More Is Not Always Better
With jobs on the rise in Sacramento, we must consider what type of jobs will best benefit our region
The best economic news in Sacramento lately is that jobs are back. A recent survey by the state’s Employment Development Department shows that the six-county Sacramento metro region has rebounded, gaining back jobs it lost during the recession — 25,000 in just the last year. But, while this is fantastic news, it’s not enough.
Women’s Work
Four local leaders discuss their journeys to the top of male-dominated industries
Effective leaders don’t come from one mold. The women featured below have excelled in nontraditional industries due to their talent, vision, perseverance and the (sometimes unlikely) mentors who guided their trajectory. They shared their stories with us — where they started, their rise to leadership and their thoughts on mentoring the next generation of powerful women.
Opinion: A $15 Wage Works in Parts of California, Not All
California has reached a deal to raise its statewide minimum wage to $15 an hour. This would certainly be a breathtakingly broad political experiment. The question is whether it will turn into a breathtaking disaster.
Anpac Bio-Medical to Set Up U.S. Headquarters in Sacramento
During his final State of the Address, held Jan. 28 at the Crest Theatre, Mayor Kevin Johnson announced that Anpac Bio-Medical Science Company has selected Sacramento as the location for their U.S. headquarters. The cancer screening and treatment company is regarded for their breakthrough early cancer screening, detection and diagnostic technology.
The Endangered Blue-Collar Worker
While policymakers focus on the need for more grads with bachelor’s degrees, middle-skill jobs go unfilled
Douglas Stricker of Folsom, 58, knows all about the need for skilled laborers. In 1992, he launched Golden Development, a company that built storage tanks and other structures for refineries and chemical companies. He had a crew of between 20 and 40 workers but never could find enough reliable welders — even in jobs that paid up to $30 an hour.
So, You Want To Be the Next Big Thing?
5 tips for launching a successful product
Sometimes, a real no-brainer, problem-solver of a product can crash and burn spectacularly upon entering the market. This isn’t limited to the Pepsi Clears of the world, where sheer ridiculousness doomed the idea from the start: According to Nielsen data, 85 percent of new consumer packaged goods will fail within two years. Marketing snafus, bad luck and timing aside, pitfalls in the process of product design are often to blame. Catching oneself before blundering into them takes a conscious effort, as several local designers and makers illustrate.
The Marvelous Mentor
Chris Johnson’s massive success affords next-gen business leaders the opportunity to grow
In the coming months, Chris Johnson will ask a lot of his employees, whose average age is just 24 years old. He expects to do $30 million in retail sales this third year of manufacturing, recently signed a powerful licensing deal with Disney’s Marvel, and plans to expand from the four products currently on shelves to more than 100 next year. But Johnson’s hiring strategy emphasizes passion over experience, something he says his team has in spades.
Next-Gen Business Park Planned in Davis
The developers behind the Mace Ranch Innovation Center intend to stay true to the city’s character
A new business park is coming to Davis — but maybe don’t call it a “business park” if you’re talking to project manager Dan Ramos.
Startup of the Month: New Wallet
Folsom startup creates 3-in-1 gadget for those on the go
Karen Crawford hasn’t carried a purse in three years. Instead, she uses a prototype wallet, which holds her driver’s license, credit cards, cash and a gym membership card, but also serves as an iPhone case and has a Bluetooth-enabled key tracker. As CEO of New Wallet a Folsom-based startup, Crawford led the development of this design after she couldn’t find a product on the market to meet her needs.
Caviar delivery launches partnerships with Sacramento restaurants
And…
Our publisher saw it for her own eyes — ballet is back; Titan Gilroy is on a mission to eliminate offshore outsourcing and boost manufacturing back home; how Shop Smart makes retail dreams come true; and ethnic grocers are helping to transform mainstream dining