Laurie Lauletta-Boshart is a contributing writer and editor for consumer publications, Fortune 500 companies, small business and higher education. She has written for Dwell, ESPN, The Wall Street Journal, SI.com (Sports Illustrated), Modern in Denver and others. On Twitter @laurieboshart or www.wordplaycommunications.com.
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What Does a California Lobbyist Do?
Often referred to as the third house of the state legislature, lobbyists spend long days advocating for their clients
California is one of only 10 states that has a full-time professional legislature, and last year, companies and industries spent a record high $480 million on lobbying efforts in the state.
Pickleball Fever
People of all ages in the Capital Region are playing the fastest-growing sport in the U.S.
Dink. Drill. The Kitchen. Erne. Golden Pickle. If you instantly recognize these terms, you are one of a growing number of people consumed by the fastest growing sport in the U.S.: pickleball.
Building the Future
Veteran architects are essential in mentoring young, emerging designers
The field of architecture is changing, and technology is playing a central role, but it’s not the only element that’s shifting: so is the expectation of what young and emerging professionals are looking for in an architectural job.
Women in Leadership: Maggie Bender-Johnson
Our annual salute to women at the top of their field
Maggie Bender-Johnson, the new CEO of family-run Bender Insurance Solutions, has some big, hairy, audacious goals (BHAGs).
Is the Housing Market Stuck?
High interest rates and low inventory are disrupting the housing market, but there are options for frustrated homebuyers
First-time homebuyers are feeling priced out of the market and fear they may have to rent for the foreseeable future. Homeowners who want to sell are wary of parting with their 3 percent interest rate. As a result, low inventory coupled with high interest rates has made for a very tight housing market.
The Bosch Boom
Bosch’s acquisition of TSI Semiconductors in Roseville is expected to significantly impact the region’s economy, workforce and educational institutions
In August 2023, Bosch acquired TSI with the intention of producing silicon carbide chips, a major element in the production of electric vehicles. Bosch is betting that the global demand for silicon carbide chips will continue to grow and intends to invest $1.5 billion in the new fabrication.
Can a State Office Building Become a Home?
To help solve the housing crisis, the State of California has identified excess sites for conversion to affordable housing
In 2019, Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order to identify excess state-owned property that could be converted into affordable housing. Few local examples exist, leaving architects and developers to wonder if they are financially feasible and what, if any, kinds of funding are available.
Women in Leadership: Lakhwinder Kaur
Our annual salute to extraordinary women breaking barriers and rising to the top
Lakhwinder Kaur started out as a teller, and was quickly promoted to a personal banker. From there, it was a long, steady climb to her current role with Five Star Bank, where she oversees the Sacramento Valley market with an emphasis on community involvement and outreach.
Building Healthier Learning Environments
Architects design education spaces that both look good and benefit students’ well-being
Education architects are finding a way to demystify daunting disciplines through open, accessible building designs that allow students, staff and faculty to interact in a more collaborative way.
Building a Family Legacy
Showcasing four-generation family businesses in the Capital Region
Founded in 1914, Elliott Homes has successfully weathered the
cyclical building market to emerge as an industry leader.
Harnessing the Power of Sports
Sacramento’s sports teams, big and small, invest in community programs to impact and educate local youth
Sports organizations like the Sacramento Kings and Sacramento Republic FC are linking with nonprofits to launch community sports programs that empower youth with life skills and STEM education.
On the Fast Track: Brad Dahl
Meet 13 young professionals who are on the fast track, bringing new ideas and innovations to the Capital Region
Mechanical Engineer Brand Dahl is driven by his passion for
mentoring students in the “unlimited growth” of the manufacturing
industry.
Building a Workplace of the Future
Architecture firm Lionakis adaptively reuses an old tractor showroom for its new headquarters
Sacramento’s largest architecture firm embraces employee wellness
with collaboration spaces, indoor and outdoor gathering spaces
and elevated workspaces known as “treehouses.”
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.
Women in Leadership: Estella Atekwana
Our annual salute to extraordinary women breaking barriers and rising to the top
Estella Atekwana surmounted language barriers, family pressures and more on her journey to become a pioneer of biogeophysics and dean of UC Davis’s largest college.
Women in Leadership: Preet Ahluwalla
Our annual salute to extraordinary women breaking barriers and rising to the top
The GNP Capital Partners owner shares what she’s learned about pivoting in business, juggling multiple leadership roles and uplifting the next generation of women entrepreneurs.
Healing Grounds
Today’s health care architecture provides a holistic, calming environment
Stark and sterile health care buildings are falling by the
wayside as architecture firms design for a more
supportive patient experience.
Status Check: On the Big Stage
Tripp Gibson's rise from minor league umpire to full-time MLB umpire
Hal “Tripp” Gibson, an umpire whose last minor league assignment was with AAA Pacific Coast League, worked his first National League Championship Series this year.
Passing the Torch
Running a family business for multiple generations can be tricky, but several local companies have found a way.
The Granny Flat Has a New Name
Architects are teaming with local jurisdictions to include accessory dwelling units and tiny houses in the affordable housing conversation.
On the Rise: Giuliano Kornberg
Meet 12 young professionals who are shaping their industries and the Capital Region
Giuliano Kornberg, who graduated from Stanford University with a master’s degree in music, science and technology in 2016, is the chief revenue and development officer of Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera.
On the Rise: Melissa Granville
Meet 12 young professionals who are shaping their industries and the Capital Region
Melissa Granville, principal at Capitol Impact, has pointed all her professional efforts toward making a positive social impact in her community.
Political Trifecta
For the first time in its history, Placer County’s three largest cities seat women mayors
Placer County’s three largest cities are now each headed by a woman mayor: Krista Bernasconi in Roseville, Jill Gayaldo for Rocklin and Alyssa Silhi in Lincoln.
Comstock’s Talks: Rise and Shine
PODCAST: 2020 will go down in history as a time when women made remarkable advances on the political scene.
Rise and Shine
Women continue to change the face of U.S. politics, both locally and nationally
2020 will go down in history as a time when women made remarkable advances on the political scene.
Distinctive Dwellings
Architects and homeowners use the modernist template to design dwellings that are a departure from the norm
Once considered a stark and cold aesthetic, today’s residential modern design employs variety and warmth. Here are some of the Capital Region’s modern homes and the architects who designed them.
Virtual Variations
With the coronavirus pandemic forcing most college classes online, recent high school graduates are finding their choices have changed
Students are weighing all the options, including attending community college, learning online or postponing college altogether.
Coronavirus Replay
After canceling spring sports, the NCAA extends eligibility to student athletes to play for another season
The NCAA voted on March 30 to allow schools to provide spring-sport student athletes with an additional season.
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.
Higher Calling: From Abstract to Reality
Team of three students contributed to Cosumnes River College’s Winn Center
In 2009, CRC partnered with the U.S. Green Building Council’s Sacramento chapter to participate in the Natural Talent Design Competition. Entrants were required to design a 36,000-square-foot building known as the Winn Center.
Learning to Pivot
New college grads are adapting to an economy and job market hard hit by the coronavirus pandemic
As college seniors finished their classes online, the impact of the coronavirus pandemic complicated their job prospects.
Help for Displaced Workers
What employers and employees need to know about job protection and wage replacement during the COVID-19 pandemic
In the COVID-19 pandemic, business as usual has been upended and employers and employees are facing uncharted territory. Comstock’s spoke with Roseville-based employment law attorney Drew Lewis about what job protection and wage replacement programs are available in the Capital Region.
Comstock’s Talks: Mending the Gap
PODCAST: Jennifer Siebel Newsom is passionate about several issues, but perhaps none more than the gender wage gap.
Mending the Gap
In California, efforts to close the gender wage gap persist, despite the signing of The Equal Pay Act of 1963
Fifty-seven years after the Equal Pay Act was signed into law by President John F. Kennedy, women still earn substantially less than men. Legislation in California is attempting to level the playing field.
Comstock’s Talks: Mending the Gap
PODCAST: Fifty-seven years after the Equal Pay Act was signed into law by President John F. Kennedy, women still earn substantially less than men. Legislation in California is attempting to level the playing field.
Fostering Future Success
In 2012, California implemented extended foster care legislation to improve outcomes for 18- to 21-year-olds. Is the program working?
A decade ago, extended foster care, or EFC, did not exist in California. When foster youth turned 18, they aged out of the system and often transitioned to adulthood with a bag of their belongings, a small amount of money, and a list of board and care facilities and shelters.
College Confidential
There are proven ways to navigate the college admissions process without cheating the system
With tens of thousands of undergrads applying each year for limited spots, California’s college systems have approved admission criteria for assessing incoming freshmen. While the strength of a student’s academic record is one of its top considerations, the University of California system has established 14 factors — both academic and nonacademic — for undergraduate admissions.
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.
Women in Leadership: Chrysa Tsakopoulos Demos, AKT Investments
As part of our 2019 salute to women in leadership, we feature seven of the Capital Region’s most relevant and successful women leaders — here’s one of them.
Women in Leadership: Nicole Howard, SMUD
As part of our 2019 salute to women in leadership, we feature seven of the Capital Region’s most relevant and successful women leaders — here’s one of them.
Women in Leadership: Selvi Stanislaus, Franchise Tax Board of California
As part of our 2019 salute to women in leadership, we feature seven of the Capital Region’s most relevant and successful women leaders — here’s one of them.
Women in Leadership: Angela DePaoli, Bargas Environmental Consulting
As part of our 2019 salute to women in leadership, we feature seven of the Capital Region’s most relevant and successful women leaders — here’s one of them.
Women in Leadership: Deitra Kenoly, San Joaquin Media Group
As part of our 2019 salute to women in leadership, we feature seven of the Capital Region’s most relevant and successful women leaders — here’s one of them.
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.
Placer County Amps Up Housing Efforts
Stakeholders collaborate on solutions to affordable-housing crisis
Karen Hernandez works with a number of families who struggle to afford a home. It’s part of her role as volunteer director for ReDirect Nuevo Camino, a Lincoln nonprofit that serves at-risk youth in Placer County. Many combine, forming households of seven or eight people sharing a modest two-bedroom apartment designed for four.
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.
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.
Williams Offers Room to GROW
Canna-Hub, a cannabis real-estate development firm, is planning its own massive cannabis complex in the city of Williams.
Reflecting on a Rehab
How preservation architects gave Sacramento’s Stanley Mosk Library and Courts building a much-needed makeover
The Stanley Mosk Library and Courts building in downtown Sacramento was in dire need of a rehabilitative makeover to bring back its historic beauty.
Civic Pride
How six public places came to be
Civic structures help define a community’s identity. We feature six projects from throughout the Capital Region that have employed unique delivery models and creative design solutions to produce structures worthy of their calling.