
From Economic Slump to Flagship Storefront
How the couple behind Sudz by Studz in Folsom launched a successful artisan skincare line during the economic downturn
If someone had told Tyler Robinson and Preston Tillotson, of Sudz by Studz, five years ago that they would be making soap and other skincare products for a living, both would have likely laughed at the idea. Yet, the economic downturn paired with a perfectly-timed soap making adventure led the couple to do just that.

Success Through Collaboration
Cool Davis tries to find the fun in community fundraising
Like many local nonprofits, Cool Davis is challenged with limited funding opportunities, harnessing the talents and energy of diverse people and organizations to a common vision and purpose, and finding a positive and effective message to inspire and care for our community in the face of a rapidly worsening view of the future.

Shopping the New Sacramento Natural Foods Co-Op
It’s bigger, brighter and nearly doubling the business
Kurt Spataro has shopped at the Sacramento Natural Foods Co-Op in three different locations since the 1980s, but he sees “a lot of new things to discover” at the co-op’s bigger and brighter new home at 2820 R St.

Employment Agreements: Yes, All that Paperwork is Necessary
Contracts, non-disclosure agreements and trade secrets
Remember when drafting employment contracts, they are binding for both parties. Therefore, if you add a surplus of incentives in your contract to entice a candidate that blew you away during the interview process to come aboard, you better be prepared to follow through with actually doling them out.

Cash Haul
In a single generation, the Rozakis family went from having one dump truck to owning a $16 million materials transport business
In 2005, GR launched Crete Crush, a sister company to its trucking operation that includes two concrete and asphalt crushing and recycling centers, one at the company’s Rancho Cordova headquarters, and another at its 15-acre facility off Bradshaw Road in Sacramento. When the company first started, it was paying someone else to crush the concrete and asphalt that was accumulating from demolition site hauls.

A System of Support
Court Appointed Special Advocates give years of their time and support to local foster youth
Family upheaval cast Jairus into foster care at age 5. Now almost 19, he’s taking his first steps into adulthood. Even after a life in the foster care system, he’s thriving, thanks to his resourcefulness and optimism and support from his Court Appointed Special Advocate — his CASA — Dennis Beasley.

Have You Mixed Business With Pleasure?
It may be frowned upon, but office romance is a surprisingly common occurrence, with one recent report saying over half of U.S. workers have participated in a workplace relationship. So, when it comes to office romance…

Waste Not
Sacramento restaurants reduce food waste and help build healthy soil
Though largely hidden from the consumer’s eye, food waste is hardly insignificant. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, we waste between 30 to 40 percent of food each year — and with it water, money and the chance to feed food-insecure people.

Community Collaboration
The Sacramento Region Community Foundation gives financial support to local nonprofits willing to work together
The Sacramento Region Community Foundation operates a little differently from your typical private foundation. According to SRCF Chief Giving Officer Priscilla Enriquez, community foundations enable would-be philanthropists in the Sacramento region to give back to their own community.

Can a Comic Book Teach Children About STEM?
Sacramento-based entrepreneur tries to do just that with PodPi
Entrepreneur Stephane Come feels that “fun” products and games currently on the market are short-changing children. That’s because they don’t often show kids that it’s OK to fail. Instead, Come wishes that children would be challenged and taught that getting things wrong is an acceptable part of the process. It isn’t necessary to come to the solution instantly.