209 Business Journal - March 2021 by 209 Multimedia Publications

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BUSINESS JOURNAL

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MARCH 2021

VOLUME 6 ■ ISSUE 3

IN PROFILE

The national raw juice chain Juice it Up, featuring handcrafted smoothies and acai bowls recently reopened in Ripon with new owners. PAGE 3

NEW LIVESTOCK LAB IN THE WORKS FOR TURLOCK

IN PROFILE

Modesto Junior College student Megan Starr is offering fun, colorful and definitely filling treats through Smudge Brownies. PAGE 5 ANGELINA MARTIN/209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

Land on Dianne Drive in Turlock could soon become a new livestock health lab, should the project be approved as part of the Governor’s budget proposal.

$88.6 million project included in Governor’s budget proposal BY ANGELINA MARTIN 209 Business Journal

early $90 million has been set aside in Gov. Gavin Newsom’s budget proposal to build a new and improved livestock health lab in Turlock. The $88.6 million project would construct a 41,000 square foot lab at 830 Dianne Drive near Highway 99 on land already owned by the state, and would replace the Turlock branch of the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System already located at Fulkerth and Soderquist roads. The current facility is just over 5,000 square feet and only examines poultry, while the new lab would additionally serve livestock like swine, cattle, horses and more. Turlock’s lab is one of four CAHFS branches, with the others located in Davis, Tulare and San Bernardino, which are

I think it’s great that they’re going to build it. This facility is desperately needed, especially with our livestock and poultry industries that we have in this area. —Tom Orvis all part of the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. Lab employees seek causes of death from livestock, as well as test blood and more from live animals treated by veterinarians.

“I think it’s great that they’re going to build it. This facility is desperately needed, especially with our livestock and poultry industries that we have in this area,” said Tom Orvis, governmental affairs directors for the Stanislaus County Farm Bureau, noting that many with livestock currently have to drive to Tulare or Davis. “It’s a great, central location...to have something multispecies in the heart of an area that still has poultry but also now has a lot of dairy, goats and other animals like that is an excellent thing to have.” While the Governor’s proposed budget will have to be passed for the project to go through, the legislature has already given the go-ahead twice in previous votes for the purchase of the land and planning of the facility. According to the budget request, the lab could be complete by 2024.

Poultry and cattle were two of the top 10 agricultural commodities in Stanislaus County in 2019, according to the agricultural commissioner’s most-recent report, valued at $625 million between chicken, turkey and cattle/calves. The California Department of Food and Agriculture, with assistance from the Department of General Services, is currently preparing an environmental impact report and is seeking input from interested individuals, public agencies and other parties regarding the scope of the report. A public meeting will be held on Zoom from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. March 16 for the CDFA to receive input. To join the meeting, visit the Zoom link (https:// zoom.us/j/9940443602) with Webinar ID 994 0443 6022. The meeting can also be accessed by telephone at 1-253-215-8782.

209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

MARCH 2021

209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

IN PROFILE

Ripon sees return of popular juice store BY VINCE REMBULAT 209 Business Journal

Juice it Up is back. The national raw juice chain featuring handcrafted smoothies and acai bowls recently reopened in its old location in the Ripon Town Square Shopping Center, 1201 W. Main St., Suite 20. “This is new to me,” said owner Sierra Valenzuela of the Juice It Up on Monday. “I’m impressed with all the healthy options.” For better or worse, Juice It Up had been on hiatus for the past eight months prior to the new ownership. The doors opened once again on Jan. 15 amid the COVID-19 stay-at-home orders for takeout along with home delivery apps such as DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub. An Air Force vet, Valenzuela runs the business with Sal Ligotino and a few family members. The group is no stranger to juicer bar having previously operated one inside a Tracy gym for the past six years. “When I saw that the Ripon location was available for purchase, I knew I needed to take the plunge,” said Valen-

zuela. “I’ve enjoyed implementing changes to the original storefront and I’m excited about the value Juice It Up will bring to the community.” Juice It Up earned a reputation for serving the best tasting smoothies, blended and fresh raw juices and superfruit bowls. Valenzuela and others can attest that the business is focused on staying ahead of the trends. Included are items with equal parts flavor and functionality for not only taste great, but also to support a healthy and active lifestyle. “I’m excited to bring Juice It Up back to Ripon with a refreshed look and feel, where guests can again enjoy their favorite handcrafted smoothie, raw juice and superfruit bowls,” she added. The Ripon location is one of 100 Juice It Ups, and can be found throughout the state along with Oregon, New Mexico and Texas. Founded in 1995, the franchise is headquartered in Irvine, CA. For information along with hours of operation for the Ripon Juice It Up, call (209) 570-5902 or log on to www. juiceitup.com

VINCE REMBULAT/209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

Juice It Up in Ripon recently reopened under new ownership at 1201 W. Main St., Suite 20.

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209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

MARCH 2021

IN PROFILE

Oakdale craftsman finds joy creating wooden windmills BY KIM VAN METER 209 Business Journal

Cecil Freitas, 88, of Oakdale, isn’t one for idle hands. For a man born in a generation made of resilient self-starters, the idea of retiring to a quiet life of couch surfing and Bingo, is about as appealing as a swift kick to the shin by a skittish heifer. What started as a favor to an ailing friend, turned into a way to pass the time, building wooden windmills of varying sizes. Freitas’ former boss at Claribel Farms asked him to fix an old windmill that was dear to him. The windmill was in dire shape with rotting wood and faded paint. Freitas took on the job but back surgery derailed his efforts and then, his friend succumbed to cancer before Freitas could finish the windmill. As a gift to the man’s widow, Freitas returned to the project as soon as he was able, and delivered the finished windmill, a remembrance to the man he’d respected and considered a friend. The man’s wife was overjoyed by the gift. Freitas realized how much fun it’d been to rehab the windmill and decided to start building more.

Freitas, a Korean War veteran father, grandfather and greatgrandfather, traveled the United States in various careers from dairy herdsman to a handyman who could build a house or lay a floor, but eventually returned to his Oakdale roots. Born in 1932 in the country, on the outskirts of Oakdale, his family owned and operated an 80-acre ranch where Freitas learned everything there was to learn about ranching life, from taking care of the animals to fixing anything that broke or needed tending. Freitas and the family moved to Riverbank when his older brothers were drafted into the war, spending many of his formative years on California Avenue in a house that has since been purchased by the school district and torn down. “So we moved over on Roselle,” Freitas shared. “My mother, and dad bought eight acres over there and we had about 12 to 15 cows.” Freitas spent more time milking cows and irrigating fields than spending time in a classroom but he’s filled an entire life with interesting adventures as well as picked up valuable skills.

“It was fun. I mean it wasn’t big money but I’ve always had a dollar in my pocket,” Freitas said with a chuckle. And now, he’s building lawn art in the form of windmills to keep busy. Freitas said, “I thought well, it would be a good pastime. They’re small, and don’t cost an arm and a leg to make. The plywood is outrageous but you know if I can sell one or two, it makes up for it.” It takes Freitas about 10 hours to put together a larger windmill and to date he’s made 11 but he’s given away about half of that number to friends and family. However, if he wants to keep tinkering, he’s going to need to sell a handful to cover the costs of materials. “I enjoy doing it. If I get bored sitting in the house, I’ll come out here,” he said of his workshop. “If I get bored out here, I’ll go back in the house or go somewhere, and go see somebody.” Anyone interested in purchasing a windmill, can contact Freitas at 209-872-0037 or can call his daughter, Tonya Freitas, at 209-404-5884. Price varies but the larger windmills will cost $125.

ABOVE: An example of Cecil Freitas’ windmill lawn art that he started as a favor for a friend and has now blossomed into an entertaining way to enjoy retirement. RIGHT: Cecil Freitas, 88, of Oakdale is staying busy these days by building windmill lawn art that started as a favor to a friend who later succumbed to cancer. Now, he’s happy to tinker in the garage/ workshop on his pet project for others, too. Pictured, Freitas with one of the smaller windmill projects. PHOTOS BY KIM VAN METER/209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

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209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

IN PROFILE

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY MEGAN STARR

Smudge Brownies, a business started by Megan Starr, offers a wide variety of unique brownies and blondies which weigh in at half a pound.

Smudge Brownies adds some sweetness to the community BY ANGELINA MARTIN 209 Business Journal

Megan Starr has always enjoyed baking, but recently put her skills to the ultimate test by starting her own small business. Smudge Brownies is Starr’s second foray into baking, her first being a small operation making cupcakes and cakes as a teen. The experience didn’t pan out quite as well as she had hoped, she said, as she wasn’t cut out for decorating the treats once they were cooked. Starr has tapped into her creative side in the years since, and the current Modesto Junior College student began offering fun, colorful and definitely filling treats through Smudge Brownies in December. “I saw some cool recipes and I wanted to try them this past winter break, so for my dad’s birthday I went out on a limb and

baked a ton of brownies. I gave them out and they were a hit, so I just rolled with it,” Starr said. “I thought, ‘maybe I can channel some creativity here.’” Starr’s brownies and blondies are creative to say the least, inspired by the dessert known as a “brookie.” Typically, brookies feature a regular fudge brownie filled with Oreos and topped with chocolate chip cookie dough. At Smudge Brownies, however, there are countless takes on the classic sweet that Starr has crafted herself. Starr drops the flavors in batches, which are available for order and pick-up through her Instagram account and Etsy page. Each batch features four new flavors; the most-popular flavor from Starr’s last batch was the monster cookie — peanut butter oatmeal cookie dough with chocolate chips and M&Ms.

I saw some cool recipes and I wanted to try them this past winter break, so for my dad’s birthday I went out on a limb and baked a ton of brownies. I gave them out and they were a hit, so I just rolled with it. —Megan Starr

Smudge Brownies’ latest batch drops this week, and Starr anticipates the “cosmic fun” brownie, which features a blondie base layered with a frosted confetti pop tart, funfetti cookie dough and sprinkles, to be another hit among customers. Her treats are not only one-of-a-kind, but also weigh in at a half-pound per brownie. “Right now it’s mostly just me and what I feel would taste good, however, in the last two weeks or so as I grow more of a customer base, they’ve been giving me input and feedback and my family is also throwing out flavor recommendations,” Starr said of her unique treats. “It’s not just about me and my needs, it’s about serving my guests and customers.” Starr spends all day creating each new batch of flavors, she said, which are selling out more quickly as word of her business

spreads. She recently provided brownies to a customer for a Super Bowl party, which she cut into bite-sized pieces for the football fans to enjoy. As Smudge Brownies continues to grow in just two short months of operation, Starr is grateful for the community’s support. She hopes to eventually offer her products in stores, she said. “Initially, starting a small business was scary and didn’t feel like something I could do. Once I started posting, just channeled my own creativity and put out there exactly who I am, the response has been so positive. People love sweets, so that’s a thing that helps also just by itself,” Starr said. For more information follow @smudgebrownies on Instagram; etsy.com/shop/smudgebrownies

209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

MARCH 2021

NEWS

Issues over traffic sink business park plans BY DENNIS WYATT 209 Business Journal

209 BUSINESS JOURNAL FILE PHOTO

Turlock Transit recently became the first in the state to install air-cleaning devices called the AirBubbl in its buses in order to protect transit drivers from the coronavirus.

Turlock Transit first in state to utilize air-cleaning tech for drivers BY ANGELINA MARTIN 209 Business Journal

Turlock will soon become the first city in California to install air cleaning devices across its entire operational bus fleet, protecting its drivers from the risk of airborne transmission of the coronavirus through new, innovative technology. Turlock Transit plans to install 20 AirLabs AirBubbl air cleaning devices in the driver cabins of its buses by the end of the month, and has already installed eight of the devices so far. The AirBubbl removes more than 95% of airborne viruses and contaminated particulate matter, and floods the driver area with over 30,000 liters of clean air every hour to create a clean air breathing zone. Drivers are the backbone of Turlock Transit, said transit manager Wayne York, and the organization has already taken other steps throughout the pandemic to keep them safe, like Personal Protective Equipment for drivers and the implementation of various other safety protocols such as disinfecting measures, social distancing and complimentary face masks and hand sanitizer for passengers. “I believe it demonstrates our proactive approach to think outside the box in identifying creative, but effective solutions to solve problems, as well as our continued emphasis on excellence and innovation,” York said. “I appreciate the support of the City’s executive leadership and our City Council for supporting investments like these. As a small, locally managed transit agency, it also speaks to our ability to implement these solutions quickly, in a way that would be more difficult for larger agencies with larger fleets.”

Before the pandemic, York said Turlock Transit provided about 800 rides per weekday and 450 rides each Saturday on its fixed route system. Following Gov. Gavin Newsom’s stayat-home order last March, the transit agency experienced about an 80% drop in ridership. Numbers have gradually increased since then, with Turlock Transit serving about 320 trips per weekday and about 220 trips each Saturday. The agency’s reservationbased Dial-a-Ride system, used primarily by senior citizens and individuals with disabilities, has gone from 45 trips per day before the pandemic to now providing about 12 trips per day. “Transit industry experts are predicting that it will take anywhere from three to 10 years for ridership to fully return to pre-pandemic levels,” York said. As the pandemic continues, Turlock Transit drivers can rest assured that they’re breathing clean air. “California is the epicenter of the COVID-19 crisis in the US, and keeping public transit safe and operational during this time is crucial for ensuring that the public can continue to travel safely,” AirLabs CEO Marc Ottolini said. “Professional drivers are one of the most at-risk groups from COVID-19 and forwardthinking public transit operators across the world are deploying our innovative air cleaning technology to cut the risk of infection for drivers, protect them against air pollution and keep services running.” York first heard about the AirLabs AirBubbl through one of the organization’s memberships with a transit association, which allow York to stay up-to-date on new technology and best practices in the transit industry. Plymouth Metro-

link in Plymouth, MN, were highlighted by the association as the first U.S. agency to deploy the technology across their fleet. “After researching the product, I found it to be small, quiet, cost effective, easy to maintain and one of the few products that has been proven effective through independent testing,” York said. “This made it a perfect fit to improve the air quality on-board our buses.” In addition to ridding the driver area of airborne COVID particles, the AirBubbl is equally effective at removing air pollution, including harmful ozone gases, nitrogen dioxide and particle air pollutants PM2.5 and PM10, playing a vital role in protecting drivers long after the pandemic has passed. The measures taken by Turlock Transit to protect its drivers have been vital to the local economy, York said, as maintaining a regular transit schedule means essential workers can get to their jobs and are able to support both their families and the community. It also means that transit-dependent individuals can continue making trips for essential goods, such as groceries or medicine, he added. “My hope is that other transit agencies, large or small, will continue to evaluate emerging technology and position themselves to move quickly when they see something that would be a good fit for their agency and passengers. I also hope that when they identify a viable solution that they share it with their peers so that others can benefit from it,” York said. “Sharing experiences is a great way to keep our staff and passengers safe and improve regional mobility.”

Requirements to address traffic issues — especially along Airport Way — and the refusal of the potential developer to pay for the costs has terminated efforts to build 3.3 million square feet of distribution center space on 237 acres on the southwest corner of Louise Avenue and Airport Way. There were a number of significant traffic impacts the project would create that were outlined in the environment impact report that the city wanted the Oakland-based development firm of Exeter Property to address. The city rebuffed efforts by the developer to allow the project to proceed without addressing the identified traffic issues.

Manteca also declined to reduce fees connected with the endeavor, especially for traffic. The developer decided the project as they envisioned would not pencil out. The proposed sale to Exeter was dropped in December. The land still has an entitled project to build 760 homes and 310 apartments. The approval on that map is good through January 2026. Villa Ticino West was originally approved in 2004. By the time the project was in a position to move forward the housing slowdown occurred. A new tentative map was submitted in July 2014. Tweaks were made to the original map including dropping asset aside of land specifically for a fire

station given the station on Lathrop Road by Del Webb at Woodbridge had been built. The developer of the project was released from the fire station land obligation in exchange for contributing $300,000 to go toward building the Woodard Avenue and Atherton Drive fire station once the Villa Ticino West project started moving forward to construction. That led to the tentative map being approved in July 2015. Exeter expressed interest in the land as a possible business park just over two years ago. As things stand now, the 1,070 dwelling units can still be built as long as work starts before the map’s approval lapses in 2026 or unless the approval is extended.

209 BUSINESS JOURNAL FILE PHOTO

This photo taken from the third floor of the Manteca Unified district office shows the vacant corner of the proposed Pacific Logistics Center.

209 209BUSINESS BUSINESS JOURNAL JOURNAL

MARCH 2021

OPINION

Vol. 6 No. 3 ■ March 2021 PUBLISHER

A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.

Hank Vander Veen

EDITOR Sabra Stafford

NEWSROOM Dennis D. Cruz Kristina Hacker Teresa Hammond Angelina Martin Candy Padilla Virginia Still Dennis Wyatt

—Walter Winchell

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 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

Are you a small business or a startup? For the past 30-plus years, this has been a column for people who run small businesses. But what exactly is a “small business”? Well, 50 years ago, we knew what a small business was: a storefront somewhere in town that could accommodate only a few customers at a time, run by a local family and selling everyday stuff. That type of small business still exists, but many if not most are on the road to extinction (or migrating online). Today there are two types of “small business”: the traditional small business and the startup. While the two are often lumped together, there are considerable differences between them, and people who serve those businesses (including yours truly) need to be mindful of those differences. A traditional small business is one which: Engages in a Retail, Service or Other “Nonscalable” Business. A nonscalable business is one where the profit margins remain relatively stable or decline as the business grows. Such a business has to spend more to earn more, and the growth curve looks like a straight line. Just about any retail or service business is nonscalable: A service provider’s ultimate product is his or her time, and there are only 24 hours in a day. The only way such a business can grow is for the owners to work more hours or for the business to add people who will work more hours. Serves a Local or Regional Market. Some studies show that most people will not travel

CLIFF ENNICO CREATORS SYNDICATE

more than 3 to 5 miles to go to a gym. So, if you run a gym (and are lucky enough to be open during the pandemic), virtually all your clientele probably come from within a very small radius. Generally, any business that draws almost all its customers from a 5- to 15-mile radius is a traditional small business. Is Owned by the Same People Who Run the Business. There is no distinction between “labor” and “management” in a traditional small business. The owners are the people who do the work. Is Designed to Stay Small. There is no “exit strategy” for a traditional small business. It is designed to run until it shuts down. If it’s a familyrun business, the objective is to create an income stream for future generations of family members. By contrast, a startup is a small business that: Engages in a “Scalable” Business. A scalable business is one where the profit margins increase as the business grows, and the growth curve is a parabola. Think manufacturing, technology and media. Serves a National, International or Global Market. A startup draws its customers worldwide. Is Owned (at Least Partially) by Passive Investors. Owner-

ship and management are not the same in a startup. Nobody expects passive investors (such as “angels” and venture capitalists) to pitch in and work weekends when orders fall behind. Is Designed to Grow Big and “Exit” at Some Point. Investors in startups are not committing to the long term; most want to see a return on their investment in five to seven years. That will happen only if the startup launches an initial public offering or is acquired by a much larger company. Startups plan their exit strategy from the moment they are formed. Not only do startups and traditional small businesses have different needs for services, but their cultures are significantly different as well, and they place different demands on their lawyers, accountants, consultants and other service providers. As businesses generally become more dependent on technology and operate on the internet, the distinction between startups and traditional small businesses is blurring. Yesterday’s brick-and-mortar retail store on the local commercial strip is a web-based business today selling goods nationally or worldwide; just go to any UPS store on a Saturday afternoon and count the number of boxes. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many small restaurants discovered they could not only survive but also increase their profitability by encouraging online orders and curbside de-

livery. They are selling more, and they find they don’t need as many waiters, bussers and kitchen staff — which increases margins, to the point that a significant number of restaurants are opting to become “ghost kitchens” without onsite tables and serving staff. Traditionally, small businesses financed their operations with bank loans, while startups were able to tap into venture capital and the securities markets. The growing popularity of crowdfunding as a means of raising capital has enabled many traditional small businesses with large social media followings to tap into equity capital markets for the first time without the need to deal with banks. Recent changes to the securities regulations allow businesses to raise up to $5 million a year via crowdfunding, and many businesses engaged in food, beverage and entertainment businesses are taking advantage. If you are a popular local business, start thinking like a startup. There are three strategies you need to adopt now: — Reduce brick-and-mortar operations to a minimum: Make it a goal to generate more than half your 2021 sales from online customers; — Cast your marketing and advertising efforts to a wider geographic area, and get comfortable with shipping and delivery options; — Build your following of satisfied customers on social media and start thinking of them as future passive investors.

209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

MARCH 2021

NEWS

ACE will run Valley Link rail system BY DENNIS WYATT 209 Business Journal

Valley Link, the proposed commuter rail project that would connect the Northern San Joaquin Valley with the 131-mile BART system with 50 stations throughout the Bay Area, will be operated by the same agency that runs the Altamont Corridor Express. The Tri-Valley-San Joaquin Valley Regional Rail Authority has entered into an agreement for the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission to operate Valley Link that is working toward a 2028 start-up date. The SJRRC also manages the Amtrak San Joaquin. The Valley Link system ultimately means commuters in Ceres, Modesto, Ripon, and Manteca could get go all the way to downtown San Francisco via ACE with transfers to Valley Link and BART. Lathrop commuters could take Valley Link and switch to BART. Valley Link has $988 million of the $1.8 billion plus in funds committed needed for the initial phase. That initial phase would connect with the new North Lathrop ACE station

that will be built in the vicinity of Sharpe Army Depot when ACE service is extended southward through Manteca and Ripon to Ceres and northward through Stockton and Sacramento to the Natomas just miles from Sacramento International Airport. Valley Link’s first phase includes seven stations – North Lathrop, River Islands, Downtown Tracy, Mountain House, Greenville near Livermore, Isabel and Dublin/Pleasanton where passengers can connect with the BART system. The overall travel time from Lathrop to the Dublin/Pleasanton BART Station would be approximately 61 to 65 minutes depending on direction of travel. The 2040 service plan includes 12-minute peak period headways and two-minute off-peak headways with more limited service on the weekend. The second phase would extend service into Stockton. The 42-mile right of way includes 16.1 miles of Union Pacific track in San Joaquin County, 14.5 miles of the old Western Pacific track that Southern

Pacific deeded to Alameda County in 1984, and 11.7 miles down the median of Interstate 580 where it will connect with BART trains at the Dublin/Pleasanton station Additional potential infill stations include Ellis Historical in Tracy, Grant Line

Road in Alameda County (west of Tracy), and South Front in Livermore. The maintenance and operations facility would be located in Tracy. By 2040, Valley Link is expected to take 33,000 vehicles off of the Altamont Pass. Prior to the pandemic

there were 93,398 vehicles crossing the Altamont on an average day. Additional information on the Tri-Valley – San Joaquin Valley Regional Rail Authority, is available on the Regional Rail Authority’s website at www.valleylinkrail.com.

Depending upon the technology chosen for the locomotives — diesel, electric battery or hydrogen — Valley Link could eliminate between 33,000 to 42,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions.

State relief package provides business grants, stimulus payments for some BY ANGELINA MARTIN 209 Business Journal

More help is on the way for Californians struggling during the coronavirus pandemic. Governor Gavin Newsom signed a $7.6 billion relief package into law on Feb. 23, which will provide onetime stimulus checks to 5.7 million people and provide more grant funding for small businesses. The package was first passed by the Legislature and builds on initiatives in the Governor’s January state budget proposal to provide cash relief to lower-income Californians, increase aid to small businesses and provide license renewal fee waivers to businesses impacted by the pandemic. In addition to these measures, the new action’s will commit more resources for critical child care services and fund emergency financial aid for community college students. “As millions of Californians are struggling to make ends meet amid the devastating impacts of this pandemic, we are taking immediate action in partnership with our legisla-

tive leadership to provide families and businesses the relief they need,” Newsom said. “This critical assistance – including child care, relief for small business owners, direct cash support to individuals and households, financial aid for community college students and more – will help keep our communities afloat as the state continues to confront the immense challenges of this moment.” The relief package comes as Newsom faces backlash for closing businesses during the pandemic as well as a recall petition, which has amassed 1.1 million signatures so far according to a tally released by state election officials on Feb. 5. The funding was also signed by Newsom as Congress debates a much larger relief bill, which would provide direct cash payments as well. In November, Newsom used emergency powers to set aside $500 million for small business grants and during the first round of funding, nearly 335,000 applications were sent into the program totaling $4.4 billion in request. The

relief package signed by Newsom on Tuesday will contribute an additional $2 billion for that program, and businesses with annual revenues between $1,000 and $2.5 million are eligible to apply; however, businesses owned by women and minorities as well as businesses in areas with high unemployment rates will be given priority. Senator Andreas Borgeas led the bipartisan charge to include business relief in the package through Senate Bill 87, which was included as an emergency budget measure thanks to momentum generated by Borgeas’ and Senator Anna Caballero’s Keep California Working Act. “This has been an experience that I believe we should replicate as frequently and as often as humanly possible. This was a moment where this body transcended partisanship, and we’ve seen how hyperpartisan Washington can be and we’re certainly not immune to it in Sacramento, but our constituencies want us to deliver results and the circumstances demanded these results,” Borgeas said on Monday

as the Legislature prepared to vote. “That is why SB 87 is so exciting, and it also brought to mind something that our former California governor said, President Ronald Reagan: There is no limit to what a person can do or where they can go if they don’t mind who gets the credit.” The package also includes $3.7 billion to pay at least $600 in one-time payments to Californians who claim the state earned income tax credit on their tax returns, those who make $30,000 per year or less. Stimulus payments will also go to people who earn under $75,000 per year and use an individual taxpayer identification number to file their income taxes or those who don’t have Social Security numbers such as immigrants who were ineligible for the federal stimulus payments Congress approved last year. According to Newsom’s office, residents will have to wait until “shortly after they file their 2020 tax returns” to receive the payment. The relief package signed on Feb. 23 also does the following:

• Two years of fee relief for roughly 59,000 restaurants and bars licensed through the state’s Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control that can range annually from $455 to $1,235. The action also reflects fee relief for more than 600,000 barbering and cosmetology individuals and businesses licensed through the Department of Consumer Affairs. • Addition of just over $400 million in new federal funds to provide stipends of $525 per enrolled child for all state-subsidized child care and preschool providers serving approximately 400,000 children in subsidized care statewide. The new federal resources will extend care for children of essential workers through June of 2022, and funds increased access to subsidized child care for more than 8,000 children of essential workers and atrisk children – who are not currently served in the system – through June of 2022. • Provides an additional $24 million for financial assistance and services through Housing for the Harvest – a program providing support for agricul-

tural workers who have to quarantine due to COVID-19. The effort also provides a combined $35 million for food banks and diapers. • Provides an additional $100 million in emergency financial aid for qualifying low-income students carrying six or more units, with award amounts to be determined locally and made available by early April. In addition, the agreement provides $20 million to reengage students who have either left their community college studies because of the pandemic or to engage students at risk of leaving. • Provides roughly $6 million to support outreach and application assistance to University of California, California State University and California Community College students made newly eligible for CalFresh – the state-administered federal program for supplemental food assistance. The agreement also provides $12 million in state funds to support associated county administrative workload.

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BUILDING YOUR BUSINESS AT WORK

A 5 step plan and overview to getting quality backlinks from authoritative websites BETH DEVINE

209 Business Journal

f you are new to SEO, you should know that there are many things needed for a properly optimized website, and a lot more for you to show up high in the search engine results pages (SERPs). In 2021, one of the most criti-

DETERMINE A USEFUL TOPIC Some websites have defined target audiences, while others talk to different and more general groups of people. You should understand the purpose of each website and try to fit in with your article idea. We suggest you do your research, see the angle they have (whether they are advice-driven or focused on business) and change your approach accordingly. After all, journalists are doing you a favor with a backlink – so try to create something that will blend in nicely. You can always use our SEO copywriting tips when writing your article.

cal factors for high rankings are backlinks. Essentially, backlinks are a signal to search engines that your website is legitimate and others vouch for your content. As a result, Google puts websites and pages with more (authoritative) backlinks higher in the SERPs.

HOW DO YOU EARN QUALITY BACKLINKS? The answer is simple – you need to identify the right websites related to your industry/ niche and start approaching them with an offer. The offer here would mean free content for them, which you need to write, and a backlink that you will get in exchange for that. It is important to mention that most quality backlinks are not free. However, an email with the subject “Hi, Tom” does not always guarantee a backlink. You will need a more creative and genuine approach.

CRAFT THE FIRST EMAIL TO THE EDITOR Once you find the right website for your needs, you should plan your first email along with your article idea or a draft of your article. Remember, sending out a piece that you will write specifically for that website will help both you and them – you will get a backlink, and they will get free content. When sending out the email, make sure that you clearly communicate your idea and intention. Show that you are ready to brainstorm, edit, and come to them with the perfect angle that supports their editorial calendar. Your willingness to work hard will hopefully pay off in the long run. So, even if you don’t get a reply, we suggest doing the same thing when contacting other website editors. To help you out, we are attaching one powerful email template that you can use when you begin your outreach to editors. Hi [Name], [Your Name] here.

not ones that are too popular. To ensure that they are legit and their backlink is powerful enough to help your website’s SEO, you can always check their Domain Authority (DA) on this link. Generally speaking, any domain authority above 30 (on a scale of 1-100) is a good one. By visiting the link above, you can also check the website’s backlink profile and see how many backlinks they have. Refer to this tool for assessing a Domain Rating (DR) and backlink profile on Ahrefs.com.

I am a huge fan of your site [Their Website] and have really been enjoying your content. In fact, I have a similar blog where I publish content centered around topics like these. I have some new post ideas that your readers would receive value from. I was wondering if you’d be open to a guest blog post with a backlink to my website. Here are the ideas: [Topic 1] [Topic 2] [Topic 3] To give you an idea of my writing style, here are two of my best posts that I’m linking: [Your Post 1] [Your Post 2] Thank you for taking the time to read this email. I look forward to our next conversation. Regards, [Your Name] [Your Telephone Number] [Your Website]

BE PERSISTENT BUT NOT ANNOYING As we mentioned above, being persistent will help you get more backlinks in the long run. However, there is a line between persistent and annoying – make sure not to cross it. For instance, if your email doesn’t get a reply, don’t push the editor by emailing them again. Instead, ignore it and focus your attention on another website. You may or may not get a reply, and sometimes, you may get a negative one. If that happens more than you planned, lower the bar and start contacting editors in less-known websites. After all, any backlink is better than no backlink, and you can use this alternate strategy to maximize your content performance.

IF YOU AREN’T HAVING SUCCESS, HIRE AN EXPERIENCED AGENCY TO OBTAIN QUALITY BACKLINKS FOR YOU It’s important to mention that 80% of an effective SEO strategy is rooted in quality backlink acquisition. The challenge comes in when editors get too many offers. Many inquiries come from organizations whose websites are subpar in UX/UI design and editors don’t want to be connected to a site or brand that doesn’t suit up or show up well. If you contacted many editors with your article(s) and never heard back, the next logical step would be hiring someone to acquire backlinks for you. The good thing is that there are plenty of backlink services out there, and you can pay for quality backlinks. As we said at the beginning of this article, backlinks are only one piece of the big and challenging puzzle called search engine optimization (SEO). If you want to make most of this puzzle and start ranking high on the Web, you will need a complete approach that includes many other factors.

Below, we list an overview for earning and giving backlinks and how to do it right. This guide aims to help you get your article published on a popular website so that it links back to the original source (your website) and you get that much-appreciated backlink. Find a website and understand its purpose The first step in getting backlinks is finding the ideal website(s) and doing some research. Ideally, you should target websites in the same industry and niche as you, and sites where you can easily find information about the editor. Our advice is to go for successful websites but

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MARCH 2021

TECHNOLOGY

Expanding tech and CTE education to improve the central valley economy Today, I’d like to welcome California State Assemblyman Heath Flora. Heath is a life-long farmer, firefighter and business owner. He was raised on a farm and has been a small business owner and volunteer firefighter for CAL FIRE for more than 15 years, where he currently is a Battalion Chief. He has also been active in trying to bring better paying jobs to the region through partnerships with the Silicon Valley Leadership Group. While serving in the Legislature, Heath has worked to improve public safety in California, as well as to give hard-working farmers a voice in Sacramento. He has been a keynote speaker at the Valley AgTech Summit. As the Minority Floor Leader, Heath ensures fairness and justness in the legislative process in the Assembly. Heath serves as the Vice Chairman of the Committees on Natural Resources and Labor & Employment, as well as sitting on the Agriculture, Rules and Business & Professions committees. 1. ASSEMBLYMEMBER FLORA, CAN YOU TELL US WHY YOU FEEL THAT IT’S IMPORTANT TO INCREASE OUR TECHNOLOGY TRAINING AND CTE (CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION) INITIATIVES HERE IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY? I grew up on a family farm in West Modesto and got involved in the fire service after graduating high school. I’m still a farmer and involved in the local fire service. Not everyone is going to go to college and get a four-year degree. We need more educational options, whether it’s stackable certificates or career technical education. A trained workforce is one of the best ways to attract new companies to the Central Valley. Technology jobs are some of the highest paying, fastest growing jobs in our country today, so quickly expanding our local tech workforce is key to attracting innovative high-wage companies to the Central Valley. Many tech jobs no longer require a full fouryear degree. In fact, we now have local free programs that can train someone for a new tech job in less time than it takes to get certified to cut hair, so this is creating amazing opportunities for our residents. Also, most traditionally nontech industries important

PHILIP LAN BAY VALLEY TECH

to the Valley’s economy, such as healthcare, agriculture, food processing, trucking and construction, are increasingly reliant on technology and advanced software to remain competitive and need technology workers to drive their continued growth. 2. AS YOU MENTIONED, TRAINING LARGE NUMBERS OF TECH-CAPABLE WORKERS WILL NOT ONLY ATTRACT MORE EMPLOYERS TO OUR REGION, NEW SKILLED WORKERS WILL ALSO BENEFIT LOCAL COMPANIES WHO ARE HAMPERED BY THE SAME SEVERE TECH TALENT SHORTAGE IMPACTING THE COUNTRY. WHAT STATE AND REGIONAL PROGRAMS ARE CURRENTLY WORKING TO EXPAND OUR SKILLED AND TECHNOLOGY LABOR FORCE? The state of California currently has several grants supporting adult education and CTE programs, but we need to do more. Knowing that it is primarily a local skilled labor force that will attract new employers to the Central Valley, I will be actively working with my colleagues at the State this year to increase CTE and other technology-focused funding for our region. On a local level, the Stanislaus County Office of Education is very innovative, partnering with training organizations such as VOLT and others to expand skilled training opportunities. They also recently signed a six-figure agreement with Workforce Development to increase more software development paid internships for Stanislaus County. Education is the great equalizer in our society. We need an educated citizenry to be a successful nation and a successful Central Valley. I look forward to continuing supporting these crucial education initiatives. 3. THE CENTRAL VALLEY ALREADY HAS A NUMBER OF TECH-RELATED INITIATIVES SUCH AS THE VALLEY AGTECH SUMMIT, FOR WHICH YOU HAVE BEEN A KEYNOTE SPEAKER, TECH CONNECT AND WOMEN TECHMAKERS. HOW CAN YOU AND OTHER LEGISLATORS SUPPORT THESE EXISTING EFFORTS

AND ACCELERATE THEIR EXPANSION? We must work with our colleagues from across California, so they gain an understanding of the Central Valley and its ability to contribute to our state’s leading tech economy. The broader Central Valley is really a unique region with a highly motivated workforce and unlimited potential. With a population exceeding those of 30 other states in this country, we need adequate resources to address issues like infrastructure, education and workforce development. We already have significant momentum with hundreds of new software developers in Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties already trained and beginning to enter the workforce over the last couple of years. By strengthening relationships with leaders across California and making them more aware of the Central Valley’s many growing tech and agtech initiatives in need of funding support, I can help build a larger coalition to work on our region’s behalf. Having folks like State Controller Betty Yee and Assemblymember Robert Rivas attend the Valley AgTech Summit has helped put the region on their radar. My team also will be actively looking for grants that can support our local tech initiatives throughout this year. 4. DO YOU SEE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES TO COORDINATE EFFORTS TO FUND EXPANSION OF THE CENTRAL VALLEY’S SKILLED AND TECHNOLOGY WORKFORCE? WHAT OTHER AGENCIES DO YOU THINK COULD BE HELPFUL WITH THIS INITIATIVE? Usually, governments’ problem is they are too involved or have too much red tape and regulation. Our community and our region, however, has specific needs in education and in job training that are the perfect opportunity for our local office of education to work with a local chamber of commerce or a local business, to better prepare young people for the workforce. Volt Institute in Stanislaus County is a great example of that public and private partnership. Opportunity Stanislaus, Modesto Junior College and the Stanislaus Office of Education have

worked together to create an award-winning regional program, Volt Institute. Volt has a proven record of success in career technical education and will continue to be a model for workforce development across California. At the federal level, Congressman Josh Harder recently helped sponsor an apprenticeship bill that will help students in our area. I see a tremendous opportunity for city leadership, county leadership and larger private employers in the region to collaborate on more tech and skilled labor programs as well. I would be happy to facilitate planning discussions with other leaders this year to work on expanding funding for tech education and internship programs that can benefit our region. 5. THE CENTRAL VALLEY HAS AMAZING POTENTIAL BECAUSE IT IS ONE OF THE FEW REGIONS WITH A LARGE WORKFORCE LOCATED ADJACENT TO SUCH A LARGE TECH HUB LIKE SILICON VALLEY. YET THE VAST MAJORITY OF BAY AREA COMPANIES CONTINUE TO OVERLOOK THE STOCKTON/ MODESTO AREA IN THEIR EXPANSION PLANS. IN FACT, THESE COMPANIES HAVE TAKEN THOUSANDS OF OUR BEST-PAYING TECH JOBS OUT OF CALIFORNIA INSTEAD OF INVESTING IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY. CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT EFFORTS AT THE STATE LEVEL TO INCENTIVIZE CALIFORNIA COMPANIES TO INVEST IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY AND KEEP HIGH-WAGE JOBS IN CALIFORNIA? To be honest, we have a long way to go here. Decades of under-investment in skills training programs have created a situation where high-paying Bay Area companies continue to ignore the Central Valley in their expansion plans. Many organizations are working to change that though. In addition, we have been historically overlooked by Sacramento from a funding perspective. We are a fast-growing region, however, and the Central Valley now has more voters than we’ve ever had before. My team is having some success getting Sacramento to focus on our region’s unique needs. Our local leaders have also done a great job using the resources available to them to grow our regional economy in a

positive way. With California being the highest taxed state in the nation, it’s difficult to retain the businesses we do have. Many areas throughout Modesto and the surrounding cities have now been designated as Opportunity Zones, which gives businesses an added incentive to invest in the region. Tax breaks for small businesses would benefit job retention in California as well, but the best thing we can do is to work together and quickly get our labor force ready to compete for tomorrow’s jobs and leveraging it to attract good companies into the Central Valley. 6. CAN YOU DESCRIBE ANY CURRENT OUTREACH OR AWARENESS-BUILDING EFFORTS TO POSITION THE CENTRAL VALLEY AS AN ATTRACTIVE INVESTMENT OPTION FOR BAY AREA COMPANIES? The Central Valley’s annual AgTech Summit, organized by the National Ag Science Center, Opportunity Stanislaus and Bay Valley Tech, has been a great success and is starting to get the attention of those outside of our region. I’m proud to play a part in making our Valley a better place to work and live through my work on the Natural Resources Committee in Sacramento. These efforts will help position the Central Valley as a region where people want to live and employers should be considering for expansion. We are also coordinating efforts with the Silicon Valley Leadership Group to increase awareness of our region’s strengths to Bay Areabased companies. Bay Valley Tech’s approach of building up a strong, highly sought-after tech talent pool in the Central Valley and reaching out to specific executive decision-makers at individual companies is bearing fruit as well. 7. WHAT OTHER UPSKILLING INITIATIVES DO YOU THINK IS IMPORTANT FOR OUR REGION TO INVEST IN? As I mentioned earlier, most industries are becoming heavily reliant on workers who are tech-literate, so technology education is the way of the future. All local school districts should be focused on ensuring that students are prepared for the new economy. I’ve seen great things come out of some of our local high

Heath Flora California State Assemblymember Heath Flora is a lifelong farmer, firefighter and business owner with real world experience. He was raised on a farm and has been a small business owner and volunteer firefighter for CAL FIRE for more than 15 years, where he currently is a Battalion Chief. While serving in the Legislature, Heath has fought for improved public safety in California, as well as working to ensure hard-working farmers have a voice in Sacramento. As the Minority Floor Leader, Heath ensures fairness and justness in the legislative process in the Assembly. Heath serves as the Vice Chairman of the Committees on Natural Resources and Labor & Employment, as well as sitting on the Agriculture, Rules and Business & Professions committees. Heath is able to provide fresh perspectives to policy debates and the legislation related to these areas.

schools like Johansen High School in Modesto and its Agriculture Academy. Also, the Software and Systems Development Pathway at Enochs High School has been a great success for our community. Building on programs like these will enable the Central Valley to remain competitive in emerging industries such as agtech and construction tech. These skills-based pathways and academies can also prepare students for lucrative, rewarding careers without assuming oppressive college debt.

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ACCOLADES

PROMOTIONS, APPOINTMENTS, HONORS, ETC. Rick Jones named CVAR Lifetime Achiever

Rick Jones was recently presented with the Central Valley Association of Realtors’ Lifetime Achievement Award for 2020. “I built my first building in Oakdale in 1978,” Jones said of a commercial building. A 1969 graduate Rick Jones of Oakdale High School, Jones attended University of California, Berkeley on a football scholarship. He majored in Business Administration and began his career in property development following graduation in the San Francisco Bay Area. Transitioning from developer to broker, Jones got his broker’s license around 1998 and he and his wife started Touchdown Properties in 1999 and then Most Valuable Player Property Management Company. “I decided to get a broker’s license because you know when you tell someone you’re in development they start to get a little antsy, they glaze over because they don’t get the environmental impact for the planning and all those kinds of things that it takes,” Jones said. “I just thank God every day; you know we’re just blessed. This community has given me so much over the years and I just try to do a very small part in giving back,” Jones has also served as President of the Oakdale Chamber of Commerce, helped launch the Oakdale Cowboy Museum with Christie Camarillo, was an OJUSD School Board member, as well as Oakdale Council-President of the local association.

2021 Adult Education Administrator of the Year

Jared Hungerford, the Director of Curriculum and Instruction/Adult Education Coordinator for the Calaveras County Office of Education, has been named the Adult Education Administrator of the Year for Region 7 by the Association of California School Administrators. There are over 750 educational leaders from Jared Hungerford Amador, Calaveras, Tuolumne, San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties that belong to ACSA Region 7. This umbrella organization supports California’s education leaders to ensure all children have the skills and knowledge the need to excel in public education.

Grimbleby Coleman CPA, Inc. names new leader

Certified Public Accountant Ian Grimbleby has been promoted to president and chief executive officer of Grimbleby Coleman CPA, Inc., the company that was founded by his grandfather, Roy Grimbleby. Grimbleby joined the company in 2010 and served as the lead client contact, with a focus on financial statement audit and review services as well as heading the firm’s construction and real estate sectors. He became a prin- Grimbleby Coleman cipal partner in 2014. He previously worked at Price Waterhouse Coopers and holds a bachelor’s degree from Cal Poly in business administration with an emphasis in accounting.

Galt resident appointed to CDCR director position

Jason J. Lowe, 49, of Galt, has been appointed Deputy Director of Operations and Programs at the Division of Juvenile Justice at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, where he has served as Acting Deputy Director since 2020. Lowe held several positions at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation from 2009 to 2020, including Deputy Director of Training, Enhancement and Development for the Division of Juvenile Justice in 2020, Academy Administrator and Academy Commander for the Office of Training and Professional Development from 2015 to 2020, Custody Captain for the California Health Care Facility from 2013 to 2015, Captain and Special Assistant to the Director of Administrative Services in 2013, and Correctional Counselor II and Correctional Lieutenant for the Contract Beds Unit from 2009 to 2013.

Acting warden earns appointment at Sierra center

Patrick G. Eaton, 49, of Sonora, has been appointed Warden at the Sierra Conservation Center, where he has served as Acting Warden since 2019 and Chief Deputy Warden since 2018. Eaton held several positions at the Sierra Conservation Center from 2002 to 2018, including Correctional Administrator and Associate Warden, Correctional Captain, Correctional Lieutenant and Correctional Sergeant. He held several positions at the Central California Women’s Facility from 1999 to 2002, including Correctional Sergeant and Correctional Officer. Eaton was Correctional

Officer at Salinas Valley State Prison from 1996 to 1999.

Covenant Living of Turlock Associate Executive Director receives national honor

Jiane Bassi has been named as a “Rising Star” in the Women of Distinction awards in a joint program by the national senior living trade publications McKnight’s Long-Term Care News and McKnight’s Senior Living. Bassi, is the associate executive director at Covenant Living of Turlock and has been with the senior living community for six years, initially as the human resource director for both Covenant Living and then added responsibility of human resources for Brandel Manor, the skilled nursing community owned by the same company. She was recently promoted to associate executive director in October of last year. “Jiane is an influential leader who is consistently leading and coaching her peers to lead their teams more effectively,” said Ryan Hust, executive director at Covenant Living of Turlock. “She is an advocate for employees at all levels of the organization Jiane Bassi and has helped encourage career growth among many of those individuals. This is a well-deserved recognition for her on a national level.” The Women of Distinction program, in its third year, recognizes women who have made significant contributions to the senior living or skilled nursing professions or who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to the fields. Rising Stars are women who are younger than 40 or have fewer than 15 years in the industry. Nominations were judged by an external panel of industry experts. All winners will be honored at a virtual awards celebration on May 18. Bassi has a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from University of Santo Tomas in Manila, Philippines. Additionally, she recently completed the LeadingAge California EMERGE leadership development program.

Emanuel Medical Center announces changes to leadership

Emanuel Medical Center has appointed Kathy Van Meter as its new Chief Nursing Officer and Dianna Romo as its new Associate Administrator. Van Meter has assumed responsibility for all nursing and designated patient care

functions within Emanuel. She oversees and coordinates the nursing units and their daily operations. “Kathy is dedicated to the patient experience and advocating for patients to receive the safest care of the highest quality,” said Lani Dickinson, CEO of Emanuel Medical Center. “We are excited to have her step into this Kathy Van Meter role and continue to implement best practices for our patients.” Van Meter has been a registered nurse for more than 20 years and has served as Associate Administrator at Emanuel since 2019. Prior to her role at Emanuel, she served in various Clinical Informatics roles in California and Arizona. Kathy was also employed at Legacy Health System in Portland for more than eight years, where the majority of her time was spent serving in the emergency department. Van Meter earned Associate Degrees in Nursing and Liberal Arts from Chaffey Community College, a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Information Systems from DeVry University and Master of Science in Health Informatics from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She is a member of the Association of California Nurse Leaders and the California Association for Healthcare Quality. Taking over for Van Meter as Associate Administrator, Romo will develop management objectives for various hospital departments and monitor results. She will coordinate activities within various departments and help resolve issues with department leads. Romo will also support administration with special projects, and with short and long-term strategic planning. “We are thrilled to have Dianna move into this position,” Dickinson said. “She has already shown a passion for ensurDianna Romo ing we deliver excellent service and meet the needs of the patients we serve.” Romo has been at Emanuel since 2011 and has served in various roles including Human Resources Director, Human Resources Manager and Human Resources Generalist. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration &amp; Management and a Master’s in Business Administration, both from California State University Stanislaus.

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MARCH 2021