North Bay Business Journal

2011 top stories: New hospital, tech advances define year of the economy

The national and local economy was on everyone’s mind in 2011. But as the Business Journal editorial staff set out to develop its Top Ten Stories of the Year, it quickly became clear that the North Bay was blessed with multiple economy-boosting projects and new commitments job creation.

Manufacturers, schools join in ’100-in-100′ program

NORTH BAY – This week will see the kickoff for enrollment in “100-in-100,” an innovative program to put high school students up close with local manufacturers.

50 new jobs is a great start heading to 2012

Several months ago I had the privilege of participating in a group tour of Agilent Technologies’ sprawling and visually stunning Fountaingrove campus. When the tour was done, I felt for the first time in 25 years of following Agilent that I understood — in a non-technical way, for sure — what the company does in Santa Rosa. (Coincidentally Agilent is a winner of one of our Healthiest Companies Awards and is profiled below.)

Agilent Technologies names Santa Rosa’s Nersesian COO

SANTA ROSA — Agilent Technologies Inc. today announced that Ron Nersesian has been appointed executive vice president and chief operating officer, effective immediately.

Wireless growth helps propel Agilent revenue

SANTA ROSA — Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) rounded out the its fiscal year with a strong fourth quarter, seeing revenues and orders rise 10 percent from the previous year. The Electronic Measurement Group headquartered in Santa Rosa saw revenues jump 12 percent from the same quarter last year, although orders were flat for the period.

Corporate wellness taking center stage

NORTH BAY — As wellness emerges as a key business strategy in containing health care costs, questions often arise on what, exactly, the term means — what works for one company or one industry won’t necessarily work for another, and how do you define wellness to employees? More importantly, how do you get a staff to fully buy-in to the concept?

Healthiest Companies to be recognized at Nov. 30 conference

NORTH BAY — The Business Journal’s inaugural Healthiest Companies Recognition Awards will be presented to 14 companies at its Health Care Conference.

Business Journal names Healthiest Companies award winners

NORTH BAY — The Business Journal selected recipients for its inaugural Healthiest Companies Recognition Awards with winners to be honored at the North Bay Business Journal’s 2011 Health Care Conference.

Profiles of the winners will appear in a special publication supplementing the Nov. 28 issue, and winners will be honored at the Business Journal’s annual Health Care Conference on Nov. 30 at the Hyatt Vineyard Creek in Santa Rosa.

Agilent division has ‘historic’ third quarter

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) reported strong growth for the third quarter of 2011, with its Santa Rosa-headquartered Electronic Measurement Group revenues up 24 percent over a year ago. Orders for the division increased 12 percent in that timeframe. The group is adding staff to its tech center and changing internal layouts to increase manufacturing capacity.

Spotlight on Facilities Managers in the North Bay

Editor’s note: This is the Business Journal’s first Spotlight on Facilities Managers in the North Bay. According to the International Facility Management Association, professionals in this job usually are responsible for compliance with laws and regulations on real estate, efficient operations of buildings to limit waste in natural and human resources, safety for employees and environmental sustainability.

“People, place, process, technology,” is the association’s catchphrase for such a position. The following are facility managers identified from among the largest public and private North Bay employers.

Agilent Technologies revenues soar

SANTA ROSA — Agilent Technology’s Electronic Measurement Group had a “fantastic” first quarter, according to President Ron Nersesian. “We broke decade records in a lot of areas,” he said.

Agilent locally based group revenues rise 31 percent

SANTA ROSA — Fiscal first-quarter orders and revenues for Agilent Technologies (NYSE: A) Electronic Measurement Group, which is based in Santa Rosa, both increased 31 percent from a year before.

Wellness programs draw more interest

SANTA ROSA – Growing numbers of employers of all sizes in the North Bay are embracing wellness programs for their employees. A recent survey of commercial insurance carriers by the Business Journal revealed a common theme of business clients seeking information or actively developing wellness programs both to manage employee health care costs and prepare for the impact of health care reform.

Looking at every detail for innovation

PETALUMA – Companies are being told from the president on down that they have to innovate, but that is not news to Parmatech Corporation.

Apprenticeship program booming with ‘innovators of the future’

PETALUMA — The California Tooling and Machining Apprenticeship Association (CTMAA) has the most trainees it’s seen in a long time according to its president, CEO and teacher Dan Sunia.

Agilent division reports ‘strongest results’ in 10 years

SANTA ROSA — Agilent Technologies (NYSE: A) today reported fourth-quarter revenues for the Santa Rosa-based Electronic Measurement Group jumped 23 percent from a year ago. Group employees will get a 10.1 percent bonus for the second half of the year.

NBLC leadership awards luncheon Oct. 29

PETALUMA — The North Bay Leadership Council will recognize five honorees at the 2010 Leaders of the North Bay Awards Luncheon Oct. 29 at Embassy Suites Hotel, San Rafael. The event includes a keynote address by early childhood education author and research scientist Dr. Alison Gopnik.

Agilent’s Santa Rosa-based group reports ‘solid growth’ in third quarter

SANTA ROSA — Third-quarter revenue for the locally based Electronic Measurement group of Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) was 24 percent higher than a year ago, while the company today reported overall quarterly revenue was 31 percent higher in that period.

Spotlight: Leaders in Human Resources

Human resources leaders selected from the North Bay’s 10 largest employers from each county and the region’s staffing companies. Professionals listed alphabetically.

Agilent sees gains in first quarter

SANTA ROSA – First-quarter profits for Agilent Technologies’ Electronic Measurement Group, headquartered in Santa Rosa, were $64 million above last year’s, mostly due to restructuring. Revenues were slightly down.

Agilent as a whole saw revenues of $1.21 billion, up 4 percent from the first quarter of last year.