SPG Solar Expands Commercial Services

SPG SOLAR now offers

a Full Suite of Funding Resources 

and Expertise to the Commercial Solar Market

SPG Solar, a leading US solar installer and recently ranked as the second largest in California, announced today that it will offer access to a full array of financial resources and expertise on public funding and tax credit opportunities for commercial solar projects. SPG Solar’s Structured Finance Group will be headed by Michael Johnson, the former Managing Director of the Renewable Energy Investment Program for the National Development Council, who joined SPG Solar in June, 2010 as Vice President of Project Finance.

With the formation of its Structured Finance Group, SPG Solar becomes an industry leader as one of the few companies able to provide this combination of expertise and access to the private and public funding needed to make solar projects economically viable and a sound investment for the long-term. Due to SPG Solar’s track record of success and reliable installations, the Structured Finance Group within SPG can now offer its customers access to its third party funding partners for Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), debt and equity investment, operating and capital lease arrangements and participation in Renewable Energy Funds. The Group also brings together the industry’s leading experts on federal and state government Solar Renewable Energy Credits, available public funding through CREB bond offerings, Department of Energy Grants and utility incentive programs.

“We are taking the mystery out of a very complex funding process for our customers,” noted SPG Solar President and CEO, Thomas Rooney. ‘SPG Solar is a relationship-based company, and we will build upon this as we make the connections between our customers and the investment community.”

About SPG Solar, Inc.

SPG Solar is a leading developer of distributed solar projects for large, government and public energy users. Located in Novato, California, SPG Solar is helping to meet rising energy demand by developing clean power using solar systems located where they are needed most - at the site of the user. The company prides itself on unique and custom solar solutions such as developing the Floatovoltaic™, the world’s first floating solar system, making it possible for businesses to switch to clean, solar power without having to give up valuable land and receive unique water benefits. SPG Solar currently manages more than 1,500 solar system installations from coast-to-coast. For more information on SPG Solar and distributed solar power, please visit www.spgsolar.com.

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BUSINESS LEADERS: 40 Under 40 Recognized

Forty under 40 winners for 2010

The North Bay Business Journal released the names of the winners of its fourth-annual Forty under 40 awards today. The winners, selected from more than 75 nominees, were chosen on the basis of their leadership in companies and organizations across the North Bay.

Winners of 2010 awards will be honored at a gala reception on April 27, 2010 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Wells Fargo Center for the Arts in Santa Rosa. Tickets are available for $49 per person or $510 for a table of 10, including company name on the table. To attend, contact Linda Perkins at events@busjrnl.com or 707-521-5264, or register online.

Listed alphabetically, 2010 Forty under 40 winners are:

Clay Angel, Kaiser Permanente San Rafael Medical Center

Michelle Ausburn, Moss Adams

Nate Bisbee, TLCD Architecture

Kadin Blonski, Lanahan and Reilley

Jefferson Buller, Bank of America

Linda Chavez, Safety & Environmental Compliance Associates; Chavez Family Cellars

Karen Cividanes, Optio Solutions

Geoff Coleman, BKF/Carlenzoli; Santa Rosa Junior College

Jason Cunningham, West County Health Centers

Patrick Donohue, Scott Technology Group

Dylan Dupre, SPG Solar

Jason Ehn, Redwood Credit Union

Judd Finkelstein, Judd’s Hill

Brian Finnegan, Burr Pilger Mayer

Dominic Foppoli, Foppoli Wines; W Real Estate; Pureland USA/China

Michael Green, Abbey Weitzenberg Warren & Emery

Jeremy Greer, West Coast Solar Energy

Nate Gulbransen, West Coast Solar Energy

Susan Hansen, 4-H Foundation of Sonoma County

Mike Harris, CrossCheck

Steve Jannicelli, Moss Adams

Jessica Jauregui, St. Joseph Health System

Bob Just, St. Joseph Health System

Geoff Kruth, The Farmhouse; Guild of Sommeliers

Ken Kurtzig, iReuse

Carol Larson, Kaiser Permanente Santa Rosa Medical Center

Kevin McGee, Jackson Enterprises; Healdsburg Beer Co.

Dustin McMullen, Lavid Designs

Dustin Mowe, Portocork

James Nevin, Brayton Purcell

Carlos Perez, Bike Monkey

Chris Reiter, Woodruff Sawyer & Company

Ylisa Sanford Seymour, Sanford, Jigalin & Seymour, a financial advisory branch of Ameriprise Financial

Michelle Scanlon, Brown & Brown of Northern California

Nicole Smartt, Star Staffing

William Soper, Beels Soper

Marcos Suarez, Prominent Realtors

Jana Trout Wacholz, Wild Oak Saddle Club

Amber Twitchell, California Human Development

Rich Vitali, Coordinated Project Installations

Randy Waller, W Real Estate, 5th Street Financial


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Article printed from North Bay Business Journal: http://www.northbaybusinessjournal.com

URL to article: http://www.northbaybusinessjournal.com/19580/forty-under-40-winners-for-2010-announced/

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[1] link: http://www.northbaybusinessjournal.com/19593/register-to-attend-the-forty-under-40-awards-reception/

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Sonoma County - The Green Jobs Epicenter?

A Report from the 350 Action Fair for Green Jobs and Training
by Woody Hastings

Santa Rosa City Councilmember Veronica Jacobi welcomed a well-attended “Action Fair” for green jobs and training in Santa Rosa on “350 Day” - October 24th, a day of international actions focused on raising public awareness of the urgency of taking action on climate change. “350” refers to what climate scientists tell us is the maximum concentration of carbon dioxide Earth’s atmosphere can safely sustain - 350 parts per million (ppm). Unfortunately, we passed that mark in the early 1990s. We are currently at about 390 ppm and rising at about 2 ppm per year. 350.org estimates that about 5200 events took place in about 181 countries.

Organized by Evelina Molina of the North Bay Institute of Green Technology, the all-day event in Santa Rosa featured a diverse line-up of people and organizations involved in a wide variety of green career projects and programs. The bottom line is that many opportunities exist for employment and training in the rapidly developing field of “green” jobs and careers. “We want to make sure that green jobs are truly green in the sense that they provide opportunities for under-served, under-represented, low-income communities of color with barriers to employment. The jobs should provide wage-earners a family living wage, health benefits, and career pathways to prosperity. If the emerging green jobs economy does not create a fair and just opportunity for all, then it is not ‘green’ and will not create the sustainable socio-economic infrastructure that is needed to pull us out of this economic slump,” said Molina.

A green job seeker peruses the many green job categories posted at the event

“It is going to require an army of people to do all the energy efficiency building retrofits, weather-stripping, and renewable energy installations that will be needed to reach the greenhouse gas emissions reductions targets that must be met to avert global disaster,” said Chris Cone of Solar Sonoma. She reminded the audience that Sonoma County has the most aggressive climate action plan in the nation, committing the county to carbon dioxide emissions reductions of 25% below 1990 levels by 2020. “The things that constitute the crisis - climate change and the recession, are the drivers that present the opportunity - a transition to a green economy fueled in part by the federal stimulus funds for green jobs,” she went on to explain.

That point was underscored by a speaker who followed, John Richau, Regional Director of the Community Alliance of Career Training and Utility Solutions who anticipates a veritable “boom” in jobs in home retrofitting over the next few years due to the fact that the California Public Utilities Commission is funneling $3.1 billion in federal stimulus money over the next three years to communities throughout California for that purpose.

Other private sector opportunities are emerging without federal assistance. GreenRay Technologies, an LED lighting start-up based in Santa Rosa, is opening a new manufacturing plant in Sonoma County and is currently hiring. “For years and years you’ve seen jobs like these moved overseas to Asia and other places. GreenRay is reversing that trend and will be employing people and manufacturing right here at home,” said Gene Quisisem, Western Regional Director for the firm. LED lights are even more energy efficient than compact fluorescents and do not contain any hazardous materials.

Many renewable energy projects and other green projects are being proposed in the Bay Area, including the North Bay. Some of them are large and offer the possibility of significant number of green jobs. One of the struggles is to ensure that the communities in which the projects are located are not left out of the employment opportunity. Multi-stakeholder agreements that address this concern are known as “community workforce agreements.” A textbook example was provided by Joshua Arce of the Brightline Defense Project (brightlinedefense.org). Joshua recounted the recent story of a 5 megawatt solar project planned to be installed on top of the huge cap covering the Sunset Reservoir in San Francisco. No jobs from the chronically underemployed and unemployed districts of San Francisco were planned. Brightline organized a coalition of communities and succeeded in stopping the project with the demand that at least 30% of the workforce be hired from local underserved communities. The demand was met and the project was approved. Arce highlighted five key stakeholders that must be included in a successful project: 1) Industry; 2) Labor; 3) Elected Officials; 4) The local Workforce Investment Board; and last but not least 5) Community and Environmental Organizations.

From troubled unemployed teen to enthusiastic and gainfully employed green jobs advocate, Edgardo Tafoya, 24, addresses the attendees

The most compelling personal story of the day came from Edgardo Tafoya, a young man transformed by the career opportunities that unfolded for him via the North Bay Institute of Green Technology. Edgardo had spent many years incarcerated since some regrettable “mistakes made” during his teen years. “It was impossible to get a job just by filling out an application. I needed someone who was going to take a chance on me and believe that I have something to offer,” he said. Edgardo is now gainfully employed in the rapidly emerging “green collar” field of home energy efficiency retrofitting.

Woody Hastings is a freelance environmental writer based in Sonoma County. Contact him at whastings@earthlink.net

Event photographed by Don Jackson.

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Maintaining Home: Preparing Gutters and Downspouts for Winter Rains

Summer is over. Leaves are falling, and many are falling into the gutter systems. The purpose of gutters, downspouts and splashguards is to direct water away from the exterior of the home, preventing damage to walls, foundations and landscape materials. If gutters are not maintained and monitored, it can create numerous problems with the home.

The largest problem area with most homes is at the envelope of the home, i.e. the exterior siding and roof. Part of the problem found during inspections is that the home owner does not have the gutter cleaned and monitored on a monthly basis. When the gutter and downspout are full with debris, the water spills over the top of the gutter and can cause damage to the eaves, rafters, siding and quite possibly the home’s foundation.

There are ways to help prevent gutters from being a consistent threat. Some home owners use gutter screens purchased from their local hardware store. Other home owners have gutter system with a solid cover over the top, which allows water to enter, but not the debris. These alternative gutter systems do not mean that the gutter will not collect debris. They will also have to be maintained and monitored; however, less than a standard open gutter system. The roof also collects debris, which can reduce its life, if not cleaned and monitored. As a professional property inspector, we are required to look at the home to see if this type of standard maintenance has been done as a steady ritual. When inspectors recommend that the home’s gutter and roof are cleaned, it is always recommended that a qualified professional do the work, especially when working off a ladder or with power tools.

This is only a small part of a standard home inspection. There are many other important details that should be considered when maintaining a property. One important detail is to know where your home is distributing its water run off from the gutter and downspout. This is why it is a good idea to ensure that the downspout is tied into a professionally installed sub drain system terminating at street level. If there is no sub drain system present, then you are relying on natural drainage around your home to divert the water away from the homes foundation, which brings to mind another very important maintenance issue: lots and grounds drainage.

A home should always have the earth surrounding the home’s exterior foundation sloping away from the home. This is another part of a standard property maintenance inspection. When the home does not have proper surrounding drainage there can be numerous issues, such as standing water in the crawl space under your home. Standing water can lead to health issues due to the moist conditions under the home that could get into the central heating duct. Not to mention decay and or settlement of foundation framing. With a possible wet winter ahead, having a well maintained home envelope and properly graded grounds are very important elements of standard maintenance.

Steve Ogletree is a Property Inspector with National Property Inspections
(707) 604-7030, E-mail: stevenogletree@comcast.net
www.npiweb.com/ogletree

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Soiland Family Purchases Grab 'n Grow Soil Products

Included in the photo are:
Randy Swegle, Sonoma Site manager
Mark Soiland, President, COO
Marv Soiland, Board Chairman/CEO
Don Liepold, Santa Rosa Site Manager
Marelene Soiland, Sec/Treas/CFO

Growing a Business
with Focus on Recycling

By Marlene Soiland
With layoffs, mandatory time off, and salary reductions dominating the news, it is great to have a positive story to share with readers! Stony Point Rock Quarry, a Sonoma County family business since 1973, is growing ... organically and sustainably.

Stony Point Rock Quarry currently operates two aggregate and top soil production facilities in Sonoma County. In Cotati, we’re located at 7171 Stony Point Road, 5 minutes north of Sonoma County’s Central Landfill. In Sonoma, we’re located at 4202 Stage Gulch Road, adjacent to the Landfill’s Sonoma Transfer station.

Purchasing Grab N’ Grow
On September 1, 2009, Stony Point Rock Quarry, Inc. acquired Grab N’ Grow Soil Products, Inc. For 25 years Grab N’ Grow has produced healthy soil products, compost, and ground covers from their facility at 2759 Llano Road, Santa Rosa, CA.

Increasing Sustainability
“My goal is to increase the sustainable portion of our product line by increasing recyclables from 20% to 80% of total sales by 2014,” stated President Mark Soiland. “The acquisition of Grab N’ Grow Soil Products makes a significant move in the right direction for our business.”

Focus on Recycling
With our Cotati and Sonoma facilities strategically located adjacent to landfill collection facilities, we divert over 100,000 cubic yards of materials each year that would otherwise be buried or hauled out of the County. We convert this waste into recycled road base and other construction products. Raw materials such as concrete rubble, asphalt, and ceramics, including toilets and roofing tiles, as well as composition asphalt shingles, are converted into Class 2 Road Base or Recycled Asphalt Products, which can be used in many different paving applications.

Organic Growth
Stony Point’s soil production facilities recycle organic materials to produce a variety of products, including mixes for track and field as well as bocce ball courts, and special soil mixtures for residential use and commercial landscape yards and nurseries.

Each year Grab N’ Grow recycles over 80,000 cubic yards of organic materials, including green waste from local residents and commercial landscapers, grape and apple pomace from local farmers, and waste from local dairies and ranches.

Caring for People
Many Grab N’ Grow employees accepted employment with Stony Point, including Don Liepold, who has managed the operation since inception. Liepold said “The acquisition of Grab N’ Grow Soil Products by the Soiland’s is a very exciting event.”

Company Values
We believe that efficiency, high quality, operational excellence, and environmental stewardship are important to the success of our family business. These values give Stony Point an opportunity to infuse our culture of care for employees, product quality control, and environmental responsibility into Grab N’ Grow.

Stewardship in Action
What does Environmental Stewardship look like for a company that owns and operates 2 rock quarries, and just acquired a second soil processing facility?

• Meeting the CA Air Resources Board (CARB) Emissions Guidelines two full years before the deadline
• Installing efficiency systems on all equipment to reduce fuel consumption and extend hours between service intervals
• Upgrading equipment to take advantage of state-of-the-art technology which reduces emissions and environmental impacts
• Using bio-diesel and recycling all used fluids
• Becoming the only local producer to recycle asphalt composition shingles into recycled asphalt products which can be used in a variety of paving projects, eliminating the need to landfill old roofing materials
• Promoting use of recycled aggregate products by contractors and homeowners to increase waste diversion Installing solar panels and energy efficient fixtures on new office facility in Cotati

Innovation and Improvement
Don Liepold and Mark Soiland are excited about building on the success and great reputation of Grab N’ Grow and its products. Their first step is to upgrade equipment. New technology reduces environmental impacts and ensures compliance with the CARB. The new equipment will also increase product quality and consistency. Liepold and Soiland also plan to improve the customer experience in the yard, making it an all-weather facility that is customer-friendly. The synergy of this management team is unbelievable. They are beginning to design a new composting system run by solar panels. Watch for more news to come.

Passion for Family Business
Stony Point Rock Quarry, Inc. has been owned by the Soiland family since 1973. Marv Soiland, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board, has been active in the construction and aggregate industries since the 1950’s. Each of his 7 children were initiated into the family business at the age of 13 with the admonition to call him “Marv” while at work. Mark Soiland, is 6th in the family birth order and as Chief Operations Officer and President, oversees daily production and sales at all locations. As the 2nd child and oldest female, my life has been centered on the family and our business, so as Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary/Treasurer I oversee administrative, legal and permits for our company.

“We are an excellent team. Our father brings his wisdom and many years of experience to Marlene and I every day. I understand operations, love equipment, and am active in various groups in our community.” says Mark Soiland “And Marlene makes sure that our financial and human resources, accounting and legal affairs are all in order.”

The Soiland’s goal is to continue their family business for future generations. Marlene has 2 sons, Ross and Rex, who in their 20’s are active in the business. The family looks forward to initiating Mark’s children into the business when they are older.

Serving Sonoma County’s Aggregate and Soil needs from 3 Convenient Locations:

Stoney Point Rock Quarry, Inc. • http://www.sprqinc.com/
7171 Stony Point Road, Cotati • 795-1775 • M-F 7:30-4:00, Sat 8:00-12:00
4202 Stage Gulch Road, Sonoma • 996-3400 * M-F 7:30-4:30, Sat by appt

Grab n' Grow Soil Products, Inc. • http://www.grabngrowsoil.com/
2759 Llano Road, Santa Rosa • 575-7275 • M-Sat 8:00-5:00 at landfills

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MIX IT UP Magazine for Young Adults

My name is Ed Troxell and I just graduated from Sonoma State University with a B.A. in Communications. I just wanted to let you know about MIX IT UP Magazine, issue 2 is now out. MIX IT UP Magazine is a comprehensive source of information written for young adults on topics that matter most: health, work, travel, and entertainment. We are a publication dedicated to building confidence, expanding perspectives, and shaping a promising future.

MIX IT UP will be the one-stop magazine if you will for young adults both males and females. It is a free, bi-monthly magazine that will be distributed to the North Bay (San Jose to Chico), hitting most of the major colleges and places young adults gather.

I created MIX IT UP Magazine last year as part of my senior project, a graduation requirement for SSU, here in Santa Rosa. Given today’s economy and the way the job market is I decided to create the next step in my life. I have always had a passion for the magazine industry and after working for awhile at Make Magazine out in Sebastopol I realized that I just need to start my own and see where it goes.

I feel that 2009 is the time for change and trying something new. This is the biggest risk I have ever taken and I am facing it head on. The goal is to have advertisers support this so that we can continue to be a free print publication while tying in the web. Online we have videos from stories in the print edition as well as an online version. As we continue to grow we will be putting extras on the website.

It would be great if you could just let people know about MIX IT UP Magazine and spread the word. People like what they see in MIX IT UP and I have made it a personal goal to do everything I can in order to keep it going. While I know everything is going online, there is still a need from consumers for print. They still love to touch and feel things in their hands. That is why I want to continue mixing print and online so that readers can get the best of both worlds.

Feel free to check out our website, http://www.mixitupmagazine.com, which has all of our information, including our media kit.

Sincerely,

Ed Troxell
MIX IT UP Magazine
Publisher / Executive Editor
ed@mixitupmagazine.com

Blog: mixitupmagazine.wordpress.com

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Economic Optimism - Looking on the Bright Side

By Vesta Copestakes

It’s not all gloom and doom, recession and depression, job loss and misery. I know all about the difference between optimists and pessimists, dreamers and people whose feet are planted firmly on the ground. And I know on which side of that picture I stand. But even optimistic dreamers can have a firm grasp on reality…and I can prove it.

The Culling Process
My neighbor Marty looks at how I live and work – all the time – and wonders why I don’t get a job so I can pay my bills and have time off to play. “Look at all the skills you have! Anybody would want to hire you!” Not so, Marty.

There are those among us who simply can’t work for someone else. We’re the “gotta do it my way”… “I have to be free” risk-takers. And we pay a price for all that, it’s true. But we’re the ones who create the jobs others enjoy. You don’t get to have a job unless some person is willing to take full responsibility for not only their own lives, but everyone’s life who works for them as well. Some dreams can’t be accomplished by one person. It takes a team of people. That team are employees.

And the person at the top of that heap has to be a brave individual and think like a leader, putting themselves on the line all the time. They make decisions large and small and live with the consequences. In this economy, many people in business are trying to survive and they take one of two paths…risk-taking or playing it safe.

Playing it Safe
Leaders on this path cut back on expenses and some times that means laying off employees. They take a look at their big picture and decide where to make cuts so they can meet the bottom line and survive. What they hope for is to come out the other side of this recession alive. Many will stop promoting their businesses to save money, pull back into their shells and hope to weather the storm. This is the mama hen calling her baby chicks to huddle under her wings while she shuts her eyes to the rain and hunkers down. Some chicks don’t fit so they get left out in the rain.

Taking Risks
Other leaders look around and see wide opens spaces being revealed as competitors seem to disappear into the fog. They turn their lights on and shine it into the darkness. Anyone out there? That bright light attracts attention! A little crowd gathers around the light seeking brilliance and the comfort of confidence. These are the leaders who announce to the world that all is going to be just fine…you wait and see. They move, they expand, they paint their world in bright colors and they smile. It’s a genuine smile – not put on their face for appearances. These are the people who see opportunity in challenge and can’t help themselves but want to be part of the rising tide.

Drum Roll Please…
Economists are telling us that the Recession never became a Depression and it looks like the tide is turning. So some of the playing-it-safe leaders may survive long enough to come out to play again while others might not make it through the storm. Time will tell.

Let me introduce you to some of these bright lights to prove my point. I’m certain this is but a fraction of leaders who are rising to the top, they just happen to be people I know and admire. You may know others and you can blow their horn for attention any time in these pages. Just write me a letter and I’ll spread the word.

In downtown Sebastopol there are a few bright lights I’m especially proud of. Margaret and Sabina of Art & Soul art supplies managed to grab the space next to them when the children’s store closed. They are putting the final touches on making this their Children’s Art Annex and will even be offering office supplies, which gets many of us excited so we don’t have to go to the big box stores!

On the same side of the street Uncarved Block opened up with Pu and Paul selling both carved as well as uncarved stones, beads, etc. and an amazing collection of Grateful Dead memorabilia. Bo at People’s Music tell me that sales are UP 10% over last year, so don’t try to convince him its all a bummer. Maybe more people need to entertain themselves with music. Who knows. It’s working.

Donna at Miller’s Candy Emporium opened up in the middle of all this recession and people are flocking to her store. Hey, for $3.00 you can get a very entertaining bag of licorice. Kids just love picking out their favorites, putting them in baskets and having the tiny treasures weighed. They learn a lot about money management in the process! Donna is smart, she also offers special events and Mama Goose story telling on Saturday mornings. Icing on the cake for customers!

Right across the hall – but not for long – is Janet Rodina of Silk Moon. Janet travels for treasures and brings them home to her store. It’s a rainbow in there! From inexpensive jewelry to sparkle your wrists and ears to beautifully crafted clothing, rugs, art objects. The store is a delight to browse – but too small for all Janet wants to offer! Now that Wendy Powers of County Home has decided to move on, Janet is moving across the street to bigger digs. And if you think it’s a bummer that Wendy closed her store, you should run into the beaming-happily woman I hugged the other day!

In my little town of Forestville, we have some happy tales to tell as well! Renee of Scissorhands dog grooming decided it was time to retire and play Nana to her grandkids, She called Toni who used to be Renee’s partner and Toni moved back down from Washington to carry on the business. She cleaned the place so it’s sparkling, took over Renee’s customers and her husband planted flowers outside (he’s a landscaper for hire). Everyone is happy including the dogs Toni grooms. It’s a win/win.

And speaking of dogs, Kim and Sherry opened Almost Home Doggie Day Care in the depths of winter and the recession and are doing just fine thank you very much! Dogs get to play with others dogs all day long and owners don’t feel guilty about leaving them alone at home. Not only that, the dogs spend so much time with other dogs, they aren't aggressive when they see another dog like so many used to be! It’s good for everyone!

On the corner downtown, Sean Loundigan took over Circuit Fitness from Robert Zalenka (who still does personal training there). Sean decided the building, and town, needed to be brightened up so he and his daughter gave it a new color scheme – bright yellow and red! And Sean is just so cute (he’s single, girls!), with such a big, confident smile – you can’t miss the place now! My gym and I highly recommend it!

In downtown Guerneville, they’re playing musical chairs like they did in Duncans Mills last year. Nexus Organic Design & Floral moved into the space Memories that Linger vacated (Jennifer moved on to West County Heath), George from Guerneville Printing is moving down to the space Nexus vacated (across from Safeway), Chef Patrick is leaving Pat’s Restaurants’s small dining room and expanding into the Charizma space cross the street (everyone is happy about that!) and Jill Baba is opening up a pet supply store soon where River Mist used to be. Mixed up? Just go to downtown Guerneville and wander around. Oh yes, and on the community side, Suzanna Mayo got motivated and started the Guerneville Labor Center up at the Park and Ride on the west end of town, to encourage people to hire skilled day laborers from the center instead of off the street. This helps everyone!

In Duncans Mills, Jamie & Tom re-opened the Blue Heron, gave it a new logo and wonderful menu and brought back live music to the bar and our favorite, Sunday afternoon music on the patio. Jim Raidl of Jim & Willies Antiques decided that adding events to the Duncans Mill schedule would be a good idea, so he brought in Marla Steele pet psychic for a big event in May. And Christina of Thistledown Antiques is kicking up her catering business, Scrumptious, with special buffets at the Blue Heron (Mothers Day Brunch was incredible!)… her next one is a Solstice Dinner in June. My fave, Gloria at Weavers & Dreamers decided that in addition to expanding her children’s department in her store, she added an New2-U section, scattered throughout the store, where she sells bargain items and donates the money to local schools.

Another town getting all excited is the tiny village of Bodega where the has two Mikes (one is the new owner) two Matts and a Martin. Matt says they make a yummy hot soup, which is catching on quickly! Some of these 5 Ms will be cooking on the patio of the Bodega Country StoreCasino this summer. Elizabeth and Greg are waaaay excited to have this fresh input into town. They’ve added Open Mike Night on Thurdays and have all kinds of fun activities planned for the summer.

You want contact info for these businesses so you can see why they are such optimistic people? Scroll down and I'll provide it for you.

Oh yeah – speaking of optimistic business owners – me! I publish a monthly newspaper. All we read about is how people are going to the internet and paper newspapers are dying. Well, one of my competitors closed their doors, the Russian River Monthly, but heck, they’re happy. No more late nights meeting deadlines – they get lives now and are moving on to other ventures. There’s calm in their faces!

Me, I can’t help myself. I love what I do. People tell me all the time how much they appreciate this newspaper – and yes, they like to hold it in their hands. It’s quiet. They can read it in the garden or in the bathtub. I love the net as well, but sitting in front of a glowing screen is how I make a living. Reading is leisure. And yes, I’m expanding circulation (24,000 copies now) and reaching more communities all the time.

Taking risks. It’s what entrepreneurs do. Well – some of us. We‘ll see how it works out in the long run for those that seek shelter vs. those that jump into the storm. You know that some of us storm-chasers will get hit by lightening just as much as some shelter-seekers will get buried. You never know unless you try.

Art & Soul of Sebastopol
156 N. Main Street
Sebastopol, CA 95472
707-824-4837
www.artandsoulofsebastopol.com

Uncarved Block
110 North Main Street
Sebastopol, CA 95472
707-829-7625
www.the-uncarvedblock.com

People's Music
122 N. Main Street
Sebastopol, CA 95472
707-823-7664
www.peoplesmusicontheweb.com

Miller's Candy Emporium
186 N Main Street Ste 120
Sebastopol, CA 95472
707-829-9040

Silk Moon
186 N Main Street
Sebastopol, CA 95472
707-824-4300
www.silkmoon.org

Henweigh Cafe
4550 Gravenstein Hwy North
Sebastopol, CA 95472
707-829-7500
www.henweighcafe.com

Scissorhands
6553 Front St
Forestville, CA 95436
707-887-0190

Almost Home Doggie Day Care
4925 gravenstein Hwy North
Sebastopol, CA 95472
707-4663
www.almosthomedoggiedaycare.com

Circuit Fitness
6559 Front Street
Forestville, CA 95436
707-887-2348

Nexus Organic Design & Floral
16218 Main Street
Guerneville, CA 95446
707-869-3374
www.nexusorganic.com

Guerneville Printing
16442 Main Street
Guerneville, CA 95446
707-869-0700

Chef Patrick
16236 Main St
Guerneville, CA 95446
(707) 869-9161

Guerneville Labor Center
707-591-5518

Blue Heron
25300 Steelhead Blvd
Duncans Mills, CA 95430
(707) 865-9135
www.blueheronrestaurant.com

Jim & Willies Antiques
25193 State Hwy 116
Duncans Mills, CA 95430
www.duncansmills.net
707 865-9672

Scrumptious
Thistledown Antiques
25171 Highway 116
Duncans Mills, CA 95430
(707) 865-1628
www.duncansmills.net

Weavers & Dreamers
25200 Highway 116
Duncans Mills, CA 95430
(707) 865-2715
www.duncansmills.net

Bodega Country Store
17190 Bodega Hwy
Bodega, CA 94922
(707) 377-4056
www.bodegastore.com

The Casino
Bodega Hwy
Bodega, CA 94922
707-876-3185

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Hanging Tough - in the Current Economy

This essay is so in-line with my thinking - I just have to pass it on to readers. - Vesta

Hanging Tough
by James Surowiecki
Published in the April 20, 2009 The New Yorker

In the late nineteen-twenties, two companies—Kellogg and Post—dominated the market for packaged cereal. It was still a relatively new market: ready-to-eat cereal had been around for decades, but Americans didn’t see it as a real alternative to oatmeal or cream of wheat until the twenties. So, when the Depression hit, no one knew what would happen to consumer demand. Post did the predictable thing: it reined in expenses and cut back on advertising. But Kellogg doubled its ad budget, moved aggressively into radio advertising, and heavily pushed its new cereal, Rice Krispies. (Snap, Crackle, and Pop first appeared in the thirties.) By 1933, even as the economy cratered, Kellogg’s profits had risen almost thirty per cent and it had become what it remains today: the industry’s dominant player.

You’d think that everyone would want to emulate Kellogg’s success, but, when hard times hit, most companies end up behaving more like Post. They hunker down, cut spending, and wait for good times to return. They make fewer acquisitions, even though prices are cheaper. They cut advertising budgets. And often they invest less in research and development. They do all this to preserve what they have. But there’s a trade-off: numerous studies have shown that companies that keep spending on acquisition, advertising, and R. & D. during recessions do significantly better than those which make big cuts. In 1927, the economist Roland Vaile found that firms that kept ad spending stable or increased it during the recession of 1921-22 saw their sales hold up significantly better than those which didn’t. A study of advertising during the 1981-82 recession found that sales at firms that increased advertising or held steady grew precipitously in the next three years, compared with only slight increases at firms that had slashed their budgets. And a McKinsey study of the 1990-91 recession found that companies that remained market leaders or became serious challengers during the downturn had increased their acquisition, R. & D., and ad budgets, while companies at the bottom of the pile had reduced them.

One way to read these studies is simply that recessions make the strong stronger and the weak weaker, since the strong can afford to keep investing while the weak have to devote all their energies to staying afloat. But although deep pockets help in a downturn, recessions nonetheless create more opportunity for challengers, not less. When everyone is advertising, for instance, it’s hard to separate yourself from the pack; when ads are scarcer, the returns on investment seem to rise. That may be why during the 1990-91 recession, according to a Bain & Company study, twice as many companies leaped from the bottom of their industries to the top as did so in the years before and after.

Chrysler’s fortunes in the Great Depression are a classic instance of this. Chrysler had been the third player in the U.S. auto industry, behind G.M. and Ford. But early in the downturn it gave a big push to a new brand—Plymouth—targeted at the low end of the market, and by 1933 it had surpassed Ford to become North America’s second-biggest automaker. On a smaller scale, Hyundai has made huge gains in market share this year, thanks to a hefty advertising budget and a guarantee to take back cars from owners who have lost their jobs. Those gains may turn out to be temporary, but in fact the benefits from recession investment are often surprisingly long-lived, with companies maintaining their gains in market share and sales well into economic recovery.

Why, then, are companies so quick to cut back when trouble hits? The answer has something to do with a famous distinction that the economist Frank Knight made between risk and uncertainty. Risk describes a situation where you have a sense of the range and likelihood of possible outcomes. Uncertainty describes a situation where it’s not even clear what might happen, let alone how likely the possible outcomes are. Uncertainty is always a part of business, but in a recession it dominates everything else: no one’s sure how long the downturn will last, how shoppers will react, whether we’ll go back to the way things were before or see permanent changes in consumer behavior. So it’s natural to focus on what you can control: minimizing losses and improving short-term results. And cutting spending is a good way of doing this; a major study, by the Strategic Planning Institute, of corporate behavior during the past thirty years found that reducing ad spending during recessions did improve companies’ return on capital. It also meant, though, that they grew less quickly in the years following recessions than more free-spending competitors did. But for many companies recessions are a time when short-term considerations trump long-term potential.

This is not irrational. It’s true that the uncertainty of recessions creates an opportunity for serious profits, and the historical record is full of companies that made successful gambles in hard times: Kraft introduced Miracle Whip in 1933 and saw it become America’s best-selling dressing in six months; Texas Instruments brought out the transistor radio in the 1954 recession; Apple launched the iPod in 2001. Then again, the record is also full of forgotten companies that gambled and failed. The academics Peter Dickson and Joseph Giglierano have argued that companies have to worry about two kinds of failure: “sinking the boat” (wrecking the company by making a bad bet) or “missing the boat” (letting a great opportunity pass). Today, most companies are far more worried about sinking the boat than about missing it. That’s why the opportunity to do what Kellogg did exists. That’s also why it’s so nerve-racking to try it. ♦

© James Surowiecki

For other essys by James Surowiecki - follow this link
http://www.newyorker.com/talk/financial/2009/04/20/090420ta_talk_surowiecki

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BUSINESS PROFILE: Almost Home Doggie Day Care

Creating Their Dream Job,
Forestville's Sherrie Owens & Kim Crumb
Almost Home Doggie Day Care

Jake, a Mini-Pincher, visits in half-day increments to rid him of separation anxiety and a fear of large dogs. He no longer cries and barks at the gate of the indoor area. Instead, tail up and wagging, he’s traipsing along near Chubbaca, a large Malamute/Shepherd mix, and Peyton, a lovely Golden retriever, with a smiling Cavalier in tow.

Jake’s real life next door dog, Stella the Cavalier, recently lost her Golden Retriever companion. Jake and Stella have always barked and snarled at each other through the fence, but had never met nose to nose. Their people like each other, but the dog animosity is tiring. Today Jake is showing Stella around the yard and as an “old timer” seems to comfort her on her first day. Without leashes, fences, and turf to defend they are free to be friends.

When Kim and I met, I was breeding Golden Retrievers. Kim knew it was true love when I told him that I loved him as much as my dog Sam. We’ve been married almost thirty years, and have always had at least two dogs in the household. Kim is a Handyman/Carpenter Extraordinaire and has even engineered fire trucks for a living. I have been a Chief Financial Officer for a multitude of not-for-profit organizations. Over the years we have discussed various ideas about a business revolving around dogs.

Late last summer, just a 1½ miles south of downtown Forestville, we found a terrific location for lease on Highway 116. The building is 2,000+ square feet, with over ¼ acre of fenced yard at the back. The owners of the building, Jack and Pat Sissel, allowed us to transform the building and yard into a safe, fun place for dogs. We have set up separate areas inside for large and small dogs, and are able to introduce a new dog to the others without an overwhelming rush of wet dog noses. The yard is also partitioned, but is gated to allow the sections to be joined for maximum running and chasing.

When we have dogs for an overnight stay they go home with us. For our “sleep-overs” the dogs spend the evening by the fire, and then go to bed with our dogs in the kitchen. Because of limited space we only have about 4 dogs maximum that we take home. We had a couple of dogs stay two weeks with us during the Christmas vacation.

We have a fantastic raised bathtub with a ramp and warm water. You can bathe your dogs yourself, or we will bathe them for you. This is a wonderful way to keep your bathroom clean, and spare your back in the process.

Brown ears flopping like thick furry wings, Sophie, the Springer Spaniel rockets by me, pea gravel scattering as Sonoma the Beagle chases after her, intent on the tug she has managed to wrest from him. They dash through one of the gates and on up through the bushes at the rear fence. About the yard, singly, or in small groups several more assorted dogs rest, play, or sniff. From a dog’s perspective this must be perfection, and it is pretty darn great for us too.

Sherrie Owens and Ki crumb: 707-823-4663
http://www.almosthomedoggiedaycare.com/

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Business Tips to Handle Uncertain Economic Times

“Fear of failure is the flipside of fear of success; you have nothing to loose,” says SSU Business Professor Nick Gurney who has his own top ten tips for axiomatic success to keep a business going during uncertain economic times. Repetition of these axiomatic 10 points is proven to deliver results.

TOP TEN IDEAS CAN HELP MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN A SMALL BUSINESS’S FUTURE

The ten ideas he says can help regain momentum in achieving goals, hopes and dreams.

By Nicholas Gurney

Get Your Self Back on Track

An international business writer once said ”The more things change the more they remains the same.” Is there anything really new under the sun? Not really; though, we are definitely coping with more vertiginous progress since the beginning of time. And most of us are striving to
better manage ourselves and help others to do the same.

1. Don’t allow fear to overcome your optimistic desire for a compelling future. Your brain is programmable to go towards the rewards of success rather than the penalties of failure. Thinking in pessimistic terms validates what some call the law of negative attraction; it dates to the Bible ”What you fear most will come to pass.” Focus on short term goals and projects that are achievable and measurable. Action feeds optimism.

2. Make a daily action plan, remembering to stay focused on what is doable now! Revisit this plan at day’s end checking off what you have achieved and focus on a punch list of items that warrant further action tomorrow or within the week. The past is prelude to the future. Derive strength and satisfaction from your accomplishments. Nothing motivates better than short term goal gains.

3. "If you fail to plan, you can plan to fail." Be systematic and establish a plan and follow it as rigorously as possible. If you work with others include everyone in the planning or at least the implementation of it. Keep the people around you informed.

4. Resilience is a key component to emotional health, according to K. Sulowitz, MD. Be emotionally resilient; this is also a key to building optimism. When you are optimistic it is catching and will help others around you to build resilience.

This enables everyone to move over the current challenges and build a stronger organization with stronger people. Building on it is a critical factor in how we all respond to change and tough times. Practice thinking optimistically, with small steps and raise the bar when you sense you are ready.

5. Did it start in Hollywood by exiled New Yorkers or not? “Fake it til you make it” has been a proven practice which gains it’s own momentum. Keep in mind your ethics, tolerance for ambiguity and ones’ sense of self.

Make it a fun game to keep you keeping on. Look at successful retailers, wholesalers, the competition, inspiring individuals and model what you believe sets them apart. Japan, Taiwan, China, India and others, used to copy western goods, services and are now becoming world leaders; it didn’t happen overnight. So it is for individuals, it takes focus and work. John Wooden, famed sports coach stated; “if it’s easy everyone would be star athletes.”

6. Be adaptable: Take your cues from world class athletes, astronauts, JPL… Find what works for you and then remember; practice makes perfect. As Sonoma based Dr. David Clancy, says, “the human mind and capacity for renewed imagination differentiates us from animals and provides the wherewithal to improve.”

7. Another senior staff member of a global operations and financial consulting firm, DCG, LLC, explains simply and accurately “Communication is the base for success in everyway, everywhere.” Countless tomes, books web sites, classes, self help programs deal
with this cornerstone skill for any relationship; a book, course or training seminar on presentations or negotiation is a great way to dissipate anxiety.

8. Invest in your people – and yourself. What can everyone one do a little more of to build an incredible future now? Can everyone sell? Can everyone find savings? Each day do one more little action.

9. Leverage the knowledge of everyone. Can everyone contribute 1% more of what they know to build a future of which we can all be proud?

10. Extraordinary times calls for extraordinary people: using your doable daily action plan consider working Saturdays and or Sundays

Nicholas Gurney
International Business Professor
Sonoma State University


WANT TO THRIVE IN UNCERTAIN ECONOMIC TIMES?
- Course Offers Student Mentors to Aid Small Biz Owners
- Top Ten Ideas to Handle Uncertain Economic Times


SSU COURSE HELPS SMALL BUSINESSES THRIVE WITH AID OF STUDENT MENTORS. DEADLINE IS JAN. 30

It is possible to thrive in this recession says Business Professor Nick Gurney who is again offering the chance for small businesses to be mentored by his students this spring semester.

The popular course brings business students together with local companies to develop strategies to success. Four to six companies are chosen every year and a donation of $500 is asked to cover
student scholarships.

Under the guidance of SSU faculty, business students meet with small-business owners in the North Bay to develop a scope of work and confer with proprietors on a weekly basis. Students participate in intensive real-life studies of active businesses, and take dynamic roles
in shaping the future of an enterprise.

At the conclusion of the spring semester, the student consultants present a final analysis, including findings and proposals for future operations. These include performance audits, strategic and financial planning, market research, financial forecasting, personnel policies, and customer acquisition and retention programs.

Businesses that have employed this service include Feed This Pet Foods,Kim Manley Herbals, the SSU Costume Shop, Rohnert Park Gymnastics, Montessori Services and The Housing Company.

Other companies that have also employed SSU's business consultation services include Copperfield's Books, Mrs. Grossman's Paper Products and Oliver's Markets.

For more information or to apply, contact Nicholas Gurney at
(707) 824-4418 or e-mail: nicholas.gurney@gmail.com
Inquiries are welcomed now through January 30, 2009.

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