
Women in Leadership 2025: Yvonne Pire
Our annual salute to the women who lead the Capital Region
“Between working in high-pressure work environments and raising kids, by the time I was 40 I was just physically, emotionally and mentally feeling like I was exhausted and falling apart,” Pire says. “At that point, I went through a life-changing timeframe.” That’s when she envisioned The Rising Zone, a Rocklin-based event and co-working wellness center.

Startup of the Month: Elve
High-powered amplifiers aim to boost connectivity
Back in 2019, Diana Gamzina presented her powerful amplifiers at a space agency. The feedback was direct: At about $1 million per device, they were just too expensive for real-world infrastructure. It was a hard truth, but instead of giving up, she doubled down.
Sponsored

LASER & SKIN SURGERY CENTER
LEADING DERMATOLOGIC SURGEON AND RESEARCHER
Dr. Suzanne L. Kilmer holds a legendary position in the world of dermatological surgery as one of the most accomplished women in her field, with a 35-year history of cutting-edge research, innovation and success.
Sponsored
![Pictured [L-R]: Councilmember Linda Budge and Mayor Siri Pulipati](https://www.comstocksmag.com/sites/main/files/imagecache/tile/main-images/_mac0017-edit.jpg?1740781777)
CITY OF RANCHO CORDOVA
Rancho Cordova, California, is experiencing a period of dynamic change, thanks to the leadership of Mayor Siri Pulipati and Councilmember Linda Budge, along with their three councilmember colleagues.
Sponsored

COHNREZNICK
UPLIFTING WOMEN FROM LEADERSHIP TO PARTNERSHIP
When it comes to women in leadership, CohnReznick is all in.
The highly regarded advisory, assurance and tax firm, with 29 U.S. offices and registered global entities in India and the Philippines, continues to advance its commitment to cultivating and promoting women into its leadership ranks.

From Baker’s Stats to Stanzas: Jim Franks’ ‘Existential Bread’ Launches in Davis
Picking apart the stuff (seeds, stories, hoaxes) that go into what we think we know about bread
Baker and poet Jim Franks launched his experimental cookbook “Existential Bread” in Davis this week in collaboration with Student Collaborative Organic Plant Breeding Education, an interdisciplinary approach that offers a new way to consider our relationship with food and the complex processes and economics behind it.

Startup of the Month: Alter Learning
STEAM games designed to make education fun for kids
As an Albanian immigrant who grew up poor, Aldi Agaj dreamed for his children to have the access and opportunities he didn’t have. When his daughter was 4, he had an idea to create an edtech company that gives kids free access to innovative games.

Artificial Intelligence Is Bringing Nuclear Power Back From the Dead — Maybe Even in California
CalMatters: Artificial intelligence uses so much energy that its rapid spread could endanger California’s goal of eliminating all carbon emissions by 2045 — even as AI companies may be flooding the state treasury with tax revenue. The conundrum has legislators considering what was once unthinkable: Bringing back nuclear power as a driver of innovation and economic growth, sort of like it was the 1960s all over again.
Sponsored

Delegata
CELEBRATES 25 YEARS OF TRANSFORMATIVE WORK IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR
Sacramento-based consulting firm Delegata is set to celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2025, marking a quarter-century of transformative work in the public sector. Founded in 2000, Delegata has become a trusted partner for California state agencies and organizations seeking innovative solutions to complex challenges.
Sponsored

WM
WORKING TODAY FOR A MORE SUSTAINABLE TOMORROW®
As North America’s leading provider of environmental solutions, WM’s operations across the U.S. and Canada are driven by a commitment to putting people first and achieving success with integrity.