North Bay Business Journal, Feb. 1, 2021

Built for speed New shop revs up nostalgic hot rods PAGES 6-7

■ FEBRUARY 1, 2021 • $1.25 • VOLUME 34, NUMBER 05

NORTH SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA: SONOMA, NAPA AND MARIN COUNTIES

COVER STORY

Cannabis blossoms into beverages

■ BREAKING NEWS: NORTHBAYBUSINESSJOURNAL.COM

Covered California extending deadline North Bay workers lose employer health care in great numbers PAGE 9

Market moves into new consumables

By KATHRYN REED | PAGES 4-5

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Tuesday, Feb. 16 From 10-11:30 a.m.

Newsom gives blessing to reopen PAGE 2

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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2021

New federal hemp growing rules out in March

By SUSAN WOOD The North Bay Business Journal

Recognizing a budding industry, the federal government has established new hemp rules for cultivators that are due to take effect March 22.

Local governments like Solano County — which just passed an ordinance in December ending its moratorium on hemp — may now see its growers gain more flexibility in tending to their crops. Napa, Sonoma and Marin counties have already allowed for the practice.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Jan. 17 a list of finalized regulations, after receiving input from industry stakeholders.

“It’s a good start,” said Benjamin Goldstein, the dean of agriculture at Santa Rosa Junior College, where hemp crops are a part of Benjamin the 365-acre campus farm Goldstein situated near Riverfront Regional Park. The farm is used for educational programs, and hemp is harvested for oil in a variety of strains.

A cannabis product, hemp may be used to make paper, cloth, rope, fabric and building materials. The whole plant can create fuel. Hemp lacks the intoxication properties like marijuana if consumed.

According to the new USDA rules, the hemp’s federal statute increases the level of allowed THC from 0.3% to now 1%, a concession to avert growers who were eradicating plants when that level exceeds what’s allowed.

Hemp Agriculture Program Coordinator George Sellu said the best concession contained in the new rules is expanding the window of time the sampling of hemp plants are required to test in. The time for See HEMP page 16

CORRECTION Scott Pikey is a commercial insurance broker with Santa Rosa-based InterWest Insurance Services. A story in the Jan. 25 issue of the North Bay Business Journal incorrectly reported his title at the company.

NAPA RIVER INN

Napa River Inn is a luxury hotel situated in downtown Napa’s Riverfront District.

Wine Country reopens to mixed reactions Some business leaders cheer, others fret at abruptness of decision

By CHERYL SARFATY, JEFF QUACKENBUSH AND SUSAN WOOD The North Bay Business Journal

Business leaders across the North Bay quickly got moving last week after Gov. Gavin Newsom abruptly lifted the regional stay-at-home order — which had been imposed in December — and reinstated the color-coded system that dictates which businesses can be open or must stay closed.

Newsom said he ended the regional order on Jan. 25 because of increasing availability of ICU beds statewide. In the San Francisco Bay Area, which includes the North Bay, 23% of ICU beds were available, according to the California Department of Public Health, which is forecasting 25% bed availability by Feb. 21.

The four-tiered, color-coded system puts all but four of the state’s 58 counties in the purple tier, including all of the North Bay. It’s the most restrictive tier but does allow for re-openings that include restaurants and wineries, the latter two which can resume outdoor operations.

Even so, the region’s business leaders had a mix of relief and trepidation when the news broke.

“It's funny how this process has been,” said Sara Brooks, general manager of the Napa River Inn, a 66-room luxury property situated within walking distance to Downtown Napa's Riverfront District.

“You get an announcement one day

“You get an announcement one day and you’re shutting down, and then you get an announcement one day that you’re able to open back up.”

SARA BROOKS, general manager of the Napa River Inn

and you're shutting down, and then you get an announcement one day that you're able to open back up,” Brooks said. “So it’s a little bit tough for us to plan.” The pandemic’s impact on the hotel’s revenues for 2020 were significant, down about 70% compared to 2019, she said.

Since the time the regional stay-at-home order was put in place in early December, business at Andaz Napa declined between 80% and 90%, said Patrick Miller, general manager of the 141-room boutique hotel in downtown Napa operated by Hyatt.

While Miller said last week he was “elated” to reopen, he also shared Brooks’ concern about how suddenly Newsom made the move.

“It’s always tough when the communication (from the state) is so abrupt, but we'll take it,” said Miller. “I think we're just happy to be moving in the right direction.”

Scott Satterfield, general manager of Hotel TRIO, a 122-suite hotel in Healdsburg and a Marriott franchise, said also reopening restaurants and tasting rooms in the popular tourism town would be important to the hotel’s ability to draw business.

“Now, hopefully, this will put us in a

situation where we can … hire some folks back and get back to a little more business as usual,” he said. “Dining outside and wine tasting outside is just enough to make it exciting to come to wine country again.”

Hotel Trio finished 2020 at 64% of 2019 revenues, Satterfield said, noting that December alone — during the regional stay-home order — brought in just 35% of the revenues collected in December 2019.

Russian River Brewery co-owner Natalie Cilurzo has spent $70,000 on upgrading her two Sonoma County locations to accommodate outdoor dining and expressed skepticism over having to open and close so many times.

"This seems awfully sudden. What's confusing to us is the metrics changing," she said upon learning the state reopened.

"We're tired of the yo-yo effect."

Cilurzo said she'll wait until mid-February to reopen the outdoor dining service.

Some North Coast wineries planned a quick reopening for outdoor tasting. Santa Rosa-based Jackson Family Wines announced 11 of its sites in Sonoma and Napa See REACTIONS page 15

North Bay Business Journal

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2021

California wine business faces new, ongoing challenges Pandemic restrictions, wildfires changing consumer behaviors

Expert: Sonoma County poised to recover fast

By GARY QUACKENBUSH For the North Bay Business Journal

drinks coming in from Mexico.

On the supply front, California headed into 2020 with a structural excess of grapes, vineyard acreage nearing commercial maturity and wine sitting in vintner tanks, but that changed rapidly last year, according to symposium speakers Jeff Bitter of Allied Grape Growers and Glenn Proctor of Ciatti Co. In the first few months of the pandemic, the surge in beverage alcohol sales caused major brands to rapidly reduce the excess gallons from the record 2018 harvest. Then in August through November, the California wildfires, particularly in prime coastal areas such as Sonoma and Napa, led to scrambling among vintners for suitable replacement gallons, generally draining the inventory overhang further and sending prices for bulk wine higher for the first time in two years.

A smaller 2020 crop because of weather and concerns about smoke damage is estimated to have resulted in a California wine grape crush of 3.35 million tons last year, Moramarco estimated.

He estimated that what was harvested in Sonoma County was down about 30%, to 163,000 tons, from 2019, in line with earlier grower survey results from Sonoma County Winegrowers. But the impact on Napa Valley he estimated could have resulted in a 40% hit, down to about 90,000 tons, with less than half the 2019 tonnage for the county’s Bordeaux varieties, led by cabernet sauvignon.

That has sent pricing for excess California coastal wine from the suddenly short

With a cautious, yet upbeat view of the region’s future, Dr. Jerry Nickelsburg, director and senior economist at UCLA Anderson Forecast, said Sonoma County is poised to recover faster than California, but noted that “It’s all about the pandemic… recovery starts when the pandemic stops.”

Nickelsburg was the keynote speaker at the Sonoma County Economic Development Board’s virtual 2021 Economic Perspective on Thursday .

Key to recovery is restoration of job losses, especially those worker who work with the public.

Nearly 90% of county job losses have been in that area, he said. Of those, about 35% have been in the leisure, beverage and hospitality sector; 26% in government; 13% in retail; 8% in educa- Jerry tion and health care (with Nickelsburg day care and child care in a severe retraction); and 7% in other service categories.

“The Sonoma County economy depends on people getting together for wine tastings, tours, and dining. People need to feel safe to gradually build confidence to come back. We have to get to the other side of this crisis. The hospitality industry should rebound rapidly, and its problems could soon be in the rear mirror.”

How the recession continues to affect public travel shows in the figures from the Sonoma County’s air hub.

Passenger arrivals at Charles M. Schulz Airport to 19,303 passengers in 2020 down from 488,179 as of December 2019, a decline of 60%. International arrivals at SFO and LAX have dropped to near zero levels in response to regulatory shutdowns. In the past, some 1.5 million tourists came from China alone to the U.S. in 2019. He said airport arrival losses are concurrent with job losses.

“We expect an increase in domestic tourism to offset losses in international tourism in Sonoma County as people take a wait-and-see attitude based on concerns for personal safety or develop a higher risk tolerance for going out to beaches, hiking

See WINE page 16

See RECOVER page 23

By JEFF QUACKENBUSH The North Bay Business Journal

The U.S. wine business eked out slim volume growth overall last year, even as the coronavirus has upended how consumers bought such beverages, yet challenges in demand and supply that predate the pandemic remain, according to experts at a major industry conference Jan. 27 .

Sales of domestic and imported table and sparkling wine in the country is estimated to have grown 1.2% last year to 369 million 9-liter cases, based on the latest available government and trade data, said beverage alcohol industry analyst Jon Moramarco of BW166. That would be up from 0.6% growth in 2019, part of a multiyear slowdown in overall wine growth.

“So while, obviously, hospitality, restaurants, etc. have been very hard hit, grocery stores have done well through this. And all those have repercussions on our industry,” he said at the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium, which attracts thousands to Sacramento annually but is being held virtually this year. Public health orders to help contain the pandemic have forced tasting rooms and restaurants to close significantly multiple times since mid-March of last year.

While consumers bought nearly 16% more wine last year in stores and other venues for off-premises consumption — namely, while sheltering at home amid the pandemic — their purchases fell by almost 45% in places where wine is consumed on the premises.

Last week, Moramarco pointed out that how much that on-premises impact hits smaller, higher-end producers that dominate the number of wineries in the North Coast. The volume of wine sold from the region slipped 1.7% last year to roughly 80 million cases, though almost three-quarters of that volume likely comes from large wineries that already had significant distribution in stores before the pandemic, he said at the Business Journal’s Wine Industry Conference on Jan. 19.

The U.S. outperformed other countries in beverage alcohol sales worldwide, and California’s growth was three time larger than second-place Italy, Danny Brager of Brager Beverage Alcohol Consulting noted at the symposium. “(L)ooking at all the numbers and given

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NORTH BAY BUSINESS JOURNAL

Glenn Proctor of Ciatti Co. illustrates during the virtual Unified Wine & Grape Symposium on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021, how the 2020 wildfires dramatically reduced the surplus of Napa Valley cabernet sauvignon wine, causing pricing to jump to the highest level in several years.

everything that we had to contend with the pandemic, fires and any other forces of nature lined up against us, the numbers would suggest that as an industry, we've done extremely well,” Brager said.

He gave the industry overall an “A-minus” for its success in shifting sales from key channels that were stymied by lockdowns and service restrictions in the coronavirus pandemic — namely, restaurants, bars and tasting rooms. But longer-term threats remain for the wine business from competing beverages, changing consumer tastes and shifting demographics, Brager said.

Wine’s share of beverage alcohol consumption per U.S. adult has remained steady and increased through two previous economic recessions and the pandemic since 2000, growing from 12.4% share to 17.2%. The good news is that consumption is steady good times or bad, but the troubling news is that distilled spirits brands are gaining ground lost by beer, Brager said.

“It means that as an industry, we're in a battle for share, for share of wallet, for share of occasions,” he said.

Beyond the faster growth for spirits last year than wine overall, even in the wine category, there are competitors arising for traditional table and sparkling wine, Moramarco said. Total wine sales volume in the U.S. last year was actually 6.3% to 432 million cases, including 12.4% growth for wine imported in bulk, with one-third of that coming from French bulk wine because of the first round of higher tariffs on European wines.

Another part of that 6.3% growth were wine-based cocktails, notably agave-based

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North Bay Business Journal

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2021

COVER STORY

Beverages with cannabis going higher and higher Water, wine are favorites, but makers face ribbons of red tape

By KATHRYN REED For the North Bay Business Journal

“Traditional edibles take a few hours. With beverages, you feel the impact within 15 minutes so you can pace yourself. It mimics alcohol consumption.”

worldwide will be worth $8 billion by 2027.

In the North Bay, the cannabis beverage trend is definitely growing. o get the buzz of cannabis in a faster, easier to control, “Beverages are one of the fastest growing categories at more socially acceptable way, the latest focus is our store and in the cannabis industry. They are picking drinking it. up a lot of traction,” said Eli Melrod, founder and CEO “It makes sense as an ingestion method, especially for of Solful dispensary in Sebastopol. “Basically they didn't new consumers. Smoking anything in front of people exist in 2017 when we opened and now we don't have is not popular,” Aaron Silverstein, managing director/ enough cooler space. Still, beverages make up only 2.5% enologist with BevZero. The Santa Rosa-based company of all sales, but it was zero in 2017.” specializes in removing alcohol from beer, wine and cider.

“Traditional edibles take a few hours. With beverages, VARIETY OF BEVERAGES Any beverage, except milk, can get a dose of cannayou feel the impact within 15 minutes so you can pace bis without running afoul of the law. Wine is ok, if the yourself. It mimics alcohol consumption. It’s not a huge alcohol is removed. part of the cannabis industry now, but I expect it to be “The low dose sparkling waters are hands down the significant in maybe 15 years where beverages will be 30% most popular; in single servings and four and six packs,” to 40% of all cannabis sales.”

Melrod said. “I think people are looking for ways to relax Technology and entrepreneurship have contributed and ways to unwind. I think people perceive cannabis as a to the growing variety and availability of these drinks. healthy alternative to alcohol.”

But those in the beverage industry complain a slew of Aimee Henry, a director with Napa Cannabis Collective unnecessary regulations, like what color bottle they can in Napa, said its two big sellers are Lagunitas’ cannause, is holding them back. bis-infused hoppy sparkling water and House of Saka “It’s by far the fastest growing sector of the industry,” wines. said David Quintana, lobbyist for the Cannabis Beverage House of Saka was founded in 2018 by Tracey Mason, a Association based in Sacramento. “This way you can do wine industry veteran, and Cynthia Salarizadeh, whose your vice in public, you can have all the fun without the calories, and it’s a lot cheaper.”

AARON SILVERSTEIN, managing director/ Fortune Business Insights predicts cannabis beverages See BEVERAGES page 5 enologist with BevZero in Santa Rosa

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North Bay Business Journal

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2021

BEVERAGES

A SAMPLING OF CANNABIS BEVERAGES

continued from page 4

expertise is cannabis. In 2020, they sold 530 of the 675 cases of wine they produced. In 2021, they expect to produce 7,500 cases. The increase largely has to do with distribution expansion, though consumer demand and awareness of their products are also key.

The company makes alcohol-free Saka Pink, a rosé made from pinot noir grapes, and Saka White, a chardonnay. Grapes are sourced mostly from the Carneros region of Napa Valley. In February, Saka Sparkling will be introduced in single-serve bottles.

BevZero’s Silverstein, whose company removes alcohol from beverages, said it does not make sense to dealcoholize everything. For example, to do so with vodka would pretty much leave water. Spirits like tequila and bourbon that can rely on wood barrels to be part of the taste profile are also not good candidates for dealcoholization, he said.

For those wanting to imbibe a cannabis cocktail there are other ways to satisfy that craving by being a mixologist at home or on the road by adding cannabis liquid to a drink.

“It’s like a little ketchup packet that has liquid in it. It has 10mg and you dump that into your mocktail,” explained Annie Holman with The Annie Galley in Santa Rosa. “The packets are Holman discrete; you can bring it in your purse.”

Some are flavored, some aren’t.

The Galley can create these liquids and other beverages for companies in its kitchen, as well as bottle the product. Mobile bottle operations can be brought in if needed, as is similar to what some wineries do.

However beer presents a different set of obstacles when it comes to taking the alcohol out because if in the process, too much oxygen gets in, it will ruin the batch.

“The big draw to beer is hops. Hops and cannabis are related to each other. There is a natural synergy,” said Wes Deal, co-founder and brewmaster at Barrel Brothers Brewing Company in Windsor.

“Anytime you dealcoholize beer the flavor changes because alcohol does have flavor, and it affects mouth feel.”

He continues to experiment with taking the alcohol out of his line of beers to see what works. To start with the brewery has infused an IPA and a blonde ale.

The products hit the market last fall. Valhalla Confections in Santa Rosa infuses the beer with cannabis and handles the distribution to dispensaries.

•Sparkling •Aperitifs •Beer (nonwater •Cola alcoholic) (flavored and •Energy •Champagne unflavored) drinks (non•Wine •Lemonade alcoholic) (non•Coffee (hot •Smoothies alcoholic) •Tea and cold) the product. The initial production in 2019 was 600 cases of a 2018 Grenache Rosé blend that was infused with 40mg of broad-spectrum hemp extract.

The $18 bottles are sold online right to consumers who reside in states that allow this. How much SipCozy will produce this year has not been determined.

The company is also contemplating providing other varietals.

“The biggest problem was solving the solubility of it. We didn’t want to leave an oil sheen on top of our product or have it left behind in a glass,” Leahy said.

“A lot of technology advances have come about in the emulsion process and the dealcoholization process in the last two years.”

IMPROVED TECHNOLOGY Technology has allowed for the rapid growth in Solful dispensary in Sebastopol sells a variety of cannabis the number of cannabis beverages. beverages.

The first iterations of cannabis drinks are described by industry veterans as liquid with sticks CREATING THE HIGH Cannabis chemistry is divided between CBD (canna- and twigs. It wasn’t until people figured out how bidiol), the non-psychoactive component of marijuana to infuse the cannabis oil with liquids that they and hemp plants, and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) the became palatable. Emulsions are needed so the oil psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. It is the latter and beverage don’t separate. in drinks which provides the mood-altering element.

Few companies are in the emulsion business. The CBD’s main attraction is for health benefits—physical one most people point to is Vertosa in Oakland.

“Emulsions start with extracted oil. We emulsify and mental.

Beverages infused with any component of marijua- them into an ingredient. Emulsions you see every day are in milk, ice cream and salad dressing. It makes na cannot be shipped across state lines because the it dispersible in water. We all know oil and water product is illegal at the federal level. don’t mix. Emulsions make oil and water mix better,” CBD derived from hemp is regulated by the 2018 explained Austin Stevenson, chief innovation officer U.S. Farm Act, which allows for sales from one state with Vertosa. “We make it stable so it won’t separate. to another. This is because the legislation no longer So it won’t float at the top or sink to the bottom.” classifies hemp as a controlled substance. The law is No one cannabis emulsion works for every bevthe main difference between CBD derived from hemp erage. A lot of chemistry is involved. This is beand marijuana. That is why some beverage makers cause the liquid the emulsion will be infused with are using only CBD from hemp. has different components. That IPA and blonde ale at SipCozy is one of those companies. While the comBarrel Brothers Brewery are nothing alike, therefore pany is based in Florida, winemaker Meredith Leahy the cannabis emulsions are just as different. resides in Napa. Only California grapes are used in SOLFUL DISPENSARY

See BEVERAGES page 22

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JEFF QUACKENBUSH / NORTH BAY BUSINESS JOURNAL

A 1946 Packard “Woodie” and a 1933 Ford sedan in the showroom of VP Speed Shop.

New Santa Rosa shop caters to need for speed, nostalgia 24,000sf facility is latest entrant to local high-end ‘speed shops’

By JEFF QUACKENBUSH The North Bay Business Journal

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here’s a new, high-polish automotive speed shop behind the dealerships on Santa Rosa’s Corby Auto Row. There you’ll see on display examples of what the team can do: an iconic turquoise 1957 Chevrolet Bel Aire sedan restored to factory specifica-

tions, a 1969 Chevy Camero Z-28 with matching numbers on rebuilt parts, a 1932 Ford Roadster manufactured from scratch and customized.

See NOSTALGIA page 7

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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2021

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VP Speed Shop partners Rory Allen and Frank Casalino stand in the showroom of project and customer cars in the facility in Santa Rosa.

PHOTOS BY JEFF QUACKENBUSH / NORTH BAY BUSINESS JOURNAL

A 6.2-liter LS motor was built for this restored 1933 Ford sedan, seen in the showroom of VP Speed Shop. In the background are two Chevrolet Camero sedans, including the orange and black Z-28 with 302-cubic-inch engine and four-speed transmission with all matching numbers.

A 1946 Packard “Woodie,” from left, 1933 Ford sedan with 6.2-liter LS motor and four-speed automatic, 1965 GTO with 389-cubic-inch TriPower and fourspeed manual and 1957 Chevrolet Bel Aire restored to factory specifications with a 289-cubic-inch Power Pack engine and automatic shift.

NOSTALGIA

Key to their team is a fabricator who has the know-how and equipment to craft chassis and craft replacement parts.

In addition to working on client cars, VP Speed Shop also acquires cars, restores them or supes them up and sells them, sometimes at six-figure prices. The shop has a small showroom with a mix of restored or upgraded cars for sale and those some customers are storing there to keep them out of the elements.

“This is our love,” Casalino said.

Being installed now is a powder-coating room. Originally designed for vehicle chassis, there have been inquiries from wineries about putting that hard protective coating on barrel racks, Casalino said.

The shop won’t have a paint booth though.

An application has been submitted to the city through Corona Solar for a 51-kilowatt photovoltaic array on the roof.

continued from page 6

Several months in construction, VP Speed Shop and Xtreme Auto Works opened late last year at 2835 Duke Court, a 24,500-square-foot building that was part of a brief Santa Rosa industrial real estate rush just after California voters legalized recreational marijuana in 2016. The property went back on the market in 2018 amid an industry glut, and an entity led by Frank Casalino purchased it in December 2019 for $4 million.

“A lot of the customers we have are older and have a lot of money,” Casalino said.

“They want the classic car for nostalgia, but they don’t know how to make it brand new.”

Restorations, upgrades and even complete rebuilds can be quite expensive.

Jobs can range from a low end of $30,000 for a modification to create a hot rod up to $450,000 to make something that’s show-worthy, he said.

Casalino, who had been in senior management positions at dealerships around the North Bay for two and a half decades, partnered with Rory Allen, who

VP Speed Shop’s chief fabricator completely manufactured this 1932 Ford Roadster, named Sylvester III, seen in the shop showroom at 2835 Duke Court in Santa Rosa.

has been in racing for four decades and has operated automotive and hot-rod upgrade businesses in Sonoma County.

VP Speed Shop works on classic and

suped-up cars in four bays, and Xtreme Auto Works offers fleet maintenance for light- and medium-duty trucks in six bays.

Jeff Quackenbush covers wine, construction and real estate. Before the Business Journal, he wrote for Bay City News Service in San Francisco. He has a degree from Walla Walla University.

Reach him at jquackenbush@busjrnl.com or 707-521-4256.

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North Bay Business Journal

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2021

DOUBLE DECKER LANES

Double Decker Lanes in Rohnert Park spent over $10,000 installing protective barriers such as this one between certain alternating lanes and planning sanitation programs for the short reopening allowed for bowling centers in June 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic.

Bowling centers seek speedier reopening Such venues dependent on indoor entertainment have been largely closed for 10 months

By JEFF QUACKENBUSH The North Bay Business Journal

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ith 75 on staff, Stars Recreation Center had been one of the larger employers among the roughly 200 California bowling centers. That was before the state rolled out rules 10 months ago for which businesses could operate during the coronavirus pandemic.

And now only five work at the Vacaville facility as it waits for permission to reopen.

“We in Solano had a three-week period in June when we were allowed to reopen,” said second-generation owner Ken Sousa. His family in the 1950s started Napa Bowling Center, owned by cousin Dan Sousa, and opened Stars 21 years ago. The ethic was to own the facilities to keep the occupancy cost low, so monthly mortgage payments are “reasonable.”

“But when nothing is coming in, nothing is reasonable,” Ken Sousa said.

“After being shut down for three months, we geared up to reopen, hiring back employees and contacting league bowlers and installing protective equipment, and then three weeks later we were told to shut down.”

JIM DECKER, owner of Double Decker Lanes in Rohnert Park

The business secured a federal Paycheck Protection Program loan for the short time the center was allowed to open and has pursued loan forgiveness.

Now the facility’s big sports bar,

banquet rooms and birthday parlor are empty. Billiard tables aren’t bustling upstairs, and the adjoining concert floor hasn’t hosted a band in nearly a year. And Sousa isn’t expecting this will

change until spring or summer.

That’s a familiar story Jim Decker, owner of Double Decker Lanes in Rohnert Park, has heard from a number of the nearly 4,000 members of the Bowling Proprietors of America, a trade group for which he’s currently president.

California and New Mexico are the only states left in the U.S. that haven’t permitted bowling centers to open to any great degree. Largely because of the rising cost of real estate, bowling centers have dwindled in California from 250 two decades ago, and roughly a half-dozen have shuttered for good during the pandemic, he said.

“After being shut down for three months, we geared up to reopen, hiring back employees and contacting league bowlers and installing protective equipment, and then three weeks later we were told to shut down,” Decker said. From a staff of 32, only two are employed now at See BOWLING page 23

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North Bay workers loss of job, hours may lead to no health care during pandemic Covered California extends open enrollment as millions scramble

By SUSAN WOOD The North Bay Business Journal

Infecting more than workers’ health, COVID-19 may be targeting their critical livelihood and every staffers’ most coveted benefit — an employer-sponsored health care plan.

It stands to reason that when companies cut back jobs and even hours for employees, their health care plans are in jeopardy.

During the pandemic, the loss of health care represents double-whammy Andrew devastation.

McNeil More than 2.7 million people are uninsured in the state, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Covered California, the state version of the U.S. Affordable Care Act (ACA), states that number may amount to many more in 2020. At least 1.2 million are eligible for assistance.

Elaine The health care network, Madson which announced Jan. 28 it’s extending the open enrollment period through mid-May, has signed up 1.4 million people for the health care coverage.

“That’s the highest number we’ve ever started the year with,” Covered California spokesman James Craig Hasday Scullary told the Business Journal.

According to the Economic Policy Institute in Washington, D.C., since the onset of the COVID-19 shock to the economy, about 6.2 million workers have lost access to health insurance they previously had with Valerie Brown their employers.

The Urban Institute, another think tank conducting research in the nation’s capital, has collected data predicting about 12 million more could lose

which rely on the insurance brokerage firm to provide coverage furloughed their employees on a temporary basis, Madson pointed out. But as months went by, the situation became dire — especially with government shutdowns that yanked at least half a restaurant’s sales. Workers were sometimes forced to go it alone.

“A lot of people can’t afford COBRA,” Madson said, referring to the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, an insurance plan that extends coverage after an employee is terminated.

“Some end up going to MediInsurance Cal, Covered California (ACA), or they go without,” she said.

Much of that distinction is whether an employee qualifies for subsidies. Sometimes the level of income in the household is too high to receive them. To qualify for ACA financial assistance, the estimated annual income for 2021 should be under $12,760 for a single person or $17,240 for a couple.

Covered California announced Jan. 28 that effective Feb. 1, anyone By the same token, those seeking coverage may also not be poor enough to qualify uninsured and eligible to enroll in health care coverage this statefor MediCal or Medicaid. sponsored version of the U.S. Affordable Care Act (ACA) may sign up “That’s where they get stuck,” she said. until May 15.

“It kind of puts people in a bad position.”

The policy move comes on the heels of U.S. President Joe Biden’s Madson is not only concerned for workexecutive order to a declare special enrollment period from Feb. 15 ers’ health within certain economic sectors, but she also fears what happens to the through May 15 for the 36 states served by the federal marketplace. system with many going without insurance.

To the detriment of the uninsured, they ignore symptoms until the advanced stages coverage by the end of January. unprecedented losses. The San Francisco of their ailment. Then, they end up in the With U.S. unemployment hitting double Bay Area — with all its wealth, influence emergency room. Masses of people relying digits and the North Bay economy domi- and innovation — is no exception. on emergency rooms for health care jacks nated by tourism and hospitality, health “When you look at the statistics, it’s up the costs even further — and worse yet, care advocates and insurance brokers are really concerning,” said Valerie Brown, some medical facilities don’t accept patients concerned more people will have no cov- executive director of United Policyholders, without it. erage to fall back on in case they get sick. a health care advocacy group based in What’s the solution?

“People are definitely going to fall out of San Francisco. In her organization’s data “We just have to blow up the whole the health care system. This was not unex- quest, Brown found that hospitality, retail, system and start over by looking at costs. pected. PPP money was running out. Health manufacturing and health care were sin- Injections should not cost $4,000,” she said. care coverage is extremely expensive. It’s gled out as industries “disproportionately Madson’s colleague Jack Fess said what worse in California,” said Craig Hasday, impacted” compared to others. has helped many mid-sized businesses is who represents the National Employee “This is not going to be resolved quickly,” the federal Paycheck Protection Program Benefits division of EPIC, an insurance she said. loans, offered as a vehicle for companies to brokerage advocacy group.

“Restaurants have been laying off a lot maintain their staff levels.

“Clearly, we’ve seen employers have had of people. The real question is if they’re Smaller companies under 50 employees to make the difficult decision to discontinue furloughed, can they keep their health care aren’t required to provide coverage. Some coverage for their employees,” said Mary plan?” said Elaine Madson, the employee do anyway.

Ellen Grant of the California Association benefits service manager at the George Despite these uncertain times — espeof Health Plans.

Petersen Insurance Agency in Santa Rosa. cially in hospitality, Stephanie Martens of Some sectors in the California economy In the hopes of the coronavirus outare doing well, while others are facing break eventually eased, some companies See HEALTH page 11

Business Journal

Focus

HEALTH INSURANCE SEEKERS HAVE UNTIL MAY

10 North Bay Business Journal

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2021

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North Bay Business Journal 11

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2021

HEALTH

ing to be prolonged, California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara stepped in to the crisis in October that issued notices to state health insurers to issue refunds to residents with health care plans because of stay-at-home orders.

“As the regulator of the largest insurance market in the nation, it is my duty to make sure consumers are protected and insurance companies remain solvent,” Lara said in a statement.

Covered California is stepping up to allow more people to sign on to services.

“The pandemic and recession continue to be a painful reality, and Covered California is doing whatever it can to make sure people have every opportunity to sign up for health care coverage,” Executive Director Peter V. Lee said in a statement announcing the extension of open enrollment.

continued from page 9

Pond Farm Brewing Co. in San Rafael just signed up this month to offer a health care plan. The brewery now employs 11 people.

“It seemed like the right time. It’s going to attract the right candidates. It’s not a sustainable business model, if you can’t pay people what they’re worth,” Martens told the Business Journal.

There are exceptions to every rule.

Andrew McNeil, an insurance broker with Arrow Benefits Group in Petaluma, agreed with Fess about the importance of PPP funding. He also noted that his clientele consisting of many nonprofits have benefitted from the overall wealth in the region.

“The funding hasn’t dried up,” he said.

But McNeil admitted this bright spot isn’t the across-the-board reality for many industries, especially when considering that workers are clamoring to receive any amount of work.

“What we’re hearing is most lost insurance because they lost their jobs, but others had their hours reduced,” North Bay Jobs for Justice Executive Director Max Bell Alper said. “So many people work here in tourism and in farming. “If these workers don’t come back, it hurts our whole economy.”

California Hospital Association spokeswoman Jan Emerson said this isn’t the first

DAVID GOLDMAN / ASSOCIATED PRESS, 2020

Health care workers prepare to test motorists for COVID-19 at a testing site outside McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket, R.I. As officials met to discuss approval of a COVID-19 vaccine on Thursday, Dec. 10, the number of coronavirus deaths has grown bleaker than ever.

time the economy has dented the level of In today’s pandemic, health care adhealth care for workers in the state. vocates have noticed both insureds and “Back in 2007, when companies were uninsureds avoiding medical facilities, doing layoffs, hospitals did see an increase fearing the virus spread. in companies that didn’t have as many What have we learned? plans,” she said.

When it became clear the agony was go-

Susan Wood covers law, cannabis, production, agriculture and transportation as well as banking and finance.

For 25 years, Susan has worked for a variety of publications including the North County Times in San Diego County, Tahoe Daily Tribune and Lake Tahoe News.

She graduated from Fullerton College.

Reach her at 530-545-8662 or susan.wood@ busjrnl.com.

HELPING BUSINESSES GET THE RIGHT COVERAGE FOR THEIR NEEDS.

707.525.4150 gpins.com License # 0603247

12 North Bay Business Journal

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2021

RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION

How a virus changed the work landscape North Bay recruiters discuss impact, shifting strategies

sector has been the most heavily impacted by COVID-19. When counties return to the red tier, we will likely see a strong spike in hiring for roles within (that sector).

Do you consider the working-fromhome option to be an obstacle to recruitment or a benefit?

By CHERYL SARFATY The North Bay Business Journal Sarah Cush, regional vice president, Robert Half’s North Bay operations

Alary: So much depends on the individual when it comes to remote working. Many clients have found that their Alary: It is important to get the word for medical benefits, those who are unemremote workforce is just as, if not more, out to candidates that you are hiring, ployed are primarily looking for direct-hire productive than when showing up to whether you are an internal recruiter or roles or contract-to-hire opportunities that the office every day. Companies that are supporting clients in finding the right can- may become permanent down the road. able to provide individuals with options or offer a blended solution are able to didates for their open positions. We recomsupport many workers’ needs and still mend, and have developed, a detailed and How would you describe the current accomplish the goals of the company. structured recruitment plan to support stance of potential job candidates? remote recruiting that may include a virCush: The “anywhere workforce” is Have any declined work because of tual tour of the work environment. real and here. The pandemic has made the coronavirus?

We also determine if this individual is remote work arrangements the rule rathworking remotely or onsite. If this position er than the exception, and understanding Cush: What we know from our local is remote, then we need to make sure there staffing efforts and our recent surveys the needs of workers in the current work are procedures in place to provide technol- is that workers’ priorities have changed. environment is crucial. ogy, access privileges to information, etc.

Many companies are looking for people As a result of the pandemic, workers are In what ways have you changed your re-evaluating their priorities and willing with specific, high-demand skill sets recruiting and retention strategy right now. Companies can better attract to make career changes that improve Has your talent pool gotten bigger, over the past year? top talent by offering fully remote job their overall quality of life. smaller or stayed the same since opportunities and gain access to a wider We recently conducted a survey where Madigan: We’re doing a lot more video COVID-19? talent pool by expanding their candidate more than half of workers (57%) said interviews versus in-person, and it’s easy search geographically. they have experienced a shift in their to see that trend becoming a permanent Madigan: The talent pool has expandMadigan: On the one hand, working feelings toward work due to the pandemfixture in the recruiting process. ed for remote positions when employers from home has opened up a much larger With many office positions being reexpress long-term intention to stay remote. ic. (Of the respondents), 60% are more pool of candidates who can work remotemotivated to work for an organization mote, there has been a multifaceted impact That said, however, the candidate market that values its staff during unpredictable ly. But in an unexpected way, it has also to how we recruit. On a positive is still tight. For example, candidates are more conservative about times; 40% will prioritize their personal note, we can recruit outside of reduced the number of employees on the life over their job moving forward; and making a change due to concerns the immediate vicinity of the job move. For example, BUSINESS 33% want to pursue a more meaningful about the virus and economic role. For example, a candidate in For more senior-level positions and JOURNAL or fulfilling position. uncertainty.

San Francisco can work remotely tenured professionals, the work-fromAlary: Many candidates these days For lower-wage positions, candifor a job role in Los Angeles. home option is a significant benefit. But dates face the additional challeng- prefer to work remotely. For positions For non-remote roles, recruitfor those people just entering the workes of needing to care for children ing has become much more that require on-site presence, it is import- force or transitioning to new careers — challenging, particularly in geographic ant to share with the candidate the safety people who need a lot of training — the who are distance learning. There is also a locations where candidates faced long work-from-home dynamic is much more measures a company has implemented, fear of working on-site and increasing the commutes before COVID-19. of a challenge. chances of being exposed to COVID-19. De- as well as the company’s safety philosoRetention has become an even larger phy. We have not had any jobs declined spite the high rate of unemployment, concern, and companies are looking for due to COVID-19. recruiting for lower-wage positions has Do you foresee any lingering effects ways to keep employees virtually engaged. actually become more difficult. among workers after the pandemic?

Cush: Even in a market with high Cush: For many companies, how they Which jobs do you expect will come unemployment amid a pandemic, profeswork may be different, but the volume Madigan: Candidates will become back first after the vaccine is widely sionals with in-demand skills still have of work and demand for skilled workers even more conscientious about comdistributed? options. Our staffing professionals have continues, often with an even faster pace muting and the impact to their work-life had to educate companies on the potential because the environment is shifting conCush: Due to many companies switch- balance. There is a high level of concern impact of losing their star employees, stantly. with using public transportation related ing to a remote workforce, receptionist especially in a job market like today’s, and Many of our clients continue to express and administrative support roles have to fear of COVID-19 exposure. We will support them with retention needs. difficulty finding specialized talent on a nearly disappeared during the pandemic. need to see a high-level of confidence Recruiting remains difficult. Despite contract and direct-hire basis, especially We expect those will return quickly once that COVID-19 is under control before the high national unemployment, local emin high-demand roles such as accounts offices reopen and invite their workforce general population will be open to using ployers are struggling to find specialized payable and payroll. public transport again for commute back to the office. professionals for in-demand roles.

Due to the pandemic and increased need Madigan: The hospitality and tourism purposes.

If you like the home environment you’ve been working in since the pandemic started, you may not have to give it up, even if you change jobs.

Three recruiters — Sarah Cush, regional vice president for Robert Half’s North Bay operations; Joe Madigan, CEO of Sonoma-based Nelson and Higher Growth Search; and Karen Alary, managing partner at The Personnel Perspective — discussed remote working and lessons learned after a turbulent year in the staffing industry.

The following Q&A has been edited for clarity and brevity.

Q&A

Joe Madigan, CEO, Nelson and Higher Growth Search

Karen Alary, managing partner of The Personnel Perspective

North Bay Business Journal 13

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2021

RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION GUEST COMMENTARY

BY NICOLE SERRES

Dodging the COVID curveball in staffing

Tired of pivoting over and over? Here’s some of the staffing strategies that stick Take a moment to pat yourselves on the back, you survived 2020! It was quite a bumpy ride, wasn’t it?

Although it’s a fresh new year, many of us are still fully grappling with the consequences of the pandemic and a shaky economy. Countless companies were forced to shutter storefronts and offices and pivot to a fully online business.

“Covid-safe”' protocols are still present in work and life and will likely continue to through 2021. So while it’s a new year, we’re not out of the weeds yet.

What we do know is that the world of work is radically changed — in many ways, permanently.

EMBRACE THE 2021 WORKPLACE As we know, 2020 was one giant curveball: a worldwide pandemic, a recession, political turmoil, social movements, natural disasters, the list goes on.

We are fully immersed in a “new normal” and it has changed how we work and how we can be most productive.

“Traditional” workplaces are no longer traditional. Stanford reports that the new work-fromhome economy has 42% of all workers nationwide working from home. This often brings the challenge of separating “work” and “personal” when both are done from home-sweet-home.The two have become entirely enmeshed.

From all-hours team messages, Zoom fatigue, child care time conflicts (or downright teaching from home), how teams work, both virtually and on-site, has changed. For in-office workers, between requiring PPE, mandating temperature checks, navigating new sick leave protocol — the challenges remain.

It’s likely that at least some of your business processes have become digital permanently and you’re maintaining remote work even after the pandemic is over. It’s possible that employee feedback has encouraged you to start looking at hybrid work models: where half the week your team meets in the office and the other half the week, your team works from home.

HOW TO THRIVE IN THIS NEW WORLD OF WORK Get right to it: Does your workplace serve your team members?

Some team members may not step foot into your office for a long period of time, so we can no longer promote the same irrelevant in-office benefits we used to.

Gone are the days of companies that tout their office ping pong table, endless plethora of free fresh fruits and snacks, or the infamous “kombucha on tap” perk.

Forget the “open space floor plan” mantra. These

NEW YEAR, NEW WORKPLACE BEST PRACTICES It’s still a moving target on exactly how to thrive in 2021. But one thing is for sure, we must embrace the “New Workplace” the right way. Here’s what we can work on: 1.COMMUNICATE

Schedule regular team meetings.

Encourage open, free-flowing communication and building crossdepartment relationships. Have your cameras on in virtual meetings to encourage human connection and respect everyone’s time by sticking to the timeframe of the meeting and wrapping up with action items.

2.BECOME PROJECT MASTERS

With employees managing multiple projects at once and inevitably being pulled in various directions by both work and distractions at home, getting organized and focused is the way to win. Basecamp, Asana, ClickUp, and Trello are just a few of the many project management tools available. Find one that fits your needs and make sure everyone is properly trained.

3.TRUST YOUR TEAM

As the old saying goes: Hire great people and get out of their way. Provide the training and tools needed for teams to succeed, check in regularly, and set expectations from the start. Having an awesome onboarding experience is the primary factor in employee retention, so be sure to set them up for success.

Setting clear goals allows teams to know where to focus their energy and how they’re performing. Tracking outcomes over hours will help you measure success a lot more efficiently.

practices are not compelling into today’s work world — in fact, they now come off as tone deaf.

Instead, be real: ■ How can you support your team with what they actually care about?

■ Do you offer flexible work hours?

■ Do you offer mental health allowances?

■ How can you support parents who may have children at home?

■ How are you building company culture during these challenges?

■ Do you offer a work environment that encourages opportunities for career advancement?

Taking care of your teammates first will lead to loyalty and engagement.

SET CLEAR GOALS AND GET TEAM BUY-IN The more teams can be aligned and engaged with common goals, especially in our virtual work world, the more effective teams will work.

Set clear goals then repeat them constantly.

Get real with the impact the team will have.

Employees, now more than ever, need security in how they’ll get their next paycheck, what they’ll be working on, how they will be able to progress along their career path, and most importantly, how their efforts contribute to the larger mission.

Zone in on the impact of your teammates' roles by creating quantifiable goals with timelines for completion. Always tie these goals back to the company mission so that it becomes the point from which all efforts are generated.

ALLOW TEAM MEMBERS TO WORK FROM WHERE EVER With today’s new work landscape and the challenges of in-office operations, consider being more flexible than usual. SHRM reports that productivity is the same, if not higher, than it was before the pandemic for remote workers.

It behooves your team to be open to as many qualified applicants as possible -- with varying work backgrounds, years experience, and now, remote possibilities.

Don’t miss out on your next rockstar because they don’t live in your city. Your team may be used to remote work now, consider keeping and hiring hardworking remote workers into 2021 and beyond.

YOU CAN DO THIS! Challenges will come in 2021, but we’re smarter and more efficient now than we were at this time last year. The workplace has changed, but our resilience, motivation, and spirit hasn’t. Choose to fully embrace 2021 and the new opportunities, it brings for growth and team alignment.

14 North Bay Business Journal

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2021

Leases & Sales

Send commercial real estate transactions to transactions@busjrnl.com. A compilation for the last 12 months is available for $45 by calling 707-521-5270.

Brokerage abbreviations: K&C = Keegan & Copplin Co. Inc./ Oncor International.

LEASES: square footage at address, city; property type; tenant; procuring agent; owner; listing agent; deal date (occupancy/ effective date)

MARIN COUNTY 2,653sf at 1500 Grant Ave., #200, Novato; office; Dan MacDonald AIA Architects; Nathan Ballard & Theo Banks of K&C; Professional Financial Investors 27 LLC; na; Sept. 9, 2020 2,575sf at 505 San Marin Drive, #100B, Novato; office; Anchor Health LLC; na; 505 San Marin Drive LLC; Nathan Ballard & Theo Banks of K&C; Oct. 28, 2020 1,700sf at 7 Locust Ave., Mill Valley; retail; The Workroom Interiors LLC; Vesa Becam of K&C; Macme Investments LLC; Vesa Becam of K&C; Dec. 9, 2020 817sf at 505 San Marin Drive, #180A, Novato; office; RxCell Inc. dba Xcell Science; na; 505 San Marin Drive LLC; Nathan Ballard & Theo Banks of K&C; Dec. 21, 2020

MENDOCINO COUNTY 685sf at 714 State St., #C, Ukiah; office; The Summers Group LLC; Jim Sartain & Rhonda Deringer of K&C; JP Morgan Chase; Jim Sartain & Rhonda Deringer of K&C; Aug. 24, 2020

NAPA COUNTY 7,000sf at 1146 First St., Napa; retail (Gordon Building at First Street Napa); Anthropologie; na; First Street Napa; na; Dec. 1, 2020

SOLANO COUNTY 2,285sf at 1180 Horizon Drive, #F, Fairfield; industrial; Lit Rituals LLC; Allan Montonen of K&C; Piet Van De Velde; Allan Montonen of K&C; Jan. 1

SONOMA COUNTY 7,248sf at 160 Grant Ave., #D, Healdsburg; industrial; Black Iron Inc.; Gil Saydah of K&C; Northern California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists; Gil Saydah of K&C; Nov. 13, 2020 7,030sf at 1695 Piner Road, #A-2, Santa Rosa; industrial; Platinum Finishing Systems Inc.; Mike Flitner of K&C; 1701 Piner Road Investments LLC; Mike Flitner & Shawn Johnson of K&C; July 7, 2020 5,875sf at 327 O’Hair Court, #A, B & C, Santa Rosa; industrial; Portola Systems; Rhonda Deringer of K&C; Kleebauer Family Trust; Rhonda Deringer & Jim Sartain of K&C; Dec. 10, 2020 5,774sf at 3554 Round Barn Blvd., #300 & 302, Santa Rosa; office; Welty, Weaver & Currie; Dave Peterson of K&C; Basin Street Properties;

JLL, 2019

The 607,200-square-foot distribution warehouse at 5195 Fermi Drive in Fairfield is one of the North Bay’s largest commercial buildings.

607,000sf Solano County warehouse sells for estimated $85M

By JEFF QUACKENBUSH The North Bay Business Journal

A New York-managed investment fund purchased a large distribution warehouse on 28 acres at 5195 Fermi Drive in Fairfield.

North Bay Logistics Owner LLC, overseen by BentallGreenOak, acquired the 607,200-square-foot building on Jan. 19 from GPT Fermi Drive Owner LP, an affiliate of Gramercy Property Trust, according to public records. JLL, which marketed the property for sale, helped the buyer secure financing and will continue to manage the facility, didn’t disclose the purchase price.

Market sources estimate the deal value to be roughly $140 a square foot, or over $85 million, at a capitalization rate of 4.3%.

Gramercy, a real estate investment Shawn Johnson, Brian Keegan & Dave Peterson of K&C; Oct. 26, 2020 4,400sf at 181 Sebastopol Road, Santa Rosa; industrial; Bryce Austin; na; Baskar Subbiah; Kevin Doran of K&C; Sept. 1, 2020 3,716sf at 1301 Redwood Way, #230, Petaluma; office, renewal; Caliber Home Loans Inc.; na; TPMD LLC; Mike Thomason of K&C; Nov. 18, 2020 3,585sf at 5464 Skylane Blvd., #B, Santa Rosa; industrial; Lekander Construction; na; Pitts Properties LLC; Nathan Coogan & Brian Keegan of K&C; Oct. 15, 2020 3,521sf at 1150 Industrial Ave., #A & B, Petaluma; industrial; Pure Nectar LLC; Demi Basiliades of K&C; Cypress Business Center Associates; na; Sept. 17, 2020 2,489sf at 642 Martin Ave., #A, Rohnert Park; office; Nature Science Pest Control; Sara Wann

trust with holdings worldwide, had purchased the building in December 2016 for $54 million, or nearly $89 per square foot, the Business Journal reported. The building, built in 1995, was part of a $521 million portfolio sale of 17 bulk logistics properties in several markets across the country by USAA. “This is an excellent industrial asset BentallGreenOak acquired in order to enter the North Bay submarket,” said Ryan Sitov, part of the JLL professionals involved in the deal. “The North Bay submarket is currently experiencing unprecedented demand from capital and developers.”

One such example is the sale last month of the similarly named NorthBay Logistics Center at 700 Crocker Road of K&C; David Borsting; Rhonda Deringer of K&C; Nov. 12, 2020 1,726sf at 858 Third St., Santa Rosa; office; Anna Ha; Annette Cooper of K&C; Paul Reynolds; Annette Cooper of K&C; Nov. 24, 2020 1,450sf at 339 College Ave., Santa Rosa; office; First Responders Resiliency; na; Fred Ptucha; Doug Braik of K&C; Dec. 14, 2020 1,095sf at 2200 Range Ave., #106, Santa Rosa; office; JJS Inspired Inc.; Peter Briceno of K&C; Gertrud Schneider Abby Trust; Peter Briceno of K&C; Oct. 26, 2020 930sf at 110 Stony Point Road, #260, Santa Rosa; office; West Coast Civil Inc.; na; SR Stony Point DE LLC; Brian Keegan, Shawn Johnson & Dave Peterson of K&C; Oct. 28, 2020 504sf at 416 Aviation Blvd., #H, Santa Rosa; office; Colleen Hunt; Shawn Johnson & James Nobles of K&C; Bruce Rocco; Shawn Johnson &

in nearby Vacaville. Fully leased, the 831,000-square-foot e-commerce hub sold for an estimated $88.5 million, or $105 per square foot, at a cap rate of 5.3%.

Brokering the 5195 Fermi deal for Gramercy were Mark Detmer, Sitov and Andie Fezell of the JLL Capital Markets Investment Sales Advisory team as well as locally based Matt Bracco and Glen Dowling of The Dowling-Bracco Team of JLL. With offices in 24 cities in 12 countries, BentallGreenOak is a global real estate investment manager for more than 750 institutional clients with around $50 billion of assets under management as of September 2020. Its portfolio includes office, retail, industrial and multifamily properties.

James Nobles of K&C; Aug. 1, 2020 214sf at 181 Andrieux, #3, Sonoma; office; Catalina Wetzel; Rhonda Deringer of K&C; Sonoma Medical Plaza; na; Nov. 4, 2020

SALES: Listing format: square footage at address; property type; buyers; procuring agents; sellers; listing agents; transaction date; value

MARIN COUNTY 14,584sf at 300 Olema Road, Fairfax; multifamily (10 units); Kalania Place LLC; Ted Abe of MC; E & M Kaegi 2004 Trust; Scott Gerber of MC; Sept. 8, 2020; $2,400,000

See LEASES page 15

North Bay Business Journal 15

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2021

North Bay restaurants, wineries pull lawsuit

By KEVIN FIXLER The Press Democrat

More than 50 restaurants, wineries and hotels in Sonoma and Napa counties that banded together to sue Gov. Gavin Newsom to reopen outdoor dining have pulled their lawsuit, the group of North Bay hospitality businesses announced Thursday morning.

The Wine Country Coalition for Safe Reopening said it has voluntarily dismissed its suit filed last week in Napa County Superior Court against Newsom and Dr. Tomás Aragón, the state’s public health officer, but is ready to refile if an outdoor dining ban is again imposed. Newsom lifted the stay-home Jan. 25 which again permitted counties to allow outdoor dining, achieving the group’s chief goal, the coalition said in a press release.

“We are just gratified that we can return to our work and to serving our communities,” Cynthia Ariosta, managing partner of Pizzeria Tra Vigne in St. Helena, and spokesperson for the group, said in the written statement. “All of us are dedicated to protecting our employees’ and customers’ health and welfare, and the investments we had already made to our outdoor dining areas fortunately allowed us to reopen quickly and safely.”

Members of the coalition argued they’d already lost millions of dollars due to the outdoor dining ban, which also restricted wineries from offering limited tastings.

The latest stay-home order to help stop the spread of COVID-19 took effect Dec. 12, before it was extended indefinitely on Jan. 8. Newsom lifted the order on Monday, returning Sonoma and Napa counties each to the most restrictive of a four-colored tier system, which again permits outdoor dining.

LEASES

REACTIONS continued from page 2

counties would reopen the following day, on Jan. 26: Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate & Gardens, La Crema at Saralee’s Vineyard, Copain, Hartford Family Winery, Stonestreet Estate Vineyards, Matanzas Creek Winery, Arrowood Vineyards, The Spire Collection locations in Alexander Valley and Calistoga, Cardinale, and Freemark Abbey.

Reopening of other Jackson wineries locally was complicated by expected rainfall, allowing little time to get ready to accommodate guests outside, said Jackson spokeswoman Marlow Bruce.

But that didn’t dampen interest.

“We’ve had a few dozen people booked already and we anticipate that energy to continue in the coming days,” Bruce said.

“We’re seeing guests book two to four weeks out as well, which is encouraging.”

Other local vintners last week said it would take days to reopen. Castello di Amorosa, the stone castle winery near Calistoga, called back 20 employees needed to serve 60 outdoor seats for tasting, according to General Manager Jim Sullivan.

Napa Valley’s Silverado Vineyards planned to reopen for by-appointment tasting on Jan. 29, said Nora Feeley, vice president of marketing and direct to consumer.

The early December stay-home order also was costly, Feeley said. Among its creative ventures to pique visitor interest was the launch of a “decadence tasting,” featuring caviar and duck rillettes paired with wines for $95. Gearing up for the year-end holidays, the winery ordered thousands of dollars of those delicacies from a local chef, just days before California ordered all such outdoor services to be closed. All that had to be given away.

After previous experiences with opening and closing tasting during the pandemic, Trefethen Winery in Napa Valley decided to leave up its outdoor tents for visitors — a large one for tasting flights of wine and another next to the villa for sampling culinary pairings, said Jon Ruel, president and CEO. A handful of Trefethen’s tasting room

dustrial (North Bay Logistics Center); North Bay Logistics Owner LLC (BentallGreenOak); na; GPT Fermi Drive Owner LP (Gramercy Property Trust); Mark Detmer, Ryan Sitov, Andie Fezell, Matt Bracco SOLANO COUNTY 831,000sf at 700 Crocker Road, Vacaville; & Glen Dowling of JLL; Jan. 19; $85,000,000 industrial (NorthBay Logistics Center); Ranger Northbay LLC (DRA Advisors); na; 700 Crocker SONOMA COUNTY Owner LLC (LDK Ventures & PCCP); Andrew 32,775sf at 2845 Duke Court, Santa Rosa; Briner, Bret Hardy, Jim Linn, Kevin Shannon & industrial; Andrew McLaughlin & Tom McLaughlin; Steven Golubchik of Newmark; Dec. 7, 2020; Shawn Johnson of K&C; Manor Development Co.; Shawn Johnson of K&C; Dec. 18, 2020 $88,500,000 607,200sf at 5195 Fermi Drive, Fairfield; in- 23,000sf at 719 Southpoint Blvd., Petaluma; continued from page 14

“The first time, we lost $1,500 in food we had to throw away, then the second time it was $750 in food, and this time it was $250 in food,” he said. “We’re afraid to have that happen again.”

ANDY PODSHADLEY, co-owner of Trek Winery in Novato

staff were furloughed with December’s stay-home order, but he’s expecting to be back up to full staffing of 18 full- and part-time workers plus on-call workers by early February.

“By now we’re good at it,” Ruel said.

“We are now approaching 11 months since our first shutdown. During that period we refined our approach of offering gracious yet safe hospitality.”

Ruel said that while sales per guest haven’t gone up, the visitors are lingering longer on the property.

“We’ve seen particularly in the past couple of months the mental wear and tear the pandemic has had on them,” Ruel said. “Wine Country can help with that.”

At Trek Winery in Novato, the family vintner, brewery and pub businesses won’t be going back to food service outdoors anytime soon in the pandemic because of earlier losses from each shutdown, according to co-owner Andy Podshadley. Now it’s just open for beverage pickup from 3 to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.

“The first time, we lost $1,500 in food we had to throw away, then the second time it was $750 in food, and this time it was $250 in food,” he said. “We’re afraid to have that happen again.”

That’s on top of $200 a week that was spent for propane to fuel the 15 patio heaters. After getting city permission, the beverage businesses opened a beer garden in an adjoining alley to prep for warmer days to come.

industrial; Ongaro Properties Partners IV LLC; Mike Thomason of K&C; Sunhill Enterprises LP; na; Nov. 26, 2020; $4,975,000 8,000sf at 3175 Range Ave. & 816 Piner Road, Santa Rosa; industrial/retail (quitclaim deed); Dura-Metrics Inc. (Brian Mitchell et al); na; Michael Kulwiec Living Trust; Gil Saydah of K&C; Jan. 4 6,592sf at 412 Aviation Blvd., Santa Rosa; office; 412 Aviation SR LLC; Shawn Johnson of K&C; Tom McLaughlin; Shawn Johnson & James Nobles of K&C; Dec. 21, 2020; $1,450,000 6,250sf at 1800 Piner Road, Santa Rosa;

In Tiburon, Servino Ristorante reopened Friday for outdoor dining after preparations were completed for the 36 seats on the first-floor patio and 24 in the patio above. The 12,000-square-foot foot restaurant seats 160 inside.

During the regional stay-at-home order, 20% of Servino’s menu had to be shelved because it didn’t translate well for takeout, said co-owner Natale Servino.

It was with relief that Iron Springs Pub co-owner Anne Dubinsky Altman reopened her San Rafael establishment on Thursday.

“Now we'll have more avenues to see our customers,” she said. “There was no science behind the outdoor dining ban anyway.”

There remains concern, however, of a potential fourth surge of the coronavirus, especially with the variants — or strains —that have increased in activity, Marin County Public Health Officer Dr. Matt Willis said during a Jan. 27 community forum.

“Lifting the stay-at-home order is not a sign that the coast is clear,” Willis said.

“We even need to be more on our A-game.”

Dr. Karen Relucio, Napa County’s public health officer, told the Board of Supervisors last week that the county will likely remain in the purple tier for a while.

And Dr. Sundari Mase, Sonoma County’s health officer, noted COVID-19 is still deadly and urged people to remain vigilant with precautions, despite the loosened restrictions, The Press Democrat reported. industrial; Sonoma County Investors LLC; Dino D’Argenzio & Erlina D’Argenzio of K&C; Santa Rosa Realty Partners LLC; na; Dec. 31, 2020; $1,111,000 2,948sf at 1029 Fourth St., Santa Rosa; single-family dwelling; David Goff, Sampson Goff; Nathan Ballard of K&C; Aristide Marello Bypass Trust; na; Dec. 30, 2020; $825,000 750sf at 1217 College Ave., Santa Rosa; office; Valorie & Richard Smith; na; Life Is Good Trust; Kevin Doran of K&C; Oct. 20, 2020; $367,500

16 North Bay Business Journal

HEMP

continued from page 2

growers to do so has doubled from 15- to 30 days. The extension prevents the continued backlogs of cultivators waiting for testing at the labs.

“This removes the bottleneck for testing,” he said.

The USDA maintained a hard line in some areas of the new guidelines. The feds are still requiring pre-harvest samples come from cannabis flower and not the whole plant, which is an easier process, growers say.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2021 It will also be mandatory for hemp to be tested only at laboratories certified by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, a probable source of anxiety for even legal cannabis operations, growers say.

This controversial rule won’t be enforced Dec. 31, 2022 though.

Solano Agricultural Commissioner Ed King applauded the USDA’s “positive backand-forth” process to get the rules to where they are today as examples of listening to industry stakeholders.

“The 15 days (for testing) was too confining for us. That was a non-starter,” King said, speaking for the industry in the area.

“It’s much more realistic now.”

Since the Solano County Board of Supervisors passed its regulations allowing for hemp farming in a designated area, no applicants have come forward, King indicated. But he expects some to emerge, based on the potential for an industry valued in the billions of dollars.

“At USDA, we are always excited when there are new economic opportunities for our farmers, and we hope the ability to grow hemp will pave the way for new products and markets,” former Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said in a statement on the new rules.

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WINE

continued from page 3

varieties rising rapidly since July, according to Proctor. A year ago, there were about 1 million gallons of bulk Napa Valley cab being marketed for an average of $20 a gallon, down from a peak of $40-plus before the record 2018 crop. This month, there’s about one-quarter that supply of Napa’s king grape, and the average asking price is back to $40.

And in Sonoma County, average pricing for bulk pinot noir, a thin-skinned variety considered susceptible to smoke damage, has shot up to $28 a gallon from about $18 a year ago, as inventory available was halved from about 1 million gallons in January 2020, according to Proctor.

“A lot of this market demand was driven by the change in ’20,” he said. “And if things get back to normal, does that demand still hold? And then we’re still trying to understand smoke effects and what that could mean, because a lot of these prices are based on some of the ’18 and ’19 (wine), and we just starting to get into the 2020 vintage.”

Unless sales of bottled California wine pick up significantly and crop size returns to the 4 million-tons-a-year average of the past several years, the state could be back to the structural oversupply it faced a year ago, when Bitter estimated the state had 5%–6% too much bearing tonnage and about 30,000 acres of vines should be removed.

Over the past 11 years, 237,000 acres of vines were planted in California, which was about 20% over what was needed to replace vines and keep up with wine sales, he said. About 56,000 acres planted in the last three years are set to come into commercial production.

“Part of the issue is that we were planting based on a growing market, which quit growing in 2015,” he said.

In other symposium news, Brager announced his annual picks for top performing wine companies and brands from the previous year, a regular feature of the event over the years.

Topping the category of sales growth by over 750,000 cases last year, he picked Delicato Family Wines of Napa Valley for the performance of its Bota Box 3-liter box; Riboli Family Wines, maker of Stella Rosa and other brands including ones from Napa Valley; and Deutsch Family Wines & Spirits, maker of Josh Cellars, a Napa-tied brand.

Jeff Quackenbush covers wine, construction and real estate. Before the Business Journal, he wrote for Bay City News Service in San Francisco. He has a degree from Walla Walla University. Reach him at jquackenbush@busjrnl. com or 707-521-4256.

North Bay Business Journal 17

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2021

People

The North Bay Business Journal is looking for news of promotions, new hires and awards for possible publication in the People section. Email your press releases to people@busjrnl.com.

BANKING & FINANCE Julianna Graham has joined American River Bank as senior vice president and market manager for Sonoma, Napa and Marin counties.

The bank stated that Graham has extensive banking experience, most recently in the North Bay and is a Pacific Coast Banking School Julianna faculty member. She has an Graham MBA in finance from Golden Gate University, a Bachelor of Science degree from University of San Francisco in organizational behavior and is a graduate of the Pacific Coast Banking School. __________________________ Dan Oxley has been promoted to assistant vice president and business systems manager at Santa Rosa-based Summit State Bank while Danielle Simón has been promoted to assistant vice president/ BSA& fraud analyst and Oxley joined Summit State Bank in 2016 and has more Dan than 10 years’ experience in Oxley financial services, the bank stated.

Simón joined Summit State Bank in 2018 and has over 15 years’ experience in the banking industry. She is a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist and is co-vice president for the Danielle Northbay Chapter of In- Simón ternational Association of Financial Crimes Investigators.

ENGINEERING Nicholas Peters, P.E. has been promoted at Summit Engineering to division manager of the Electrical Division.

Peters received a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from The University of Dayton (Dayton, OH). He is a licensed as a professional engineer Nicholas in California and an allied Peters member of the Redwood Empire chapter of AIA. HEALTH CARE Dr. Asfand Khan, MD has joined the department of Psychiatry at Kaiser

Napa Valley winery Chappellet hires new CFO Christine Ha has been hired as chief At Silverado, Ha was promoted from financial officer for Chappellet, a Napa finance and accounting manager to Valley winery founded in 1967. director of finance and accounting, Ha comes from Silverado – West- and ultimately to the company’s lead chester Group Investment Manage- finance position as senior vice president ment, a TIAA and Nuveen company, of finance. where she managed the vineyard “Beginning with the pioneering finance and accounting team example set by founder Molly for a global investment portfolio Chappellet to the recent apoverseeing 20,000-plus acres of pointment of Leslie Sullivan to vines, the family-owned winery marketing director, and my role stated. as CFO, I value Chappellet’s supHa graduated from UCLA port for female leadership and with a Bachelor of Arts degree diversity. As a first generation in business and economics and Asian American, I hope that is a licensed certified public acmy role helps to empower other Christine countant. She began her career Ha women to achieve their goals, as an audit manager for KPMG while showing my two young LLP in San Francisco, where she spent daughters that it is possible for a woman five years working on accounts like Visa to pursue her professional aspirations, Inc. and Blum Capital Partners. After while also balancing family life,” Ha moving to Napa Valley in 2010, worked stated in the announcement. as controller for Blackbird Vineyards In 2017, Chappellet celebrated its 50th and Ma(i)sonry Napa Valley, before anniversary as a family-owned and joining Silverado in 2012.

-operated winery.

Permanente Santa Rosa Medical Center.

Kahn attended the International American University College of Medicine, and completed a general psychiatry residency training at Penn State University Dr. Asfand in Hershey, PA. This was Khan followed by a fellowship in Addiction Psychiatry at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. __________________________ Dr. Urmila Shende has been named COVID-19 Vaccine Chief by Sonoma County to oversee its rollout of the COVID vaccine.

Dr. Shende has been working with the Sonoma County Department of Health Services since March 2020, Urmila providing clinical expertise Shende to the County’s COVID-19 response efforts, the county’s announcement stated.

In her new role, she will be responsible for implementing the vaccine distribution strategy, coordinating vaccine administration, and interfacing with health care leaders and other stakeholders as part of the countywide vaccine response.

Shende earned her medical degree from Northwestern University in Chicago, and has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Cornell University. She finished her pediatrics

residency in 1997 at the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles where she stayed on as a chief resident and staff attending for a year. Beginning in 1998, Shende started her private practice in Santa Rosa and, 10 years later, joined Kaiser Permanente providing general pediatrics and general patient care. __________________________ Dr. Michael Caravelli has joined The Coon Joint Replacement Institute at Adventist Health St. Helena.

The board certified orthopedic surgeon comes to St. Helena from The Center for Orthopedic & Neurological Care and Research in Bend, Ore. He joins fellow Dr. Michael orthopedic surgeons Dr. Caravelli John Diana and Dr. Ryan Moore and a team of specialized advanced practice providers, nurses, therapists and navigators at the Coon Joint Replacement Institute.

Dr. Caravelli has over a decade of surgical experience including a residency at Northwestern University in Chicago, Ill., and a fellowship at the University of California San Francisco. His expertise includes robotic-assisted total and partial knee replacement, direct anterior hip replacement and complex knee and revision surgery.

Dr. Kent T. Yamaguchi Jr. recently joined the Orthopedics department at Kaiser Permanente Santa Rosa Medical

Center.

After attending the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Dr. Yamaguchi completed a residency in orthopaedic surgery at UCLA followed by a fellowship in Dr. Kent T. Hand and Microvascular Yamaguchi Surgery at the University of Washington in Seattle.

MARKETING Ted Teele is the new CEO for Kaleidoscope, a Novato-based digital marketing company working with orthodontic, dental, and medical practices.

With an MBA from Harvard University, Teele has 25+ years of experience running technology companies (including two like Kaleidoscope in different industries), the company stated. He initially became involved with the company as a consultant in Q2, 2020.

Kaleidoscope was founded in 2011 by Charis Santillie.

NONPROFITS Tanis Crosby has been selected as executive director of the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank which serves 55,000 households with food assistance each week.

Crosby replaces Paul Ash who the organization stated is retiring after 32 years. Ash will serve as an adviser and Tanis consultant to Tanis and the Crosby Food Bank as needed.

For about 20 years, Crosby served as a leader in the YWCA movement, most recently the CEO of the combined YWCA Silicon Valley and YWCA San Francisco & Marin.

WINE Jeff Kandarian has been promoted to executive vice president, Winemaking by John Anthony Family of Wines. He joined the Napa Valley winery in 2014.

Kandarian’s career spans over 20 years in wine making regions such as Paso Robles, Oregon, and Napa Valley. He served as director of Winemaking at King Estate in Oregon.

In 2016, Kandarian hired Michael Abernathy as assistant winemaker, who apprenticed with Michael Mondavi Family Estates and Folio Fine Wine Partners prior to joining John Anthony Family of Wines.

The company announced that Abernathy is promoted to winemaker.

John Anthony Family of Wines includes John Anthony Vineyards, FARM Napa Valley, Serial, Weather, and JaM Cellars. John Anthony Vineyards produces See PEOPLE page 19

18 North Bay Business Journal

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2021

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North Bay Business Journal 19

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PEOPLE

Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau. Former board Secretary Lauren Benward of continued from page 17 Beltane Ranch and past President Kenexclusive wines created from small vine- neth Juhasz of Auteur Wines have both yard sites in Oak Knoll District, Carneros, retired from the board after serving six and Coombsville regions. years with Sonoma Valley Vintners and Growers Alliance. __________________________ CONGRATULATIONS Career Technical Education (CTE) Foundation has elected Ellen Blustein, executive director of three new board members the Jewish Community Center Sonoma and a new officer slate for County, has announced her retirement the 2021 year. effective June 30, 2021. The Board of DiThe newly elected directors is grateful for her many years of rectors will each serve a service and commitment to JCC So Co. three-year term: Katie The board is now engaged in a search for Greaves, director, Sonoher replacement. ma County Workforce In- Katie __________________________ vestment Board; Priscilla Greaves Jaworski-Quintanilla, Katie Hayne Simpson will serve as community engagement president of the Appellation St. Helena advocate, Redwood Credfor the coming year while Seth Goldfarb it Union; and Elisabeth will hold the post of secretary and Claire Wade, dean, School of Hobday as CFO. Science and Technology, Simpson, owner of Chase Cellars in St. Sonoma State University.

Helena, has served on the Board for 1 ½ At their December board years. Goldfarb, is the general manager at meeting, the slate of 2021 Priscilla Anomaly Vineyards in St. Helena. Board officers were also elected. JaworskiCFO Hobday is the CFO at C. Mondavi & Quintanilla Jeremy Olsan of Olsan Sons in St. Helena.

Law will serve a second New to the board are Sylvia Taplin, term as board chair. Cindy Taplin Vineyards, and Julia Jinks, RayGillespie, human resourcmond Vineyards. es director at Amy’s KitchThe board consists of Myriah Muten will serve as vice presrux, Hall Wines; George Watson, One ident. Hamish Gray of Vineyard; Goldfarb, Anomaly Vineyards; Keysight Technologies was Hobday, Charles Krug; Jack Pagendarm, elected treasurer. Julianna Elisabeth Korte Ranch; Lesley Keffer Russell, Graham of American River Wade Saint Helena Winery; Jinks, Raymond Bank was elected secretary.

Vineyards; Dave Yewell, Yewell Family __________________________ Vineyards; Torey Battuello, Battuello Vineyards; Eric Risch, Pellet Estate; Prema Behan, general manager of Shannon Salvestrin, Salvestrin WinThree Sticks Wines and Head High Wines, ery; Taplin, Taplin Vineyards and Katie remains as president of the board of direc- Simpson, Chase Cellars. tors for a third and final year of the SonoThe St. Helena appellation is comprised ma Valley Vintners & Growers Alliance of roughly 12,000 acres, of which approx(SVVGA), a nonprofit trade association imately 6,800 are planted to grapes, more representing more than 100 wineries and than any other AVA in the Napa Valley.

140 grape growers in Sonoma Valley.

More than 400 different vineyards are located within the appellation.

Tom Rouse of Landmark Vineyards __________________________ will be serving as vice president; former Vice President Erich Bradley of PanSonoma State University’s Assistant gloss Cellars and Repris has been elected Vice President for Student Affairs, Gerald as secretary; and Steven Sangiacomo of Jones, J.D., has been named a recipient Sangiacomo Family Vineyards and Anne of the prestigious Wang Family Excellence Moller-Racke of Blue Farm Wines and Award for Outstanding Staff Performance.

Stone Edge Farm Estate Vineyards & As part of his recognition, Jones will reWinery have been appointed as co-trea- ceive a $20,000 award.

Dr. Jones led strategies to increase surers.

Newly elected board directors include recruitment, retention, and graduation Tom Blackwood of Buena Vista Winery of historically underrepresented stuand Mia Stornetta of Atlas Vineyard dents. He also oversees the Male Success Management, along with board appointed Initiative program, which aids in closing community members, Quinn Arntsen the achievement gap for male students of Farella Braun + Martel, Justin Bain who are Black, Indigenous, and people of MacArthur Place and Tim Zahner of of color.

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North Bay Business Journal 21

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2021

Business Briefs

Send Business Brief items to news@busjrnl.com.

ARCHITECTURE Quattrocchi Kwok Architects (QKA), a planning and design firm serving Northern California’s education industry, has signed a lease for a new office space in the heart of Oakland’s Jack London Square.

The move relocates the firm’s current East Bay office from Pleasanton with 50 percent additional capacity, the firm stated.

Also, the Santa Rosa headquartered firm recently brought on two new project architects in the East Bay, Henrik Malinowski and Manuel Ordonez. Project Manager and Studio Lead Joel Williams heads the office.

QKA is currently working on projects for Oakland Unified School District and served as lead architect for Historic Alameda High School’s seismic retrofit and restoration. The 3,000 square-foot office space will eventually house 15 QKA employees.

BANKING & FINANCE Travis Credit Union, headquartered in Vacaville, and Community Housing Development Corporation have partnered to promote the launch of CHDC’s ‘Driving Clean Assistance Program’ as part of the Light-Duty Financing Assistance in Disadvantaged Communities pilot project. This project allows CHDC to provide financial assistance of up to $5,000, enabling consumers to purchase advanced technology (plug-in, hybrid and battery electric) vehicles.

The DCAP program is part of the California Climate Investments Initiative, a statewide program to reduce greenhouse gases while providing local benefits to California neighborhoods, with an emphasis on disadvantaged communities.

For additional free financial education opportunities, please visit traviscu.org/ webinars.

EDUCATION Sonoma State University has been awarded $4.96 million from NASA to design and implement a program that will engage students on the autism spectrum in informal STEM learning.

Over a five-year period, hundreds of high school autistic learners in both California and New York City will engage in informal NASA activities, including building and launching rocket payloads and using SSU’s NASA funded telescope.

One of the California high schools that will participate in the program is the Anova Center for Education in Santa

Law change may allow personal wine containers The next advance in wine consumption could be in the hands of consumers.

Assembly Bill 239, just introduced in the California Legislature, would allow winery tasting room customers to fill personal containers with wine.

“Taking this next step will help to expand business opportunities for family wineries, reduce consumer waste, and bring parity to our marketplace,” said Assemblymember Carlos Villapudua, D-Stockton. “While existing law allows for breweries to sell their product in this manner, it’s time we offer the same opportunity to the winegrowers of California.”

Brew customers currently can get their “growlers” — ceramic or glass containers — filled for takeout purchases.

Though winery tasting rooms are impacted by the pandemic-inspired shutdowns at present, the same coronavirus has allowed wineries when open to do a trial run on the concept of a refillable vessel. According to the assemblyman’s office, “during Rosa.

The program began this month with the NASA Kickoff meeting for the SciAct program. Cominsky said they are currently co-developing NASA resources with autistic learners to ensure they create learning opportunities that meet their needs. For more information about NASA’s Science Activation Program, visit https://science. nasa.gov/learners.

GOVERNMENT The Northern Sonoma County Air Pollution Control District is partnering with state and local business and forestry leaders to launch the Sonoma County Biomass Business Competition, or BioBiz. The competition will award two local entrepreneurs with $32,500 of startup funds plus select technical support services to implement their winning biomass business concepts.

BioBiz seeks to turn wildfire risk in Sonoma County into an economic development opportunity.

All professionals, age groups and institutions that will operate as a small business are eligible and encouraged to apply. Preference will be given to small businesses operating in Sonoma County.

For additional information and to sign up for email updates, visit the BioBiz website at www.Biomass.Biz. RETAIL Mountain Mike’s Pizza, announced

ERIK CASTRO / FOR THE PRESS DEMOCRAT, 2016

Pedro Rusk with Jackson Family Wines pours into a carafe after thiefing a barrel in Fulton.

the current public health crisis, the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control has temporarily lifted restrictions on the use of these personal, reusable wine containers to provide a form of financial relief for local winegrowers.”

2020 was the best sales year yet for the fast-growing franchise; beating out 2019 which held the previous record.

The brand ended its fiscal year 2020 with total system sales (TSS) up 13.3% and same store sales (SSS) up 7.3% over 2019, the firm announced.

WINE Amorim Cork America in Napa, announced launch of Naturity and Xpür, technologies designed to remove detectable TCA from natural corks and to create a new segment of micro-agglomerated stoppers, respectively.

The company stated that research for the patent-pending Naturity technology began in 2016 with the NOVA School of Science and Technology, and is based on the principles of thermal desorption through a proprietary, non-sequential use of pressure, temperature, purified water and time.

Amorim Cork America is the North American sales and distribution division of Corticeira Amorim is the world's largest cork processing group with annual sales topping 780 million euros. __________________________ Sonoma State University Wine Business Institute’s Wine Entrepreneurship program will be offered online in Spring 2021. The 9-week master class exposes participants to frameworks to develop or reposition a vineyard and winery, as well

as different models for profitability.

The program is led by Dr. Anisya Fritz, proprietor of Lynmar Estate, a familyowned producer of ultra-premium Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, and published author of numerous articles on competitive strategy and international entrepreneurship in leading journals such as the Harvard Business Review.

2021 will be the 10th year Dr. Fritz has been offering this program at Sonoma State. Application deadline for the Wine Entrepreneurship program is Feb. 11 and classes begin Feb.18.

Previously, Dr. Fritz was an associate professor at Florida International University in Miami and a visiting professor at the Stockholm School of Economics in Stockholm, Sweden. She received her Bachelor of Arts at Loyola College in Maryland and her Masters of Science degree and Ph.D. at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia.

In addition to the Wine Entrepreneurship program, the Sonoma Executive Wine MBA is also launching this spring.

Application deadline is set for February 28 and the program launches in April 2021. The GMAT is waived for those who have eight-plus years of progressive work experience. To learn more and apply, visit the Executive Wine MBA program website. __________________________ Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits (Southern Glazer's) announced that it has expanded its distribution agreement in sixteen additional markets with family-owned Sonoma County winery Rodney Strong Wine Estates.

Rodney Strong Wine Estates is a family-owned wine company that includes Rodney Strong Vineyards, Davis Bynum Wines, Knotty Vines, and UPSHOT Wines.

Rodney Strong sustainably farms 14 estate vineyards and produces wines from Sonoma County’s finest appellations. The winery was founded in 1959 by Sonoma County wine pioneer Rod Strong as the 13th bonded winery in the county.

CONGRATULATIONS Clif Family and Bare Honey received a 2020 Good Food Award for Solar Grown™ Raw Honey. Harvested from hives located on pollinator-friendly solar farms, backers says it combines creating healthy habitats and food sources for honeybees, native bees and other pollinators with developing a unique specialty food item.

Gary Erickson and Kit Crawford, the co-founders and co-owners of Clif Bar & Company founded Clif Family in 2004 The portfolio includes small production Napa Valley wines and handcrafted foods, such as Savory Nut Mixes, Chocolates, Fruit Preserves, Hot Sauces and Extra Virgin Olive Oil. The Clif Family Farm is located in California’s Napa Valley.

22 North Bay Business Journal

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2021

VERTOSA

Harold Han, founder and chief security officer for Vertosa, works in the lab developing cannabis emulsions for beverages.

BEVERAGES

TRACI SEVILLE, 2018

Tracey Mason, left, and Cynthia Salarizadeh launched Napa’s House of Saka in 2018 to make rosé beverages infused with medicinal and psychoactive cannabis compounds.

just absurd,” Mason with House of Saka said. Their bottles are painted to conform continued from page 5 to the rules. This adds to the final price.

Whether the product is going to be in a What is written on the packaging is can, glass or plastic also plays a role. If a also governed by the state.

RED TAPE Those is the cannabis beverage indusproduct is pasteurized or had a chemical “They prevent us from using any treatment, will help determine the appro- try are working with the state to rejigger language that relates to alcohol. For the rules including packaging, transporpriate emulsion. instance, infused wine can’t even say tation and distribution.

Stevenson said it can take a few non-alcoholic wine,” Polansky said.

Beverages fall in the same category as months before the food scientists settle “They can’t put it comes from Napa on the correct emulsion for an individual all cannabis products which are eaten, unless they can source the cannabis from which has created hurdles the industry product. one producer. Cannabis usually is from folks would like to abolish.

Beer and wine with cannabis adds cultivators from around the state. They When California voters approved the another layer because first the alcohol can’t put that wine is in there. They have legalization of recreational marijuana needs to be removed. to put fermented grape juice.” in 2016 cannabis infused drinks were not “We pioneered the use of these proCannabis beverages per state law cesses in wine about 30 years back. We’ve part of the equation. Because cannabis must also carry an expiration date even beverages didn’t exist at the time as a always been constantly improving, maythough many would likely never grow be not radical jumps, but with the ability standalone sector it was thrown in with too old to consume. That means makers all edibles. That is coming back to bite to have greater quality,” said Silverstein face the prospect of a sales slump which the drink industry. Edible cannabis is with BevZero. leaves product in a warehouse waiting to anything that is a food or drink.

BevZero is the sister company of be distributed, then expiring and becom“We need to be decoupled from 30-year-old ConeTech which developed ing unsellable. the dealcoholization method. Both are lo- regulations that regulate edibles,” Macai In transporting product, the rules cated in Santa Rosa. BevZero was created Polansky, founder of the Cannabis Bever- dictate trucks are supposed to be owned age Association, said. to do business with the cannabis indusand not leased. While loose leaf marijuaAt the time the regulations were creat- na easily can be driven around in a van, try. “We remove alcohol at low temps ed, the rules were written so packaging so we don’t harm the wine at all. It’s a pallets of beverages need trucks. The hid the contents, to dissuade children be- regulations require purchasing trucks very short process. We separate aromas, ing attracted to cannabis-laced brownies which are not often needed on a daily dealcoholize, then add aromas back.” and gummy bears.

Some varietals are easier to do this basis.

“We need to educate policymakers that with than others, like a lot of white “Distribution is challenging. (Cannabis these are very safe products. While we wines. Alcohol has weight and texture, beverages are) a very different economic take seriously that kids should not get which needs to be considered when model for distributors. What we have had into them, the rules around child-proof removing it from a product. Silverstein to do is partner with distributors who packaging need to be deregulated a bit,” said replicating the flavors of a big, bold have a forward facing view and realize Polansky said. The added restraints ulti- beverages are the future,” Mason said. cabernet would be hard to do.

“When you remove alcohol from wine, mately drive up the cost of the product.

The Napa Valley company in early Quintana, also with the CBA, said, “We January signed with a statewide distribyou remove quite a lot. You lose weight, will be doing a lot more legislatively this sweetness that the palate can recognize. utor. “We will be able to expand from 30 year.” He pointed out how today cannaAnd you lose flavor so we work really dispensaries to 150 dispensaries by the hard to build back the flavor profiles. We bis wine cannot use a traditional green end of Q1.” bottle because cannabis containers must work with a natural flavor compound,” Entrepreneurs with an idea for a new not be see through. said Mason with House of Saka. cannabis beverage but who lack one of “I see some (changes) as lower hanging the various licenses from the state to All beverages in California must be fruit than others. I hope what will change operate in the marijuana world are out made with cannabis grown in the state.

“The quality of the cannabis extraction is the restriction on bottle color. That is of luck or need to partner with someone is super important. Only certain emulsions work so you have to be careful,” Mason said.

KENT PORTER / THE PRESS DEMOCRAT, 2018

Eli Melrod, Soulful cannabis dispensary founder.

who is licensed.

For Holman with The Galley in Santa Rosa, “The biggest thing the state needs to do is put in a brand license. They don't have a path for licensing.” At her 8,300-square-foot cannabis manufacturing and distribution facility she only works with licensed individuals or companies.

The California Department of Public Health Manufactured Cannabis Safety Branch, which regulates cannabis beverages, dodged a question regarding its opinions about changing current legislation surrounding edibles so the beverage sector could operate by rules the industry deems more appropriate.

“Members of the public are invited to voice their opinions for how the regulations can be improved by sharing their comments during meetings of the Cannabis Advisory Committee,” Corey Egel, spokesman with the state, said.

Polansky hopes if federal rules surrounding cannabis change, that cannabis drinks one day will be on store shelves everywhere.

All cannabis infused food products must be sold in a dispensary and not at a regular retail store. At the end of 2019, California had 1,440 dispensaries, according to Statista. This compares to the 28,432 stores in the state that are licensed to sell alcohol by the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.

When California is ready to change the law it could look to Canada which in 2019 began allowing the sale of cannabis infused beverages in retail stores.

“There really should be no reason these beverages (cannot be) sold in the same cooler as alcohol in my opinion,” Polansky said. “That is a long time out, maybe 10 or 20 years to get there. Once we have the data, arguably there will be no reason cannabis shouldn’t be sold in traditional retail.”

North Bay Business Journal 23

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2021

RECOVER

ties still rely on property tax revenue and TOT taxes among other sources of income.

in the mountains, etc.”

FINANCIAL MARKETS ARE UP The nation is experiencing a dramatic stock market rise according to Nickelsburg.

The S&P 500 index, for example, is all about technology, liquidity and optimism about hopeful future prospects for the economy.

The S&P Market Cap level in December was $31.66 trillion, up from $30.01 trillion a month earlier and from $26.76 trillion a year ago. This represents a change of 5.49% from the last month and $18.31% from one year ago. (S&P Global) He predicted personal income will expand from 5% to 9% between 2021 and 2022 as employment growth increases by 4% to 6% in the same period.

continued from page 3

UNEMPLOYMENT Sonoma County is on par with the U.S. with 6.5% unemployment, lower than Napa’s 7.2% and California’s overall 9% rate.

(December 2020 NPI data, not seasonally adjusted).

California’s unemployment rate was at a record low 4% in September 2019, down from a high of 12.2% in 2010. In 2020, statewide in California, non-farm payroll jobs declined by 1.4 million from a previous high of 17.6 million nonfarm jobs, but by yearend rebounded to approximately 16.2 million.

(Source Cal EDD). The U.S. unemployment rate average by state, based on October 2020 numbers, is approximately 6.7%.

HOME SALES BOUNCE BACK Nickelsburg said, “The remedy to deflate Existing homes sales have been soaring high unemployment is vaccine needles in higher since August 2020’s low point of arms.” some 195,788 units increasing to 509,750 in December. During the same period the median price for a home in San GOVERNMENT OUTLOOK State general fund revenues are increas- Francisco rose from $575,160 to $717,930 ing over past years, and it carries an $18B or more. (Source: California Association rainy day fund, but he said the state as well of Realtors). as local governments in fiscal year 2020 and New residential permits in the state are 2021 will see budget contractions without forecast to go up from 2020’s level by 2022. significant aid from Washington to help This will lead to a rise in home constructhem offset pandemic-related expenditures tion, based on a three-month moving averlocally. However, the new administration age. This is the most housing permit applihas included more aid to states in plans for cation activity seen since 2019. (Source: US the next stimulus package. California coun- Census, UCLA Anderson Forecast)

BOWLING

by himself five days a week, even while the lanes are dark to the public. He’s done 5% of his normal business since March. the 40,000-square-foot facility.

“It’s like saying you can sell gas but no On Jan. 25, California moved back to cars are allowed,” Bruihl said. the state’s four-tier reopening system The bowling trade group has hired a after a monthlong shelter-at-home order, lobbyist to petition Sacramento to treat and the six North Bay counties are now the venues like indoor dining, allowing with 91% of the state population in the the centers 25% capacity in the next purple, highest-risk tier virus transmistier — red, according to Decker. And sion. But bowling alleys won’t be able to the association has pursued litigation start reopening until their counties move against the state, hiring an epidemioloup two tiers into orange. Then they will be gist to document the risk of virus spread able to open at 25% occupancy, increasing in previous use and under protective to 50% in the yellow, lowest-risk tier. measures such as clear plastic barriers, Some California bowling centers have alternating empty lanes, ball sanitizers tried to get creative to stay open in the and removal of lounge furniture in the pandemic. The Sousa family has tried to common areas. Decker said he spent over host leagues in small private meetings and $10,000 on those measures at his facility. considered installing exercise equipment “How can you do a study when you’re to qualify as a gym, when indoor training not open?” Decker asked. was still allowed. However, they heard from Solano and Napa county officials Jeff Quackenbush covers that such operations are still not allowed. wine, construction and real Yet in a baffling regulatory twist, pro estate. Before the Business shops in bowling centers can still operate Journal, he wrote for Bay because they are classified as sporting City News Service in San Francisco. He goods retailers, selling balls, wear and gear has a degree from Walla Walla University. to league and avid players. Gene Bruihl Reach him at jquackenbush@busjrnl.com still operates Gene’s Pro Shop inside Stars or 707-521-4256. continued from page 8

N O R T H

B AY

PEOPLE

& BUSINESS S H O W C A S E

Our People & Business Showcase appears in Sunday’s edition of The Press Democrat and the next edition of the Petaluma ArgusCourier, Sonoma Index-Tribune and North Bay Business Journal – that’s more than 340,000 adults who will see your posting!

A great way to promote your company’s awards, new hires, promotions and other announcements. Starting at $99.

For more information, Call 707-546-7355 Opt. 2 or Email people@sonomamediainvestments.com

Merchants Bank of Commerce Hires Steve Shira as VP, Relationship Manager Merchants Bank of Commerce has announced the addition of Steve Shira as Vice President, Relationship Manager to Merchants Bank of Commerce in Santa Rosa.

Shira most recently was VP Relationship Manager at JP Morgan Chase Bank and has built his career in lending, real estate and insurance. A San Diego State alumnus, Shira has established a community legacy of working with underprivileged youth. A 40 Under 40 recipient and past President of the Active 20-30 Club of Santa Rosa, Shira enjoys dedicating his time to volunteering. Steve lives in Santa Rosa with his family and loves spending time golfing, coaching Little League and snowboarding.

“I have known Steve for years.

His commitment to serving the local community and robust conventional, SBA and

construction lending experience makes him the perfect fit for our growing Santa Rosa business.

He brings to Merchants Bank of Commerce a wealth of finance expertise that helps us provide our customers with the best service and banking solutions”.

Said Steve Tagnolli, Senior Vice President Regional Manager.

Merchants Bank of Commerce is located in Santa Rosa and specializes in providing businesses and consumers operating lines of credit, equipment financing, lines of credit, construction financing, home equity lines of credit, commercial real estate and more.

Merchants Bank of Commerce 1410 Neotomas Ave. Suite 106 Santa Rosa, CA 95405

Announcement Inquires, call 707-546-7355 Opt. 2 or email: people@sonomamediainvestments.com

24 North Bay Business Journal

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2021

Deputy Director Health & Human Services Agency – Public Health Nursing $107,702 - $130,915 plus Management Association benefits.

The City of Sonoma is seeking to fill its Public Works Operations Manager position.

The annual salary range is $99,978 - $121,524 DOE. Candidate will possess the equivalent to an Associate’s degree from an accredited college with major course work in maintenance technology, public administration or a related field.

Please submit a cover letter, City of Sonoma application and resume electronically to: City of Sonoma – Attention Cathy Lanning, Administrative Services Manager, clanning@sonomacity.org.

Visit https://www.sonomacity.org/job/publicworks-operations-manager/ for a detailed recruitment brochure.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 5:00 p.m. February 8, 2021.

An application is available online, at City Hall, No. 1 The Plaza, Sonoma, CA 95476 by appointment or by calling 707-938-3681. A City of Sonoma application is required along with resume.

Directs staff and functions, including long and short range planning, budget and policy development and staff management.

Requires Bachelor’s degree, and five (5) years of progressively responsible experience providing nursing services with at least two (2) years in a managerial or supervisory experience.

Open Until February 5, 2021 For more information and to apply: www.governmentjobs.com/careers/mendocinoca EOE

The County is accepting applications for these exciting employment opportunities: Adult, Youth and Family Services Section Manager $8,811 - $10,708/Monthly Apply by 2/1/21 Deputy Emergency Services Coordinator $5,963 - $7,247/Monthly Apply by 2/2/21 Technology Procurement Analyst $6,217 - $7,558/Monthly Apply by 2/10/21 For more information, including minimum qualifications, benefits, & to apply online, visit www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org

Maintenance Worker I - City of Sonoma, Ca. ($4,402 - $5,351/mo. DOE.) Requires High School diploma or equivalent. Please submit an application electronically to: City of Sonoma – Attention Cathy Lanning, Administrative Services Manager, clanning@sonomacity.org.

Visit https://www.sonomacity.org/job/maintenanceworker-water/ for a detailed recruitment brochure.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 5:00 p.m. February 8, 2021. An application is available online, at City Hall, No. 1 The Plaza, Sonoma, CA 95476 by appointment or by calling 707-938-3681.

For information on how to submit a Life Tribute: s 6ISIT OUR SUBMISSION WEB PAGE AT www.pressdemocrat.com/news/obits s #ALL (707) 526-8694 TO TALK TO OUR ,IFE 4RIBUTES SPECIALIST We regret that we cannot accept handwritten notices or take submissions by phone.

or call HR, 707-565-2331. EOE

North Bay Business Journal 25

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2021 Need a handyperson?

Auto buying tip:

Check out the Service Solutions ads in this section

Do a VIN check when purchasing used autos to verify title and history

The Press Democrat is seeking Newspaper Distributors for delivery to retail locations Part-Time, $18 per hour + mileage reimbursement Do you enjoy working independently?

Do you want to earn extra money with late night/early morning shifts?

Then we have an opportunity for you….

The Press Democrat is seeking Newspaper Distributors to join our team. You will be responsible for distribution locations including newsstands, store dealers, hotels, and other assigned locations.

Schedule: Presently scheduling shifts starting at 2 AM. Candidates must be available to work a flexible schedule, including weekends and holidays. Schedule typically includes 16-22 hours per week.

Qualifications: • Must have own vehicle, a clean driving record and be able to drive company vehicles if needed. Valid California driver’s license and proof of insurance required.

• Must be mobile and capable of lifting 35 Lbs. • Must have basic math skills and be able to use a calculator, cell phone and computer.

• Must have strong customer service skills and be able to communicate with store/dealer customers and office personnel on a regular basis. Bi-lingual (English/Spanish) a plus.

Responsibilities: • Deliver newspapers on assigned routes in a timely manner.

Sonoma County Movie Trivia:

Sonoma County Movie Trivia:

Sonoma County Movie Trivia:

Q: Santa Rosa High School was featured in what 1950’s-era film starring Nicolas Cage and directed

by Francis Ford Coppola?

A: Peggy Sue got Married

Q: What remake of a famous family movie starring Steve Martin filmed scenes in Railroad Square in Santa Rosa?

A: Cheaper by the Dozen

Q: What Santa Rosa hotel was featured in the movie “Bandits” starring Bruce Willis and Billy Bob Thornton?

A: The Flamingo

Social Worker (Service Coordinator)

Digital Media Strategist The Digital Media Strategist is an expert in the digital advertising ecosystem, fully understanding the role of different digital media platforms and how they can be best used to affect an advertiser’s business. Working closely with our advertising sales staff and digital ad operations department, the Digital Media Strategist learns of the client’s KPIs and objectives, and creates a campaign that uses our available solutions to achieve the desired results. During the campaign, the Digital Media Strategist monitors the campaign, optimizes it if necessary, and reports on the efficacy. As well, they will assist in creating sales collateral and presentations for all digital advertising products and perform other duties as needed.

Essential job functions include, but are not limited to the following: •

• • • • • • •

• •

• Maximize point of sale locations by working with dealers to better market newspaper products.

•

• Establish and maintain a positive working relationship with dealers through regular contact in person and occasionally by phone.

•

• Collect monies owed from store/dealers and newsstand racks.

• Communicate with distribution personnel and Single Copy managers.

• Utilize company computer systems to log required data reporting for each shift.

• Additional tasks to support core delivery functions as assigned.

• Deliver down routes when needed.

The Press Democrat is committed to a drug and alcohol free workplace. Any job offer is conditional upon satisfactorily completing a background investigation and pre-employment drug testing.

To be considered please apply at www.sonomamediainvestments. com/jobs For questions please contact Monica Kolos at 707-521-8528 or monica.kolos@pressdemocrat.com or hr@pressdemocrat.com.

The Press Democrat is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Creating digital advertising campaigns for our advertisers, which includes the range of: digital display on our owned sites; programmatic digital display; sponsored content; email marketing; social media advertising; paid search; and video.

Producing supporting sales presentations and collateral (in PowerPoint and MS Word).

Conceptualizing story ideas for Sponsored Content for advertisers.

Creating subject lines and content ideas for targeted advertiser emails.

Editing and writing content for sales fliers, internal promotion, and sales presentations that represent our entire range of digital products.

Creating content for social media platforms on behalf of advertisers, as needed.

Remaining fully informed on current and emerging market trends, and implementing best practices.

Reporting on digital product results, for internal and external purposes (in Excel, PowerPoint, and in proprietary reporting platforms).

Job Requirements:

• Ensure professional product placement and upkeep.

• Ensure single copy returns are verified on a nightly basis.

FT position in Fort Bragg, CA Advocating & coordinating svcs for individuals w/dev & intellectual disab. Sal range $3665-$5157/mo + exc. bene.

To apply go to www.redwoodcoastrc.org. EOE

• • • • •

Bachelor’s degree in Advertising, Marketing, Journalism or related field from a four-year college or university desired.

6 months to two years of related work experience and/or training or equivalent combination of education and experience required.

MS Office experience required, Expert usage of Excel and PowerPoint is required, Content Management Systems (WordPress a big plus), Facebook Ad Manager, and Google Ad Manager/DFP is highly sought.

Ability to read, analyze and interpret large amounts of information and data from a variety of sources.

Adequate knowledge of typical content management systems and reporting platforms.

Basic understanding of general marketing principles required.

Knowledge of advertising copywriting.

Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing with internal clients, external clients and employees from the organization.

Excellent project management, time management and organization skills a must.

Sonoma Media Investments (SMI) is an independent, privately-owned multimedia company based in Santa Rosa. Formed in 2012 by a consortium of local investors who recognize the value of quality local journalism, SMI is home to the most-read publications and websites in the affluent Sonoma Valley, north of San Francisco.

Each week, seven out of ten North Bay adults – more than 376,000 in total – engage with the many SMI publications and their corresponding websites, including: The Pulitzer Prize-Winning Press Democrat (the flagship daily), The Sonoma Index-Tribune, Petaluma Argus-Courier, The North bay Business Journal, Sonoma Magazine and La Prensa Sonoma (the region’s premier Spanish-language newspaper and website).

Sonoma Media Investments values the contribution of our employees and offers a competitive compensation plan. We also offer an array of benefits, including medical, dental, vision, 401K and Paid Time Off. Sonoma Media Investments is committed to a drug and alcohol free workplace. Any job offer is conditional upon satisfactorily completing a background investigation and pre-employment drug testing.

To be considered, please apply on our career page at www.sonomamediainvestments.com/jobs Sonoma Media Investments is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Director of Clinical Services FT position in Ukiah, CA Providing leadership for all aspects of clinical svs for individuals w/dev & intellectual disab. Sal range $7542$10612/mo + exc. bene.

To apply go to www.redwoodcoastrc.org. EOE

Part-time Water Treatment/Distribution Operator - Jenner CA Possession of a Water Treatment Grade 2 and Distribution Grade 1 certification is required and must be issued within the last two years.

In charge of plant duties when the Chief Operator is absent. Report to Chief Operator on decisions that may affect the standard operations.Ability to work independently. Must be able perform tasks assigned to you related to water treatment and distribution and full responsibility to carry out those tasks. Work with Office Management to meet goals and deadlines.

Basic computer skills required.

Must like working outdoors.

A Current driver’s license is required.

Possible advancement in the future.

Salary dependent on experience.

Email resume to admin@tccwd.org

Sell it faster With a color photo ad in the pre-owned vehicle marketplace. Place your ad online at pressdemocrat.com/placead or call 707-526-8530

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26 North Bay Business Journal

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2021

EDITORIAL & OPINION GUEST COMMENTARY

BY CHRIS D. CRAIKER

To reduce fossil fuels, look to the Earth Using geo-thermal heat exchange, versus extracting natural gas, is an option The latest battle to cut California’s addiction to natural gas will not be easy but there may have some alternative solutions buried in the latest COVID Relief Bill.

Congress included $900 billion to curb the spiraling COVID-19 pandemic and prevent a government shutdown but it also carries some landmark legislation: a substantial step to challenge climate change while expanding renewable energy resources.

The package is as much a stimulus as relief by providing new tax credits for renewable energy, carbon capture and sequestering.

No, not the same as hiding from COVID in your basement but by collecting and recycling carbon products. It also funds billions of dollars for energy research and potential demonstration projects of alternate energy, energy storage, small grid technology and, with some distain, nuclear power.

Is there an alternative fuel source that See EARTH page 27

North Bay Business Journal 27

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2021

EARTH

continued from page 26

could provide more energy, at less cost while reducing our dependence on nature gas production? Well, it’s all around us: the Earth.

We all know that the earth’s temperature is amazingly temperate the further down we drill into the ground. This could be a major boost to Ground Source Heat Pump, GSHP, a heat transferring system that transforms heat to or from the ground, ground water, surface water or any other surface natural feature to provide space heating and cooling.

These devices, commonly used in hotels and single room facilities, are the most energy efficient and low carbon space conditioning systems available today. A GSHP System can be expensive on a house-by-house bases, but for a neighborhood, community or city they could be just the ticket.

Vertical ground group systems utilize the temperature differential between the ground and the interior space to transfer heat, in or out.

These systems consist of one or more heat pumps that are connected to a series of vertical pipes usually made of high-density polyethylene. These 4” to 6” pipes form a closed loop and can be 100 to 500 feet deep.

The greater the depths, the greater the pipe diameters, the greater the heat exchange.

Usually, water is the thermal energy transfer agent into a buildings HVAC system for winter heating and summer cooling.

Designing a GSHP system is not that complex. Heating and cooling demands are often the opposite and pipes can be buried horizontally as well.

In order to serve a community, a Geo-Micro District is required to administer a groundsource heat pump system. The objective is to serve multiple existing homes or multifamily units or a new community where it could be

“We all know that the earth’s temperature is amazingly temperate the further down we drill into the ground. This could be a major boost to Ground Source Heat Pump ...”

CHRIS D. CRAIKER

executed as part of the initial infrastructure design. Essentially, it’s like a small neighborhood water or recreation district, serving its local inhabitants.

The other concern we should all aware of on the horizon is how we are going to continue to service our existing communities with aging 25 to 100 year old gas pipes. In eastern states such as Massachusetts, pipe infrastructures are failing and need to be replaced. The state is seriously looking at GMDs as a means of serving existing communities whose gas pipe infrastructure are to old to continue operations.

Our existing lead and plastic pipe infrastructure supplying natural gas, currently from PG&E, is unsustainable. Eventually, in our lifetime, these pipes will all have to be replaced.

OTHER COVID RELIEF BILL REWARDS There is more good news for renewables in the COVID Relief Bill. The legislation provides a two-year extension of the solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) and additional funding for research and development, including tax relief on soft costs, critical to distributed energy deployment. There is controversial issues of providing more access to federal lands for renewable energy projects, but that requires more exploration.

Contributions encouraged The North Bay Business Journal welcomes written opinions from readers on business, political and social issues of interest to the local business community.

Opinions should be no more than 700 words in length and make a point, take a stand or urge a call to action. The Business Journal also welcomes short letters to the editor in response to items that have appeared in prior issues.

E-mail to news@busjrnl.com or mail to North Bay Business Journal, 427 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa, CA 95401. Include your name, phone number, address, title, company/organization and fax number if applicable.

427 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa, CA 95401 707-521-5270 • Fax: 707-521-5292 E-mail: news@busjrnl.com

NorthBayBusinessJournal.com Publisher:

Norma T. Kostecka Editor and Event Content Manager:

Anthony Borders Under this legislation, the solar ITC will remain at 26% for projects that begin construction in 2021 and 2022, step down to 22% in 2023, and down to 10% in 2024 for commercial projects while the residential credit ends completely.

Companies beginning construction on projects in 2021 would still have a four-year period to place their projects in service to take advantage of the ITC, with the statutory deadline for projects placed in service reset to before Jan. 1, 2026.

“Passage of this bill represents real forward progress on climate change and clean energy." said Lindsey Griffith, federal policy director at the Clean Air Task Force, who calls the package "the most significant U.S. federal climate legislation to date.”

As our state, and eventually our nation, moves towards all electric power, we need to find more alternate ways of reducing our carbon footprint, or we will remain dependent upon fossil fuel generated energy. Sun, wind and geo-thermo should be in our tool kit as renewables take over.

Nuclear? Really…..?

Chris D. Craiker, AIA, NCARB, is a 40-year practicing architect and planner specializing in sustainable fire-wise construction. His Napa-based firm is Craiker Architects and

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28 North Bay Business Journal

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2021

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