Marin County – North Bay Business Journal - North San Francisco Bay Area, Sonoma, Marin, Napa counties

New life for ex-ILM studio in San Rafael

February 6th, 2012

SAN RAFAEL — Movie industry veterans led by longtime Dolby executive Tim Partridge have reopened the legendary sound stage at 3210 Kerner Blvd. in San Rafael.
Strong 2011 puts Exchange Bank closer to ‘primary objective’ of dividend

February 6th, 2012

Santa Rosa-based Exchange Bank earned $12.2 million in net income over the course of 2011, a 19 percent increase from the prior year that the bank attributed to developments such as strong core earnings and a reduction in problem assets.
Wellpoint, Anthem to put higher premium on primary care

February 6th, 2012

NORTH BAY — WellPoint Inc., the nation’s largest health insurance company and parent of Anthem Blue Cross, said it will pay physicians a higher reimbursement rate for primary care, a move aimed at reducing overall costs by rewarding preventative and quality care while hopefully addressing a nationwide physician shortage.
Locally based food makers have put down roots

February 6th, 2012

NORTH BAY – After nearly 25 years in Petaluma, Barbara’s Bakery will depart in June. Parent company Weetabix is consolidating operations, giving Barbara’s 24 employees the option of moving to Massachusetts or seeking other jobs.
At last, a lunch box that is green

February 6th, 2012

SAN RAFAEL – Along with the flourishing food scene in the North Bay comes a sustainable way to tote and munch it.
ECOlunchboxes – plastic-free stainless containers and cotton bags to carry them in – are a surprise bestseller in Whole Foods, Container Stores and retail outlets across the U.S. and abroad.
Leases and sales: Week of Feb. 6, 2012

February 6th, 2012

Commercial real estate leases and sales in the north San Francisco Bay area
People: Week of Feb. 6, 2012

February 6th, 2012

Civil Engineering Santa Rosa-based 15000 Inc. hired Jacob Miller, a mechanical designer. Mr. Miller is a graduate of California State University, Chico and a current member of the American Society of Civil Engineers. He has volunteered his time with the Marin Municipal Water District shadowing the engineering design, drafting, surveying, and construction inspection departments. Commercial [...]
SMART tax repeal effort fails

January 30th, 2012

NORTH BAY — An effort to allow voters to repeal the 2008 sales tax measure that funds a proposed commuter rail system in the North Bay has failed after election officials in Sonoma and Marin counties collected fewer than the minimum signatures required to advance the matter to the ballot.
Medical-device maker Sanovas picks Sausalito for production

January 30th, 2012

SAUSALITO — Sanovas Inc. plans to expand its corporate headquarters in Marin County’s southernmost city to include a manufacturing operation for early production of key components used in its microsurgical devices, used in diagnosing and treating cancer and other chronic diseases.
Repealing SMART will have expensive consequences

January 30th, 2012

Four years into the biggest economic downturn since the Great Depression, everyone’s looking to boost the economy and invest wisely. In the North Bay, voters have provided the opportunity to do both: the SMART Train & Pathway.
People: Week of Jan. 30, 2012

January 30th, 2012

Click here for photo gallery Health Care The Northern California Center for Well-Being has hired Annette Zucconi as its new operations manager as part of its leadership team. Ms. Zucconi has dedicated over 20 years to non-profit community education work and brings a breadth of curriculum development, contract and program management experience to the Center [...]
2012 Impact Marin Conference registration ends March 9

January 29th, 2012

2012 Impact Marin Conference, Wednesday, March 14, 2012, 8-10 a.m., Embassy Suites, San Rafael. Panel 1: “Hospitality opportunities ahead” with Michael Shapiro of the San Rafael Pacifics and Karl Hoagland of Larkspur Hotels and Restaurants. Panel 2: “Marin’s economy and biotech” with Dan Moshavi of Dominican University of California’s School of Business and Leadership plus Remy Gross of Buck Institute for Age Research.
RepealSMART campaign submits ballot signatures

January 27th, 2012

NORTH BAY — Election officials in Sonoma County have completed an initial count of 5,471 signatures submitted today in support of a ballot measure to overturn the quarter-cent sales tax voters approved in 2008 to fund construction of a North Bay commuter rail project. Staff at the Marin County Registrar of Voters office will conduct an informal count on Monday. RepealSMART, the group spearheading the repeal, submitted the signatures hours before an end-of-the-day deadline and six months after their efforts officially began in August.
Sanovas plans Sausalito expansion for production

January 24th, 2012

SAUSALITO — Sanovas Inc. today announced it will expand its corporate headquarters in Marin County’s southernmost city and start local assembly of key components for its microsurgical devices, used in diagnosing and treating cancer and other chronic diseases. The startup plans to hire 20 locally this year.
Bank of Marin reports profit in 2011

January 20th, 2012

NOVATO — Bank of Marin Bancorp (NASDAQ: BMRC), the parent company of Bank of Marin, announced today that the bank’s annual net income increased by 14.8 percent in 2011.
Marin, Sonoma unemployment lowest in three years; Napa’s rate rises

January 20th, 2012

NORTH BAY — Unemployment rates across the North Bay in December edged downward slightly or remained at essentially the same high levels as in November, and Marin County’s jobless rate fell below 7 percent for the first time in nearly three years.
Westamerica cites rate pressure in 2011 earnings decrease

January 19th, 2012

SAN RAFAEL – Westamerica Bancorporation (NASDAQ: WABC), the parent company of Westamerica Bank, said in a report today that a low interest rate environment pressuring the banking industry led to a decrease in income in 2011.
Hennessy Advisors increases dividend

January 19th, 2012

NOVATO – The board of directors for Hennessy Advisors (OTCBB: HNNA), the Novato-based investment management firm, announced a 25 percent increase in its annual cash dividend today; from 10 cents to 12.5 cents per share for calendar year 2012.
After Hours: Mountain Play Assn. Fall Gala

January 16th, 2012

Nov. 5, 2011: The Mountain Play Association held their annual fall gala fundraiser at the San Rafael JCC
Raydiance weighs Petaluma expansion

January 16th, 2012

Raydiance, developer of next-generation laser technology, is considering a major expansion in Petaluma this year. Other items in this commercial real estate column: Santa Barbara-based multifamily property investment firm Nevins Adams Lewbel Schell, or NALS, purchased the 292-unit Rolling Oaks luxury apartment complex at 3700 Lyon Road in Fairfield for $52 million, or about $178,000 a dwelling. … Prima Fluer Botanicals of San Rafael signed a five-year lease for the 14,400-square-foot warehouse and offices at 23 Pimentel Ct. in Novato. … An affiliate of San Francisco-based industrial real estate investor Lowenberg Corp. purchased a 101,700-square-foot warehouse in American Canyon, Lowenberg’s ninth North Bay holding. … As part of planned projects around the Bay Area, San Ramon-based gym chain 24 Hour Fitness has been upgrading its North Bay facilities.