VACAVILLE -- Jon Reed, vice president and general manager for biotech giant Genentech in Vacaville -- which just recently announced it would add 200 jobs -- will be a presenter at the Nov. 8 Impact Solano conference in Fairfield.
The annual conference, co-hosted by the Business Journal and Travis Credit Union, will be held from 7:30 to 10 a.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn.
In addition to Mr. Reed, the conference includes a Solano-focused economic outlook by Dr. Robert Eyler, Frank Howard Allen professor of economics at Sonoma State University; a focus on current conditions and future of the wine industry in Solano from Roger King, president of the Suisun Valley Vintners and Growers Association, and the results of the first-ever Business Journal-Travis Credit Union Business Climate Survey.
Analysis of the results will be provided by Solano Economic Development Corporation President Sandy Person and Travis Credit Union President and CEO Patsy Van Ouwerkerk. Ms. Van Ouwerkerk is the current chairwoman of the EDC.
"We are very, very lucky to have Mr. Reed, especially after the announcement of 200 new jobs and $153 million investment in the Vacaville facility," said Business Journal Publisher Brad Bollinger. "Attendees at the conference will hear directly about plans for the expansion."
"We want to thank the Solano Economic Development Corporation and its President Sandy Person for reaching out to Mr. Reed." Mr. Bollinger said.
“Vacaville and Solano County are excited and proud to be the home of the world’s largest biotech manufacturing facility when Genentech’s new expansion is complete, " Ms. Person said.
"Solano is fortunate to have what the life science industry needs to succeed: Proximity to internationally recognized biological research centers and intellectual communities like UCDavis, UC Berkeley and UC San Francisco, sustained by a skilled, motivated and highly educated workforce, supported by local government that understands and can meet the industry’s fast-track needs, served by a plentiful supply of building sites and infrastructure," she said. "Genentech is certainly one of the world’s most vibrant and valued biotech companies and their continued partnership is a tremendous benefit to our economy and life science cluster.”
Mr. Eyler's forecast will provide details on economic growth in Solano County and explore the region's most promising opportunities. Mr. King will address both the growth in the Solano grape crop values and the total wine economy in the region. The recent announcement by Napa winemaker Caymus Vineyards that it had acquired a 178-acre parcel in Solano County to build a 5 million-gallon winery and warehouse facilities has drawn increased attention to Solano and the region's significant wine support services.
Registration is available at NorthBayBusinessJournal.com or by calling 707-521-5270. Cost is $49 per person or $510 for a table of 10 with company logo.
