Dear members,
I’m incredibly proud of the Chamber team and our accomplishments, as well as the achievements and success we’ve seen in the business community during 2022. So many of you have reached out and joined the organization this year. We have added many new programs, products and services to help your business thrive and succeed while getting back into full swing after the pandemic. We have produced a number of successful events, taken part in key legislation and made an impact locally with marketing our community near and far.
It’s been a significant year as we’ve seen business get back to what they consider normal after a long stretch of fires, and pandemic activities. Many of you have come out swinging with evolved and elevated experiences. I want to take this time to congratulate you for your persistence and creativity. I look forward to seeing what 2023 brings to our community. There are so many things I have learned since I landed in Healdsburg, but mainly how committed and kind the community is.
Thank you for your continued support of the Chamber and business community. We would not be as successful without each other. 2023 will bring lots of exciting new endeavors for the Chamber. Please let us know where we as a team, and organization, or individuals can do better.
Wising you all a healthy and happy new year!
Tallia Hart CEOSure, Rodney Strong Wine Estates is one of the largest wine producers in northern Sonoma County. And, yes, the company runs most operations out of an expansive facility on the far southern end of town.
At the same time, this wine industry juggernaut is all about community.
Rodney Strong’s commitment to community began all the way back in 1959, when founder and winemaking pioneer Rod Strong envisioned Sonoma County as a special place for producing wine.
Today, the founding notion of “community” at Rodney Strong means many things—sustainability, innovation, family, and fun. According to spokesman Chris O’Gorman, the winery strives to do everything it can to cultivate a place where locals and visitors alike want to come, spend time together, and make lasting memories for the future.
“It’s all about the experience,” he said. “Even if that experience doesn’t necessarily include a bottle of wine, we want people to interact with us know this is a place they can come to be happy.”
As O’Gorman explains it, Rodney Strong has worked diligently in the last few years to create an environment where community can come together and celebrate. These efforts have resulted in several new venues and places to unwind.
Perhaps the most notable development: A new-and-improved open-air Concert Green that is used for live music, fundraising events, and more. In the last few months, this Green welcomed the Healdsburg Chamber of Commerce and AV Film for annual fundraisers. Together, the groups raised nearly $250,000 to achieve their independent goals.
In warmer weather, this area becomes a Saturday picnic spot, complete with live music and food trucks.
Another community-oriented project: The Outdoor Terrace, an al-fresco living room where visitors can book wine tastings or sidle up to the bar and drink some of Winemaker Justin Seidenfeld’s latest gems.
Rodney Strong also has made some investments and improvements inside its sprawling facility. Most recently, the winery unveiled its new Cellar Door space, which is a private meeting area tucked inside one of the barrel rooms on the ground level of the main building that first opened to the public in 1970. O’Gorman noted this room will host educational talks and blending seminars throughout the year.
Rodney Strong also recently welcomed the community into its refurbished tasting room, which transformed small and inexplicably partitioned space into one expansive room with modern décor and ample seating options.
“Inside or out, we’re a great place to come and spend an afternoon with friends,” O’Gorman said.
In addition to all these physical changes, Rodney Strong continues to connect with the local community in other, more subtle ways—by innovating with new wine brands, by supporting local nonprofits, and by practicing sustainable farming practices that will protect and preserve local vineyards for generations to come.
The legacy that the man named Rodney Strong started more than 60 years ago lives on. Healdsburg is a better place because of it.
“It’s all about the experience.”
Back when Richard Plaxco started design-build landscaping business the early 1980s, he named it “Geared for Growing” as a nod to all the growing plants would do in clients’ yards.
The name was apt as self-reference, too; 40 years later, the Healdsburg company is still going strong.
Today, Plaxco’s firm specializes in designing, building, and maintaining gardens; orchestrating hardscapes, patios, and arbors; and planning and managing irrigation of both traditionally landscaped and xeriscape yards.
“More than anything we listen to our clients,” Plaxco said recently. “We guide them and educate them along the way, giving them choices in terms of how they might want to spend their money and why they might want to a project one way versus another. Our main goal is to make sure our clients are happy with whatever they hire us to do.”
Most of Geared for Growing’s clients are residential and spread out all over northern Sonoma County. Some have flat parcels. Others have hillside properties. The firm has nabbed a handful of high-profile winery accounts over the years, too.
Two you might know: the sumptuous gardens at Lambert Bridge Winery, and the grounds at Rochioli.
Plaxco himself never expected to build a career around landscaping. As a boy he was interested in architecture but
“me and math didn’t get along too good.” After studying art at Santa Rosa Junior College, he logged some work in Healdsburg and San Diego as a landscape contractor, then went to California Polytechnic Institute in San Luis Obispo for a degree in landscape design.
He opened Geared for Growing in 1982 and has been a member of the Healdsburg Chamber of Commerce since 2012.
Today Plaxco has a crew of 25, as well as another designer, an estimator, and someone helping with maintenance. His wife handles all the finances and Human Resources work. Essentially, the company has remained a small family business throughout.
Geared for Growing services clients throughout the year, even in winter. Plaxco noted that customers are seeking drought-tolerant installations more frequently now than ever before.
“We get a lot of requests for cactus gardens and succulents, as well as artificial turf,” he said, adding that waterfalls once were popular but today have almost entirely fallen off the wish lists of regular customers. “The push for less water is notable but not surprising, consider the cost of water and how little water these options need to thrive in our climate.”
Whatever customers want, Geared for Growing will continue to make sure those gardens grow.
“More than anything we listen to our clients.”
Mike Brennan 2023 Vice Chair Mill District
Heidi Dittloff 2023 Secretary Longboard Vineyards
Bill Smart 2023 Treasurer Lambert Bridge Winery
Dan Maraviglia 2023 Past Board Chair Passalacqua, Mazzoni, Gladden, Lopez & Maraviglia, LLP
Beryl Adler NEW Board Member Black Oak Coffee Roasters
Katie Ambrosi Wilson Artisan Wines
Nancy Brandt Brandt Insurance
Erika Dawkins Bon Ton Studio + bon ton baby
Jim Heid NEW Board Member
Craftwork Healdsburg
Doug Kaminski Montage Healdsburg
Aaron Krug NEW Board Member
Krug Hotels: Dry Creek Inn/The Lodge at Healdsburg
Circe Sher NEW Board Member Piazza Hospitality
JNS Next
Left Coast Marketing & Design LLC
Sonoma Media Group
MEDIA PRODUCTION & CONTENT
Witsch Digital PUBLISHERS
Bohemian
Northbay Biz Magazine
The Healdsburg Tribune
AGRICULTURE, FISHING & FORESTRY VINEYARDS
Puma Springs Vineyards
ARTS, CULTURE & ENTERTAINMENT
ART GALLERIES
ÆRENA Galleries and Gardens
Erickson Fine Art Gallery, Inc.
Healdsburg Art Galleries
Healdsburg Center for the Arts
Shine Healdsburg
Stafford Gallery
The Harris Gallery Art & Wine Collection
Upstairs Art Gallery
ENTERTAINMENT
Alexander Valley Film Society MUSEUMS
Charles M. Schulz Museum & Research Center
Healdsburg Museum & Historical Society
The Hand Fan Museum
THEATER-LIVE
Raven Performing Arts Theater
AUTOMOBILE, MARINE & RELATED SERVICES
AUTO DEALERS
Silveira Buick - GMC Trucks
W.C. Sanderson Ford
AUTO PAINT/GLASS/BODY SHOPS
Silveira Body Shop
AUTO PARTS & REPAIR
Fincher's Auto Service, Inc. GAS STATIONS
B&G Group Inc.
Rotten Robbie Gas Station, #63 TIRES
Ceja Quality Tires, Inc. TOWING
All City Tow TRUCK DEALERS
Opperman & Son, Inc. BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
ACCOUNTANTS
Brush Bernard Mengali Accountancy, Inc. BOOKKEEPING
Holmes & Associates Computer Accounting Systems
BUSINESS CONSULTING AND TRAINING
North Coast Score Chapter 450 Women, Spirit & Business BUSINESS SERVICES
Better Business Bureau, Inc. Small Business Development Center at Santa Pack Ship & More Rosa Junior College
CIVIL ENGINEERS
Munselle Civil Engineering Swicegood Civil Engineering CONSULTANTS
Kelly Williams and Associates
Leap Solutions Group COURIER SERVICES
Healdsburg Express, LLC aka HEAEX
Lynx Employer Resources
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT/SAFETY & HEALTH/COMPLIANCE
George Goobanoff Associates
Watch Duty
SD Media Productions/Healdsburg Wine & Food Experience
RMC Corporation
So Eventful
Best Western Dry Creek Inn
Ferrari-Carano Vineyards & Winery
Harmon Guest House Hotel Healdsburg
Jordan Vineyard & Winery
Rodney Strong Vineyards
Roth Estate Winery
The Villa Chanticleer
Wilson Winery
Conneely Family Cremation & Funeral Services
Fred Young Funeral Home LAND SURVEYORS
Cinquini & Passarino, Inc.
Curtis & Associates
The UPS Store
MARKETING
Emily Martin Communications & Events AND
The JetSetting Fashionista (Blog)
Sonoma County GO LOCAL Cooperative
The Engine is Red PHOTOGRAPHY
BOURNE photo studio + gallery
Will Bucquoy Photography PRINTING
Accent Printing & Design, Inc.
PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTS/SILKSCREEN/ EMBROIDERY
Bob's Signs SIGNS
Bob's Signs
Healdsburg Signs Inc.
STAFFING/TEMPORARY HELP
Sonoma County Job Link
TAX SERVICES
Healdsburg Tax Service
WRITERS
Whalehead LLC CLOTHING
Kay Ley Collective
COMPUTERS, IT SERVICES & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
COMPUTER SYSTEMS DESIGNERS/ CONSULTANTS
V & R Solutions
Wine Country Computers & Technologies
INTERNET SERVICE & TELECOMMUNICATION PROVIDERS
Vista Broadband Networks, Inc.
WEBSITE DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT
Budbreak Creative
CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTORS, EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES BUILDING MATERIALS
Capital Lumber
Healdsburg Lumber Co.
CLEAN UP & RESTORATION
Environment Control North Bay
CONSTRUCTION/REMODELING/DESIGN
Holly and Associates, Inc
CONTRACTORS
WestPac Construction
ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS & MAINTENANCE CCI
Denny's Electric, Inc. EQUIPMENT RENTALS
Aaction Rents
Healdsburg Floor Coverings
Eddinger Enterprises, Inc.
LeBrett Construction Rich Ryan Construction, Inc.
HARDWARE STORES
Garrett ACE Hardware
LANDSCAPE CONTRACTORS Gardenworks Inc. Geared For Growing PAINT Plaza Paint Supply
SEPTIC SYSTEMS
Conley Plumbing & Backhoe SOLAR INSTALLATION & SERVICES
Pure Power Solutions
ECOLOGICAL HOME AND GARDEN Healdsburg Garden Club, Inc
FAMILY, COMMUNITY & CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS
CHARITABLE FOUNDATIONS
Healdsburg Food Pantry Reach for Home
THE 222
COMMUNITY
Alexander Valley Community Hall
Boys & Girls Clubs of Sonoma-Marin Coraz Healdsburg Farm to Pantry
Friends of the Healdsburg Library Healdsburg AAUW Healdsburg Chorus
Healdsburg Community Band Healdsburg Education Foundation
Healdsburg Forever.org an affiliate of the Community Foundation Sonoma County Healdsburg Future Farmers Country Fair Healdsburg High School Academic Internship Program
Healdsburg Jazz Healdsburg Police Officers Assoc.
Healdsburg Prune Packers Baseball Club Healthcare Foundation Northern Sonoma County Humane Society of Sonoma County Kiwanis Club of Healdsburg Rotary Club of Healdsburg Rotary Club of Healdsburg Sunrise Russian Riverkeeper V Foundation Sonoma Epicurean LIBRARY
Healdsburg Regional Library (SoCo Library) FINANCE & INSURANCE SERVICES BANKS/SAVINGS & LOANS/CREDIT UNIONS
Bank of the West Community First Credit Union Exchange Bank North Bay Credit Union Summit State Bank Wells Fargo Bank WestAmerica Bank FINANCIAL SERVICES SoFi Lending LLC
INSURANCE AGENTS
Allstate - Lehr Insurance Agency Brandt Insurance Farmers Insurance-Healdsburg
State Farm Insurance | Esquivel Insurance Agency, Inc Vantreo Insurance Brokerage
INVESTMENTS
Golden Key Wealth Management, Paul Sullivan, MS, CFP®
Mork Capital Management MORTGAGE COMPANIES Guild Mortgage Co.
GOVERNMENT, EDUCATION & INDIVIDUALS
CITY SERVICES
Healdsburg City Council Healdsburg Community Services Healdsburg Fire Department Healdsburg Police Department
City of Healdsburg
James Gore, 4th District Supervisor
Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
Sonoma County Economic Development Board
Geyserville Unified School District
Healdsburg Unified School District Live Oak Pre-School
Pine Tree Preschool
Sonoma County Office of Education St. John the Baptist Catholic School The Healdsburg School
HEALTH CARE
DENTISTS
Munselle Family Dentistry
Roger Bartels, DDS HEALTH CARE SERVICES
Alliance Medical Center
Alliance Medical Center-Dental Bell's Healdsburg Ambulance Service Healdsburg District Hospital
Redwood Family Dermatology ORTHODONTIST Healdsburg Orthodontics
HOME & GARDEN RELATED SERVICES
NURSERIES
Russian River Rose Company HOUSING
Social Advocates for Youth (Individuals Now DBA)
TREE SERVICES & ARBORIST
Image Tree Service
ICE CREAM
Noble Folk
INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES & SERVICES
GRAVEL COMPANIES
Syar Industries
INTERACTIVE MARKETING WineCountry Media
INTERIOR DESIGNER / GALLERY
Myra Hoefer Design, Inc.
LEGAL
ATTORNEYS
Anderson Zeigler
Fritz Law Offices
Passalacqua, Mazzoni, Gladden, Lopez & Maraviglia LLP
Welty, Weaver & Currie, PC LODGING & TRAVEL
BED & BREAKFAST / INNS
Bella Luna Inn Belle de Jour Inn Calderwood Inn Camellia Inn Grape Leaf Inn Raford Inn Bed & Breakfast River Belle Inn
CAMPGROUNDS
Cloverdale/Healdsburg KOA Camping Resort Wildhaven Sonoma HOTELS / MOTELS & RESORTS Appellation Healdsburg Best Western Dry Creek Inn boon hotel + spa Cottages at Healdsburg Fairview Inn & Suites Geyserville Inn Harmon Guest House
Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites WindsorSonoma County Hotel Healdsburg
Hotel Les Mars, Relais & Chateaux Hotel Trio Healdsburg Montage Healdsburg Rockhouse Suites The Madrona The Stavrand Russian River Valley Two Thirty-Five Luxury Suites LODGING Wilson Artisan Wineries
Decanter Healdsburg
MANUFACTURING, PRODUCTION & WHOLESALE
INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION
E & M Electric
MANUFACTURING
Criveller California Corp
Golden State Cider Max Machinery, Inc. SkLO Sonoma Millworks
PERSONAL SERVICES & CARE ELDERLY CARE
Friends of the Senior Center Healdsburg Senior Living Community
FACIAL PLASTIC SURGERY
Artemedica
Jacobs Center, The SPAS & MASSAGE THERAPISTS
The Spa Hotel Healdsburg PETS & VETERINARY
VETERINARY HOSPITALS
Memorial Beach Veterinary Hospital PUBLIC UTILITIES & ENVIRONMENT
UTILITIES
Recology Sonoma Marin
REAL ESTATE & RELOCATION SERVICES
CONCIERGE SERVICES
HBG Concierge
CO-WORKING SPACE
CraftWork
HOME DESIGN
Hudson Street Design
Maison Smith
INDUSTRIAL PARKS
Sauers Properties MOVING COMPANIES
Redwood Moving & Storage
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT/RENTAL SERVICES
Wine Country Life Vacations Healdsburg Realty
North Village, The REAL ESTATE BROKER
Engel & Vkers
Live Wine Country - Tatiana McWilliams The Agency
W Real Estate
Williams and Williams Real Estate REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT AND INVESTMENT Enso Village Healdsburg Investors, Ltd. Mill District (RE:Play) Next Investments, Inc. Phelps-Baskin Investment Group
REAL ESTATE SALES/CONSULTANTS/ RELATED SERVICES
Andrew Cooper - Modern Living Sonoma, W Real Estate Compass Fowler Associates Healdsburg Sotheby's International Realty Jacklyn Wright-Gridley Etchell, BHHS Drysdale Properties
Luxe Places International Realty Sotheby's International Realty Vanguard Properties STORAGE FACILITIES
Russian River Covered RV Storage RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS CHURCHES
Alexander Valley Christian Fellowship Bahai's of Healdsburg Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Grace Community Church Healdsburg Community Church Healdsburg Seventh-Day Adventist Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church St. Paul's Episcopal Church Trinity Baptist
RESTAURANTS, FOOD & BEVERAGE BAKERIES Costeaux French Bakery
Nothing Bundt Cakes
Quail & Condor
CAFES
Black Oak Coffee Roasters CATERING
Big John's Market
Elaine Bell Catering Company GROCERY STORES
Big John's Market
Oakville Grocery - Healdsburg NATURAL FOODS
Shelton's Natural Foods Market
RESTAURANTS
Amy's Wicked Slush
Asahi Ramen & Izakaya Restaurant
Asahi Sushi Kitchen
Baci Cafe & Wine Bar Barndiva
Bravas Bar de Tapas Chalkboard
Charlie Palmer's Dry Creek Kitchen Eat Healdsburg
Geyserville Grille Guiso Latin Fusion Healdsburg Bar & Grill
Kin Smoke Little Saint Lo & Behold
Matheson, The Mombo's Pizza, LLC Pizzando
Spoonbar
The Parish Cafe
The Rooftop at Harmon Guest House
The Taste of Tea
The Wurst Restaurant Valette
Willi's Seafood & Raw Bar
SALUMERIAS & BUTCHERS
Journeyman Meat Company
SHOPPING & SPECIALTY RETAIL ANTIQUES
Modern Antiquarium, The Shoffeitt's off the Square BOOK STORES
Copperfield's Books Levin and Company CELLULAR & MOBILE DEVICES AT&T
COOKWARE
Plaza Gourmet FLORISTS
Dragonfly Floral, Farm & Floral Design School
Uniquely Chic Floral & Home FRAMING-ART
Hammerfriar Gallery & Custom Framing FRUITS & VEGETABLES
Healdsburg Farmers' Market Sonoma County Farm Trails FURNITURE & HOME DÉCOR
Dovetail Collection - Fine Woodwork & American Handcraft HOME & GARDEN Forager
Garrett ACE Hardware JEWELRY & JEWELERS
Falling For Dainty MUSIC SHOP
Speed of Sound Music PARTY RENTALS & SUPPLIES
Bright Event Rentals Encore Events Rentals
Debbie's Pet Boutique Fideaux
Bon Ton Studio & Bon Ton Baby Chris Foley Fine Leather & Accessories ereloom
Healdsburg Running Company Leaven
Lucky Heron
Mr. Moon's
Outlander Men's Gear
Rainsong Shoes Rete
Susan Graf Ltd. & Susan's Basement
Tamarind Clothing, Jewelry, & Accessories Yasuko Zizi
TOY STORES
Toy Chest
SPORTS & RECREATION
GOLF COURSES
Tayman Park Golf Group, Inc. | Healdsburg Golf Club
HEALTH & FITNESS
Parkpoint Health & Swim Club World Gym Healdsburg
OUTDOOR RECREATION
Friends of Lake Sonoma Safari West
THINGS TO DO BICYCLES & TOURS
Getaway Adventures/Wine Country Bike Tours Spoke Folk Cyclery Wine Country Bikes
CANOE & KAYAK TRIPS SOAR
Inflatables / Russian River Adventures TOURS & TRANSPORTATION
California Wine Tours
Northern Sights
TRAVEL AGENCIES
Cruise Planners
WALKING TOURS
The Healdsburg Walking Tour
WINE TOURS
Bike Healdsburg – Party Bike Tours
TRANSPORTATION
AIRPORTS
Charles M. Schulz - Sonoma County Airport (STS)
Healdsburg Municipal Airport
LIMOUSINE SERVICES, TOURS & TRANSPORTATION
Five Emerald Limo & Wine tours
WEDDINGS
The Posh Privy WEDDING & RECEPTION SITES
Best Western Dry Creek Inn
Mountain House Estate WINERIES & TASTING ROOMS & WINE RELATED
ALEXANDER VALLEY TASTING ROOMS & WINERIES
Alexander Valley Vineyards deLorimier Winery
Francis Ford Coppola Winery
Francis Ford Coppola Winery Too! Jordan Vineyard & Winery
Robert Young Estate Winery Soda Rock Winery Stonestreet Zialena Winery
Bear Republic Brewing Co., Inc.
Bella Snow (Great White Buffalo Brewing Company LLC)
CHALK HILL REGION TASTING ROOMS & WINERIES
Chalk Hill Estate Vineyards & Winery Lancaster Estate
Roth Estate Winery DISTILLERIES
Alley 6 Craft Distillery Young & Yonder Spirits
DOWNTOWN HEALDSBURG TASTING ROOMS & WINERIES
AERIS by RHYS VINEYARDS
Banshee Wines Cartograph
Coursey Graves Ehret Family Winery Furthermore Wines Hartford Family Winery Hudson Street Wineries
Jeff Cohn Cellars
Longboard Vineyards, LLC
Murphy-Goode
Pezzi King Vineyards
Portalupi Wine
Ramey Wine Cellars
Rockpile Vineyards
Seghesio Family Vineyards Selby Winery
Siduri Wine Bar & Tasting Lounge
Spicy Vines Thumbprint Cellars
Williamson Wines
DRY CREEK VALLEY TASTING ROOMS & WINERIES
32 Winds Wine Amphora Winery
Bacchus Landing Cellars
Breathless Sparkling Wines CAST Wines
Chateau Diana Comstock Wines
Dry Creek Vineyard
Ferrari-Carano Vineyards & Winery
Lambert Bridge Winery
Martorana Family Winery Mazzocco Sonoma Winery
Mill Creek Vineyards
Papapietro Perry Winery Pedroncelli Winery
Preston Farm and Winery Quivira Vineyards & Winery Ridge Vineyards-Lytton Springs
Sbragia Family Vineyards
Trattore Farms and Winery
Truett Hurst Winery
VML Winery
Walt Baca Wines
Wilson Winery
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY TASTING ROOMS & WINERIES
Copain Wines
J Vineyards & Winery
Kendall-Jackson Wine Center
La Crema Tasting Room Matrix Winery Merriam Vineyards Moshin Vineyards
Notre Vue Estate Winery Rochioli Vineyards & Winery Rodney Strong Vineyards
Twomey Cellars WINE LOUNGE Coyote Sonoma
WINE RELATED SERVICES
Alexander Valley Winegrowers
Odyssey Wine Academy
Sonoma County Winegrape Commission Wilson Artisan Wineries Wine Road
Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley® WINE SHIPPING
Crown Wine Shipping
WINERIES & TASTING ROOMS
Flowers Vineyards & Winery Foley Sonoma
Gallo Family Vineyards Goldschmidt Vineyards Jackson Family Wines Mueller Winery
Orsi Family Vineyards
Rodney Strong Vineyards
Saini Vineyards
Smith Story Wine Cellars
SUTRO Wine Co. The Setting Wines Trentadue Winery Vérité Winery Wilson Artisan Wineries YOGA
Yoga On Center
