North Bay Business Journal

Napa-based Coombs & Dunlap recently hired Karl Frisinger as an associate. …

Eric Fischer of Novato has joined Homeward Bound of Marin as chief financial officer. …

Connie Irwin of Pacific Union International in Kentfield was named “Realtor of the Year” by the Marin Association of Realtors. …

Robert Mondavi Winery has appointed Nova Cadamatre as winemaker. …

Rutherford Wine Company announced the appointment of John Trant as direct-to-consumer manager for Rutherford Ranch Winery. …

NOVATO — Blu Homes, a Vallejo and Massachusetts-based manufacturer of energy efficient, prefabricated homes, has entered into an agreement with Homeward Bound of Marin to construct a $4 million affordable and supportive housing project in Novato.

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. …

Novato-based ET Water Systems, Inc., which offers a range of traditional, retrofit and cloud-based irrigation management products for new and existing landscapes, announced the release of a suite of water budget tools that enable customers to monitor and manage water use in real-time, with graphs and analytics to communicate actionable, water saving data to stakeholders and stay within monthly water budget requirements.

Democrasoft, Inc. (OTCBB: DEMO), the Santa Rosa-based developer of the online Collaborize Classroom education software, announced the completion of a $500,000 interim funding private placement; most of the securities were sold to existing investors.

The Perfect Purée of Napa Valley founder and President, Tracy Hayward, announced the launch of a new warehouse program for local residents and businesses.

Shakespeare Napa Valley will present Twelfth Night, one of Shakespeare’s most popular comedies set in the fantastical world of the “Wild Wild West,” free of charge in beautiful Veterans Memorial Park in Downtown Napa, July 20–29.

The Kaiser Permanente Santa Rosa Medical Center has been designated a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by the American College of Radiology.

Three outpatient clinical programs in Sutter Medical Network, Sutter Health’s physician network, were recognized for statewide best practices in the California Association of Physician Groups’ annual Standards of Excellence Survey of medical group features and capabilities.

Kaiser Permanente Northern California’s Live Well Be Well workplace-wellness program received platinum certification in the 2012 Best Employers for Healthy Lifestyles awards presented by the National Business Group on Health.

HopMonk Tavern owner Dean Biersch has announced that Novato will be the home of his third craft beer-centric tavern with plans to open fall 2012.

Silverado Country Club, located at Silverado Resort and Spa in Napa, announced the availability of a limited number of memberships to individuals outside of the Silverado Community for the first time.

Cogenra Solar, a Mountain View-based provider of distributed solar cogeneration systems, announced its first dairy solar cogeneration system at the Clover Stornetta Farms Dairy Processing Plant in Petaluma.

B.R. Cohn Winery, based in Glen Ellen, received three gold medals at the California State Fair Wine Competition for the 2009 Mendocino County Barbera, the 2010 Carneros Chardonnay and the 2010 Russian River Pinot Noir.

Twenty-six volunteers from the business community and government agencies have been working together to conduct interviews throughout the county in recent weeks as part of Sonoma County BEST’s “100 in 100” effort.

United Way recently honored local businesses with their annual Community Partnership Awards.

For the first time in its six-year history, two organizations tied for Nonprofit Organization of the Year in the Napa Community Awards, presented at the Napa Valley Marriott Hotel & Spa. Community Health Clinic Ole and Community Action of Napa Valley jointly received the prestigious award, selected from among nine nominees submitted by the community.

Fresh Starts Culinary Academy, a project of Homeward Bound of Marin, has received a $30,000 grant to refine and enhance its training program with updated curriculum and a new job coach.

The Sonoma County Harvest Fair judges have announced Santa Rosa Junior College’s Shone Farm olive oil is a double gold winner in the fair’s professional olive oil competition.

Novato-based Circle Bank announced that the Redwood Empire Food Bank, which serves Sonoma County and the North Bay, will be the beneficiary of its quarterly charity day program.

SailNapaValley.com, a collaboration between the Napa Valley Destination Council, Napa Valley Vintners and the 34th America’s Cup, launches on June 27 to showcase Napa Valley lodging, wine and culinary offerings for fans and friends of the America’s Cup.

Education Fresh Starts Culinary Academy, a project of Homeward Bound of Marin, has received a $30,000 grant to refine and enhance its training program with updated curriculum and a new job coach. The grant from Catalyst Kitchens, an affiliate group for culinary social enterprise businesses, is supported by the Walmart Foundation and will allow Fresh [...]

NOVATO – Homeward Bound of Marin, the Novato-based provider of shelter and services for homeless individuals and families in Marin County, announced today that it will develop a cluster of small homes for low-income working families on a .75-acre parcel in Southern Novato.

Homeward Bound of Marin recently completed a $9.3 million, renewable-energy-supplied job training center for the homeless called The Next Key Center.