North Bay Business Journal

Rohnert Park-Cotati: Adjusting to ‘new market realities’

The Rohnert Park-Cotati market remained fairly stable in 2009 despite trying economic times.

Teams increase design firm value

NORTH BAY — Three Santa Rosa and Napa firms have formed an architectural, environmental and engineering design team for winery and related hospitality projects.

Company sending 100 portable houses to Haiti

SONOMA COUNTY — Two Sonoma County companies are responding to the international call to quickly shelter hundreds of thousands of Haitians left homeless by a large mid-January quake that shattered the island nation.

Most Influential Leaders: Dave Siembieda

Last August when we published our first group of Most Influential Leaders in the North Bay, we promised we would bring you more of their stories. We honor that pledge today and promise to bring you more of the inspiring stories of business people in future editions.

Spotlight on innovators in green technology

This spotlight focuses on some of the North Bay people and companies that are creating new green technologies that are being put to work in the field daily. Know someone who should be here? Let us know. Listed alphabetically by innovator name.

Sportfishing retailer Outdoor Pro leases new, larger location

COTATI — After 17 years in the same Rohnert Park location, sportfishing retailer Outdoor Pro Shop plans to pick up four times as much sales space and consolidate three Sonoma County locations in a move to a 24,000-square-foot building in Cotati at the end of this month.

Colleges forge partnerships, reach out to students

NORTH BAY — North Bay universities increasingly are finding ways to partner with community businesses to better their programs and navigate the economic downturn.

Sonoma State University plans mandatory furlough days

ROHNERT PARK — Sonoma State University’s campus will be closed two Fridays a month during the spring semester beginning Jan. 8 as part of the reductions caused by the current state budget crisis. Four days in the April spring break period will also be used as furlough days. During these days the campus will be closed except for the Student Recreation Center which will remain open.

Sonoma Mountain Business Cluster gets $20,000 grant

ROHNERT PARK — The Sonoma Mountain Business Cluster has received a $20,000 gift from The Wachovia Wells Fargo Foundation.

Zin group establishes $500,000 scholarship endowment for SSU wine program

ROHNERT PARK — Rough & Ready-based Zinfandel Advocates & Producers in Nevada County has established a $500,000 scholarship endowment for the Sonoma State University Wine Business Institute’s MBA program to honor the zinfandel organization founder Donn Reisen.

“By providing a worthy and needy student with funds to pursue an MBA degree from the SSU Wine Business Institute, the Donn P. Reisen Scholarship seeks to memorialize the contributions Donn made to the advancement of the California wine industry and to the enhancement of people’s understanding and appreciation for fine wine the world over,” said Julie Ann Kodmur, spokeswoman for Zinfandel Advocates & Producers.