In the early 2000s, Mariah Lichtenstern was an undergrad studying the rhetoric of narrative and image at UC Berkeley and starting a boutique production company in the Bay Area. That was when Napster was disrupting the music industry in a way that would leave it forever changed.

Women dominate the creative community in Sacramento, with a slew of advertising agencies large and small with females at the helm. The women running them say this means not only more authentic messaging, but a stronger support system for the next generation.

Shiloh London is an early riser of the extreme variety. She wakes up at 4 a.m., spends a few minutes in silence over black coffee, laces her sneakers and literally trains for a marathon. Afterward she connects with her running mates over coffee — all before a full day’s work.

Here in Sacramento, more women are beginning to take center stage.  With several women holding key roles on and offstage, B Street is breaking the mold for gender parity in theater. In what has often been seen as an industry dominated by males in leading creative roles, the local theater is instead empowering women to rise through the ranks to lead everything from marketing to playwriting and directing.

In leadership, critique itself matters less than what you do with it.

How one nonprofit uses education to encourage action on behalf women and girls around the world.

Studies suggest that diversity and profit aren’t two sides of a coin,
but more like the symbiotic relationship between bees and flowers.
So what does diversity actually look like, why does it seem to have
financial implications and how can businesses work toward more
inclusive hiring practices?

The U.S. Supreme Court has yet to weigh in on a high-profile case that could slash the power of public-employee unions. But California labor leaders are already planning to push for new state laws to blunt the impact of an unfavorable ruling.

The transition to parenthood can be daunting, particularly for new parents and those juggling work and family life. But several Capital Region-based parents have launched creative businesses and groups that support the whole family — from emotional and physical well-being, to work/life balance.

If the math proved easy when pricing your home, perhaps you’ve made this critical mistake. 

About 70 percent of my team are introverts, and all of them were here when I came on board as a manager. They won’t come together to solve problems. In fact, one of my employees told me, “I like to figure things out on my own.” It’s like each one of them lives on an island, and it’s too hard to take their boat over to collaborate. Any advice?

So you’ve got a terrific idea for a new business or product you’d like to bring to market. But where do you start?

Chandra Pappas, executive vice president at staffing company Nelson offers her insight into workforce strategy. For more from Pappas, check out “Strength in Numbers” in our March issue. Sign up for our newsletter and we’ll email you when it’s available online.

Permitting can be a logistical mess for developers, while the future of economic development depends on this process. Efforts to improve the process find that enhanced communication trumps speed in terms of efficiency.

La Placita, a local favorite in Orangeville, has stood the test of time. 

Zahra Ammar is one of five moderators of Contemporary Quilling, a growing global network of serious papercrafters, created as a reaction to the traditional Quilling Guild, which upholds strict guidelines based on the craft’s historic origins. Comstock’s recently spoke with Ammar about leading a papercraft rebellion, and what drives this Capital Region artist.

The infomercial world is full of goods that will purportedly forever alter the way you mop, do your laundry, cook eggs, exercise and listen to music.

But are those products truly revolutionary? More importantly, can a product or service truly be revolutionary at all?

In 2014, the City of Sacramento’s construction valuation (which tracks the dollar amount of issued permits) was $390 million, but by June 2018, that valuation will be about $1.5 billion (adjusted for inflation), according to Ryan DeVore, Sacramento’s community development director.

Try these three strategies to help teenagers use their social media platforms to better prepare for college.