities — one of just six counties in the state to do so. “...our proportion was nearly double anyone else in the state,” Withrow said. “This level of support demonstrates our strong commitment to the success of our local cities and our appreciation for the basic services they provide to the vast majority of Stanislaus County residents each day.” The county is debt free, with the exception of an 80 percent funded unfunded pension plan, and its general fund balance is healthy at $254 million. One sign of fiscal health in the county is the reopening of the Sheriff substation in Salida, which will take place by mid-April, and the effort to open more is pertinent as the Sheriff’s department seized 305 pounds of heroin,

methamphetamines, fentanyl and cocaine over the last year along with 30,486 pounds of processed marijuana and 228,804 marijuana plants. The department seized $886,000 in cash and 145 firearms as well. “The lack of consequences for these crimes continues to affect the quality of life of all in our community. I believe as a society, our mission and obligation is to help and support those who are troubled, not to enable and accept their path to hell,” said Withrow. “We must continue to seek reforms in this area from our state representatives to grant us the ability to end the cycle of lawlessness we are currently facing.” Withrow highlighted progress with the county’s infrastructure, which includes phase one of the new state route 132, as well as the celebration of the remodeled public library in Turlock. He also touted the $158 billion budget for the Department of Behavioral Health and Recovery Services, which has focused on getting help to those in need through a new strategic plan focused on those most in need of treatment for severe mental illness or experiencing a mental health crisis. Court approved conservatorships have more than doubled the number of conserved individuals to an average of 230 in the county on any given day, providing them with a roof over their head, three

meals a day and needed medical treatment. In the area of homelessness, accomplishments by the county include: • The opening of a Low Barrier Shelter with 182 beds. • The Kansas House – a converted hotel housing up to 225 individuals, providing the next level above a shelter and a bridge to traditional housing. • The deployment of Outreach and Engagement teams, working daily to get individuals off the streets and into services and housing. • The deployment of a Community Assessment Response and Engagement team to work specifically the most acute of the homeless population. • Initial stages of tiny homes being placed on certain excess properties supplied by participating churches. • The Conversion of blighted properties into workforce housing. Despite the county’s success over the last two years, Withrow said the current state of affairs in America have left him troubled, alluding to political polarization and the inability to compromise. He urged the community to live life rather than to survive, and to get back to churches, synagogues, temples and mosques so that the community can be built up once more. “Let’s get back to living,” said Withrow.

209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

NEWS

Ripon OKs 91-room Hotel near East Main & Highway 99 ramps BY VINCE REMBULAT 209 Business Journal

Towneplace Suites by Marriott Hotel nearly checked all the marks for the Ripon Planning Commission on Monday. “This is one of the more ideal uses for that area,” said Planning Director Ken Zuidervaart. The 54,382-square-foot, 91-room, four-story project at East Main Street in Ripon along northbound Highway 99 will be built next door to Angle Petroleum service station. Traffic at the freeway ramp was a bit of a concern for neighbors, especially during school days. City staff, however, is working to remedy that, working on a grant to put traffic signals in the area similar to that at West Colony Road and Hoff Drive. Speaking of neighbors, Commissioners favored the plan consisting of about 21,986 square feet or 22.37 percent of the site being landscaped, in turn, providing some privacy to the nearby homes. They unanimously approved the Conditional Use Permit to developer, Venture Hospitality, Inc., with the stipulation that the landscaped area also be maintained and that no backlit signage on east or north of the hotel. Zuidervaart indicated that plans

call for the widening and restriping of the road along with the installation of curbs, gutters and sidewalks. The Townplace Suites will have a breakfast / food area, two meeting rooms, guest laundry area, a fitness room, and a swimming pool, with extended stay options being available to occupants. Commission Chairperson Debra Van Essen was pleased to know that the hotel will likely bring in more of a professional clientele. All rooms will have studio accommodations consisting of a small kitchen / food prep area within the suites. The project, Zuidervaart added, will include a paved off-street parking facility featuring 93 total stalls while meeting the city standards. As far as exterior, Towneplace Suites will predominantly be stucco with different colors and finishes to accent the building. The roof would mostly be a flat parapet to conceal the mechanical roof-top equipment. In addition, each room will feature sound-rated windows to help reduce the noise from the nearby freeway. The construction build-out for this Marriott hotel will be about one year.

IMAGE CONTRIBUTED

Plans for the Towneplace Suites by Marriott Hotel on East Main Street near Highway 99 received the go-ahead to begin construction. This is one of two color renderings presented by the Ripon Planning Commission.

Drought cost ag industry more than $1 billion in 2021 BY LORENA ANDERSON UC Merced

The 2021 drought directly cost the California agriculture sector about $1.1 billion and nearly 8,750 full- and part-time jobs, according to estimates in a new analysis led by UC Merced researchers. Once the effects on other economic sectors are considered, total impacts are estimated at $1.7 billion and 14,634 full- and part-time jobs lost. The Economic Impacts of the 2021 Drought on California Agriculture Preliminary Report, released today, analyzes the impacts of last year’s drought in the Central Valley, the Russian River Basin and northern intermountain valley areas. The researchers developed these preliminary estimates of economic impacts using surveys, reviews of hydrological information and remote sensing data gathered from those areas and comparing them to average conditions, as well as to the 2012-2016 drought. The report identifies at least additional 395,000 acres of idled land — roughly 385,000 acres in the Central Valley alone with respect to pre-

drought conditions due to drought-related water cutbacks. Several regions in the Sacramento valley, the west side of the San Joaquin Valley, Tulare County and Kern County were the most affected. Other droughtaffected areas include the Russian River Basin and intermountain agricultural areas in Siskiyou, Shasta and Modoc counties. The crops most significantly affected by increased fallowing include rice in the Sacramento Valley, cotton in the San Joaquin Valley, and grain and field crops statewide. “In comparison with the 2012-2016 drought, conditions were much worse for the Sacramento Valley and the Russian River Basin, yet the statewide impacts have not been as severe as in 2015 — the deepest point in the last drought,” said School of Engineering Professor Josué Medellín-Azuara, lead author of the report. “Should dry conditions persist throughout 2022, a higher tier of adaptation measures may come into play to reduce economic impacts on agriculture and communities that host thousands of households relying on agriculture for a

living.”

The report also highlights strong commodity prices that have helped mitigate some economic costs of the 2021 drought. Milk prices rose because of global demand, raising revenues and offsetting some of the drought-related effects of higher production costs. The dairy sector also explored alternatives to hay and winter grains that, in some cases, increased cow milk productivity. The beef cattle sector also had to adapt to scarce winter pastures and higher forage prices, but the state’s beef cow herd increased, as did its share of the national cow herd, leading to potential revenue gains. While Californians are familiar with drought, the 2020-21 water years were the second driest two years on record. Although precipitation deficits were widespread, drought conditions were more severe in the Sacramento Valley and the North Coast regions. A lack of atmospheric rivers and a below-average snowpack depleted most reservoirs and aquifers in 2021, the report states. “This has been a fastpaced drought and it

shows how climate change increases the challenges we face in managing water in California,” said researcher and co-author Alvar Escriva-Bou, an engineering and policy expert at the Public Policy Institute of California. “Sadly, we are going to see more and more droughts like this, so we need better tools to anticipate and minimize the socio-economic impacts.” But drought is not only defined by the water supply, the researchers wrote. Warmer temperatures and already-dry conditions increased crop irrigation demands and widened the gap between water supply and irrigation needs. “Warming has impacted seasonal water availability, namely through reducing spring snowmelt runoff and through increasing atmospheric thirst,” said Professor John Abatzoglou, climate expert and co-author in the report. “These factors in concert have intensified drought severity and impacts in the state and increased the need for actionable solutions to cope with drought.” The drought hit during the early implementation of Sustainable

Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) sustainability plans. The Act is designed to avoid the undesirable consequences of unsustainable groundwater use. Groundwater sustainability plans for critically overdrafted basins were submitted in 2020 and plans in other priority basins are due early this year. These plans remain in progress throughout the state for these and other priority basins. California’s increasingly variable supply of surface water and overdrafted groundwater aquifers present serious challenges for meeting societal needs, the report points out. “It is no surprise that California leans more heavily on groundwater to help meet its water supply needs during drought. SGMA is now well underway, and it is shaping how we respond to drought, especially in the Valley. Despite the very real economic impact, this report also indicates an enormous capacity for innovation and adaptation in the agricultural industry, not limited to augmenting cattle feed with almond hulls —typically a byproduct — and also direct investments in aqui-

fer recharge techniques and technologies,” said report co-author Professor Joshua Viers. “These innovations, coupled with better information about water application and use, will ultimately help us manage scarce water supplies more effectively.” Funded by a $1.5 million research grant from the California Department of Food and Agriculture, MedellínAzuara, Abatzoglou, Viers and Escriva-Bou have worked since last fall to develop this economic analysis, along with decision-support tools for the agriculture industry during droughts. Other authors include UC Merced Environmental Systems graduate students Spencer Cole and José M. Rodríguez-Flores and Professor Daniel A. Sumner from UC Davis. “In the weeks to come, the research team will work with its expert advisory panel, stakeholders and partner groups to update ongoing drought conditions and impacts on the agricultural sector, as well as data and assessment tools, to inform drought management and decision making,” Medellín-Azuara said.

209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

MARCH 2022

NEWS

Drones can be used to monitor conditions remotely and even apply fertilizers, pesticides, and other treatments from above.

PHOTO BY PETER FAZEKAS FROM PEXELS

Automation key to addressing agriculture demand and population growth Agriculture has come a long way since humans first started harvesting about 12,000 years ago, but we are now at a turning point. And with a global population projection of 9.7 billion people by 2050, agricultural production will need to increase by at least 70 percent from current levels to serve nutritional trends. Now more than ever, the pressure on farmers to produce nutritious products is putting our planet’s health under even more stress. New advancements in technologies ranging from robotics and drones to computer vision software have completely transformed modern agriculture. Farmers now have access to tools that will help them meet the demands of our world’s ever-increasing population. A report by the California Department of Food and Agriculture found that more and more farmers are adopting automation to bridge the growing labor gap and ensuring their crops are picked in time. “One of the main aims of the report was to take a comprehensive look at the entire harvest ecosystem and provide a quantitative look to the Western Growers membership at how much harvest innovation is impacting their operations across fresh products for specialty crops, where the most progress is occurring, and why,” says Western Growers Vice President of Innovation Walt Duflock. “Second, we wanted to provide an in-depth view of the innovators who are doing the heavy lifting by crop type, so growers would know

PAWAN NAIDU 209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

who to contact based on the crops they grow.” Among the findings of the report were: • 65 percent of participating growers have invested in automation over the past three years • The average annual spend on automation was $350,000-$400,000 per grower • Spending occurred in pre-harvest and harvest assist activities, including wedding, thinning, harvesting platforms and autonomous ground vehicles. It is anticipated that 30-60 percent of these activities will be automated by 2025. ● Harvest automation itself remains limited because of the technical difficulties in replicating the human hand to harvest delicate crops. It is anticipated that 20 percent of harvest activities will be automated by 2025. The following are examples of technologies being used in farm automation:

HARVEST AUTOMATION

Harvesting fruits and vegetables have always proven to be a difficult problem to automate. Harvest robots must be gentle with the produce to avoid bruising and damage. Agrobot has successfully developed the first robot for gently harvesting strawberries, no matter where and how they are grown. From a flexible mobile platform, up to 24 robotics manipulators work together to pick the fruit which meets the farmer’s quality standard. Another company, Abundant Robotics, is

the world’s first commercial robotic apple harvest. Their machines handle fragile fruits by using a vacuum instead of any claw or hand-like graspers to pull apples from the branch.

AUTONOMOUS TRACTORS

Autonomous tractors can be controlled remotely or even pre-programmed to give full autonomy to a producer. Rabbit Tractor’s autonomous tractor delivers value to row crop farmers not just through a reduction in labor costs, but through increased efficiency across operations and increased yield. Tractor automation kits are even being developed by Bear Flag Robotics that makes automation more accessible for farmers by affordably retrofitting existing tractors with cutting edge driverless technology and implementing control.

SEEDING AND WEEDING

Robotics developed for seeding and weeding can target specific crop areas. In seeding, this can easily reduce labor and mundane tasks on the farm. Weeding robotics can be incredibly accurate and reduce pesticide usage by 90 percent with computer vision. Blue River Technology employs computer vision and robotics technologies to precisely spray herbicides only where needed and with exactly what’s needed. This gives farmers a new way to control and prevent herbicide-resistant weeds. ecoRobotix is another company that produces a weeding robot. This is the first ever completely autonomous machine for a more ecological and

economical weeding of row crows, meadows and intercropping cultures.

DRONES Drones can be used to monitor conditions remotely and even apply fertilizers, pesticides, and other treatments from above. They can also quickly and cost-effectively identify problem areas with imagery and infrared analysis to help farmers diagnose issues early on. American Robotics is developing a fully autonomous “Robot-as-a-service” with an autonomous drone, base station, and analytics platform that provides insights to growers at resolutions, frequencies, and speeds never before possible. Farm automation practices can make agriculture more profitable while also reducing the ecological footprint of farming at the same time. Site-specific application software can reduce the amount of pesticides and fertilizer used while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions. We are only at the early stages of farm automation technology, but it will be able to transform agriculture. It offers a path towards sustainable and more efficient agriculture by advancements of technologies, production systems and software. Every year, automation technology becomes more sophisticated, and what was cutting-edge just a few years ago will become commonplace and cost-effective soon. The human element will always be a fundamental aspect of managing a farm, but fully autonomous vehicles and farm equipment are coming.

209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

ACCOLADES

PROMOTIONS, APPOINTMENTS, HONORS, ETC. Doctors Hospital of Manteca celebrates 60th Anniversary

Doctors Hospital of Manteca recently celebrated its 60th anniversary. The hospital opened its doors on February 26, 1962, and have proudly cared for the community since that day. The hospital celebrated the milestone with a special event with leadership, local dignitaries, longtime physicians and employees, and the volunteer auxiliary. The event began with remarks from Chief Executive Officer Eleze Armstrong, as well as a round of applause for the frontline staff who care for patients 24/7 and a moment of silence to honor the lives lost to COVID-19. The program continued with a look back at the history of Doctors Hospital of Manteca and what’s to come in the future. In addition, longtime physicians and employees were recognized: · Dr. Karl Wolf – Serving patients since 1973 · Dr. Howard Miller – Serving patients since 1977 · Dr. Anil Sain – Serving patients since 1978 · Dr. Craig Bobson – Serving patients since 1985 · Dr. George Scott – Serving patients since 1985 · Michael Brown – 45 years of service; hired in September 1976 · Julie Taylor – 42 years of service; hired in March 1980 · Connie Rocha – 41 years of service; hired in September 1980 · Lisa Hoag – 37 years of service; hired in July 1984 · Donna Nicholas – 37 years of service; hired in July 1984 They also recognized the volunteer auxiliary members. The Doctors Hospital of Manteca Volunteer Auxiliary was organized in November of 1962 by a group of women willing to volunteer time and service to patients and the hospital. Since that date, the women and men of the auxiliary have completed an admirable record of service, contributing thousands of hours each year to the welfare of patients, visitors and employees. Doctors Hospital of Manteca is deeply rooted in the community. The hospital can trace our roots back to 1955 when Manteca civic leaders wanted a top-notch hospi-

tal in the community to eliminate the need to travel to Stockton or beyond for medical care. Ground was broken on August 2, 1961, for an 11,000 sq. ft. hospital costing $355,000. The hospital opened the doors on Feb. 26, 1962, licensed for 25 beds as a general acute care facility. They had 41 employees and seven physicians. They now have more than 525 employees and more than 200 physicians on the medical staff. Eual Baker was the Administrator when the hospital opened. The first patient treated at DHM was Hugo DeGraff. The first baby born was to Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Limas on Feb. 28, 1962. “Over the years, we have continued to grow, add services, and invest in state-ofthe-art technologies to provide high levels of care right here in Manteca,” said hospital spokesperson Krista Deans. “Doctors Hospital of Manteca went from 49 beds to 73 beds in 1988 by adding the second floor that currently houses our med/surg/ telemetry unit. In the last decade, we have added to our outpatient footprint by opening an ambulatory surgery center, outpatient imaging center, and a multi-specialty center that includes wound care services.”

Estate LLC recently recognized sales affiliate Desiree Soliz with the CENTURY 21 2021 Quality Service Pinnacle Producer Award. “The Quality Service Pinnacle Producer Award is an integral part of our brand’s commitment to excellence and recognizes Desiree’s dedication to making each and every client interaction a positive one,” said Michael Miedler, president and CEO, Century 21 Real Estate. The annual award is based on results from the CENTURY 21 Quality Service Survey, which is e-mailed to consumers immediately after the purchase or sale of a home. To earn the CENTURY 21 Quality Service Pinnacle Producer Award, an agent must receive completed customer surveys for at least 80 percent of their transactions surveyed from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, with an average survey score of at least 95 percent or better for two consecutive years. “Desiree provides clients with knowledge and advice related to their real estate transaction and offers them confidence during what may be the most significant purchase of a lifetime,” said Jacuzzi. “The power of the CENTURY 21 brand rests on the shoulders of the relentless sales professionals like Desiree Soliz who always elevate and give 121% to their clients throughout the entire client relationship,” said Miedler. “So as we celebrate their accomplishments we understand that delivering extraordinary experiences is what homebuyers, sellers and property investors deserve, and they should be de-

manding from their real estate company and agent of choice.” Soliz will receive a customized glass trophy, in addition to being recognized at the CENTURY 21 Global Conference.

The State Theatre executive takes new position The State Theatre Executive Director Kirstie Boyett Zacharias has been named as the new Executive Director of the American Leadership Forum, Great Valley Chapter. In her time as executive director at the State Theatre, Zacharias helped navigate “a new normal” when the Covid-19 pandemic hit, shuttering the theatre and eliminating all revenue streams that came from live performances and film attendees. Kirstie and the staff had to get creative. In addition, Zacharias was instrumental in the construction and design of The Jewel, an intimate 24-seat theatre adjacent to the State, which offers a second screen and, therefore, more opportunities to pursue live events or multiple films per night. Zacharias has been a champion of youth education, a strong advocate for the arts in the community, and a conscientious steward of the State. “We are thankful to Kirstie for her leadership and we wish her well as she moves into her new role at ALF, and although she will be missed, we have a strong team in place at the theatre and an actively engaged Board of Directors, all of whom are fully committed to ensuring a seamless transition,” the Theatre said.

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A special publication printed and distributed for this special event. Visitor events are planned through the summer. The program will feature a schedule of events taking place in addition to some wonderful back stories. The Special Publication will be read by over 109,000 print readers and over 400,000 online visitors. Programs will also be distributed to visitors at events. Advertising deadline: May 18, 2022 Publication Date: June 1, 2022

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WATER

AIR

WILDLIFE

SOIL + SEDIMENTS

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

We have a vision of a modern, clean, bustling Port we can all be proud of. WELCOME TO THE PORT OF TOMORROW. When it comes to sustainability at the Port, we practice what we preach. In 2018, we became the fastest Port to ever receive Green Marine certiication for environmental stewardship. We recently purchased a zero-emission forkli eet to accompany our zero-emission railcar mover. We also conducted an emissions inventory and we are developing a zero emission blueprint and reduction strategy to help us re reduce future air emissions even further. e more we do now, the more we will all beneet in the years to come.

SUSTAINABILITY

MARCH 2022