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PetalumaBUSINESS
PetalumaBUSINESS
“ Petaluma’s voice for business”
May 2011Vol 20, No 5
PRSRT STDUS POSTAGE
PAIDPETALUMA, CAPERMIT NO. 127
6 Petaluma Blvd. North, Suite A-2 Petaluma, CA 94952 707-762-2785
A publication of the Petaluma Area Chamber of Commerce • www.petalumachamber.com
Time Sensitive Material - Deliver by May 4
Current Resident or
Results from Chamber’sMembership Poll
The Chamber asked the membership what it thinks about a large number of issues, and the membership has responded. Members told the Board, via on-line and hard-copy surveys, that it supported current Chamber policies and activities concerning local business issues, but would not support direct Chamber activity in elections of candidates.
Of particular notice was the fact that, in view of some recent opinions that the Chamber was too aggressive with City Hall, the poll revealed that 87% felt that the Chamber’s activities were either just
right or not aggressive enough.
The Chamber received a 25% response to its polling, which is considered to be an excellent response. In addition, members had the opportunity to participate either on-line or on a written poll mailed to them. Three-fourths of the responses were on-line, one-fourth mailed. The results were tallied separately, and in virtually every instance, though the separate tallies may vary by a few percentage points, the overall trends were the same in both segments.
In addition, there were pages of written responses, which will be considered by the Board, along with poll results, as it formulates Chamber directions and policies for the coming year.
Poll results:
Respondents were asked to identify programs conducted by the Chamber or under consideration, that they thought were most important (three choices.). More than half identified networking as most important, while more than a third identified working for a stronger economy, Women in
Business, and business advocacy. These were followed by business education, recruiting businesses to move here, helping businesses relocate, community education, and member communications.
Other relevant findings:
Q: How important is it for you for the Chamber to be involved in creating a strong local economy?
Very important, 87% Somewhat important, 12%
Chamber Introduces Program For Young ProfessionalsThe Petaluma
Chamber has launched a new program, The Petaluma Young P r o f e s s i o n a l s Network (YPN), designed to engage and introduce young p r o f e s s i o n a l s to Petaluma’s
immense resources and opportunities. Cassie McDowell of Productive Learning & Leisure and Nicole Smartt of Star Staffing are co-chairing the effort and providing the leadership to develop the program with the vision of engaging Young Professionals in the local business
community to impact the current and future marketplace.
“Petaluma has a wealth of resources and strength in community that is unprecedented. As an Ambassador for the Petaluma Area Chamber of Commerce I attend many monthly mixers and I have noticed that there doesn’t seem to be many young professionals,” McDowell said.
“However, I participate in several networking groups all over the Bay Area and there is no shortage of dynamic young professionals. I think the Chamber supported YPN will bring more young professionals to Chamber mixers and events as well as get them acquainted with all that Petaluma has to
offer,” she said.
“As we get our feet wet and I feel very lucky to have the support of many professionals in the community. It is also very important to note that none of this would have happened without the support of Nicole Smartt. It has been her dedication and enthusiasm that has this network up and running.”
“YPN can be an incredibly valuable resource to young professionals in the Petaluma area,” Smartt said, “providing us with education, networking opportunities, and guidance to succeed in our professional life.”
“In addition, this will help local businesses as it will bring more
professionals to the wonderful and diverse events the Petaluma Chamber has to offer,” she said.
Besides McDowell and Smartt, the committee consists of Andrew McNeil of McNeil Benefits, Daniel Ancheta of Bank of Marin, Jennifer Patten of the Referral Institute, Sharon Medley of Medley Glass, Kyle Restad of Edward Jones, Michael Regan of The Regan Team, Michael Belfor of AP Mortgage, and Petaluma City Councilmen, Mike Harris of Crosscheck and Gabe Kearney of Kaiser Permanente.
The Petaluma YPN will offer networking events such as morning and evening mixers, educational seminars
Cassie McDowell
Continued on page 6
Continued on page 6
2 May 2011 Petaluma Business – A publication of the Petaluma Area Chamber of Commerce
PETALUMA BUSINESS CREDITSPublished by the Petaluma Area Chamber of Commerce, 6 Petaluma Blvd. N., Suite A-2©2010 Petaluma Chamber of Commerce
Don Bennett Editor & Writer AVM Graphics Design & Production Joan Bunn Photography-Events Marin Sun Printing
PetalumaBUSINESS
Petaluma Business ads are sales boosters! An economic way to reach more than 800 businesses monthly. Call the Chamber, 762-2785 for specifics & discount rates.
Agri-BusinessRebecca Scott, 540-0054 Royal Petroleum
AmbassadorsDaniel Canales, 781-9483 Insphere Insurance Solutions
Jim Alexander, 762-2818 Financial Consultant
Business/EducationDennis Hardle, 763-5348 Hardle and Company
Economic Development Anthy O’Brien (707) 283-2710 Top Speed Data Communications
Government AffairsWayne Leach, (415) 883-9850 CSW/Stuber-Stroeh Engineering Group
Leadership Petaluma ProgramCall the Chamber for info, 762-2785.
Past Presidents CouncilLes Villanyi, 778-9345 OTTIMO International
Wake-Up PetalumaJim Becker, 778-7780 Merrill Lynch-Wealth Management Jeff Mayne, 536-6161 Excel Mortgage Solutions
Women in BusinessShelly Moller, 763-3006 Edward Jones
Petaluma Young Professionals NetworkCassie McDowell, 415-250-8970 Productive Learning & Leisure
CommitteesCall 762-2785 for more information.
PresidentMonica Soiland, 762-3200
Midstate Construction
First Vice PresidentRon Malnati*, 769-2294
Exchange [email protected]
Second Vice PresidentTony Sarno*, 664-1400
Keegan & [email protected]
TreasurerWill Soper*, 763-3888
Beels Soper [email protected]
Immediate Past PresidentLes Villanyi*, 484-4992
Ottimo International
DIRECTORS
John Burns, 762-4541Petaluma [email protected]
Daniel Canales*, 781-9483National Assoc. for Self-Employed
Elece Hempel*, 765-8488
Petaluma People Services Center
Justin Hansel, 768-2300Hansel Auto Group
Katie Kerns*, 557-7045
Michelle Law, 559-7200Circle Bank
Wayne Leach, 795-4764
CSW/Stuber-Stroeh Engineering Group
Richard Marzo, 763-1515
Lace House Linen
Todd Mendoza, 769-4303Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
Matt White, 795-4477Basin Street Properties [email protected]
CHAMBER STAFF762-2785 • Fax 762-4721
Email: [email protected]
www.petalumachamber.com
Onita Pellegrini*, CEO
Judy Carney, Bookkeeper
Daniella Ellicott*, Member Services
Kathy Brandal, Office Assistant
* Leadership Petaluma Graduates
Ambassador ProfilePatrick VeeningaParent-Sorensen
Patrick Michael was born to Wally and Carol Veeninga in Petaluma some forty odd years ago, the youngest of six children. Pat has long been aware of the importance of being part of our community. His mother and father were active in Petaluma sports associations, schools and various charitable organizations. Pat realizes the importance of his commitments; be it to his family, Cinnabar Elementary School, women’s issues and to this town and its citizens.
As Community Liaison for Parent-Sorensen Mortuary and Crematory, and a PACC Ambassador, his vision is to spread awareness about the value of being prepared for the death of a family member or loved one. His goal is to educate our community that Parent-
Sorensen Mortuary and Crematory can be of great benefit before a family needs our final services. “We are implementing Post Service Care and A Stepping Stones program solely for the well being of the families that we serve,” he said. “These programs will enable Parent-Sorensen to assist in the healing process long after our immediate service is provided.:
“I hope to bring a better understanding and demystify the role of a funeral home before its services are needed. Working at Parent-Sorensen Mortuary and Crematory for the last 18 months, I have seen first hand the importance of making prearrangements,” he said. “This enables the family members to follow the wishes of their loved ones and do so with little if no ‘guesses’ on their part. I want to bring a better
understanding of what we can do before the inevitable happens and make this easier for everyone.”
“Having the opportunity to both live and work in Petaluma, the PACC membership is incredibly important to me. I am looking forward to learning more about the varied and numerous businesses in Petaluma and sharing my insight and knowledge of the funeral industry.”
Good Mix of May Wake Up Topics
Ferris wheels and sheep, NASCAR and worms, and water both good and stinky will be among the topics discussed at the May program for Wake Up Petaluma, scheduled for May 24 at Rooster Run.
Sonoma-Marin Fair Director Pat Conklin will be on hand to talk about all the features planned for this year’s local event, to happen on June 22-26.
Also, Michael D’Addario from Infineon
Raceway at Sears Point will speak about their racing season, which includes major NASCAR events.
Pamela Tuft, the interim director of the Petaluma Water Agency, will discuss the City’s new wastewater treatment plant, the outlook for future water availability, and conservation measures that should be taken to assure abundant water in the future.
Sponsor for the day is Port Sonoma, and that firm’s J. T. Wick will be on hand to comment on Port Sonoma’s new venture into worm farming.
Also on the program is recognition of new members and a raffle drawing.
Cost for the breakfast is $20 for Chamber members, $25 for non-members. Reservations needed – call 762-2785.
Patrick Veeninga
4 May 2011 Petaluma Business – A publication of the Petaluma Area Chamber of Commerce
Editorials & Opinions, Analyses, Commentary, Viewpoints
President’s Message
Annual Lunch toFeature New Board
By Monica Soiland, President,
Petaluma Area Chamber of Commerce
Commentary
May is here, and it’s time for us to be circling some important dates on our Chamber calendars. It seems impossible that it has been almost a year since I was chosen President of this most impressive and successful business organization, but the fact is, next month we’ll be installing new officers, and new board members.
Thursday, June 23, is the date for our annual installation luncheon, scheduled this year for Rooster Run. We will be having a Mexican fiesta while we honor and install our new governing body for the coming year.
Also in June is graduation for this year’s Leadership Petaluma class. This event is scheduled for June 17 at Springfield Place on Ely Boulevard.
Voting for next year’s Board of Directors was still underway at press time, but four new Directors will be installed. Also, this month at the regular Board meeting, officers for the coming year will be elected from the Board members. We will be selecting a President, 1st Vice President, 2nd Vice President, Treasurer, and Immediate Past President. These five officers will also serve as the Board’s Executive Committee for the coming year.
As stipulated by our by-laws, the new President will then appoint three Chamber members to one-year Board of Directors terms. Then, for the next year, the Board will meet monthly, setting policy, determining Chamber positions on issues facing the business community, and overseeing the operations of our great institution.
As I have indicated, the path to Board membership can be achieved in one of two ways – either by becoming a candidate, or by Presidential
Platinum Members Gold Members Silver Members
AVM Graphics • Barbara J. Perry, Coldwell Banker • Clark Rosen, Coldwell BankerDeer Creek Village • Jim Becker@Merrill Lynch-Wealth Management • Moonware Design
Nancy Cooley, State Farm Insurance • Stony Point Rock Quarry
Bronze Members
Deer Creek Will HelpKeep Tax Dollars Here
The future of the Deer Creek Village shopping center on North McDowell Blvd. may well be decided in the months ahead. So far, we have been seeing hearings, at both the Planning Commission and City Council level, concerning the Environmental Impact Report for the project.
Although these hearings deal specifically on items contained in the draft EIR, much of the heat and furor expressed at those hearings really had more to do with the project itself instead of the EIR. Advocates on both sides need not fear – there will still be another round of Deer Creek debate.
The way the process works, the EIR is supposed to weigh the possible impacts of the proposed project, and recommend mitigations to impacts where feasible. Then, everyone gets to take shots, including friendly fire, at the EIR, after which the consultant who prepared the EIR goes back to his workspace and prepares responses to all the EIR related testimony. This includes comments from the public, the Planning Commission, and the City Council.
Once this is done, the EIR should come back to the Planning Commission again for approval of the final EIR and a recommendation to the Council on the project. Then it starts all over again at the Council level.
There are distinct points of view about this project, but the Chamber is supportive. One of the primary reasons is that for the first time probably in the history of this city, we have no place to buy lumber and other home improvement amenities in this city. The anchor store for the proposed Deer Creek Center will be, as most know, a Lowe’s.
There are those who believe that we don’t need such a retailer here because we can drive north to get what we need. This attitude lies at the heart of what, as has been repeatedly demonstrated, needs to be corrected in this city.
A tremendous part of our retail dollar is being shipped out of town precisely because we don’t have the retail outlets that shoppers have every intention of patronizing, even if it means driving seven or fifteen or twenty five miles. Petaluma got by with this lack of retail parity for a number of years because we had the flourishing auto mall that contributed healthy chunks of sales tax to help fund our community needs. The onset of our current recession hit auto sales hard, revealing just how vulnerable we are by not having an adequate tax base.
It has also been argued that Deer Creek Village will harm local businesses. For the most part, the center will not be competing, but in those rare cases where it might compete, it can be persuasively argued that in this regional economy, that competition already exists, in Cotati, Rohnert Park, Novato, or Santa Rosa, or beyond.
Every time a shopper treks over the hill to a Target or Lowe’s or what have you, odds are that the shopper is going to stay in that area and buy a number of other things that could just as easily have been purchased in Petaluma.
Petaluma needs a sustainable economy, and an important first step to sustainability is a retail community that serves the shopping needs of those who live here.
appointment. Either way, those interested in serving on the Board someday might consider that many of our existing Board members learned the Chamber’s “ropes” through serving on one or more of our committees, like the Ambassadors, or Government Affairs.
The Chamber is an organization driven by the spirit of volunteerism, whether it be just giving a hand cleaning up after an event, participating at the committee level, or serving on the Board. Volunteers are always welcomed with open arms, and if you would like to be more involved in the Chamber, let the staff know and they will be happy to outline all the opportunities available. Who knows? It could lead someday to serving on the Board as well.
Leadership graduation is also a reminder that as one door closes, another opens, and the opening door is next year’s Leadership Petaluma class. Think you might want to enter that door? You would be welcomed.
Applications for next year’s class are being accepted now, with the first get-together set for August. This is an exceptional program, and the class fills up most years, so if you are interested, or want to know more, I’d suggest you check with the Chamber office. They will be happy to help you out.
Meanwhile, we all hope to see you at our annual lunch. It should be a great time!
6 May 2011 Petaluma Business – A publication of the Petaluma Area Chamber of Commerce
Not important, 1%
Q: In dealing with issues under consideration at City Hall, do you feel the Petaluma Chamber pursues these issues:
Approach to City Hall is just right, 53%Not aggressively enough, 34%Too aggressively, 13%
Q: Do you feel the Petaluma Chamber provides sufficient networking opportunities for your needs?
Yes, 73%No, 12%No opinion, 15%
Q: Do you believe the Chamber should endorse and support candidates for City Council and County Supervisor?
No, 54%Yes, 35%No opinion, 11%
Q: Do you believe the Chamber should form a political action committee?
No, 51%Yes, 34%No opinion, 15%
Q: Do you believe the Chamber should continue to take positions on
SurveyContinued from page 1
ballot measures?
Yes, 69%No, 23%No opinion, 8%
Q: What do you think the MAIN purpose of the Chamber should be?
• Representing the interests of business with government, 37%
• Providing networking opportunities, 27%
• Working to create local jobs, 16%• Attracting new businesses to
Petaluma, 16%• Providing member education, 3%• Political action, passing ballot
measures, electing candidates, 1%
Q: How active should the Chamber be in attracting businesses and creating jobs?
• It should be high priority, 59%• It should be equal with other
Chamber priorities, 36%• It should be a lower priority, 5%
Q: Do you utilize any of the social media in your business?
1. Yes, regularly, 45%2. Yes, but not often, 29%3. No, 26%
for professional development, and community education. The first event is scheduled on May 18th at La Dolce Vita from 6pm to 8pm.
Cassie McDowell is a presenter at Productive Learning and Leisure. She holds an MBA in Global Strategic Management. As a student, she was already responsible for marketing and organizing high profile wine country events. She then spent several years in the travel and real estate business before discovering her strength in organizing, coordinating, managing, communicating, marketing and motivating.
Nicole Smartt is the Vice President
and Co-owner of Star Staffing. She has
been active in the HR industry for over
7 years. In addition, she was recently
appointed to the Young Professionals
Entrepreneur Council which is a closed-
community of the world’s top, young
entrepreneurs who volunteer their time
and their minds to create something
extraordinary, Nicole also serves on
the California Staffing Professionals
Board as well as the Professional
Association of Sonoma County Human
Resource(PASCO HR) Board. She was
recently the recipient of the Northbay’s
Forty under 40 award recognizing top
business leaders in the community
under the age of 40.
Young ProfessionalsContinued from page 1
Group attending the North Bay Children’s Center event include: Aaliyah Rodriguez (child), Jonathan Ocana (child), Susan Gilmore, Executive Director, NBCC; Sonoma County Supervisor David Rabbitt; Tiffany Renee, Petaluma Councilmember; Maureen Rudder, Principal, McDowell Elementary School; Cynthia Murray, CEO North Bay Leadership Council; Steve Page, Speedways Children’s Charities & Infineon; Jennie Tasheff, Executive Director First 5 Sonoma County; Bonne Gaebler, City of Petaluma; Greta Viguie, Superintendent, Petaluma School District; Sheri Chlebowski, Petaluma School Board Member; Robin Clover, NBCC Board Member; and Melissa Ahern, NBCC Board Member.
Rock Poster Artist toAddress Arts Group
Northern California Artist Pat Ryan will be the featured speaker Tuesday June 7th at the Petaluma Arts Association monthly meeting. His presentation, entitled “Working Artist”, is an exploration of -“how to apply the knowledge learned through years of study into the fascinating world of ART to the actual workings of our present society.”
Pat Ryan is considered one of the premier creators of rock posters, underground art, and American Indian historical paintings. His career spans more than four decades in California. Pat was one of the original Artista
Gang in Marin County along with Alton Kelly, Stanley Mouse and others, and has created well over 100 posters for various musical venues and festivals.
The Petaluma Arts Association Meeting’s are held the first Tuesday of each Month at the Petaluma Art Center on the corner of Lakeville and Washington in the Red Building in the classroom. The meetings begin with the Associations business from 7:00 to 7:45 followed by at coffee break from 7:45 to 8:00 .The program is from 8 to 9 pm. The public and potential members are always welcome!
Ribbon Cutting for Pongo’s Kitchen & Tap, in the Parkway Shopping Center. Right to left are; Pongo Pleinnikul, Partner, Tony Pleinnikul, son, Kathleen Staffor, Partner, Lawerence Staffor, Partner, Jesse Pleinnikul, son, Nick Pleinnikul, son, Kim Schrolder, friend, and Bob Vanderlind, master Carpenter.
8 May 2011 Petaluma Business – A publication of the Petaluma Area Chamber of Commerce
Chamber Asks the CityTo Review Impact Fees
The Petaluma Chamber, through its Board, Economic Development Committee and Government Affairs Committee, has been addressing the concern that Petaluma’s impact fees on development are significantly higher than all other County communities. The following letter was sent to the City Council:
Dear Mayor Glass and Councilmembers:The Chamber was pleased to hear
that the City Council expressed a willingness, to examine whether there are opportunities to revisit and revise certain specific components of Petaluma’s development impact fees. In our view, the current impact fees – which are by far the highest of any city in Sonoma County – serve to discourage the development our community has determined that it wants to encourage in its General Plan. We fully support the concept that new development should pay its fair share and fully mitigate its impacts on the community. Within that framework, however, there are significant opportunities to revise the current impact fees.
Regarding impact fees that are not tied to the General Plan EIR, the Chamber supports the following actions:
1. The Chamber supports the proposal to reduce the jobs-housing linkage fee
and to make that fee depend on the number of low wage jobs that a new development will actually create.
2. The Chamber supports reducing the required contribution for public art from 1.0% of the cost of new construction to 0.5%.
Regarding impact fees that are tied to the General Plan, we would suggest that developments since the General Plan was adopted indicate that several impact fees can be reduced because of changed circumstances.
First, it is obvious the “Copeland Street Extension” is not going to be built, and there is no justification to collect money, or set aside money, for this $6.5 million project. We already know that two involved agencies won’t permit it. One hundred percent of the $6.5 million cost of this project is currently embedded in impact fees, and this fee component should be dropped.
Next, the “Caulfield Lane Extension” component of the traffic impact fees is a $54.4 million project, 100% of which is embedded in traffic impact fees. Although we acknowledge that this project would create a modest reduction in congestion on East D Street, early activity on this project is totally unrealistic. We believe that it be
deferred until implementation of the next general plan so that higher priority traffic mitigation, specifically the Rainier project, can be implemented.
Taken together, the Copeland and Caulfield extensions contribute a total of $60.9 million of the $165.7 million of projects included in the traffic impact fees. Deleting Copeland and deferring Caulfield until implementation of the next general plan will create a 36.8% percent reduction in the traffic mitigation impact fees without compromising the most important projects that will create traffic relief.
Our current configuration of traffic impact fees serve primarily to discourage that development that would finance these projects, meaning that if we don’t act soon, there may never be significant traffic mitigation relief in Petaluma.
Regarding the Water Capacity Impact Fees, we note that 100% of the City’s proposed $44.1 million tertiary recycled wastewater distribution system is allocated to impact fees. The rationale supporting this allocation was that new development should pay to “create” space in the constrained Petaluma Aqueduct. We assert that two profound changes demand that this program be reexamined. First, the SCWA’s ability to meet its contractual commitments
to Petaluma no longer appears to be constrained by the capacity of the Petaluma Aqueduct. Second and more important, the old water demand projections are wildly higher than current projections, due to increased consumer conservation, calling into question whether the tertiary recycled wastewater distribution system still needs to be rolled out in the timeframe originally envisioned. Accordingly, the Chamber suggests that the impact fees be modified to only include the most cost effective early stages of the program, while removing the less cost effective later stages and either deferring them until later or identifying a different funding source. This deferral represents $26.2 million, or 59%, of the total $44.1 million cost of the recycled wastewater distribution system.
We also note that the Parkland Acquisition and Open Space Acquisition components of the impact fees are updated annually based on a five year rolling average of property sales. Based on current trends, both of these fees can be expected to be reduced about 20% when they are revised after June 30.
Thank you for your attention to these matters. The Chamber is prepared to work with the City to facilitate this much-needed review of impact fees.
Flash from the past. The above political cartoon dates back to pre-World War II 1940, when it was published in our local newspaper. Reprinted without comment.
Celebrating the Aerotek ribbon-cutting: Chris Sarmiento, Jamie Ceglarz, Ed Orjalo, Silvia Benavides and the Aerotek Staff.
10 May 2011 Petaluma Business – A publication of the Petaluma Area Chamber of Commerce
LinkedInWorkshop
Get Linkedin to Sales: LinkedIn, the No. 1 Social Media tool for Business, just reached 100 Million members. If you want to learn how to use it to grow your business, then grab your Wi-Fi enabled laptop and join co-presenters Carol Bell of Rings True Marketing and Kurt Shaver of The Sales Foundry for this hand-on workshop. Find out more and register at http://linked2sales.eventbrite.com. Petaluma Chamber members save 10% with Discount Code: PACC
Local Office SpaceStarting to Fill Up
The huge vacancy rate in Petaluma’s commercial sector is gradually shrinking. According to the North Bay Business Journal, the “number of purchases and leases of Petaluma office properties helped boost net absorption there by 200,400 square feet for the 12 months ending in the first quarter.”
Following publication of the Business Journal article, there was more good news. It was reported that Torn Ranch, a producer of gourmet treats, was taking over 50,000 square feet from a Mrs. Grossman’s property in Petaluma, vacant for the past five years.
The Business Journal reported that ”net office absorption in Petaluma over the previous 12 months was the highest among the Sonoma County markets, besting just 58,200 square feet in Santa Rosa and nearly 32,000 square feet in the business areas north of Santa Rosa. Rohnert Park was basically flat for the year with nearly 6,000 square feet of net absorption.
“In the past year or so, dozens of office and office-warehouse buildings, many with significant vacancies, have been sold to investors and users, often in the range of $40 to $50 a square foot. That compares with previous purchases
of the same buildings within the past several years for at least three times that,” the article reported.
The article quoted Tony Sarno of Keegan and Coppin as saying that one of the major challenges in Petaluma commercial real estate now is determining property value when buildings built by the same builder at the same time might have dramatically different income potential because one is lender-owned. Sarno is also a Petaluma Chamber Board member.
The article said that “the buy high-sell low consequence of the rapid economic slowdown from 2006 through 2009 was a resetting of the cost basis for Petaluma commercial real estate, which at the peak was approaching cost parity with Novato and north San Rafael.
The Business Journal report said that high-quality real estate is becoming more accessible for purchasers and lessees based on recent purchase prices. It is becoming more attractive to locate in Petaluma.
According to the article, “the office vacancy rate in Petaluma was 33.8 percent in the first quarter, the same as at the end of 2010 but much improved over 39.6 percent 12 months before.”
Business Brief
Whole Foods Market Nickels for Non-Profit Program will donate a nickel to PPSC each time customers use their own bag from now until July 2, 2011. Whole Foods Market Petaluma will donate five cents from each to PPSC to help support programs.
Women in Business BreakfastFeatures Noted Physician
“ W o m e n ’ s Health Through the Decades” is the topic of a breakfast n e t w o r k i n g p r o g r a m planned for May 10th at the Petaluma Womens Club, presented by
the Chamber’s Women in Business committee, along with event sponsor Kaiser Permanente.
Catherine Gutfreund MD, a Family Medicine Physician with Kaiser Permanente, will be covering such topics as vaccinations, preventative health care, preconception health, stress reduction, menopause, cardiovascular disease and much, much more.
Dr. Gutfreund has many years experience in the health services profession. With Kaiser Permanente since 2006, she is currently the women’s health liaison and domestic violence champion and is the Chief of the Complementary and Alternative Medicine Department. She is also currently the President of the Sonoma County Medical Association and is a delegate for the California Medical Association.
Space is limited, RSVP at the Petaluma Chamber of Commerce by calling (707) 762-2785.
The Petaluma Chamber of Commerce Women in Business Committee is comprised of local business women who have come together for the goal of providing education, networking opportunities and business support to other local women in business. The
Catherine Gutfreund
committee meets once a month to plan and schedule breakfast seminars and lunch seminars for the year, all with powerful topics and speakers.
If you are interested in learning more about the Petaluma Chamber’s Women in Business Committee, please contact the Committee Chair, Shelly Moller, Edward Jones, at [email protected].
The other committee members include: Jenny Bello, Mockingbird Heights Salon; Jana Boyle, Redwood Credit Union; Liz Chang, Natures Best Cleaners; Yvonne Cordoza, Cordoza’s Deli-Café; Anne Fischer Silva, New Leaf Nutrition; Jennifer March, JMA Services; Karen Langdon, Kaiser Permanente; Shelly Moller, Edward Jones; Onita Pellegrini, Petaluma Area Chamber of Commerce; Joanne Sterzenbach, Blue Oak Mortgage and Peggy Wyman, Sonoma Bank.
Parks Celebration Scheduled Working in partnership with California
State Parks and the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation & Open Space District, Sonoma County Regional Parks presents this year’s Parks Celebration from April 22 through June 21, 2011.
The Parks Celebration offers events and activities for everyone: running & boat races, natural science activities, sand castle & kite festival, fish festival, historic hikes & tours, previews of future parks, outings for teens, stewardship
projects, geocaching, lifesaving, tide pooling, photographing, marshmallow roasting and more.
Over 27 agencies, organizations and businesses are working with Sonoma County Regional Parks to create this incredible 60-day celebration of the outdoors. More information about the Parks Celebration is available on Sonoma County Regional Parks’ website at www.sonomacountyparks.org, or by calling (707) 565-2041.
This year’s Leadership Petaluma class adopted as their class project the clean-up and construction of pocket parks at G and H Streets and the river. The group, pictured above, performed their work this Spring in conjunction with the city-wide Rebuilding Together effort.
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12 May 2011 Petaluma Business – A publication of the PACC
A crowd turned out to welcome the Grand Opening of Comcast’s new facility. Pictured above are: Front (l to r): Elece Hempel, Boardmember, Petaluma Chamber of Commerce; Petaluma Councilmember Teresa Barrett; Petaluma Mayor David Glass; Petaluma Councilmember Tiffany Renee; Donna Zapata, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Sonoma County; Deb Padia, Comcast, Promotions and Events Specialist; Letitia Hanke, President, North Bay Black Chamber of Commerce. Back (l to r): Sonia Tanner, North Bay Leadership Council; Cynthia Murray, CEO, North Bay Leadership Council; Petaluma Councilmember Gabe Kearney; Petaluma Councilmember Chris Albertson; Sonoma County Supervisor David Rabbitt; Petaluma Councilmember Mike Harris; Scott Adams, Comcast, North Bay Government Affairs Manager; Jason Strobel, Comcast; and Deb Pardini, Comcast.
ED Committee Works toCut Planning Red Tape
The Chamber’s new Economic Development Committee has hit the ground running, working to implement a comprehensive program designed to make it easier to do business with the City of Petaluma, particularly regarding the permitting process.
According to Chair Anthy O’Brien, she and other members of the committee have forged working relationships with key City Hall officials, particularly City Planning Manager Geoff Bradley.
O’Brien said that one example of the Chamber-City Hall partnership that has worked was when committee members were discussing ways to streamline permitting with Bradley. He suggested they investigate practices in Sunnyvale, a city known for being an exemplary model of low-red-tape processing.
Committee representatives did just that, finding that for major projects seeking permits, Sunnyvale got all the relevant departments in one room at the same time, accomplishing in a day or so what would normally take weeks
or months if sequential applications were followed. They reported their recommendations back to Bradley.
Subsequently, this process was used for a Lagunitas Brewery expansion application, and according to all sources, it was a total success.
In another example, a potential business needed assurances of a steady 10,000 gallons of water a month to operate the business. The committee worked with the City Water Department to secure that guarantee, conditioned on normal water availability.
The committee is also conducting a dialogue with the City regarding linkage fees for entry level businesses, and has asked the City Council to look at impact fees for low income housing.
O’Brien said the committee is continuing to investigate other practices that might make it more attractive to businesses to relocate or expand in Petaluma.
Don Bennett& Associates
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BARBARA J. PERRY MBA, GRIBroker Associate RealtorDRE Lic. No. 01871490(707) [email protected]
Buying or selling a home can leave you anxious, depressed, and stressed.
So, who do you call?
THE STRESSBUSTER
14 May 2011 Petaluma Business – A publication of the Petaluma Area Chamber of Commerce
Members
New MembersClear Heart GalleryJon Ton368-B Petaluma Blvd. NorthPetaluma, CA 94952
emma at homePatrick McDarrah151 Petaluma Blvd. South, Suite 105Petaluma, CA 94952
Molly Moo’s Ice CreamMolly CampbellMobile PetalumaPetaluma, CA
Petaluma Art SupplyKathleen Myers515 East Washington StreetPetaluma, CA 94952
Sonoma VermicultureDaniel Stitzel3900 Sears Point RoadPetaluma, CA 94954
Super SubsRonnie Rao360 Petaluma Blvd. NorthPetaluma, CA 94952
The BBQ PitStephanie Oden600 East Washington StreetPetaluma, CA 94952
Renewing Members
A.E.Z.R. Pet HospitalAccuchex Corp./Time 2 PayATL EventsBaker Creek Heirloom Seed CompanyClavey River EquipmentColdwell Banker, Clark Rosen, President’s Circle - BronzeCourseCo, Inc.Crown Trophy PetalumaDe Bel Roofing Supply, Inc.Dempsey’s Restaurant & BreweryDickenson, Peatman & FogartyEntrepreneur’s SourceFillinger InsuranceGraffitiIndustrial CartingInstitute of Noetic SciencesIntegra TelecomJim Alexander Financial ConsultantJim Becker@Merrill Lynch-Wealth Management, President’s Circle - Bronze
Marketing materials behind the times?
In Petaluma since 1996
Contact Ann today to get your message
across loud and clear.
Petaluma Coffee & Tea212 2nd St., south of D, in the Theater District • 763-2727
Come in for the freshest coffee in town
roasted daily in our store and
served by the friendliest staff around!!
We look forward to seeing you…
Weekdays from 7:30 to 5:30Saturdays from 8:00 to 4:00
Live Oak Tree ServiceMax A. MickelsenMister McGoo’sOut West GaragePetaluma MarketPolly Klass FoundationPure Energy ProductionsRiverviewSecurity 1 LendingSMILE Business Products, Inc.Springfield Place Returement CommunityStaplesStar StaffingTara Firma FarmsToby’s Trucking, Inc.Unishippers of Sonoma
Long-Time MembersMax A. Mickelsen, 29 YearsMax Mickelsen
Jim Becker@Merrill Lynch-Wealth Management, 26 YearsJim Becker
Fillinger Insurance, 24 YearsSteve Fillinger
ATL Events, 20 YearsSylvia Parkinson
Toby’s Trucking, Inc., 18 YearsToby Giacomini, Jr.
Petaluma Market, 18 YearsJames Agius
Accuchex Corp./Time 2 Pay, 18 YearsLeslie Ruhland
Coldwell Bank, President’s Circle - Bronze, 17 YearsClark Rosen
Live Oak Tree Service, 16 YearsFrank Rihtarshich
Polly Klass Foundation, 14 YearsRobert DeLeo
Out West Garage, 12 YearsMaria do Ceu
Jim Alexander Fincial Consultant, 12 YearsJim Alexander
Springfield Place Retirement Community, 12 YearsChristine Bunce
Crown Trophy Petaluma, 11 YearsMary Tupa
Make your marketing dollars work harder
Join the Chamber’s President’s Circle. Visit www.petalumachamber.com
or call 762-2785 for more info and sign up today!
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Call 762-2785 today for more information.
Petaluma Business – A publication of the PACC May 2011 15
2 Business Education PACC Conference Room 6 Petaluma Blvd. N., Suite A-2 4:00 – 5:00 P.M.
3 Ambassadors Petaluma Valley Hospital, Pat Schaefer’s Office 400 N McDowell Blvd. 7:30 A.M.
5 Business After Hours – Petaluma Golf & Country Club 1500 Country Club Dr. 5:30 – 7:30 P.M.
6 Government Affairs PACC Conference Room 6 Petaluma Blvd. N., Suite A-2 7:30 A.M.
10 Women in Business Breakfast (RSVP) Petaluma Woman’s Club 518 B St. Advance registration recommended $30 Members, $35 Non-Members RSVP 762-2785 7:15 – 9:00 A.M.
11 Women in Business Committee PACC Conference Room 6 Petaluma Blvd. N., Suite A-2 8:30 – 10:00 AM.
12 Business After Hours – Mentor Me Petaluma 35 Maria Dr. 5:30 – 7:30 P.M.
17 Leadership Alumni PACC Conference Room 6 Petaluma Blvd. N., Suite A-2 9:00 – 10:00 A.M.
17 Agribusiness Sonoma-Marin Fair Conference Room, 175 Fairgrounds Dr. 12:00 Noon
19 Business After Hours – Sheraton Sonoma County-Petaluma Hotel 745 Baywood Dr. 5:30 – 7:30 P.M.
19 Young Professionals Network (YPN) Event La Dolce Vita 151 Petaluma Blvd. South, Ste 117 6:00 – 8:00 P.M.
20 Government Affairs PACC Conference Room 6 Petaluma Blvd. N., Suite A-2 7:30 A.M.
24 Wake Up Petaluma (RSVP) Rooster Run Event Center 2301 E. Washington St. $20 Members, $25 Non-members RSVP 762-2785 7:30 – 9:00 A.M.
26 Business After Hours – Vistage International Petaluma Municipal Airport 601 Skyranch Rd., Ste C 5:30 – 7:30 P.M.
Have you checked out our online calendar? Visit www.petalumachamber.com and click on the Calendar button!
Calendar – May
Have a Business Question? Ask a Business Expert!
The Small Business Development Center at Santa Rosa Junior College offers no-cost, confidential advising to small businesses.• Develop a business plan • Marketing and promotion• Financial management • and much more!Tina Eastman, SBDC Business Advisor, is available at the Chamber every Tuesday by appointment only. Contact Santana MacInnes at 524.1770 to schedule.
Looking Ahead – June
5 Business After Hours - Ghirardo, CPA 17 Leadership Petaluma Class Graduation 23 Annual Installation Luncheon 28 Wake-Up Petaluma
