It’s been a busy year for Camille Zapata, 29. In June, the political strategist marked her first anniversary as the digital director for Gov. Gavin Newsom, in a year marked by the devastating LA fires and the return of the Trump administration.

After more than 10 years of planning, Sacramento’s cherry blossom park, Hanami Line, officially opened June 20 of last year — making this spring the park’s first bloom.

After more than 20 years at KeyPoint Credit Union in Santa Clara, Nabhani joined SAFE Credit Union in 2016 as executive vice president and chief credit officer, overseeing their lending programs. In January 2023, she became the first female president and CEO in its 85-year history. “I’m really excited this year about where we are as an organization,” she says. 

Buño certainly knows a thing or two about stepping outside her comfort zone. At 16, she immigrated to the U.S. from India with her family and joined the Air Force just a year later.

As the ongoing bird flu crisis continues to decimate millions of infected chicken flocks across the country, and eggs become pricier and harder to find, Capital Region businesses weigh in on the impact of the shortage and what’s helping them through another major economic challenge so close on the heels of the pandemic.

With economic pressures, a deeper awareness of mental health issues and trends like Dry January and Sober October, Millennials and Gen Z are driving the “sober curious” movement, rethinking their relationship with alcohol to make healthier, more intentional choices. 

Once associated with fringe cultures and criminals, tattoos have long since moved into the mainstream, becoming a popular way for people to celebrate their lives and express themselves. Today, however, more women than men have tattoos.

When it comes to “having a little work done,” it’s all about perception. “I was actually one of those people who thought they would never do Botox in their life,” says Shawna Chrisman, nurse practitioner and founder of Destination Aesthetics. “I just wanted to age gracefully.” But a product called Lattise — which she calls her “gateway” — changed her perspective on what that means. 

A new wave of local fashion influencers are bringing years of practical experience from the fitting rooms to social media to create a unique brand of fashion therapy that recognizes the inextricable link between the clothes we wear and our emotional health.

It’s harvest time at the Reimagination Farm in Lake County, California. As autumn turns the air crisp and the leaves begin to change, former UC Davis Asian American Studies professor Robyn Rodriguez surveys the land in front of her and reflects on the rhythms of nature. “Even the earth follows cycles of rest,” she muses. “That’s how we regenerate.”

If you could create an image of anything in the world, what would it be? The house you lived in when you were six? A design for a new wine label? An oil painting of your dog dressed as Napoleon? Generative artificial intelligence has made this a possibility.

When it comes to navigating life and work, 916 Ink’s Jade Rodgers is a firm believer in “ubuntu,” an African word meaning “my humanity is tied to yours.” “Our experience in this life is interconnected,” she says.

After more than a year of canceled or postponed nuptials in 2020 and 2021, last year saw a wedding boom as many of those couples finally took their vows, spurring opportunities for growth and renewed hope for wedding venue owners across the Capital Region.

Cathilea Robinett is CEO of e.Republic, a Folsom-based media and research company focused on state and local government and education. She drives the company’s mission to improve government and education through strategy, stability, growth and expansion.

A 31-year veteran of the California Association for Highway Patrolmen, Carrie Lane has risen through the ranks to become CEO. 

PODCAST: Contributor Robin Douglas reads her feature about local marketing agencies that make brands stand out in the market through research, unique design processes and a leveraging of user-generated content.

Boutique marketing agencies in the Capital Region consider the medium to be just as important as the message itself. They see the demand for more “unfiltered” video content on TikTok and YouTube as indicative of our need for human connection. 

A trend that helped many restaurants stay afloat during the pandemic has become a burgeoning new business model.

As lead organizer of WAL’s First Friday events, the collage artist is focusing less on the “party” aspect and more on the artists and their work.

As Habitat for Humanity’s chief development officer, Laine Himmelmann values the power of storytelling and hope in equal measure. She manages fundraising and the organization’s volunteer program, on top of public relations, communication, marketing and media relations.

Several local nonprofits are leading women to self-sufficiency through a holistic approach, with culinary training programs that arm them with transferable skills.

As the practitioner for the Sacramento Native American Health Center’s Healing Ways Program, Sage LaPena helps patients get control of their conditions through a holistic approach.

A Q&A with a restauranteur committed to offering employment training for women in need.

Artist and former Sacramentan Jay Howell, best known for his work on Bob’s Burgers, painted the walls of West Sacramento’s new French-inspired wine bar and cafe, Franquette. 

Foggy Dew Fungi is a small, family-operated gourmet mushroom farm deep in the hills of Newcastle in Placer County, built on respect for nature and strong community ties.

Lavender is soothing, but harvesting it is hard work, as Justina Salinas realized when she opened Araceli Farms in Dixon in 2017.