209 Business Journal - May 2020

k e e p i n g

BUSINESS JOURNAL

b u s i n e s s e s

c o n n e c t e d ™

MAY 2020

VOLUME 5 ■ ISSUE 5

IN PROFILE

Harbor Freight brings a wide selection of tools to the Turlock community with the opening of a new store.

PAGE 3

IN PROFILE

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

‘ILocaldo’ — but not yet weddings on hold amid pandemic Wedding ceremony setups like this one at Pageo Lavender Farm in Turlock are on hold for a while as the coronavirus pandemic rages on.

Primo’s food truck rolls in Riverbank with tacos and barbecue.

BY ANGELINA MARTIN PAGE 4

L

209 Business Journal

ike most engaged couples, Turlock residents Natasha Anderson and Joseph Silva painstakingly planned every last detail of their upcoming wedding so that their special day would be perfect. The pair thought June 13 would be their anniversary for years to come, but their plans to celebrate in the rolling hills of Sonora on that day were shattered due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Brides and grooms across the globe are suffering the same fate as Anderson and Silva — venues, caterers, florists and photographers all booked, only for the big day to be postponed as shelterin-place orders confine people to their homes and restrict large gatherings. The impact has trickled down through the wedding industry, not only spoiling the day of matrimony for couples, but devastating those whose livelihoods depend on helping those set to be married make sure their events take place without a hitch.

Anderson was attached to her original June wedding date, she said, even purchasing her fiancé a necklace with the date engraved on it for Valentine’s Day. He’s worn it every day since.

Now, the couple will be married in September — they hope.

“A couple weeks ago I started noticing other couples with dates later than ours were all starting to

postpone. So, I kept an eye on the news and called all my vendors and came up with a backup date if need be,” Anderson said. “On April 22, we finally made the decision after talking to family and friends that everyone would feel more comfortable with a September gathering, when hopefully things have calmed down a bit.”

Anderson said she and Silva considered canceling their wedding altogether and getting married at the courthouse instead, but ultimately decided that having a wedding was special to them and decided to embrace a new date for the ceremony.

There were over 15 vendors Anderson had secured for her original wedding date, all of whom were easy-going and willing to make the change at no additional cost to the couple.

“I have connected with other ‘corona brides’ who have had to move their dates, and we all feel the same way, wishing we could have kept our original dates but embracing our new date,” she said. “It’s hard because of the uncertainty — will everything be okay by June 13? Maybe, but I’m not taking any chances and that date is getting closer and closer.

Once I actually moved the date, I did feel relieved to have just made the decision and get everything moved over.”

For wedding vendors like Turlocker Heidi Williams, who is self-employed through her flo-

ral business Heidi Hearts Flowers, their main source of income has been affected drastically.

Between mid-March and June Williams had previously booked 17 weddings, 13 of which have luckily been postponed rather than cancelled, and others that will now be smaller, intimate ceremonies with direct family members.

Williams said she worries about both the current impact of the pandemic on her business as well as the potential implications moving forward.

“Being in the wedding and event industry, it was unsettling to learn about the stay-at-home orders and felt as though I was living in an alternate reality.

Then the flower markets began to close and millions of dollars of flowers were simply thrown away,” she said. “I was heartbroken thinking about the ripple effects this was going to have for clients, designers, markets and even the farmers. If the demand for florals was going to stop, my fear was that these farmers would not be able to bounce back, and where would I get my product for these events? As much as I fear all these things, I also believe the virus is real and dangerous and just want everyone to be safe and healthy.”

While Williams is thankful that she’s been able to work with couples to postpone their weddings, she worries about the gap in income during these months.

To try and make ends meet, she’s shifted her business to focus more on gift card sales, bouquet subscriptions and floral deliveries through her website, www. heidiheartsflowers.com.

“It is definitely a start, but I know it is going to take a lot of work to make up for the loss of income. This month I celebrated being in business for two years, but at least once a day I wonder if I’ll get to celebrate the next two,” Wiliams said. “I will say, despite all the challenges, it’s been really sweet and rewarding to deliver to people’s loved ones that they aren’t able to see. It allows me to feel like my role in this time is to bring joy to people through flowers and remind them that they are loved and thought of.”

One of Turlock’s most popular wedding venues, Pageo Lavender Farm, has been hit hard as well. Not only have nuptials at the site been postponed, but so have the countless other events the business would typically host during this time: their annual Mother’s Day luncheon, graduation parties and even bus tours from other California cities.

The social distancing measures meant to curb coronavirus spread can feel like an endless waiting game when your business is on the line, Pageo coowner Patty Kapor said.

“When we first heard about it, we felt it would probably go through April and we weren’t SEE I

DO,

PAGE 10

209 209BUSINESS BUSINESS JOURNAL JOURNAL

2

MAY 2020

OPINION

To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.

Vol. 5 No. 5 ■ May 2020 PUBLISHER Hank Vander Veen

MANAGING EDITOR Sabra Stafford

NEWSROOM Kristina Hacker Teresa Hammond Angelina Martin Vince Rembulat

­—Ralph Waldo Emerson

Virginia Still Dennis Wyatt

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Harold L. George

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Sharon Hoffman

SALES & MARKETING Chris Castro Beth Flanagan Corey Rogers Melody Wann Charles Webber

DIGITAL Frankie Tovar Rich Matheson

To advertise in 209 Business Journal, call Manteca • 209.249.3500 Oakdale • 209.847.3021 Turlock • 209.634.9141 209 Business Journal is published monthly 122 S. Third Ave • Oakdale, CA 95361 Information: sstafford@209magazine.com 209businessjournal.com The Oakdale Leader USPS No 178-680 Is published weekly by Morris Newspaper Corporation, 122 S. Third Ave. Oakdale, Ca 95361 ©Copyright 2020. 209 Business Journal All rights reserved.

Reproduction in whole or in part of any text, photograph or illustration without written permission from the publisher of 209 Business Journal is strictly prohibited. The opinions expressed in 209 Business Journal are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of 209 Business Journal management or owner.

209 Business Journal assumes no responsibility and makes no recommendation for claims made by advertisers and shall not be liable for any damages incurred.

209MAG A Z I N E.CO M

What can investors learn from cyclists? Demand for Bay Valley Tech’s code May is National Bike Month.

Of course, millions of Americans enjoy biking, so there’s reason to celebrate. But even if you’re not much of a rider, you can apply some of the guidelines and lessons of bicycling to other areas of your life – such as investing.

Consider taking some of these ideas for a spin: Tune up your portfolio.

When bicyclists tune up their bikes, they adjust their brakes, clean and lubricate the chain, tighten nuts and bolts, and check the tire pressure, among other tasks. Such a tune-up keeps their bikes running smoothly and reduces the chances for breakdowns. And by “tuning up” your investment portfolio, you can help it stay in line with your goals and risk tolerance, while also preparing it for a “breakdown” in the financial markets, in the form of sharp downturns. To tune up your portfolio, look for ways to increase diversification, which can help reduce the effects of volatility, and watch for investments that may have chronically underperformed or are no longer suitable for your risk tolerance. You might be better off selling these and using the proceeds to invest in new opportunities.

Know when to shift gears.

Bicyclists move into higher or lower gears in response to changing road conditions and elevations. As an investor, you, too, may need to “shift gears” or adjust your investment strategy when your personal financial environment changes. So, for example, in the years immediately pre-

academy explodes as Valley workers

SHARON T AMICK FINANCIAL ADVISOR

ceding your retirement, you may want to move some – but certainly not all – of your investment dollars from growthoriented vehicles to incomeproducing ones. That way, you can lock in some of the gains you may have achieved while lowering your portfolio’s overall risk level. This is important, because once you reach retirement and you need to start withdrawing from your retirement accounts – which essentially means liquidating some of your investments – you don’t want to worry too much about having to sell when prices are down. However, keep in mind that, even during retirement, you’ll need some growth potential in your holdings to help yourself stay ahead of inflation.

Protect yourself. Smart bicyclists always wear their helmets – they know that an unexpected bump in the road could cause a dangerous spill.

And on the journey toward financial security for yourself and your family, you can also expect that some hard knocks could come your way, which is why you need the proper protection. To safeguard your family in case anything should happen to you, you must have the appropriate amount of life insurance. And to help ensure your financial independence – and avoid becoming a potenSEE AMICK, PAGE 8

seek new opportunities Over 30 million Americans have now filed for unemployment as the coronavirus shelter-in-place mandate reaches its third month. Those fortunate enough to retain their jobs have mostly been asked to work from home, disrupting normal commercial, manufacturing and retail operations. According to a recent survey from industry research firm Gartner, up to 80 percent of employees may be working from home, a situation that will likely be extended if a second wave of the virus reappears. Workers across the country are currently reevaluating their career paths, with many considering pivoting to higher paying tech jobs offering remote work options, which are less likely to be disrupted by pandemics and other natural disasters.

At the same time, software is increasingly becoming a key productivity driver for many complex businesses, such as Foster Farms, Hilmar Cheese and E&J Gallo. Local companies are joining other industry leaders across the nation in upgrading their tech capabilities. As a result, Central Valleybased Bay Valley Tech’s code academy has become a very popular educational option for locals seeking to transition into tech careers, with nearly 400 students on the school’s waiting list. “Our innovative training program helps adult students learn in-demand software development skills through flexible online cours-

TAYLOR LaMAR LAMAR SOFTWARE

es, a project-focused approach and peer-based mentoring,” stated Martyn Conkling, an instructor at Bay Valley Tech.

The code academy’s corporate partners also provide professional mentors as well as paid internships for top graduates.

Due to the program’s high demand, a local coalition, including Novo Technologies, World Financial Group, Tyler Technologies, Oportun, LaMar Software, Takapa Media, the Stanislaus County Office of Education and Turlock Adult School are partnering with Bay Valley Tech to provide additional code academy scholarships and paid internships. These organizations are also seeking additional partners to expand the program with the audacious goal of training 1,000 new tech workers in the region. Please contact the school (www.bayvalleytech.com/contact), if your organization can assist with funding to help more students access the free training. Several other non-profits and corporate partners are in discussions with Bay Valley Tech to increase the number of scholarships as well.

“Our free code academy removes barriers for Central SEE LAMAR, PAGE 8

209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

3

IN PROFILE

Harbor Freight opens Turlock store

BY ANGELINA MARTIN 209 Business Journal

With this month’s arrival of the city’s newest retail addition, Turlockers now have a one-stop shop for all things tools.

Harbor Freight Tools opened its doors last week as an essential service during the coronavirus pandemic, bringing approximately 35 new jobs to the community. The new, 15,000 square-foot Turlock Harbor Freight is the company’s 112th store in California, bringing with it a fully-stocked selection of tools and accessories for the community’s needs: automotive, air and power, storage, outdoor power equipment, generators, welding supplies, shop equipment, hand tools (which come with a lifetime warranty) and much more.

The store is the second tool provider to roll into town in the last five months, with Ace Hardware opening on Geer Road in December after moving into the former Orchard Supply Hardware location. A grand open-

VIRGINIA STILL/209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

Envy Fine Clothing boutique in Riverbank and all the other locations have been closed since March but could be reopening soon.

ANGELINA MARTIN/209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

Harbor Freight Tools opened its new location on North Tegner Road last week, bringing with it a wide variety of affordable hardware.

ing ceremony for Harbor Freight is planned for May 16.

The company believes that Harbor Freight’s smaller size provides an easy shopping environment compared to larger, warehouse retailers.

“We’re ready to serve and deliver value to customers in Turlock and all of Stanislaus County,” store manager Garth Reinhardt said. “At Harbor Freight, we recognize

that now, more than ever, our customers depend on Harbor Freight for the tools they need to get the job done at an affordable price. We are the place for quality tools at the lowest prices for mechanics, contractors, homeowners and hobbyists — any tool user who cares about value.”

While Harbor Freight Tools’ prices are already affordable, the business SEE HARBOR, PAGE 6

Harbor Freight Tools Location: 2800 N Tegner Rd., Turlock Hours: During pandemic, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday; After pandemic, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday Contact information: 209-250-7071

Envy looks forward to reopening stores

BY VIRGINIA STILL 209 Business Journal

Many businesses have been impacted by the COVID-19 whether they are big box stores or smaller family owned businesses with the same goal in mind to stay relevant and financially stable. In order to stay afloat during these times Envy Fine Clothing business owner Darlene Dover has continued a presence online through Instagram and Facebook as well as taking advantage of any government assistance

available. Waiting on the green light from the powers that be, she is looking forward to reopening all the stores soon.

Dover has five locations in the Central Valley with the first originating in Atwater, then Turlock, Modesto, Merced and Riverbank. All five stores closed on March 21 but prior to the closure staff was already locking the doors during business hours, limiting customers in the store, and offering SEE ENVY, PAGE 6

HELPING VALLEY BUSINESS GROW

Deep Roots ~ Strong Branches

866.844.7500 • www.ovcb.com Danny Wood, D.A. Wood Construction Inc, with Oak Valley’s Elisa Luna, Branch Manager - Oakdale, 209.343.7632 and Jeff Hushaw, Commercial Loan Officer, 209.844.7544

Oakdale • Sonora • Modesto • Turlock • Patterson Escalon • Ripon • Stockton • Manteca • Tracy • Sacramento

“We’ve been with Oak Valley for nearly 10 years. When we decided to relocate and build our new facility, we knew we wanted to work with a lender we could trust, who understood our company and line of business.

The Oak Valley team hit the mark on all counts and they provided a competitive financing solution that was custom-tailored to meet our needs.”

- Danny Wood, owner, D.A. Wood Construction Inc.

209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

4

MAY 2020

IN PROFILE

“This too shall pass.”

Carissa Weber used this adage in reflecting these unprecedented times of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“That’s what the original Mama Weber (her husband Joe’s mom) would say during the tough times,” said the owner of Mama Weber’s Southern Kitchen & BBQ at 823 S. Mellon

Ave. in the industrial area of Manteca.

Her location is so out of sight, out of mind that she worried about her business when Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that all restaurants statewide suspend dine-in service for the foreseeable future.

“We had to adjust,” said Weber, who regrettably had to lay-off two new hires afSEE WEBER, PAGE 6

VINCE REMBULAT/209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

Carissa Weber of Mama Weber’s Southern Kitchen & BBQ is among the small business owners having to make do during the COVID-19 pandemic.

209 Business Journal

With shelter-in-place orders being implemented due to the COVID-19 pandemic a seemingly standard act like recycling has become a point of uncertainty with many recycling centers in the area closing their doors as a safety precaution.

For those with aluminum, glass and plastic piling up at home, there is a recycling option still available in Go Green Recycling Inc., which is currently open to the public.

“Our main goal was to help with the unfortunate.

For some of those homeless people this is the only source of income. If they couldn’t recycle these materials, I don’t think they would be in a good position,” owner Fawad Abraham said.

“There’s also the issue of sanitation.”

While more than $100 million in California Refund Value payments were claimed in 2018, the billions of CRV eligible containers recycled each year also help eliminate the need for manufactures to use raw materials for new products.

“Also, a few weeks ago

the federal government announced that all recycling centers were essential because the chain of supply was short for manufacturers.

It’s important that all recycling centers remain open so manufactures have a supply,” Abraham said.

“There’s so much confusion. I’m not really sure why some centers are open and some are not,” he added.

“We’re the only people open in town and it seems like were taking business from everybody who is closed.”

Although the recycling center is still open, it is not unaffected by the COVID-19 pandemic as social distancing measures have been put in place with signs di-

FRANKIE TOVAR/209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

Go Green Recycling Inc. in Turlock has stayed open during the pandemic as an essential business to take in all recyclable items

demand,” Abraham said. “At this point we’ve taking all the measures, we’ve done all the protocols, to make sure our customers and our employees are safe.”

Go Green Recycling is currently open from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday. It is located at 1600 McCormick St., Turlock.

recting customers to space themselves properly. Hours have also been adjusted to make sure staff is not overwhelmed, which according to Abraham, forced one of his recycling centers is Stockton to close its doors.

“There were too many customers in San Joaquin Valley and we couldn’t meet the

460 South Stockton Avenue, Ripon

209-599-4543

Mon. - Sat. 8:30-5pm NOW OPEN Sundays 9-4pm

Visit our Indoor Masonry Design Center Be inspired by the rich colors and textures found in one place.

Mix and match endless combinations to achieve your ideal living space.

Design Center Open Mon.-Sat. (Closed Sunday)

Plants, Fountains, Statuary, Bulk Items, Unique BBQ Islands and more.

Your Destination for Inspiration

Main St.

West Main St.

4th St.

South Stockton

209 Business Journal

BY FRANKIE TOVAR

Rd.

BY VINCE REMBULAT

Go Green keeps recycling

South Jack Tone

Mama Weber’s keeps cooking up Southern delights

209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

5

IN PROFILE

Traveling tacos, barbecue for all with Primo’s

BY VIRGINIA STILL 209 Business Journal

Primo’s Tacos, BBQ and Grill has been rolling around Riverbank and the surrounding area, bringing more than just good food to the community.

With parks closed, events canceled, and gatherings of any kind not allowed, food trucks have been trying to figure out how to keep business thriving and Primo’s is no different. During these times as some people are unemployed Primo’s is serving those in need.

Owner and griller Adrian Pineda has quite the menu with whole racks of pork ribs, whole chickens and a variety of tacos like asada, al pastor, grilled chicken, birria, along with burritos and quesadillas with all the fixings. Customers have been calling him Primo since he started grilling a few years ago in Stockton and the name stuck. As he was getting his truck and trailer together he figured that would be the perfect name for his food truck.

With spending time as a waiter in a restaurant for a few years and five years at a meat warehouse, grilling was something that Pineda said he felt destined to do. Making deliveries for the meat warehouse to places like Salinas, Bakersfield, Fresno, and Santa Rosa he made friends and learned some great recipes and dishes. He explained that his food is a fusion of Mexican food and California BBQ. “I always liked to grill,” said Pineda. “Once we got the trailer we figured we would offer tacos and other stuff. We are trying to accomplish a fusion between Mexican food and California backyard food like carne asada on the grill with your family or at the lake, the park or the river with your uncles.”

Although he grew up in

Despite struggles, pizza parlor gives back during pandemic

BY ANGELINA MARTIN

place for the orders that still come in.

“We were all crying.

We’re like a family,” she said. “But we put our heads together to create a more positive vibe in the restaurant and one way to do that is by fundraising.”

Willie’s is no stranger to giving back. The pizza parlor often hosted fundraisers pre-pandemic, selling meals to help support youth football, local schools and more. Now, Ashman plans on hosting weekly fundraisers every Tuesday for local organizations helping those affected by the virus.

“While it’s bad for us, other people are suffering even more and we need to focus on that instead of feeling sorry for ourselves,” Ashman said. “The best thing about this is

209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

VIRGINIA STILL/209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

One of Adrian Pineda’s favorite things about Primo’s is the people; he is happy to welcome them to his food truck.

the Bay Area, Pineda spent his senior year at Oakdale High School so he is very familiar with this area and currently calls Oakdale home. After a scary incident in Stockton where his wife had a gun pointed to her chest and was robbed, they are now staying away from that area. He is keeping the business operating in Riverbank, Oakdale, Escalon, Sonora, Modesto, Manteca and Turlock, staying plenty busy these days.

Pineda uses mesquite and almond wood to grill up the meats and the only thing cooked on the griddle is the tortillas. The birria tacos are a guest favorite that are Guadalajara and Jalisco style red with cheese in them. Unlike other taco trucks, they serve the taco with just the tortilla and meat. The customers can add any of the other toppings like onion, cilantro, sauces, and salsa as they like. The asada nachos are a hit as well as the ribs and chicken. As a recent customer walked away, they were telling Pineda – or ‘Primo’ as customers call him – that his ribs were tasty, and nice and tender.

“They are the bomb,” he

added about the birria tacos.

After seeing a recent post on Facebook from a woman in Oakdale that received a knock on her door from a homeless person asking her to cook some raw food they had for them, Primo got the idea to cook up some chicken for the homeless at the end of the day. This has opened him up to those that are not only homeless but in need as unemployment has been on the rise since the COVID-19 pandemic. He now shares food with those in need at the park next to the Scout Hall in Riverbank and the park behind the library in Oakdale.

“We give the homeless food and people that are unemployed,” stated Pineda. “They don’t have a job right now due to COVID-19; sometimes everybody can fall behind.

I have been there before.

Either you pay the bills, insurance, car payments, rent or mortgage then you don’t have enough for food. So it is not just for homeless. If they really need the food come by and get the food.”

Some have said we are at war with an invisible en-

emy and Pineda feels that helping others is way to fight against the virus and the effects. In school he was taught to love the flag, respect the flag and be able to die for the flag and that is what he believes.

They have taken all safety precautions on the food truck with masks, gloves, and a hand washing station. Pineda and staff continuously clean the faucet, tables, and the toppings station.

The proud patriot has a positive attitude in a not so positive situation and reminds everyone to, “kiss your kids, hug them and tell them you love them and enjoy life.”

For more information visit Primo’s at www.primos.us, or on Instagram or Facebook or call 209312-5631.

As her business began to struggle in recent weeks due to coronavirus restrictions, Willie’s Pizza & Wings owner Patricia Ashman decided to spread hope rather than fear.

Less than a year after the new Turlock pizza parlor opened, statewide efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19 and maintain social distancing have forced eateries to close their doors to the public and offer only delivery or curbside pickup for orders. The effect on Willie’s has been “devastating,” Ashman said, and has impacted the business she owns next door as well, Lulu’s Ice Cream Parlor.

Ashman has had to lay off half of her staff due to decreased demand. Now, her smaller staff continues to make pizza and wings with safety precautions in

SEE WILLIE’S, PAGE 6

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Willie’s Pizza & Wings has implemented safety precautions like wearing gloves and masks while preparing food in order to protect customers from the coronavirus .

QUALITY IN EVERY GALLON SOLD SINCE 1938

Gasoline & Diesel Fuels DEF Lubricants &THE Coolants SERVING THE CENTRAL VALLEY & Fuels MOTHER LODE A SERVING SERVING THE CENTRAL VALLEY & VALLEY MOTHER &AREAS MOTHER LODE AREA LOD SERVING SERVING SERVING THE THE CENTRAL THE CENTRAL CENTRAL VALLEY VALLEY VALLEY &CENTRAL MOTHER & MOTHER &Alternative MOTHER LODE LODE AREAS LODE AREAS Greases & Gear Oils Kerosene & Solvents FAMILY OWNED &&SINCE OPERATED SINCE 1938193 FAMILY OWNED FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED &SINCE OPERATED SINCE 1938 SINCE FAMILY FAMILY FAMILY OWNED OWNED OWNED & OPERATED & OPERATED & VALLEY OPERATED SINCE 1938 1938 1938 SERVING THE CENTRAL LODE THF & HDMOs SERVING THE CENTRAL VALLEY &MOTHER MOTHER LODEAREAS AREAS Tanks & Equipment FAMILY OWNED & &OPERATED 1938 ChainSINCE & Bar Oil FAMILY OWNED OPERATED SINCE 1938 Food Grade Lubricants Oakdale Sonora •• Newman • Atwa Modesto •• Oakdale Oakdale Sonora • •Sonora Newman • Atwater • Modesto Modesto Modesto •Modesto Oakdale • Modesto Oakdale • Oakdale Sonora •• Sonora • •Sonora •• Newman • •Newman • Newman •Newman Atwater Atwater •• Atwater Modesto Modesto• Oakdale • Oakdale• •Sonora Sonora• •Newman Newman • • Atwater Atwater

®

®

®

®

®

®

®

®

®

209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

6

WILLIE’S

WEBER

FROM PAGE 5

FROM PAGE 4

that rather than focusing on the negative things, we can just do something good for others.”

So far, Willie’s has already hosted fundraisers for United Samaritans Foundation and Westside Ministries, raising hundreds of dollars for both programs.

According to Westside Ministries executive director JoLynn DiGrazia, the money will be used to plant two gardens for families who are sheltering together and to feed families who are impacted by COVID-19.

Participating in a Willie’s fundraiser is both delicious and simple; the restaurant donates 25 percent of all curbside pickup pizza sales that are ordered online and mention the charity of choice. The turnout for the most recent Westside Ministries fundraiser was so supportive and vast that it left a lasting impact on Ashman.

“It’s really been on my mind because it was so beautiful. Every car that came through had something sweet to say about how they were personally impact-

ter only two weeks on the job.

For now, it’s just her and another employee handling calls for carry-out orders.

“It was challenging, at first,” she said. “We had to be creative.”

With it came new business hours – 2p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays – and a menu based on what’s avail-

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Willie’s owner Patricia Ashman was inspired to give back in order to spread positivity during the coronavirus pandemic.

ed by Westside Ministries, and that’s why they were buying a pizza,” she said. “It’s like they were all family and I think that says something about our community.”

To contact Willie’s, call 209-667-9455 and follow their Facebook page to stay up-to-date on future fundraisers.

“When the going gets tough, we’ve just gotta stay positive,” Ashman said.

Celebrate Graduates

IN THE TURLOCK JOURNAL’S SPECIAL GRADUATION SECTION

DATES Space deadline is Monday, May 25, 2020 Ad copy deadline is Friday, May 29, 2020 Publication date: Wednesday June 3, 2020 THOUSANDS OF PARENTS READ THIS SPECIAL TAB AND HOLD ONTO IT FOREVER. • A complete list of local high school graduates, including Turlock, Pitman, Turlock Christian, Roselawn, John B. Allard, Turlock Adult School, Denair, Denair Charter Academy, Hilmar, Irwin, Livingston, eCademy Charter and Delhi high schools.

• Local graduates from California State University, Stanislaus, Modesto Junior College and Merced College.

• Feature stories on graduates and their next steps.

CONTACT THE TURLOCK JOURNAL (209) 634-9141 turlockjournal.com

MAY 2020

able. On this day, for example, Weber couldn’t get beef ribs.

She did have pork ribs along with her famous beef brisket and Southern fried chicken available.

“We still cook, one customer at a time,” said Weber, who has a saying of ‘fast food isn’t good, and good food isn’t fast.’

As for business, she’s been blessed with loyal customers, with some coming from out of town – Stockton, Modesto, Ceres and Galt, to name a few.

“We’re at one-third (the number of customers) that

ENVY

FROM PAGE 3 curbside service. There are about 40 employees total associated with Envy including management, floor staff, a bookkeeper and seamstress.

“Actually the federal government has taken really good care of the employees which makes it that much easier for me as a business owner,” Dover said, noting that they have received their tax refunds, stimulus payments, and unemployment. “So financially they are doing extremely good which takes a huge burden off of me.”

Although they have lost money each day they have been closed, Dover has kept a positive attitude. They still have to pay rent and utilities on all their locations. However she explained that the landlords have been very sympathetic and are working with them like refraining from charging any late fees.

“That (positive) is the only way that I have been,” added Dover. “My first fear was my employees. I don’t want them to get sick and I don’t want them to take that home to their families. I think just keeping that online presence you know keep posting on social media and staying positive is the best thing for the community.”

On a daily basis she would watch Gov. Gavin Newsom and President Donald Trump on television giving briefings on the pandemic and any information regarding assistance for business owners. If something was offered she applied for it.

Finally she is starting to see that financial relief hitting her bank account. The PPP, Paycheck Protection Program, will be considered a federal grant and will not have to be repaid as long as she follows the guidelines and brings back all her employees.

HARBOR

FROM PAGE 3

offers customers even deeper discounts with special coupon pricing.

Customers can sign up to receive a monthly coupon book by mail or email with dozens of product coupons and additional discounts.

To sign up, visit HarborFreightSignUp.com.

In addition to making sure their customers are able to find the best deals on the tools they need; Harbor Freight is also taking care of the community during the coronavirus pandemic.

In order to help protect healthcare workers caring for COVID-19 patients, Harbor Freight recently donated its entire stock of nitrile gloves, N-95 masks

we normally get,” said Weber, who also relies on social media for updates and specials.

Weber is one of the few Southern kitchens in the area.

She and her husband Joe share their family recipes originating from Louisiana, North Carolina, Oklahoma and Kansas City.

“People are looking for subsistence,” she said, pointing to her menu choices. “You can only eat so much pizza.”

For more information call 209-823-4227 or visit www. mamawebers4bbq.com

“I really do feel like the federal government really came through for business owners as long as you have the proper information,” stated Dover. “Every single day I have been glued to the TV watching Newsom and Trump and everything they had to say. So if they offered something I applied. I know a lot of people are not fortunate enough or educated enough, or have the resources to do that. I made it my mission.”

They have started preparing to reopen the stores, gearing up emotionally and physically. They have all the cleaning supplies to properly clean all the stores and have ordered thermometers to make sure none of the employees have a temperature before they begin their shifts. Dover has also ordered disposable masks for customers just in case it makes them feel more comfortable as they shop.

As protests against the stay at home order continue and counties are starting to reopen a variety of businesses, Dover, her husband and staff are taking safety precautions for all involved. She wanted to remind everyone that it is extremely important to support the hometown by shopping local as the money spent goes back to the local economy.

“I think that this pandemic has changed the way that people are going to spend their money,” expressed Dover. “I think that they now realize that shopping local is the most important thing for their economy which is amazing. I want to thank everybody for still shopping with us during this time because we were able to keep our head afloat and if we weren’t shipping things out daily things could have been different for us. So grateful would be my number one word.”

and face shields to hospitals in every community served by a Harbor Freight Tools store.

Harbor Freight Tools is also a major supporter of Harbor Freight Tools for Schools, an initiative of The Smidt Foundation, established by company’s founder Eric Smidt, to advance excellent skilled trades education in public high schools America. The program’s flagship initiative is the annual Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence, which honors 18 public high school skilled trades teachers and their programs with $1 million in cash awards.

Local skilled trades educators are encouraged to apply for this year’s prize at hftforschoolsprize.org. Applications will be accepted

until 5 p.m. May 20 and winners will be announced in October 2020.

Harbor Freight Tools also supports non-profit organizations that serve K-12 public education, first responders and veterans. For more information on the gift card donations program, visit harborfreightgivingback.org.

During the COVID-19 crisis, all Harbor Freight stores have implemented more frequent cleaning and are following the guidelines from the Center for Disease Control, including social distancing to protect the health and safety of our customers and associates. Any individual who has any COVID-19 symptoms is asked to shop on the store’s website, www.harborfreight.com rather than in the store.

209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

7

NEWS

Ripon medical office building gets OK

BY VINCE REMBULAT 209 Business Journal

Plans for a 9,600 square foot medical office building got the green light Monday from the Ripon Planning Commission.

“This looks like it will be a great project,” said Commissioner Debra Van Essen of the Wilma Avenue Medical Facility at the virtual meeting held in the Council Chambers.

Jeff Burrow, who is the applicant for the project to be built about a half-block north of City Hall -- specifically, 521 and 563 N. Wilma avenues -- along with local physicians, Dr. James Daley and Dr. Daryl Dutters, met with planning commissioners online via Zoom.

All three are thrilled to be bringing this facility to Ripon.

They’re also hoping to house a Quest Diagnostics in one of the adjacent suites -- they know of a patient who has to drive out of Ripon in order to have lab work done.

Daley and Dutters, who have been practicing locally for 15 and 30 years, respectively, are looking to move their offices into the new building that, if all goes accordingly, could be completed by next year.

The medical office building will be in an area zoned for Neighborhood Commercial, and on two adjacent parcels under the same ownership.

Commissioners, in addition to the project, approved a lot line adjustment in order to create the .96 acre site, adding some 6,870 square feet to the site.

The building will be constructed facing Wilma Avenue, and will set back approximately 85 feet from the front property line with parking -- 48 parking spaces with 40 being standard coupled with six for compact and two handicap stalls -- and landscaping to be located up front along the street, according to Director of Planning Ken Zuidervaart.

He pointed out that the exterior of the buildiing offers two options that the applicant can consider for elevations, using three different color schemes.

Commissioners favored the modern look of the facility.

The vacant lot just north of Ripon City Hall will be the new home of the Wilma Avenue Medical Facility.

Manteca studying possible ice arena near Great Wolf

BY DENNIS WYATT 209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

The proposed ice arena just west of the Great Wolf Resort could open the door for the medium-sized events, conferences, and small convention market Manteca leaders have eyed off and on for the past 20 years.

The City Council authorized initial design work including a sustainability report costing $24,500. Half the cost will be borne by taxpayers and the rest by the Manteca Development Group that is actively marketing the 100-acre plus family entertainment zone for the city.

That study would be used by the City Council to determine if the concept of an ice arena/events center should be taken further.

If it does it would involve specific discussions and negotiations with the Calgary Flames that has expressed interested in locating the offices and training facility for their American Hockey League affiliate — the Stockton Heat — in Manteca.

Although it was not delineated at the council meeting whether such a facility would involve one of two ice rinks information gleaned from feasibility studies done by Victus Advisors for similar projects in other cities show those ice arenas with two sheets of ice tend to be more effective.

The city sees an ice rink as a way to enhance the draw of the emerging family entertainment zone that already has a Big League Dreams sports complex

as well as the Great Wolf Resort indoor water park and is in the process of working with a partnership that wants to build a brew pub. It would be used for community ice hockey leagues, skating, and other ice sports when the Stockton Heat isn’t using it for training.

They also want to be able to cover the ice to host other events.

It could also be the seed for an eventual 4,000 to 5,000 seat arena to serve as a home for the Heat. With price tags of comparable arenas approaching $100 million that could be considered a long shot.

Based on two recent projects Vitcus examined a one rink complex regulation size for National Hockey League that was not air conditioned and was built in Falmouth, Maine for $2 million. It is a pavilion style rink much like the indoor soccer arena at BLD. The 29,900-quare-foot building has minimal seating.

In warmer months, artificial turf is laid down for lacrosse, soccer and other sports. The pavilion was completed in 2015.

A complex that may be more attune with what Manteca is considering was built in 2014 in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin for $7.1 million. The 91,000-squarefoot building includes two NHL-sized rinks. One rink has a seating capacity of 1,100 and the other 600.

A NHL rink covers 17,000-square feet. If the city ended up building the complex that would provide 34,000 square feet of expansive space when the

ice is covered or removed.

Just under 20 years ago the city via the original Manteca Convention & Visitors Bureau developed a concept to build an events center with outdoor festival style grounds in the original proposal for Austin Road Business Park in southeast Manteca.

The proposal was advanced and a committee formed after the CVB was getting a high level of interest from companies, organizations, and those booking events for a venue in Manteca given it is equal distance from San Jose, Sacramento, and San Francisco/Oakland and within two hours of Fresno. Hotel conference space in Manteca at the time was too small as were most other facilities such as the FESM and MRPS halls that were heavily booked for community events and lacked support facilities that were being sought.

They approached then Congressman Richard Pombo to see if he could help secure federal seed money. That effort went nowhere.

When the city started looking for an indoor water park resort initially they tried to get Great Wolf to build a 40,000-square-foot events center as part of the project. That was based on a 2014 study of the San Joaquin County market that concluded there was additional demand for “flat floor exposition” space that could accommodate a wide variety of conventions, trade shows, sporting events, large meetings, SEE ICE, PAGE 10

Celebrate Graduates

IN THE CERES COURIER’S SPECIAL GRADUATION SECTION

DATES Space deadline is Monday, May 25, 2020 Ad copy deadline is Friday, May 29, 2020 Publication date: Wednesday June 3, 2020 THOUSANDS OF PARENTS READ THIS SPECIAL TAB AND HOLD ONTO IT FOREVER. • A complete list of local high school graduates.

• Local graduates from local Colleges & Universities.

• Feature stories on graduates and their next steps.

CONTACT THE CERES COURIER (209) 633-1434 cerescourier.com

209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

8

MAY 2020

Small and medium-sized retailers:

Hire 39.8%

BUILDING YOUR BUSINESS of all retail employees

Have an average monthly revenue of

$22,341

Have an average gross margin of

51%

AT WORK

How to negotiate with your landlord or franchisor “I operate three hair styling salons as a franchisee of a big nationwide franchise. My state government has shut down our operations because of the coronavirus pandemic as we are considered a ‘nonessential business.’

As the projections for our state to reopen get pushed out further and further, is there a case for me to present to my three business property landlords and my franchisor an adjustment to our agreements?

The rent was negotiated in good faith based upon business conditions prior to the pandemic. So far the only concessions I have received from the landlords is to push out April 2020 rent payment to May 2020 without penalty.”

First of all, as someone whose head currently looks like a Chia Pet on steroids, I do not view hair stylists and barbers as nonessential businesses.

If I could make one request of state and local governments during these difficult times, it would be to change their minds about that. Also about liquor stores.

In order to survive the pandemic and related government-mandated shutdowns, a small business needs to get its fixed costs as low as possible.

Your lease and franchise agreement do not allow you to suspend payments to landlords and franchisors for any reason, so you have to do some negotiating here.

Let’s take landlords first.

Always keep in mind that your landlord is in the same boat you are: He or she has mortgage payments to make to a bank, and banks will not forgive those payments (although they will often forbear — postpone — payments until the crisis abates).

Ask your landlord for a temporary reduction in rent until you are legally allowed to reopen your business. The amount of the reduction should be

CLIFF ENNICO CREATORS SYNDICATE

keyed, if possible, to the amount of forbearance your landlord’s mortgage lender has granted the landlord. For example, if the mortgage lender has agreed to a 50% reduction, you should be able to get a 50% reduction in your rent.

If you cannot afford to pay rent at all (and if you were operating on such a tight margin, shame on you), ask your landlord to allow you to suspend the next three months of rent payments with the understanding that when you are allowed to reopen your business, those payments will be amortized over the next year (or two years, if your landlord isn’t worried about mortgage payments) of rent payments. In an extreme case, your landlord may be willing to back-end the deferred rent payments — adding them at the end of your current lease term — but that may be a tough sell to a landlord who is not getting much cooperation from the mortgage lender.

In a worst-case scenario, your landlord will not budge and will insist that you continue to make payments on time even though your business is shut down. Talk to a local attorney about a possible force majeure defense once you are allowed to reopen your business.

Now, your lease probably doesn’t contain a force majeure clause — most leases don’t, or if they do, they are for the benefit of the landlord only. And the law in most states is that force majeure does not excuse you from performing under any contract unless there is a clear force majeure clause in the contract that specifically includes the situation that is preventing you from pay-

ing rent.

Having said that, however, I have to believe that judges will be interpreting those legal rules very flexibly in coming months due to the immensity and scope of the governmentmandated shutdowns. If a global pandemic and government-mandated shutdown of your business for several months does not constitute a bona fide force majeure excuse for not performing under a contract, what will?

Now let’s talk about franchises. If you are working with a reputable franchisor, it already has a plan to help its franchisees get through the pandemic and has already informed you about it. Call your franchisor, and ask bluntly what it plans to do to help franchisees.

If your franchise royalty payment is a percentage of gross sales, then you are in fairly good shape. Any percentage of zero sales is zero, and you will not be obligated to pay anything to the franchisor until your business resumes.

The problem is with franchises that require a minimum royalty payment each month regardless of sales. If you are paying these, you should ask your franchisor to forgive or waive them entirely until you are allowed to reopen your business. In my humble opinion, franchisors have no reason to deny this without a darn good reason — if they do, ask to have the payments amortized over the next year once you are allowed to reopen.

Whatever you negotiate with your landlord and franchisor, GET IT IN WRITING. Ask your attorney to prepare a short (one- or two-page) amendment to your lease and addendum to your franchise agreement with the details. Your attorney may even be willing to give you 90 days to pay your bill ... if you ask nicely.

Consumers shop in physical stores for the experience

PrepareSmall YourRetailers Small Business for Holidayand Season Canthe Compete Win

Trying items in store is

They spend 69% of their discretionary income each month in-store.

3x more

influential than other purchase factors.

“Retailtainment” events attract, engage and retain customers.

Small retailers* make up 98.6% of all retail firms

Retailer events consumers are interested in attending:

100

Cosmetics & Beauty

18.6K

Specialty Foods

20.2K Fashion

25K

0

Electronics

26.4K

87% Exclusive access to items or sale

* Fewer than 50 employees

81%

80%

71%

69%

A party

A product demonstration or tutorial

A game or competition

Pop-up shops

Beverages

27.7K

Furnishings

82%

28K

of shoppers attended a retail event last year.

Jewelry

30K

58%

are interested in going to one in the future.

Sporting Goods

30.4K

Beer, Wine & Spirits

Brick-and-mortar is not dead.

39K

Furniture

40K

Ecommerce only comprises

0

10K

20K

30K

9.46%

40K

of retail sales.

Average monthly revenue

Small and medium-sized retailers:

55%

of online shoppers would prefer to buy from retailers that have a physical store presence vs. online only.

Hire 39.8% of all retail employees

Have an average monthly revenue of

Work with a SCORE mentor to keep your retail business competitive.

$22,341

Have an average gross margin of

51%

www.score.org Sources: https://8f6bc1832c450a008db7-83b75ad4e71f1487522ba624f2d5d5be.ssl.cf1.rackcdn.com/NRF_PWC-The%20Economic%20Impact%20of%20the%20US%20Retail%20Industry%20REV.pdf https://grow.bigcommerce.com/rs/695-JJT-333/images/report-2018-omnichannel-buying.pdf https://nrf.com/consumer-view https://www.vendhq.com/blog/retail-data/

Consumers shop in physical stores for the experience

LAMAR

FROM PAGE 2 Valley residents who oftenTryingfind it isdifficult items in store They spend 69% of their discretionary 3x more to learn the latest tech skills for income each month influential required than other in-store. purchase factors. high-paying jobs,” explained Bay Valley Tech President Phillip Lan. “A skilled workforce is “Retailtainment” events attract, needed to aid the economic recovery, sup-

engage and retain customers.

https://retailnext.net/en/blog/brick-and-mortar-vs-online-retail/

port our local companies and attract Silicon Valley jobs into the region.”

Interested students are encouraged to complete Bay Valley Tech’s online application (https://www.bayvalleytech. com/code-academy-application) as soon as possible to be considered for one of the school’s upcoming July and August cohorts.

care insurance policy or a “hybrid” policy, which 100 combines long-term care FROM PAGE 2 protection with the death tial burden to your grown benefit of traditional life children – you may want insurance. A financial adto consider some type of visor can recommend the option that’s most suitable long-term care coverage, for your 0 87% 81% 80% 71% 69% needs. which can help cover many You may want to observe A party Exclusive A product A game or Pop-up shops of the of a demonstration lengthy access costs to items competition National Bike Month by or sale or tutorial nursing home stay. You taking a ride yourself. But could choose a long-term in any case, making these

AMICK

Retailer events consumers are interested in attending:

82%

58%

Stay up to date with COVID-19 and the impact on local businessesBrick-and-mortar at is not dead. of shoppers attended a retail event last year.

209BUSINESSJOURNAL.COM Ecommerce only comprises

are interested in going to one in the future.

cycling-inspired moves can help you keep rolling along toward your financial goals.

This article was written

by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor. Edward Jones, Member SIPC. Contact Sharon Amick, Financial Advisor with Edward Jones at (209) 824-1000.

209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

9

BUILDING YOUR BUSINESS

A NEW DIGITAL DOORWAY Why use Google My Business and how to set it up

BY ELIZABETH DEVINE 209 Business Journal

G

oogle My Business has taken the world by storm over the course of the past two years. It allows small businesses to tap into their local market and targeted audience. Also, it gives them a major opportunity to appear in the Google search results.

Creating a Google My Business profile is free and easy. Now, before we guide you to the steps needed to create your GMB profile, let’s take a look at some of the key benefits of this amazing platform.

What is a Google My Business page and how can it help your business?

If you are new to this platform by Google, it basically offers a way to list your business location on Google Maps and local search results.

What’s great is that along with your business location, you can also display your working hours, opening/closing times, contact phone numbers or a link to your website. Recently, Google also released a feature that lets you post a link to articles and up and coming events.

Google My Business is a platform that lets you improve your local search

visibility. This means that your business listing will “pop up” immediately in the search results whenever a potential buyer or someone interested in the products/services you sell is near your location.

From bars to restaurants, law firms and burger joints, the magnitude of businesses that are benefiting from GMB is massive. More important is the fact that Google is further tweaking this tool so that it can understand user intent and display relevant information within the results page. As Google makes changes to GMB, we can see how easy it is to access information and view everything we need to know about local businesses.

However, GMB needs optimization.

How to create and optimize your Google My Business listing GMB is a free tool which allows you to manage your business listing (how your business appears on Google Search and Google Maps). If you are getting started with local SEO, GMB is a must for you — and a solid starting point to focus on during your early efforts. Creating an account on Google My Business is simple, all you have to do is:

1

3

4

Enter your BUSINESS NAME.

7

Enter your BUSINESS ADDRESS

VERIFY YOUR GMB LISTING If you choose to verify your GMB listing immediately, you can do that: • By postcard • By phone • By email

5

• Instant verification Choose your business category

2

6

• Bulk verification Verifying by phone is the easiest option — all you need to do is make sure your phone number is correct and enter the verification code from the text message that you will receive.

LOG INTO THE GOOGLE ACCOUNT which you want associated with your business (or create a new one)

GO TO GOOGLE.COM/ BUSINESS and select “Start Now” in the top right-hand corner

CHOOSE A VERIFICATION option to verify your business (or if you don’t want to do this right away, click on “Try a different method” ->“Later”

Add your bUSINESS PHONE NUMBER and/or WEBSITE

OPTIMIZE YOUR GMB LISTING This is the step when you need to flesh out your profile and add in as much information and media as you can. Basically, you should focus on filling in all the blanks, including adding a business profile photo, selecting the area that you serve, adding your working hours, attributes (“Free Wi-Fi” for example), a public phone number and website URL. The good news is that you can edit your business profile by logging into your GMB dashboard at any time.

According to Google, businesses that have more photos are likely to see 35 percent more clicks to their website and 42 percent higher requests for driving directions on Google Maps.

This is why we suggest adding a cover photo, profile photo as well as other relevant photos of your listing to make it more informative and engaging.

MAINTAIN YOUR GMB PRESENCE ONLINE: WHY REVIEWS MATTER As soon as you create, verify and

optimize your GMB listing, you will see the power of reviews. One of the best ways to encourage future customers to your business is with positive reviews.

Over time, you will get many positive reviews, too. Responding to all of them is a great way to build brand authority and show everyone that you take both compliments and complaints seriously.

There is also a Google My Business App available for iOS and Android which you can use to update your listing, post statuses and photos and view search insights. Keep in mind that the app does not support changing your settings, deleting your business listing or giving full ownership to another user.

FINAL THOUGHTS As you can see, there are numerous benefits of having a Google My Business profile. The entire platform is being improved on a daily basis and having a detailed GMB listing can help you attract the attention of nearby audiences and dominate your local market.

The more reviews you gather and the more consistent you are, the more people will contact your business. The bottom line is that your business should and must be listed in Google My Business if you want customers to easily find information about it online or decide to visit/contact you directly.

Beth Devine is one of the most sought-after and well respected marketing experts in the Central Valley. She is the founder and principal of Devine Solutions Group, an award-winning digital marketing and business development agency conveniently located in Tracy, CA. You can connect with Beth by either calling 833-933-8463 or email beth@ devinesolutionsgroup.com.

209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

10

MAY 2020

ACCOLADES

PROMOTIONS, APPOINTMENTS, HONORS, ETC.

Valley Builders Exchange announces three new board members.

VBE announced the appointment of three new board members to the organization, with their terms starting in April.

VBE welcomed Denae Lawrence (Project Manager for JL Bray & Son, Inc.), Nick Leal (Construction Manager for Haggerty Construction Inc) and Jake Denae Lawrence

I DO

FROM PAGE 1 that concerned,” she said.

“First we heard you could have something with under 150 people, then it was 50 and then it was 10. It was changing from day to day, almost hour to hour.

“Now, it looks like it’s going to last into May and maybe even June in California...We didn’t realize how devastating it would

ICE

FROM PAGE 7 concerts and other gatherings. A events center of that size didn’t dovetail into the Great Wolf business

Lynn (Safety Manager for Ross F. Carroll, Inc).

“VBE is fortunate to have such a diverse group of board members who have the expertise and the passion to help us Nick Leal reach our future goals,” the organization said in a news release.

The 2020 changes to the VBE Executive Board are as follows: Kara Leonard, President joined by Delwyn Falk Vice Presi-

be.”

Kapor said she feels terrible for the couples who have had to cancel their weddings.

“Everyone’s affected by it, but the brides...this is their day and the most important day of their lives, so our hearts ache for them.”

Pageo has sustained somewhat of a business model during this time, allowing for online orders that are left outside the venue’s gift shop for pick-

up. Soon, Kapor plans on opening the shop with social distancing measures in place for customers looking to purchase one of their lavender soaps or nursery items.

Thankfully, Pageo was approved for aid through the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program, which will offer relief for the farm’s employees.

“We’ll be okay,” Kapor said.

model. The resort instead has included 12,000 square feet of meeting space along with a family fun zone, indoor water park, and 500room hotel.

B32 Ice Rink engineers are partnering with

Archtechnia of Stockton to conduct the $24,500 study for Manteca.

The Wisconsin firm has built 250 rinks from community based facilities to National Hockey League complexes.

Be comfortable in every kind of weather.

Make your appointment for spring maintenance today.

Velting Heat & Air Ask about our easy financing

(209) 495-3659 veltingheatandair.com

Lic. #764901

dent, and Dimitri Guzman as the Sec-Treasurer.

“C o ng rat u l a tions to each of these board members on their new roles.

A huge thank you Jake Lynn to our outgoing President Melani Rickett for her leadership and dedication, Melani will now hold the position of Past President,” the organization said.

Valley Builders Exchange was established in 1947 to provide valuable services to the construction industry as a memberbased organization. Providing members access to projects statewide as well as updates on current bidding projects and bid

results. VBE primarily works in the commercial and industrial industries.

Society for disABILITIES hires new leader

Society for disABILITIES is pleased to announce Cathy Mendoza as their new Executive Director.

Mendoza has over 10 years of experience in the nonprofit field, most recently serving as the Executive Director for The First Tee of Central Valley. She is active in Cathy Mendoza community service as a member SEE ACCOLADES, PAGE 11

209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

ACCOLADES

FROM PAGE 10

of the Community Hospice Foundation Board of Directors and Modesto Rotary, where she was recently named the “Quiet Rotarian” for service behind the scenes and her “can do” attitude.

“We are pleased that Cathy has joined our team,” said Board Chair Richard O’Brien. “She brings strong qualities that will help us fulfill our mission of service to the disabled community. We look forward to her leadership as we execute our strategic vision over the next few years.”

Since 1947, the Society for disABILITIES has enhanced the quality of life for people with disabilities in the Central Valley.

The Society also offers the largest durable medical equipment loan closet in Northern California along with a variety of recreational, social and educational programs.

California Milk Advisory Board announces officers

The newly elected members of the Advisory Board are: David Vander Schaaf, Renae DeJager, Essie Bootsma, Josh Zonneveld, Kirsten Areias, and Tony Louters.

San Joaquin County dairy producer, David Vander Schaaf, has been elected to serve as treasurer to the Executive Committee of the California Milk Advisory Board, the promotional arm of the state’s dairy farmers.

Vander Schaaf is a fourth-generation dairy farmer at Vander Schaaf Dairy, which was established in 1929. Vander Schaaf joined the family business in partnership with brothers Joey and James, as well as

father John Vander Schaaf in 2013. He is a member of the Milk Producers Council.

Dairy producer Renae DeJager of Merced County has been re-elected as Member-at-Large to the Executive Committee of the California Milk Advisory Board.

DeJager and husband Art are owners of 1500-acre Vista Verde Dairy, which was established in 1977 and where they currently milk 3,200 Holsteins. She is an active member of her community and serves a variety of community groups including California Women for AG, Stone Ridge Christian School Board and Cornerstone Community Church in Chowchilla. She previously served on the board for the U.S. Dairy Export Council and the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board where she traveled extensively to promote dairy in domestic and international markets.

Lakeview dairy producer Essie Bootsma has elected to serve as Member-at-Large to the Executive Committee of the California Milk Advisory Board.

Bootsma milks 2,000 Holsteins with her son Jason at the John Bootsma Dairy that she started with her husband, John, in 1979. She is a member of a variety of community groups, including the Western Riverside Ag Coalition, where she serves as secretary, the Eastern Municipal Water District Advisory Committee and the Eastern Municipal Dairy Water Supply, where she serves as chair. She previously served as Secretary to the CMAB’s Executive Committee.

Fresno County dairy producer Josh Zonneveld has been re-elected to serve as Chairman of the Executive Committee of the California Milk Advisory Board.

Zonneveld and his wife Cassie along

with other family members currently milk 8,500 Holsteins at the 7,000-acre Zonneveld Dairies that his grandfather founded in 1968. He joined the family business in 2005. He is a member of the Ag Executive Council for Land O’ Lakes and also serves on the board for the California Dairy Research Foundation.

Dairy producer Kirsten Areias of Los Banos in Merced County, has been re-elected to serve as Member-at-Large to the Executive Committee of the California Milk Advisory Board. Areias has been a dairy producer since 1980 and currently milks 320 Holsteins with husband Dennis at the 360-acre Den-K Holsteins, Inc. She is a member of a variety of industry groups, including Western United Dairyman, serves as an advisor for the California Holstein Association and Merced County Junior Holstein Association, and is a Dairy Bowl Coach.

Dairy producer Megan Silva of Escalon in San Joaquin County has been elected to serve as Secretary to the Executive Committee of the California Milk Advisory Board.

Silva graduated from Cal Poly in 2006 and is a 4th generation dairy farmer. Silva and her husband Johnny Silva, along with her father Frank Rocha, currently milk 2100 Holsteins at the 900-acre Frank N. Rocha Dairy L.P., where she has worked since 2006. The couple started their own dairy, R & S Dairy LLC. in May of last year. She is also extremely passionate about the fitness and wellness industries, and shares these passions through her two businesses in Escalon; EscalonFIT and Wellness by EscalonFIT. Merced dairy producer Tony Louters has been re-elected to serve as Vice Chairman to the Executive Committee of the California Milk Advisory Board. Louters

11

and his wife Corinna own T & C Louters Dairy in Merced where they currently milk 600 Holsteins. They have been in business since 2003 and have four children: Alexis, Bryce, Tyler and Breann. Tony is a member of Western United Dairymen.

Oak Valley Community Bank director retires

Oak Valley Bancorp, the bank holding company for Oak Valley Community Bank, announced the retirement of Michael Q. Jones from the Bank and Company’s Boards of Directors, effective May 31.

Jones has served as director of the bank since 2004 and the Bancorp since its formation in 2008. He has been involved in land development and commercial real estate for over Michael Q. Jones 40 years. Jones is a retired Chairman of California Gold Development Corporation and Prudential California Realty in Sonora.

Prior to joining the board, Jones played an instrumental role in helping the bank establish a foothold in the Sonora region.

Throughout his directorship, he provided substantial insight regarding land development and commercial real estate growth opportunities in Tuolumne County as well as other parts of the bank’s footprint.

“We are happy for Mike in his retirement.

His governance and support through the years is deeply appreciated and we wish him all the best,” stated President and CEO, Chris Courtney.

Subscribe on

STUDIO209.TV

STAY SAFE IN OUR COMMUNITY To serve our customers, our current hours are 9:30am-2:00pm, Monday-Friday until further notice.

Also for your convenience and safety, electronic services are available, including Home Banking and our ATM services.

CALL OUR OFFICE WITH ANY QUESTIONS. STAYING HEALTHY IS OUR MAIN OBJECTIVE. Call: (209) 825-5878 for current rates or visit our branch at 409 West Center Street, Manteca CA • www.goldenvalleyfcu.org

Stay up to date with COVID-19 and the impact on local businesses at

209BUSINESSJOURNAL.COM

12

209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

MAY 2020