People: Week of March 18, 2013

Commercial Real Estate

[caption id="attachment_70597" align="alignright" width="180"] Burt Polson[/caption]

Commercial real estate broker Burt Polson, who has operated ACRES Real Estate Services in Napa for two decades, is joining Strong & Hayden Commercial Real Estate. Mr. Polson started selling residential real estate in 1992 and received his broker’s license three years later. That’s when he started ACRES. It will continue to operate on syndications, according to Strong & Hayden.Energy

Stellar Energy, based in Rohnert Park, hired Chris Larsen as director of southeast project development. Mr. Larsen, who joined the industry in 1996, will be focused on partnerships with solar developers to build multi-megawatt solar projects. From 1996 to 2001, he was the director of policy programs at NC State University's Solar Center, specializing in distributed generation and utility interconnection issues. Mr. Larsen spent roughly 10 years with the Swiss engineering group ABB Ltd. He previously served as a board member for both the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association and the NC Green Power and was a consultant to the North Carolina Energy Policy Council.Health Care

Kurt Hahn, senior member of the board of the North Sonoma County Healthcare District and former Healdsburg director of finance and economic development, was honored with a bronze marble plaque recognizing his 15 years of service to Healdsburg District Hospital after he announced his retirement from the NSCHD board.Nonprofits 

Chris Call recently joined the board of the Santa Rosa-based Climate Protection Campaign as treasurer. He is a partner with the firm of B2B CFO, a national part-time CFO firm, and advises emerging businesses on financial matters. A CPA with 30 years experience in the areas of finance and accounting, Mr. Call also owns and operates his own small business - Anytime Fitness of Windsor. In addition, he holds a real estate license and is an arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association. 

The California Parenting Institute board of directors welcomed five new board members: Rebecca Barragan from Sonoma County Human Services, Toni Sprouse from Merrill Lynch, Candy Carlberg, retired Educator, Amy Schulze from North Bay Saturn Group and George Young from Young Engineering Services. The board consists of 18 members.Technology

Equilibrium named Pal Storehaug as its vice president for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Mr. Storehaug joins Sausalito-based Equilibrium from NetConnect, where he previously served as CEO. Mr. Storehaug also has experience working with large-brand international companies Apple Computer, Xerox Inc, and Telenor.Wine

[caption id="attachment_70599" align="alignleft" width="180"] Raphael Brisbois[/caption]

Rack & Riddle, a Hopland winery and custom-crush facility, hired Raphael Brisbois as director of winemaking to lead the production of client and branded wines and oversee all fruit sourcing. A native of France, he has 35 years of experience making sparkling and still wine on four continents. Mr. Brisbois holds a master’s degree in viticulture and enology from École Nationale Superieure d'Agronomie in Montpellier, France. Rack & Riddle processes more than 6,000 tons of grapes annually for 150 clients. Revenues have grown 30 percent a year in the past two years.

Signorello Estate appointed Britny Sundin estate chef. Ms. Sundin will oversee the Napa Valley winery’s epicurean food and wine program including its Enoteca Tasting, Terrazzo Pairings and its annual Epicurean Summer Series. A graduate of the Culinary Institute of American in Napa Valley, chef Sundin most recently held the position of in-house chef at Napa Valley’s Chateau Montelena.

[caption id="attachment_70600" align="alignright" width="180"] Desmond Echavarrie[/caption]

Soutirage hired master sommelier Desmond Echavarrie as senior wine advisor. Mr. Echavarrie was most recently a sommelier with the French Laundry, where he had worked since 2011. Previously, he studied and worked with master sommeliers Gregg Tressner at Mary Elaine's in Scottsdale, Ariz., and with Robert Smith at Picasso in The Bellagio Resort in Las Vegas. 

The Hess Collection, which has a winery in American Canyon, appointed Illinois-based Jeanne Jesse as north central regional sales manager for the Midwest. She came from the Indigo Wine Group, where she most recently served as the Midwest regional business manager.

Cline Cellars and Jacuzzi Family Vineyards in Sonoma Valley named Robert Hawk as Great Lakes regional manager. He replaces Keith Morris, who was promoted to vice president and national sales manager. Mr. Hawk has spent over 15 years in the wine business, for the past five years as sales manager at Wine Trends.

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