Il Fiorello * Anheuser-Busch * Jelly Belly Candy Company * Wooden

fa i r f i e ld - s u i s u n c h a m b e r
of commerce
The
summer 2013
OF BUSINESS
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★ Jelly Belly Ca
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|a message from our chair
2013-14 board of
Directors
chair
Steve Lessler
The Lessler Group
chairman elect
Don McDonald
vice chair
Michael Cortez
sMarketnow.com
Techpro Source
Monte Hoover
Gillespie’s Abbey Carpet
Anand Patel
Fairfield Conference & Visitors Bureau
David Welch
David L. Welch, CPA
immediate
past chair
Sue Vaccaro
directors
Ken Brock
Solano Garbage Co./Republic Services
Brock Law Group, APC
Steve Huddleston
NorthBay Healthcare
John Jamison
Jelly Belly Candy Company
Dionne McCullar
Front2Back Designs
Amit Pal
Pacific Gas & Electric
David Schwind
Iberdola Renewables
Chuck Timm
Retired Fairfield Police
Tamer Totah
Rockville Grill
Annie Vogelpohl
Annie Vogelpohl Real Estate
ex-officio
members
Harry Price
City of Fairfield Mayor
Pete Sanchez
City of Suisun City Mayor
Dr. Jowel Laguerre
Solano CC, President
H
ello fellow Chamber members and
welcome to a new Chamber year.
I’m Steve Lessler and I have both
the privilege and the responsibility of being
your Board Chair for the next 12 months. It’s
a responsibility I take seriously, and I thank
you for the opportunities and challenges
that accompany the position.
A little about my local history: My wife Becky, 1½-year-old son, Kyle,
and I relocated from the Bay Area to Fairfield in January 1983 to follow a
job I had as distribution manager for Taylor & Ng, a now defunct housewares company. Six months later, our second son, Evan, was born. In
1986, I was recruited by National Can (now Rexam) to serve as their
production control manager and spent the next 12 years in that position.
Laid off in 1998 as they downsized, I was then recruited by Gaw, Van
Male, a local law firm, to serve as their COO. After two years in that
position, I started The Lessler Group, representing local businesses to the
Solano County community with the aim of “business development” on
their behalf. It has been more than 12 years now, and I am grateful to the
local business community for the success of this small business.
Along the way, my wife and I saw our sons go through the public
school system and grow to become the successful young men they are
today. That could not have happened without constant support from the
local community, the teachers, friends and mentors who always were
there to assist our family. Because of that, we knew we wanted to “give
back” in some meaningful way. Becky volunteered with several local
nonprofit organizations and has worked for 29 years at NorthBay Healthcare. I became a member of Fairfield’s Vision 2020 planning effort.
Following that, I was appointed to the Fairfield Planning Commission
and finally served two terms as a Fairfield City Councilman. I have also
had the privilege of serving with many organizations
As I pondered what I wanted to accomplish during my term, I could
not help but focus on the idea of “doing business locally.” In our Chamber
we have the breadth and depth of businesses in almost every category,
and the ability to utilize these resources whenever possible before going
outside the Chamber to find the services and products we need to run
our respective businesses. I consider all of Solano County to be local, so it
is my strong belief that we should look to our Chamber and our County
first, and only then reach outside if we are unable to meet our needs here.
Call your Chamber; ask which members might provide the services you
need. You might be surprised at how deep the local resources are.
Encourage the businesspeople you know to take a look at the benefits
of Chamber membership. We want a business-friendly environment and
there is strength in numbers. Get involved.
Please feel free to contact me if I can be of assistance to you and your
business in any way. My cell number is 688-5713.
Steve Lessler Chairman, Fairfield-Suisun Chamber of Commerce
chairman’s club sponsors
4 www.ffsc-chamber.com
|a message from our president/ceo
in this
issue
6
8
Fairfield-Suisun
Chamber of
Commerce Calendar
Installation and
Awards Luncheon
COVER STORY
Made Local: A
Profile of Four
Businesses in Fairfield
10
18
20
24
25
FMSA Proud to
Host Annual
Tomato Festival
Chamber in
Action: Mixers,
ribbon cuttings, more
New Chamber
Members
NorthBay
Healthcare
Unveils Neurosurgical
Trauma Suite
26
Fun on the Run
Impacting Our
Community
T
he Fairfield-Suisun Chamber of Commerce would
like to officially wish our members a Happy New
Year (fiscal)!
Before we look to the future it is important that the
Fairfield-Suisun Chamber of Commerce thank our
sponsors, business partners and members. All of you
helped make this a successful year, thank you!
The new year brings new goals, board members,
executive committee members, community partnerships and benefits for our
members.
The Chamber’s goal is to retain our existing members while growing our new
members. We will accomplish this goal by listening to our members and the business
community regarding their needs. The Chamber Staff, Board of Directors and Ambassadors are going to be even more visible this year; we will be actively discussing and
asking you about your needs from the Chamber.
At the helm of our Ambassadors is Chief Ambassador Charles McCullar. The
Chamber Ambassadors have implemented a weekly business walk in order to talk to
local businesses, regardless of membership status, to discuss their needs and see if the
Chamber has an opportunity to help. The goal is to visit every business in the FairfieldSuisun area. The Ambassadors are compiling valuable input from the business community which will help the Chamber understand what our business’ needs are and
understand exactly how to best serve them. If you would like to pre-schedule an
appointment for us to come and visit you, please send an email to:
[email protected].
One of our many community partnerships is with Travis Credit Union, the FairfieldSuisun School District and the Solano County Office of Education. The Work Ready
Certification Program is designed to certify a student has the basic workplace skills
Solano County businesses require. We are also excited about the merging of the
Leadership Today programs between Fairfield-Suisun and Vacaville Chambers.
NorthBay Healthcare will continue to sponsor the program as it has done since its
inception. The Chamber is committed to offering programs that help strengthen our
community through education, creating future leaders and active advocacy.
In the coming months, the Chamber will also offer new programs for businesses. In
July, the Chamber of Commerce will partner with Fairfield Main Street Association on
a series of Constant Contact workshops. The dates will be published on both
www.fairfieldmainstreet.com and www.ffsc-chamber.com or follow us on Facebook.
In the fall, two additional networking opportunities will be announced which will add
additional benefits to members.
We look forward to talking with each and every one of you; together we will
strengthen our local economic base and continue to produce community leaders.
Debi Tavey, President/CEO
Fairfield-Suisun City
Chamber of Commerce
The Voice of Business for Fairfield and Suisun City, California
1111 Webster St.
Fairfield, CA 94533
707.425.4625
707.425.0826 | Fax
Debi Tavey, President/CEO
[email protected]
Melissa Manry, Office Manager
[email protected]
Fairfield-Suisun Chamber of Commerce 5
JuLY
2
TUESDAY
4&5
8
calendar
sePtember
8 to 9 a.m., Courtyard by Marriott, 1350 Holiday Lane, Fairfield
fourth of JulY holidaY
Chamber offices closed
THURS& FRI
MONDAY
10
WEDNESDAY
11
trafc executive meeting
9 to 10 a.m., Fairfield-Suisun Chamber of Commerce,
1111 Webster St.
business issues committee
Noon to 1 p.m., Fairfield-Suisun Chamber of Commerce,
1111 Webster St.
JOINT CHAMBER AFTER HOURS MIXER
THURSDAY
15
23
MONDAY
TUESDAY
24
WEDNESDAY
2
ambassador committee
9
trafc executive meeting
11
business issues committee
ambassador committee
With Vacaville Chamber, 5:30 to 7 p.m., NorthBay Healthcare
Administrative office, 4500 Business Center Drive, Fairfield
travis regional armed forces committee
Noon to 1:15 p.m., Delta Breeze Club, Travis AFB
board of directors meeting
9 to 10 a.m., Fairfield-Suisun Chamber of Commerce,
1111 Webster St., Fairfield
SUNRISE MIXER
MONDAY
MONDAY
WEDNESDAY
12
8 to 9 a.m., Courtyard by Marriott, 1350 Holiday Lane, Fairfield
9 to 10 a.m., Fairfield-Suisun Chamber of Commerce,
1111 Webster St.
Noon to 1 p.m. Fairfield-Suisun Chamber of Commerce,
1111 Webster St.
CHAMBER BUSINESS AFTER HOURS MIXER
THURSDAY
5:30 to 7 p.m., Fairfield Community Services Foundation,
Daily Republic Park, Fairfield
16
travis regional armed forces committee
24
board of directors meeting
MONDAY
TUESDAY
25
Noon to 1:15 p.m., Delta Breeze Club, Travis AFB
9 to 10 a.m., Fairfield-Suisun Chamber of Commerce,
1111 Webster St., Fairfield
SUNRISE MIXER
WEDNESDAY
8 to 9 a.m., Kaiperm North Bay Federal Credit Union,
173 Plaza Drive, Suite 1001, Vallejo
8 to 9 a.m., To BE ANNoUNCED
August
6
TUESDAY
7
WEDNESDAY
8 to 9 a.m., Courtyard by Marriott, 1350 Holiday Lane, Fairfield
ANNUAL MEMBER BLENDER
5:30 to 7 p.m., To BE ANNoUNCED
Tables are $75
12
trafc executive meeting
14
business issues committee
19
travis regional armed forces committee
27
board of directors meeting
MONDAY
WEDNESDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
28
WEDNESDAY
Fairfield-Suisun
ambassador committee
9 to 10 a.m., Fairfield-Suisun Chamber of Commerce,
1111 Webster St.
Serving Fairfield-Suisun and
Communities around the world.
Noon to 1 p.m., Fairfield-Suisun Chamber of Commerce,
1111 Webster St.
Noon to 1:15 p.m., Delta Breeze Club, Travis AFB
9 to 10 a.m., Fairfield-Suisun Chamber of Commerce,
1111 Webster St., Fairfield
SUNRISE MIXER
8 to 9 p.m., The Leaven, 506 Civic Center Blvd., Suisun City
Please visit www.ffsc-chamber.com for upcoming
ribbon cuttings, grand openings and esheets.
ate
Save the D l
Boi
Lobstye, Srept 14th
a
Saturd - 10pm
5pm
k
blic Par
u
p
e
R
y
Dail
tion
informa
ore
ts and m
7
For ticke (707) 427-692
call
Make a
difference,
become a
member.
Meetings held
Monday evenings
6pm at
Rockville Grill
P. O. Box 2085, Fair field, C A 94533
6 www.ffsc-chamber.com
Fairfield-Suisun Chamber of Commerce 7
Installation and Awards
Ambassador of the Year 2013
Monte Hoover » Gillespie’s Abbey Carpet
Monte Hoover is president and general manager
of Gillespie’s Abbey Carpet & Floors, a company
established in 1934. The Hoover family has owned
and operated the company for 36 years. Monte
started in the company as a cleaning technician and,
over the years, has been responsible for project
management, writing procedure/policy manuals,
business planning, budget, sales, marketing, safety training,
human resources and accounting. During the past five years,
Monte has led the company through survival of the last
recession and has completed a turn-around plan that has
once again placed the company in a profitable growth mode.
Monte is a 35-year member of the Chamber of Commerce
and began attending mixers with his parents, Russ and
Charlene Hoover, when he was only 18 years old.
Monte serves as an Ambassador for the FairfieldSuisun Chamber of Commerce as well as the
Vacaville Chamber of Commerce. He is a member of
the Solano Business Group and a founding member
of the Northbay Contractors Alliance. He serves on
the Yippie Foundation Advisory Board and is also a
mentor for the youth in the organization. He is a
committee member of the Annual Tomato Festival . This
summer, he will be employing an at-risk student for the
Fairfield based organization The Dream Team.
Monte will bring his vast experience in running a business
and his community support to the Chamber Board of
Directors. He is always focused on his mission to improve the
health, image and community respect of any organization he
represents.
Business of the Year 2013
ALKAR Human Resources
Alkar Human Resources is a woman-owned
business established in 1985. The Alkar staff has
more than 90 years of combined experience with
solid credentials to be leaders in the staffing
industry. Alkar Staffing Consultants are CSP-certified by the American Staffing Association and has
been serving Solano County clients and the
community for 17 years. Their services are valued
by numerous companies. Alkar strives to clearly understand
their client’s needs, preferences and personal dynamics,
allowing them to anticipate the client’s needs and respond
proactively, increasing efficiency.
Alkar firmly believes in giving back to the community. Staff
members actively donate their time and resources to the
community by volunteering, sponsoring, and supporting
nonprofit organizations. Their participation and
active involvement in the community allows them
to connect with professionals and understand the
culture and demands of local businesses.
Alkar’s mission is to offer clients world-class
resource in staffing services. Their philosophy is
simple: provide quality candidates that match the
clients hiring needs efficiently and in a timely
manner. They do this with the utmost integrity and expertise.
Their goal is to build long-term relationships with both
candidates and clients. To attract the right talent, they make a
point of offering their candidates opportunities for success.
Alkar deliver’s excellence using proven recruiting
methodologies to provide qualified candidates to their clients
on a Temporary, Temp to Hire and Direct Hire basis.
Distinguished Citizen of the Year 2013
Anthony Russo » B&L Properties
Anthony Russo was born in Pittsburg and
graduated from Pittsburg High School. He attended
Los Medanos College and then went to work in the
mortgage banking industry. In 1981, he met his
future wife, Debra, at a Christmas party where she
beat him in a game of pool. He has been trying to
get that game back for 31 years.
They moved to Vacaville in 1982. Seven years
later, Anthony went to work for Debra’s father, Billy Yarbrough, running Solano Concrete. Since then, Anthony and
Debra have become part the community that has supported
their family over the years.
Anthony has served on Fairfield’s 1990 General Plan Task
Force, Solano County’s 2006 General Plan Task Force, the
8 www.ffsc-chamber.com
Green Valley Specific Plan Advisory Group,
Fairfield’s first AB 1600 Developer Fee Task Force
and the Solano County Family Justice Center
Subcommittee.
He was co-chair of the Let’s Build a Playground
committee that built the wooden play structure at
Laurel Creek Park and spearheaded the construction of the Octo Inn Soccer Complex in Fairfield.
He and Debra have worked with the City to develop the
Fairfield Train Station Specific Plan, an urban, walkable,
sustainable community near Fairfield’s new train station that
contains 6,800 residences and room for about 5,000 new jobs.
He has served on the Chamber of Commerce Board and
Executive Board.
Luncheon
K.i. Jones AWArd
Christina Baird « sMarketnow.com
Born and raised in Northern California,
Christina has made it her life work to be of
service through accountability in her
communities. Christina understands people,
local businesses and their needs. She
connects all through humanistic marketing
as she creates an awareness of a need.
She believes a community has the
conscious choice to contribute or find
avenues that can. In addition,
Christina serves on the Vacaville
Community Services Commission appointed by the mayor, is
acting President of the Vacaville
Chapter, serving all of Solano
County, Optimist club, owns two
public relations and marketing
companies and is a published
writer. Christina volunteers her
time to Solano County’s Office
of Education’s Career Technical
Education high school program and facilitates
an accountability and contribution luncheon,
keeping local business owners informed of
any community needs.
An Ambassador for more than
three years, Christina continues to
show enthusiasm and commitment to the Fairfield-Suisun
Chamber. Christina’s countless
hours of devotion and Chamber
support is represented in the
community.
Her passion for running is in
alignment for how she lives her
life in a day-to-day environment. Creating a space to
always go a little bit farther,
accomplishing feats that were
once thought to be unattainable, she appears to continually train for life’s marathon.
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Fairfield-Suisun Chamber of Commerce 9
|cover story
local
global
i
f the olive oil you savor, the thirstquenching beer you enjoy, the wine
you place in your decanter or the
candy you crave is made here,
chances are, you are sharing it with
the world.
Our region can boast about many
things. Perhaps, the greatest secret is
that we are a strong part of the “locally
made” movement.
We are probably too modest. So
much of what is coveted everywhere is
quietly created in our own backyards.
But the word is starting to get out. The
best of the best has a “made right here”
stamp on it.
Here are some leaders in our communities who “think globally and act
locally.”
StorY and PHotoS bY ann fogartY
ron Lanza
10 www.ffsc-chamber.com
from
traSH to
treaSUre
Lanzas carry on grandfather’s
work at valley winery
T
ake an agricultural family history lesson.
Go to Suisun Valley and visit Wooden Valley
Winery. Sit outside on the patio and gaze at the
Twin Sisters peak. It’s a beautiful spot. Drink
the wonderful wine. Then, listen to the voices of the
past. They are speaking with every sip you take.
Those voices have quite a story to tell.
The story starts with trash and ends with
treasure.
Back in 1943, Mario Lanza, an
Oakland garbage man, was hit by
a car as he was hauling a
trash can.
That ended his line of work. His legs would
swell so much that his doctors advised him to
move to a warmer climate so he could recover.
Mario came to Fairfield to heal. He began
working with the Brea family, which made wine
from grapes they bought nearby. In a few short
years, he became partners in the business, bought the
company in the 1950s and still made wine from grapes he
purchased from Cordelia, which used to be covered with
vineyards. He also grew pears, apricots and prunes on his
single acre. At that time, the fruit trees made a lot more money
than any grape could.
Mario’s love of owning land never abated. When his
neighbors would decide to sell their ranches, they knew the
Lanzas would take care of their properties. There was so
much trust that the sellers always gave the family the right of
first refusal. The Lanza acres grew and grew.
The winemaking continued.
“When my grandfather made wine, it was sold in a jug,”
said Ron Lanza, who handles marketing for Wooden Valley
Winery. “It had no varietal name, and was used for simple
table wine.”
Those were sweet years. Ron chokes up when he remembers his childhood and his grandparents. Particularly, his
grandmother.
“She knew everyone’s name when they came to taste our
wines,” he recalls. “She was kind to everybody, and would
often invite visitors to dinner. Everyone loved her.”
The family’s fortunes changed when the prices for pears,
Since 1933
Wooden Valley Winery
has been handcrafting
award winning wines.
Visit our website for a list
of Food Truck Fridays
and other events
Voted
“Best Winery to Visit”
& “Best Local Wine”
4756 Suisun Valley Rd.
Suisun Valley
(707) 864-0730
www.woodenvalley.com
12 www.ffsc-chamber.com
Ron Lanza holds a picture of his grandfather, Mario Lanza.
prunes and apricots did not make a good profit. A suggestion
by famous wine maverick August Sebastiani made all the
difference, says Ron.
“He said he would buy the grapes if we would grow them.
So, we did.”
After that, their orchards turned to vineyards. The golden
soil and microclimates were as kind to their grapes as they
were to the pears, prunes and apricots. The Lanzas started
with Cabernet in the 1970s and added Pinot Noir and Zinfandel. And later, many other varietals were planted.
“The best thing that ever happened to the wine industry was
wine coolers,” Ron explains. “When people started enjoying
them, they became curious about other wines they could try. It
was like they started on training wheels and, when those
training wheels came off, they wanted less but better wines.”
That is when the Lanza’s jugs had to go. Ron advised his
father to move into the next level of winemaking to meet the
new customer demands. In 1986, the family devoted itself to
creating top quality products.
Ken and Larry manage the vineyard, Rick is the winemaker and Ron handles marketing and other aspects of the
company, such as the lucrative grape sales. East Coast wine
makers are big customers.
Today, the Lanza family, which is the largest continuously
operating wine-making team in the region, owns 300 acres of
several varietals and makes award-winning wines.
“Most people don’t realize that we have the same soil and
microclimates that Napa has,” Ron points out. “In fact, a lot of
the grapes that we grow here in the valley go into many of
Napa’s fine wines, and those wines travel all over the world.
They just don’t advertise that.”
Ron is keen on spreading the word about the quality of the
wines in the Suisun and Wooden Valley areas, pointing out
that the valleys are poised to become the new Napa in the
future. All people have to do is come and taste.
“We want to remind people that, in the beginning, Napa
did not have the glamour factor and the crowds it now has.
They also started with orchards many years ago like we did.
We are working hard to help people realize that when they
think of wine tasting, Suisun and Wooden valleys should
rank right up there with Napa Valley. We are what Napa was
30 years ago. Our wineries are hidden gems. That’s what
makes us special.”
t He
alcHemY
oliVe oil
of
Ann and Mark Sievers
produce award-winning
oils at Il Fiorello
ann sievers sits in a
field of lavendar.
C
asual hands do not make a world-class olive oil.
There is the matter of deciding about the taste desired
before the variety of tree is planted. Then that tree must be
carefully chosen and placed in the grove with care.
High quality means low quantity. Each olive will yield its
delicious secrets only if there is a gentle and focused nurturing process.
Then there is the precision it takes to mill that olive. The temperature
during processing must be monitored minute by minute and
only the best milling equipment should be used.
Ask Ann and Mark Sievers how it is done. They are the owners
of Il Fiorello (named for Ann’s grandfather and meaning “little
flower” in Italian). Because of the couple’s shared passion, Il
Fiorello’s olives reveal their delectable secrets after the little
flowers turn into fruit.
“Each of our oils has won at least one gold medal in the
competitions we have submitted,” says Ann. “At the New York
International competition, we won two golds and they named us
as one of the best olive oil producers in the world.”
It is hard not to notice how often she surveys the silvery green groves
that have, through the couple’s artistry, enchanted the palates of thousands of their customers. It’s easy and pleasurable to dream of olives
along with her. The trees fill the windows of the center’s cheerful meeting
room.
An advanced practice nurse at UC Davis, Ann has “mostly retired” to
devote almost all her time to the business. When she completes one more
Fairfield-Suisun Chamber of Commerce 13
research project, she says
she will happily plunge her
hands in gardens, supervise efforts in the olive
groves and rack up a lot of
miles on her tractor.
“My job here isn’t that different from
what I was doing before,” she says. “Trees,
plants and people all need to breathe and
eat. They all need care.”
Mark is still working in international
finance, but matches Ann’s passion for the
business.
“We both raise the bar high,” she
explains. “Mark and I thought a great deal
about what we wanted to do here and we
created a strong business plan before we
planted one tree.”
The couple began their “olive odyssey”
when they moved to Green Valley. Thinking at first of planting grape vines on their
About retiring, Ann Sievers says, “Never. . . . My rocking chair will always be my tractor.”
property, they became intrigued about the
idea of olive groves and fueled their newfound passion with several trips to Italy. The two visited
building an event center. It could be a kind of gastronomical
countless mills there.
meeting place and premium olive oil would be center stage.
“You can’t imagine how many oils we have tasted,” Ann said,
Ann says they had not originally planned on the spot they
with a laugh.
chose, but fate intervened. An older couple wanted to sell and
After starting to plant trees on their Green Valley property,
was motivated.
they decided on a bigger dream. They thought about the idea of
“We bought this property when there was nothing on it
except an older home and five Chinese Ash trees. We tore the
house down and created our event center. And we started our
olive groves. Now we have 1,400 trees here in Suisun Valley and
about 200 in Green Valley.”
Their business plan is working. The event center has already
become a popular gathering place for weddings, meetings, food
events and, recently, a celebration of the life of a loved one who
had passed away.
The Sievers have also developed a cooking school called
Award Winning Artisan Olive Oil
Kitchen in the Groves at their center. A master chef oversees the
school and consults on the continuing cultivation of the olive
Located in the rustic Suisun Valley,
groves. An inviting, large kitchen stands at the ready for
Il Fiorello is now available for private
budding chefs who want to get the hang of understanding
which oil goes with which dish.
events and weddings with a beautiful
“We love to educate people about the magic use of different
patio and view. It has a Retail Room
levels of flavor,” says Ann. “We talk about the health factor of
with one-of-a-kind handmade gifts.
olive oil and discuss agriculture in this region.”
The couple mills for 50 commercial customers and creates
Named one of the top producers worldwide,
one-of-a-kind oils for established Napa families who have some
Il Fiorello is family owned and operated
olive trees on their properties. They can process three tons of
and produces the finest quality certified
olives in an hour. The equipment they use for milling is the best
in the business.
extra virgin olive oil.
The two hope the tastings they offer will inspire a passion
and
dedication to use only the best products the world has to
2625 Mankas Corner Road,
offer:
Theirs.
Suisun Valley
During a recent tour, Ann was asked if she ever plans to
(707) 864-1529
re-retire. After her transition from nursing to Il Fiorello, will she
www.ilfiorello.com
ever want to give up the gastronomical game, sit in a rocking
chair and just rest for a while, watching the world go by?
“Never,” she says, adamantly. “I will never do that. My
TOURS & TASTING OPEN 1-5PM EVERYDAY
rocking chair will always be my tractor.”
14 www.ffsc-chamber.com
A
global
connection
m a de in fa irfie ld
Herman Rowland’s sweet
invention a favorite of many
P
eople who visit the Bay Area don’t feel their trip is
complete until they don a paper hat and go to one
of the most legendary confection paradises in the
world.
That would be Jelly Belly Candy Company in
Fairfield.
Many would say the legend began as a result of a bad
pipe-smoking habit. Then Gov. Ronald Reagan kept a jar of
the candies in his office to fend off his addiction. But he
found a new habit he couldn’t shake. He kept the jelly
Herman Rowland
beans made by the company next to him at all times. He
loved them so much that his desire for the multicolored
treasures followed him to the White House. In fact, 3 tons
of Jelly Belly jelly beans were shipped to Washington, D.C.,
for his inauguration. Red (Very Cherry), white (Coconut)
and blue (Blueberry) ones, of course.
The beans also traveled to space. During Sally Ride’s
space shuttle launch, Jelly Belly containers flew right along
with her – a surprise from President Reagan.
The little beans with the big bursts of flavor were created
and Tasting Party. That’s when managers and other employees
in 1967, the brainchild of current chairman and fourthof Jelly Belly try new creations and offer their opinions of flavor,
generation candy maker, Herman Rowland. Rowland’s flavor
color, appearance and thickness of the candy’s trademark shell.
innovation of infusing flavors into the center and outer shells
Only when the team gives their thumbs up is the flavor debuted.
paved the way for the success that has followed his family
Walking into the colorful Fairfield location, it is impossible to
business, which started in 1898.
resist
at least a few bags of citrusy, sweet, savory or sour offerThe feelings about the flavors can get very personal.
ings.
Learning
that there is no fat, dairy or gluten doesn’t make
“People always tell us about their favorite ways of enjoying
it
any
easier.
There
is also the fact that natural flavors are used
them,” says Jelly Belly Director of Communications Tomi Holt.
whenever
possible,
such as fruit purees, coconut flakes, coffee
“They also say they have concocted unique combinations by
and
juice
concentrates.
And to break down any resistance you
popping different beans into their mouths at the same time. It’s
might
have
left,
the
store
gives out free samples so you can savor
kind of like they are sharing a family recipe with us.”
your
way
to
a
few
hundred
more oblong treasures you have
The family feeling is shared by the company’s Critic Session
Fairfield-Suisun Chamber of Commerce 15
never tried before.
Right now, the company has more than
100 flavors while featuring some for a
limited time. The most popular beans are
Jelly Belly Sours, Very Cherry, Licorice,
Buttered Popcorn, Juicy Pear, Sizzling Cinnamon, Cotton Candy, Watermelon, Tangerine and Green
Apple. The company also recently
a feW gourmet
launched Tabasco Jelly Belly jelly beans,
combos to trY
Candy Corn flavored Jelly Belly beans,
• 1 Chocolate
Jelly Bean Chocolate Dips and a line that
Pudding +
tastes like cocktail flavors.
1 Cappuccino +
Hundreds of thousands take the free
2 Raspberry =
tour of the factory in Fairfield where
raspberry
employees demonstrate the way the
mocha
beans are turned into irresistible flavors.
•
1
Mango +
Customers learn that it takes several days
1
Crushed
to make one particular flavor.
Pineapple
+
They also learn about the production of
1
Chili
Mango
=
the candy.
mango
salsa
“We produce more than a million
• 2 Cotton Candy +
beans per hour,
1 Lemon = pink
300,000 per day and 1,680 per second,”
lemonade
Holt says with a laugh, used to amazing
Jelly Belly fans with the statistics.
Today, Jelly Belly ships to more than 70 international
markets. People can’t seem to get enough of such flavors as
Cotton Candy, Mango, Pink Grapefruit or Lemon Drop.
For more information on Jelly Belly, visit jellybelly.com.
16 www.ffsc-chamber.com
tHiS breW’S
for YoU
Anheuser-Busch brewery
makes 12 varieties of beer on
state-of-the-art equipment
T
he next time you take that refreshing pull on a
favorite Anheuser-Busch beverage, you may want
to consider all that went into that bottle or can.
A great deal of strategy was involved in building the international company’s brewery in
Fairfield back in 1976.
“When we decide on building a brewery, the company
always looks for a great source of water,” explained Kevin
Finger, general manager of the plant. “We also need the
infrastructure to get that water to us. And we must have
effective transportation so we can ship our products in the
most efficient way possible.”
With the pure water from Lake Berryessa, the enthusiastic participation from Fairfield City leaders who helped with
infrastructure and a premium spot for rail and trucks, it was
a perfect fit.
The Anheuser-Busch brewery is one of 13 in the U.S. and
one of approximately 130 the company owns throughout the
world. From Fairfield, tens of thousands of cases are distributed throughout Northern California, the Pacific Northwest
and even Alaska. The facility makes 12 different varieties.
“People in our distributing area tend to like many different kinds of our beers, so we have no trouble with selling
them here,” he happily reports.
And his customers are a thirsty lot.
“We send out 20 or 30 rail cars a week, and there are about
9,000 cases to each car,” he says, proudly. “We ship our beer
via 70 to 100 trucks a day out here, and there is about that
many that come in here with materials for us.”
Walking through the spotless facility, visitors can easily
see the pride of craftsmanship and the high morale among
the 200 employees who work there. Sparkling, state-of-the
art equipment and many signs posting team participation
punctuate the huge space. Basketball hoops, small golfing
Kevin FInger is the general manager of the Anheuser-Busch brewery in Fairfield.
stations and foosball machines are ready for
use, providing casual teambuilding opportunities with workers throughout the plant during
break times.
While the brewery still has a 1976 façade,
Finger points out that the inside is completely
modernized.
“We invested about $200 million here
between 2003 and 2011. We have new brewing
processing equipment, new utilities and new
packaging and warehouse equipment.”
But something has not changed and never
will, he says.
“Our way of making great beers is time-honored. We just have new ways of making sure
that the highest quality is maintained through
metering and more sophisticated analysis.”
The Fairfield facility also uses solar panels
and a wind turbine for energy needs and has
implemented numerous ways to cut down on
water use.
“Our employees come up with great ideas
and often work in teams to make us more
efficient,” says the modest, quiet Finger.
In fact, in the last few years, the company’s
water use in Fairfield has been reduced by
40 percent.
With beer trends changing and interests
emerging about artisan brews, Finger says
Anheuser Busch continues to evolve.
“There is a real renaissance in beer brewing.
There are more breweries than there were in
our nation’s highest levels, which were in the
1800s. We like to learn from others and share
our brewing expertise as well.”
Visitors are encouraged to take a free tour.
For those who want a deeper understanding of
the processes involved in making their products, the company offers a premium tasting
experience for $25.
“People can try flights of our beers made all
over the country, if not the world,” says Finger,
who, after 33 years with Anheuser-Busch still
radiates his passion for his products. “We love
to educate and get people excited about what
we make.” ◆
‘Our way of
making great
beers is
time-honored.
We just have new
ways of making
sure that the
highest quality
is maintained
through metering
and more
sophisticated
analysis.’
— Kevin Finger
Fairfield-Suisun Chamber of Commerce 17
|community
why does the
fairfield main street
association
host the
Tomato
Festival?
By Margaret Manzo
T
Executive Director, fairfield main street association
he Tomato Festival is a tremendous undertaking but
the Fairfield Main Street Association is ready for the
challenge. As a small nonprofit with a two-person
staff, the Association relies heavily on community
support and volunteers. People often wonder why
Fairfield hosts a Tomato Festival and how it got started.
The Tomato Festival’s humble beginnings celebrated the
tomato as the leading cash crop in Solano County more than
20 years ago along with Suisun Valley’s rich agricultural
heritage. Tomatoes are once again back on top as the top
Tomato Alley features samples of more than 100 varieties of heirloom tomatoes.
producing crop in 2009.
for many years, both as a volunteer and later as staff.
The Tomato Festival has become one of the fastest growing
“I was especially happy with the coverage we received in
family festivals in Northern California, with more than
2006 and 2007 with the Travel Channel and Eye on the Bay. It
25,000 visitors in 2012. Tomato Alley is the core of our festival,
was really exciting to host a national film crew and wait and
featuring samples of more than 100 varieties of heirloom
wait and wait until the episode broadcast on local television.
tomatoes grown in Suisun Valley. The Tomato Festival won the
The two television programs gained lots of regional attention
prestigious Chrystal Eagle Award from the California Downfor our little tomato party, and established the festival as a
town Association in 2008.
destination event for many Bay Area guests,” Lowe said.
The festival also features tomato-eating contests, live
Curt Johnston, past economic development director with the
entertainment, beer gardens, food courts, crafters, cooking
City
of Fairfield, also had a major role in organizing the festival.
demonstrations, tomato-related vendors, children’s activities,
For
years,
Johnston volunteered in Tomato Alley along with his
and a VIP Wine and Food Pairing event featuring award-winfamily. He shared a fun memory about the first year the festival
ning wines from Suisun Valley.
started.
In 1991, Laura Cole (Rowe) was the executive director for
“I will never forget the time that Laura Cole showed up at a
what was then known as the Downtown Improvement District.
City Council meeting in a tomato outfit to
We asked Laura to share some of the details
announce the first festival in 1992,” Johnson
about how the Tomato Festival came to be.
said.
“The downtown had finished its renovaMany have donned that infamous
tion and in 1991 we had a huge celebration;
Tomato Festival costume over the years.
and the board wanted another huge event
While pictures may be hard to find, we have
in addition to the annual craft fair we held.
witnesses that have seen long-time merIt was meant to draw foot traffic, but also to
chant and past board member Cliff Gordon
celebrate the tomato. After they did some
research, they also found out that tomatoes
of Gordon’s Music and Sound in the
were the No. 1 crop for Solano County and
costume. Various board members, voluncame up with the Tomato Festival,” Cole
teers and staff have also had their turn.
said.
Current Board President Scott Tonnesen
Eye of the Bay host Liam Mayclem interviews Sean
Emily Lowe participated in the festival
of
Superior
Home Loans also enjoys the
Quinn.
18 www.ffsc-chamber.com
sense of community downtown.
“As a downtown resident, I enjoy seeing familiar
faces and visiting with the other business owners.
The Tomato Festival is a great asset to businesses
downtown,” Tonnesen said.
The Tomato Festival is now in its 22nd year and
draws crowds of more than 25,000 visitors to the
downtown area. While this is a fantastic familyfriendly event, the hope is that festivalgoers will
notice the unique shopping, international dining
and professional services that make downtown so
special. The mission is to expose more people to the
district, which in turn will increase business downtown. Visitors will stroll through the festival and visit
all of the great new shops and restaurants that have
opened recently and come back after the festival to
explore downtown Fairfield. ◆
Located in the Fairfield Auto Mall
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Fairfield-Suisun Chamber of Commerce 19
|chamber in action
Ambassador Rally
Annual Golf Tournament
Integrity Auto Collision
Jimboys Tacos
Leadership Today Hoedown
20 www.ffsc-chamber.com
|chamber in action
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Fairfield-Suisun Chamber of Commerce 21
|chamber in action
Northern Solano County Association of Realtors
Solano Business Connections
Solano Food and Wine Jubilee
Sutter Medical Foundation
Workforce Investment Board
22 www.ffsc-chamber.com
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Fairfield-Suisun Chamber of Commerce 23
|new chamber members
Accountemps &
Officeteam
Tiffany Mickens
5030 Business Center Drive,
Suite 250
Fairfield, CA 94534
707-422-8056
[email protected]
Aerotek, Inc.
Matt Kussman
2420 Martin Road, Suite 300
Fairfield, CA 94534
707-430-0301
[email protected]
Embry-Riddle
Aeronautical
University
Natalla Franklin
P.O. Box 1535
Travis AFB, CA 94534
707-437-5464
[email protected]
Frank-Lin Distillers
Products, Ltd.
Citation Club Sponsor
Tony DeMaria
2455 Huntington Drive
Fairfield, CA 94533
800-922-9363
[email protected]
PRJ Insurance
Marketing
Kenneth Stamey
125 N. Lincoln St., Suite E
Dixon, CA 95620
707-693-8200
[email protected]
Rybicki & Associates,
P.C. – Labor &
Employment Attorneys
Sequoia Senior
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1372 N. McDowell Blvd., Suite S
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707-775-1365
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Solano-Napa Builders
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135 Camino Dorado
Napa, CA 94558
707-255-2515
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Sutter Health Plus
Diamond Club Sponsor
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2880 Gateway Oaks Drive,
Suite 140
Sacramento, CA 95833
916-614-2490
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Total Home &
Garden Show
Nicole Arabia & Jodi McGuire
78 Cernon St., Suite B
Vacaville, CA 95688
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Touro University
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1310 Club Drive
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707-638-5272
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551 Coombs St.
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24 www.ffsc-chamber.com
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ABOVE: The new neurosurgical trama suite opened in June.
LEFT: Neurosurgeon Jeffrey Dembner demonstrates the Stealth Neuronavigation System
on a model of a “clear head.”
Medical advances
F
northbay unveils neurosurgical trauma suite
rom opening its technology-laden neurosurgery suite to
breaking ground for a new medical office building and
more, it was a summer of advancing medicine in Solano
County for NorthBay Healthcare.
Investing millions in its downtown campus in Fairfield, the
local nonprofit healthcare provider unveiled its new neurosurgical trauma suite in June, as part of its new Center for Neuroscience within NorthBay Medical Center directed by
neurosurgeon Jeffrey Dembner, M.D.
The June 18 grand opening featured a demonstration by
Dr. Dembner using the Stealth Neuronavigation System and a
model of a “clear head” – in which the brain was visible. The
system provides “a GPS for the body,” he quipped.
While the $6 million suite was built with head, spine and
orthopedic trauma in mind, it will also be used for scheduled
surgical procedures, especially those involving neurological
conditions.
A second cardiac catheterization lab is nearing completion
and soon will allow cardiologists to schedule more procedures
at the already busy heart and vascular center.
In the Emergency Department, work was finished earlier
this summer on a $320,000 project, focused on improving
nursing efficiencies and making a number of patient rooms
more child-friendly, as part of NorthBay Medical Center’s effort
to become approved for pediatrics.
Construction continues in Green Valley where crews are
assembling a 33,630-square-foot office building adjacent to
NorthBay’s Green Valley Administration Center, 4500 Business
Center Drive.
“This is all part of our mission to deliver advanced medicine
and compassionate care to the communities of Solano County,”
says Deborah Sugiyama, president of NorthBay Healthcare
Group.” ◆
Fairfield-Suisun Chamber of Commerce 25
|community
impacting our community
through an innovative
public-privaTe partnership
By Foy McNaughton
A
board director, fairfield community services foundation
mazing how a seed planted, nurtured by a volunteer
community minded board and guided with dedication by city staff can grow from just an idea to something truly remarkable.
That seed was the idea for the mobile recreation
program called “Fun on the Run.” A program that comes right to
the neighborhoods most in need, from 3 to 5 p.m. five days week.
This is a public-private partnership between the Fairfield
Community Services Foundation and the City of Fairfield.
The Foundation started with little money to launch such a
program, but had a strong vision for the need to reach our
children after school by providing a safe place to play, learn and
build healthy lifestyle behaviors.
The budget was $70,000 to launch the program for 52 weeks a
year, five days a week. The Foundation quickly purchased a little
yellow van (an old Wonder Bread van) for $2,000. That put
everything into high gear and the local fundraising efforts
ramped up quickly. Within six months, they had the money, the
van and a city organized program to launch Fun on the Run.
Nine years later, FOTR operates two vans and has won the
coveted Helen Putnam Award, a prestigious statewide award of
excellence given by the League of California Cities. These two
vans generate more than 15,000 visits annually, bringing a safe
and educational environment to Fairfield’s neighborhoods.
The idea of reaching these children in the early ages in a safe
environment is documented to fight juvenile delinquency. The
board was determined to reach the children earlier rather than
later, helping to create the type of community residents want to
live and work in.
The trust levels among Fairfield residents for Fun on the Run is
so high that the Fairfield Police Department brings the van to
neighborhood meetings, allowing residents to send the children
to play while they attend the meetings. Everyone knows that
when you see the brightly colored van, the neighborhood is safe.
Fun on the Run, with significant support from Kaiser Permanente, has expanded its receational offerings to promote healthy
cooking and eating, an important part of keeping kids active and
healthy. For example, FOTR will be able to offer soccer clinics
this summer to promote physical fitness. Separately, FOTR,
through the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano provides
three to five pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables per child each
week – 46,000 pounds annually.
26 www.ffsc-chamber.com
Robinson Kuntz/Daily Republic file photo (2012)
Fun on
the Run
Chavon Younger, left, Den’ella Wright, center, and Brenda Cruz set up games at
the Fun on the Run event on Crowley Lane in Fairfield.
Though FOTR is a unique private-public partnership with the
city, the Foundation is an independent body that runs on sponsor
donations, grants and a huge contribution from the Fairfield
Host Lion’s Club through their Prime Rib in the Park event (held
this year on Aug. 24). And yes, the Foundation remains a volunteer board with no paid executive director.
The Fairfield Community Services Foundation is proud of our
community and is invested in creating a positive legacy of strong
leaders shaping a healthy community.
If you would like to donate to help keep this vital program
going, please make checks payable to the Fairfield Community
Services Foundation and send to P.O. Box 147, Fairfield, Ca. 94533.
All donations are tax deductible. ◆
Save the Date
OŠ~W„„‹w‚
— Presented by Fairfield Host Lions
Saturday, August 24, 2013
KPFF†ƒi…yw‚©LPIF†ƒZ„„{ˆ
For more information and to purchase your tickets
call (707) 427-6927
All proceeds benefit
FAIRFIELD HOST
Fairfield-Suisun Chamber of Commerce 27