209 Business Journal - SEP 2022

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BUSINESS JOURNAL

b u s i n e s s e s

c o n n e c t e d ™

SEPTEMBER 2022

VOLUME 7 ■ ISSUE 9

TABLE OF CONTENTS

RANCH HAND................................... 3 SWEET SNAX.................................... 4 INLAND HARDWARE........................ 5 KIWI’S CUSTOM GUNS.................... 5 DATAPATH......................................... 6 U PICK............................................... 6 OPINION............................................ 7 99 WIDENING.................................... 9 ACCOLADES................................... 11

Employee veterans group cleans up Castle Air Museum JOE CORTEZ/209 BusinessJournal

Turlock Amazon employee Martin Arriola pulls weeds in the area surrounding the B-17 Flying Fortress on Wednesday at Castle Air Museum in Atwater.

BY JOE CORTEZ

209 Business Journal

T

he Amazon distribution facility in Turlock is not yet open for business, but that hasn’t stopped its team members from already making an impact in the

community.

Nearly 50 Amazon employees from the Turlock and Fresno fulfillment centers volunteered their time Wednesday at the Castle Air Museum in Atwater.

Many of the volunteers were part of the Amazon Warriors, a

group of veterans and spouses within Amazon.

“The majority of our volunteers today, about 35 or so, are from Turlock,” said Craig Norris, general manager of the Turlock facility, known within the company as MCE 1. “At Amazon,

we have what we refer to as Affinity Groups, which are internal networking groups. The Warriors help other vets as they come into the company, and it ties in well with this project.”

Located on what was once SEE AMAZON, PAGE 10

209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

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SEPTEMBER 2022

THE CARE YOU NEED, THE WAY YOU WANT IT. Health care should be hassle-free. At Kaiser Permanente, it is. With connected teams and flexible ways to access care, it’s easy to get the support you need to stay healthy — when and where you need it.

THE CARE YOU NEED, THE WAY YOU WANT IT. Health care should be hassle-free. At Kaiser Permanente, it is. With connected teams and flexible ways to access care, it’s easy to get the support you need to stay healthy — when and where you need it.

kp.org/centralvalley

209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

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SEPTEMBER 2022

IN PROFILE

Hughson brothers introduce community to the Ranch Hand

BY CHRISTOPHER CORREA 209 Business Journal

Adam and Kevin Bradley have become well-known in Hughson and the surrounding areas for their success with the barbecue restaurant Slick Fork.

The brothers founded the popular restaurant in 2018, and in 2021, brainstormed ways they could grow their business ventures.

“Slick Fork is a great location for us, but we were looking at other spaces to operate the catering side of things,” said Kevin.

In July of 2021, the brothers officially acquired the space at 6901 Hughson Ave. in Hughson, but their plans quickly changed.

“The place needed a lot of work, especially the kitchen area since we wanted to cook out of here,” Adam explained.

The history of the building goes back over six decades. It started out as an auto parts store before transitioning into a bar back in the 1970s.

“It gone through a bunch of different stages in its life and it got really ran down,” Adam said. “Soon enough, I just realized that if we’re going to be putting in all of this work, we should just make it into another restaurant.”

Exactly one year after the date they received the keys to the space, the new location, named Ranch Hand, had their grand opening on July 1 of this year.

“Ranch Hand is literally the little brother of Slick Fork.

Without Slick Fork, Ranch Hand would not be here today,” Adam said. “It’s why we chose the name. On ranches, you need a helping hand, and this location is exactly that.”

Though Ranch Hand is an extension of the Slick Fork brand, the menus are very different. As Slick Fork continues to serve their iconic barbecued meats, Ranch Hand is taking aim at dishes like burgers, sandwiches, pasta, salads, tacos and appetizers.

“In this town, there hasn’t been a true burger place for some time, wo we decided to go for it along with the wings, fries and things like that,” Adam said.

There are a number of menu items that will stay consistent throughout the year, but the Bradleys want to make it a point of emphasis to experiment with new flavors.

“We just come up with different ideas. We like to play around with the menu a bit,” Adam explained. “Keeping everything the same is not what we do here. Our vision is to keep things fresh all the time and keep people coming with new stuff. It keeps people excited about the place, because if you have the same beers and food all the time, it can get old and stagnant. We want to liven it up.”

As they have only been open for about a month, Bradley’s are the team is looking forward to experimenting with more seasonal meals as well.

“We’re preparing to do more seasonal dishes,” Adam said.

“We want to incorporate the vegetables of the given season and make dishes depending on the time of year. As the weather gets colder, we’re going to focus more on the warm, wholesome dinners.”

Aside from the food and drinks, Kevin and Adam also

Photo contributed

Since opening in July, Ranch Hand by Slick Fork in Hughson has been a popular spot for burgers, barbecue and more amongst community members.

want to make the dining atmosphere one that customers remember. Inside of the restaurant, there are antiques such as lunchboxes, country music vinyl, license plates, auto parts and other vintage relics hanging from the walls, many of which the Bradley family and their friends have found at yard sales and flea markets over the years.

“We were really going for the American, blue-collar, country look in here,” Adam said. “People always ask about some of the antiques and it really builds that bonding experience we want people to have here.”

Those experiences can also be had during sporting events and

Make your mark.

Ranch Hand by Slick Fork Location: 6901 Hughson Ave., Hughson Hours: Wednesdays to Saturdays from 11 a.m.to 9 p.m., Sundays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Contact information: (209) 542-7033 or slickforkbbq@gmail.com

other weekend events. Along the walls are five large televisions, which are always showing the tops sports channels, and come this fall, will feature NFL Sunday Ticket. Additionally on many Fridays and Saturdays, their outdoor patio space plays host to live music from local bands and artists.

“The atmosphere we’ve built

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is amazing and we’re really starting to see it grow,” Adam said. “Ranch Hand has been really great for us so far.”

To keep up with the latest menu specials and upcoming events, the Bradley’s encouraged the public to follow @ ranch_hand_by_slickfork on Instagram.

209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

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SEPTEMBER 2022

IN PROFILE

Childhood passion blossoms into ‘Sweet Snax’ business

BY TERESA HAMMOND 209 Business Journal

It might just be the energy, enthusiasm or originality, but one thing is for sure; Nae’s Sweet Snax is a product of love and passion.

While the newly opened business in Oakdale might be a current side gig for young and energetic Renee Burrell, her gift for goodies is undeniable.

“It’s fun for me. It’s definitely hard work, but it’s fun for me,” Burrell said of Nae’s Sweet Snax.

“I just like seeing people smile.”

The small business owner shared that she first happened upon Oakdale two years ago during a lower than usual attendance Oakdale Chocolate Festival.

“Since there weren’t that many chocolate people there, a lot of people ended up coming back to

my booth,” she said. “I ended up selling out before it ended.”

It turned out to be a fortuitous decision to take part in the festival.

“I felt very welcome and I got a lot of great feedback,” she continued. “That’s how I got to know about Oakdale.”

Making a play on her family nickname, Nae or Nae Nae was the start of Nae’s Sweet Snax.

Burrell also related stories of sharing sweets with her father as a child, as well as spending time with him in the kitchen while others played. The newly opened business storefront is at 730 E. F St., Suite D, Oakdale.

Initially launching her business in 2020, Burrell focused more on weddings and special events at first, noting that a large number of clients have gone away from

traditional cakes for their events and lean more toward individual confections.

Burrell offers a variety of individually specialty wrapped brownies, as well as cookies, various brittles, lemon bars and ice cream.

All made, packaged, labeled and delivered by her personally.

Yet it was the encouragement of her business manager and fellow entrepreneur Kendra Jordan which brought the baker to a brickand-mortar storefront.

“She really pushed me to think bigger,” Burrell said.

“In just meeting her and her personality, I saw the drive in her,” Jordan said of Burrell, noting her passion as a fellow entrepreneur to support others in business.

“Trust me when you eat the

Renee Burrell of Nae’s Sweet Snax is open for business and ready to greet customers with her tasty confections at her newly opened East F Street location in Oakdale.

TERESA HAMMOND/209 Business Journal

SEE SNAX, PAGE 8

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SEPTEMBER 2022

IN PROFILE

Inland caters to area’s wholesale hardware needs

BY JOE CORTEZ

Inland Hardware, Inc.

209 Business Journal

Inland Hardware, Inc. had its official grand opening on Aug. 17 at its 29,000-square-feet facility within the Liberty Industrial Complex in southwest Turlock.

The new business springs from the ashes of Inland Wholesale Hardware, which closed its doors in 2020 during the pandemic.

The business, owned and operated

by Hemanta Agarwala, will have seven full-time employees dedicated to the IHI facility. Argawala’s HPKA Inc. is the parent company for not only Inland Hardware, but also Alpha, Poultry & Livestock Equipment, Inc. and Irrigation Solutions, Inc., all based in Turlock.

Store manager Daniel Greener, a Turlock native, points out that this isn’t the type of hardware store where you go to purchase a level and a hammer for a home do-it-yourself project.

“This is not an Ace Hardware store,” said Greener, who worked at Inland Wholesale Hardware before moving on to Strand Ag Supplies in Ceres, for 10

Location: 3350 Liberty Square Parkway, Turlock Hours: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday Contact information: Manager Daniel Greener, 209-668-9000

and a half years, and then Alpha Poultry & Livestock Equipment. “We’re a wholesaler, though some of our clients are small Ace Hardware and True Value stores. We service resellers and licensed contractors who are looking to go somewhere besides the big box stores.”

During the grand opening celebration, Inland Hardware had 17 different vendors on site to display their products, and treated their guests to a taco truck lunch.

Turlock vice mayor Pam Franco was on hand for the official ribbon cutting.

“What a great thing for Turlock,” said Franco, who toured the facility with Gina

Photo contributed

Hemanta Agarwala, white shirt and his wife, Upma Agarwala, flanked by employees, cut the ribbon at Inland Hardware, Inc., located at 3350 Liberty Square Parkway, Turlock.

Petros-Blom, executive director of the Turlock Chamber of Commerce. “Being from the general contractor world, their tools are fantastic. Contractors, and

specialty subs, your plumbers and electricians, will find a lot of things there that they’d normally have to order outside the area. I was very impressed.”

New indoor gun range now open at Kiwi’s

BY VIRGINIA STILL

209 Business Journal

Kiwi’s Custom Guns in downtown Riverbank delivered with the opening of their indoor shooting range this summer.

KCG Owner and Founder Lyndon Yates and KCG VP Pete DeMattos made a goal a reality when they had a soft opening of their new indoor gun range last month.

There are five lanes that are bit wider than a typical range lane, making room for the person firing, another individual or an instructor. The room is cool and has state of the art equipment including the ventilation system.

“We wanted to make sure that the HVAC was top notch being in the valley as hot as it gets,” noted DeMattos. “It is a pretty tremendous amount of air that’s

flowing through this little space.

We are small you know, we had to make the best out of the five lanes that we could get. We wanted it to be very comfortable.”

The range is rifle rated and the lanes are 25 yards allowing guests to shoot handguns or rifles with calibers ranging from a 22 to 50 BMG. The fully automated Action Target system allows guests to see their target on the screen with it at 25 yards to see where they shot. Guests do not have to bring the target back each time to see where their shot went with this feature.

“We got a lot of our regular customers come in and they gave it a shot and we got a lot of good feedback,” said DeMattos. “The next weekend word had spread a little bit and that weekend was little bit busier.

VIRGINIA STILL/209 Business Journal

It is a family affair at Kiwi’s Custom Guns in downtown Riverbank and they are thrilled to offer customers a new indoor shooting range experience in a state-of-the-art facility.

Then last weekend was pretty crazy. It was packed in here and everybody kind of has the same thoughts like you come in, it is

very comfortable in here.”

They will have a few rental guns for guests and the gear, like eye and ear protection, targets,

and ammunition for purchase.

With the soft opening they have been able to work out some kinks and they are still testing the traffic to determine times for the range use as they plan to have classes as well. Currently, their normal business hours are Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

DeMattos explained that Stanislaus County approved KCG to provide concealed carry permits which was another goal they are seeing come to fruition.

They have a classroom where they plan to hold classes on proper techniques, firearm safety, and anything related to firearms and DeMattos added that they are really big on training.

The classroom will also have a simulator system with a 12-foot screen that has live scenarios for guests to experience.

He said, “The whole thing about this is we wanted it to be a one stop shop. They could SEE KIWI, PAGE 8

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SEPTEMBER 2022

IN PROFILE

Datapath fills technology needs from start to finish

BY SABRA STAFFORD 209 Business Journal

Photo contributed

Chinchiolo family — Steve, Alex, and Andrea — invite you to their orchard at 21611 Carrolton Avenue on Saturdays and Sundays this month and in October to pick apples.

U-PICK ORGANIC APPLES IN RIPON

Create memories by the bushel full while picking your own apples while meeting the farmer & learning about the farm

BY DENNIS WYATT

209 Business Journal

Bite into an early season Fuji apple from your go-to supermarket.

It might be crisp, but it is far from fresh.

That’s because it is likely from the remnants of last year’s crop put on ice for a number of months.

Or it could have come to your store’s produce department by a slow boat from South America.

But if you drop by Lucy You Orchard in rural Ripon any Saturday or Sunday this month between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. you can find out what a fresh early season Fuji apple really tastes like.

And at the same time, you can create a bushel full of memories.

That’s because the farmer is your neighbor.

More precisely they are the Chinchiolo family.

They’re a fourth generation Ripon family whose roots in farming in San Joaquin County go back 100 years.

There’s father Steve and siblings Andrea, Alex and Adam.

They grow apples. Strike that. They grow organic apples.

That requires them to pay attention to everything they do a daily basis instead of looking for quick fixes as they nature, prune, water and feed their apple trees.

And because they sell directly to people at a slew of Bay Area farmers’ markets in addition to stores, they are passionate and picky about what they do.

After all, when you take a bite out of their apples it is personal.

And it doesn’t get much more personal than on Saturdays and Sundays through-

out this month and October when family members will be among those greeting, helping, and answering your questions when you venture out to visit Lucky You organic apple orchard.

The orchard is at 21611 Carrolton Avenue just north of River Road. There’s no admission to the orchard. It’s free. So are the tractor rides.

The Chinchiolo family grows four varieties of organic apples — Galas, Early Fujis , Granny Smith, and Pink Lady.

Early Fujis tend to be the most popular thanks to being crunchy and sweet. But as any connoisseur of apples knows there are dozens of popular apple varieties with their own unique taste going from sweet to tart as well as what they are ideal for creating in the kitchen.

Family members and their SEE U-PICK, PAGE 8

When Sylvan Union School District experienced a major security breach, it was Datapath that they called for help.

“It was Day 2 and Datapath instantly came on board and put every emergency process into place to at least halt what was going on while we could get things fixed and repaired and brought up to speed to prevent it to continue,” said Debra Hendricks, who served as the District’s superintendent at the time.

Hendricks recalled the constant communication and planning they had with Datapath.

“Every time there was something that needed to be put into place, Datapath knew exactly what to do because they had researched it before the recommendation to the District, which not only saved us time, but it saved the District a lot of money,” Hendricks said.

Once the immediate threat was resolved, Datapath was there for the security audit and creating a plan to make sure the District’s data would remain secure from future threats.

That multi-pronged response is what makes Datapath more than just a technology partner.

Datapath is a managed service and security provider based in Modesto. The company’s area of service includes internet technology and cybersecurity with a specific focus on K-12 school systems and financial security among medium to large businesses.

“For us it’s about relationship,” said Datapath co-founder James Bates, who started the company with his life-long friend David Darmstandler. “It’s about understanding the different needs of each company; mapping out what it is they need, scoping out their internal resources and creating a plan of action. We really know our stuff and can save you from a lot of pitfalls.”

Bates and Darmstandler took an entire year to develop their business plan and then launched in Modesto

Photo contributed

Chinchiolo family — Steve, Alex, and Andrea — invite you to their orchard at 21611 Carrolton Avenue on Saturdays and Sundays this month and in October to pick apples.

in 2005. Both grew up in Modesto, which was just one reason why they opted to base the company in their hometown.

“We saw how caring and relationship-based it was in the Valley, as opposed to the Bay Area and decided to elevate the tech game in the Valley,” Bates said.

Datapath focuses on three main solution-centered services – managed services, network security, and consulting.

Managed services are an all-inone IT infrastructure support for organizations that need to supplement existing technical staff or completely outsource IT management. The services include strategic planning, which incorporates budget, project and growth planning; infrastructure management, which includes cloud servers, file storage, active directory, Microsoft applications and off-site replication; cloud management including servers and storage, networks and backups; and the help desk, which can offer support with application, device and end user support. It also includes SEE TECH, PAGE 8

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Consistent hard work leads to success. Greatness will come.

Vol. 7 No. 9 ■ September 2022 PUBLISHER Hank Vander Veen

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Dealing with fear when starting a business “I was laid off from a corporate job a couple of years ago.

I tried finding another job, but there was nothing out there for someone over the age of 50.

A few months ago, I learned about a local retail business that was for sale. With the help of a business broker, I made an offer, and the seller accepted it. We hired lawyers and prepared documentation, and I got a license from the state for one of the product lines the store was carrying.

We were scheduled to close last week, but I found I just couldn’t go through with it.

Nothing seemed wrong with this business, and everyone — including my spouse — told me it was a good thing to do.

But I just froze at the last minute. After years of working in corporations, I just couldn’t see myself as a shop-

CLIFF ENNICO CREATORS SYNDICATE

keeper. The risks involved just scared the hell out of me.

Needless to say, there are a few people mad at me right now. I will forfeit my deposit (10% of the purchase price) and will probably have to pay the broker’s fee. I’m also not sure what the next step of my life will be right now.

What do you think? Am I just being a baby about this?

It’s easy to tell someone to ‘man up’ when you don’t have to face the consequences.”

I don’t think this reader is being a “baby,” although I would have counseled him to give in to his fears before putting a significant amount of money at risk, as he appears to have done.

At the end of the day, any entrepreneurial venture involves a certain amount of risk. No matter how much research and due diligence you do, no matter how much “tire kicking” you do. no matter how many experts you consult (including me), you never have 100% perfect information before you have to make a go/no go decision. If I had to pick the biggest difference between working for yourself and working for an employer, this is it.

I know what this reader went through. About 30 years ago, I left a large Wall Street law firm and struck out on my own in a solo practice in the wilds of Connecticut. For almost a decade, I was accustomed to wearing thousand-dollar suits, riding a train to work each day, having investment bankers return my phone calls, and seeing deals I was working on fea-

tured prominently in the Wall Street Journal every day.

I was burned out of working for a large firm, but I was terrified — absolutely terrified — of going off on my own. Would the clients be there? How would I get the word out? How long would it take before I could pay overhead expenses?

More importantly, how would my spouse, parents and other family members look at me? How would they adjust to the fact that Cliff was now a small-town attorney working out of the house in his bathrobe, no longer a “master of the universe”?

As it happened, almost all of my fears were unfounded, and I have enjoyed being on my own these past 25 years more than I ever did working on Wall Street.

I think this reader needs a SEE CLIFF, PAGE 11

209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

U-PICK

FROM PAGE 6

orchard team are more than happy to explain the differences as well as answer any and all questions you have about how apples are grown and how an orchard.]

They’re even offer you free recipes.

How it works is simple.

Lucy You orchards provides you a basket and a few quick tips before you head out to roam the orchard to pick your fruit.

All fruit picked is charged $2.99 a pound.

Pre-picked fruit is also available for sale.

You are welcome to take photos and even bring your own picnic lunch.

If you head out to the orchard keep in mind to wear sturdy shoes and use sun block, perhaps sun hats, and bug spray for the occasional mosquito.

Bring water.

Families also like to bring a blanket and relax after picking.

They ask that you keep your pets at home.

Most important of all be prepared to have fun — and to be surprised.

Andrea can share countless stories of encounters with families where parents are excited

that their kids embrace the adventure whole-heartedly that they put away their devices.

The power of picking apples with family and friends in an orchard instead of reaching into a bowl for an apple was thoroughly reflect in a sight Andrea saw last year.

A young child who was enthusiastically enjoying a lollipop, literally tossed it aside in favor of enjoying a freshly picked apple.

Yes, they are that sweet.

And the experience is that cool of a thing for kids.

The orchard also draws couples on dates as well as foodies who are eager to select apples for the kitchen creations essentially from their own backyard.

This is the third year the orchard has bene open for u-pick guests.

Many of their guests in the first two years were customers of their farmers market locations in places like the Ferry Plaza and Fort Mason plus Clement Street in San Francisco, San Rafael, Alemany, Modesto, Walnut Creek and Livermore.

Given they already had built relationships with the farmer, they wanted to get to know the farm as well.

Between their apple orchard and a cherry orchard that is now closed for u-pick guests,

KIWI

FROM PAGE 5 get all that training, come in here and shoot it and then come in and practice and then if something breaks or if they need something repaired, we can do that too. So, we want to be like the all-service facility and we’re not the biggest you know, we don’t have this great inventory like a lot of the big box stores but we want to promote families, we want to promote safety, safe handling of firearms; that for us is really key.”

The system has different options including games and specialty targets for members or more advanced individuals.

They are working on their memberships and want to make sure to provide enough value to their members.

The lane use is in hour increments

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SEPTEMBER 2022

their long-term customers shared how they loved taking in the farm-rich countryside and getting out of the Bay Area for a wholesome family trip.

Chinchiolo family also presses their own online of ciders.

They are part of a testing room at Riggers Loft in Richmond at Rosie the Riveter national historical park.

The family’s Far West Cide Company (farwestcider.com) is near their cidery on the Richmond waterfront.

It is a strategic location given the popularity of their ciders thought the Bay Area with retailers and restaurants from Santa Cruz to the Napa Valley.

You can find far West Coder offerings locally at Bev Mo in Modesto and Terrazza Market in Ripon.

Terrazza Market happens to be on River Road in Ripon at the corner of South Murphy and River roads.

One added note. This is a u-pick experience and not an Apple Hill excursion with delis, bake shops, and such. That said, San Joaquín County and not El Dorado County is the biggest apple growing county in California when it comes to production.

More information about Lucky You Orchard can be found by going to luckyouorchards.com

and include one target as well as eye and ear protection if needed for $25 and $10 for an additional person in the same lane. People are allowed to bring in their own targets, glasses, ear protection, and ammunition. Every round will be inspected as armor piercing bullets are not allowed. There is a liability waiver that needs to be filled out prior to using the range that is good for 12 months.

The class schedule will be available soon as it is important to the family at KCG to give people the proper education and training.

“We are a small business,” remarked DeMattos. “It’s a family run operation. So that’s all we have is our reputation. It has been such a great experience. I mean, from the day we moved in here we’ve always operated down here with respect to the city and respect to our surrounding businesses.”

SNAX

FROM PAGE 4 food you know it’s cooked and prepared with love because you get addicted.” she chuckled.

First meeting Burrell as a client of one of her own businesses, the Oakdale business woman said she feels it’s important to support people who support her. From there forward, Jordan recruited Burrell for a number of events and a friendship was formed.

“I saw that not only does she have a good product, but she has a good personality, she works hard and she was serious about what she did,” Jordan stated.

“Not only is the food good, but the presentation is well done.”

Burrell shared her excitement to bring her products to Oakdale on a more regular basis, acknowledging there isn’t anything like what she offers currently in the area.

As she juggles working fulltime at her primary job, baking and creating all the goodies in her commercial kitchen, as well as still fulfilling event orders, the storefront is currently open three days a week: Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Hours and details are updated regularly on her social media pages.

TECH

FROM PAGE 6 services to assist with phone systems, archiving and disaster recovery.

Within network security, Datapath offers a multilayer suite of managed security services that covers everything from prevention to detection to response and ending with education. They also offer enhances security options like two-factor authentication, dark web monitoring, vulnerability assessment, and infrastructure management.

Lastly, the company offers consulting and project services. Datapath can facilitate and execute everything from disaster recovery audits to complete network refreshes to server migration and storage planning.

“We know how to execute it from start to finish,” Bates said. “We start with what is the outcome you want and what are your business requirements, then we start making a plan.”

For more information about Datapath, visit mydatapath.com or call 1-800-838-1488.

Both Burrell and Jordan shared the goal is to grow the business to a point where they can not only maintain a more centralized storefront, but also employee local students to allow more flexibility in the schedule.

“A lot of the feedback I’ve gotten is Oakdale doesn’t have anything like this,” Burrell said.

“That’s typically the first thing people say when they come in.”

Another selling point is the freshness of the product.

“I do everything from scratch,” she explained.

The brownies currently offered include: strawberry, orange creme, butter toffee crunch, chocolate chunk and a cookie brownie. Ice cream flavors include: buttery apple pie ice cream, strawberry swirl cheesecake ice cream and caramel crust ice cream.

“Making people smile,” she said of what she loves most about the business. “I’ve got to be honest, that probably sounds corny but just the happiness.

Honestly that’s what it is. People’s response. When they’re happy with what they’ve consumed, that makes me happy.”

For additional information on products, hours or to place preorders, visit her website www. naessweetsnax.com, Facebook Naes Sweet Snax or Instagram naes_sweet_snax.

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SEPTEMBER 2022

NEWS

Caltrans begins southbound expansion of Highway 99

BY CHRISTOPHER CORREA 209 Business Journal

Caltrans District 10 has officially began the process of widening State Route 99 (SR99) going southbound between Turlock and Livingston, adding a third lane for a nine-mile stretch. The southbound expansion is the second phase of a greater project that saw a similar highway widening going northbound from Livingston to Turlock, which took place from November 2019 to April 2021.

The southbound widening will be completed within a similar timeframe, beginning last week with an expected finish in January 2024. Funds for the southbound project construction were designated in the 2018 State Transportation Improvement Program.

The Caltrans said the project is necessary to address freeway capacity restrictions, which is

anticipated to reach or exceed existing capacity on or before 2030. Additionally, Caltrans has viewed the nine mile stretch as a bottleneck for drivers as it is the only stretch of freeway between Turlock and Livingston that is currently two lanes wide.

Caltrans District 10 Director Dennis T. Agar spoke about the benefits the project can potentially bring to commuters once it is completed in early 2024.

“This project will benefit commuters, local traffic, and of course, Merced County’s important farming communities,” Agar said. “Upon completion, trucks carrying Central Valley goods such as almonds, grapes, dairy and tomatoes will move more efficiently throughout the state.”

According to Caltrans, construction crews are scheduled to conduct most of their work during weekdays, performing temporary lane, ramp and shoulder

closures. It is stressed that no two consecutive ramps will be closed simultaneously. Caltrans added that there are no current plans for full highway closures on SR-99.

With construction underway and an increased presence of workers on the highway, drivers can expect reduced speed limits throughout the work zone.

Those commuting are encouraged to plan ahead and at times use alternate routes.

More information on the SR99 southbound project can be found by going to www.dot. ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-10 and selecting “Merced” under the Current Projects tab.

Drivers are also encouraged to follow @CaltransDist10 on Twitter and “Like” Caltrans, District 10 on Facebook for the latest traffic updates as it relates to the construction between Turlock and Livingston.

Image contributed

The map provided by Caltrans shows the nine-mile stretch of highway that will be widened to include a third lane

Area’s groundwater sustainability projects among nearly 3,000 tracked on new mapping tool

BY SABRA STAFFORD 209 Business Journal

The California Department of Water Resources has launched a new mapping tool that will allow people to get information on groundwater sustainability projects.

The web-based tool developed by the DWR will allow the public to explore thousands of groundwater projects across California to get a better understanding of one of the state’s most critical water supply resources. The virtual mapping tool is part of the State’s ongoing commitment to develop new, innovative solutions to provide information and resources to address the effects of California’s changing climate and ongoing severe drought.

The California Groundwater Projects Tool is an interactive mapping tool that allows users to explore a database of nearly 3,000 projects initiated in California over the last decade to protect groundwater resources. The mapping tool features projects that were funded

by DWR and external sources such as federal or local funding. The database

will include information about project benefits and effectiveness in relation to the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. Users can also access more than 20 project case studies and get guidance on how to measure and track benefits of projects following construction.

“Dry conditions continue to test our communities statewide, especially those that rely heavily on groundwater for multiple needs,” said DWR Sustainable Groundwater Management Deputy Director Paul Gosselin. “This new mapping tool will allow users to view and access information on thousands of groundwater projects being implemented within their local communities and throughout the state. We are encouraged and inspired that groundwater managers and communities are advancing solutions and planning projects within their basins to help achieve groundwater sustainability.”

The web-based tool is intended for anyone interested in learning more about state and local investments in groundwater sustainability and the return on those investments. This information may be considered useful to groundwater sus-

tainability agencies, water agencies, organizations, legislators, Tribes, and the general public.

Groundwater is a critical component of California’s water supply, accounting for 40 percent in a normal year and up to 60 percent during dry conditions. Nearly 85 percent of all Californians rely on groundwater for at least some portion of their water supply. The state is currently seeing the adverse impacts of decades of over pumping groundwater basins including dry drinking water wells and land subsidence. This is exacerbated with climate change and the current prolonged extreme drought conditions.

Grant funding for sustainable groundwater management projects has been critical to helping local water agencies address these impacts. The new tool will track the progress of these projects and inform state and local agencies on the types of projects that are making the most positive impacts.

DWR has prioritized developing new web-based tools and resources for well owners, groundwater users and local drought managers to help them prepare

for current and future drought conditions. Last month, DWR, in coordination with the State Water Resources Control Board, launched a new Dry Well Susceptibility Tool that identifies areas in groundwater basins across the state that may be prone to domestic well outages.

This mapping tool has been developed as a resource for local monitoring and early warning to help increase general awareness of where domestic water wells may be susceptible to going dry to help communities proactively plan for potential well outages.

To help Tribes and underrepresented communities who are experiencing difficulties implementing SGMA in their region, DWR is also offering support through the Underrepresented Community Technical Assistance program. The program offers free needs assessments and preliminary engineering reports to help communities identify needs and develop potential groundwater projects for future funding.

To view the map, visit https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/00197adac 22f4b06a3f410068d43a641/.

209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

10

SEPTEMBER 2022

NEWS

Manteca retail project includes tribute to torn down Spreckels Sugar plant

BY DENNIS WYATT

209 Business Journal

The bricks salvaged from the old Spreckels Sugar warehouse will be part of the base of a tribute to the sugar beet processing plant that for years was Manteca’s biggest private sector employer.

That’s the plan of the developer who is removing the Spreckels Historical Plaza at Historical Plaza Way and Spreckels Avenue to build, a 7,560-square-foot retail building.

Brian Heron shared his plans with the Manteca planning Commission on Thursday when they approved the project directly behind the Chevron station.

The proposed building is big enough for two suites. Heron indicated one of them is already preleased.

The target to complete the building is June 2023.

Heron explained he was approached by Mayor Ben Cantu who asked if the developer would consider putting in place some type of tribute to Spreckels Sugar given the role it played in Manteca’s early economic development.

Spreckels in 1917 located a plant on what was the outskirts of Manteca after a farming boom triggered

by South San Joaquin Irrigation District delivering irrigation water in the area quadrupled the size of Manteca’s commercial area over a two-year period.

Spreckels shuttered the plant in 1997. It eventually was developed into a 360-acre multi-use project

by Mike Atherton, Bing Kirk and Bill Filios. The project includes 166 homes, the Target-Home DepotFood-4-Less commercial area, as well as the business park anchored by the Ford Motor parts distribution center.

Heron said he was more than happy to accommodate the mayor’s suggestion. He is looking at either artistically reducing old photos of the plant or possibly doing a mural.

The AKF partners created the privately maintained historical plaza as a gift to the people of Manteca after they were inundated with requests

to create some type of tribute to Spreckels Sugar.

They hired an architect that came up with the idea of using four oversized storm drain popes set on their ends to replicate the image of the four 15-stoiry sugar silos that once dominated the Manteca skyline.

The bricks used for the base of the curved landscaping planter/bench area in front of the silos were salvaged from the old Spreckels Sugar brick warehouse.

Trellises were added as was a large pole that displayed a large lighted America flag for years.

The project cost the developers $200,000 at the time.

Bricks from the factory were also part of the remodeled burned out shell of the old El Rey Theatre when it opened in 1999 as Kelley Brothers Brewing Co. that has since been remodeled as the Veranda Event Center in downtown Manteca.

Some of the bricks made their way to patio projects around Manteca while the rest were sold to an Oakland savage company.

At one point Atherton had lined up a title company to lease a twostory building that he envisioned would also house AKF development on the site.

The office was designed to look like the main factory building with its large windows.

Atherton saved a number of items from the factory that he hoped to incorporate into the building including the large brass plaque commemorating the sugar plant’s founding The project fell through when the Great Recession hit.

Homeless also started taking over the plaza vandalizing lights, sprinklers, and using the grounds to defecate and urinate as well as to camp illegally.

That led it to being fenced off in 2016.

It was eventually sold to the current owner.

The retail building will cover most of the footprint of the plaza as well as create additional parking in addition n to stalls that are already part of the parcel that was sold.

TOP: Employees of Amazon fulfillment center MCE 1 pose next to a B-52 Stratofortress as Amazon spokesperson Nicole Banke snaps photos.

RIGHT: Amazon employee Josh Payne, a former Captain in the U.S. Army, hoses down a B-17 Flying Fortress.

JOE CORTEZ/209 BusinessJournal

AMAZON

FROM PAGE 1

Castle Air Force Base, the museum is dedicated to preserving the legacy of the base, which was shuttered in 1995, and the history of military aviation.

With approximately 25 acres of grounds and more than 80 planes on site, there’s always plenty of clean-up work to be done by the nonprofit organization.

That’s where volunteers like the Warriors come into play.

“We usually get individuals volunteering to help,” said Joe Pruzzo, executive director of the museum. “And from time to time, some small group or association will volunteer their services, but this is one of the largest groups we’ve had out here.”

The Amazon group spent the morning pulling weeds, pruning bushes, raking flower beds and spraying down the aircraft.

Josh Payne, who attained the rank of captain after 11 years in the U.S. Army, was on hand to help in any way he could.

“Actually,” Payne confessed as he was hosing down a B-17

Flying Fortress, “I thought we were just here to get a tour. But I’m glad to help.”

After the work was completed, Pruzzo gave the volunteers a guided tour, which started with the B-24 Liberator, a plane that served in all theaters during World War II. “It was truly a global bomber for us during World War II,” said Pruzzo.

The B-24 needs about $50,000 to $60,000 worth of work to maintain its 1940s appearance. Amazon donated about half that amount with a check for $25,000.

“It’s amazing to work for a company that enables us to get involved in the local community and give back to local organizations,” said Norris. “Being from Atwater myself, and having gone to the museum my entire life, it really meant a lot to me to have the opportunity to volunteer with my team and have Amazon donate $25,000 to Castle Air Museum.”

Other highlights for the Warriors included seeing the B-58 Hustler — “a very touchy plane with a very high accident rate,” according to Pruzzo — and the RB-36 Peacemaker, a behemoth that weighs more than

350,000 pounds, has a wingspan nearly 80 yards wide and propellers that measure 19 feet in diameter.

“It took 11 railroad cars to transport it to Castle,” said Pruzzo, “and two and half years to reassemble it.”

However, the star of the show was the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, a plane so fast that it outrun a surface-to-air missile.

“It once flew over the state of Nebraska in 6 minutes,” said Pruzzo. “It was built in 1962 and it remains the fastest plane ever built ... that we know of.”

The group finished their day with a peek inside Air Force One — this particular version carried presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, every vice president from Water Mondale to Dick Cheney, and every first lady from Rosalynn Carter to Laura Bush — and a visit to the restoration hangar to meet the veterans who do the work preserving the aircraft.

“It was an honor to meet the veterans who restored these planes … for future generations,” said Norris.

The MCE 1 fulfillment center, located at 3200 Fulkerth Rd. in Turlock, will open later in 2022.

209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

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SEPTEMBER 2022

SECTION ACCOLADES NAME

PROMOTIONS, APPOINTMENTS, HONORS, ETC. New COO and VP for Golden Valley

Melinda Marshall was recently promoted to the position of Vice President and Chief Operations Officer of Golden Valley Health Centers. Marshall began her career at the Center in 1987, as a front office receptionist.

Having served as a patient account biller, front office supervisor, site administrator, center manager, Melinda Marshall and for the past seven years, as a Director of Operations, she is wellpositioned to fill this executive role and looks forward to the challenge ahead.

Her personal mission has always been to help the underserved population in our community and advocate for community health centers, promoting access to quality health care with no barriers.

Community Hospice announces new President/ Chief Executive Officer

Community Hospice, Inc., the Central Valley’s oldest and largest nonprofit hospice and community-based palliative care provider, is pleased to announce the appointment of Alisa Bettis as the organization’s President and Chief Executive Officer effective Sept. 6.

Bettis replaces C. DeSha McLeod, Community Hospice’s President/CEO, who resigned after eight years in October of 2021, and John E. Renner, Director of

CLIFF

FROM PAGE 7 little help from someone in his age group — perhaps a SCORE counselor (www.score.org) or career coach. The likelihood of someone in his situation finding a corporate job is close to zero,

Logistics and Operations who has served as the Interim President/CEO. “We welcome Alisa to the Community Hospice family,” shared Susan Donker, Community Hospice Board of Directors Chair. “Her background in clinical operations, quality and planning and compliance, along with her compassionate character, will play a pivotal role as we extend our excellent care to more families in need.”

Bettis has been employed the past six years as the Associate Director for the Stanislaus County Health Services Agency. In her current role, she managed a $60 million annual budget, 500 employees, 55,000 patient visits a year, clinical operations for family medicine, multispecialty, physical rehabilitation, and urgent care clinics.

Prior to her position with Alisa Bettis the county, Bettis worked in leadership roles at both Bloss Memorial Healthcare District/Castle Family Health Centers and Kaiser Permanente.

“We are thrilled to have Alisa join Community Hospice and feel she is a perfect complement to our Leadership team and Community Hospice family,” said John E. Renner, Interim President/ CEO. “Her invaluable background and experiences will support our staff and most importantly, help us better serve our patients and their families.”

“I am very excited to join Community

and it doesn’t sound like he’s willing or able to retire. Simply put, he has to find some way to earn a living.

This reader needs to find something to do he is so passionate about that he won’t even feel the fear. In my case, my desire to work with entrepreneurs and small business owners, giving them the same level of service I

Hospice and its excellent team. For more than 40 years, Community Hospice has grown from an inspired idea by two registered nurses to a respected and leading provider of vital service for those with serious and life-limiting illness in the Central Valley area,” said Bettis. “I am very much looking forward to the opportunity to work with the dedicated Community Hospice and Foundation Boards, volunteers and incredibly talented healthcare professionals and staff.”

Bettis holds a Bachelor’s degree from California State University Sacramento, in Health Sciences with a concentration in Healthcare Administration and Community Health Education and a Master’s of Business Administration from California State University Stanislaus.

She is also a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality, Healthcare Accreditation, Healthcare Compliance and Lean Healthcare Trained.

Children’s Home of Stockton elects new board officers and board member

Children’s Home of Stockton has elected new board officers for fiscal year 20222023 as well as a new board member.

At a recent CHS board meeting, Doug Davis was voted the new Board President of Children’s Home of Stockton.

Davis is a Principal Architect with WMB Architects and recently celebrated his 25th year with the firm. Davis has also served as the President and Trustee on the Children’s Home of Stockton Foundation Board, which manages the assets of Children’s Home to support its critical work. “It is an honor to serve as President of the Board as Children’s Home marks its 140th anniversary,” said Davis. “I am

gave the Wall Street investment banks at an affordable price and being part of their success, was what got me over my fear of failure. Being a shopkeeper clearly wasn’t enough for this reader.

A useful trick — if you can psyche yourself into it — is to turn fear from an obstacle into a strength. There have been times in my career when I intentional-

consistently amazed by the resiliency and resourcefulness of our staff in navigating everchanging regulations and developing new programs to meet the needs of atrisk youth in our community.”

Jennifer Marchini, CPA with BPM LLP, was voted the new Board Vice President. Marchini is a CPA with more than 10 years of experience in finance and accounting.

Cathy Ghan, SVP Commercial Real Estate Group with Oak Valley Community Bank, was voted the new Board Treasurer. Ghan has more than 20 years of experience in the banking industry and has worked for Bank of the West and Union Safe Deposit Bank prior to joining Oak Valley Community Bank.

Gary Spaugh, President of GLS Healthcare Consulting LLC, was voted the new Board Secretary. Spaugh has an extensive background with more than 40 years of experience in hospital and healthcare administration, strategy, business development, health plans, joint ventures, and affiliations.

Jake Clizbe, Operations Supervisor at Blue Shield of California, is the newest member to join CHS’ Board of Directors. Clizbe has more than 15 years of experience in the healthcare insurance and hospitality industries. He previously served on CHS’ Major Gifts Campaign Committee to help fundraise for the organization.

All the new board officers and members bring a wide range of knowledge and expertise from different industries and backgrounds. Children’s Home of Stockton continues to adapt and grow under their guidance.

ly took on a project I wasn’t sure I could do, burning my bridges behind me so that the only way out was forward. When you commit yourself 100% to something, you usually do see solutions to problems that seemed insurmountable when you were contemplating them from a safe distance. But without total immersion in the project, you can’t

see them.

Find a mountain worth climbing and then start putting one hand over the other until you are too far up to turn back safely.

Trust me, the handholds will be there when you need them.

And if you don’t see them right away, the prospect of a 1,000-foot drop will sure as hell motivate you to find them

209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

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SEPTEMBER 2022

WATER

AIR

WILDLIFE

SOIL + SEDIMENTS

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

We have a vision of a modern, clean, bustling Port we can all be proud of.

WELCOME TO THE PORT OF TOMORROW. When it comes to sustainability at the Port, we practice what we preach. In 2018, we became the fastest Port to ever receive Green Marine certification for environmental stewardship. We recently purchased a zero-emission forkli fleet to accompany our zeroemission railcar mover. We also conducted an emissions inventory to help guide us to reduce future air emissions even further. Port tenants are required to use “clean” trucks, and we’re working on incentives for our ground transportation partners to follow suit. e more we do now, the more we will all benefit in the years to come.

Chair Anthony Barkett, Vice-Chair Michael Patrick Duffy Commissioners R. Jay Allen, David B. Atwater, Gary Christopherson, Stephen Griffen, William Trezza Port Director Kirk DeJesus

For more information: Call 855-881-8816 portofstockton.com/port-of-tomorrow