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

ProSight scales back plans for larger Santa Rosa office

October 3rd, 2011

ProSight Specialty Insurance has scaled back plans to further expand its presence in Santa Rosa but will still maintain a presence in the area, a spokesman for the company said.
Fireman’s Fund names new CFO

September 19th, 2011

NOVATO — Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company named Kevin Walker as its new chief financial officer and newest member of its board of directors.
Venture-backed LumiGrow moves to Novato

September 12th, 2011

NOVATO — Backed by its first round of venture funding, LumiGrow Inc. relocated from San Francisco’s Treasure Island to Novato to further develop its line of specially tuned LED grow lights for food science research and commercial greenhouses.
Manufacturing: Clear Focus takes Las Vegas; keeping satellites OK from Irene

September 5th, 2011

North Bay manufacturing companies are notoriously modest when it comes to trumpeting accomplishments, more likely to associate the term “PR” with a pressure regulator than public relations. So we’re often taken aback to discover what’s being made in our midst. In the spirit of blowing their horns for them we elicited some little-known facts from local manufacturers.
Winery health insurance costs rise 12 percent

August 22nd, 2011

NOVATO — Wineries across the North Bay experienced roughly a 12 percent cost increase in their employees’ health plans this past year, a figure that is commensurate with other industries but one that runs counter to last year’s results, according to a new survey.
BioMarin second-quarter loss expands as product pipeline fills

July 28th, 2011

NOVATO — BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (Nasdaq: BMRN) today announced its second-quarter net loss expanded to $5.1 million from $500,000 in the second quarter of 2010.
Video: WBE’s Bob Bourdet celebrates 50 years with IBEW

July 28th, 2011

Bob Bourdet, vice president of W. Bradley Electric’s Electrical Division, celebrated 50 years of service with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
Bank of Marin earnings rise 3 percent for second quarter

July 25th, 2011

NOVATO — Bank of Marin Bancorp (Nasdaq: BMRC), parent company of Bank of Marin, today announced second-quarter earnings of $3.4 million, up 3 percent from $3.3 million in the second quarter of 2010.
Health Care: Groups collaborate on 20th HeartWorks Fitness Center

July 25th, 2011

The Northern California Center for Well-Being, along with the Northern California Medical Associates, today celebrated the 20th anniversary of the HeartWorks Fitness Center, a cardiovascular rehabilitation program. The Center for Well-Being, which focuses on wellness and preventative care, and NCMA, a practice of cardiologists, have collaborated on the program made possible by ongoing support from [...]
Manufacturing Awards 2011: Education: BioMarin: As pharmaceutical company grows, so do education efforts

July 18th, 2011

NOVATO — In just over 10 years, Novato-based BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. has become one of the top pharmaceutical manufacturers, not just in the North Bay but in the industry in general.
Fireman’s Fund names new CEO

July 5th, 2011

NOVATO — Lori Dickerson Fouché has been named the new president and chief executive officer of Novato-based Fireman’s Fund Insurance Co. She succeeds Michael LaRocco, who left the company to “pursue other professional opportunities.”
Rohnert Park to be third new G&C shop

July 4th, 2011

SANTA ROSA — G&C AutoBody is on track to a have a 50 percent increase in revenue this year to $30 million with the opening of three new shops along the Highway 101 corridor.
Natural Comfort to move to Petaluma

June 27th, 2011

PETALUMA — Novato-based bedding importer Natural Comfort Co. LLC has taken advantage of the rapidly changing Petaluma commercial real estate market to secure better-configured space for a growing company.
BioMarin to buy plant in Ireland for expansion

June 23rd, 2011

NOVATO — BioMarin Pharmaceutical has entered into an agreement to buy a 133,000-square-foot Pfizer manufacturing plant in Cork, Ireland, for $48.5 million.
Ultragenyx receives $45 million in funding

June 20th, 2011

NOVATO — Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc. today announced the closing of a $45 million series A financing to develop treatments for rare disease.
BioMarin begins phase 3 drug trial in Europe

June 7th, 2011

NOVATO — BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (Nasdaq: BMRN) today announced the start of phase 3 trial in Europe of a treatment for a rare immune system disease, Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome, or LEMS.
WBE forms North American telecom installation partnership

June 6th, 2011

NOVATO — Electrical general contractor W. Bradley Electric Inc. has extended the reach of its telecommunications installation division through a new partnership with nine other technology integrators.
Construction: Santa Rosa ordered to pay $243,000 in legal fees after losing tax-district suit

June 6th, 2011

Sonoma County Superior Court judge Mark Tansil late last month ordered the city of Santa Rosa to pay the Building Industry Association of the Bay Area and its legal counsel, Pacific Legal Foundation, $243,417.50 in legal fees. … Robert Fedrick, 56, youngest son of North Bay general engineering contracting icon C.R. Fedrick, is restarting his father’s namesake company, which was founded in 1948, acquired by Arizona-based contracting giant Sundt Corp. in 1972 and renamed as Sundt in 2004. … The Veterans Home of California at Yountville received certification under the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design for New Construction project rating system following a $17 million renovation of the Member Services Building, according to the California Department of Veterans Affairs. The project achieved Gold-level certification, the second-highest. … H2hotel, completed last July at 219 Healdsburg Ave. near the Healdsburg Plaza, recently received Gold-level certification under the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design for New Construction project rating system.
Amplifications and corrections: Ralph O’Rear

May 23rd, 2011

Ralph O’Rear is vice president of facilities for the Buck Institute for Age Research in Novato. His name was misspelled in the story “Buck Institute to begin geothermal project” [p. 2, May 16].
Buck Institute to begin geothermal project

May 16th, 2011

NOVATO — The Buck Institute for Age Research will begin drilling holes for its upcoming geothermal project in the middle of June, according to Ralph O’Leary, vice president of facilities.