209 Business Journal May 2018

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BUSINESS JOURNAL

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MAY 2018

VOLUME 3 ■ ISSUE 5

IN PROFILE

TARIFF WORRIES

Morris Nursery has bulked up their offerings of flowers, plants, and trees as gardeners get to work.

PAGE 3

NEWS

Opportunity Stanislaus names the list of companies making it onto the Best Places to Work: Central Valley ranking for 2018.

PAGE 9

Local growers, ranchers discuss impacts on industry

BY ANGELINA MARTIN 209 Business Journal

Farmers nationwide are feeling the effects of new tariffs announced by China on April 2, but California growers have been hit the hardest. Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture Karen Ross met with local farmers Thursday in Lodi to highlight just how devastating the roughly $500 million in new duties on the nation’s agricultural goods is to the state’s economy.

On March 8, the Trump administration announced global steel and aluminum tariffs to protect U.S. producers, exempting many nations – but not China. The country fired back at America by levying 12 to 25 percent tariffs on $3 billion worth of American goods, including scrap aluminum, frozen pork, dried fruits, nuts and wine.

The tariffs greatly impact California’s almond, walnut, wine, cherry and many other commodities, increasing the cost of exportation, depressing the prices of farm futures and harming trade relationships that have taken decades to develop.

Ross, along with California Farm Bureau Federation President Jamie Johansson and Farmers for Free Trade Executive Director Brian Keuhl, spoke about the tariffs with Aaron Lange of LangeTwins Family Winery and Vineyards, Lodi Farming Compa-

ny President Jeff Colombini and California League of Food Processors President and CEO Rob Neenan at LangeTwins on Thursday, where each shared how the tariffs will affect a state that exported more than $2 billion in agricultural products to China in 2016-2017.

“California means something in our foreign markets…we don’t

appreciate being a bargaining chip in brand international deals, and we know the benefits that come to us if we have free and fair trade,” Ross said. “Being able to negotiate bilateral and multilateral trade agreements is critical to our continued success.”

Lange shared the immediate impacts of the tariffs on his winery, which, when announced, re-

sulted in an importer from China cancelling an order.

“It was a small order, but it was the beginning of a new relationship with an importer in China and it was cancelled almost immediately,” Lange said.

Another, larger order of 700 cases of wine that was set to be SEE TARIFFS, PAGE 10

KRISTINA HACKER/209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

California Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross talks about how free trade is essential to the wellbeing of the state’s — and nation’s — economy during a press conference held by ag leaders on Thursday to discuss the Trump administration’s global steel and aluminum tariffs and China’s retaliatory tariffs on U.S. agricultural products.

209 209BUSINESS BUSINESS JOURNAL JOURNAL

2

MAY 2018

OPINION

A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong gives it a superficial appearance of being right.

Vol. 3 No. 5 ■ May 2018 PUBLISHER Hank Vander Veen

GENERAL MANAGER Drew Savage

MANAGING EDITOR Sabra Stafford

NEWSROOM Jeff Benziger Jason Campbell Dennis D. Cruz Kristina Hacker Teresa Hammond Marg Jackson Glenn Khal Angelina Martin Candy Padilla Vince Rembulat Paul Roupe Virginia Still Dennis Wyatt

­— Thomas Paine

ART DIRECTOR Harold L. George

DESIGN Sharon Hoffman

ADVERTISING DIRECTORS Chuck Higgs

SALES & MARKETING Chris Castro Beth Flanagan Dawn Hamilton Maddie Hayes Corey Rogers Melody Wann Charles Webber Jennifer Webber

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: dsavage@209businessjournal.com 209businessjournal.com The Oakdale Leader USPS No 178-680 Is published weekly by Morris Newspaper Corporation, 122 S. Third Ave. Oakdale, CA 95361 ©Copyright 2018. 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

Do personal guarantees go on forever?

CLIFF ENNICO CREATORS SYNDICATE

“My partner and I bought a small business five years ago from the person who originally started it. We assumed his existing lease for a terrific retail space, and personally guaranteed the lease. As we are both getting ready to retire, we decided to sell the business. We found a great buyer, who is willing to pay us an abovemarket price because of the business location.

“But we’ve hit a big snag, in the form of our landlord, who will not release us from our personal guaranties of the lease even though our buyer has agreed to give his own personal guaranty of the lease. There’s seven years left on our lease, and while we like the buyer we’re not willing to put our houses on the line for that long a period of time.

“What’s even worse, the landlord wants a personal guaranty from the person who sold us this business five years ago! We’ve kept in touch with him, but there’s no way we can ask him to guarantee a lease for someone he doesn’t even know or care about.

“Do you have some ideas as to how we can deal with this situation?”

I represent a fair number of people each year who are buying or selling small businesses, and one thing is universally true: Whenever there’s a problem in a business sale, it almost invariably comes from the landlord of the business premises.

Unlike the seller and the buyer, who are both motivated to get the deal done, the landlord has no incentive to make the deal happen. I’ve heard more than one landlord tell me, “Whenever a business changes hands, it inevitably starts going downhill, and we have to worry about getting our rent check on time each month.” Also, given the current weak economy, a lot of landlords are terrified about tenants defaulting on their rent, so they’re looking for a lot more protection than they did a couple of years ago.

But requiring a personal guarantee from someone who hasn’t been involved in the business for five years? Clearly, this landlord realizes how important the location is to the success of the business and is abusing power in order to squeeze something out of you.

It is unlikely this landlord will release you from your personal guarantees, but you can and should request some protections, such as the following: —A “cap” on your personal guarantee obligation to six months or one year’s rent.

—A “sunset” clause allowing your personal guarantees to lapse if there is no default under the lease for 12 months after you sell the business.

—A clause in your sale contract allowing you to step in and cure any defaults of the buyer under the lease before the landlord sues you under your personal guarantees.

As for the landlord’s onerous requirement of a personal guarantee from the person who sold you this business five years ago, the first thing you should do is have your lawyer review the “assignment and transfer” section of your lease. There’s a good chance the landlord’s consent to a sale of business “may not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.” If that lan-

guage appears in the lease, you may be able to use it as a weapon to get the landlord to back off, as this requirement is unreasonable and clearly designed to handicap you in selling your business to anyone.

Your attorney should also look at the guarantee or suretyship laws of your state. In many states, a personal guarantee automatically disappears when a business changes hands unless the guarantor reaffirms it in writing. If the original business owner did not specifically reaffirm his guaranty when you bought the business, he is forever released from his guarantee, and any future reaffirmation will be void unless he receives something in return for it (such as money or an equity interest in the business).

Your buyer may be able to get the landlord to back off this requirement by offering an additional one- to two-month security deposit, or some other collateral for his own personal guarantee (such as a second mortgage on his home, a lien on the business accounts receivable or a percentage of his monthly gross sales as “additional rent”).

If all else fails, you will have to contact the prior business owner, explain the situation, offer him something (such as a percentage of the money you will receive for selling the business) and offer to hold him harmless in the event the landlord ever calls on his personal guarantee. This means that if he is ever sued on his personal guarantee, you will take over the defense of his claim, pay all his fees (including legal fees if he retains his own attorney) and pay any judgment in favor of the landlord so the prior owner doesn’t have to shell out a penny of his own money or put any of his own property at risk.

209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

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IN PROFILE

Organizer helps community declutter

BY ANGELINA MARTIN 209 Business Journal

Rebecca Prendez has always found decluttering and organizing to be therapeutic, and now she’s turned her hobby into a business that makes the stress of cleaning up just a little bit easier for Turlock residents.

Prendez’s professional organizing business, Peaceful Spaces, stems from a childhood which saw her grow up in a household with seven children. Her parents kept a neat home, she said, which taught her the skills of keeping an organized living space.

“There wasn’t too much space for fluff,” Prendez said. “We were ‘minimalist’ before it was a thing.”

Peaceful Spaces began when Prendez’s friends told her that she made the overwhelming task of getting organized so much easier. Now, she has helped countless people with the challenge, working sideby-side with clients to sort, purge and organize

Peaceful Spaces Name of business: Peaceful Spaces Type of business: Professional Organizing Location:

www. peacefulspaces.net Hours:

Contact anytime; appointments/ consultations available afternoons and weekends Contact information:

209-277-2295 even the most cluttered of homes.

“Homes often become cluttered because we sim-

ply accumulate too much stuff. We don’t let go of things,” she said. “When there is too much coming into our homes and nothing is going out, things can spiral out of control.”

Prendez helps clients in whatever areas they need help — she can help create a filing system for important documents or family photos, she will haul away any unwanted items to the nearest donation center and she even shops for organizing supplies. She has also helped clients out by re-selling any items they don’t want but would like to make a profit from on sites like Craigslist, Facebook or Offer-Up. “When we eliminate the clutter in our lives and create an organized space we can spend more time on that which is most meaningful,” Prendez said. “When we eliminate physical clutter we often find that we are eliminating mental clutter as well, resulting in a more restful, productive and peaceful home.”

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Rebecca Prendez turned her at-home hobby of organization into a business, helping others turn their cluttered quarters into peaceful spaces.

Prendez’s top tips for those hoping to reorganize their living spaces include the rule of, “one thing in, one thing out,” which asks the organizer to let go of something in their home every time they bring some new in.

“Whatever it is; if you buy a new white shirt then let

go of that old white shirt. If you buy a new set of sheets, it’s okay to say goodbye to the old set,” Prendez said.

She also encourages people to only keep what they love and what is essential, rather than keeping things around their home that don’t bring them any joy.

“It’s okay to let things go.

Donate or recycle what you don’t use,” Prendez said.

“The best part about doing this is helping someone simplify their life and find peace.”

Prendez is available by appointment (afternoons and weekends) for complimentary consultations and regular sessions.

Local nursery colors your world

BY MARG JACKSON 209 Business Journal

Business is blooming at Morris Nursery in Riverbank.

A well-known full service nursery in the 209, owner Ron Hoffmann said March, April and May are the busiest months for the business, which is situated along Patterson Road (Highway 108) just west of Riverbank.

Hoffmann has been involved in the business for years, starting out as a ‘water boy’ while still in high school and climbing the ladder through multiple positions within the nursery industry before eventually purchasing Morris Nursery.

A graduate of Davis High School, Hoffmann also did some college classes at both Modesto Junior College and Stanislaus State, but said much of his ‘schooling’ came on the job.

He started his career working for Floyd and Betty Zaiger at Zaiger’s Nursery in Modesto, now Westurf Nursery. Originally interested in pursuing a career in mechanical engineering, Hoffmann said that career choice was left behind when he joined the FFA in high school.

Morris Nursery Name of business: Morris Nursery Location:

1837 Patterson Road, Riverbank Hours: Monday through Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Contact information: 209-527-5553 “It changed my goals,” he said of his involvement in the agriculture-focused organization.

The nursery covers about 2½ acres along the highway and nearly two acres are covered with plants, trees, garden art, fountains and more. They also have an extensive gift shop with hard-to-find items.

“We carry a lot of unique things,” Hoffmann said.

It hasn’t always been an easy row to hoe in the nursery business, espe-

MARG JACKSON/209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

The grounds at Morris Nursery are brimming with flowers and plants ready to plant in the garden.

cially when people got used to “going to chain stores” for plant needs but Hoffmann said he is seeing a change.

“There’s such a move on

now for people to grow their own food, they are realizing that fresh vegetables and fresh fruits are good for you,” Hoffmann said.

Morris Nursery is literally a ‘one stop shop’ for those needs, the owner added, with plenty of fruit trees and seeds for the garden available, as well as

ornamental trees, flowers and plants to bring that needed curb appeal or to create a custom backyard SEE MORRIS, PAGE 4

209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

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MAY 2018

IN PROFILE

Born on the Bayou is alive in Modesto

BY PAUL ROUPE 209 Business Journal

When you think of Southern cuisine in California, Modesto probably won’t be the first place that comes to mind.

Better known for George Lucas than jambalaya, the city now has some of the New Orleans spirit stuffed into a restaurant on 13th Street, giving food lovers a flavor that is lacking in the Central Valley.

Mark Nelson, a personal injury attorney based in Modesto, loved visiting New Orleans and admired the city so much that he decided to bring some of it back home with him. He opened The Bayou Bar & Grill on April 1 2017, and when it arrived there was nothing like it anywhere around.

Sure, you could probably track down a Po’Boy sandwich or some gumbo if you were patient enough and had some extra gas in the tank, but to have a Big Easy themed restaurant that combines vibe and unique regional dishes in one spot is a bit different.

Starting a business that focuses on a style of food most Valley residents might not be familiar with

may seem like a gamble, and for a while after the doors opened it looked like just that.

It took some time for the Bayou to find its identity and to establish itself as more than just a gimmick. The masks on the walls adorned with feathers and rhinestones, the colorful beads draping the chairs, the tall slender jazz figurines that greet visitors upon entrance, all of it means nothing without authentic Southern cooking to back it up.

At first, The Bayou wasn’t doing as well as Nelson had hoped, so he knew that changes had to be made if it was to be successful. That’s when he hired Heather DeShaw, who has 15 years experience in the culinary world, to take over as general manager in December. A new chef was hired and a new menu was released and business began increasing.

“I can’t express how much of a team they are,” DeShaw said of the staff.

“If you don’t love your job, it’ll show in the food.”

And the food is definitely the reason patrons keep coming back.

MORRIS

FROM PAGE 3

oasis.

Offering garden and landscape design, master nursery professionals to answer all your questions and featuring classes on topics from planning a summer vegetable garden to orchid care, there are plenty of ways to

“A lot of people think that because we’re landlocked in the Central Valley we don’t have access to fresh items, but those trucks move over the hill (from the Bay) pretty quick,” DeShaw said.

They get fresh fish lists every day, showing what’s stocked on the docks in the morning. The Pacific Ocean is a rich source of shrimp, and they get renewed shipments of seafood at least twice a week.

Their oysters have a much longer journey though, making their way here from the eastern coast of Canada.

DeShaw says she gets compliments from New Orleans natives on how the Bayou captures the soul of Southern cuisine.

Some have even compared their beignets to the famous Café Du Monde’s, a Big Easy feature since 1862.

And it’s the menu, simple yet strong, which is at the center of it all: Po’Boy sandwiches, fresh oysters, chicken or shrimp jambalaya, gumbo packed with shrimp and andouille sausage, alligator bites, and a new Mardi Gras salad with house-made cranberry

PAUL ROUPE/209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

The Bayou Bar & Grill offers Central Valley patrons an authentic taste of New Orleans.

rum relish that DeShaw says is awesome.

“The flavor profile is amazing...it just dances all over your mouth,” DeShaw said.

In addition to providing great grub for those who come in and sit down for a bite, The Bayou also participates in events that can showcase their talents as well as raise awareness for causes.

The One Table Community Dinner, which takes place on May 6 at 15th St. and the McHenry Mansion, helps benefit United Way of Stanislaus County.

The Bayou Bar & Grill will serve their appetizers, and the more than 300 guests who attend and eat at the block-long table will also get to sample the flavors of other local chefs.

They are also volunteer-

ing for Pirate’s Day, held for Modesto Junior College students, where they will give a taste of their menu to those who no doubt could use some free samples.

With word of mouth spreading like Louisiana hot sauce, it’s no wonder The Bayou figures to be part of the downtown culinary landscape for the foreseeable future.

eral years before purchasing the business from former owners Bill and Sharon Morris in 1996.

He still leases the land from them. Along with the retail side of the nursery that Hoffmann purchased, there is also Morris Wholesale Nursery, which he doesn’t own, that deals more with landscape contractors and professional designers. It is adjacent to the retail store but is a

There’s such a move on now for people to grow their own food, they are realizing that fresh vegetables and fresh fruits are good for you. ­— Ron Hoffmann

MARG JACKSON/209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

Morris Nursery’s showroom has plenty of options for shoppers looking to decorate inside and outside.

learn and do at the shop.

Along with Hoffmann as the owner, the professional staff includes General Manager Dave Provost, Assistant Manager/Creative Design Director Cynthia Austin Tanis, Bedding Manger Jaci Ideus, Assistant Giftroom Manager Kathy Stepp and Horticulturist and Landscape Designer Jadwiga Hoffmann.

Ron Hoffmann served as manager at Morris Nursery for sev-

separately owned business.

As far as the best part of the job?

“Dealing with the public,” Hoffmann said. “I like to solve problems people are having with their plant issues, I enjoy the blooming flowers and hummingbirds … our busy season started in January this year, that was earlier than normal because of the weather but typically March, April and May are our

busiest. Also, October, November and December are busy because of Christmas.”

Morris Nursery is turned into a virtual Winter Wonderland for the holidays, making it very much a ‘must see’ on the holiday list with several rooms decorated for the winter season and Christmas.

Hoffmann said he and the staff at Morris Nursery take pride in being able to help customers

with a variety of issues, concerns and projects. Whether it’s someone looking for help designing a small or large yard, getting answers on what plants will fare the best in the Central Valley summers or someone looking to get into gardening, the answers can be found.

“We get a lot of plant questions, bug problems, leaf problems,” Hoffman said. “We’re about to hit our daily full parking

lot time.”

And staying busy is what makes Hoffmann and his staff the happiest, since they know they are helping meet a specific need for each customer that walks through their doors.

“To get good quality, come to a nursery where people know what they’re doing,” Hoffmann said.

209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

5

AGRICULTURE

Nominees sought for conservation award STAFF REPORTS 209 Business Journal

Sand County Foundation, the California Farm Bureau Federation and Sustainable Conservation are accepting applications for the $10,000 California Leopold Conservation Award. The award publicly honors California farmers, ranchers, foresters and other private landowners who demonstrate outstanding stewardship and management of the state’s natural resources.

“It is an honor to be a recipient of the Leopold Conservation Award and to be affiliated amongst the other alumni who share a passion for conservation and are committed to sustainable practices in agriculture,” said Jack Thomson of C. Jeff Thomson, International, the award’s 2017 recipient. “I strongly encourage those who care deeply about conservation and agriculture to apply for this award.”

Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the Leopold Conservation Award inspires other landowners and provides a public forum where farmers and ranchers are recognized as conservation leaders. In his influential 1949 book, “A Sand County Almanac,” Leopold called for an ethical relationship between people and the land they own and manage, which he called “an evolutionary possibility and an ecological necessity.”

“Landowners learn best from one another, looking across fence lines, attending field days, and sharing stories of land stewards who have managed to achieve both conservation and profitability,” said Sand County Foundation President Kevin McAleese.

“The Leopold Conservation Award has much to contribute to this kind of peer learning.”

“Aldo Leopold was a pioneer in the concept of the ‘land ethic,’ a concept that resonates within California’s agricultural community,” said California Farm Bureau Federation President Jaime Johansson. “The daily practice of this ethic is demonstrated not only in the diversity of landscapes where our farms and ranches operate, but also in the diversity of crops that drive America’s most successful farm economy. The California Farm Bureau Federation is proud to partner with Sand County Foundation in awarding the Leopold Conservation Award to a California farm or ranch whose land ethic has developed creative and replicable ideas concerning the stewardship of the natural resources on its land while providing a sustainable economic stimulus that feeds our nation.”

Nominations must be postmarked by July 13 and mailed to California Leopold Conservation Award c/o Sustainable Conservation, 98 Battery Street, Suite 302, San Francisco, CA 94111. The award will be presented in December in San Diego.

The California Leopold Conservation Award is possible thanks to generous contributions from many organizations, including Farm Credit West, American AgCredit, The Harvey L. & Maud S. Sorensen Foundation, The Nature Conservancy, and Leopold Conservation Award Alumni.

For application information, visit leopoldconservationaward.org.

Stan State senior Zavala gets first-hand look at the USDA in Washington trip CSU STANISLAUS

SPECIAL TO THE 209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

As Ramiro Zavala’s flight made its descent toward Reagan International Airport, he looked out his window at the million-dollar view of the monuments that grace Washington, D.C. At that moment, the Stan State senior realized he wasn’t in Turlock anymore.

“When I got there I noticed right away how different it was,” said Zavala, a first-generation college student majoring in agriculture studies. “When we landed, we could see the monuments, and I’d only ever seen them on TV and in books.”

It was the first time Zavala’s eyes were opened during his five-day trip to Washington as part of the USDA’s Agriculture Outlook Forum, which annually selects 30 students

Ramiro Zavala

from across the country for the all-expenses-paid experience.

The USDA selects the students via an essay contest, and Zavala was one of two students selected

by Stan State professors to have their essays submitted to the USDA. “I just wrote the essay and I didn’t hear anything for a while,” said the graduate of Modesto’s Jo-

hansen High School. “But I had a good semester, taking 17 units and giving some good presentations. I think that helped me because I’m sure they looked at more than the essay when they decided which students to nominate.”

The rules called for a personal essay on agriculture, including experiences in the field and how the writer sees his or her role in agriculture in the future. Zavala chose to write about his family in southern Mexico.

“My whole family worked in agriculture, on family ranches in southern Mexico, and they had a great life on that land,” he said. “My family brought me to Modesto when I was 5 or 6 and I lost out on having that experience. I only heard about it. I still go and help my grandfather dur-

ing the seasons. It’s hard work and can put you in a bad mood and make your back hurt. On the other hand, the way those ranches are set-up, your whole family is there — all my uncles and cousins and grandparents. Now we’re all over the place.”

During his D.C. visit, in addition to visiting the monuments he’d seen from the air, Zavala also met with USDA policymakers and other officials.

“Meeting with the USDA folks and listening to them made me realize how important agriculture is as an industry and how important it is for young people to get involved,” Zavala said.

“This was a great opportunity and experience. It was worth it because of the networking you get to do and everything you get to see.”

State organic program announces new vacancies on advisory committee STAFF REPORTS 209 Business Journal

The California State Organic Program’s advisory board, the California Organic Products Advisory Committee, has announced it is looking to fill nine vacancies on the 30-person committee.

COPAC advises the secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) and the SOP on organic issues, and provides guidance on enforcement, education, outreach, and technical assistance for organic producers.

“Those who serve on CDFA advisory boards for the California Department of Agriculture provide us with highly valued insight,” said CDFA secretary Karen Ross. That insight assists our department in meeting the everchanging needs of our growers, pro-

ducers, processors and consumers.”

The COPAC is comprised of leaders from the California organic industry, including producers, processors, wholesale distributors, a representative of an accredited certifying agency, a consumer, an environmental representative, a retail representative, and technical representatives with scientific credentials related to agricultural chemicals, toxicology, or food science.

Each of the 15 representatives has an alternate counterpart who fits the same criteria.

The current vacancies include: • 1 Technical Representative • 2 Producer Alternates • 2 Processor Alternates

• 1 Environmental Representative Alternate • 2 Technical Representative Alternates • 1 Consumer Representative Alternate Appointments for advisory committee positions will normally be for three years from the date of appointment. A member may serve for two consecutive terms. After one year of absence from the committee, a former member may reapply for other vacant seats and may be appointed.

As needed some appointments may be made for two years to allow staggering of terms. Term limits do not apply to alternates.

To apply or learn more about the committee, visit the COPAC website at https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/is/i_&_c/ organic_publications.html#COPAC

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209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

6

MAY 2018

GOVERNMENT

Congressional candidates talk priorities during forum

BY ANGELINA MARTIN 209 Business Journal

Whether Republican or Democrat, the six candidates vying to replace Rep. Jeff Denham in Congress all agreed on one thing during a recent debate: It’s time for a change.

The Central Valley race is listed as one of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s initial targets in their mission of flipping Republican-controlled districts over to Democrats, and what began with a competition that saw 13 challengers ready to face Denham has now fallen to six. With less than two months until the June 5 Primary Election, Democrats Mike Barkley, Michael Eggman, Josh Harder, Virginia Madueño and Sue Zwahlen and Republican Ted Howze on Wednesday answered voter questions and shared why they believe they are the best candidate to represent California’s 10th District.

The candidates were forced to think logically rather than politically thanks to the first question of the night, which asked if Congress is irrelevant now. Congress isn’t irrelevant, they all agreed, but Eggman wondered if the concept has become irrelevant for the working people of the country as big corporations fill the pockets of representatives with campaign money. He and the

others took the opportunity – and many more throughout the event – to criticize Denham, who was not present at the event, for taking money from corporations and for voting against the wishes of many of his constituents.

“I don’t think (Congress) has become irrelevant, but I certainly think it’s become ineffective in the issues that matter most,” Harder said, pointing to Denham’s “yes” vote on the American

Health Care Act, which would have stripped health care from many District 10 residents including his younger brother, who was born with a preexisting condition.

Howze agreed with Harder, stating that Congress has become irresponsible and Denham unreachable.

“I’m a fellow Republican and when you can’t have a conversation with your representative about what you feel are hotbed

issues and what you need to work on, it’s become completely irresponsible,” Howze said.

Issues like water, immigration and gun control were hot topics during the discussion, and the candidate’s similarities in these areas were made evident through their similar answers. All would like to increase access to safe and reliable water in the district, and all agree that comprehensive immigration reform is needed.

While the Democratic candidates agreed on other issues like accepting refugees and commonsense gun control, the lone Republican Howze made his differing opinions known, stating law-abiding gun owners should have the right to bear arms and that refugees of “young, fighting age” coming from Syria should be screened.

More differences between all of the candidates came to light when they were asked to name

legislation that would most benefit the area.

For Madueño, the daughter of immigrants, immigration reform is her top legislative priority.

“How many people are being adversely affected right now? Knowing that farmers right now in the community, employers in the community, can’t find enough workers… right now our economy is on the brink of suffering some major, major repercussions that we’re not going to be able to repair,” she said. “We also have over 800,000 youth – rising star kids – that should be and need to be allowed in this country.”

Both Zwahlen and Eggman believe that our health care system is in great need of a fix.

“The costs are exorbitant and out of hand for most of us in this room, I’m sure,” Zwahlen said, adding that she would like to see “Medicare for all” turn from a slogan into a reality. “After 40 years in the emergency room, I have seen a lot through my window of the world and I have a heart and have empathy for the patients that I see everyday and their pressing needs.”

Barkley’s first move, if elected, would be to repeal the GOP tax bill, while Harder hopes to work for better-paying jobs in the Valley through investment in infrastructure and Career Technical SEE FORUM, PAGE 7

Superintendent hopefuls take center stage

BY ANGELINA MARTIN 209 Business Journal

Student success is at the forefront of each candidate’s campaign in the race to become Stanislaus County’s new Superintendent of Schools, and the three education veterans vying for the title shared their visions for making that success a reality at a candidate forum held in Modesto.

Gratton School District Superintendent Shannon Sanford, Waterford Unified School District Superintendent Don Davis and Stanislaus County Office of Education Assistant Superintendent Scott Kuykendall have all tossed their hats into the ring to replace County Superintendent Tom Changnon, who announced in January that he would not

be seeking reelection.

All three candidates argued why they believe they are best fit for the job on Tuesday, and while all are experienced, the types of schools and students they have overseen throughout their careers make them quite different.

Kuykendall was hired

by Changnon seven years ago and has since overseen schools including the Stanislaus Military Academy, Valley Charter High School and Come Back Kids, or adults who are looking for a second chance to earn their high school diploma. Overseeing such programs for underserved or atypical students has given Kuykendall the experience needed to take the ideas into other schools as well,

he said.

“I’ve been very involved in making sure that those who are underserved in our community have an opportunity to come back and get a high school diploma,” Kuykendall said.

“I’ve been at the county now for seven years, I have a budget of $30 million, I know the schools’ programs and I sit amongst my colleagues and the current superintendent, who’s a mentor to me.”

Sanford is currently the longest-serving school district superintendent in the county and serves as the one-woman show for GSD, overseeing departments like human resources and others at one of Stanislaus County’s smallest districts. Her top objective if elected, she said, would be to create a

ANGELINA MARTIN/209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

Stanislaus County Superintendent of Schools candidates Scott Kuykendall, Don Davis and Shannon Sanford answer questions during a forum hosted by the League of Women Voters held recently in Modesto.

strong base for TK-8 students.

“How do you do that?

By integrating STEM, or Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, and increasing vocational opportunities for students,” Sanford said.

Davis has served as WUSD Superintendent since 2009 and during that time took Waterford High School’s test scores from worst in the nation to among the best. This year, the high school was awarded the prestigious

California Gold Ribbon Award by the California Department of Education for Davis’ efforts, which included a focus on STEM, promoting literacy and developing model instructional programs.

SEE SCHOOL, PAGE 12

209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

7

NEWS

More shopping for Lathrop Report: Valley continues Project next door to Target envisions drop in employment growth 126,000 square feet of retail + hotel

IMAGE CONTRIBUTED

One unique aspect of the shopping center is an open plaza that will include seating, fire pit, fountains and a shade canopy.

BY JASON CAMPBELL 209 Business Journal

Lathrop’s next significant retail development — 126,000 square feet of retail space plus a 60,000-squarefoot hotel — is being pursued along Golden Valley Parkway just to the south of the Target on the west side of Interstate 5.

The project features an open patio seating area along the southwest corner of the site adjacent to the intersection of Golden Valley Parkway and Towne Centre Drive. That patio, which would create a sense of walkability for patrons of the establishments that will be contained within, would also include a fire pit, fountains, outdoor seating and a shade canopy. Larger retail tenant spaces and the hotel would be situated along the eastern border of the project so that they could remain visible to traffic along I-5, while the western edge of the building would likely be home to smaller stores.

The proposed project is located at the northeast corner of Golden Valley Parkway and Towne Centre Drive, just down the street from Lathrop City Hall,

explore

and is part of the Mossdale Landing East subdivision.

The entire project spans 13-acres that is currently zoned in the General Plan as Service Commercial and Service Commercial Zoning and is currently being used as a spray field by the City of Lathrop to disperse its treated wastewater from the treatment facility that serves the area.

The Lathrop City Council approved the Mossdale Landing East project in 2004. According to the staff report, the property is located within Mossdale Landing East subdivision – a mixed-use, master-planned community consisting of 500 residential units, commercial, parks and open space in a 150-acre plot.

The project is also part of the Mossdale Village area and is encompassed by the West Lathrop Specific Plan and the necessary engineering work that went into preparing it for future development.

The project’s developer, Ramona Chase LLC, is no stranger to the Lathrop City Council having spoken before the body in 2014 to request the city’s accom-

modation for sewer capacity for a 208-unit apartment complex that the company was building on a 35-acre parcel. In what became a tense exchange between representatives from Ramona Chase and city staff, the developer accused the city of playing favorites with other developers when it came to sewer allocations.

At the time, the council was considering doubling its existing sewer capacity to meet the rising demand from expected growth, and city staffers pointed out to the representatives that developers like River Islands negotiated for first crack at all sewer capacity when it comes online during an expansion by constructing the wastewater treatment facility itself before turning it over to the City of Lathrop to operate.

During that meeting Ramona Chase owner Ron Tate proposed writing Lathrop a $7.5 million check to guarantee the necessary sewer capacity to make sure the large apartment complex would be able to proceed without holdup.

BY KRISTINA HACKER 209 Business Journal

The San Joaquin Valley as a whole has reached its peak in regards to employment growth and is currently in a slowdown, according to Gökçe Soydemir, the Foster Farms Endowed Professor of Business Economics at California State University, Stanislaus.

Along with evidence pointing to a slowdown in almost all categories of employment, inflation (staying above 3 percent for three consecutive months, similar to what occurred just prior to the Great Recession) and rising interest rates (foreclosures are already climbing back up) are areas of concern noted in the report.

“For the first time since the Great Recession, the growth rate came in below the bench mark rate,” said Soydemir.

A decline in total employment is not likely to begin soon, said Soydemir, but there is evidence pointing to this slowdown in almost all categories of employment.

On a positive note, Stanislaus County led the region in job growth in 2017 at 1.93 percent, followed by Madera and Fresno counties at 1.82 and 1.16 percent, respectively.

Stanislaus County employment normally grows at about the same rate as the Valley average, but for the first time since 2001, Stanislaus is in the lead.

Total employment growth was slower in 2017 than in 2016 for all other counties.

Construction was the fastest growing category of employment in 2017, followed by manufacturing

FORUM

FROM PAGE 6 Education.

“Part of that program is federally-funded and it’s getting zeroed out in the Trump budget,” Harder said. “Those are the sorts of solutions that we need a Congressman who’s going to invest in them, not just somebody fo-

employment. Information employment was the only category that posted a decline in 2017.

At this slower pace of growth, total employment in the San Joaquin Valley is still projected to reach 1,750,000 in the second half of 2020.

Employment growth across California continues to outpace the Valley, according to the report. In the first half of 2017, the slowdown in growth was very visible in the Valley, while state employment growth continued to gain some speed. In the latter part of 2017, the Valley’s employment growth caught up with the state.

In the coming months, however, growth in the two series is expected to slow, particularly in the Valley, as categories of employment such as retail and leisure and hospitality services begin to feel the continued effects of rising rates.

Another factor that Soydemir says will negatively affect Valley employment is the “tariff war.”

On March 8, the Trump administration announced global steel and aluminum tariffs to protect U.S. producers, exempting many nations – but not China.

The country fired back at America by levying 12 to 25 percent tariffs on $3 billion worth of American goods, including scrap aluminum, frozen pork, dried fruits, nuts and wine.

“Tariffs, along with retaliatory effects, will have a disproportionate impact on Valley’s farm-related exports, such as almonds, and worsen the purchasing power of the region’s consumers due to higher pric-

es of retail goods related to the steel industry,” states the report.

Soydemir said tariff wars are “very dangerous things in the long run.”

“These were lessons learned in after the first and second World Wars…if currency wars aren’t resolved, they lead to tariffs wars. If tariff wars aren’t resolved, they lead to physical wars.”

Other highlights of the report include: — The yearly percentage increase in home prices in the Valley continued at 8.27 percent, higher than in 2016 and 2015.

— Purchasing power of the Valley consumer declined in 2017 as inflation took away wage gains, the trend is expected to continue into 2019.

— Slowing of growth in bank deposits and net loans and leases from community banks in the Valley appears to be consistent with the slowing employment growth valley wide.

— Non-accruals and accruals of bank assets began to tick upward along with the rising costs of borrowing due to continuing rate hikes.

The biannual San Joaquin Valley Business Forecast provides projections for the Valley’s labor market; regional housing conditions; prices and inflation; banks and other depositary institutions; and capital markets. Soydemir and his team use a unique forecasting model that produces lower and upper statistical confidence bands, with results that are expected to fall within this range.

Read the full report at: https://www.csustan.edu/ sjvbf

cused on creating more tax cuts for a handful of wealthy corporations.”

Howze said that fundamentally, the most important thing that Congress will do next is restructure “entitlements,” like Social Security, to “ensure their longevity.” If elected, he would like to work to see Medicare and Medicaid split completely, with

Medicare working at the federal level to cover elderly and Medicaid becoming a state program to cover poor children and the disabled.

“America is headed on a path of bankruptcy whether we like it or not, and no one wants to touch it or talk about it because it’s a political hot potato,” Howze said.

“I will.”

209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

8

MAY 2018

NEWS

Final stage of corridor improvements begin this month Valley Made

manufacturing summit upcoming

STAFF REPORTS 209 Business Journal

It didn’t seem long ago when local officials from across the region attended the McHenry Avenue Corridor Improvement groundbreaking ceremony at the corner of East River Road and McHenry Avenue. Less than a year later, the first stage of the project is nearly complete and motorists traveling along the corridor will find themselves a little closer to the sunrise while crossing the beautiful Stanislaus River.

“Thanks to the proactive efforts of a hardworking San Joaquin County Public Works Project Team, it is easy to forget that construction activities have been underway for nearly a year. The Project Team continues to implement innovative solutions to keep the public informed of construction progress and traffic conditions, and minimize impacts to the community,” said San Joaquin County Supervisor Chuck Winn.

On April 26, crews worked to implement the latest portion of the project, to have southbound and northbound McHenry Avenue traffic shifted onto the eastern half of the replacement bridge by the morning of April 27.

The new structure is already two feet wider than the existing 30-foot wide bridge. The total width of the replacement bridge

STAFF REPORTS 209 Business Journal

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

The improvement project of the McHenry Corridor is continuing to make progress towards completion.

will be more than 75 feet and will include a sidewalk and 5-foot paved shoulders to accommodate bicyclists.

“Transportation is critical to the Valley,” said Rep. Jeff Denham (R-Turlock).

“I’m proud of our local community for getting this done and will continue working to bring more of our transportation dollars back to the Valley.”

In addition, the temporary roundabout, dubbed as the “bean-a-bout” for its peculiar peanut-like shape, located at the intersection of East River Road and McHenry Avenue, was readjusted tonight to accommodate the traffic shift.

Motorists can expect the third edition of the roundabout to be more round than its predecessors.

The project is scheduled for completion by sum-

mer of 2020; however, 50 percent of the work has already been completed. The second bridge structure, within the limits of San Joaquin County’s corridor improvements, was replaced in February 2018, a year ahead of schedule. The aging structure was inadequate and not wide enough to accommodate future traffic growth. Once traffic shifts onto the eastern half of the new McHenry Avenue Bridge over Stanislaus River, the final stage of the work will commence. Upcoming work will include the demolition of the existing bridge over the Stanislaus River and construction of the western half of the replacement bridge.

By summer 2020, the McHenry Avenue Corridor from approximately 1,500 feet south of East River

Road to just south of Jones Road will boast two new modern bridges, a widened roadway with a center two-way left turn lane, and a signalized intersection at McHenry Avenue and East River Road. The corridor is designed to accommodate current and future traffic conditions.

“The benefits of this project are tremendous, and though the McHenry Avenue Bridge is one of only three Stanislaus River crossings in the area and directly connects Escalon and Modesto, the project reaches beyond San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties. It will provide a safer and more traffic-efficient corridor for decades to come,” concluded San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors Chairman Bob Elliot.

Hay baler gets nod for Hall of Fame STAFF REPORTS 209 Business Journal

Everett Rankins — the most prolific hay baler in San Joaquin County history — is being inducted into the Manteca Hall of Fame.

The dinner and induction ceremonies are taking place Saturday, May 19, at the Manteca Senior Center, 295 Cherry Lane. Tickets are $65 apiece and are available through the Manteca Boys & Girls Club, 545 W. Alameda St., or by calling 239.5437.

Other inductees are Joyce Gatto, art; Gary DeiRossi, education; Dr. Jerry Wein-

er, healthcare; Charleen Carroll, special recognition; Leon Sucht, business; Peggy Thompson Spears, community service; Connie Lum, at-large; and Michael Dean Moore, at-large.

Rankins is being inducted for agriculture.

The owner of Rankins Ag resided, worked in and contributed to the Manteca community from 1944 to 1979. He bought one of the original flat-top homes in the Powers Tract in 1953 and then moved to Flores Court in 1962. In order to be closer to his corporate office he moved to Tracy in

1969.

With the exception of two years of military service in the Navy, Rankins has baled hay in the area from 1944 continuously to the present. In peak seasons his bale count has reached a million bales.

He also has been instrumental in revolutionizing the hay industry in West. He has held up to 15 patents in the agricultural machine industry and has employed 100 plus people in the Manteca Tracy area.

Some of his inventions included the redesign of four-man balers allowing

them to be operated by two men, a spooled baling wire system, developing the first commercial spray rig for application of herbicide on dormant hay fields, the first bale pick-up machine, designed a series of minibalers in order to produce a small and convenient bale for small hay-consuming pets, and the first knife system for hay balers among others.

His hobbies include resorting antique vehicles with the oldest being a 1912 International Auto Wagon.

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I ATSI O A D V A NACDEVDAMN ECDE IDAMS EO DL U O LN US T. NI OE N T S.NET

The San Joaquin Valley Manufacturing Alliance and the Fresno Business Council will host Valley Made: The Fourth Annual Manufacturing Summit from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. May 17 at the Fresno Convention Center Exhibit Hall.

The cost to attend is $100, and tickets may be purchased online at www.sjvma.com by May 14. All registered guests are encouraged to download the official app to access event logistics, agenda, exhibitor and speaker information, surveys and interact with other attendees. A limited number of tickets will be available at the door.

Designed as a workshop and resource expo, the purpose of the Summit is to celebrate the long history of innovation in manufacturing in the San Joaquin Valley while providing resources and networking to continue to build a world-class workforce and cross-sector collaboration – all aimed at creating a globallycompetitive environment for the Valley’s manufacturing industry.

“The San Joaquin Valley Manufacturing industry employs more than 105,000 people and is responsible for nearly $15 billion of the Valley’s annual GDP (Gross Domestic Product),” said Mike Betts, SJVMA Chairman and CEO of Betts Company. “Our focus is to support this multi-billion dollar industry through developing the workforce and other resources, along with efforts such as the Valley Made Summit to enhance our competitiveness in the global market and continue to elevate the economic impact of manufacturing on the Valley.”

The Summit will feature keynote speaker, Josh Linkner, a multi-generational Detroit native whose accolades include being a five-time tech entrepreneur, hyper-growth CEO, two-time New York Times bestselling author and venture capitalist who is on a mission to drive creativity, innovation and reinvention in the manufacturing industry.

The event will also include opening remarks

from Mike Betts, SJVMA Chairman and CEO of Betts Company; the video Dream It. Do It. and remarks by Carolyn Lee, Executive Director of the Manufacturing Institute; and discussion regarding California’s energy agenda featuring Ashley Swearengin, CEO, Central Valley Community Foundation and Martha Guzman Aceves, Commissioner, California Public Utilities Commission.

Seasoned presenters will deliver 14 different workshop sessions on topics ranging from “Cybersecurity Risk” to “Explore Exporting and Succeed.” There will also be a resource expo throughout the day featuring nearly 100 exhibitors – including manufacturers and service providers to the manufacturing industry.

As part of the anticipated 1,100 attendees there will be students interested in pursuing manufacturing careers from Valley high schools, community colleges and Fresno State, as well as individuals from programs through the Fresno Regional Workforce Development Board and Fresno County Economic Development Corporation. This is all a part of working to build up a workforce that can continue to elevate the profile of manufacturing in the San Joaquin Valley.

The San Joaquin Valley Manufacturing Alliance was incubated and launched by the Fresno Business Council in cooperation with Fresno State’s Office of Community and Economic Development in 2016.

OCED first organized and initiated a manufacturing cluster in 2014 with the intention of bringing together regional manufacturers. That year launched the very first manufacturing summit.

As the focus of building a strong advanced manufacturing cluster and developing a world-class workforce ecosystem evolved, the Fresno Business Council stepped in with industry champions to help lead the charge.

Today, the SJVMA maintains its operations under the FBC’s 501(c) (6) as a member-based organization with over 600 members throughout SEE VALLEY, PAGE 12

209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

9

NEWS

Rail project receives major state grant STAFF REPORTS 209 Business Journal

The California State Transportation Agency announced a series of grant awards under the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program and selected the Valley Rail Project as a major awardee providing $500,500,000 to fund a series of new stations and track improvements to increase connectivity and frequency of service to the Sacramento region. The Valley Rail Project is a joint proposal by the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority and the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission to dramatically improve passenger rail service to the Sacramento region with both Amtrak San Joaquins and Altamont Corridor Express service.

The Valley Rail project will implement a new transportation vision for serving the Sacramento region with integrated intercity and commuter rail service. The grant funds will help perform track improvements on the existing Union Pacific Railroad Sacramento subdivision freight corridor that runs just east of Interstate 5 to make it usable for passenger service and build new shared San Joaquins and ACE stations in Lodi, Elk Grove, Sacramento City College, Sacramento Midtown, Old North Sacramento, and Natomas which will include a shuttle connection to the Sacramento In-

ternational Airport.

“The Sacramento community is very excited about this project,” said Sacramento Vice Mayor Steve Hansen. “Right now we have train tracks that run through midtown without providing any benefit to the local area. By building a new station in midtown we will now tap into that existing infrastructure, bringing customers to our local businesses, giving business travelers access to the Capitol without clogging up our roads, and providing new easy access for our local residents to reach key parts of the Bay Area or destinations throughout the Central Valley.”

“This TIRCP grant will revolutionize the way that the SJRRC can grow by adding new service that would now include Sacramento for ACE and adding additional trains for the Amtrak San Joaquins. The State of California recognizes the important part the SJRRC plays in connecting the Central Valley, Bay Area, and State Capital, and we are grateful for their support,” says Steve Dresser, Chair, San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission Additional new stations will also be constructed along the ACE and San Joaquins routes as a result of this award: on the San Joaquins line, new stations will be built in Madera and Oakley; on the ACE route, new

Rankings Released for Best Places to Work: Central Valley STAFF REPORTS 209 Business Journal

Central Valley organizations with a strong workplace environment were recognized on April 19 at the Ceres Community Center. In front of a crowd of elite local businesses, the companies receiving the award for Best Places to Work: Central Valley were named.

The complete list of recipients is as follows: • J.S. West & Companies • Community Hospice • DeHart Plumbing Heating and Air • Grimbleby Coleman CPAs • Huff Construction Company, Inc. • George Reed, Inc. • PMZ Real Estate • Prime Shine Car Wash • O’Dell Engineering Best Places to Work: Central Valley is in its second year of program participation and expects double digit growth for the 2019 program, which

will begin in October.

“The organizations selected for this designation are leaders in their field without exception,” said David White, Chief Executive Officer of Opportunity Stanislaus. “Their cultures and emphasis on employee satisfaction are evident in their employee response and evidence shows prospective employees will look favorably on these rankings as they search for their next position.”

All companies that participated in the 2018 Best Places to Work: Central Valley program receive an in-depth evaluation identifying strengths and weaknesses according to their employees. In turn, this report can be used in developing or enhancing employee retention and recruitment programs.

Best Places to Work: Central Valley is brought to you by Opportunity Stanislaus, Prime Shine Car Wash, and the Modesto Chamber of Commerce.

stations will be built in Ceres, Modesto, Ripon, Manteca, and North Lathrop.

The TIRCP grant program receives significant funding from SB 1, the state’s gas tax program that provides critical resources to improve California’s highways and local streets, bridges, and transit systems – providing broad benefits to every community in California.

“This project would not be possible without SB 1,” said Vito Chiesa, Chair of the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority and Stanislaus County Supervisor. “With this funding, we will be able to move quickly in implementing an incredibly important transportation project that will better connect communities, improve mobility, reduce congestion, improve air quality, and support a good quality of life.”

The Valley Rail project is a transformational, megaregional initiative. Valley rail results in the initiation of San Jose bound commuter service from Sacramento using existing commuter rail equipment (expected by 2020). Four trains from Ceres are included in the proposal, with three heading up to Sacramento (with a transfer to San Jose in Lathrop) and one direct route to San Jose by no later than 2023. Feeder electric bus service will connect to Ceres from Merced. Valley Rail also adds two new San Joaquins round-trips between Fresno

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Opportunity Stanislaus CEO David White (Left), 2017 and 2018 Best Places to Work: Central Valley winner Clive Grimbleby of Grimbleby Coleman CPAs (center) and OS Board Member Chris Lehikainen were on hand to congratulate the list of winning companies.

and Sacramento, on top of the two roundtrips currently available. Total rail service between Stockton and Sacramento will be nine round-trips across all available routes and service providers, including one Sacramento to Stockton only round-trip.

The award also includes funds for ACE to procure zero emission buses to support feeder service between Merced and Ceres, and rolling stock for both corridors to support service increase. The grant is coordinated with 2016 TIRCP investments that are already being implemented in order to expand platforms to accommodate longer 10-car trains to add capacity on the four ACE round trips that currently cross the Altamont Pass.

In addition, Valley Rail funding will help convert the entire fleet including the thruway bus network to renewable diesel fuel, providing greenhouse gas (GHG) benefits across the entire existing (449 track miles) and proposed expanded (119 track miles) San Joaquins and ACE services.

“Improved passenger rail is an integral part of Sacramento and the Valley’s regional transportation network. It is essential to support travel and economic growth in this interconnected economy, and connect communities in ways that are convenient and sustainable,” said Chiesa.

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209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

10

MAY 2018

NEWS

TARIFFS

FROM PAGE 1

sent to China has also been put on the back burner, he added.

“That’s been put on hold to try and negotiate who is going to pay this extra 15 percent, and right now, I guarantee you it’s going to be coming partly out of our pocket to make sure we can maintain access to the China market,” he said.

The crops that will be hit the hardest include almonds, which could face an additional $28 million in duties, walnuts, which could see a $4 million increase in duties, pistachios, with a whopping $99 million in potential additional duties and wine, which would receive $29 million in additional duties.

Also affected in California are oranges, grapes and apples, the latter of which could face up to $8 million in potential additional duties.

Colombini, who farms apples, shared not only the affect the tariffs could have on supply issues, impacted if there is an excess of apples in the country after being unable to find trade partners overseas, but also the impact on the people

living and working in the ag industry in California.

“Free trade is not just important to me, it’s important to more than 200 employees from my operation that rely on their jobs to support their families,” Colombini said. “When you think about all the many businesses and their employees who process, pack, sell and transport my farm products…they all benefit from a robust market made possible by free trade.”

Free trade is essential to the success of our agricultural economy, each speaker argued, and Keuhl pointed out just how vital trade is to the livelihood of each individual farm in not just California, but the entire country.

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Purdue reassured farmers last week that President Donald Trump will not leave them to take the brunt of China’s retaliatory tariffs and said the USDA and the administration are working on solutions ­— California Ag Secretary Karen Ross to market issues.

To those who spoke in Lodi “Twenty percent of farm on Thursday, the issue is not revenue nationwide comes a complex one: Put farmers from trade. If you take that first, said Keuhl.

20 percent away from any “It’s about our livelihood farm – it doesn’t matter how and our lifestyles. What we well a farm is doing – if you need is individual farmers take 20 percent of the rev- speaking and supporting enue off the table, that farm trade and telling their stois going to go under,” he ries,” he said. “This isn’t comsaid. “That’s how important plicated; this is about markets and selling products.” trade is to U.S. agriculture.”

…we don’t appreciate being a bargaining chip in brand international deals, and we know the benefits that come to us if we have free and fair trade.

KRISTINA HACKER/209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

Bill Berryhill, chair of the California Association of Winegrape Growers, signs his name to a banner supporting free trade.

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209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

11

ACCOLADES

PROMOTIONS, APPOINTMENTS, HONORS, ETC. Delta College leader selected for prestigious fellowship

Dr. Lisa Cooper Wilkins of San Joaquin Delta College has been awarded the prestigious Aspen Presidential Fellowship for Community College Excellence, a leadership program aimed at Dr. Lisa Cooper Wilkins preparing the next generation of community college presidents to transform institutions across the nation to help students be more successful both in college and in the workforce.

The fellowship is awarded by the Aspen Institute’s College Excellence Program, an educational and policy studies organization based in Washington, D.C. that aims to advance higher education practices, policies, and leadership that significantly improve student outcomes.

Cooper Wilkins said she is grateful for Delta Superintendent/President Kathy Hart’s nomination for such a unique professional development experience.

“What is most exciting is the opportunity I will have to bring back what I learn to our district so that we can continue our collective efforts to advance student success here at Delta for all students,” said Cooper Wilkins, who serves as Delta’s assistant superintendent and vice president for student services.

Hart said she was honored to nominate Cooper Wilkins. “I’m very delighted that she has been selected for this prestigious fellowship and all of the fantastic experiences that go along with it,” Hart said.

Cooper Wilkins and the 39 other Aspen Presidential Fellows will embark on a 10-month fellowship beginning in July 2018.

Delivered in collaboration with the Stanford Educational Leadership Initiative, the fellows will be mentored by community college leaders who have had outstanding results for their students, learn from national experts about ways to use data to make their students more successful, and learn how to create strong external partnerships with K-12 schools, four-year colleges, and employers in their community.

The Aspen Fellowship responds to a growing need for a new generation of leaders who are well-equipped to meet the challenges facing community colleges. Nationally, nearly 80 percent of sitting presidents plan to retire in the next decade, and women and people of color have traditionally been excluded from such positions.

Cooper Wilkins arrived at Delta in December 2014 after serving at the University of the Pacific as associate vice president for student life. Her selection as an Aspen fellow came after a rigorous process that considered her abilities to take strategic risks, lead strong teams and cultivate partnerships, and focus on results-oriented improvements in student success and access.

To date, 22 Aspen presidential fellows are now sitting community college presidents, including Delta’s former vice president of instruction, Matt Wetstein, who is now at Cabrillo College.

Award bestowed on Gallo

E. & J. Gallo Winery is proud to announce that they are the 2018 recipient of the Vinitaly International Award.

Since its inception in 1996 by Veronafiere, the prestigious International Award has been presented to companies and outstand-

ing personalities who are distinguished for their work in the international wine world.

While Gallo of Sonomahas received the Premio Gran Vinitaly Award three times (1998, 2001, and 2002), this is the first time E. & J. Gallo Winery has received the International Award.

Third-generation family winemaker Gina Gallo accepted the award on behalf of her family at the Vinitaly gala dinner on April 14th at the Galerie Mercatali in Verona.

Speaking after receiving the award, Gallo shared, “I am humbled and honored to accept this award on behalf of our family company. Our family origins began in Northern Italy, so it is perfect to accept such an important award for our industry here in Verona.”

She added, “Our family is honored to join the list of past winners whom we greatly respect and admire.”

“Gallo has a long-standing reputation of valuing relationships with their employees, customers, and suppliers around the globe.

We congratulate the Gallo Family on this award, and appreciate their strong commitment to innovation and leadership in the wine industry,” said Giovanni Mantovani, CEO of Veronafiere.

Over the past 85 years, E. & J. Gallo Winery has grown to become the largest familyowned winery in the world. In recent years, Gallo has focused on growing its premium portfolio with acquisitions of highly-acclaimed wineries and prestigious vineyards from various regions throughout California and Washington state. Gallo also partners with producers in Italy, France, Spain, Argentina, and New Zealand to import and market their wines in the U.S.

Homes for Heroes now available to Modesto area Heroes

Emanuel Medical Center names Antonio Garcia Chief Nursing Officer

Emily Skinner, a student at Modesto Junior College since 2014, is the recipient of a $5,000 scholarship from the SR Education Group, a leading education research publisher Emily Skinner founded in 2004.

Skinner is graduating with two associates degrees this month and is applying to MJC’s Associate Degree Nursing program in May 2018. She hopes to eventually earn a bachelor’s and a master’s degree, with the career goal of becoming a nurse midwife or nurse practitioner and opening a clinic for lower socioeconomic women.

The SR Education Group is giving away $260,000 in 2018 to help lower income students get the education they need in order to succeed. Their scholarship panel has just selected the winners of the first round of 2018 scholarships totaling $55,000, which includes Skinner and three other community college recipients, as well as four undergraduates, a graduate student and two military scholarship recipients from across the country, each receiving $5,000.

SR Education Group envisions a world where everyone receives the education they need in order to be successful, and has implemented the scholarship program to help students reach their education and career goals. Their scholarships are ongoing and are awarded on a quarterly basis. Applications include short essay questions about the applicant’s education and career goals, as well as circumstances that have impacted the individual’s need for financial assistance.

The organization is currently accepting applications for the next round of each scholarship, and will be selecting winners after the

Emanuel Medical Center has appointed Antonio “Tony” Garcia as its new Chief Nursing Officer.

Effective April 30, 2018, Garcia will assume responsibility for all nursing and designated Antonio Garcia patient care functions within Emanuel. He will oversee and coordinate the nursing units and their daily operations. Garcia joins Emanuel Medical Center from sister hospital, Doctors Hospital of Manteca, where he previously served as Chief Nursing Officer.

“Tony is a champion for the patient experience, working to provide patients with safe, high-quality care,” said Lani Dickinson, Interim CEO of Emanuel Medical Center. “We are thrilled to have him join our executive team and continue to implement best practices here at Emanuel.”

Prior to his role in Manteca, Garcia served as the Service Director for the Emergency Department and Urgent Care, as well as Clinical Adult Services Director at Kaiser Permanente San Jose Medical Center in San Jose, Calif.

Garcia also served in leadership roles at Harris County Health, L.B.J. General Hospital in Houston, Texas, OakBend Medical Center in Richmond, Texas, and River Oaks Hospital in Houston, Texas.

Garcia earned his B.S. in Nursing and M.S. in Nursing Administration from the University of Houston. He is a member of the American Organization of Nurse Executives and Sigma Theta Tau International (Nurses Honor Society).

Inspired by the tragic events of 9/11, Homes for Heroes was started in Minneapolis, MN at the beginning of 2002. In 2009 it grew to become a national organization that has since helped over 20,000 heroes and given back over $32,000,000.

Homes for Heroes’ mission is to provide extraordinary savings to heroes who provide extraordinary services to our nation and its communities every day. Heroes include: firefighters, law enforcement, military (active, reserves and veterans), healthcare workers, EMS and teachers.

Homes for Heroes is comprised of affiliate real estate and lending specialists across the country along with local and national businesses committed to providing Hero Rewards, which are easy ways for heroes to save significant money on a home. When working with Homes for Heroes real estate and lending specialists specifically, heroes are able to receive significant savings when they buy, sell or refinance a home. Hero Rewards is our way to say “Thank You.” “We’re committed to giving back, serving and saying thank you to our local community heroes because they do so much to make our great community what it is today. They tirelessly serve and sacrifice for us so we feel it’s the right thing to do, and we’re excited to be able to give back and say Thank You in such a meaningful and positive way,” says Irma Capas, local Homes for Heroes realtor at Keller Williams Realty in Salida.

MJC student receives $5,000 scholarship from SR Education Group

June 30th deadline. Additional details, an archive of winners, and all applications are available on SR Education Group’s website at https://www.sreducationgroup.org/scholarships.

Terry Donovan named Stanislaus State Director of Athletics

Terry Donovan, who for the past three years has served as Fresno State’s Senior Associate Athletics Director for Business Operations, has been named Director of Athletics at Stanislaus State, a Terry Donovan role he will assume on May 1.

Donovan brings 18 years of experience in college athletics administration to Stan State, including holding previous leadership positions at Syracuse University, Arizona State University and at his alma mater, the University of Nevada.

“Terry Donovan’s leadership and experience in athletic program administration, university and external Relations and financial affairs will strategically position the Stan State Athletics Department for fiscal sustainability and growth,” said University President Ellen Junn in a joint statement with Vice President for Student Affairs Suzanne Espinoza.

Donovan served in several roles within Fresno State athletics, including financial affairs, equipment operations and sport supervision. As the sport supervisor for football, Donovan helped bring Mountain West Conference Coach of the Year (and Fresno State alumnus) Jeff Tedford home to the Central Valley. In 2017, the Bulldogs became only the second team in Division I history to go from double-digit losses in one season to double-digit wins the next. Donovan was also the sport program administrator for men’s and women’s tennis as well as supervising the department’s $44 million annual budget.

“I am thrilled to have been selected as Director of Athletics at California State University, Stanislaus,” Donovan said. “I’d like to thank President Junn, Dr. Espinoza, and Dr. David Evans for their leadership during this search.”

“I was thoroughly impressed by the beautiful campus and athletics facilities, the positive culture and cohesiveness of the coaches and staff, as well as the University’s commitment to student-athlete success. My family and I are excited to join the Turlock community and make a positive difference in the lives of our region’s future leaders.”

Donovan’s wife Brandi is a native of the Central Valley, and they have two sons: Eli (9) and Colby (5).

Donovan has served on several conference and national committees and was selected to the NCAA Resource Allocation Working Group national committee in 2011. He has been a member of the Collegiate Athletic Business Management Association for 12 years and was a guest presenter at the 2006 N.A.C.W.A.A. Convention in Denver. Donovan has also served on several committees in the Big East and Atlantic Coast Conferences.

A committed life-long learner, Donovan has participated in several national leadership development programs, including the D1A Athletic Directors Institute in 2010 and 2014, as well as the Collegiate Athletics Leadership Symposium in 2017. Donovan earned two degrees at Nevada, including his undergraduate degree in finance in 1997 and his MBA in 2003.

209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

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MAY 2018

‘Halfway Home’ STAFF REPORTS 209 Business Journal A documentary about immigrant culture in the Central Valley, produced by Stan State professor Steve Arounsack, will air this month on the local Public Broadcasting Service television station.

Arounsack, associate cultural anthropology professor, recently produced and/ or directed three films that received widespread acclaim.

His project “Halfway Home,” which features the stories of four artists who refuse to shed the artistic traditions of their homelands while living and working in the Central Valley, will be aired at 7 p.m. May 23 on KVIE, virtual channel 6.

The film follows four Valley artists. Harjeet Singh and Paramjeet Kaur have a shared passion for bhangra, a traditional Punjabi dance that they teach to the Sikh community in Yuba City. In Stockton, Lon Chan shares his devotion to hand-mak-

SCHOOL

FROM PAGE 6

If elected, Davis hopes to change SCOE’s “brand.”

“It’s not a brand that is saying there’s educational excellence across this system,” Davis said. “In my opinion there is educational excellence across the system in Stanislaus County, it’s just not very well-promoted. The superintendent can be the one who helps change that mindset.”

Sanford made it clear during Tuesday’s forum that if elected, she would work to help school districts within the county collaborate more, whether it be meeting with superintendents to see how they would like to use technology or sitting down with administration at low-performing schools to figure out what can be done to improve scores.

Collaboration could also come into play when dealing with racial issues on campus, she added, or

ing traditional costumes for Cambodian classical dance.

Nikiko Masumoto reveals how she uses her work as both farmer and playwright to share the stories and traditions of Japanese Americans.

“Halfway Home” brings to light how communities can use artistic practices to meld a sense of belonging with celebration of cultural histories.

“I’ve had a passion for video since high school,” said Arounsack, a Stan State alumnus who has been the Director of Keck Visual Anthropology Lab (KVAL) at the university since its 2013 inception. “I really dug deep into it while doing my graduate work here at Stan State with a documentary about Southeast Asian traditional music in the Central Valley. We initially had modest hopes for it, but eventually it made on the local PBS station (KVIE in Sacramento) and went nationwide. That really started my journey. I began to hone my technical skills and eth-

when deciding what no programs to implement throughout the county.

“I would like to explore the different things that are going on at each high school more in depth… the 24 districts plus the county, we seem to be doing our own thing and I think we all need to get on the same page,” Sanford said, suggesting that much like different schools throughout the county have their own vocational specialties, each district as a whole could have an overarching specialty depending on what location of the county they are in.

When asked what he would do to improve situations at “poor-performing schools,” Kuykendall pointed out demographics and how he is poised to navigate Stanislaus County’s diverse pack of students.

“Poor-performing schools in many cases are dictated by zip code and unfortunately when you have higher numbers of English learners…it’s more difficult for those

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

“Halfway Home,” a documentary that features the stories of four artists who refuse to shed the artistic traditions of their homelands while living and working in the Central Valley, will be aired at 7 p.m. May 23 on KVIE, virtual channel 6.

nographic interview techniques from that point on.”

The project received a documentary fund award by the Center for Asian American Media.

A second documentary, “Getting Lao’d: The Rise of Modern Lao Music and Films” also received a funding award from the same organization and was selected for the Seattle AsianAmerican Film Festival and

the Kineforum in Jakarta, Indonesia. This project, filmed over 10 years, follows a new generation of young pioneers as they reimagine Lao media in a Communist country. The film features many of the country’s most prominent musicians and filmmakers and is perhaps the most comprehensive examination of the rise of modern music and films in Laos.

Arounsack also is co-producing a feature-length film, “Raising a Beast,” which is in pre-production in Laos. It has been chosen for three film labs in Asia and is one of only four international film projects to receive a 2018 Tribeca Film Institute Pitching and Mentoring Award.

One of the great benefits of becoming proficient in film work, Arounsack said, is the

teachers to bring students up to grade level standards because they are dealing with a language barrier at the same time,” he said. “It’s important that the next superintendent has a background in second language acquisition, which I do, that the superintendent can communicate with families and districts.”

Davis responded to Kuykendall’s statement with his own argument.

When Waterford High School was a poor-performing school he didn’t blame it on the school’s zip code or demographics, he said, but turned things around in the classroom.

“At Waterford we had a process of instruction that could be looked at and taken back and replicated. The answer to improving the outcomes for our kids is in the classroom… and you’ll have a superintendent of education that has lived it,” Davis said.

There were issues that all three candidates agreed on, like the need for more technology and Career Technical Edu-

cation in the county’s schools and the importance of funding for Special Education. At Gratton, the Special Education program was cut because of a lack of funding, Sanford said.

All three appreciate Common Core and the uniformity it has brought to schools nationwide but wish it could have been rolled out in a more effective way, rather than all at once. And, in light of recent mass shootings, the trio answered whether or not they believe Stanislaus County is a safe place for students. The answer for each candidate was yes, citing safety measures like cameras and fences that the county has taken, as well as mental health awareness and clinicians on campuses to talk with students.

“In this area, SCOE has done a wonderful job helping Gratton School District with different things we can do to improve safety,” Sanford said.

VALLEY

FROM PAGE 8

the San Joaquin Valley, and works with cooperation from OCED and in consultation with the manufacturing community. The SJVMA holds quarterly member meetings with panel discussions on topics from soft skills to internships, as well as quarterly Human Resources roundtables and best practices tours at member manufacturing facilities.

Leveraging FBC’s longstanding relationships in the business, civic and

way it’s taught him how to observe everything around him while also listening to what everybody — especially his students — have to say.

“My film experiences definitely inform my teaching at Stan State,” he said.

“Foremost, it has taught me to critically listen to my students. Each student has a story.”

education sectors has enabled SJVMA a jumpstart in building the bridge between the public and private sectors. Due to FBC’s deep vertical connections at the state level, many built-in resources are used. The SJVMA’s primary focus is building stronger regional manufacturing companies by strengthening connections and relationships, building growth assets, and strengthening the workforce pipeline by collaborating with education partners and ensuring students are supported in discovering a path that inspires them.

VOTE NOW VOTING ENDS MAY 31

culture

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