North Bay Business Journal

Charles Schwab, a provider of full-service brokerage services, announced the opening of a new independent branch in Novato. …

Marin Energy Authority, the first community choice aggregation program in California and electricity supplier of choice to Marin County and Richmond residents, will deploy the P-ECOSYS consumer-engagement platform by San Francisco-based PlanetEcosystems. …

Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom is set to be the speaker for 86th annual commencement for the class of 2013 at College of Marin. …

Marin Energy Authority, the first community choice aggregation program in California and electricity supplier of choice to Marin County and Richmond residents, will deploy the P-ECOSYS consumer-engagement platform by San Francisco-based PlanetEcosystems. …

County of Marin can now fully fund retiree health benefits just like it does employee pensions by ensuring that funds are set aside for unfunded liabilities as well as current costs. …

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) announced that all new Agilent electronic test instruments sold after will be covered by a “bumper-to-bumper” three-year repair warranty. …

Meadowcroft Wines’ Thomas Henry brand received a World-Class Design award from HOW magazine in its 2013 International Design Awards issue. …

Vineyard & Winery Management and The Press Democrat are launching the North Coast Wine Challenge. …

CK Mondavi, a brand owned and operated for 70 years by C. Mondavi & Family, launched a mobile-device-optimized website to enhance the user experience for wine consumers using smartphones and tablets. …

WINDSOR — KriStar Enterprises first realized it needed a third production plant a year ago when it landed a huge rush order to install a newly designed and bulky system to collect and clean rainwater flowing off the expansive parking lots of the forthcoming 49ers stadium in Santa Clara, and now the Santa Rosa-based company is rushing to get a plant in Windsor on line by early next year to supply a large Caltrans contract.

Flavor! Napa Valley 2012 invites festival-goers to take advantage of a variety of ticket options and accommodations from some of the region’s top hotels, to create their own ultimate “stay and play” experience during the Nov. 14–18 food, wine and fun extravaganza. …

World Economic Forum announced that Enphase Energy, Inc. (Nasdaq: ENPH) has been recognized as a 2013 Technology Pioneer. …

TerraVerde Renewable Partners, a Larkspur-based independent energy adviser that helps schools, public agencies and private companies reduce energy costs, announced that three of its large Central Valley school district clients. …

The Coaches Training Institute in San Rafael, the oldest and largest in-person coach training school in the world, has published a white paper, “Co-Active Coaching and the Brain: Neuroscience Research Supports the Efficacy of the Co-Active Model.” …

Cline Cellars, a family-owned and operated winery located in the Carneros growing district of Sonoma County, has announced that for the second year, Living Beyond Breast Cancer has been named as the beneficiary of a $25,000 donation. …

Caltrans, the offices of Marin County supervisors Kate Sears and Steve Kinsey, as well as Marin Transit and the Transportation Authority of Marin staff have collaborated to install a camera to provide live images of traffic conditions on Highway 101 in southern Marin. …

The Marin County Board of Supervisors authorized a new $925,000 contract with Homeward Bound of Marin in order to provide shelter for persons experiencing homelessness throughout Marin County. …

MARIN COUNTY – Drivers in Marin County will soon have access to a new stretch of high-occupancy vehicle lanes in northern Novato, an opening that will create a continuous span of “carpool lanes” down to the Richardson Bay Bridge.

The new seven-mile stretch spans north and southbound on U.S. Route 101, between Rohnert Park Expressway and Old Redwood Highway Bridge.

NORTH BAY — A round of Sonoma County freeway improvements are on track for completion in November, starting with the opening of a new five-mile, high-occupancy vehicle lane in each direction between Pepper Road in Cotati and Rohnert Park Expressway.

NORTH BAY — The Metropolitan Transportation Commission plans to lend the state up to $200 million to sustain five threatened Bay Area highway projects under construction, including widening of Interstate 80 south of Fairfield and expansion of Highway 101 north of Santa Rosa, three projects with bids to be awarded in coming months including added lanes on Highway 101 north of Rohnert Park, plus traffic monitoring projects.