North Bay Business Journal

HAY

Sonic.net sells wireless division to CDS Enterprises

April 16th, 2012

SANTA ROSA – “I hate wireless,” said Sonic.net CEO Dane Jasper on his blog last week, announcing that he had spun off his wireless division to concentrate on DSL and fiber.
At $300,000 for the Human Race and running

April 16th, 2012

Am I dreaming, or is it really time for the Human Race (yes, May 5, 2012)? Hopefully, this is not your recurring nightmare to receive my annual letter asking (groveling) for your help ($), to stop cancer and save lives.
Anonymous $5 million SRJC donation is largest in 94-year history

April 12th, 2012

SANTA ROSA – An anonymous $5 million gift to Santa Rosa Junior College, announced today, will generate approximately $175,000 in scholarship awards annually, according to the college.
Wine industry veteran DeLuca joins Wells Fargo

April 9th, 2012

SANTA ROSA – Wells Fargo (NYSE:WFC) has announced the hiring of Perry DeLuca as industry head and team leader for the Wine, Food & Beverage group in its Santa Rosa-based North Coast Commercial Lending Office.
Winegrape shortage could last six to eight years

April 9th, 2012

After nearly 10 years of oversupply and low prices, California winegrapes and bulk wines are suddenly in a position of scarcity. Wineries are scurrying to find grapes and secure vineyard assets, while négociant wineries see their wine sources dwindling. How did we come to be in this situation, and what lies ahead for growers, wineries and consumers?
Business News: Week of April 9, 2012

April 9th, 2012

Brief news about businesses and organization in the north San Francisco Bay area
Jackson lights up large solar cogen array

April 5th, 2012

SANTA ROSA — Jackson Family Wines today unveiled a 241,000-kilowatt-hour solar energy cogeneration array atop the main Kendall-Jackson Kittyhawk winery in Windsor.
Sonoma County airline passenger traffic up 7 percent in March

April 4th, 2012

SANTA ROSA — The number of passengers flying in and out of Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport climbed 7.7 percent in March this year from February but dropped slightly compared with a year before, according airport figures released today.
Piner High School project to widen pathway to construction, science jobs

April 2nd, 2012

SANTA ROSA — A 4-year-old nationally recognized Piner High School program that gives students reality-based training in the science, technology and mathematics behind the latest gadgets that help drivers find destinations via their smartphones, surveyors map more precisely and efficiently, and crews grade roads more cost-effectively wants to do its own major upgrade this summer.
Santa Rosa woman wins suit against 47.5 percent loan penalty

April 2nd, 2012

SANTA ROSA – A 61-year-old Santa Rosa woman has won a suit against a Florida-based mortgage lender after being hit with what a Sonoma County judge called a “gigantic” 47.5 percent fee for prepaying a commercial property loan. The Santa Rosa law firm that represented the woman, Beyers Costin, called the ruling a victory for borrowers over questionable lending practices.
Sonoma Jet Center among first to offer unleaded aviation fuel

March 26th, 2012

SANTA ROSA – Sonoma Jet Center, a private aviation company based in Santa Rosa, has become an early adopter of lead-free fuel for general aviation use, according to the company.
Mullen & Filippi to move to downtown Santa Rosa

March 19th, 2012

SANTA ROSA — Mullen & Filippi, a law firm that specializes in workers’ compensation litigation and related legal services, is relocating its practice to about 6,000 square feet in downtown Santa Rosa from the Fountaingrove Executive Center.
Water-tech companies report strong growth

March 19th, 2012

NORTH BAY – The housing slump has taken its toll on green construction and a glut of Chinese panels has dimmed the solar industry some, but local companies with water management tools say business is flowing along smoothly.
Horizon tops regional airlines in profit margin

March 13th, 2012

SANTA ROSA — Horizon Air, the Alaska Airlines subsidiary operating all commercial flights in Santa Rosa, had the highest operating profit margin among all regional airlines, according to new federal data. Average fares from the airport increased 7.2 percent.
American AgCredit reports record 2011 earnings, dividend

March 12th, 2012

SANTA ROSA — American AgCredit today reported net earnings last year increased 88 percent from 2010 to a new record for the Santa Rosa-based agricultural lending giant.
Sonoma Co. industrial real estate recovers slowly

March 12th, 2012

SONOMA COUNTY — Like the economy, which is in slow recovery, so is the Sonoma County industrial market.
Santa Rosa office rents rise amid absorption

March 12th, 2012

SANTA ROSA — The office market in the North Bay’s largest city appears to have stabilized as tour activity and closed transactions have increased substantially compared to 2008–2010 levels. Property owners continue to compete for tenants at rental rates 10 percent–20 percent below the market peak, but competition appears to be that of a more typical market rather landlord desperation seen in recent years.
State tax agents checking licenses, permits in north Santa Rosa

March 9th, 2012

OAKLAND — This month, the Board of Equalization’s Statewide Compliance and Outreach Program teams contacted businesses in the 95403 ZIP code area, which includes north Santa Rosa, the Wikiup-Larkfield-Mark West area and the Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport industrial parks, about a planned door-to-door check of licenses and permits.
Lowry to retire from Burbank Housing

March 9th, 2012

SANTA ROSA — John Lowry, executive director of Burbank Housing, plans to retire in September after 14 years in that role.
Amy’s Kichen ‘a beautiful’ story and cautionary tale

March 1st, 2012

Amy’s Kitchen had, as the company likes to say, “a beautiful beginning.” It was 1988, Amy’s CEO Andy Berliner’s and his wife and company co-founder, Rachel, were expecting the birth of their daughter, Amy. It was a night no one wanted to cook, so Mr. Berliner went to the store and purchased a prepared frozen dinner. It was terrible. They knew they could do better. And so, Amy’s Kitchen was launched.