Wes Davis is an artist and photographer based in Northern California. After completing a degree in photography from Sacramento State, he spent 12 years directing an art gallery and managing a mixed-use photography studio. His portfolio is available online at www.wesdavisphotography.com and you can follow him on Instagram at @wesdavisphotography.
By this person

That’s Show Business
The complex economy behind the Capital Region’s thriving local theater scene
COVID-19 exposed the stark realities of the precarious economic state of the theater industry, but even regular theatergoers may not look past the glamour and drama of live theater to the grit, sweat and dollars that go into it.

The Way We Work: Robert S. Nelsen
A glimpse into the daily life of Sacramento State President Robert S. Nelsen
Fire engines, medical calls, protests, academic policy, a $400 million budget, COVID-19 challenges, donor relations — this is all in a day’s work for the president of a 33,000-student and 2,000-faculty university.

The Way We Work: Jeanne Reaves
A glimpse into the daily life of Jeanne Reaves, president and CEO of Jeanne Reaves Consulting
Jeanne Reaves works with CEOs on both personal growth and operational improvements. Her secret for pulling it off? She’s been in their shoes.

Women Who Represent
More women are running for office and getting elected
The most recent election for West Sacramento City Council has marked a move toward equity — particularly when it comes to female representation. For the first time in history, West Sacramento has an all-female city council and mayor, who are also all women of color.

The Way We Work: Stan Van Vleck
A glimpse into the daily life of Stan Van Vleck, attorney and owner of Van Vleck Ranch
Stan Van Vleck is head of the 12,000 acre Van Vleck ranch, a family business that dates back to 1856.

The Way We Work: Ken Endelman
A glimpse into the daily life of Ken Endelman, founder and CEO of Balanced Body
Ken Endelman, who began his career as a furniture designer, never expected to become the CEO of the largest Pilates manufacturer in the world. Here’s how he tackles his day.

Recession? What Recession?
Business leaders and economists think the Capital Region will do just fine through at least the first half of this year
Business economists are reporting several warning signs about the national economy. But on a local level, things are looking up. We consider all the factors that will help the Capital Region be able to ride out a recession.

The Way We Work: Cindy Nichol
A glimpse into the daily life of Cindy Nichol, director of airports for Sacramento County
Many business leaders say they’re busy “putting out fires.” For Cindy Nichol this is not a metaphor.

The Way We Work: Jeff Richardson
A glimpse into the daily life of Jeff Richardson, senior general manager of the Westfield Galleria at Roseville
Each issue, we dig into the working habits of a top executive in the Capital Region, providing insight into how they get things done.

The Way We Work: Mark Jansen
A glimpse into the daily life of Blue Diamond CEO Mark Jansen
Each issue, we dig into the working habits of a top executive in the Capital Region, providing insight into how they get things done.

Still Flying
The Sacramento region isn’t the aerospace hub it once was, but local companies are still doing cool things
California’s aerospace, aviation and defense industries support
more than 511,000 high-paying jobs and generate more than $66
billion in annual economic activity, larger than the agriculture
and entertainment industry combined. We checked in with industry
players in the Capital Region.

The Way We Work: Cassandra Pye
A glimpse into the daily life of Lucas Public Affairs President Cassandra Pye
Each issue, we dig into the working habits of a top executive in the Capital Region, providing insight into how they get things done.

The Way We Work: Mark Haney
A glimpse into the daily life of HaneyBiz CEO and podcast host Mark Haney
Each issue, we dig into the working habits of a top executive in the Capital Region, providing insight into how they get things done.

The Seeds of Conflict
How the Russian invasion of Ukraine and drought are affecting sunflower farmers in Yolo County
Yolo County’s most photogenic crop is facing a barrage of challenges, including supply issues related to the war in Ukraine, global currency volatility and drought.

The Way We Work: Jeff Randle
A glimpse into the daily life of Randle Communications President and CEO Jeff Randle
Each issue, we dig into the working habits of a top executive in the Capital Region, providing insight into how they get things done.

Call to Interaction
To reach young consumers, advertisers think outside the checkbox
Savvy advertising won’t help a business if its core values aren’t
consistent on every level. In today’s marketing landscape,
authentic messaging aimed toward building trust and
engagement is critical.

Safeguarding Sacramento’s Historic Architecture
Architects, preservationists and historians work together to adaptively reuse Sacramento’s historic resources
Preservation projects are being embraced in the Capital
Region in an effort to preserve history and protect the
environment.

The Way We Work: Doug Bergman
A glimpse into the daily life of UCP of Sacramento and Northern California CEO Doug Bergman
Each issue, we dig into the working habits of a top executive in the Capital Region, providing insight into how they get things done.

After the Blaze
Climate change creates challenging conditions for California wineries
Winemakers are challenged with the consistent threat
of wildfires and their aftermath, plus drought
conditions and complex water realities.

The Way We Work: Lial Jones
A glimpse into the daily life of Crocker Art Museum CEO Lial Jones
Each issue, we dig into the working habits of a top executive in the Capital Region, providing insight into how they get things done.

Chain Game
Capital Region residents and businesses feel the impact as construction industries continue to grapple with supply chain issues
Although the hot housing marketing has made it a great
time to be a builder in California, it’s also uniquely
challenging as supply chain issues create pricing
volatility, delays and decreased margins.

Work It: Evan Schmidt
A glimpse into the daily life of Valley Vision CEO Evan Schmidt
Each issue, we dig into the working habits of a top executive in the Capital Region, providing insight into how they get things done.

Work It: Dr. Janine Bera
A glimpse into the daily life of the WellSpace Health chief medical officer
As an extrovert, Dr. Janine Bera thrives on connection to her team and caring for her patients. Here’s how the chief medical officer of WellSpace Health structures her days.

Recruiting California’s Next Generation of Farmers
Organizations in the Capital Region provide aspiring farmers with the business tools they need to succeed
Local food may be the future, but many Northern
California farmers are struggling
or retiring. To brighten the future of farming,
nonprofits are cultivating a new crop of agrarian
dreamers with comprehensive farming programs.

Work It: Cassandra Lichnock
A glimpse into the daily life of the California State Teachers’ Retirement System’s CEO
From deep analysis in the morning to the occasional hike in the evening, here’s how Cassandra Lichnock structures her days as CEO of CalSTRS.

It’s Complicated
Business experts express optimism and concern over the Capital Region’s 2022 economic outlook
After a once-in-a-century pandemic, what happens next? The
Capital Region’s economic experts weigh in.

The Way We Work: Barry Broome
A glimpse into the daily life of the Greater Sacramento Economic Council’s president and CEO
From posing in hot yoga class to pitching new business, here’s how Barry Broome structures his days as CEO of the Greater Sacramento Economic Council.

The Way We Work: Kelley Cowan
A glimpse into the daily life of Kelley Cowan, director of the Sacramento Region for XL Construction
In The Way We Work, we track the routines of local executives. Here’s how Kelley Cowan oversees multiple construction projects.

Sweetening the Pot
Tribal casinos in the Capital Region have major construction projects underway
Amid the ongoing pandemic, several tribes in the Capital Region
are either building new casinos or undertaking significant
expansions of existing operations.

The Way We Work: Gary S. May
A glimpse into the daily life of the UC Davis chancellor
In The Way We Work, we track the routines of local executives. Here’s how UC Davis Chancellor Gary S. May runs a campus of 39,000 students.

How the Port of Stockton Connects the Central Valley to the World
Kirk DeJesus, the new director of the Port of Stockton, is aware that most people, even neighbors in the Bay Area and the Capital Region, don’t know anything about his deepwater port.

How the City Faced a Pandemic While Continuing to Grow
During her tenure as Sacramento councilwoman and mayor pro tempore, Angelique Ashby has played a role in some major developments for the city.

Sports, Arts and Entertainment Reemerge in the Capital Region
The regional business of entertainment, arts and sports is reemerging with new structures and outlooks in place.

How California Is Managing Its Water Supply
Jessica Law became executive director of the Water Forum in January. Comstock’s spoke to Law about the group’s priorities as the region deals with another drought.

New Life for Iconic Sacramento Spaces That Closed During the Pandemic
A new generation of entrepreneurs is bringing fresh concepts to restaurant and bar spaces that shuttered in 2020.

How to Tell the Story of Sacramento
Comstock’s spoke to Visit Sacramento Brand and Community Engagement Director Karlee Cemo-McIntosh about how the organization has taken advantage of new opportunities over the past year.

A Blend for Success
Wineries in the Capital Region have added an array of amenities to keep oenophiles closer to home
With daytrip-worthy destinations in the Capital Region, wine enthusiasts no longer need to pay the higher prices and drive to Napa to get a world-class winery experience.

Feeling the Need to Still Help
The Next Chapter: Steve Ramirez, former board chair for Ronald McDonald House Charities, considers his options
For more than three decades, the Ronald McDonald House Charities
and the McDonald’s Corporation helped to define Ramirez, who
became a franchisee in Galt in 1988.

Still Swinging Away
The Next Chapter: After a long baseball career, Greg Vaughn has been flexing his entrepreneurial spirit and giving back
After 15 years as a Major League Baseball player for five teams,
Greg Vaughn now focuses on Vaughn’s Valley Foundation.

A New Mission
The Next Chapter: Former VSP CEO Roger Valine talks about his family, the community and business
Roger Valine joined VSP in 1973 and worked his way up from being
a management trainee to become the driving force as the CEO of
the Rancho Cordova company.

Game of Skill
The Next Chapter: Mark Otero uses his gaming background in algorithms to program his quant hedge fund
In December 2019, a few months before the fastest drop in global
stock markets in financial history, Mark Otero launched Alice
Capital, a hedge fund designed to bypass emotion.

A Different Dance
The Next Chapter: What life and work looks like for the former co-artistic directors of the Sacramento Ballet
Ron Cunningham and Carinne Binda were co-directors of the
Sacramento Ballet from 1988 to 2018. Since then, life has looked
different.

Camera Ready
The Next Chapter: Michele McCormick sold her public relations company and became a model-actor-photographer
MCC Communications founder Michele McCormick is a model, actor
and photographer who specializes in travel and nature
photography.

Agriculture and Beyond
The Next Chapter: Pam Marrone, pioneer of biological agricultural products, expands her reach through advising
Pam Marrone, who retired as CEO of Marrone Bio Innovations in
2020, didn’t take a break; she still works 10-12 hour days.

‘Somebody’ Again
The Next Chapter: Carl Landau, the former owner of Niche Media, launches a podcast from his garage
Carl Landau had spent 37 years in publishing and event organizing
when he decided to launch Pickleball Media last year.

The Bright Side: Manual of Style
On Oct. 12, 2020, hair-care brand R+Co came to the Federico
Advanced academy in Sacramento to present R+Co Drive-In, a
socially distanced drive-in and livestreamed educational
hairstyling event.

Minding the Family Business
Why family-run companies can be better poised to navigate hard economic times
While large companies often have shareholders and untold numbers of employees to satisfy, family businesses can maneuver more deftly and swiftly, powering through as best they can.

Hospitals on Life Support
As the Capital Region moves into the seventh month of the coronavirus crisis, it’s not just sick patients at risk
Smaller, independent hospitals are at risk of closing due to financial strain exacerbated by the pandemic.

Higher Calling
Architects and colleges collaborate to create holistic, functional and artistic spaces to meet the shifting needs of today’s students
These six Capital Region higher-education projects, completed in the last decade, offer inspired and intentional learning spaces.
Sponsored

Downtown Goals
City initiatives are underway to revitalize Vacaville’s core to attract businesses and residents
Overshadowed by the Nut Tree road stop and retail center, downtown Vacaville doesn’t always get as much attention by tourists and locals. However, it only took one visit to convince Leslie Silver that it was the perfect spot to start her new business.