Agriculture
On June 12, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors recognized June as National Dairy Month. Commemorating it were Supervisor David Rabbitt and the board, county Agricultural Commissioner Tony Linegar, California Milk Advisory Board District III Dairy Princess Suzanne Amaral and Judy Buttke, North Bay Dairy Women president and Sonoma County Dairy of the Year recipient.Automotive
Napa's AUL Corp., America's largest national provider of used car service contracts, announced the launch of a new logo and corporate identity. The new logo and identity were unveiled at the 2012 AUL National Agency Meeting in Napa. As noted by AUL's Marketing Manager, Jacqueline Swank: "The response from our agents has been overwhelmingly positive. They are excited about the logo and sales materials and believe it is a terrific step forward for AUL."Banking and Finance
Larkspur-based mFoundry, a mobile banking and payments provider, announced Eli Lilly Federal Credit Union (ELFCU) launched ELFCUmobile, a mobile banking solution with native mobile applications, mobile web and SMS/text banking. The Indianapolis-based credit union serves more than 60,000 members nationwide and has more than $1 billion in assets. Forty percent use the credit union's eBranch over a physical branch. The institution is said to have picked mFoundry after a yearlong search for a solution with standard mobile banking features -- apps and remote deposit -- and easy incremental addition of new features and functionality.Construction
Marin Home & Garden Expo, presented by the Marin Builders Association on June 2--3 at the Civic Center Fairgrounds, featured the MBA Leadership in Sustainability Awards. Winners must have made a direct and local impact by enhancing the environmental health, social equity and economic prosperity in Marin County. Awardees were The Marin Employment Connection, for the organization award; The Conservation Corps of the North Bay, education; Fairfax Lumber, pioneer; and Jeff Jungsten of Caletti Jungsten Construction, individual.Education
Wells Fargo gave a $15,000 grant to help Alta Heights Magnet School in Napa replace 30 laptops stolen from a classroom over Memorial Day weekend. The company is appealing to other local businesses and community members to raise additional funds. Wells Fargo has donated more than $13.3 million to schools and nonprofit organizations for educational purposes in the Bay Area since 2009.Health Care
The Stroke Center at Sebastopol's Palm Drive Hospital received a Superior Performance Award from the Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program, a federally recognized national independent hospital accrediting organization. The 37-bed hospital is the first, and so far the only, California hospital. Only one other hospital in the nation has been so recognized. The award was based on the hospital's ability to meet or exceed federal standards and other recognized national standards for patient care. The Superior Performance ranking means that the hospital's stroke center has demonstrated 95 percent compliance with all performance indicators for at least three consecutive quarters. Palm Drive sees about 75 stroke patients a year.
Three outpatient clinical programs in Sutter Medical Network, Sutter Health's physician network, were recognized for statewide best practices in the California Association of Physician Groups' annual Standards of Excellence Survey of medical group features and capabilities. Noted were the Variation Reduction Initiative, which reduced overall care costs by more than $18 million through 2011; nationally recognized Advanced Illness Management Program, which makes patients' difficult end-of-life time a little less difficult; Improving Transitions of Care and Intensive Home Medical Management, a process developed by by network affiliate Brown & Toland Physicians Independent Practice Association to help patients remain healthy after emergency room discharge, aiding to cut hospital re-admissions and overall care costs. The survey focuses on how physician organizations deliver value (care quality and affordability) to individual patients and large populations. The association also honored five physician organizations in the network, with Brown & Toland Physicians and Sutter Medical Foundation, getting "elite" status, and Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation, "exemplary."Nonprofits
For the first time in its six-year history, two organizations tied for Nonprofit Organization of the Year in the Napa Community Awards, presented at Napa Valley Marriott Hotel & Spa. Community Health Clinic Ole and Community Action of Napa Valley jointly received the prestigious award, selected from among nine nominees submitted by the community. Also announced at the sold-out event was the winner of the 2012 Outstanding Teacher Award. Lisa Anderson of Napa Junction Elementary School earned the honor.
