Fred Greaves has been using photography to tell stories for over 25 years. Whether he is inches from a raging wildfire, documenting the chaos of a kindergarten classroom, or catching the enthusiastic smiles of U.S. Service Members stationed in Afghanistan as they take photos with their favorite A-list celebrities, he is always surrounded by action. Fred is a specialist at catching the powerful, the touching, and the unforgettable. He is no stranger to pressure-packed environments, and is comfortable creating iconic commercial photos for corporate clients, documenting the lives and the landscape of the world for an NGO, or anything in between. Online at http://www.fredgreaves.com
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Beating the Burn
California’s plan to deal with deadly and devastating wildfires — including controlled burns, thinning and a restoration economy — is ambitious; is the state up to the task?
Past approaches to forest fires have been a misinformed regime of fire suppression: extinguishing all flames quickly. Now California’s forests are overgrown tinderboxes-in-waiting; the approach is changing, but there’s a lot of work to do.

Family Affair
After Rusty and Dave Prevatt decided to leave their father’s insurance practice, he followed them into the exciting new world of video
Operated by two brothers and their father, Franklin Pictures is one of the premiere video production companies in the region. The company pays such attention to detail that its promotional videos not only capture an image, but tell a story and evoke an emotion.

Trained in the Trades
Area companies and educators are developing much-needed middle-skill workers, but will low wages make it impossible to fill the void?
Industries around the Capital Region are feeling the pinch of trying to find qualified, skilled workers needed to fill various positions. Some companies are starting to reach out to trade programs to help fill those gaps.

Art of the Land
From parks to light-rail stations, landscape architects are bringing art to the masses
Public art has always had a place in the designed environment, but art in landscape is becoming more common in the public sphere. Here we feature notable spaces in the Capital Region that celebrate beauty through landscape architecture and artistic design.

In the Making: Custom Creations
Local potter Joe Triglia of Tufarock Design details his process of making hand-crafted planters and other garden vessels that were inspired by a recent trip overseas.

Getting Creative
Sacramento’s Creative Edge plan aims to make the city more desirable and spur the economy
Art is often dismissed as “nice to have,” a tougher pill to swallow than funding public safety agencies. But culture has been shown to make a city more desirable — and that can have a booming effect on a local economy.

Rail Warriors
As more workers commute by train, Amtrak has plans to get them there quicker
It’s safe to say Jeffrey Callison never gives a thought to the Transcontinental Railroad when his alarm wakes him at 5:25 a.m., even though May 10 marks the TCRR’s 150th anniversary.

Charting the Next Course
Capital Region educators weigh in on what should change with California’s charter school law
Grace Kampmeinert has to fire off a lot of emails before the bell rings, signaling the end of fourth period. The eighth-grader at Natomas Charter School, along with two of her peers, handles quality control for a website of stock media, a seven-month-long legacy project in her technology class.

For Women Seeking Corporate Board Positions, It’s Still an Uphill Climb
A new California law is forcing publicly-traded for-profit businesses to get women on their boards. Yet getting tapped for a directorship is no easy feat.

In the Making: Violin Maker Cheryl Macomber Fine Tunes Her Craft in Sacramento
A behind-the-scenes look at how violins get made.

Linkedin Makeover Services Are The Next Big Thing For Job-seekers (and Businesses)
LinkedIn has become the go-to platform for job-hunting professionals and the businesses looking to employ them. Enter the LinkedIn Makeover, and a burgeoning industry of consultants who want to help maximize the impact of your profile.

Onward & Outward
Surrounding cities capitalize off of UC Davis’ growth — and the City of Davis’ slow-growth mindset
UC Davis is a key asset in the Capital Region’s economic development. With the City of Davis’ slow-growth mindset thwarting developments designed to capture tech transfer, surrounding cities look to cash in.

To Build or Not
Last November, Davis voters did something somewhat unexpected: With 56 percent voting yes, this notoriously anti-growth community approved Measure L to accommodate the development of 74 acres of agricultural land for the West Davis Active Adult Community.

The New Age of Aging
Developers in the Capital Region are building new models of senior housing — in preparation for the ‘silver tsunami’ to come
As aging baby boomers approach their golden years, new senior living projects are springing up to accommodate to increased demand and offering a new take on “aging with grace.”

In the Making: No Frills
Artisan furniture maker Trent Dean shows how he makes his minimalist designs.

Working On the Railroad
The California State Railroad Museum curates one of the world’s largest toy train collections.

Power Politics
The growing number of publicly owned CCAs offer cheaper and cleaner electricity than for-profit utilities — so are they viable in the long-term?
Community choice aggregators are the latest test of whether local, publicly run ventures can deliver cheaper and cleaner power than their investor-owned counterparts. But electricity procurement can be a fickle industry.

The Snowball Effect
Tahoe50 giving club amplifies the impact of the Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation
North Tahoe-Truckee area resorts are typically competitive, working diligently to differentiate themselves and entice skiers to their properties. But eight resorts have set aside the competition and collaborated to raise funds for the Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation through an innovative giving program.

The Family Niche
Pomopolis Farms taps into a unique market for steady, repeat business
Suburban father Mike Polis makes an unlikely rancher, but he’s gained traction with his passion project, building a small family farm catering to a niche Capital Region market.

Move Your Body
New approaches to physical therapy take a swing at Parkinson’s disease
More than 10 million people live with Parkinson’s disease and there is no cure. Decades ago it was thought that exercise could exacerbate symptoms of the disease; now studies show it to be effective in delaying the onset of symptoms.

Big Shake-Up in the Delta’s ‘Little Paris’
Can fresh faces and new initiatives help rural Isleton thrive again?
Isleton has had its share of ups and downs over the years from municipal mismanagement to natural disasters. Now a new city manager and cohort of businessowners hope to see Main Street — and the town itself — thrive again.

420 Estates
The cannabis surge is driving a property frenzy in Sacramento’s industrial and commercial markets
Green zones approved for commercial cannabis are limited, and demand for commercial space has driven up property values in Sacramento. Local businesses — both cannabis-related and otherwise — are feeling the pinch.

Guts and Glory
Demand for locally and responsibly sourced food has helped revive the butcher shop
Traditional butcher shops are making a comeback in the Capital Region.

Tea Time
Consumer education is key for Capital Region tea shops
When Leo Hickman returned in 2003 from an eight-month tour in Kuwait as a combat engineer in the U.S. Air Force, he wanted a way to spread peace. With no idea how, he set out on a journey of self-discovery and backpacked through 27 countries.

Tesla’s Microgrid
A fleet of Teslas are headed to Squaw — and not just to the parking lot.
As part of its ongoing renewable energy efforts, the resort is partnering with Liberty Utilities and the electric car (and rocket) company on a proposal to install battery units for storing power generated by solar and other sources.

Squaw Goes Green
Former head of Squaw Valley leaves behind a mission to be the first ski resort in the country fully powered by renewable energy.
Squaw Valley is on a quest to reduce its carbon footprint and achieve 100 percent renewable energy by as soon as the end of this year. In doing so, the company is undertaking one of the most aggressive eco-friendly efforts by the ski industry across the nation.

As The Wind Blows
When allergy symptoms strike, poor planners and productivity suffer
Allergies are the sixth-leading cause of chronic illness in the U.S and result in nearly 4 million missed or lost workdays each year and over $700 million in lost productivity. We talk to local experts about ways to keep them at bay, both medical and holistic.

From Pond to Fork
Passmore Ranch serves locally-raised seafood to some of the Capital Region’s finest chefs
Passmore Ranch invites local chefs to swim for their fish.

Makers Wanted
As American manufacturing struggles and California employers face worker shortages, will investment in educational makerspaces help strengthen local industry?
California remains a top manufacturing center in the U.S. despite local employers grappling with a serious worker shortage. Will state investment in makerspaces help fill the need?

A Seat at the Table
UC Davis’ Women in Leadership Club helps MBA students get corporate training through placement on nonprofit boards
Nonprofits through the region are finding themselves in need of new, young members to bring fresh perspectives to their organizations — and a group of savvy young UC Davis women are offering a fix. The Women in Leadership Club has created a program that offers MBA students invaluable experience while giving nonprofits the youthful jolt they need.

The Woodland Way
With a progressive pro-business climate, Woodland lures agribusiness and global trade to this once-sleepy town
This once rural town now houses more than two dozen international companies and has become a hub of agribusiness, thanks to its progressive pro-business climate and ideal location.