209 Business Journal - February 2020

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BUSINESS JOURNAL

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FEBRUARY 2020

VOLUME 5 ■ ISSUE 2

IN PROFILE

Carina Stringfellow’s catering business, Super Sope, is one of seven teams that will compete on “The Great Food Truck Race.”

PAGE 3

IN PROFILE

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Great Wolf Lodge is offering 30 percent off standard rates for suites in their 500-room hotel for stays prior to Dec. 17, 2020.

Central Valley Nutrition in Manteca is offering a variety of options and products for those looking to live a healthier life.

PAGE 4

MANTECA’S WATER PARK

Great Wolf sets Aug. 1 opening

BY DENNIS WYATT

G

209 Business Journal

reat Wolf Lodge will open the doors to its $180 million Manteca resort on Saturday,

Aug. 1.

The 95,000-square-foot indoor waterpark is kept heated at 84 degrees year round. The waterpark will include a variety of body slides, tube slides, raft rides, activity pools, and splash areas for all age groups. There will also be a “massive” outdoor resort swimming pool.

In announcing the opening date, Great Wolf also released details for a special discount up to 30 percent off standard rates for suites in their 500-room hotel for stays prior to Dec. 17, 2020.

Suites must be reserved prior to Feb. 29 to qualify for the offer.

You can book a suite by visiting greatwolf.com or by calling 1-888-960-WOLF (9653) and using the promo code, GRAND.* Standard rates for the Manteca Lodge start at $199.99 per night.

Suites are available that accommodate up to eight guests. The one-night rate includes two days of access to the water park.

Great Wolf, after bookings have been made, is now making it possible for you to access the water park without booking a room.

Based on rates on the Great Wolf Anaheim site, the day pass can range from $55 to $150 per per-

son depending upon the day they are made available. Day passes are available online roughly two months out. If the hotel is booked solid or near that point, no passes are made available.

Prices for day passes just like rooms and suites, varies from market to market.

The Manteca resort will also feature a 45,000-quare-foot indoor adventure park with attractions such as a ropes course, miniature, golf, bowling alley, arcade, and more. That area as well as six dining options will be

accessible to the general public.

“Great Wolf Lodge Northern California will provide a family resort experience like none other, where joy is around every corner and memories are waiting to be created,” said Murray Hennessy, chief executive officer for Great Wolf Resorts. “We’re excited to bring our latest and greatest attractions, dining and entertainment offerings to this new resort, so that families who may have visited our other resorts will discover new surprises at Great Wolf Lodge Northern California

when we open this summer.”

Great Wolf, in providing a resort style experience, will provide 500 year-round jobs in Manteca — half of which will be fulltime — plus generate $2 million plus in room taxes to help pay for municipal services such as police and fire.

The indoor waterpark resort model wouldn’t work if you could dump off your kids and leave them for the day as you could at Manteca Waterslides. It would devalue the resort experience that people are paying for that supports jobs and has people who are not from Manteca paying for the dollar equivalent of 14 police officers a year if all of the Great Wolf room tax collected was used by the city for that purpose. And in doing so it would make the business plan dicey if not impossible to succeed.

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Come August, the 209 will have a new place to keep cool when the Great Wolf Lodge opens.

209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

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FEBRUARY 2020

g n i t a r b Cele

0 4

YEARS in BUSINESS OPEN HOUSE & RIBBON CUTTING

y n o m e r e C ITSolutions|Currie AND MODESTO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE INVITES YOU TO CELEBRATE WITH US

FEBRUARY 28, 2020 RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY to take place at 4:00pm, Open house with Pig Roast, Taco Bar, Drinks and fun to follow 4:30 - 8:00pm

Location

ITSolutions|Currie 1801 Tully Road, Suite E, Modesto, CA 95350

209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

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IN PROFILE

Turlock sopes to debut on Food Network

BY ANGELINA MARTIN 209 Business Journal

209 residents who turn their television to the Food Network this spring may see a familiar face.

Carina Stringfellow, joined by her cousin Priscilla Gutierrez and sisterin-law Lindsey Stringfellow, recently finished filming for season 12 of the cuisine channel’s hit show “The Great Food Truck Race,” where the Turlock native showcased her ability to make meals that seem like they come straight from the streets of Mexico.

Carina Stringfellow’s catering business, Super Sope, is one of seven teams that will compete on the show, using distinct ingredients in challenges that test their culinary skills.

Each week sees the trucks visit a new town and try to outsell their competition, and the team that earns the least is eliminated from the show. At the end, the two final teams square off for a $50,000 prize.

“The experience was incredible, although I can’t speak to details about the

IT Solutions/Currie marks 40 years in Modesto

BY SABRA STAFFORD 209 Business Journal

Around the time people started to show some fascination with computers in the home and office, Gary and Jeanette Robinson and Dave Sahl were figuring out ways to fix them when they eventually went on the fritz.

The company they founded, which now goes by the name of IT Solutions/Currie, is celebrating their 4oth anniversary in February and is still helping businesses with technology.

The business, which start

in Sahl’s garage, opened their first shop in downtown Modesto with a business plan that mixed retail sales of Apple computers and other technology, along with helping people understand that technology. A change in the retail license from Apple saw the company shift to doing more repairs, set-ups and other technology-minded tasks, which is now the primary focus, said Melissa Barry, the vice president of Sales at IT Solutions/Currie. The company is solely SEE IT, PAGE 6

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

This spring, 209 residents can watch one of their own compete on the Food Network.

Priscilla Gutierrez, Carina Stringfellow (center) and Lindsey Stringfellow trekked across the country with Carina’s catering business, Super Sope.

show,” Stringfellow said.

“I’m very proud of how far Super Sope has come.

Not only being on TV, but showcasing my food and my love and passion for cooking was an amazing experience.”

Though Super Sope has made it to one of the biggest stages imaginable, Stringfellow’s catering

company started out as just a simple idea to raise funds for Denair Elementary School. After selling sopes inspired by the street vendors of Mexico during a school festival, Stringfellow realized her cooking capabilities could catapult the idea to new heights thanks to positive SEE SOPES, PAGE 6

Super Sope Location: @supersope_ foodtruck on Instagram; Super Sope on Facebook Hours: Call to book Contact information: 209-800-7117 Specialty: Fresh, organic toppings

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

IT Solutions/Currie will celebrate their 40th anniversary with an open house on Feb. 28.

A healthier workforce creates a stronger business.

Get the tools you need to establish a healthier workplace culture, helping your employees manage stress, sleep better, and exercise more. Learn more at kp.org/choosebetter.

Choose Better.

Choose Kaiser Permanente.

209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

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FEBRUARY 2020

IN PROFILE

Brewer opens second Valley location

BY ANGELINA MARTIN 209 Business Journal

VINCE REMBULAT/209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

Co-owners Sean and Amy Eagan along with young Hayden and Sean display the products sold at Central Valley Nutrition in Manteca.

Central Valley Nutrition sets up shop in Manteca

BY VINCE REMBULAT 209 Business Journal

The new year often brings along countless resolutions.

Along those lines, Central Valley Nutrition is there to help out, offering those working on their health goals with post-workout and weight-loss supplements available primarily at the brick and mortars, according to co-owners Amy and Sean Eagan.

Central Valley Nutrition is now located at 259 W. Louise Ave. in Manteca. “We were in (downtown) Ripon for 2 ½ years before that,” said Sean Eagan.

This one-stop shop for sports nutrition, ketogenic supplements, ketogenic and paleo snacks, digestive and basic health supplements, went from a 1,300 square SEE CV, PAGE 6

Blaker Brewing may have recently celebrated the second birthday of its Ceres taproom, but now the beloved brewery has something else to say “cheers” about with the opening of its second location in Atwater, The Tarmac.

Since growing from a family farm-based operation six miles west of Turlock into the popular taproom on Montclaire Drive in Ceres, Blaker Brewing has attracted craft beer aficionados from the Central Valley and beyond who are eager to get a taste of the brewery’s countless craft beers — creations from the minds of founder Tom Lucas and lead brewer Tyler Klaproth.

The brewery’s success since opening its doors in January 2018 has led Lucas to expand his operation, tapping the Castle Air Force Base in Atwater as Blaker Brewing’s second location. While The Tarmac is currently experimenting with a “soft opening” on the week-

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Blaker Brewing celebrated the grand opening of its new Atwater location, The Tarmac.

ends, a grand opening celebration is set for next weekend.

“We saw this as an opportunity to get involved in a community that has a growing economy and energy, and to be a part of the renewal here in Atwater,” Blaker Brewing President Keaton Wil-

liams said. “We saw that between Turlock and Modesto all the way down to Fresno, there wasn’t a lot going on and plenty of people who need things to do.”

Last summer, Blaker Brewing’s Ceres location was brewing about 50 barrels per week, or over

6,000 gallons of beer in a month. All of the brewery’s beer will still be made in Ceres but sold at both locations. The Tarmac joins a growing commercial hub on the Castle Air Force Base, including Google, a forthcoming escape room and a bouSEE BLAKER, PAGE 6

WHERE YOU’RE TREATED LIKE FAMILY GENERATION AFTER GENERATION SINCE 1913 www.wisg.com | 209-667-0995 | Lic. # 0596517

209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

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IN PROFILE

Hughson natives make jewelry from scratch The Doghouse Tap Room

approved for Ceres

BY ANGELINA MARTIN 209 Business Journal

Clay isn’t just for pottery anymore — it’s for jewelry, too.

Mom and daughter duo Sherri Schaurer and Bethany Enas have always enjoyed creating handcrafted goods, and last year the Hughson natives decided to share the fruits of their labor — and talent — with the community through their business Ivy Lane & Co. From clay earrings to scented soaps, everything customers purchase from Schaurer and Enas was made with love. They originally sold items out of their home during two annual sales, but now a social media following allows the pair to sell their goods yearround. Their products have become a hit Valley-wide, with Ivy Lane & Co. selling to customers in Turlock, Oakdale, Modesto, Ripon, Hughson and more.

“It’s our escape,” Enas said. “If we’ve had a stressful day it makes us happier, and we get to spend time together which is so fun.”

Ivy Lane & Co.’s soaps come in a variety of scents,

Dogs would be allowed at Central Avenue bar

BY JEFF BENZIGER 209 Business Journal

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Bethany Enas and her mom, Sherri Schaurer, have turned polymer clay into a trendy must-have through their business Ivy Lane & Co., which offers earrings made from the crafting staple.

like barber shop or ocean breeze, and they even offer see-through bars for children that have toys in the middle. Baby toys and other décor items are also available for purchase, but the shop’s best seller is its unique clay earrings.

Made of polymer clay, Schaurer and Enas use cookie cutters to create one-of-a-kind earring

shapes, piecing together different cuts to make trendy designs. Then, the earrings are baked in the oven before being finished with metal.

“What’s great about clay earrings is that each piece is totally unique because it’s handmade,” Enas said.

“You can’t totally recreate the same earring — it’s alSEE HUGHSON, PAGE 6

The Doghouse Tap Room should be coming soon to the former Sahlstrom and Yockey accounting building at 2723 Central Avenue in Ceres.

The Ceres Planning Commission last week voted 5-0 to approve a Conditional Use Permit to remodel the existing 1,368-square-foot block building into a taproom with outdoor seating and a courtyard just a stone’s

throw from Highway 99 and the back of Valley Christian Center.

Commercial projects which serve alcohol require approval of a CUP. The building, which dates back to 1946 and has been used for a number of commercial uses, has been vacant since Sahlstrom and Yockey closed.

The building is owned by Shane Parson. Applicant Randy Beard of Modesto intends to change the façade on the front facing

IMAGE CONTRIBUTED

turlock20in2020.com DRE 01894922

SEE DOGHOUSE, PAGE 6

The Doghouse Tap Room, which will feature outdoor seating for those accompanied by their four-legged pals, was recently approved by the Ceres Planning Commision.

turlock20in2020.com

SUSAN BAUDLER

Central Avenue by adding a tower like feature that includes an awning and storefront door with decorative foam trim and popouts on the front elevation facing Central Avenue.

Beard also plans to add an outdoor seating area and courtyard to the east and west ends, separated by wrought iron fencing and plant new landscaping along the front and along El Camino Avenue.

He also wants to bring in a

sponsored by

209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

6

FEBRUARY 2020

NEWS

State budget increases spending, expands health benefits

BY KRISTINA HACKER 209 Business Journal

Gov. Gavin Newsom released a proposed state budget that increases spending by 2.3 percent and includes giving taxpayer-funded health benefits to older adults living in the country illegally, funding for a medical school at UC Merced and a new tax on vaping.

Newsom’s $222 billion proposed state budget increases spending by about $5 billion, but it also would boost state reserves to $21 billion in case of an economic downturn. In addition, the state would get

HUGHSON

FROM PAGE 5

ways going to have some kind of variations.”

Clay earrings have caught on because of their colors and size, Enas added, noting that the larger pieces are “statement earrings” that can complement an otherwise plain outfit.

“I think they’re trendy

BLAKER

FROM PAGE 4

tique hotel.

The Tarmac includes a newly-remodeled building on the air force base that’s twice the size of the Ceres location, an outdoor seating area and a large, grassy knoll that Blaker Brewing plans to host events on, such as concerts, beer festivals and comedy shows.

Cornhole and food trucks will follow as well, and

IT

FROM PAGE 3 business to business.

“We spec it, scope it, design it, install it and maintain it,” Barry said.

In the early 2000s the Robinsons retired and James Dempsey bought into the company. That

SOPES

FROM PAGE 3 reactions from her full-bellied customers.

“It was a concept that worked because it was small and tasty, but also memorable to the people coming to the booth. I realized just how amazing this could be on a bigger level,” she said.

She began catering events for family and friends, and her clientele

$107 billion from the federal government for various programs.

The budget proposal is a record spending level, prompting caution from local legislators.

“The Governor’s proposed budget increases spending to an alarming $222.2 billion,” said Senator Andreas Borgeas.

“We have seen California’s $21.5 billion surplus in Fiscal Year 2019-20 drop to an estimated $4 to $7 billion surplus in FY 2020-21, according to the Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) 2020 Fiscal Outlook.

Should current trends continue, California may enter a recession in the next fiscal year.

Therefore, California’s fiscal approach should be prudent and responsible, remembering that investments in infrastructure, disaster preparedness, transportation, housing and water are our most immediate concerns.”

Newsom detailed his proposal for nearly three hours on Friday, lauding California’s growing reserves and bountiful surpluses.

Last year, California became the first state to offer full tax-

payer-funded health benefits to low-income adults 25 and younger living in the country illegally. This year, Newsom wants to extend those benefits to adults 65 and older living in the country illegally. The coverage would begin in 2021 and cover about 27,000 people initially with an estimated cost of $350 million when fully implemented.

But he did not make people living in the country illegally eligible for the state’s earned income tax credit, which gives money to low-income people as part of their tax refunds.

now because for one, they’re all handmade, but two, statement earrings are very popular right now,” Enas said. “Clay earrings have all of a sudden blown up.”

Previously, Schaurer and Enas would hand deliver products to their customers. The launch of Ivy Lane & Co.’s new website now allows them to ship their products, helping the pair reach even more satisfied

buyers.

The experience has allowed Schaurer and Enas to connect with new people and appreciate the area’s support of local, small businesses, Enas said.

“When people buy from small businesses, they’re helping a dream come true,” she said. “This is our dream and the support really does help. It allows us to be able to continue using our creativity.”

even a trivia night or two — favorites that the brewery’s “fans,” as the business calls them, have turned into tradition. It’s this support that has helped Blaker Brewing become so successful in just two short years, Williams said.

“Especially in the Valley, there are a lot of people who come from working class families and really appreciate small businesses and the local craft beer industry,” he said. “What the market wants as a whole is beer that’s made locally

and a place to go enjoy that beer. Craft breweries — including our big brother Dust Bowl — are going into that model of opening a location where people can enjoy quality brews and have an overall experience of connecting with people.

We want to connect with our fans in a more special way and have experiences be a part of that connection.”

“That space is going to let us bring a lot of people into one space and throw some events — that’s our

ambition,” Williams said.

“There’s not always a lot of things going on in the Valley, so we see an awesome opportunity to be a part of that changing.”

The Tarmac is located on the Castle Air Force Base in Atwater, 1930 Airdrome Entry. Hours are 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 12 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday. For more information, visit www. blakerbrewing.com or find @blakertarmac on Instagram.

was followed with a merger in 2008 with Chris Currie’s company Currie Computers.

“It really made a lot of sense to bring the two businesses together because we were doing very similar operations,” Barry said.

Barry became an owner in 2014 and Sahl retired in 2015. Currently, the company is owned by Dempsey,

Currie and Barry.

As technology has changed over the years, so has IT Solutions/Currie, expanding the types of products they are able to help their clients operate and maintain.

“It really runs the gamut,” said Barry. “If it connects to the internet, then it is in our domain. We try and keep a flexible mindset and

stay adaptable and change with the times.”

IT Solutions/Currie is located at 1801 Tully Road in Modesto. For more information call (209) 578-9739.

The company will celebrate their 40th anniversary with an open house and ribbon cutting ceremony at 4 p.m. Feb. 28. The event will include food, beverages, music and games.

began to expand. Then, she reached out to the Food Network for a chance to be on the show. Everyone who competes on the show is a brand-new food truck operator, so Stringfellow would fit right in — and she had a menu that could be competitive.

From specialty sopes like those that feature chorizo and potatoes to the more classic offering topped with sizzling chicken and refried beans, each item at Super Sope is handmade to order.

Quesadillas are also a fast seller, filled with Monterey Jack cheese, deep fried and topped with options like lettuce, queso fresco or one of their house-made salsas or crema.

“What I love about this job the most is that I’m able to deliver not just really tasty food, but an experience for people because an authentic Mexican sope isn’t something you can just get anywhere,” Stringfellow said. “This is something you’d more than

likely experience when traveling outside of the country, so to give people that here is pretty darn awesome.”

Currently, Super Sope is solely a catering company, though a food truck of their own is in the works and will be opening soon, Stringfellow said. Super Sope has experience catering all kinds of events, from baby showers and birthday parties to corporate meetings and weddings.

Ivy Lane & Co. Location: www.cardioidpapaya-l3gj.squarespace. com Contact information: @ivy_lane_and_co on Instagram Specialty: Clay earrings

“One is health care, a right from my perspective, and one is allowing working families to keep more of what they earn. I distinguish the two,” Newsom said. “It’s also a question of capacity.

We want to do a lot of things, but we can’t do everything.”

The budget proposes a $217.7 million ongoing General Fund augmentation to support a 5 percent increase in base resources for UC campuses and service expansion for the UC San Francisco School of Medicine Fresno Branch Campus in partnership with UC Merced, among other programs.

“The Central Valley continues to have some of the lowest numbers of doctors per capita in the state, and

the need will only increase as existing physicians retire,” said Assemblymember Adam Gray. “Governor Newsom’s proposed budget allocates $15 million per year in ongoing funding to UC Merced and UCSFFresno to expand medical education in the Valley. This investment will allow more students to train to become doctors right here in the Valley, and it will directly increase access to care in our community – one of my top priorities during my time in the legislature. I am encouraged by Governor Newsom’s ongoing commitment to the Central Valley and with his investments in education and health care.”

DOGHOUSE

some food,” said Westbrook. “If you want to bring your dog to hang out with you while you have a local craft beer, I guess you can. That’s a concept I’ve seen in other parts of the country.”

The tap room is proposed to stay open six days per week (closed Mondays) as follows: 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays; 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays. Should any problems arise from those hours, the Planning Commission could be asked to adjust them.

FROM PAGE 5

food truck during normal business hours.

The “Doghouse” name is not necessarily a reference to Ceres High School with its Bulldog mascot located blocks to the north, said Community Development Director Tom Westbrook, but is indicative that the business will allow pets.

“He’s looking to have local breweries on tap, hopefully having some type of food truck that could be there to provide

CV

FROM PAGE 4 foot space to a spacious 2,300 sq. ft. business.

“We now have the room to bring in more natural foods,” Sean Eagan said.

He and Amy certainly have the nutrition and health knowledge.

“We’re working on our Exercise Science and Sports Psychology certification,” said Sean Eagan, who started out as a personal trainer and massage therapist in 1995 before getting his online certification in nutrition in 2005.

Amy Eagan is also certified via the Institute for Integrative Nutrition.

As for product, Central Valley Nutrition carries FLYTE, Magnum, Jay Cutler Nutrition, Jay Cutler – Mr. Olympia 2010 and not the former Chicago Bears quarterback – and Fairhaven Health supplements.

The latter are all-natural, doctor-designed fertility, pregnancy and nursing products including ovulation predictors and prenatal vitamins.

Central Valley Nutrition also carries Bulletproof Coffee, Caveman Coffee, Feast Mode spices, oils, and – for what ails a person – hemp CBD oils, vitamins and supplements.

Other products offered at the local nutrition store include PE Science, Nutra Bio, Bucked Up, Run Everything Labs (for vegans), Black Market Labs, and Workhorse Fitness.

In addition, Central Valley Nutrition features a wall of fame – personal autographed photos with the owners – consisting of several UFC fighters, WWE wrestlers, body builders, and few of the who’s who in Hollywood (Jessica Alba along with Jay and Silent Bob’ Jason Mewes and Kevin Smith).

Active military and first responders are offered the everyday 20 percent discount.

Hours of operation are from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Mondays through Fridays, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturdays.

For more information, call (209) 707-3632 or log on to www.centralvalleynutrition.com.

209 209BUSINESS BUSINESS JOURNAL JOURNAL

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OPINION

The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand.

Vol. 5 No. 2 ■ February 2020 PUBLISHER Hank Vander Veen

GENERAL MANAGER Drew Savage

MANAGING EDITOR Sabra Stafford

NEWSROOM Dennis D. Cruz Kristina Hacker Teresa Hammond Angelina Martin Candy Padilla Vince Rembulat Virginia Still Dennis Wyatt

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

­—Vince Lombardi

Harold L. George

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Sharon Hoffman

SALES & MARKETING

Growing tech scene brightens Central Valley’s future We are well aware that software is key to the thriving tech industry, but some may not realize that software literacy is also quickly becoming a foundational skillset for many nontech industries and job functions as well. Programming skills are helping scientists, marketers, bankers and even farmers become more effective and efficient at their jobs. And revolutionary industries such as autonomous vehicles, robotics and agtech are also reliant on experts writing computer code to interpret sensor data and control their machines.

As a result, both venturefunded startups and tech giants with deep pockets are driving up ever-increasing demand for limited software talent across the country. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that there will be 1.4 million computer-science-related jobs available this year and only 400,000 computer science graduates with the skills to apply for those jobs. And according to “CB Insights,” lack of well-trained tech talent is one of the major reasons that startups fail. No wonder coders are commanding top salaries, with some Bay Area tech firms now paying more than half a million dollars annually for elite software developers.

High-paying tech jobs have largely passed over Central Valley cities like Modesto and Stockton, with most Bay Area companies opting to expand elsewhere, taking thousands of California tech jobs out of state. However, some Central Valley companies are looking to change that. Along with

PHILIP LAN BAY VALLEY TECH

Sacramento’s many tech initiatives and a major tech hub growing in Fresno, Bay Valley Tech has established a thriving tech ecosystem in the Stockton/Modesto area and is on track to train 1,000 new software developers over the next few years. Growing the Central Valley’s software development workforce will produce a quadruple win for local residents and local companies, as well as Bay Area companies and Bay Area tech workers.

Today, the Central Valley lacks a tech-experienced workforce and is unable to attract higher-paying employers, while the Bay Area’s concentration of tech talent continues to draw top companies such as Microsoft, Alibaba and Walmart’s software development expansion offices into the region. Since the Bay Area has created one million new jobs since the 2008 recession, there are now so many techrelated jobs in Silicon Valley and San Francisco that it is creating an affordable housing and traffic crisis there. In a region bound geographically by water to the west, and hills and anti-growth regulation to the north, south and east, many long-time residents are beginning to resent tech workers for driving up housing costs and creating congestion in their communities. With no answer in sight, many are already leav-

ing the Bay Area. Even more alarming, according to a Silicon Valley Leadership Group poll conducted last year, 44 percent of respondents said they were likely to move away from the Bay Area within a few years, indicating housing costs and traffic as key factors driving the exodus. Bay Area investors and executives are gravely concerned about the brain drain, so much that they are spending billions to build tens of thousands of new affordable housing units for their tech workers.

A growing coalition of Northern California organizations are working toward an alternate, more cost-effective solution that will create immense economic impact for the Central Valley.

Namely, expanding tech education initiatives like Geekwise Academy in Fresno and our Bay Valley Tech free code academy in Modesto and Stockton.

The Central Valley’s 6.5 million residents outnumber those of 30 states in the U.S., and represent an untapped new market, as well as a huge new labor force for Bay Area tech companies.

Building a large new tech workforce in our region, which includes Modesto, Stockton, Tracy, Sacramento and Fresno, will encourage large Bay Area tech companies to expand into the area, enabling their tech workers to access Central Valley’s plentiful, affordable housing inventory and lower cost of living.

In fact, thousands of new software developers have already been trained in the Central Valley and outside tech firms are paying attention. Companies such as Tyler

Technologies, Varsity Technologies and Oportun (a venturefunded fin-tech company that recently held its IPO on Nasdaq) have all opened offices in Modesto and are benefiting from the region’s growing tech talent base. We are confident that as the Central Valley’s tech education capabilities expand, many more Bay Area tech companies will bring their highpaying jobs into the region.

The future is bright indeed for the Central Valley.

As president of Bay Valley Tech, Phillip Lan oversees both the fast-growing code academy, which provides free and low-cost tech training to Central Valley and East Bay residents, as well as the ValleyWorx co-working space, a Modesto-based tech hub that supports local entrepreneurs.

A strong believer in the power of tech communities as a force to lift entire regions out of poverty, Lan is a key driver in Bay Valley Tech’s numerous initiatives to support Central Valley hackathons, software meetups, Women Techmakers, high school coding programs and the AgTech Summit.

Prior to Bay Valley Tech, Lan led the digital marketing team at E&J Gallo Winery and held marketing, business development and leadership roles in tech companies such as IBM and Ask Jeeves.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in managerial economics form U.C. Davis; and an MBA in computer information systems from California State University-East Bay.

Chris Castro Lorraine Bernaldes Beth Flanagan Dawn Hamilton Corey Rogers Melody Wann Charles Webber Jennifer Webber

DIGITAL Frankie Tovar Rich Matheson

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209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

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FEBRUARY 2020

Challenge #1:

Economic downturn

BUILDING YOUR BUSINESS How likely do you think there will be an economic downturn or a recession in the next 12 months?

Very

22%

Somewhat

34%

Not very

27%

0

Just $

CLIFF ENNICO CREATORS SYNDICATE

which I cannot charge.

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Most (normal) people are afraid of negotiating because it involves confrontation, and there’s always the risk of losing a deal by bargaining too aggressively. Most of my clients are not in strong negotiating positions when doing their deals, so we spend lots of time on the phone discussing what’s worth fighting to get, and what isn’t.

A lot of books have been written about negotiating, and most are sheer nonsense. This is a skill anyone can learn with a little time and patience. To learn more, check out my YouTube video “Negotiating Basics for Attorneys, Entrepreneurs and Others.”

Skill No. 3: Bookkeeping Back in the 1980s, when I was practicing law on Wall Street, occasionally I would run across an entrepreneur

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per year

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Tight labor market

Most companies cannot fill open positions.

The three essential small-business skills or business owner who told me her philosophy of running a business is to “make it, sell it, and don’t try to keep track of it.”

Sadly, that is not good advice for running a business.

Sooner or later, you must show a profit, and all small businesses boil down to numbers and performance metrics. They vary widely from business to business, but you must know them. If you don’t, you have no way of knowing what works and what doesn’t. Business literature is loaded with case studies of entrepreneurs who sold tons of stuff but eventually had to shut their doors because they were actually losing money on every sale.

There is a language successful businesspeople must master, and the language is called accounting.

The difference between bookkeeping and accounting is often a subtle one, but basically: A bookkeeper is someone who takes the raw data of the business (invoices, receipts, bank account statements) and organizes them into a spreadsheet called the chart of accounts. An accountant is someone who takes what the bookkeeper does and turns them into financial statements that tell stories about how the business is doing and what needs improving.

A good small-business accountant is worth his or her weight in gold, but you always benefit from doing your own bookkeeping. By looking closely at what really happens in your business day to day, you will get insights you wouldn’t otherwise.

You do not need to sit for the CPA exam to learn this language — a couple of basic evening courses at your local community college should teach you what you need. To learn more, check out my YouTube video on controlling costs.

rate their company’s cash flow in 2019 as “good” or “very good” so apply for financing while your numbers are strong.

Challenge #2:

Small Business Outlook and Challenges for 2020

Having worked with over 20,000 small businesses and their owners over the course of the past 40 years, I see patterns that many other people aren’t privileged to see.

I see patterns in the businesses that succeed, and I see patterns in the ones that crash and burn.

I’ve spoken about these in my column before, and have made some of them the subject of my YouTube videos, particularly “Three Personality Traits All Entrepreneurs and Small Business Owners Must Develop.”

People starting out in business can seem overwhelmed by the sheer number of things they need to know to make a business successful. But be assured, you don’t need an MBA degree or a CPA license to run your own business.

Sometimes the less you know about the academic stuff, the more likely you are to succeed.

Having said that, there are three essential skills I think every small-business owner or entrepreneur needs to develop.

Skill No. 1: Marketing/ Selling Make no mistake about it. Successful people in business are always — always — good at selling and marketing themselves and what they do. In business, nothing happens unless a customer says yes. And customers don’t say yes — heck, they often don’t even know you’re there — until you reach out to them on a steady, ongoing basis.

Especially in a service business like mine, the phone doesn’t ring unless I make it ring. That is why — even after 40 years of practicing law and a database of over 20,000 active clients — I spend at least 10 hours a week giving talks and webinars, writing articles, calling and sending LinkedIn invites to people who can refer business to me.

All of they are activities for

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Watch SCORE’s webinar “What Small Businesses Need to Know About Cybersecurity”

Manufacturing

2021

43%

Most small business owners feel only “somewhat prepared” for the challenges ahead

Read our “The Small Business Guide to Cybersecurity” to develop a plan

of cyberattacks target small businesses.

How financially prepared do you feel your business is to handle an economic downturn that might occur over the next several years?

Challenge #4:

2019, Qtr. 4

Natural disasters

24%

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13%

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Browse through our Small Business Disaster Preparedness Resources

Challenge #1: How likely do you think there will be an economic downturn or a recession in the next 12 months?

How to prepare:

75%

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22%

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CLOSED

Work with a SCORE mentor to help you prepare your small business for the new decade.

Economic downturn Extremely

40 to 60% of small businesses never reopen their doors after a disaster.

How to prepare:

www.score.org

rate their company’s cash flow in 2019 as “good” or “very good” so apply for financing while your numbers are strong.

Sources: https://www.thebalance.com/us-economic-outlook-3305669 https://www.federalreserve.gov/monetarypolicy/files/fomcprojtabl20191211.pdf https://media.wellsfargoworks.com/insights/study/q4-2019-small-business-index-survey-results.pdf https://www.nfib.com/surveys/small-business-economic-trends/ https://connecteam.com/latest-small-business-trends/ https://www.fastcompany.com/3034286/will-half-of-people-be-working-remotely-by-2020

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https://enterprise.verizon.com/resources/reports/dbir/2019/summary-of-findings/ https://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/1441212988001-1aa7fa978c5f999ed088dcaa815cb8cd/3a_BusinessInfographic-1.pdf

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THE VALLEY’S STEAK & LOBSTER HOUSE

Wanna swim?

Challenge #2: We gotTight you covered. labor

market

Most companies cannot fill open positions.

How to prepare:

Percentage with at least 1 unfilled opening, Jan. 2016 to Nov. 2019

43%

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of the US workforce will be freelancers by 2020 so take advantage of the growing freelancer pool.

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Bone-In Ribeye, New York, Porter House, T-Bone, Filet Mignon, Prime Rib, Rack of Lamb, Fresh Fish, Lobster Tails, Challenge #3: Shellfi sh Combos, Baby Back Ribs, Portuguese and Italian Entrees.

Cyberattacks Served with Soup, Salad, Beans, Rolls and Butter How to prepare: % of small businesses

Watch SCORE’s webinar “What Small Businesses Need to Know About Cybersecurity”

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of cyberattacks target small businesses.

Subscribe on

Valenne’s Day!

Challenge #4:

Natural disasters 40 to 60% of small businesses never reopen their doors after a disaster.

How to prepare:

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STUDIO209.TV Browse through our Small Business Disaster Preparedness Resources

Please Do not Wait And Be Disappointed Make Reservations Now For

CLOSED

visit 209magazine.com and click the Work with a SCORE mentor to help you prepare your small business for the new decade.

SUBSCRIBE www.score.org

to have 209 Magazine delivered to your door!

Sources:

https://www.thebalance.com/us-economic-outlook-3305669

https://www.federalreserve.gov/monetarypolicy/files/fomcprojtabl20191211.pdf

https://media.wellsfargoworks.com/insights/study/q4-2019-small-business-index-survey-results.pdf https://www.nfib.com/surveys/small-business-economic-trends/ https://connecteam.com/latest-small-business-trends/

https://www.fastcompany.com/3034286/will-half-of-people-be-working-remotely-by-2020 https://enterprise.verizon.com/resources/reports/dbir/2019/summary-of-findings/

https://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/1441212988001-1aa7fa978c5f999ed088dcaa815cb8cd/3a_BusinessInfographic-1.pdf

WE’ VE GOT THE 209 COVERED.

209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

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NEWS

Visionary Home Builders selected Merced County Fair Board officers selected for 2020 to build on state-owned land STAFF REPORTS 209 Business Journal

The Government Operations Agency announced on Jan. 21, that Visionary Home Builders will build the first modular multifamily housing project in Stockton, in response to California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s vision of building affordable housing on excess state-owned land.

Visionary Home Builders proposed “La Passeggiata,” a community where seniors and families can come together in a community atmosphere that will bring housing support and sustainable living to the heart of downtown Stockton.

“We are excited to partner with Pearl Homes to deliver the first modular apartment housing to the community of Stockton,” said Carol Ornelas, CEO of Visionary Home Builders. Pearl Homes aims to push homebuilding into the future with third-party verified, green building practices and incorpora-

tion of modern home technology. The Pearl Home is engineered to run on one of our most valuable natural resources, solar power, stored in an onsite battery, thereby reducing the home’s carbon footprint and alleviating reliance on traditional utilities. “With this partnership, we believe both families and seniors will benefit from the innovative design and interconnected layout of this property. We are bridging relationships with multigenerational people to enhance the lives of the citizens in our community,” states Ornelas.

Located on state property at East Miner Avenue, “La Passeggiata” will consist of two buildings, interconnected by a bridge — for families and for seniors. The one-, two-, and three-bedroom units will be available with energy efficient electric appliances, net zero off the grid technology, smart home artificial intelligence technology, rooftop gardens, and

solar photovoltaic systems.

“I am grateful as Mayor to work with city staff, our state partners, our Governor, and Visionary Home Builders of California to build La Passeggiata,” said Mayor Michael Tubbs. This project is a blueprint, demonstrating how state and local officials can come together, in record time, to support affordable housing.”

In a press release from the Government Operations Agency, Governor Gavin Newsom stated “to address the housing affordability crisis, we need to use every tool in the toolbox and that includes building affordable units in excess stateowned land. But we can’t realize this vision alone.

We are working alongside local leaders who are stepping up in their communities to tackle the housing shortage head on.”

VHB strives to create healthy, vibrant living environments in all of their SEE HOME, PAGE 10

STAFF REPORTS 209 Business Journal

The Merced County Fair announced the 2020 officer positions for the 35th District Agricultural Association Board of Directors, which was made official on Jan. 13 after a Board vote during its monthly meeting. Those positions are: Carol Sartori-Silva, President; Lee Lor, First Vice President; and Kim Rogina, Second Vice President.

“It is exciting to have the opportunity to work with Carol in a new capacity as our Board President, who has been involved in the fair her whole life. Her connections with our fair, our community and our agriculture community run deep,” said Teresa Burrola, CEO of the Merced County Fair. “I look forward to the year ahead as she further helps us continue to serve our community and grow the Fair.”

Sartori-Silva has a

longstanding relationship with the Fair, having served on the Merced County Fair Board for more than 20 years.

She has served as a Fiscal Supervisor for the Merced County Welfare to Work Department, as well as a Civil Assistant in the Merced County Marshal’s Office. She has previously served as a member of the California Women in Agriculture, Merced County Historical Society and the Western Fairs Association.

Carol was also a charter member of the Friends of the Merced County Fair, which is the Fair’s nonprofit foundation.

“I’m honored and excited to serve as the fair’s Board President of the Merced County Fair, which has been part of my life since the age of three and is a tradition for my family and generations of families in our area,” said Sartori-Silva.

SEE MERCED, PAGE 10

Lee Lor

Kim Rogina

Carol Sartori-Silva

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209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

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FEBRUARY 2020

NEWS

Bay Valley Tech expands free code academy SCOE partnership aims to help train 1,000 new programmers in next five years

BY STAFF REPORTS 209 Business Journal

As software continues to transform the global economy creating unprecedented opportunities for the tech-savvy, many Central Valley workers are finding it difficult to break into the high-paying industry.

Bay Valley Tech is opening doors for area residents through its innovative free software training program.

Code academy students learn new programming skills through flexible online courses, peer-based tutoring and weekly inperson classes, where they have opportunities to network with local software

MERCED

FROM PAGE 9

“I am so proud of what the fair provides our community – a family-friendly, safe place to gather and connect – while promoting educational advancement and agriculture, all while having fun! I look forward to future improvements to the grounds, which is made possible by Friends of the Merced County Fair and the generous support from our community, and a wonderful 2020 fair!”

First Vice President Lor of Merced was first appointed to the Merced County Fair Board in 2013.

She held multiple posi-

HOME

FROM PAGE 9 developments. “We are pleased to be in collaboration with the State, the City, and other community partners to benefit the families in our community,” states

professionals and hiring managers. Bay Valley Tech has also partnered with local companies to provide software professionals as code academy mentors and paid internships for top program graduates.

“The local tech community plays an invaluable role inspiring, supporting, mentoring and lifting each other up toward betterpaying careers,” said Phillip Lan, president of Bay Valley Tech.

Bay Valley Tech’s partnership with the Stanislaus County Office of Education and other corporate sponsors increases funding to significantly accelerate lo-

cal software development training.

“Our collaboration with Bay Valley Tech will provide Stanislaus County residents with an accelerated, cost-effective training program, giving graduates of the program access to high-tech careers that are in demand,” said Scott Kuykendall, Stanislaus County Superintendent of Schools.

Interested students and corporate sponsors should fill out the Bay Valley Tech contact form at www.bayvalleytech.com/contact to receive more information.

tions at the Merced County Office of Education including Executive Director of the Merced County Education Foundation. Lor is a former board member of the Merced Lao Family Community and Mercy Medical Center Merced.

She is a member of the American Leadership Forum – Great Valley Chapter and Chair of the First 5 Merced County. In 2016, she was elected to the Merced County Board of Supervisors representing District 2, a position she proudly holds.

Second Vice President, Rogina of Merced was first appointed to the Merced County Fair board in 2015.

She is co-owner of her family farming business Rogina Inc. established in 1985. She is also a real estate agent with Next Door Real Estate Professionals (formerly Century 21 Salvadori Realty). Rogina served as president and on the Board of Directors for the Merced County Association of Realtors. She is a member of California Women for Agriculture, the Merced County Farm Bureau, and a California Agricultural Leadership Program alumnus.

The 2020 Merced County Fair will be held June 10 – 14. For more information, visit mercedcountyfair. com.

Ornelas. In particular, our relationship with Dignity Health St. Joseph’s Medical Center will bring a variety of on-site services for families and seniors such as diabetes education, senior workshops, and the volunteer-based program, “Friends of Seniors,” which provides transportation as-

sistance and friendly visiting to home bound seniors with limited support and resources.

For further information, contact Visionary Home Builders of California, Inc. at (209) 466-6811 or visit www.visionaryhomebuilders.org

Three from Turlock Selected for Almond Leadership Program

BY STAFF REPORT 209 Business Journal

The Almond Board of California is proud to announce the Almond Leadership Program Class of 2020. ABC chose three Turlock-area residents to participate in the 2020 program: Jason DeGraff, Raj Samran and Matthew Wilson. They join a class of 17 promising leaders who represent diverse backgrounds across multiple industries, from almond farmers to processors, sales representatives to consultants, researchers and more.

In this year-long program, participants will grow in their roles as the future generation of California almond industry leaders, learning from volunteer mentors who will help equip them with the knowledge and experience necessary to improve their leadership skills, the industry and their communities. The class will also complete specialized training in a wide variety of topic areas, many of which are tied to ABC activities in global marketing, production and nutrition research, food safety and more. Through monthly seminars spanning topics

across all aspects of the industry, participants will sharpen their communication skills while building lasting relationships with each other, ABC staff and others through networking opportunities.

As a kickoff to the program, the Leadership class participated in a two-day orientation that included an address from ABC President and CEO Richard Waycott and Chair of ABC’s Board of Directors Holly A. King.

Waycott and King highlighted the Almond Orchard 2025 Goals and the almond community’s roadmap to achieving them, two cornerstones of this year’s Almond Leadership Program.

As they progress through the program, participants will gain a stronger understanding of how social, economic and environmental issues — combined with the current political climate — affect the industry. They’ll also learn how all sectors in the almond supply chain work together to provide a safe, sustainable[1] product to consumers worldwide.

“It’s important now more than ever before to help pay-it-forward by

empowering the next generation of talented leaders to sustain and propel the tremendous benefits of modern agriculture, making a positive contribution toward feeding and nourishing our growing and connected world,” said program mentor Nassar Dean of Bayer Crop Science, the official sponsor of the 2020 Almond Leadership Program.

Participants are also required to pursue an area of interest as part of a yearlong self-directed project that they will present to fellow classmates, mentors and the ABC Board of Directors at the end of the program.

Jason DeGraff is a pest control advisor for Mid Valley Ag Services, where he has been advising on almonds for the past few years. Raj Samran of Samran & Sons Farming Co. Inc., farms almonds with his family near Denair.

Matthew Wilson has been a sales representative with Bayer Crop Science since Jan. 2015, and he works in the northern San Joaquin Valley to provide pest control advisors with technical product information for responsible crop care.

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209 BUSINESS JOURNAL

11

ACCOLADES

PROMOTIONS, APPOINTMENTS, HONORS, ETC. New Oak Valley Community Bank investments representative

Oak Valley Community Bank announced that Gregory Hoekman, has joined the Oak Valley Investments Team as an Investment Representative. He will be based out of the Modesto-Dale Road office.

Hoekman has 10 years of banking experience. As a financial advisor for Oak Valley Investments, Hoekman will specialize in the Oak Valley Investments product suite, assisting clients in setting up and maintaining mutual funds, insurance, stocks, college funding and savings plans, bonds, and fixed and variable anGreg Hoekman nuities.

“We are happy to have Greg join the Oak Valley Investments team,” stated Renee Lovitt, Vice President, Investment Representative.

“Greg’s financial planning knowledge and experience will help deepen relationships and be a great asset to the bank and our clients.”

Hoekman is currently a member of the Estate Planning Council of Stanislaus County. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Azusa Pacific University and a Master of Science in Personal Financial Planning from College for Financial Planning.

In his free time, he enjoys golf, music, and outdoor activities with his family. He currently resides in Ripon with his wife Kathryn and four kids.

Westamerica Bank announces new board member Westamerica Bancorporation announced the appointment of Dr. Melanie Martella Chiesa to its Board of Directors.

“We are pleased to welcome Dr. Chiesa to our Board of Directors,” says David L. Payne, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Westamerica Bancorporation. “Melanie’s professional experience and extensive agricultural background will be instrumental as we grow and serve our customers in California’s Central Valley.

Dr. Chiesa adds diversity to our Board’s leadership, ensuring a broad range of skills, experience and perspectives which will guide us in the future.”

A lifelong resident of Hughson, California, Dr. Chiesa is a partner in her family’s walnut and almond farming operations, Martella Farms, in Stanislaus County. Additionally, Dr. Chiesa is an optometrist in private practice at Monte Vista Optometry.

Dr. Chiesa pursued her undergraduate degree at CSU Fresno, where she received her Bachelor of Science in Functional Biology and Food Science. She graduated Summa Cum Laude and is a lifetime member of Phi Beta Kappa and Beta Sigma Kappa. She continued her graduate studies at the University of California, Berkeley, School of Optometry where she received an additional B.S. degree in Visual Science and her Doctor of Optometry degree. She received the prestigious Gold Retinoscope Award, which goes to the

most outstanding graduate student. She was also selected for the Bausch & Lomb “Excellence in Academic Achievement Contact Lens Award”.

Dr. Chiesa volunteers a significant amount of time to various local philanthropic organizations. She currently sits on the board of the Stanislaus Community Foundation and is a trustee for the Gallo Center for the Arts.

Doctors Hospital of Manteca names new Chief Executive Officer Doctors Hospital of Manteca has appointed Murali Naidu as its new Chief Executive Officer.

Effective Feb. 24, 2020, Dr. Naidu will assume responsibility for all hospital operations, executive planning and directing medical services.

“Dr. Naidu brings with him a fresh perspective and new energy to enhancing and expanding our healthcare delivery,” said Warren Kirk, CEO of Tenet’s Northern California Group.

“We value his strong commitment to providing the highest level of Dr. Murali Naidu quality care to our patients in the Manteca community and surrounding areas.”

Dr. Naidu joins Doctors Hospital of Manteca from Managed Care Systems out of Bakersfield, Calif., where he serves as the chief physician executive. He played a pivotal role in supporting the on-boarding of 140,000 members and 750 physicians.

Dr. Naidu previously served as System Chief Clinical Officer at Sentara Healthcare in Norfolk, Va., and as Vice President of Perioperative Care for Dignity Health’s 39 hospitals.

Dr. Naidu earned his A.B. in Molecular & Cell Biology from the University of California, Berkeley and his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine. He is a laparoscopic surgeon who practiced for more than ten years prior to his full-time leadership roles.

He has served on the USC Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics Advisory Board in Los Angeles, and the Roundtable on Quality Care for People with Serious Illness at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine in Washington, D.C. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Blue Skies for Children, a nonprofit childcare education center in Oakland that is committed to providing high-quality support to children and their families.

Family Resource & Referral Center appoints second Chief Operations Officer Family Resource & Referral Center announced that Tiffany Phovixay has been appointed to serve as the agency’s second Chief Operations Officer effective immediately. Phovixay recently held the position of Program Manager, overseeing the agency’s Subsidized Child Care Division

and 2-1-1 San Joaquin Program.

“I am delighted to welcome Tiffany to this new role,” said Kay Ruhstaller, FRRC’s CEO. “Given the size and complexity of the organization’s program services, and positive growth that FRRC has experienced in the past couple of years, there was need for change to the organization’s structure. Tiffany has made invaluable contributions Tiffany Phovixay to the agency; she has excelled in the implementation of 2-11 SJ, and the Bridge Program, while managing several existing programs. Tiffany will continue to accelerate our vision and build on our current programs and services to serve our community.”

Phovixay joins Leslie Reece, who has served as COO since 2016. Prior to joining FRRC in 2005, Phovixay managed a large Subsidized Child Care department at Child Care Links in the East Bay. Phovixay has served as the agency’s Compliance Analyst and was promoted to the Quality Control Data Manager in 2008. In 2016, she became the Subsidized Child Care/211 Program Manager.

Phovixay is committed to professional leadership and serves on the Board of Directors for San Joaquin County Data CoOp, and is an active member of the American Society of Association Executives.

Phovixay is alumna of Leadership Stockton (class of 2018), and is an active member of the Leadership Stockton Alumni Association, working toward solutions for the advancement of the greater Stockton community.

New CEO for Greater Merced Chamber of Commerce The Greater Merced Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors has selected Sara Cribari Hill to serve as the new Chief Executive Officer.

Hill comes from the consulting firm CoreHR Team, where she was the Director of Talent and Strategy. Prior to that she was with Old Navy in their headquarters.

Hill moved to Merced in 2016 and started the promotion and branding business The Greatest Valley.

Modesto resident leads transportation commission The California Transportation Commission elected Paul Van Konynenburg of Modesto as its Chair for 2020.

Van Konynenburg was appointed to the Commission by Gov. Edmund G. Brown Jr. in August of 2017 and elected Vice Chair in January of 2019. While on the Commission, he has provided a strong voice for addressing the needs of California’s most rural and disadvantaged areas with equitable transportation investments that promote inclusive economic development.

He came to the Commission with nearly 20 years of experience leading regional public-private inclusive economic development and workforce training collaborations, including Opportunity Stanislaus, Stanislaus County Economic Develop-

ment and Workforce Alliance, and the Stanislaus County Economic Development Corporation.

He also has over two decades of experience chairing and advising non-partisan political campaigns and initiatives at the local and regional level. Most recently, he advised the Stanislaus County Council of Governments in 2015 and 2016 on the formation of the Local Roads First Transportation Expenditure Plan that harmonized the diverse interPaul Van ests of 10 local govKonynenburg ernments, business leaders, labor unions, environmental advocates and senior citizen groups. He also chaired the 2016 passage of Measure L in Stanislaus County, which formed the largest political coalition in the history of the county and succeeding in passing the measure with over 70 percent in favor. This was the largest win for a transportation sales tax measure in the 2016 election cycle, as well as the largest percentage win of any first-time county measure since 1989.

Van Konynenburg currently is the managing partner of Britton Konynenburg Partners, a Global G.A.P.-certified sustainable producer of peaches, apples, cherries, almonds, and apricots. He holds a bachelor’s degree in managerial economics from the University of California, Davis.

Community Hospice announces new board member Community Hospice, the oldest and largest nonprofit hospice provider serving the Central Valley since 1979, is pleased to announce a new board member.

Joining the Community Hospice Board of Directors is Ms. Fatima Seward. “I am pleased to welcome Fatima to our Community Hospice Board and family,” said C. DeSha McLeod, Community Hospice President/CEO. “Fatima brings to Community Hospice years of community relations and leadership experience. We look forward to working together to proactively provide compassionate and quality care, education and support to our Fatima Seward community.”

Fatima Seward is the Senior Relationship Manager for BAC Community Bank.

She has more than 25 years of experience in the banking industry with extensive background in all aspects of service and operations.

The Community Hospice Board of Directors is comprised of community volunteers who provide strategic oversight and governance to the organization’s mission to provide compassionate care, education and support to terminally ill patients and their families, regardless of ability to pay.

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FEBRUARY 2020