k e e p i n g
BUSINESS JOURNAL
b u s i n e s s e s
c o n n e c t e d ™
NOVEMBER 2020
VOLUME 5 ■ ISSUE 11
IN PROFILE
Gamer’s Path has found a new home inside the Bricks & Minifigs Lego store in Manteca.
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IN PROFILE
Construction on Ripon Alpine, an indoor climbing gym and fitness center, is making progress.
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DEL WEBB AT RIVER ISLANDS
Lathrop lands 900-home active adult community BY DENNIS WYATT
T
209 Business Journal
he next Del Webb community in San Joaquin County is breaking ground in Lathrop in
2022. Del Webb at River Islands will consist of 900 single-story homes ranging from 1,450 to 2,765 square feet with two and three bedrooms. The age-restricted active adult community for those 55 and older will include a recreation center featuring a swimming pool, fitness center, bocce courts, tennis courts, and pickleball courts. The neighborhood is expected to open in late 2022. River Islands President Susan Dell’Osso noted the Del Webb community is a perfect fit for the 11,000 home planned community being developed on the 4,800acre Stewart Tract. The year 2022 when Del Webb is expected to start selling homes is the same year River Islands High is targeted to open. River Islands offers unparalleled access to the San Joaquin River complete with what will be an 18-mile greenbelt loop with an uninterrupted walking trail encircling the development without a need to worry about vehicle traffic crossing it. The loop — accessible to anyone that includes
non-River Islands residents — offers commanding views of the San Joaquin River main channel, Old River, and Paradise Cut that connects the main channel with the Old River as a winter bypass for floodwaters. The first Del Webb community in the Northern San Joaquin Valley — the 1,406-home Del Webb at Woodbridge in north Manteca — sold its last lot in late 2017 some 11 years after it opened. Pulte Homes, the firm that owns Del Webb, had been exploring a possible new neighborhood option adjacent and/or just north of the Woodbridge neighborhood up until a year ago. The only current age-restrictive neighborhood selling homes in the South County area is The Collective by TruMark homes in Manteca. Several builders are offering homes between the mid $400,000s and the low $600,000s in the 478-lot gated community on Louise Avenue west of Cottage Avenue in east Manteca. Del Webb opted for Manteca for its first Northern San Joaquin Valley development after they conducted surveys of potential Bay Area buyers of where they’d be interested in living in a Del Webb community. They were surprised when Manteca came up as the first choice by a wide margin.
Conducting follow up interviews they found Manteca had strong name recognition for those Bay Area residents that travelled to the Sierra and Yosemite. It was also perceived as a place they could stay close to the Bay Area and easily access cultural events and visit families and friends as well. Lathrop meets those same desires. The decade it took Del Webb to sell most of its homes that could only be bought by households where one resident has to be 55 years or older was without a doubt the Del Webb Decade in Manteca. Del Webb helped Manteca weather the Great Recession because what was perhaps bad timing for Pulte Homes was good timing for Manteca as the first homes started going up as the housing bubble started to burst. Because Del Webb is aimed at households nearing retirement or already retired who tend to have middle class wealth, home sales continued while they fizzled elsewhere. The annual sales pace wasn’t exactly what Pulte initially projected but it was enough when coupled with the city’s development agreements with standard single family home builders that created a situation of sewer allocation certainty prompting banks funded
improving lots in bigger chunks for Manteca to keep building and selling homes. During a five-year stretch that covered the plunge and the trough of the housing crisis, Manteca was building roughly 300 housing units a year. That was more than was built in all of the combined jurisdictions of San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Merced counties during any of those five years stretching from 2006 to 2010. And during those years Del Webb consistently built roughly a third of all new homes sold in Manteca. The infusion of Del Webb consumer dollars at the time along with two other concerns opening just as the Great Recession hit — Bass Pro Shops with its 100-mile draw for sales tax and Costco that brought sales tax leakage to Modesto and Stockton back to town as well as lured consumer dollars from Lathrop and Ripon — helped sales tax grow while it was backsliding in nearby cities. Both Bass Shops along with Orchard Valley as well as Costco were landed by Manteca through the use of sales tax sharing deals. Del Webb played a key role in helping soften the impact on jobs in the Manteca retail, service, and restaurant sectors.
209 BUSINESS JOURNAL
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NOVEMBER 2020
IN PROFILE
Currently serving eight brews on tap, Modesto’s newest brewery will soon expand its selection of both beer and coffee as the new year approaches.
Downtown Modesto welcomes 18Seventy Brewing Co. BY FRANKIE TOVAR 209 Business Journal
Home brewing started as a hobby for Bridgette Berry, a way to have fun and experiment with a process that has become a craze of sorts for more than one million Americans. As the years passed and Berry began to learn more and more about the science of brewing beer, it didn’t take the Sonora native long to come up with ideas about transforming her passion into a full fledged business. Rather than go the route of simple brewery, however, Berry’s plans included the melding of arguably the two most popular drinks in
the country – beer and coffee. “A lot of studies are out there that go after the two drinks together,” Berry said. “They go hand in hand when it comes to a lot of consumer and likes.” The plan to target two different demographics with a combination business seemed like a no-brainer for Berry who meticulously plotted the ins and outs of this idea while earning her Master’s in Business from Stanislaus State University. After graduating in 2010, Berry began to build towards her dream. She found her branding, naming her operation after the
founding date of her new home of Modesto, and soon enough she found a location in the heart of downtown. The dream of opening a communitybased Nano brewery was soon to be realized when Berry and entrepreneurs around the country were hit with a reality nobody could have planned for – the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent public shutdown. Berry’s hand was forced to open business way ahead of schedule on Aug. 14 despite heavy restrictions and other logistical headaches. “It’s not really what I had
planned for or expected. In general it’s just hard doing business,” Berry said. “We’re trying to adapt and do some to-go promotions and really capture the audience that want to come in …but it’s definitely a different world. We’ve had to flex our business plan.” Even with the added difficulty of dealing with a pandemic, 18Seventy Brewing Co. was not derailed. Currently open only on weekends with patio seating and to-go orders, there are eight beers on tap
and available for purchase, three of which are brewed onsite. “We have Bail Blonde Ale, Rough Start IPA and ChulaCabra Black IPA,” Berry said. Future plans include a 20-beer self-tap system along with a dedicated beer garden. There will also be nitro coffee and Kampuchea on tap for the less alcohol-inclined consumer along with other cold brew and even ice cream variants. “It’s about variety,” Berry
said. “On the coffee end, our goal is not to be Starbucks. It’s more for the experience and the one-offs.” Although the timeline is uncertain, Berry’s current plans have 18Seventy Brewing Co. approaching its full potential before year’s end. 18Seventy Brewing Co. is located at 911 J St. in Downtown Modesto. They are open 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Fridays, 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturdays, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
Located in the heart of Modesto’s Downtown District, 18Seventy Brewing Co. serves several of their nano brews to the community as construction continues behind the scenes.
209 BUSINESS JOURNAL
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IN PROFILE
Gamer’s Path finds new home in Manteca BY VINCE REMBULAT 209 BUSINESS JOURNAL
Diamond Brows salon recently opened in the Turlock Town Center and offers a wide variety of services at an affordable price. ANGELINA MARTIN/ 209 BUSINESS JOURNAL
New salon moves into Turlock Town Center BY ANGELINA MARTIN 209 Business Journal
Diamond Brows
One of the newest tenants in the Turlock Town Center is a salon hoping to help everyone feel welcome — no matter their budget. Diamond Brows owner Maisa Safi opened her first salon in Salinas before moving to Turlock, where she has expanded her business to not only include the eyebrow services her longtime customers already
Type of business: Full-service salon Location: 545 N Golden State Blvd., Turlock Hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday and Wednesday through Saturday; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday; Closed Tuesdays Contact information: (209) 250-2646
know and love, but also other beauty necessities like hair, nail and pedicure appointments. Since opening on Sept. 5, Diamond Brows has provided these services to the community in a glammed-out space that helps customers feel welcome. Whether it’s by offering customers a complimentary drink and snack while their service is comSEE SALON, PAGE 6
Gamer’s Path is still in Manteca. The gaming and hobby store is now at 1144 N. Main St. or in the former party room of the Bricks & Minifigs Lego store. The group of Jason Messer – he’s the former superintendent of the Manteca Unified School District – along with Matthew and Kailin Montalvo purchased Gamer’s Path from the previous owner during the summer. “We learned about the (downtown) place being up for sale on Facebook,” said Matthew Montalvo. The owners of local Lego store acquired most of the inventory including the identity – Gamer’s Path had been at 230 W. Yosemite Ave. for about eight years. Gamer’s Path, under the new owners, re-opened on Aug. 29. Bricks & Minifigs, due to the COVID-19 shelter-in-place orders, converted the unused space once reserved for birthday parties and other celebrations for the new
business. “It was already painted and decorated in the castle theme,” Montalvo said. Gamer’s Path continues to specialize in fantasy tabletop role-playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and Warhammer, to name a few.
“We are a family-owned small business focused on bringing the joy of games to the community – gamers of all ages, styles and skill level (are) welcome,” said Gamer’s Path on Facebook. It was through Facebook and other social media SEE GAMERS, PAGE 6
VINCE REMBULAT/209 BUSINESS JOURNAL
Matthew Montalvo displays the board game Ticket to Ride available at Gamer’s Path.
HELPING VALLEY BUSINESS GROW
DeGraff Construction
Loretelli Farms
GreenWorks Janitorial
Dust Bowl Brewing Co.
Now more than ever, let’s support LOCAL businesses in any way we can.
www.ovcb.com
Brewer Family Dentistry
Pinnacle Health
DA Wood Construction
Davis Guest Home
209 BUSINESS JOURNAL
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NOVEMBER 2020
IN PROFILE
From hobby to career Former Stanislaus State men’s soccer player owns Headquarters Barbershop in Turlock BY DALE BUTLER 209 Business Journal
Daniel Ochoa ended his soccer career at Stanislaus State prematurely to focus on his other passion. “I have no regrets leaving the sport,” the 2012 Central Valley High School grad said. “I got as much out of it as I could. You got to let go of things you love sometimes.” Ochoa, 27, worked at Royal Barbers in Ceres for three years prior to becoming his own boss. He opened Headquarters Barbershop at 3100 East Service Road, Suite 103 in December of 2016. He opened a second location at 2913 North Tegner Road in Turlock in August of 2019. “It is something I’ve been doing since I was 13,” Ochoa said of cutting hair. “It was my hobby. But I treated it like my job. It became my career. I dropped out of college to focus 100 percent on my business. I never had a job besides just this.” Ochoa sold his Ceres barbershop to his sister and nephew in January of this year so he could spend more time with his family. “It was a little too much work going back and forth between the two shops,” he said. “I decided to focus on just this one. I really like Turlock. The people support local businesses here.” Headquarters Barbershop is open five days a week. Hours of operation are from 10
Daniel Ochoa started cutting hair as a hobby when he was 13 years old. Now he’s turned it into his profession.
a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. “I do appointments only,” Ochoa said. “But we do take walk-ins when we’re not busy.” Ochoa works at least four days a week. “There are days I work 12 hours,” he said. “Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays are our busiest days. I enjoy being my own boss. I get to set my own hours. But you have to put in a lot of work to make it successful. I’ve surrounded myself with great people. I have a solid clientele base. They’re in there quite often.”
Former Stanislaus State men’s soccer player Daniel Ochoa opened Headquarters Barbershop at 2913 North Tegner Road in Turlock in August of 2019. He was the previous owner of Headquarters Barbershop in Ceres.
Ochoa and other business owners throughout California were forced to shut down during the height of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. Ochoa’s landlord didn’t charge him rent the two months his shop was closed. “It was still stressful,” he said. “When I was going to reopen in May, I didn’t know if all my barbers would return. Business grew when we came back.” Ochoa works alongside five other barbers in Turlock. “We keep our business clean,” he said.
“We’re six feet apart. We leave it up to the customers if they want to wear masks.” Ochoa also formed a side business with two partners of selling barber supplies. Ochoa was a member of the Stanislaus State men’s soccer program for two seasons in 2012 and 2013. “It was a memorable experience,” he said. “I really enjoyed traveling with the team. I didn’t lose my love for the sport. It was like a full-time job. You have class and soccer. I just wanted to enjoy playing soccer.”
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209 BUSINESS JOURNAL
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IN PROFILE
Ripon climbing and fitness center is shaping up BY VINCE REMBULAT 209 Business Journal
Alpine Climbing Adventure Fitness appears on track to be completed as planned. Construction on the indoor steel-framed rockclimbing gym and fitness center at 1450 Garrison Way in Ripon continues to make progress, as seen daily by motorists traveling along Highway 99. It is being built just south of the highly visible Ripon water tower. The timeline calls for Phase 1 to possibly be ready by spring of 2021. “Things are rolling on schedule for the moment,” said Ripon resident and developer of the project Jonathan Meek. Alpine Climbing Adventure Fitness, once completed, will feature more than 16,500 square feet of the total 19,335 square footage of the indoor facility dedicated to climbing walls — included will be a 55-feet high lead wall, 15-meter speed wall, 16- foot bouldering walls, and a kids’ climbing area. The climbing walls will feature more than 250 routes and boulder problems. Top rope climbing is a style in climbing in which
the climber is securely attached to a rope which then passes up, through an anchor system at the top of the route, and then back down to the belayer at the base of the climb. The belayer takes in slack rope as the climber ascends the route so that at any point the climber falls, they would be caught by the rope and not fall more than a few feet. The only gear you need is a harness, belay device and climbing shoes. The front desk can rent all of the gear needed or guests can check out some options to purchase from the gym’s full-service retail shop. Auto belay climbing involves a specialized device common in many climbing gyms around the world that takes the place of a real live person on the other end of the rope. The auto belay automatically takes in slack as you move up the route. When you reach the top, or fall, it gently lowers you back safely to the ground. Lead climbing (or sport climbing) is a style in climbing that relies on permanent fixed anchors to the wall for protection. The rope is attached to the lead climber and the climber
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED
Construction of Alpine Climbing Adventure Fitness in Ripon continues with the steel frame work.
clips into the anchors to arrest potential falls while climbing. Generally, lead falls are much longer than falls on top rope. Lead climbing requires a higher level of skill for both the climber and belayer. The Ripon gym will also
feature bouldering. It is a style of climbing that is performed without the use of ropes. The only gear you need is a pair of climbing shoes. Typically, these walls are 14 to 16 feet high and the sequence of moves are referred to as “boulder
problems.” When you finish your problem or fall off the route, you fall onto thick padded flooring below. The other part of the gym will be used for free weight, cardio equipment, TRX, benches, medicine balls,
mobility equipment, yoga, high intensity interval and cross fitness classes. DeGraff Development is handling the construction. Information on the project can be obtained at www.climbatalpine.com.
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NOVEMBER 2020
NEWS
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED
The RAD Card, or, “Relief Across Downtown” Card, is a digital gift card.
County downtown business program doubles customers’ spending dollars BY KRISTINA HACKER 209 Business Journal
A downtown business program that started in Modesto and pays customers for shopping local has been expanded to include all cities in Stanislaus County. The RAD Card, or, “Relief Across Downtown” Card, is a digital gift card created by the Downtown Modesto Partnership this summer. It was originally focused on aiding downtown Modesto businesses but with the commitment of one million dollars from Stanislaus County CARES Act, the RAD Card program will now expand to downtowns in all cities and unincorporated communities countywide. When a customer downloads the RAD Card app, their purchase amount of either $25, $50, $75 or $100 is automatically matched, doubling the funds in the customer’s RAD Card account. The customer’s app is then assigned a unique QR code that can be scanned by participating restaurants, retailers and personal care services when a transaction occurs. This is a completely contact-free, mobile ex-
perience to be used from a smart phone. Providing a contactless process was an important feature when creating this program, due to the sensitivity of consumers during these times. “Downtowns rely on human exchange, pedestrians on sidewalks and a strong sense of place, all things that were impacted by shelter-at-home orders and the metered reopening of the economy,” said Josh Bridegroom, President/CEO of the Downtown Modesto Partnership. “The new countywide downtown gift card program will help demonstrate solidarity and further efforts to highlight downtowns as city centers, the only neighborhoods that belong to everyone in the city, no matter where they live,” continued Bridegroom, “and given that many consumers’ pocketbooks have been adversely affected by the economic downturn, a great value has never been more important in enticing downtown patronage.” After County Board of Supervisors learned about the downtown Modesto RAD Card program and
how it had sold out in less than three weeks, they voted unanimously to work with Downtown Modesto Partnership to quickly deploy aid through the platform countywide. “This innovative solution to the economic woes felt in our central cities is an excellent use of CARES Act funds,” said Raul Mendez, Assistant Executive Officer and project lead for the County. “We see this as a great opportunity to give county residents the incentive to spend in a way that will help businesses with their bottom line just in time for the holidays.” Downtown Turlock business owner Mariah Williams of Flawless Studio of Beauty said her clients are already taking advantage of the program. “I had one client who not only spent more, but tipped more and bought products,” said Williams. “I love it. I think it’s amazing. I think my clients are more willing to spend more money with me,” she continued. To visit the RAD Card website, go to theradcard. com.
The new location Gamer’s Path is the former party room of Bricks & Minifigs Lego store.
GAMERS
FROM PAGE 3
outlets along with word of mouth came the news of the new location of Gamer’s Path. It was through games that Matthew Montalvo connected with his family while growing up in Stockton. He’s a 2009 graduate of Lincoln High, where he met his future wife Kailin Messer in band class. “I have an older brother who is eight years older. He got me into D&D,” Montalvo said. He didn’t grow up playing video games. Instead, Montalvo and his family played board games like Monopoly, and they would go all-out during the holi-
SALON
FROM PAGE 3 pleted or by simply getting to know them, Safi takes pride in treating those who walk into Diamond Brows like family. “I want every customer who walks in here, whether they’re paying $20 or $50, to be treated the same,” Safi said. “We try to offer services that make them feel very special and provide customer service that can really leave a big impression on them.” Diamond Brows specializes in lash application as well as eyebrow threading, waxing and microblading — a semi-permanent makeup service that gives clients the illusion of full brows via small, tattooed strokes. While the proce-
days until the last-manstanding was declared the winner. One of his favorite board games as shared by his current family is Ticket to Ride. Montalvo learned about the game via YouTube channel hosted by actor Wil Wheaton. The board game for up to five people is a crosscountry train adventure where players collect cards of various types of train cars that enables them to claim railroad routes while connecting to cities in various countries around the world. Warhammer is another popular tabletop wargame for up to two or more players. A fun part, according to Montalvo, is painting the
heroic miniature figures to match your army. He believes there isn’t much difference between video games and board games. “It’s not much of jump – you can still play games involving mystery, horror or suspense,” said Montalvo. Nor is there much of a jump between game figures and Legos, he added. “It’s all interchangeable,” Montalvo said. Bricks & Minifigs opened on Nov. 3, 2018. A celebration was held in September to mark the anniversary of the family’s Concord Lego store and the one in Manteca. For updates and information, call (209) 629-8456 or log on to www.facebook. com/gamerspath
dure typically costs anywhere from $500 and up, Safi offers quality work — or as she likes to call it, “talent” — for a fraction of the price. “They say you get what you pay for, but sometimes it’s beyond that,” she said. “We have a lot of satisfied customers who say they’ve paid more for microblading but it didn’t turn out as nice. When we offer our services at a cheaper price, we’re trying to make themselves feel good by being able to afford it.” As part of the newlyrevitalized Turlock Town Center, which has seen an influx of new tenants since it was purchased by new owners two years ago, Safi said she is eager to not only benefit from customers shopping at other businesses nearby, but to also
help them out by attracting a new wave of clients. “I honestly love this shopping center and the improvements that have happened with our new neighbors,” Safi said. “My goal is that everybody brings in people and we help out each other.” Having just recently opened, Safi said Diamond Brows is still searching for a few more cosmetologists, whether it be those who cut hair or do nails, to rent spaces at the salon. Diamond Brows also offers mobile services for those who don’t feel comfortable coming to the salon. “I’m looking forward to building this location and having a great clientele. I’m also looking forward to offering all of the talents we have,” Safi said.
209 209BUSINESS BUSINESS JOURNAL JOURNAL
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OPINION
Vol. 5 No. 11 ■ November 2020 PUBLISHER Hank Vander Veen
EDITOR
Patience is not the ability to wait, but the ability to keep a good attitude while waiting.”
Sabra Stafford
NEWSROOM Dale Butler Kristina Hacker Angelina Martin Vince Rembulat
CREATIVE DIRECTOR Harold L. George
GRAPHIC DESIGNER Sharon Hoffman
SALES & MARKETING Chris Castro Beth Flanagan Karen Olsen Corey Rogers Melody Wann Charles Webber
—Anonymous
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 2020. 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
Tips to Help Manage Financial Stress BY JP OLVERA
Small Business Banker Manager, Bank of America
Given today’s unprecedented times, more people are stressed about their finances. As a matter of fact, according to a recent study by NextAdvisor 51% of Americans are feeling anxious about their financial situations in the COVID era. And that’s certainly true here in the Central Valley with businesses closing, layoffs and work furloughs, there are countless causes of financial worry lately. Our clients and community partners share how much more stressful it can be to make ends meet sometimes. My response to them has been: now is the best time to ‘reset’ your finances by examining your situation, redefining your goals, and creating a plan that sets your family up for financial success for years to come. HERE ARE A FEW TIPS FOR JUMPSTARTING THAT PROCESS: Step 1: Understand Financial Stress Managing your finances, especially during challenging times, can be tense. But if you break it down, you’ll quickly
see that financial peace of mind comes from having a handle on several small (and very manageable) aspects of your finances. Start by listing out your finances – income, spending, saving, rent, mortgage payments, credit card debt, etc. – and prioritize which items need your attention first. Then, seek tools and resources that help you along the way. Free tools like the Bank of America Savings Calculator are available and can help you calculate how long it will take you to reach a specific goal. Step 2: Revamp Your Budget Unexpected situations such as the coronavirus will require most folks to rework their budget. The monthly budget is the single most important tool for staying on track, keeping you accountable to your financial plans and helping you reach your goals. Start by identifying all fixed expenses, considering how those may have changed in the past several months and forecasting where they will land when things return to normal. Then list all variable expenses, adding everything from birth-
day gifts to anticipated home repairs, so every dollar has a job. If necessary, adjust your variable spending so you are not spending more than you are bringing in. Step 3: Lower Your Borrowing Costs If a significant portion of your budget is tied up in loan payments, now is a good time to evaluate your borrowing and, potentially, reduce the amount of money you owe each month. With interest rates especially low right now, homeowners may consider refinancing their mortgage loans, particularly if they can reduce their interest rate by one percent or more. If you’re paying down a credit card balance, it may be worth exploring your options for a low-interest account. Depending on your credit, you may qualify for a credit account with zero percent interest on balance transfers, which could help you on your path to eliminating debt. Step 4: Plan for the Unexpected Even if your family hasn’t lost any income, these past few months may be a reminder of the importance of emergency
savings. Additionally, conversations such as life insurance, disability insurance and retirement are likely to come up as you start thinking about your financial future. An emergency fund of up to six months of expenses can help bring peace of mind to families planning for their futures. Jump start your emergency fund by cutting a couple variable expenses from your budget and setting up an automatic transfer into a savings account, helping you avoid temptation. Further, review insurance coverage across the board to ensure it meets the needs of your family today, and for the next several years to come. These past few months have reminded us of the importance of being prepared for whatever may come our way. As you continue navigating this ‘new normal,’ you will find that small, simple changes can help you recalibrate your finances, plan ahead for your future and gain peace of mind in your financial life. For more in-depth resources on a variety of topics, please visit BetterMoneyHabits. BankofAmerica.com.
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NOVEMBER 2020
BUILDING YOUR BUSINESS AT WORK
How To Build An Effective Backlink Strategy in 2020 BY ELIZABETH DEVINE
S
209 Business Journal
ome know it as link building for SEO; others refer to it as authoritative linking… The meaning of a backlink is a link that comes from another website to yours. Hence, the practice of getting such authoritative links is called link building. A backlink strategy should be part of your SEO roadmap in 2020 – and here is why. First of all, you should understand what a backlink is. As defined on many websites, it is a link that points to your website – which can be placed in the text, image, or even be designed as a button. As long as the source is a dif-
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ferent website, all of these connections will count as backlinks. In search engine optimization (SEO), the value of backlinks is significant – they are among the most important ranking factors for every major search engine. So, building an effective backlink strategy is more than just getting a link to your website. Essentially, it is all about getting more authoritative links related to your industry, and diverse in the way they link to you (one could connect to you with a keyword you are optimizing for, and another could link to you via an image). Below, we are listing the best ways to build an effective backlink strategy this year.
REACH OUT TO JOURNALISTS AND INDUSTRY BLOGS WITH A GUEST POST One of the best ways to know that you will be featured in a third-party blog and get their backlink is by offering some value to them. Typically, content marketers write their pieces covering an event, trend, or any topic within the industry from a different angle – and then approach the editors of those blogs for a chance to get featured and get a link to their website. You can do the same. Doing this will drastically increase your chances of being featured on a website and earn high-quality backlinks. Tip: Here is an excellent collection of sites that accept guest posts!
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UNDERSTAND WHAT A GOOD BACKLINK IS (AND HOW TO CHECK IT) First is the step where you discover what defines a good backlink. Here, you should look for solid Domain Authority (DA) scores (over 20+), which indicate that the website is relevant and visited by many people. Below is a screenshot from
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SEMRush (a great tool) that shows the Domain Authority (DA) score. An example of Domain Authority (DA) scores on SEMRush. Typically, you can reach out to the industry blogs you are following, influencers with popular websites, or any place you know is visited by potential customers.
GET IN “BEST X” LIST MENTIONS “Best X” lists are a great place to position your business. For instance, if you have a coffee shop in Tracy, CA, a blog post that is named “The 10 Best Tracy Coffee Shops” is a place where you want to be featured. To get a sense of how popular these lists are, Google “best [your location] + [your business type]” and see if there are any articles you can get in. If there aren’t, pick a broader location and continue your search. An example of our profile (and a backlink) on Alignable.com
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BUILD FREE TOOLS, GENERATORS, QUIZZES, ETC. Another great way to spruce up your backlink strategy and get more authoritative links is to build a page that will have something of value for each customer. For instance, if you are a realtor in Tracy, CA, why not build a page with a Mortgage Calculator to help users get projected rates for their monthly payments? In other industries, quizzes or different types of easy generators could work. Authoritative blogs and sites will find it easier to link to this type of quiz, calculator, or generator rather than a simple page. Our Brand Archetypes quiz is very popular – and featured on many websites. (Take it by clicking here)
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LEGITIMATE BACKLINKS COME AT A COST Legitimate backlinks are not that easy to find. The truth is, no one with an authoritative website would like to link to a new or low ranking website just like that. Because of that, people started charging for backlinks. So, people nowadays either pay for top quality backlinks to their website or use their connections to get ones for free. Getting started with a backlink strategy can be difficult only because of this. Besides the fact that authoritative links cost money, there is also the risk
of getting “sandboxed.” This is a rule that Google developed to prevent new sites from (quickly) ranking high. “The Google Sandbox refers to an alleged filter that prevents new websites from ranking in Google’s top results. Think of it like a probation period – even if you do everything right, your site won’t get decent rankings until it comes to an end.” Ahrefs In that scenario of getting “sandboxed,” businesses typically decide to start from scratch or rebrand themselves. If you want to prevent this scenario, now is the best time to look for help by contacting an expert.
Get More Backlinks By Contacting Us Today! If you are still finding it hard to figure out the entire backlink strategy thing, we know that it may be a hard pill to swallow. However, backlinks are a vital part of SEO nowadays and something you should never overlook. With Devine Solutions Group, you can put your
backlink strategy on autopilot. With our team’s help, you can get authoritative backlinks from leading blogs, Press Release directories, and many other websites both organically and with paid options. Contact us today at 833-933-8463 or send us an email at info@devinesolutionsgroup.com to get started!
Beth Devine is one of the most sought-after marketing experts in the Central Valley. She is the founder and principal of Devine Solutions Group, an awardwinning digital marketing agency headquartered in Tracy, CA. Connect with Beth by either calling 833933-8463 or email her at beth@devinesolutionsgroup.com.
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Diverse techmakers seek funding to accelerate region’s economic prosperity BY DAISY FUENTES Lead Organizer for Women Techmakers Modesto
Attracted by the Central Valley’s growing hightech workforce, innovative companies such as Tyler Technologies, Oportun and Varsity Technologies have moved jobs to Modesto in recent years. Nautilus Technologies’ $100 million data barge will be opening this month at the Port of Stockton as well. Bay Areabased companies, out of available tech talent and affordable housing for their workforce, are increasingly building relationships with potential partners in the Central Valley. Without an adequate tech talent base, however, the Central Valley will lose its appeal for high-paying Bay Area companies. The best paying jobs of the future all require tech skills, so building large-scale, low-barrier tech education capabilities is critical to ensure our continued prosperity. Agriculture and manufacturing jobs have been irreversibly declining as a share of overall U.S. employment for many decades. Today, agriculturerelated jobs and manufacturing jobs make up only 12% and 8% of all domestic jobs respectively. Innova-
tion hubs, cities with large pools of tech talent, are now and will continue to be the primary drivers of high-wage job growth domestically for years and years to come. While 60% of IT-related jobs have been outsourced overseas, many of the highest value software development projects continue to be more effectively completed with highly collaborative U.S.-based teams driving an ever-increasing demand for U.S.-based tech talent. The U.S. population is increasingly diverse. Specifically, our customers are more diverse than they have ever been in the history of this country. Building
out a more diverse workforce is now critical for businesses looking to grow and serve their customers better. Although technology, such as machine learning and data analytics, increasingly provides key competitive advantages in nearly every industry, including healthcare, transportation and manufacturing, as well as food production and processing, many groups and regions are being left behind. Black and Latino workers make up less than 5% of highly paid tech employees at leading Silicon Valley companies. Agriculturebased regions such as the Central Valley have especially been bypassed by the
lucrative tech economy. Over the last several years, a coalition of techminded companies and organizations in Stockton and Modesto have been working diligently to help the region’s workers and companies better compete in the ever-expanding tech economy. Women Techmakers is one such group. A nonprofit initiative founded by Google, the Modesto chapter provides visibility, community and resources for women in technology, and for those considering technology as a career path. Through its networking effort, it educates, encourages and demonstrates the important role women can
command in promoting technology throughout the Valley. Women Techmakers partners with local tech organizations Bay Valley Tech, Datapath and others to increase tech diversity. Women Techmakers has given women the opportunity to tell their stories and share their knowledge. They have created community, opportunities, mentorship and above all, a safe space to advance their experience and ideas. From this group arose the first International Women’s Day event bringing together a diverse group of influential leaders in tech. This event was organized by both Women Techmakers and Dr. Lenita Williamson, President and CEO of ProcedureCard. Sustain the Valley (sustainthevalley.org), a COVID-19 resource site that has grown into much more than just that, helps the Central Valley find resources for job placement, affordable internet and even firstresponder and healthcare worker discounts. This site also focuses on supporting local businesses in the Central Valley. Sustain the Valley was created by Lourdes Lopez, Zoraida Martinez and Daisy Mayorga, all of whom met
through the Women Techmakers space. Google Developers’ Group Modesto, formed in 2013, is another organization geared toward educating and uplifting workers into the technology realm. Jim Hutson, a local software developer and a capable team of volunteers organized GDG’s first local “Dev Fest” last year, which attracted about 50 local technologists from all types of businesses, and attendees listened to speakers who were fostering technology in our region. This group brings together software developers with all skill levels for community-led technical learning and a shared passion for Google technologies. Valley Hackathon is one of the largest annual tech events in the Modesto/ Stockton area. The programming contest is sponsored by many local companies and draws more than 200 (legal) “hackers” eager to showcase their software talent to win thousands in prizes. Organizers of the Valley Hackathon also support high school and junior high tech events in the region. SEE TECH, PAGE 11
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NOVEMBER 2020
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ACCOLADES
PROMOTIONS, APPOINTMENTS, HONORS, ETC. Oak Valley Community Bank announces new commercial loan officer
Oak Valley Community Bank announced that Rob Gildea has joined the bank as Vice President, Commercial Loan Officer. He is based out of the Stockton –Brookside Branch. Gildea has over 30 years of experience in the banking industry, inRob Gildea cluding 15 years as a commercial relationship manager. In his new role, he will be responsible for commercial lending, business development, and relationship management in the greater Stockton area. “I’m excited to be joining such a strong and flourishing community bank and am looking forward to delivering the firstclass customer service that is synonymous with Oak Valley’s team,” said Gildea. “Rob has an impressiveresume of commercial lending and retail banking experience in San Joaquin County,” said Gary Stephens, EVP Commercial Banking Group. “We look forward to the contributions he will make to the growth and success of our business clients and the bank.” Gildea received a Degree in Business Administration from Chico State University. He is a former board member of Junior Achievement of Northern California and Lincoln High School Athletic Boosters. He is currently a member of the Quail Lakes Baptist Church Youth Ministries and the Uplift All Foundation. Gildea resides in Stockton with his wife, Lisa. He enjoys sports and spending time with his four adult children.
American AgCredit selects new President and Chief Executive Officer
American AgCredit as hired Curt Hudnutt as the new President and Chief Executive Officer. His position took effect Oct. 19. “I’m very excited to join American AgCredit,” said Hudnutt. “With the compa-
TECH
FROM PAGE 9 Bay Valley Tech’s Free Code Academy is training hundreds of new computer programmers across the Central Valley and SF East Bay, helping underrepresented groups successfully gain entry into tech careers. Led by tech entrepreneur, Phillip Lan, Bay Valley Tech (www.bayvalleytech.com) has quickly become the region’s largest digital workforce initiative. Bay Valley Tech students are securing high-tech job offers from leading local companies such as E&J Gallo, Novo Technologies and Tyler Technologies. ValleyWorx Tech CoWorking Space accelerates
ny’s unwavering commitment to agriculture, we have a strong foundation in place to continue to improve the lives of farmers and ranchers so critical to the American economy. I look forward to building on the company’s long history of success.” After 37 years with the Farm Credit System, and seven successful years as President and CEO of American AgCredit, Byron Enix will serve in a consultative role alongside Curt until his retirement January 31, 2021. “I want to extend a warm welcome to Curt as he joins our organization,” said Enix. “Curt’s vision, experience, and strong leadership will help us find new ways to be successful in serving our mission and our customers.” Hudnutt’s career in agriculture spans 18 years and includes positions leading operations, business development, underwriting, and risk management. Most recently, Curt served as Head of Rural Banking for North America at Rabo Agrifinance. Curt Hudnutt Hudnutt graduated with honors from the University of Northern Iowa with a Bachelor of Arts in Finance and Spanish. He earned a Master of Business Administration in Management, graduating with honors in 2008. He is also an alumnus of the Harvard Business School’s Executive Education Program, having completed the General Management Program in 2015. A third-generation farmer and landowner, Hudnutt operates a 400-acre corn and soybean operation in Iowa. He has been married to his wife Nikki for 15 years and together they have three children: Austin, Jacob and Mia. In his free time, he enjoys golfing, reading, spending time on the farm, watching sports and relaxing on the lake.
Soroptimist International of Oakdale receives top awards
Soroptimist International of Oakdale was recently recognized as the recipients of Soroptimist’s Sierra Pacific Region “Soroptimists Celebrating Success” Awards.
growth of the local tech ecosystem by facilitating expansion of Bay Area tech companies to the Central Valley, as well as helping local tech entrepreneurs grow faster and smarter. If you are a startup entrepreneur, freelance consultant or established company, ValleyWorx’s business community and flexible office space options will be a tremendous asset to help your company grow. Software Meet-Ups are now held frequently throughout the Stockton/ Modesto area to help developers learn new skills, network with employers and other professionals in the industry. These meetings have covered topics such as JavaScript, React, Angular, Python, Virtual Reality and even include
Code Challenges and Gaming Nights. Public education is doing their part as well. Modesto Junior College is ramping up to meet the everincreasing demand for workers in computer science, information systems, database administration, network administration and web development. Their computer science department now trains 200 students per year and its instructors frequently collaborate with the local tech community. MJC students field competitive teams at the Valley Hackathon contests every year and have secured internships and then jobs through connections at ValleyWorx. The Stanislaus County Office of Education as well as innovative schools in
The awards were received for entries for projects completed during the 2018-2019 club year representing the four Soroptimist Pillars: Program, Membership, Fundraising, and Public Awareness. The Oakdale club was selected for the awards among 32 clubs in the Region. Their entry for Program highlighted its Dream It, Be It Career Support for Girls conference and an added panel of professional women speaking about their education and careers. The Membership entry highlighted a program meeting on SOLT (Soroptimist Orientation and Leadership Training) designed to educate its members about the Soroptimist organization including its history, purpose, vision, mission, core values, and programs designed to help women and girls. The Fundraising entry highlighted the success of its Holiday Luncheon and Silent Auction fundraiser that featured an added fashion show resulting in higher ticket sales and fundraising dollars. The Public Awareness entry highlighted the club’s efforts to raise awareness about the Soroptimist organization through public service announcements, presentations at City Council meetings and other agencies, and creation of brochures designed to highlight the Oakdale club and Soroptimist organization. In addition, the club also recently learned that it had been selected as the winner among all Soroptimist International of the Americas federation clubs in the Public Awareness category. The federation has 1,300 clubs in 21 countries and territories consisting of North, South, and Central America, as well as Japan, the Philippines, and Taiwan. President Charlotte Metcalfe said of the awards, “We as a club were beyond ecstatic to say the least! To be the recipient of all four Region Awards was truly an honor and then to be chosen as a Federation Finalist from Soroptimist International of the Americas was icing on the cake! I am beyond proud of the hard work and dedication to excellence our local club displays for our community. Our members are very dedicated volunteers. We truly do make a difference in the lives of women and girls and I am proud to call myself a Soroptimist!”
Modesto, Turlock, Patterson and Ripon are increasing focus on software coding. Unlike many software professionals, I did not study programming in high school and college. But like many of you, I had aspirations to grow beyond where I started. My path to a tech career was a non-traditional route that is actually becoming more common. In 2007, I secured a position as a General Wine Worker and Machine Operator at E&J Gallo, the world’s largest winery. Seeing an opportunity to transition into more challenging work and a higher salary, I decided to learn about software development. To be honest, it wasn’t always a smooth journey. I can tell you that every aspiring software de-
Cooper Receives Veteran Of The Year Honor
Oakdale resident, and American Veterans First founder Duke Cooper was honored with a Veteran of the Year award by California State Assembly member Heath Flora. On Oct. 1 Flora presented Cooper with a Certificate of Recognition for his selection as Veteran of the Year 2020. “Every year each Assembly members chooses a Veteran of the Year for their respective district,” said Flora. “This year I was proud to have selected Duke Cooper as Assembly District 12 Veteran of the Year.” Cooper served in the United States Marine Corps from 1968 to 1974 and was an infantry rifleman. He enlisted after his best friend was killed in Vietnam which fueled his fire to fight for this country. Although he has been out for many years Cooper will tell you “once a Marine always a Marine.” “I am honored that I would even be considered for that,” stated Cooper. “It set me back because I figured that there are a lot of people out there that are more deserving than I.” In 2016 Cooper opened American Veterans First on Patterson Road in Riverbank. His efforts to assist the veteran community grew along with acquiring a 501(c)(3) designation in 2018 for the organization. Since the beginning of AVF there have been changes to the board of directors, program changes, and a variety of volunteers, but the one thing that has always been consistent is his passion for helping veterans. With programs like the coat and blanket drive, Pets 4 Vets, Sail for Recovery, and the hygiene pack giveaway, the ideas and efforts continue for the organization and the Central Valley.
veloper needs lots of determination and a willingness to sacrifice many nights and weekends. And some tech concepts are harder to learn than others, especially if you are going it alone. Fortunately, you are not alone here in the Central Valley. Our tech community is tight-knit and always willing to help. Technology mentors like Jim Hutson were a tremendous help during my studies and attending the many software meet-ups allowed me to build new skills and connect with fellow Women Techmakers Amy Pezzoni (computer science teacher at Enochs High School) and Dr. Lenita Williamson (orthopedic surgeon and tech entrepreneur). Last year, I was offered a position as a programmer ana-
lyst on Gallo’s technology team. Despite all of the progress in building our local tech community, we should not assume that Bay Area employers will continue to consider the Central Valley in their expansion plans. We will only be attractive so long as we have a large, growing skilled labor pool. Many cities such as Austin, have successfully siphoned thousands of tech jobs out of California. And many more are building their tech ecosystems to outcompete Stockton, Modesto and the surrounding region. If we want to fully participate in the tech economy, this is a crucial time to expand our tech coalition, pool our resources and push our current tech initiatives forward.
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