Why Do You Want This Job?
Whitney High School seniors learn how to interview
At the beginning of the fall semester, about 450 seniors at Whitney High School in Rocklin participated in mock interviews to learn the valuable skills needed to enter the workforce. They learned how to prepare a resume and cover letter, participated in an interview class and completed a 20-minute mock interview.
5 Ways Your Family Business Can Maximize Philanthropic Giving
1. Discuss your values and motivations. Explore your family’s motivations behind your giving to better understand what you want to accomplish. By identifying core values, you’ll be able to direct your support to mirror the causes important to you.
When The Giving Gets Good
Family-owned businesses with generous social responsibility platforms benefit Capital Region communities.
A number of the Capital Region’s most prominent family-owned businesses — like the River Cats — have made social responsibility a core tenet of their companies, employing staff and consultants to help make their programs central to who they are and how they operate.
At Home in the Kitchen
Husband and wife team give Sacramento a taste of the South
As Sacramento undergoes a culinary renaissance, family-owned restaurants like South have become foundational to the city’s rejuvenated character. For the restaurant’s owners, however, running a business with family can be both a great blessing and a major headache.
Why Heads are Scratching Over California’s Standardized Test Scores
Is there something weird about California’s standardized test scores?
Last year, 49 percent of California students who took the test scored as meeting the state’s reading and writing standards. This year, that number flatlined at 49 percent. So despite most teachers and students having an additional year to get familiar with the exam, and an additional year of instruction conceivably tailored to improve on student weaknesses identified in the test, California public schools were no better at getting students to master state English standards.
‘Show Your Taxes’—Could California Really Force Presidential Contenders to Do it?
There’s sometimes a fine line between good governance and trolling.
One of this year’s most controversial—if not quite as consequential—state bills is a proposal by Democratic Sen. Mike McGuire of Healdsburg that would require presidential candidates to release their tax returns before they can appear on a California ballot.
3 Reasons Why Your Family Business Needs Systems
Call it a disagreement, difference of opinion or power struggle, but family-owned businesses are no less likely to have challenges about how things are run than any other company.
Here are my top three reasons why family businesses need systems:
Dilemma of the Month: Changing the Terms of Employment
My assistant “Jane” has a reduced work week, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. I agreed to this when she was hired. However, two years later, I now need her to work more hours. I don’t need or want to hire an additional person — I just need her to work an 8-hour day. But she doesn’t want to. What can I legally do?
Startup of the Month: Alphapura Robotics
To impact the world, local business seeks to turn trash into 3D treasure
The big idea was garbage.
Frederick Janson was in the garage, taking the trash out of his first house in North Natomas. That was when he noticed how full the blue recycle bin was with plastic containers. He realized these recyclables he was paying somebody to take away could be used as building materials.
Wealth of Options
The Bank will transform a historic landmark into a foodie haven
The historic D.O. Mills Bank building, owned by the Cameron Family since 1922, is in the midst of massive transformation. The bank, slated to open this year, will be a three level 30,000 square-foot culinary destination.
All in the Family
One thing that makes my job so interesting is that Comstock’s isn’t a publication solely focused on disseminating information in the form of news briefs and factoids. We tell stories: of the struggle to succeed, thrills of success, heartbreaks of failure and the quiet fear of finding oneself at a crossroads.
Press Play
As a child, working in her family’s print shop in Grass Valley, Judith Berliner’s job was to help her father produce custom maps and limited-edition books on the antique machinery. She now works those same presses as owner of Full Circle Press.
From the Editors: September Business Recap
Comstock’s monthly look at business news in the Capital Region. Want to know what happened in September? Then read on, my friends.
How Sky-High Housing Costs Make California the Poorest State
When the cost of living is factored in, the Golden State has the highest poverty rate in the country. More than 20 percent of its residents struggle to make ends meet, according to recently released Census figures.That’s nearly 8 million people.
Art Exposed: Marianne Bland
Comstock’s interviewed artist Marianne Bland about her artistic direction and recently being named the first recipient of the Gloria Burt Sacramento Region Arts Fellowship.
Lawmakers Missed a ‘Green’ Opportunity; Could Consumers Pay the Price?
Environmentalists are accustomed to notching wins in the California Legislature, where their projects often receive a friendly hearing from a supermajority of Democrats and a governor with a laser focus on climate change.
Back and Forward: Stella Premo on Meeting the Needs of Family Businesses
Stella Premo, executive director of the Capital Region Family Business Center based in Roseville, offers her insight into how her organization works to better serve the unique challenges of family businesses.
Apple, FitBit Will Join FDA Program Meant to Speed Health Tech
A federal agency that regulates apples wants to make regulations on Apple a little easier.
Taking Charge
New UC Davis Chancellor Dr. Gary May on innovation, strategic planning and student outreach
New UC Davis Chancellor Dr. Gary May arrived at the university with a stellar reputation for innovation, leadership and academic equality for all students. We sat down with him recently to discuss his plans and goals for one of the region’s landmark institutions.
Funding Your Future
With the rising cost of college, experts educate students on applying for financial aid and scholarships
Getting into college is only half the challenge; paying for it is quite another. According to research conducted by two assistant professors of economics, in a paper titled “Accounting for the Rising in College Tuition,” the cost of college tuition more than doubled from 1987 to 2010, and outpaced inflation by 2-4 percent.