Sena Christian is the former editor of Comstock’s magazine. During her journalism career, she has worked on the staff of two newspapers and one newsweekly, and regularly freelanced for national publications. She earned degrees from UC Berkeley and University of Oregon and was an environmental journalism fellow at the University of Colorado Boulder. Read more at www.senachristian.com. On Twitter @SenaCChristian.
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A Stockton Institution
Family business spotlight: The Bank of Stockton has been operating for 157 years
Founded in 1867, Bank of Stockton is the oldest bank in California still operating under its original charter. This longevity and continuity in serving communities with Bank of Stockton branches — as of November, there will be 21 locations throughout the Central Valley — sets this family business apart.
Young Professionals: Lanaya Lewis
Meet the emerging leaders who envision a bright future for the Capital Region
As a PIO for Sacramento State, Lanaya Lewis acts as a spokesperson for the university, staying in-the-know with everything happening.
Women in Leadership: Carmen Marsh
Our annual salute to women at the top of their field
Carmen Marsh can say something with confidence that many can’t: She always enjoys her jobs. Twenty-five years ago, she found her passion for technology and has stuck with the profession ever since.
Gambling on Gaming
Family business spotlight: How an Auburn-based company cornered the gambling market
In his lifetime of entrepreneurship, Don Whitaker has managed to mostly avoid competitors. “You try to find a niche where you have no competition,” Whitaker says of his approach to business. He found his niche market with Ceronix, which he started in 1984 out of his Auburn home.
Women in Leadership: Bonnie Ferreira
Our annual salute to extraordinary women breaking barriers and rising to the top
Bonnie Ferreira helms the Mountain Valley Chapter of the American Leadership Forum, a cohort from all walks of life, ethnic and cultural backgrounds, and industries that represents multiple counties to explore challenges facing the region, connect with one another and develop their leadership skills.
Reimagining Commercial Corridors
Capital Region cities inject new investment into aging parts of town
Modern planning now focuses on elements beyond brick-and-mortar
retail and commercial. Community events, alternative
transportation with safe travel for pedestrians and bicyclists,
and redesigned streetscapes with drought-tolerant landscaping
have become central considerations.
The Fruits of Their Labor
Showcasing four-generation family businesses in the Capital Region
Now in its fourth generation of family ownership, Vacaville-based
dried fruit company Mariani Packing Co. focuses on healthy living
— not just for its consumers, but also for its
employees.
On the Fast Track: Amber Celmer
Meet 13 young professionals who are on the fast track, bringing new ideas and innovations to the Capital Region
As executive director of HomeAid Sacramento, Amber Celmer is dedicated to empowering people experiencing homelessness.
Creating a Green Workforce
As the IPCC warns of suffering caused by climate change, the Capital Region is working to build a climate workforce
The extreme effects of climate change and California’s
environmental mandates are propelling a growing energy
workforce.
The Lasting Agreement
California’s long legacy of trying to solve its water problem
No one owns water in California, making collaboration and
negotiation between water management players crucial.
Women in Leadership: Krista Bernasconi
Our annual salute to extraordinary women breaking barriers and rising to the top
From the corporate world to the nonprofit, entrepreneurship to mayorship, Krista Bernasconi is fueled by her passion for public service.
Status Check: Capay Mills Joins SMBX Marketplace
The Yolo County artisan flour business receives more than $115,000 in investment
Sourdough is having a moment, and so is artisan flour business Capay Mills, thanks to an influx of small business bonds.
A Time for Contemplation — and Innovation
Comstock’s outgoing editor considers the Great Resignation and the ways the pandemic has reshaped how the world sees work.
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.
On the Rise: Sadie St. Lawrence
Meet 12 young professionals who are shaping their industries and the Capital Region
Sadie St. Lawrence is the founder and CEO of Women in Data, an international nonprofit organization with 47 chapters in 17 countries.
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 New Era for Roseville’s Placer County Fairgrounds
Comstock’s spoke to Charlie Gardner, general manager of @the Grounds in Roseville, about new facilities on the renovated fairgrounds, including the $34 million Roebbelen Center.
Closing the Power Gap
Black Star Fund CEO and Chairman Kwame Anku on the importance of investing in Black entrepreneurs
Comstock’s spoke to Anku about his fund (which plans to close at $12 million in May) and the importance of investing in Black entrepreneurs.
Fighting for Recognition
Nevada City Rancheria spokesperson Shelly Covert on recovering land and federal status for the Nisenan Tribe
Comstock’s spoke to Covert — who was born and raised in Grass Valley — about her work with the Nisenan Tribe and why it matters.
A Tarnished Past
How stakeholders in the Sierra Nevada are confronting the lasting legacy of the gold rush
Over the past two decades, a coordinated effort focused on science and policy, education and awareness, and an entrepreneurial approach to workforce development has been underway to come to grips with the lasting legacy of the mining age.
A Catalyst for Cures
StemExpress founder and CEO Cate Dyer on how her company accelerates medical advancements
Comstock’s spoke to Dyer about her company’s function as an accelerator of medical advancement.
Women in Leadership: Cassie Gilson
Our annual salute to extraordinary women who are shaping our future
Cassie Gilson is president and managing partner of Axiom Advisors, making her one of the only women who are managing partners at the top lobbying firms in Sacramento.
Women in Leadership: Dr. Diana Farmer
Our annual salute to extraordinary women who are shaping our future
Dr. Diana Farmer, chair of the department of surgery at UC Davis Health, is the world’s first woman fetal surgeon.
Comstock’s Talks: The Next Chapter Series
PODCAST: Listen to a six-part series about Capital Region professionals who found new pursuits after successful careers.
Comstock’s Talks: ‘Somebody’ Again (The Next Chapter)
PODCAST: Carl Landau had spent 37 years in publishing and event organizing when he decided to launch Pickleball Media last year. This profile is part of The Next Chapter, in which we check in with Capital Region professionals who moved into new pursuits or retirement after successful careers.
‘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 ‘95630 Experience’
Folsom City Manager Elaine Andersen on the city’s growing opportunities and small-town feel
Comstock’s spoke to Andersen about the Folsom Plan Area, which will add housing, schools, parks, and commercial and office buildings, and bring in an estimated 25,000 new residents.
Our Top Stories of 2020
Look back on 2020 with a list of our top-read stories and our editors’ favorites.
Clear Vision for the Future
VSP Global President and CEO Michael Guyette on overseeing the nation’s only not-for-profit vision benefits company
Michael Guyette became president and CEO of VSP Global, based in Rancho Cordova, in 2018. Comstock’s spoke to Guyette about leading the 65-year-old organization.
Crossing the Finish Line
Saint John’s Program for Real Change CEO Julie Hirota on helping women and children
Comstock’s spoke to Hirota about leading the organization, which has helped more than 30,000 women and children during its 35-year history.
Laying the Groundwork
A widespread effort to achieve environmental justice in Sacramento is gaining momentum
Proponents say environmental justice efforts will only be successful if they are inclusive and equitable.
Care Givers
Family business close-up: All-Cal Insurance Agency in Roseville thrives by providing coverage for nonprofits
Nonprofits make up 97 percent of All-Cal’s clientele, which has
been run by the Esparza family in Roseville for more than 30
years.
Positive Signs in Trying Times
University of the Pacific President Christopher Callahan on leading an educational institution during an unprecedented time
Christopher Callahan, who became president July 1, is overseeing the institution’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Passion Press
The Sacramento Observer President and Publisher Larry Lee on the media and its role in the community
Comstock’s spoke with Lee about his company’s role in the Black community and in advocating for a better future.
Power of Politics
California Center for Civic Participation Executive Director Belen Flores on educating young people about civics
Comstock’s spoke with Belen Flores about how her organization has adapted in recent months and why its mission remains important.
Emerging Leaders: Vanessa Walker
We honor 10 young professionals who have made a difference during the COVID-19 pandemic
Dr. Vanessa Walker is medical director of the Sutter Health Valley Area’s electronic ICU, a telemonitoring program in which doctors and nurses monitor ICU patients through video, remote diagnostic tools and other technologies.
Emerging Leaders: Holly Powers
We honor 10 young professionals who have made a difference during the COVID-19 pandemic
As assistant director of the Placer County Office of Emergency Services, Holly Powers brings together a variety of partners to prepare for, respond to, and lead the recovery from natural or human-made disasters.
App Helps Law Enforcement Deal With Mental Health
Vacaville police officers assess their stress through a customized app
Sacramento app developer Rich Foreman led the development of wellness apps with self-assessment modules and toolkits, including access to peer-support groups and therapists vetted for their expertise with law enforcement.
Help for the Helpers
Crises like the coronavirus pandemic increase stress, especially for first responders, but there are ways to cope
Under the gloom of a pandemic, people on the front lines of the crisis are encountering a level of unprecedented stressors layered onto already challenging jobs.
Going With the Flows
McGeorge School of Law professor Jennifer Harder on water issues, laws and uses
Professor Jennifer Harder is the co-director of the Water & Environmental Law program at McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento. Comstock’s spoke with Harder about water issues affecting the Capital Region and California.
Protecting Our Privacy
Cybersecurity advocate George Usi on how businesses can prepare for an eventual compromise
George Usi founded Rancho Cordova-based Omnistruct in 2019, selling cybersecurity compliance programs to businesses. We spoke with Usi about his mission to educate businesses so they can manage their risk when a cybersecurity breach occurs.
In the Making: Set for Showtime
As soon as a B Street Theatre show closes at The Sofia in Sacramento, the old set is torn down and installation of the next set begins later that same day. Here are shots of the work that went into the set of “Byhalia, Mississippi” before it closed over coronavirus concerns.
In the Making: Bringing Colors Alive
Tonja Wilcox has created a lot of watercolor paintings of trees, mainly birch and aspen, but the exact number is unknown. “I stopped counting after 600,” says the Sacramento-based artist.
Follow Her Lead: Cindy Messer
As the country celebrates the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, we profile 19 leaders in the Capital Region
Cindy Messer was sworn in as chief deputy director of the California Department of Water Resources the day after the Oroville Dam crisis began in February 2017, when damage to both the main and emergency spillways forced the evacuation of more than 180,000 residents.
Follow Her Lead: Celia Esposito-Noy
As the country celebrates the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, we profile 19 leaders in the Capital Region
Celia Esposito-Noy, superintendent and president of Solano Community College, sees higher education institutions as responsible for serving much more than just their students.
Wealth of Wisdom
California Center President and CEO Margaret Wong on the importance of the China market
Margaret Wong founded the Sacramento-based California Center in 2012 to facilitate business opportunities between California and China. Comstock’s spoke with Wong about expanding to the China market.
Unfinished Business, 100 Years Later
In celebration of the centennial of the 19th Amendment, Comstock’s is honoring 19 regional leaders for our annual tribute to women in leadership. Our managing editor shares her thoughts on the occasion.
Building for the Future
California Manufacturers & Technology Association President Lance Hastings on the myriad challenges faced by the industry
Lance Hastings became president and CEO of the California Manufacturers & Technology Association in November 2018. Comstock’s spoke with Hastings about challenges faced by manufacturers and how CMTA works to improve the business climate.
A Survivor’s Tale
TSI Semiconductors in Roseville is flourishing again, bucking a trend of diminished manufacturing in California and the U.S.
The last remaining microchip plant in Northern California has found ways to thrive in a challenging market.
In the Making: Stoked for Skateboards
Corey Sholes, a self-described skateboard fanatic, was 18 years old when he cut his first skateboard. Eventually, he started pressing his own boards using a vacuum press system, and making handcrafted boards became his full-time job and his business, Legend Skateboards, in 1994.