People: Week of July 23, 2012

Government

Scott A. Upton, a firefighter with 28 years of service, has been named Napa County’s full-time fire chief, the first person to hold the position, which was created by the Board of Supervisors in June. Mr. Upton has worked as a battalion chief in the Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit of CAL FIRE, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, since 2009, most recently at the South Lake County Fire Protection District.

Napa City Planning Manager Rick Tooker will become Community Development Department director upon the retirement of Cassandra Walker. Ms. Walker is set to retire Sept. 14, and Mr. Tooker will assume her duties the following day. The city is recruiting to fill his role before that time. Mr. Tooker became planning manager in August 2010. Previously, he was planning and building director for the cities of Healdsburg and Calistoga.Nonprofits

The board of directors for the Redwood Empire Food Bank has elected new officers. Suzy Marzalek is now president of the board. David Guhin is assuming the role of vice president. The offices of treasurer and secretary are being served by Howard Daulton and Judy Farrell.

Ms. Marzalek is a retired financial controller from Agilent Technologies, Inc. She is a member of the governing board and treasurer for Santa Rosa Community Health Centers and serves on numerous nonprofit boards in the region.

Mr. Guhin is employed with the city of Santa Rosa as the deputy director of utility operations. He received his undergraduate degree from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology and is a registered professional engineer in the State of California.

Mr. Daulton is employed with Exchange Bank as senior vice president and manager of corporate and business development. He has held roles including senior vice president and commercial loan officer with Wells Fargo, and president and chief executive officer of the Bank of Petaluma. Ms. Farrell brings experience from non-profit, private and public sectors to the REFB. Born in Washington, D.C., she has lived in Sonoma County for 15 years and specializes in community relations.Professional Services

Arborwell, a professional tree management company, announced the addition of Rick McMann as the new account manager for the Santa Rosa/North Bay Area Region. Mr. McMann has over 32 years of experience in the tree care industry. He graduated from Ohio State University with a B.S. in Forestry, and is an ISA Certified Arborist.Residential Real Estate

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Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage announced that James Madison, an agent in the company’s Santa Rosa office, ranked among the top 1,000 Realtors in the U.S. for home sales last year in a new report by The Wall Street Journal and REAL Trends. The prestigious annual ranking listed the top 250 agents and teams in four separate categories: individual sales volume, individual transaction sides, team sales volume and team transaction sides. Mr. Madison ranked 134th among the top 250 realtors for the number of transactions completed. During 2011, he was responsible for 161.6 transaction sides, according to The Wall Street Journal and REAL Trends, a national communications and real estate consulting company that compiled the figures. Mr. Madison has worked with bank-owned properties for 30 years.Wine

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Meadowcroft Wines announced that Petar Kirilov is now winemaker for the Meadowcroft, Thomas Henry and Foyt Family labels. Mr. Kirilov joined Meadowcroft Wines in 2008 as a winemaker to oversee the production of small lot wines.Mr. Kirilov grew up in Bulgaria and graduated from the University of Food Technologies in 2002 with a Master’s degree in beverage technology, with a specialization in wine, beer, spirits and soft drink technology. He interned at Truchard Vineyards in Napa, being promoted to assistant winemaker. In 2005 he joined Vinovation, a hi-tech wine company, as winemaker and was involved in numerous research and development projects.

The Court of Master Sommeliers welcomed several new members from the North Bay to the organization: Gillian Ballance (Murray Circle Restaurant at Cavallo Point Lodge, Sausalito); Desmond Echervarrie (French Laundry, Yountville); and Sur Lucero (Oenotri Restaurant, Napa). The Master Sommelier Diploma is considered the highest distinction a professional can attain in the fine wine and beverage industry. Candidates must have successfully passed the other three stages of the Court’s educational programs: the introductory, certified and advanced exams.

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