209 Business Journal - July 2021 by 209 Multimedia Publications

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BUSINESS JOURNAL

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JULY 2021

VOLUME 6 ■ ISSUE 7

NEW BUSINESS

Valley Vibes is using noisecanceling headphones and stellar beats to get the Valley moving.

PAGE 3

PROFILE

Sanborn Chevrolet marks 50 years in Lodi BY SABRA STAFFORD

F Alpine Climbing Adventure Fitness is helping clients reach new heights.

PAGE PAGE XX 4

209 Business Journal

or any business to reach the 50 year milestone, it has to offer more than a good product and customer service. To earn that longevity, a company has to truly become part of the community and that is certainly the case for Sanborn Chevrolet in Lodi. The commitment to community has been a guiding principle for Sanborn Chevrolet founder Richard Sanborn. He is a lifelong member of the Kiwanis Club of Lodi and helped spearhead the Cherokee Lane Beautification Project. His daughter Kini Sanborn has stepped in to lead the dealership and is continuing the community connections. The dealership recently made a $10,000 donation to Lodi Memorial for the hospital’s new imaging center and is sponsoring the Kingdon Drag races, the farmers’ market and has been a previous sponsor of the Christmas light parade. “We’ve taken a lot of pride in serving the community with integrity and honesty over the years and that is the same vision we have going forward,” said Kini Sanborn. “We’re going to continue to invest in the dealership and those relationships in the community.” Richard Sanborn, 87, still comes in regularly to help at the dealership, but his start in the automotive industry did not foretell a rise to the position he has held. “He started by pushing a broom in the parts department listening and learning,” Kini Sanborn said. He worked as the parts manager for a Tracy dealership and later the general sales manager at a Manteca dealership. His path eventually led him to the GM dealership at 9 W. Locust St. in Lodi, where it became apparent his next step was to run his own

The owners at the time didn’t want to expand or open a new dealership, so my dad worked with the GM representatives and told them he would build a new dealership in a bigger location —Kini Sanborn dealership. “The owners at the time didn’t want to expand or open a new dealership, so my dad worked with the GM representatives and told them he would build a new dealership in a bigger location,” Kini Sanborn said. He broke ground at the 1210 Cherokee Lane facility in July 1971 and moved there in 1973. Expansions over the years have included service, quick lube, body and detailing shops and more room for new and preowned inventory. Future plans include a revamp of the showroom and expanding the lot size. When Richard Sanborn decided it was time to ease back from his day-to-day responsibilities, he knew his daughter, Kini Sanborn, was the right choice to step in. Kini Sanborn had a thriving SEE CHEVY, PAGE 8

209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

JULY 2021

IN PROFILE

PLAY Modesto offers fun times for youngsters BY DENNIS D. CRUZ 209 Business Journal

PLAY Modesto opened up in 2018 and since then has been a go-to destination for youngsters in the 209. PLAY, which stands for Play Laugh Always Young, Modesto is owned and operated by Miguel and Natalie Topete. “We wanted to open up in Modesto because there really is not a place in the Valley where kids can go play indoors and have the variety of things that we offer,” said Miguel Topete. PLAY Modesto is targeted to children from birth up to eight years old. “My wife would have to go to the Bay Area to hang out with her friends; they would have indoor play areas for kids, so when the opportunity came up that we can open up here, we jumped on it.” The large indoor play area is located at 3500 Sisk Road Suite F-2. “We chose this location because at the time Babies R Us was next door and Peek A Baby is in our shopping strip so it has been a good fit,” added Topete. PLAY Modesto offers many different things for all ages, including: birthday parties, meet and greet with characters, 6,000 square-feet of play area, special theme days, snacks and a store front. “Every Thursday we have a special guest appearance by a character, sometimes

DENNIS CRUZ/209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

This youngster was having a blast at PLAY Modesto on the bounce house with slide.

we have one stop by on Fridays as well, but it just depends,” Topete said. “We also have theme dates. Like a Princess slumber party where we have the princesses come in their pajamas, eat pizza, pillow fight, do arts and crafts. Kids and adults are encouraged to wear their pajamas as well.” Their storefront is filled with quality toys made by the Melissa & Doug Company. “Most of the toys that we have on site are from Melissa & Doug Company,” Topete said. “Our pretend room features a kitchen,

ice cream stand and a grocery store all by Melissa & Doug. So, when they are done playing, they see the toys in our store before they leave.” Also featured in the store are puzzles, dress up clothes and plush toys. PLAY Modesto’s parties are private and the kids have the whole facility to themselves. Packages include play time for up to two, three or four hours. Parents can bring their own decorations (or PLAY Modesto offers their decorations as well). The party room is where they can

open their presents, eat and play games. “It’s best to make your reservation in advance, like months in advance because it does fill up fast,” suggested Topete. “The benefit to having an indoor facility is that it is perfect for kids’ parties year-round. When it’s raining or cold outside you want a party indoor, and also when it is super-hot outside too.” PLAY Modesto is broken off into sections for the kids so they can play at their pace. There is a baby area for kids under two years old. That includes a

Character This “little shark” swam his way into PLAY Modesto for meet and greet with the kids. He danced and took photos with the kids.

soft, padded play floor with things for them to play with including a giant caterpillar to crawl, throw and climb on. In the bigger kids’ area, it includes a bounce house, giant inflatable boat, multiple slides, jungle gym, a trampoline, pedal cars and more. There is also a building block room and both air hockey and basketball are available as well. Like most places, the pandemic took its toll on PLAY Modesto but they are looking to come back strong. “During the pandemic

it was a challenge,” Topete said. “Like all businesses, we had to shut down, and wait for CDC guidelines. However, now that we are back and running, we are back to full play and following the CDC guidelines. We ask that folks who are not vaccinated to please wear a mask. Those who are fully vaccinated can enter without masks.” PLAY Modesto also offers many sanitizing stations throughout the facility. For more information call (209) 543-9184 or visit playmodesto.com.

Turlock mom unlocks benefits of almonds through skincare business BY ANGELINA MARTIN 209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

Almonds are a nutritious nut which have become synonymous with the Central Valley, but one Turlock resident has turned their benefits into a skincare product which has customers glowing. Tara Tickenoff is a mother to three and when she’s not taking care of her children, she’s working at her part time job or helping her husband with one of his several businesses — one of which produces almond cooking oil. When Tickenoff learned about all of the perks of almonds from her husband, she began using a cold-pressed version of the nut’s oil as a way to ward off stretch marks during her most recent pregnancy. “I realized there was a market for this stuff and that it really works,” Tickenoff said. After seeing the benefits

of cold-pressed almond oil on her skin firsthand, Tickenoff decided to start a business of her own about six months ago and Bloom & Butter was born. Bloom & Butter’s Blossom Beauty Oil can be used on the face, body and hair and is cold pressed, meaning the company takes good, edible almonds and presses them at 120 degrees in order to expel the oil. Many other almond oils on the market are expeller pressed at heat up to 500 degrees, Tickenoff explained, which removes all of the good parts of the nut. “With the heat being so low in our process, it keeps all of the nutrients and the vitamins in the oil so that your hair and skin receives all the benefits,” she said. “Other oils usually use old, rancid almonds that you wouldn’t want to eat, and when they’re heated that much, at that point it’s not good for your skin.”

Tickenoff’s Blossom Beauty Oil is lightweight, unscented and non-greasy, meaning it won’t clog pores and leaves skin feeling refreshed. The product is perfect for those looking to moisturize dry skin, and can even be used to repair split ends and rejuvenate the scalp. Some even use the oil as a facial cleanser with the help of a warm washcloth — a natural way to clean up while fighting dark spots. The possibilities are endless, Tickenoff said, from repairing dry, cracked feet to keeping up with cuticle health. “It’s really just one of those things you can use for anything,” she said. Additionally, Bloom & Butter offers a line of cold-pressed almond oil soaps, and Tickenoff said she hopes to soon release lotion and lip balm. Her products are currently available at Farm House in

downtown Turlock as well as the Turlock Certified Farmers Market on Saturday mornings. “I was actually taken aback by the support of our first product since it was so new, but people were so excited to try it,” Tickenoff said. “It’s been received really well and people always come back to buy more. Especially since we live here in the heart of ag country, people know almonds and they love them.” With the Almond Board of California currently funding research into the beauty industry and what can be done with almonds, Tickenoff is hopeful that the market for cold-pressed almond oil — and Bloom & Butter — will continue to expand. As her products’ popularity grows, she encourages other skincare enthusiasts to hop on board. “Try a product that is actually 100% natural — no

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Turlock resident Tara Tickenoff started her business Bloom & Butter after experiencing firsthand the benefits of 100% natural, cold-pressed almond oil on the skin.

fillers, no extra gunk. You truly will feel the difference in your skin whether it’s on your face or on your body,” she said. “When it’s a 100%

natural product, your skin will thank you.” For more information visit www.bloomandbutter.com.

209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

JULY 2021

IN PROFILE

New silent disco business offers fitness with frequency BY ANGELINA MARTIN 209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

In March, husband and wife duo Aaron and Kate Unruh set out to create a new culture in Turlock — one that would get the community outdoors and give them a chance to heal both mentally and physically. Their idea manifested itself through Valley Vibes, which offers fitness with frequency through noise-cancelling headphones, some stellar beats and guided workouts. Kate Unruh and her husband moved to Turlock from San Francisco about two years ago, she said, which is where they were first introduced to silent disco activities. From dance parties to yoga sessions, silent discos allow the participant to immerse themselves in a world all their own thanks to noise cancelling headphones which play the same music for everyone taking part. To someone walking by, these events look completely silent. To those dancing or exercising, however, it’s a private party that only they understand.

“I absolutely loved the vibe and the whole scene of the silent disco,” Kate said. “When you arrived, you felt so welcome...Once we moved out here and the pandemic hit, it was so difficult to get that interaction with other people. “It just seemed like the perfect business for us to start because the headsets allow for social distancing, and it really gives people a chance to connect and create friendships.” Valley Vibes offers silent disco yoga classes every Friday and Saturday, and silent disco full body workouts on Sundays. They also host events periodically, like their upcoming Strawberry Moon Flow silent disco which will feature a yoga session, refreshments, a virtual photo booth and a dance floor under the moon on June 24. A majority of events are held in Turlock parks, Kate said, and the community can register for classes and events on the Valley Vibes website. It is Kate and Aaron’s hope that Valley Vibes will continue to grow; they

frequently participate in pop-up events and hope to be present at more, and as time passes, they plan on offering more classes and hosting more events. It’s also their goal to give back to the community; the business recently hosted a clean-up day which saw them pick up trash in downtown Turlock. Though they’ve only been operating for a couple of months, Valley Vibes is already making an impression on Turlock. “I think the reaction has been really wonderful and so exciting for us. We’ve created a little community, and one of our biggest goals is making connections with as many people as we can,” Kate said. “Hopefully we can help people discover something new and help them get excited about taking care of their physical health and mental health in a fun and exciting way.” For more information visit www.valley-vibes. com.

PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

Valley Vibes in Turlock gives community members a chance to workout, dance and connect through fitness classes and events with noise-cancelling headphones which immerse participants in a musical world of their own.

209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

JULY 2021

IN PROFILE

Alpine Climbing Adventure Fitness opens in Ripon BY VINCE REMBULAT 209 Business Journal

Dutch DeBuhr can already be considered a regular at Alpine Climbing Adventure Fitness. The indoor steel-framed rock-climbing gym at 1450 Garrison Way in Ripon officially opened in late June. But, according to owner Jonathan Meek, the 19,335-square-foot facility dedicated to climbing had been made available to those members who signed up earlier. “We had a soft opening at the end of April,” he said. DeBuhr, 28, quickly found the climbing sport to his liking. A former body builder, he went from weighing in at 225 pounds to his current 150 pounds. “I’ve been going here almost every day,” he said, incorporating the yoga and Pilates classes offered at

Alpine Climbing Adventure Fitness into his regular workouts. DeBuhr prefers the challenging 16-foot bouldering structure, consisting of free climbing without the use of a harness and belaying devices. “I was surprised how fast I went from (climbing) from V3 to V6,” he said. The difference? Meek explained: “The higher the grade, the more difficult the holds become and more complex the body movement and sequence (it takes) to climb.” Social media and word of mouth has helped in bringing in members and curiosity seekers to the new rock-climbing gym in the Ripon Crossing shopping center. “I heard about it through a friend,” said Michelle Cardozo. She’s the mother of

VINCE REMBULAT/209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

Dutch DeBuhr maneuvers through the boulder structure Tuesday at Alpine Climbing Adventure Fitness in Ripon.

10-year-old Gavin Cardozo, who is a student at Colony Oak Elementary School. The youngster went from tentative climbing the lowest of the towering stacks called the “Sky Walk” to

fearlessly leap frogging to the top and soaring down while being safely hooked up to the harness and belaying devices in a short time. There’s a beginners wall VINCE REMBULAT/209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

Gavin Cardozo, 10, displays his fearless form high atop the “Sky Walk” structure.

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VINCE REMBULAT/209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

General Manager Tony Levy watches over a first-time climber.

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along with a 55-foot-high lead wall and a 15-meter speed wall – the latter is the same one used by the International Federation of Sports Climbing not to mention an event at this year’s Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo. Tony Levy is the General Manager of Alpine Climbing Adventure Fitness, which also features a gym with free weights, cardio equipment, TRX, benches, medicine balls, mobility equipment and high-intensity interval and cross-fitness classes. He has nine years of experience in the climbing

industry, having moved here from Florida. The facility is welcoming to climbers of all skill levels, but in particular is inviting for beginners because it offers classes and equipment rentals. “It’s like climbing a ladder,” Levy said to one of his beginners. Meek and his group are working on two additional climbing gym locations in northern California. “We plan to announce that by the end of the year,” he said. For more information, log on to www.climbatalpine.com.

209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

JULY 2021

IN PROFILE

Living Spaces opens doors to Manteca location BY SABRA STAFFORD 209 Business Journal

Living Spaces, a leading home furnishings retailer with a vast selection of styles and options, celebrated the launch of their 28th California location in early June with the opening of their Manteca store. “We couldn’t be more thrilled to expand our California presence to Manteca,” expressed Grover Geiselman, CEO and founder of Living Spaces. “We relish the opportunity to become a source of inspiration for this community. We want to help all of our guests elevate their homes and improve their lives through a stylish selection of highquality, well-priced designs.” The 130,000-square-foot building is a showroom for the wide array of furniture and décor for every room. Living Spaces has earned a reputation as a premier designer destination, with collections from Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines, as well as a line of timeless, sophisticated pieces from Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent.

The showroom also features a Revive Sleep Center, which offers a variety of top mattress brands and rest essentials. There is even a fun room to keep the kiddos entertained, plus charging stations for electric vehicles in their parking lot. In addition to shopping for furniture and home decor, Living Spaces guests can utilize upholstery customization at no extra cost, 3D room planning, same-day delivery and free next-day shipping. Within time, Living Spaces will become the anchor store for a new commercial center dubbed Union Crossing, which is located on the southwest corner of the Union Road and 120 Bypass interchange. Living Spaces is considered a super-regional retailer, meaning it is expected to draw customers from 50 to 100 miles away. The store is open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. everyday. Living Spaces is located at 1355 W. Atherton Drive. For more information visit livingspaces.com.

Craig Johnson of Living Spaces cuts the ribbon Tuesday on the new Manteca store as, from left, Councilman Gary Singh, Mayor Ben Cantu, and Manteca Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Joann Beattie look on. Behind them are Richard Silverman and Steve DeBrum who were on the council when the deal was made to bring Living Spaces to Manteca.

New apartment complex N Street in Merced gets makeover breaks ground in Modesto BY SABRA STAFFORD 209 Business Journal

STAFF REPORTS 209 Business Journal

EAH Housing, an affordable housing nonprofit organization, began construction on Archway Commons II, the second phase of an affordable housing development in Modesto. The project will feature 74 new rental apartments that will be built on an empty lot next to Archway Commons I, a 76-unit development, built in 2014. “The development of Archway Commons II underscores the intrinsic link between the community, affordable housing and efficient mass public transportation,” said Laura Hall, president and chief executive officer of EAH Housing. “We are grateful to the City of Modesto and our financial partners for working together to provide quality housing and improved transportation options for hundreds of low-income people and their families.” The two-story garden style apartment buildings will provide 74 new 1-,2, and 3- bedroom rental apartments for housing

for people whose income is below or at 30% – 60% of the area median income. It will share amenities with Archway Commons I, such as a resident community room with a kitchen, computer lab, swimming pool, BBQ and recreation areas, children’s playground, among other features. It will also be environmentally friendly and will have solar photovoltaic panels to reduce the development’s carbon footprint. Archway Commons II was awarded $14,276,157 from the California Department of Housing and Community Development Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program. The award also provides funding to improve the 9th Street corridor by connecting the neighborhood to the Modesto Downtown Transit Center and Modesto Junior College. It will also modify an existing bus route, taking the bus line off the highway, to directly serve the community. “To create an economically healthy, sustainable and thriving community, a

city must have housing that is affordable for everyone,” said Modesto Mayor Sue Zwhalen. “We are thrilled to see 74 new apartment homes being built within Modesto, along with improved public transportation options for people to use and enjoy.” Funding for Archway Commons II is provided by MUFG Union Bank, California Department of Housing and Community Development Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program, Hudson Housing Capital, and 4% Low-Income Housing Tax Credits. Established in 1968, EAH Housing is one of the largest and most respected nonprofit housing development and management organizations in the western United States. EAH develops low-income multifamily housing, manages more than 222 properties in 78 municipalities in California and Hawaii, and plays a leadership role in local, regional, and national housing advocacy efforts.

N Street between W. 16th Street and W. 18th Street in Merced is getting a major facelift with the addition of more parking spaces and an upgrade to lighting and sidewalks. The N Street Improvement project includes changing parallel parking to diagonal parking, installation of ADA ramps, new curb, gutter, sidewalks, streetlights, trees, and alley approaches. The project also calls for improving a portion of the alley between W. Main Street and W. 18th Street behind the Merced Civic Center. “As commercial projects are being completed in Downtown Merced, we need to make sure that there is adequate parking for customers and visitors. The City will continue to

make improvements to enhance the Downtown experience. Lighting, sidewalks, and accessibility are all part of the experience.” The $1.09-million project is funded through a variety of sources including Measure V, Senate Bill 1 Local Partnership Program, and Sewer Enterprise Funds. The California Transportation Commission approved the use of Senate Bill 1 Local Partnership Program Funds. Measure V is Merced County’s 30-year 1/2 cent transportation sales tax that was passed by voters in November 2016. “The N Street Improvement Project is a perfect example of blending improvements with new uses in Downtown Merced like the Tioga Apartments,” said District 3 Council Member Bertha Perez.

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“The N Street project also shows the benefit of public-private partnerships.” “By reconfiguring the parking spaces along N Street between W. 16th Street to W. 18th Street from parallel to diagonal, parking will increase by 15 spaces,” said City Manager Stephanie Dietz. “This is a very cost-effective way of increasing on-street parking without paying the high cost for a new parking garage.” West Main Street at N Street is open to through traffic. Northbound and Southbound N Street traffic between W. 16th Street to W. 18th Street is being diverted to alternative routes. The contractor will make provisions for access to businesses fronting N Street, but access may be blocked while new sidewalk, curb, and gutter is formed and poured.

209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

JULY 2021

NEWS

Public asked to weigh in on proposed bridge Bridge to connect Faith Home to Garner roads BY JEFF BENZIGER 209 Business Journal

It’s been decades since a new bridge has been constructed over the Tuolumne River in a growing Stanislaus County. But county officials are proceeding with plans to build a new two-lane bridge to connect Faith Home Road east of Ceres to Garner Road in the Beard Industrial Tract and are now accepting comments on the Draft Initial Study. The 430-page document is available for public review at www.stancounty. com/publicworks/pdf/ projects/faith-home-road/ draft_environmental_document.pdf A new bridge over the Tuolumne River linking Faith Home Road and Garner Road in Modesto will do much to alleviate traffic congestion in Ceres. The project is in the draft stages and an environmental review but one of the biggest obstacles is finding the estimated $72 million to build the project. A connection stretching from Garner Road to Highway 99 will cost millions more. “This project has been in the works for a long time,” said Chris Brady of the county Public Works Department and the project manager. He said it is vital for the movement of goods and commuters in the re-

IMAGE CONTRIBUTED

This is an artist conception of the way the proposed Garner-Faith Home Road bridge will look over the Tuolumne River east of the Mitchell Road bridge.

gion. Construction could start as early as 2023 and take two years to complete. The connection northeast of Ceres would alleviate congestion on Mitchell Road and the Mitchell Road Bridge which carries about 80,000 vehicles each day. The proposed bridge has been considered a high priority of the county for at least 25 years and was listed as a Priority 1 project in the Stanislaus Area Association of Governments 1990 Expressway Study. The expressway would provide a key link to the east sides of Ceres and Modesto and provide a direct link to Riverbank and Oakdale to southbound Highway 99. The bridge would also help commuters who live

in northeast Modesto who work in Turlock, and vice versa. “This project – a new bridge over the Tuolumne River – is supposed to kind of close the gap between SR 132 at the north end to SR 99 to the south,” said Engineer Craig Chatelain of TYLin International. “We want to improve circulation within Stanislaus County as well as the cities of Modesto and Ceres by having another bridge to cross the Tuolumne River.” The bridge would help truck deliveries coming and going from the Beard Industrial Tract in Modesto by directing it onto Faith Home Road, said Chatelain. In discussions later he said Ceres could force trucks to use Faith Home

Road by restricting Mitchell Road truck traffic. Mitchell and Hatch is already operating at a service level of E, which is close to an F, or failure. “We want to improve that. This bridge project, filling this gap and creating another river crossing will certainly help that traffic at Mitchell.” In January 2017 county supervisors awarded a $1.5 million contract to TY Lin International of Sacramento to conduct the environmental study for the project. The firm also conducted preliminary engineering of the project, which includes traffic signals at Faith Home and Hatch roads and at Garner and Finch roads. When the city updated its

General Plan in May 2019, Ceres officials downsized plans for Faith Home Road from a future six-lane expressway to a four-lane. Complicating the design and cost is the need to keep the new passage above the 200-year flood plain. Chatelain said the new bridge would be safe from flooding unlike the times the northern end of the Mitchell Road Bridge near the airport has flooded in extremely wet years. “If we’re going to spend money to build a new bridge, the county was adamant that it achieves a higher level so we have an all-weather route,” he said. “If Mitchell were to be closed, this road can stay open.” To align Garner and Faith Home, the connection would have a slight realignment along the farming fields between the bluff south of Finch Road and the river. The current railroad track owned by the Modesto & Empire Traction (MET) Company near Finch Road would be moved southward so that the extension of Garner Road could dip under before flying back up over the flood plain. An earthen peninsula berm will be constructed into the flood plain toward the river for the new road before it reaches the bridge. Beard has offered to donate most of the 160,000 cubic yards of dirt

needed to form the earthen berm. The total length of the new bridge and floodplain structures is 1,823 feet and is composed of the 861-foot-long main bridge frame, 450-footlong causeway box girder bridge, and a 512-footlong causeway slab bridge. To achieve an economical 210-foot length of the three center spans, a haunched soffit (arch like shape along the bottom of the bridge) would be utilized to reduce the structure depth at midspan and minimize loads on the supporting piers. The bridge would initially be sized for two lanes with eight-foot shoulders and a center concrete barrier to prevent head-on crashes. All causeway bridge foundations would be outside the main river channel and would utilize pile foundations using permanent or temporary casings. No cofferdams would be required, but pile casings for the causeway box girder frame near the river may require de-watering during construction. The intersections at the terminal end at Garner Road would be constructed as four-lane intersections for future expansion although initially it will be only two lanes. On the southern terminus, the intersection of Faith Home and Hatch roads would have to be shifted to the east to realign with the bridge. The public can get more information and watch a video simulation of the bridge online at www. faithhomeroad.com.

face but require less water, chemicals, and disruptive maintenance practices to sustain, thus lessening the environmental and financial impact of maintaining world-class greens. “With the completion of the final three green complexes, Spring Creek has a front nine layout worthy of a championship pedigree, yet remains extremely playable for all levels of golfer,” noted Spring Creek PGA General Manager and COO, Steve Hupe. Although there is no definitive timetable for the renovation of the 49-year-

old back 9 greens, discussions are ongoing on both the Greens Committee and the Greens Renovation Project Committee regarding the need of a renovation at the earliest opportunity in order to match the quality and design of the completed front 9 greens. For more information on the details of the renovation or on how to join Spring Creek Golf and Country Club contact General Manager Steve Hupe or membership sales manager Sherri Esparzain at (209) 599-3258.

Spring Creek renovates front 9 golf holes STAFF REPORTS 209 Business Journal

Spring Creek Golf and Country Club in Ripon has completed the renovation of the front 9 greens complexes. The 3-year renovation project was officially christened with the opening of the final 3 greens for the club’s annual Men’s Club Member/Member tournament on April 23. What began in 2019 with the renovation of the 1st and 4th greens, culminated with the completion of greens #5, #8 and #9. In between, holes #2, #6 and #7 were completed in the spring of 2020, at the height of the pandemic. The only green complex not addressed was hole #3, which was renovated in-house in 2015 as a test pilot for renovating the remaining 8 greens. Spring Creek’s greens

were originally designed in 1965 by Jack Fleming, a disciple of famed architect, Alister MacKenzie. Relying on design elements from the 1920s and 1930s, known as “The Golden Age of Architecture,” Spring Creek’s Superintendent, Mike F. Stieler spearheaded the entire renovation project from the design stage to completion with initial assistance from Josh Pettit of Pacific Golf Design, Inc. on the first two phases and most recently from Bruce Charlton, President and Chief Design Officer from Robert Trent Jones II, LLC architectural firm on the last phase. “It has been a privilege to see firsthand the vision become reality,” said Spring Creek Golf and Country Club’s President and CEO, Nancy Haug. “This Country Club is blessed to have such tremendous talents

engaged in all facets of this project.” Each phase of the threeyear project took roughly four months, from January through April, to complete. The process involved totally reshaping the existing complexes and creating new designs utilizing the classic golf design principles from golf’s Golden Age of Architecture, made famous by noted golf architects, such as MacKenzie, A.W. Tillinghast, Donald Ross, and C.B. Macdonald, among others. “What a super cool experience as a Certified Golf Course Superintendent with a degree in Landscape Architecture and a deep love of golf to be involved in such a unique project,” Stieler said. “The freedom to create new green complexes capitalizing on 100-year-old design principles, while allow-

ing heritage and charm to influence the existing site characteristics, has been an honor. The way that the phases tied together, utilizing the original classic routing in conjunction with in-house commonsense logistics, allowed for authentic interest and continuity.” The vital subsoil infrastructure in the new greens is modified Unites States Golf Association specified, replacing the original native soil and materials that were used in 1965. The bunkering on each hole was totally renovated and, in most cases, either eliminated or re-designed. The grass on the greens’ surfaces was changed from a Poa Anna and Bentgrass mix to one of the latest bentgrass varieties called “Dominator,” which will not only create a firmer and smoother putting sur-

209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

JULY 2021

OPINION

Vol. 6 No. 7 ■ July 2021 PUBLISHER/OWNER

A true friend is someone who is there for you when he’d rather be anywhere else.

Hank Vander Veen

EDITOR Sabra Stafford

NEWSROOM Dennis D. Cruz Kristina Hacker Teresa Hammond Angelina Martin Vince Rembulat Virginia Still Dennis Wyatt

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

—Len Wein

Harold L. George

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Sharon Hoffman

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

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Frankie Tovar Rich Matheson

25 rules for better, happier clients 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.

209MAG A Z I N E.CO M

It’s hard to believe, but I have been practicing law now for 40 years. For 25 of those years, I have been working out of my home without partners, assistants, junior lawyers, paralegals or other staff. It’s been just me and my personal computer. Heck, I don’t even have a dog. A lot has changed during those 40 years, but a number of rules are still as important to remember now as they were when I was first starting out. The most important of these rules relate to how you should communicate with, or otherwise handle, your clients. Here are four inconvenient truths when it comes to clients: — You can’t run a service business without them. — They are your bosses; you do what they want you to do, not what you want to do. — Every client is a potential plaintiff in a lawsuit. — If you are too nice to your clients, they will walk all over you. Here are 25 rules I have kept in mind when dealing with my clients over the past 40 years. Whether you are a consultant, a lawyer or another type of professional, or if you just run a service business, print out this column, post it in a place where you can see it and re-read it at least once a week. NO. 1: Trust your gut when it comes to new clients. If someone behaves like a potential problem, they are almost certain to become one. There’s

CLIFF ENNICO CREATORS SYNDICATE

plenty of business out there, and you don’t have to take on everyone who calls or emails you. NO. 2: “Good contracts make good clients.” If your client agreement is crystal clear about how much and when you get paid, you are much less likely to have payment problems. NO. 3: Be clear about your services. Your client agreement should clearly state the services you are performing, some services you are NOT performing and (most importantly) what is and isn’t included in your fee. NO. 4: Guarantee workmanship but never results. Your client agreement should clearly state that you are not responsible for the outcome of any project or the results your client tells you he or she wants to achieve. No one can predict the future. NO. 5: Require the client to cooperate. You should have the right to terminate your client agreement and keep your upfront advance if the client fails to respond in timely fashion to email messages and phone calls, drops off the face of the Earth or otherwise turns into a jerk. NO. 6: Get some money up-

front. Always. NO. 7: Always charge interest on overdue bills. NO. 8: When a client refuses to follow your advice, GET IT IN WRITING, print out the email exchange and keep it in a paper folder or file so you can remind the client when he or she conveniently forgets they made a bad decision and tries to blame you. NO. 9: If you’re not sure what a client wants, give him or her a range of options and let them select the one they want. NO. 10: Always get your client to “buy in” to difficult advice. No. 11: Return phone calls and emails as promptly as possible. NO. 12: When you cannot get back to a client promptly, tell them they “are not being ignored, only prioritized.” Most clients will get the humor and back off, at least for a while. No. 13: If you tell a client you will get back to them by a certain date or time, make sure you do so. As with college term papers, it’s easy to get one extension of the deadline, but there’s seldom a second chance. NO. 14: NEVER, EVER SEND A CLIENT AN INVOICE THEY ARE NOT EXPECTING. NO. 15: If you exceed your estimate, tell the client before you do additional work and give him or her a revised estimate. NO. 16: If you spent too much time on a project, include it in your invoice, but then write it off as a “client courtesy” before

the client demands you do so. NO. 17: Bill early and often. Clients are more likely to pay frequent small bills than a single massive one. NO. 18: Always send detailed bills showing the client how much hard work you did for them and when you did it. NO. 19: Bill the most amount of time on the activities clients find most distasteful or boring. They will be much less likely to question the bill. NO. 20: Stop working the MINUTE a bill becomes overdue. Big receivables problems almost always start out as small ones that get out of hand. NO. 21: Never let a client become too friendly; friends can take advantage of each other and make unreasonable demands on each other. NO. 22: Never argue with a client. You always lose. NO. 23: If a client complains, don’t cower and hide. Address the situation quickly and honestly and offer to make things right. NO. 24: But never admit in writing that you have done something wrong; your lawyer and insurance company will not like that. NO. 25: If a client is impossible to deal with, terminate your client agreement, refund your fee advance and guide them to other service providers who may be able to deal with them better. Preferably your competitors.

209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

JULY 2021

NEWS

River islands ok’d for 15,001 homes BY DENNIS WYATT 209 Business Journal

River Islands is once again sailing into uncharted waters when it comes to the San Joaquin Valley for cutting edge housing initiatives. Lathrop leaders have approved changes to the masterplan for the 4,800-acre planned community that will add 4,284 high density units to bring the overall number of homes that will be built at River Islands to 15,001. It will increase the density of the project by a third without changing the distinctive single family home character of the development. THE CHANGES INCLUDE: *A transit village on the edge of the River Islands employment center and along the future Valley Link commuter rail system that’s targeted to start operation in 2028. It would have 1,821 dwelling units with shops, services and restaurants. *The envisioned Paradise Cut Village Center planned along the extension of the Golden Valley Parkway accessed via the proposed Paradise Road/Chrisman Road interchange on Interstate 205. It would feature 2,439 dwelling units with services, stores, and restaurants. Both high density endeavors on the edge of the island encircled by 18 miles of levees that will serve as a contiguous greenbelt for universal recreation uses. The new “villages” are in addition to two other “hubs” that are moving forward. *The town center near the Bradshaw Crossing entrance to River Islands that will serve as a major recre-

ation hub. *River Islands High that is near the middle of the project being built with a performing arts center with the idea of creating a hub for performing and static arts. TRANSIT VILLAGE The transit village will be at the “end” of the first phase of the Valley Link project. It involves small commuter train sets to move passengers to the BART station in Pleasanton/ Dublin with stops in Tracy, Mountain House, Greenville Road, and Livermore. The multi-billion dollar Valley Link project is partially funded and targeting a 2028 start-up. Ultimately it will be extended to Stockton. A parking lot for River Islands commuters will be built west of the tracks. A separate parking lot for nonRiver Islands residents will be built east of the tracks. It is going on the edge of the envisioned business park where no residential development had been previously planned. That should be an advantage in marketing the business park that is prohibited by Lathrop ordinances by having high truck movement employers such as distribution centers. Valley Link would allow those west of the Altamont Pass to take rail to jobs in the River Islands Business Park and then walk to work. PARADISE CUT VILLAGE This is where the “largest” retail area will be. It will not be on the scale as centers such as the ones SaveMart or Target anchor in Lathrop. River Islands has re-

CHEVY

FROM PAGE 1

career in marketing, with a focus on the luxury hospitality industry. She knew stepping into the new role as president of the dealership would be challenging, but she was ready to take it on. “I attended dealership school back in Virginia, with the National Automobile Dealers Association and graduated from there after an intensive and year-long program,” Kini Sanborn said. “That training and the relationships I made with other dealership presidents has been so valuable.” She also said she is very grateful for her father’s ongoing pres-

tained a real estate retail expert to start “pounding on doors” in a search for commercial endeavors that will be a right fit. They will purposely eschew almost all chain stores in a bid to carefully craft an integrated community. Exceptions will be for niche chains similar to Nugget Markets — a grocery store chain in the Sacramento area as well as Marin and Sonoma counties. The goal is to have a mixture of restaurants, small retail, services, and medical offices. By locating it on the edge on a road that will eventually connect to a new interchange along Interstate 205 between Interstate 5 and MacArthur interchange in Tracy, the planned condos and apartments will create minimal traffic impacts on the rest of River Islands TOWN CENTER This is the area near where the baseball stadium, existing soccer fields, River Islands Academy and the new Lathrop Police station is now under construction. The town center will have a series of restaurants and shops along with apartments and condos. This is where the other supermarket is being planned with a strategic location just as you cross the San Joaquin River via Bradshaw Crossing. That’s so any customers the market may attract that aren’t River Islands residents will create minimal traffic impacts. This is also where the high school football stadium will be built. The first community Park on River Islands will break ground in Town Center.

ence at the dealership. “He still gives a lot of guidance around the dealership and it’s great to have him serving as my mentor,” Kini Sanborn said. “It’s been a real honor to carry on his legacy.” Sanborn Chevrolet will recognize that legacy, as well as some long-term employees with a private event in July. For the public, the dealership has several specials planned for the month. On July 19, the first 12 guests to the service department will get a $25 Amazon gift card. All month long the dealership will be offering $50 discounts on GM accessory running boards, tonneau covers and gun safes. For more information visit sanbornchevrolet.com.

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Looking out from a model home at one of 26 planned lakes at River Islands at Lathrop.

ART HUB Plans for River Islands High School are now being reviewed by the state. The campus will break ground next year with a target opening date of August 2023. The decision to sitet the football stadium away from campus to allow not just for youth sports use but also events such as festivals, Fourth of July celebrations, and car shows will allow a performing arts center to be built on the campus. The goal is make the performing arts center the hub for arts on River Islands. WHAT IS COMING UP & WHAT DO NEW PLANS MEAN? *Del Webb at River Islands consisting of 900 single-story homes ranging from 1,450 to 2,765 square feet with two and three bedrooms will break ground in 2022. The agerestricted active adult community for those 55 and older will include a recreation center featuring a swimming pool, fitness center, bocce courts, ten-

nis courts, and pickleball courts. *The next elementary campus will open in 2022. There will be four elementary schools altogether. *There will be 26 lakes when the project is done. *There will be 300 acres of community parks with full facilities with recreation programmed by the City of Lathrop with an additional 160 acres of small neighborhood parks. *The parks are in addition to open space areas. The approval by Lathrop includes tentative maps for the remaining land not already with that level of approval. RECORD SETTING TENTATIVE MAP OF 10,000 PLUS LOTS As a result the City of Lathrop adopted a record setting tentative map for its size — 10,726 lots. It is the largest tentative map for San Joaquin County and perhaps even the Central Valley. River Islands President Susan Dell’Osso noted that will allow development to respond quicker to the

market as the only step left would be final maps. “It (the tentative map) includes everything such as water lines and even on what side of lots driveways will go,” Dell’Osso said. Dell’Osso added there will likely be minor adjustments requested as various planned neighborhoods advance toward groundbreaking. The 11,000-home planned community has 1,900 homes that are already occupied. There are another 500 homes that have been sold and are in various stages of construction. Based on typical yields, once all homes sold are occupied River Islands will have around 8,500 residents or more than a quarter of Lathrop’s overall population. If the current annual home sales pace of 500 homes continues, River Islands will exceed Ripon’s population of 17,122 within five years. The overall project has an estimated 30-year buildout.

209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

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NEWS

10 tips to improve your Instagram engagement

BETH DEVINE 209 Business Journal

Instagram is one of the most popular social media networks nowadays. With around one billion active users per month, 500 million daily active users, and over 200 million users that are visiting business profiles each day, it has established itself as one of the best social networks for sales and marketing. Many businesses are rushing to Instagram to promote their products and services. However, given the large competition out there, capturing the user’s attention is not as easy as you think. In this article, we are going over some of the best ways to attract users to your profile, engage them, and finally convert them to purchase or book an appointment. WHY IS ENGAGEMENT ON INSTAGRAM IMPORTANT? Followers, likes, shares, comments, and clicks are all metrics related to the overall engagement that your content gets. If you love to be popular, you should know that popularity is very often associated with the number of followers. However, this does not mean that a brand should use the follow-and-unfollow method to gain more followers. The goal that you should be tracking is boosting the overall engagement, and therefore, your profits. Let’s show you the best ways to do that.

1. CREATE VALUABLE CONTENT CENTERED AROUND YOUR PRODUCTS/ SERVICES Using images and videos that are relevant to your brand is the only way to boost Instagram engagement. For example, if you are selling women’s shoes, posting photos of the shoes or women wearing them are appropriate. Similarly, restaurants and bars should post their promotions, food photos, drinks, or images of people enjoying themselves in their location. 2. MASTER AESTHETICS FOR A BETTER FIRST IMPRESSION Instagram has gone from a simple photo-based social network to a place where

The good thing is that almost everyone grabs their phone to open Instagram at least a couple of times in the day, so posting earlier in the day only increases your chances to get your content seen. 5. CREATE MORE VIDEO CONTENT Videos can always help your audience learn more about your brand. They are also great because they let you build authority and tell a story in a couple of seconds. Make sure you use high quality videos about your brand, whether it’s the launch of your new collection of products, explanation of your service, an interview with a prominent figure, etc. 6. ADD CALL-TO-ACTION ON YOUR POSTS Adding call-to-action to your Instagram ads is essential if you want people to convert. This is the most direct way to increase interaction rates and push followers in a certain direction.

everyone wants a beautiful grid. Big brands are working hard to ensure that every post is consistent with their grid. Since visuals are everything on Instagram, users always appreciate aesthetically pleasing content on their feeds. This is one of the best ways to deserve their follow. 3. EXPERIMENT WITH NEW CONTENT FORMATS Don’t be afraid to experiment and use different content formats. From Stories to the latest feature called user-created Reels, Instagram is pushing video more than ever. Beyond these, you can also use your Instagram business account to go live, post IGTV videos, and upload short-form animations to your feed and your stories. Animated graphics are good because they communicate with emotion, and most users on Instagram prefer watching videos without the sound on. 4. KNOW THE BEST TIMES TO POST This may vary based on your audience, but you should generally know when people are most active on Instagram in your location.

the best Instagram hashtags to use, try being more specific. There are also tools like All Hashtag that can help you get more ideas on the best tags to use.

as well as your main profile. If you need inspiration, follow innovative storytellers such as Red Bull, Airbnb, Lego, Patagonia, and Nike on Instagram.

8. DON’T PREACH – TELL STORIES INSTEAD There are just so many brands using Instagram and forgetting that it is after all a ‘visual inspiration platform.’ Your content should captivate your audience instead of preaching your marketing on them. To increase engagement rates, you should become a

9. USE EMOJIS EFFECTIVELY The power of images over words is best seen through emojis. Instagram is one of the places where you can use emojis – in fact, studies show that they are used by 92% of the online population. When used right, emojis can help you insert personality and fun into your

storyteller and offer ‘microstories’ via your caption videos, Instagram stories,

brand and build a more emotional connection with

your audience. 10. START CONVERSATIONS WITH INSTAGRAM STORIES STICKERS Instagram Stories are popular, and using stickers is a great way to encourage your followers to chat and share their opinions or experiences. Some of the best ways to do this are the famous AMA (Ask Me Anything) on Instagram Stories, using the Quiz Sticker option, or simply asking questions as a text and offering two choices as stickers. Contact your local marketing experts at Devine Solutions Group for more best practices on growing your social profiles and increasing your engagement. Beth Devine is one of the most sought-after and wellrespected marketing experts in the Central Valley. She is the founder and principal of Devine Solutions Group, an award-winning digital marketing and business development agency conveniently located in Tracy, CA. You can connect with Beth by either calling 510-7730528 or email beth@devinesolutionsgroup.com.

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The CTAs would appear below your post and are ideal for helping the user understand what action is required. For example, there is the “Learn More” which is good to use when pointing them to a website. Similarly, “Sign Up” can work well for a newsletter list or an event, and “Call Now” is a great way to grab their attention and hook them on a call. 7. PAY CLOSER ATTENTION TO HASHTAGS Adding hashtags and location tags to your posts makes them highly searchable. If a user follows some of your listed hashtags, your post might also directly show up on their feed. The two types of tags can easily boost Instagram engagement and get your posts visible in front of people who already have related interests. To determine

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209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

JULY 2021

NEWS

NEW TECH JOBS TO ADD BILLIONS TO CENTRAL VALLEY ECONOMY Interview with Modesto Councilman Chris Ricci Modesto Councilmember Chris Ricci and his family have lived in Modesto for more than 20 years. Prior to joining the council, Chris’ event promotion firm produced hundreds of local events including acts like Maroon 5, Snoop Dogg and Rob Zombie. His company’s events such as X Fest attracted thousands of attendees. Chris currently oversees digital marketing strategy for a political advisory firm based in Washington, D.C. Chris cares deeply for the Central Valley and is a strong advocate for bringing higher-paying jobs to the region. LAN: Chris, we appreciate you taking time to share your vision for the region’s economic growth and ongoing efforts to bring higher-wage jobs to the Central Valley. What do you see as the drivers for Modesto’s economy going forward, and how can we ensure that opportunities and prosperity is shared by as many residents as possible? RICCI: We need to build on the economic strengths that we already have. That means leveraging tech innovations in the sectors that we have solid footholds in. We’re going to get a view of where we should be aiming when the Community Foundation and the new Community Development Corporation (CDC) get their visions completed in the next year or so. We also must improve

PHILIP LAN BAY VALLEY TECH

our overall quality of life in our city. We’re no longer just going to be competing with where a company wants to locate, but also where workers want to live—many of whom will have the power to live and work wherever they want. That means we must have more diversity in leisure activities, more places to socialize, work, eat and play. We need to make Modesto more livable. We need people to choose Modesto as their place because you don’t always need to have an office in Modesto anymore to work in Modesto. As a digital marketing strategist, I have been working remotely in Modesto out of Washington, D.C. for two years. I live in Modesto because I choose to. It is my city because my friends are here, because I love the schools. We know that innovative companies expand to cities where there is a concentration of highly sought after skilled workers. In addition to improving our amenities, expanding Modesto’s tech and agtech ecosystems will make the region more compelling for digital nomads and tech workers, who will in turn attract higher-paying employers. Understanding what the future of work looks like and ensuring that we have enough skilled workers for a wide range of high-wage employers will be key to

our economic prosperity. Finally, we need to ensure that all of our residents from various economic backgrounds have abundant opportunities to acquire in-demand tech skills through local lowbarrier educational programs. LAN: Technology-based jobs offer extremely high salaries. Estimates are that 1,000 new tech jobs would expand our local economy by $21 billion over 30 years. Many Bay Area tech companies are already expanding beyond that region. How can we attract more of these innovative employers to the Modesto/ Stockton area? RICCI: Technology companies are expanding to regions where skilled workers are plentiful. Training initiatives expanding the workforce that innovative companies need are delivering the best results I’ve seen thus far. In Modesto, we need to expand programs like Bay Valley Tech that have a proven track record of not only training workers for the economy of the future, but actually delivering the holy grail— tech companies bringing offices to Modesto. LAN: Growing the local tech workforce would benefit the region’s companies and make the Central Valley a more attractive investment destination for Bay Area employers. Non-tech companies in agriculture, logistics, manufacturing and healthcare are all rapidly

employee needs so we can ensure our students have the necessary corresponding skills.

Chris Ricci

adopting new technologies and contributing to the nation’s tech worker shortage, creating a huge opportunity for Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties. What role do you think local government and the private sector can play in facilitating growth of technology skills training? RICCI: Local government needs to be a catalyst. Government (ideally the county, city, school districts, colleges, etc.) needs to huddle up and try to pool resources to push tech education to the front of the line. These highpaying jobs often don’t require a college degree and while they do require a great deal of skill, they are accessible to people from differing economic backgrounds. When we have an abundant skilled labor pool, private sector companies based in Modesto, or ones moving here, will have a much easier time addressing their chronic tech workforce shortages. The private sector should work hand-in-hand like they do already with groups, like Opportunity Stanislaus, where they clearly communicate their

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LAN: The Central Valley region continues to struggle with low four-year college degree attainment. What opportunities do you see for non-college track students to participate in the growing tech economy? RICCI: Many software coding jobs no longer require a four-year degree. They are accessible to most students with a high school diploma, and there is a growing demand that will only increase as we continue to the next chapter of technological innovation that is bringing advances like selfdriving cars and trucks, additional ag automation and advances in healthcare— even within the next five or ten years. LAN: Convincing skilled workers to relocate to Modesto will also facilitate tech employers expanding to the Central Valley. Why do you think technology and digital workers should consider moving to our region? RICCI: Modesto is in many ways a blank slate with some really solid foundations. We’ve got reasonably priced real estate, an aggressively developing downtown core with strong diversity in restaurants and entertainment, good school choices, great proximity to outdoor activities/ the Bay Area, and all within a couple of hours of half a

dozen international airports. Plus, Modesto is a fast-growing tech hub with more than 1,000 local digital and tech professionals, high school coding programs, Women Techmakers, the Agtech Summit, a startup co-working space and more tech companies moving here every year. LAN: What gives you the most optimism about the future of our amazing Central Valley? RICCI: We’re a tightly knit community with absolutely amazing people and we have always had the ability to evolve quickly. Modesto is on the edge of dramatic shifts both in terms of population growth and demographic change. If we can catch this wave, we’ll definitely claim a brighter future. About the Author: As president of Bay Valley Tech, Phillip Lan oversees the fast-growing tuitionfree code academy and is a key driver of support for tech initiatives such as Bay Valley Co-Work, Valley Hackathon, Women Techmakers, high school coding programs and the AgTech Summit. Prior to Bay Valley Tech, Lan led the digital marketing team at E&J Gallo and held marketing, business development and leadership roles in tech companies such as IBM and Ask Jeeves. He holds a bachelor’s degree in managerial economics from U.C. Davis, and an MBA in computer information systems from California State UniversityEast Bay.

209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

JULY 2021

ACCOLADES

PROMOTIONS, APPOINTMENTS, HONORS, ETC. Oak Valley makes ‘American Banker’ list

Oak Valley Community Bank placed 85th on “American Banker” magazine’s list of the top 200 publicly traded community banks with less than $2 billion in assets. The ranking, based on a three-year average of each bank’s return on average equity, placed Oak Valley Community Bank 9th out of the 26 California banks to achieve this ranking. “It is an honor to be named on this list of exceptional community banks,” stated Chris Courtney, President and CEO. “To be recognized after a year of unparalleled opportunities and challenges due to the pandemic is especially meaningful. It illustrates our financial strength and performance while highlighting the continued commitment to excellence demonstrated by our team as we serve the needs of our clients and community.” Over the last 15 months, Oak Valley Community Bank has been focused on providing customers access to credit, particularly through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), the special funding initiative designed to help small businesses during the COVID-19 crisis. The bank processed over 1,650 first draw and 920 second draw PPP loans, totaling over $345 million. Oak Valley Bancorp operates Oak Valley Community Bank & their Eastern Sierra Community Bank division, through which it offers a variety of loan and deposit products to individuals and small businesses. They currently operate through 17 conveniently located branches: Oakdale, Turlock, Stockton, Patterson, Ripon, Escalon, Manteca, Tracy, Sacramento, two branches in Sonora, three branches in Modesto, and three branches in their Eastern Sierra division, which includes Bridgeport, Mammoth Lakes, and Bishop.

MCCV announces new executive director The Manufacturers Council of the Central Valley has selected Maryn Pitt as its next executive director. Prior to joining the Council, Pitt worked for the City of Turlock for 15 years, primarily in economic development. She also currently serves as President of the Tur-

lock Rotary Club and is a member of several other boards including the Stanislaus County Workforce Development, CSU Stanislaus Alumni Advisory, Maryn Pitt and Stanislaus County Continuum System of Care. She has extensive experience in land use, regulatory affairs, and local government. “Maryn is a positive and energetic leader. Her warmth, collegial style, practical approach to problem solving, along with her passion for the economic vitality of the Central Valley will all be invaluable assets to the Council,” said Manufacturers Council President, Chris Savage. “The board is excited to work with Maryn as our new executive director and confident that the Council will be well positioned under her guidance to thrive in the years to come.” The Manufacturers Council serves as the collective voice with key regulatory bodies, principally, the San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District. Further, the MCCV participates in the Citizens Advisory Group of Industry, representing as one of a six pack of industries: Manufacturing, agriculture, independent oil producers, poultry, dairy and wine. “I appreciate the board’s confidence in me, and I’m delighted to have the opportunity to lead such a great organization. The Manufacturers Council provides critical representation for our region’s manufacturers; the life blood of our economy,” Pitt said. “I’m looking forward to working with the MCCV Board and its members to both educate and advocate on their behalf.” As executive director, Pitt will work closely with the Council’s board and working committee members to advocate on issues such as air and water quality regulations, workforce development and other critical infrastructure concerns. Pitt will succeed Joy Madison who unexpectedly passed away earlier this year.

Central Valley Community Bank brings in new Vice President, portfolio manager

James M. Ford, President and CEO of Central Valley Community Bank, announced the addition of Kelly Tenente to the Agribusiness Lending Department as Vice President, Portfolio Manager throughout the San Joaquin Valley and Greater Sacramento regions. Tenente joins Central Valley Community Bank with over 10 years of industry and agribusiness expertise. Known for her excellent client relationship management and new business development, Tenente has a strong Kelly Tenente commercial banking background managing agribusiness and real estate loan portfolios. In her new role, Tenente is responsible for supporting the Bank’s Agribusiness Lending Department with management and maintenance of the loan portfolio, while also charged with new business development. Tenente can be reached directly at (209) 956-1106. “Kelly’s agribusiness experience and industry knowledge will be a valuable asset in managing existing and helping to grow this business specialty in our geographic footprint,” said Ford.

Stan State appoints first Gemperle Fellow Professor Yili Lian has been selected as Stanislaus State’s inaugural Ernie T. Gemperle endowed chair in finance fellow. Lian’s three-year appointment continues through 2024. “I am honored to be Stan State’s first Gemperle fellow,” Lian said. “I plan to use the funding for database and software purchases and research-related travel and collaboration. It will help me to expand my research during the next three years.” In a message announcing his appointment, College of Business Administration Dean Tomás Gómez-Arias said Lian’s

work will focus on two areas: the connection between trade credits and customersupplier relationships and monitoring the effect of institutional investors on inside trading profits in different settings. “The first project will study how customer firms use trade credits from supplier firms under different credit conditions,” Lian said. “I will test the causal relation under the bank deregulation in United States from the 1980s to 1990s. “The second project will study the role of institutional investors in insider trading. I will test whether institutional investors choose to monitor corporate insiders or compete with them by trading in the stock market.” Yili Lian He plans to present his findings at academic conferences and publish the results in finance journals. Prior to joining Stan State State’s Department of Accounting and Finance in August 2019, Lian served as a tenured associate professor at Pennsylvania State University, Scranton Campus. His research interests are empirical corporate finance and financial institutions. He received the Highly Commended Award twice from the Review of Accounting and Finance, first in 2017 and again in 2019. In 2012, he won the Best Doctoral Student Paper Award during the Southern Finance Association’s annual meeting. Lian earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of International Business and Economics in 2004 and a Master of Finance from Peking University in 2004. He completed his doctorate in finance from Baruch College and Graduate Center of the City University of New York in May 2013. He is grateful for the Gemperle family’s support for faculty research. The Ernie T. Gemperle endowed chair in finance fellow was established at Stan State through a gift from the Gemperle family and Gemperle Family Farms and is named for the family’s patriarch, who died in 2008.

Delicato Family Wines forges partnership with Francis Ford Coppola Winery STAFF REPORTS 209 Business Journal

Delicato Family Wines and Francis Ford Coppola Winery are coming together under one roof and in the process strengthening the families’ legacies as it creates the fifth largest supplier of all wine above $11 in the U.S. market, as well as the fifth largest supplier by volume across all price segments and becomes the third largest exporter of California wines. Under the terms of the agreement, the Francis Ford Coppola wine portfolio and two facilities anchored in Sonoma County, the Francis Ford Coppola Winery and the Virginia

Dare Winery located in Geyserville, including the Archimedes Vineyard, will join Delicato. As a long-time leader in the wine industry, Francis Coppola will have an equity stake in Delicato Family Wines and join Delicato’s Board of Directors. His renowned innovation and influence in fine wine will be pivotal in guiding the continued growth of Delicato for years to come. The company will continue to be managed by President and Chief Executive Officer, Chris Indelicato, and Corey Beck will join Delicato’s executive leadership team as EVP, Production and Chief Winemaker.

The brand portfolio will join strong brands such as 1924, Three Finger Jack, Z. Alexander Brown and will be led by Bota Box, the fastest-growing brand in any wine segment, and Coppola Diamond, the #3 brand in the domestic super-premium category. These “must-have” brands will enable Delicato to further grow its portfolio, as well as to compete forcefully in new segments. Francis Ford Coppola shares, “Over my lifetime, Coppola has become a household name across America. What started as a dream to buy a family cottage in Napa Valley turned into a million+ case

business producing iconic award-winning wines. I am proud to announce that I have found the perfect fit to take our Family winery to even greater heights. Delicato is also family-owned and shares similar core values as both companies are anchored by long-term sustainable focus and a foundation built on family values: Integrity, Respect, Quality, Accountability, Partnership, Excellence, and Community.” “There is a strong cultural fit between our two companies, and by combining two highly complementary portfolios, we create a more diversified winery. This places us in a strong

position in key growth categories to capitalize on positive market trends, drive profitable growth and create opportunities for our employees,” concludes Chief Executive Officer, Chris Indelicato. “This is an exciting and significant expansion for Delicato Family Wines as we bring Francis Ford Coppola Winery and their brands under our portfolio. We look forward to leveraging Francis Ford Coppola’s creativity and fine wine capabilities that have appealed to consumers, distributors, and retailers globally, further bolstering our portfolio strategy.” Over the next few

months, Delicato and Coppola will focus on how best to combine the two companies, effectively utilizing the best business practices and talent of both organizations to make the transition seamless for employees, suppliers, and customers alike. Inglenook and Domaine de Broglie Winery and vineyard will remain separately owned and run by Francis and the Coppola Family. The transaction is expected to be completed in the coming month, subject to regulatory approvals. Terms of the transaction between Delicato and Coppola were not disclosed.

209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

JULY 2021