Soil Matters
Local farmers find a switch to carbon farming good for business — and the environment
Russ Lester’s property looks, at first glance, like that of many of his neighbors. He grows about 900 acres of walnut trees a few miles east of Winters. But at Dixon Ridge Farms, Lester never tills his land, and he keeps cover crops growing most of the time. He also laces the earth around his trees with biochar, charcoal-like leftovers from biomass energy production.
Striking Gold
Erica Taylor, VP of communications and community relations at Golden 1, on how the financial institution appeals to young clients — and employees
We sat down recently with Erica Taylor, Golden 1 Vice President of Communications & Community Relations and last year’s Young Professional of the Year, to talk about the credit union’s efforts to attract and retain younger employees and customers.
Live Nation Acquires Ace Of Spades
R Street venue’s sale puts Sacramento on the national-music map
Sacramento’s music scene is about to get bigger. Ace of Spades — the downtown, live-music venue on R Street — was recently purchased by House of Blues Entertainment, a division of Live Nation Entertainment.
Millennials in the Food Movement
Ideas that are turning the food industry on its head
When it comes to food, millennials are twice as likely as any other generation to give a whisk about organic and locally-sourced meals. Some even credit millennials’ disdain for junk food with the downward fiscal spiral of the country’s top 25 food and beverage industries. Though it may seem simple, these ideas are turning the food industry on its head.
A Tale of Two Bistros
The Capital Region’s neoclassical French dining trend offers something for everyone — and more than a bit of history
Considering that there are so many places and styles claiming the moniker “bistro,” it might be one of the easiest things to define — since you really can’t be wrong. But the term does evoke a sort of fancy casualness that feels simultaneously like spoiling yourself and making sound life decisions.
Three Birds
There are three types of young professionals — and one worth mentoring
The best mentees need projects over which they can take ownership. They need space to try new ideas and provide feedback that is valued by leadership. If you’ve selected a brilliant team full of potential, you needn’t be afraid of doling out projects that require a more complex execution.
Buzzwords: Synergy
If allowed to go unchecked, it could be the downfall of your team
Synergy, in the common lexicon, is the magic that makes collaborations more efficient, effective and profitable than individualized efforts. It originates from the Latin word synergia,meaning “cooperation.” You’re most likely to hear it used to describe the potential benefits of a collaborative or combined effort, like a strategic partnership, merger and acquisition, creative brainstorming session or co-branding effort.
The Exodus from Big Banks
Millennials trend toward community banks and credit unions
Much has been made of late about millennials leaving the big banks in favor of smaller community banks or credit unions. According to the Accenture 2015 North American Consumer Digital Banking Survey, community banks saw a 5-percent uptick in millennial customers in 2014. Credit unions saw a 3-percent increase. The big guys, meanwhile, lost a whopping 16 percent of their millennial account holders.
Tweeting the Classics
The Sacramento Philharmonic and Opera takes an innovative chance on live-tweeting performances — and wins
Unbeknownst to most of those attending the Sacramento Philharmonic and Opera’s Sergei Rachmaninoff performance in February, a cohort of fans relegated to the back rows were on their phones the entire show. They tweeted jokes about the concert, without shame. Because on this evening they were simply doing as asked.
Girl Power
Business lessons in a box of Girl Scout cookies
Selling Girl Scout cookies on a rainy Saturday in Sacramento is a far cry from the Oscars, where A-list celebrities chipped in $65,243 after a Feb. 28 plug. Local Girl Scout Troop 1114 has to work a little harder for its money.