North Bay Business Journal

Intelisys acquires ‘cloud’ telecom integration partner

PETALUMA — Intelisys Communications, Inc., a distributor of business telecommunications and data services, said it reached a definitive agreement to acquire one of its service providers, Las Vegas-based Cloud Services Coalition, owned by Terrapin Solutions.

Piner High School project to widen pathway to construction, science jobs

SANTA ROSA — A 4-year-old nationally recognized Piner High School program that gives students reality-based training in the science, technology and mathematics behind the latest gadgets that help drivers find destinations via their smartphones, surveyors map more precisely and efficiently, and crews grade roads more cost-effectively wants to do its own major upgrade this summer.

Use of geothermal heat-exchange systems is rising

NORTH BAY – With high heating oil, propane and electricity prices, more commercial and residential building owners — as well as municipalities and school systems — are considering geothermal ground source heating and cooling as an alternative.

Enphase stock price rises 22% on IPO

PETALUMA — The price of Enphase Energy Inc. (Nasdaq: ENPH) common shares rose 22.3 percent to $7.34 at the close of trading Friday after the stock’s debut on Nasdaq Global Market.

Enphase prices shares at $6 for Friday IPO

PETALUMA — Enphase Energy Inc. this evening announced the price of its initial public offering of stock on Friday at $6 a share.

Enphase cuts IPO price expectation 40%

PETALUMA — Enphase Energy Inc. today said it anticipates pricing for its initial public offering of stock, expected this week, will be 40 percent lower.

Clairmail to be acquired for $173 million

SAN RAFAEL — Mobile banking and payments software developer Clairmail Inc. today announced it entered an agreement to be acquired by a London-based publicly owned provider of mobile payment networks for $173 million.

General Dynamics plans big Healdsburg expansion

HEALDSBURG — General Dynamics plans to nearly double the size of its Healdsburg Operations Facility this summer to accommodate rapidly growing workforce and production needs.

Sonoma Jet Center among first to offer unleaded aviation fuel

SANTA ROSA – Sonoma Jet Center, a private aviation company based in Santa Rosa, has become an early adopter of lead-free fuel for general aviation use, according to the company.

On Grady Ranch, leaders must not lose sight of big picture

To many observers, opposition to George Lucas’s proposed Grady Ranch digital film studio must seem like a scene from a bad movie.

The first thing to understand is that the master plan under which the project is proposed was approved by county officials in 1996. Sixteen years later, the famed filmmaker is asking to build his dream studio in the very place he started and in the county that has benefited so much artistically and economically from his genius.

Homes roll out of North Bay factories

NAPA and VALLEJO — A new phase of North Bay home manufacturing is rolling out of factories in Napa and Vallejo.

Co-generation plant saves Pacific Union College $1 million a year in energy costs

ANGWIN – The ability to generate mechanical energy, megawatts of electricity and heat in the same engine using a process called co-generation is increasing in popularity due to skyrocketing fuel prices and continued uncertainty over the future availability of global oil supplies.

Water-tech companies report strong growth

NORTH BAY – The housing slump has taken its toll on green construction and a glut of Chinese panels has dimmed the solar industry some, but local companies with water management tools say business is flowing along smoothly.

Enphase prices shares for IPO

PETALUMA — Enphase Energy Inc. suggested pricing for its planning initial public offering of stock, according to a regulatory filing.

Poll: 74% of Sonoma Co. residents, 65% of businesses support local green-energy grid

SANTA ROSA — A survey of Sonoma County residents found strong support for clean-energy options, including solar and wind power, and for reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

Napa-based Clean Power gets $850,000 grant for solar-grid studies

NAPA — Clean Power Research, which develops analytic tools for the renewable-energy industry, today said that the California Public Utilities Commission will give it an $852,260 to develop new simulations that will help predict how much cloud cover affects the performance of large solar-power arrays.

Mark Wood: BioMarin leads promise of high-wage sector

NOVATO — Mark Wood is vice president of human resources of BioMarin Pharmaceutical, which has approximately 700 employees. He joined the pharmaceutical company in 2004 and oversees all HR functions as well as public relations and corporate communications. Before joining BioMarin, he was a sole proprietor of an HR consulting practice from 2002 to 2004 and previously worked as vice president of human resources and consulting for AG Consulting. He also previously was manager of compensation and quantitative analysis at Genentech and held numerous HR positions with Wells Fargo Bank.

Remy Gross: Buck Institute and seeds of new companies

NOVATO — Remy Gross is currently the vice president of business development and technology advancement at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging. His duties at the Buck include the increase of deal flow through global corporate collaborations and new company formation.

Ultragenyx gets FDA orphan-drug approval for Sly syndrome treatment

NOVATO — Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc., a biotechnology company focused on developing treatments for rare and ultrarare genetic disorders, today announced that the Food and Drug Administration has granted orphan-drug designation for its UX003 treatment.

More companies save costs with Web-based accounting software

NORTH BAY – Companies in the North Bay and beyond are increasingly turning to “the cloud” when upgrading their accounting systems, embracing an Internet-based approach that local accounting professionals said can result in a reduction of IT and other costs associated with storing and processing that information in-house.