North Bay Business Journal

ROHNERT PARK — A new compounding pharmacy in Rohnert Park is pursuing what it says is an opportunity in sales of custom-made prescription drugs, at a time when shortages have increased demand both locally and nationally.

NAPA — A South Carolina-based hotel developer has secured land for a 115-room hotel next to the 12-screen movie theaters already under construction at the south end of Napa.

HEALDSBURG — Project portfolio management software developer Métier Ltd. has moved its West Coast office to Healdsburg from downtown Santa Rosa as the company prepares to rapidly increase its local workforce to accommodate a recent surge in sales.

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.

SEBASTOPOL — In its first real budget outlook since aligning with Marin General, Palm Drive Hospital reported improved cash flows while significantly lowering its deficit, all positive develops, though challenges still remain.

When I say the words, “set the standard,” what comes to your mind? Is it personal standards of yours? Is it standards that your business sets? Is it standards you have in your mind about other people? Is it standards you have in your mind about other products?

SONOMA COUNTY – Sonoma County is set to add a number of new affordable housing units to its roster, with last Friday’s groundbreaking for Burbank Housing’s 66-unit Logan Place in Petaluma the latest in a number of developments occurring around the county’s Affordable Housing Week.

SANTA ROSA – Regulators are cracking down on unlicensed contractors in California, a group that has underbid licensed professionals and slowed down the economic recovery for an industry hit hard by the recession, according to Steve Sands, executive officer and registrar for the state’s Contractors State License Board.

Construction industry column: Napa-based civil engineering, surveying and construction inspection services firm Chaudhary & Associates is bouncing back from the huge slowdown in private construction projects in the past few years, thanks to public works projects rolling forward.

With classes out for the summer at Piner High School in Santa Rosa, Angwin-based general contractor Helmer & Sons has started construction on the school’s Science and Technology Center.

MK2 Engineers relocated its main office from downtown Napa to The Wiseman Co.’s Green Valley Executive Center in Fairfield, but the mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineering firm intends to retain a small Napa office for meetings with winery clients.

Santa Rosa-based Ygrene Energy Fund, which sets up energy-efficiency retrofit programs for local governments backed by $650 million in financing power from Barclay’s Capital, Lockheed Martin and Energi, was awarded the silver level of the 2012 Edison Award in the innovative services category for social innovation.

Crestron Electronics, a New Jersey-based large integrator of high-tech control and automation systems for homes, schools and businesses, expanded and relocated its Northern California offices.

Novato-based electrical and information-technology contractor W. Bradley Electric Inc. promoted Steve Scannell.

SAN RAFAEL – Members of the San Rafael business community are anticipating a windfall from the inaugural season of the San Rafael Pacifics, an independent professional minor league baseball team that will play its first game at the city’s 900-seat Albert Park today.

NOVATO — Navitas Naturals, a supplier of organic natural foods and grains, has purchased its existing 23,000 square-foot facility at 9 and 15 Pamoran Way in Novato, after experiencing significant growth and after the opportunity to purchase rather than lease presented itself to the company.

He had just spent an entire day in briefings in the state Capitol and was having a hard time staying optimistic.

Nothing stays the same. The only thing that changes is change itself and as others start to get up in your grille, you need to be hyper-alert so your organization doesn’t become yesterday’s news. Grove was a man of action, and driven by his “constructive paranoia”, believed “you have to pretend you’re 100 percent sure. You have to take action; you can’t hesitate or hedge your bets. Anything less will condemn your efforts to failure.”

Banking and Finance Travis Credit Union  elected its 2012-13 volunteer board of directors and supervisory committee members recently. The  2012-13 board of directors includes: Pat Moreno, chair; Deborah Aspling, vice chair; Mary Coburn, secretary; Thomas Kulinski, treasurer; Curt Newland, director; Ann Rollin, director; Len Augustine, director; Tim Truesdale, director; and Dee Alarcon, director. Education Sonoma [...]

Commercial real estate leases and sales in the north San Francisco Bay Area

This Week Sonoma Wine Country Senior Games Sponsor: Council on Aging Date: June 4–10, Times vary  Cost: $45 Place: Games are held at Santa Rosa Junior College and other Wine County Venues Info: www.winecountrygames.com or 707-525-0143 x 146 Commercial Recycling Workshop Sponsor: Chamber of Commerce Date: June 6, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.  Cost: Free Place: [...]

Technology San Rafael-based Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ:ADSK) launched Autodesk SketchBook Ink for iPad paint and drawing app, the latest release from the company’s popular SketchBook family, which has more than 10 million downloads to date. Powered by a brand new engine, Autodesk SketchBook Ink introduces unique technology for artists to create stunning, high-resolution ink-style artwork. Unlike [...]