North Bay Business Journal

North Bay facilities managers recognized this year for their achievements are Sal Balderrama of Trivascular, Jennifer Bruneman of Santa Rosa City Schools, Jacques Charton of Dominican University of California, Christopher Dinno of Sonoma State University, Jason Duval of Clos Pegase, Willie Ghilotti of Ghilotti Construction Company, David Gonzales of La Tortilla Factory, Sue Maddigan of Exchange Bank, Tony McCormick of Agilent Technologies, Jim Neely of Sonoma Wine Company, John Nicolette of Don Sebastiani & Sons, Ralph O’Rear of Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Jake Pewitt of Mary’s Pizza Shack, Matt Rudie of Enphase Energy and Dale Withers of Pacific Union College.

The Business Journal asked several leading general contractors in the North Bay about the outlook for construction activity and the trends shaping the industry.

See profiles of the Inaugural Business Journal 2011 CFO Recognition Awards winners.

NOVATO – A $41 million expansion of the Buck Institute for Age Research has moved into its second phase toward completion in 2012.

The following are the largest commercial general, general engineering, plumbing, electrical, HVAC and solar contractors in the North Bay, based on their ranking on Business Journal lists in the past 12 months.

SANTA ROSA and PETALUMA — Ghilotti Construction Co. and North Bay Construction, two of the largest locally based general engineering contractors, today said they will combine operations over the next 18 months.

North Bay Construction founder and Chief Executive Officer John Barella, 62, inked a deal to sell the assets to Ghilotti Construction by the end of 2012. Mr. Barella is ending his management of the company, and North Bay President Steven Geney, 52, is joining Ghilotti Construction management team.

With the construction industry severely weakened by the current recession, the Business Journal decided it was time to give a fresh face to its annual Building the North Bay Construction Conference.

SANTA ROSA – General engineering contractor Ghilotti Construction Co., one of the North Bay’s largest such companies, significantly upgraded its corporate address as the headquarters staff has outgrown trailers in its main yard over the past 18 years.