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The News in Brief

CA foreclosures top list

NORTH BAY – RealtyTrac’s foreclosure market report shows a sharp rise in California’s foreclosure rates. Filings for 72,285 foreclosures were reported in July, the highest of any of the states, with Florida and Ohio trailing behind with 45,884 and 13,457 respectively.

One in 182 properties ended in foreclosure in California in July. Marin County held up relatively well with one in 830. Napa and Sonoma followed with one in 390 and one in 367, respectively.

California’s foreclosure rate was up 5 percent from June and up 85 percent from July of last year.

Pérez stepping down

SANTA ROSA – George Pérez, a 29-year hospital administrator who for three years led St. Joseph Health System-Sonoma County through a period of significant growth and change, announced his resignation, effective Sept. 15.

In August 2005, Mr. Pérez succeeded former St. Joseph Health System-Sonoma County CEO David Ameen, after serving as president and CEO at a sister hospital, St. Mary Medical Center in Apple Valley, and as CEO of Walter O. Boswell Memorial Hospital in Sun City, Ariz.

The Santa Rosa resident will remain as CEO through Sept. 15 to help with the transition to an interim CEO. Mr. Pérez will then serve in a role supporting the transition.

Autodesk buys 3D Geo

SAN RAFAEL – Autodesk Inc. (ADSK: Nasdaq) signed a definitive agreement to acquire substantially all the assets of 3D Geo GmbH, a privately held maker of intelligent 3-D urban models software, based in Potsdam, Germany.

3D Geo offers software and services for geo-visualization: solutions for effectively creating, analyzing, managing and distributing large-scale geo information.

Queen cuts work force

NAPA – Queen of the Valley Medical Center plans to lay off almost 5 percent of its work force, or 81 employees, effective later this month, though a third of those will be offered positions at other facilities. Another nine employees will see reduced hours, and the hospital’s 12-bed skilled nursing unit will close later this month, its patients relocated to other facilities.

Hospital spokesman Jaime Peñaherrera said the hospital was forced to make the decision due to a number of factors, including rising costs and the expected Medi-Cal cuts going into effect next year, which officials calculated would amount to a $12 million budget gap.

In addition to the cuts, 19 vacant positions will not be filled and other cost-saving measures will continue.

Mr. Peñaherrera said the cuts will not affect the plans to construct a new hospital tower, which have been in the works for several years.

ABD acquires local firm

REDWOOD CITY – ABD Insurance and Financial Services, a subsidiary of Wells Fargo Insurance Services Inc., acquired the assets of Martin Financial/Insurance Services of Santa Rosa. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

The move is part of Wells Fargo’s expansion into Northern California, which now reaches more than 2,500 employees and 159 offices. Martin Financial was founded in 1981, and shareholder Bud Martin and six staff members will remain in the office.