North Bay Business Journal

Marin Community Foundation unveils $10 million affordable housing plan

MARIN COUNTY – The Marin Community Foundation will fund $10 million in affordable housing projects over the next five years, it was announced today.

The initiative developed with local affordable housing developers will benefit projects for low-income families, seniors and other individuals in Marin.

Novato’s SPG Holdings secures $13 million in equity financing

NOVATO – SPG Holdings LLC, holding company of SPG Solar Inc., announced the closing of a $13 million equity financing though the Global Environment Fund and Robeco.

The funds will be used to support growth nationally and internationally.

$15 million in funding for Railroad Square project

SANTA ROSA – The North Bay, and Santa Rosa in particular, has been in need of a singular symbol of hope to counter the pervasive string of bad economic news. Funding just approved to jumpstart the visionary Railroad Square redevelopment project may be it.

American AgCredit to merge with Farm Credit of the Heartland

SANTA ROSA – American AgCredit, based in Santa Rosa, has plans in the works to merge with Witchita, Kan.-based Farm Credit of the Heartland.

Women in Business 2009: Technology: CamelBak leader finds similar lessons in outdoors and office

PETALUMA – Since her first backpacking trip at age 5, Sally McCoy knew she loved the outdoors. Her passion for business came much later.

But the combination produced a one-of-a-kind individual: a woman who is equally at home in a boardroom or on a mountaintop.

Keynote Speaker: Sheila Murray Bethel pioneered speaking on leadership

Sheila Murray Bethel, Ph.D. Chairwoman,Bethel Institute 155 Las Juntas Way,Walnut Creek 94597 800-548-8001 www.bethelinstitute.com Having emigrated to the U.S. from Croatia, the parents of Sheila Murray Bethel instilled in their daughter a fascination with leaders, encouraging her to learn about the country she was born into. Together they studied American presidents and lived the example [...]

Women in Business 2009 awards dinner photo gallery

This is a gallery of pictures from the Women in Business 2009 awards dinner, honoring eight women from Sonoma, Marin and Napa counties who have distinguished themselves as leaders, innovators and visionaries in their fields.

Women in Business 2009: Senior Living: Building Sequoia Senior Solutions and a touching farewell

PETALUMA, NORTH BAY – As president and chief executive officer of the largest company of its kind in the North Bay, Sequoia Senior Solutions’ Gabriella Ambrosi could boast about her career’s greatest triumph, notably, the acquisition of her principal competitor in 2007. But recalling her profession’s most gratifying moment, the Italian-born mother of three gave a sincere depiction of a client’s tender farewell.

Women in Business 2009: Education: Product of junior colleges now leads one

MARIN COUNTY – When Dr. Frances White, president and superintendent of College of Marin, was a young girl, she wanted to be an opera singer. Her mother played classical music, and she would go to sleep hearing the sounds of the piano. Her father was a preacher, and she would sing in church. Luckily for the community college education system, she gave up that dream to become an educator.

Women in Business 2009: Construction: Keeping the earth in mind while managing a dozen construction enterprises

SANTA ROSA – “We’re stewards of this earth. How can we make this a better place?”

Those words may seem more apt from an environmental activist than a top Sonoma County quarry operator and real estate developer, but they help explain Marlene Soiland’s influence on “greening” the local construction industry and her leadership in the family businesses.

Women in Business 2009: Entrepreneurship: Love of books, writers, community defines Elaine Petrocelli

CORTE MADERA – Elaine Petrocelli shines like a beam of light in the shadow of the big retail stores. Her Book Passage, the literary center of Marin County since 1976, is proof that independent book stores need not be snuffed out.

Women in Business 2009: Health Care: Kaiser COO sees health care as ‘incredible mission’

SAN RAFAEL – From her beginnings as a teen volunteer in a rural Montana hospital to her work as a registered nurse and international medical volunteer, Kaiser administrator Jill Magri has dedicated her entire career to the industry.

Women in Business 2009: Economic Development: Drawn to Napa and to helping people be their best

NAPA – About to celebrate 10 years with the Napa Chamber of Commerce, Kate King, the president and chief executive officer, cites the advocacy role of her job as her chief passion.

Women in Business 2009: Nonprofit: Life, career progression led Cris Chater to support elderly

SAN RAFAEL – Though she refuses to accept sole recognition for saving it, Marin County’s only provider of adult day health care services would most certainly have closed without the staunch leadership of Cris Chater.

Device maker TriVascular2 re-emerges with staff of 150

SANTA ROSA – TriVascular2′s steady growth – the medical device maker has 150 employees now and will add another 20 before this year is out – is not just an anomaly in the down economy. It’s a tribute to the belief its founders, workers and investors have in the products under development there.

North Bay public health programs, already taking hits, brace for more cutbacks

NORTH BAY – Budget plans approved by three North Bay counties paint a grim a picture for the region’s public health care network as programs bear the brunt of reductions, reorganization and/or elimination.

People: Week of June 29th

People items submitted by North Bay businesses for publication in the Business Journal for June 29th

Women in Business winners 2001-2009

Winners of the Business Journal’s Women in Business awards from 2001 through 2009.

Business Journal Editorial: Leaders, innovators, visionaries

(This editorial was adapted from opening remarks by Business Journal editor and associate publisher Brad Bollinger at Thursday’s ninth annual Women in Business Awards Gala.)

Commentary: Lucasfilm’s Marin project a gift in a tough economy

In today’s terrible economic times, it is rare to hear of any employer seeking to grow his business. George Lucas’ readiness to complete the final phase of the master plan for Lucasfilm — which was approved in 1996 — is a welcome counterpoint to the news of layoffs and businesses leaving Marin.