Ultragenyx Celebrates New Research Facility, 2 Years Later Than Planned

Novato-based Ultragenyx on Thursday afternoon held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the opening of its state-of-the-art research facility, located at 32 Leveroni Court, in the Bel Marin Keys Industrial Park.

The ceremonial event and lab tour that followed was more than two years in the making — not because of construction delays, but because of the pandemic, noted John Pinion, chief quality operations officer and executive vice president, translational sciences.

The 20,000-square-foot lab facility, which was formerly a warehouse, was completed in December 2019, and has been operating continuously since then, he said.

In his remarks on Thursday, Ultragenyx founder and CEO Emil Kakkis recalled that when he started the company in 2010, he didn’t have enough money for Ultragenyx to have its own research building, so he leased space from the nearby Buck Institute on Research and Aging, paying between $30,000 and $40,000 a year.

“From there, we continued to build out further and further, but it became evident at some point in time that we needed to develop our own building and our own space,” Kakkis said. “Fortunately, with the success of the work everyone’s been doing at the company, we were able to build the financial strength required to actually take on a building and invest in it.” The purchase price is not publicly available, said Jeff Blake, senior director of corporate communications.

Kakkis also said Ultragenyx having its own research facility marks another step forward in the company’s work to develop novel treatments for rare genetic diseases.

“We are very pleased to see how much research has gone on, even during the pandemic, and how much this building has contributed already to the development of our pipeline,” Kakkis said.

Ultragenyx also continues to utilize research space at The Buck.

To date, Ultragenyx has three first-ever treatments for rare diseases that have been approved for pediatric and adult patients. They are called Crysvita, Dojolvi and Mepsevii.

The biopharmaceutical company, which currently has 32 employees working in the new research facility, has more than 1,100 employees around the globe. About half of them work in Novato.

The company’s additional U.S. locations outside of California are in Utah and Massachusetts; with global offices in Colombia, Argentina, Switzerland, England, Germany, Japan, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, according to Ultragenyx’s website.

https://www.northbaybusinessjournal.com/article/industrynews/ultragenyx-celebrates-new-research-facility-2-years-later-than-planned/

Congratulation to our Members Recognized at the Influential Women Awards for Napa, Marin, Sonoma Counties

The North Bay Business Journal has announced this year’s recipients of its Influential Women Awards.

Scroll through the gallery to see the notable professionals selected. The winners will be recognized at a Thursday, June 23, dinner and awards presentation from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at the Petaluma Woman’s Club in Petaluma.

Presenting partner of the event is Wells Fargo. The gold sponsor is Exchange Bank, and the silver partner is Kaiser Permanente.

Our winning members include:

Jana Beatty-Andresen, regional vice president, member experience, Redwood Credit Union, is a 2022 North Bay Business Journal Influential Women Awards winner.

Letitia Hanke, CEO and founder, ARS Roofing and The LIME Foundation in Santa Rosa, is a 2022 North Bay Business Journal Influential Women Awards winner.

Nicole Jaffee, attorney with Perry, Johnson, Anderson, Miller and Moskowitz LLP, in Santa Rosa is a 2022 North Bay Business Journal Influential Women Awards winner.

Pat Kendall, Medical Group Administrator, Kaiser Permanente San Rafael Medical Center, San Rafael is a 2022 North Bay Business Journal Influential Women Awards winner.

Paula Finley, chief of services, Becoming Independent in Santa Rosa, is a 2022 North Bay Business Journal Influential Women Awards winner.

Sharon Wright, board member, Serves on the board for Providence Sonoma County and Burbank Housing, is a 2022 North Bay Business Journal Influential Women Awards winner.

https://www.northbaybusinessjournal.com/article/events/influential-women-awards-winners-for-napa-marin-sonoma-counties-announced/?artslide=0

W. Bradley Electric Starts New Project at 180 El Camino with Lusardi Construction Company in South San Francisco

From W. Bradley Electric’s LinkedIn page:

“We are very excited to get started on the 180 El Camino project with Lusardi Construction Company in South San Francisco.
The 750k sq ft. project consists of (3) 6 story buildings ground up – Core & Shell. More to come on this thrilling project!”

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6941078419522674688/?utm_source=linkedin_share&utm_medium=android_app

BPM Merges With North Bay Accounting Firm

The deal marks the San Francisco accounting firm’s fourth combination since 2020.

Read the full article here: https://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/news/2022/06/08/bpm-elliott-cpa-accounting-firm-merger-santa-rosa.html

Basin Street Properties’ Stony Point Campus in Santa Rosa Welcomes Swad Wealth Management

Basin Street Properties, a prominent real estate investment, development, and management firm, is pleased to announce financial planning firm Swad Wealth Management has signed a lease at Santa Rosa’s Stony Point Campus.

“Swad Wealth Management was founded to assist others in realizing their financial ambitions, dreams, and goals without having to figure it out on their own,” said Zack Swad, President of Swad Wealth Management. “I started Swad Wealth Management because I want people to feel financially confident so they can live their most ideal lives, their “dream retirement” so to speak, sooner rather than later,” said Swad.

Swad Wealth Management specializes in retirement planning for clients aged 50 and over, assisting clients in developing a financial plan that is tailored to their needs and allows them to live their ideal life. Zack Swad, the company’s President, founded Swad Wealth Management to assist others with financial planning and investment management needs to achieve their retirement goals.

“Stony Point’s campus setting and central location make it an ideal spot for small businesses looking to thrive in the area,” said Kyle Young, North Bay Leasing Director at Basin Street Properties. “The project’s close proximity to regional retail amenities and the Highway 12 make it accessible and welcoming for businesses looking to grow their regional client base.”

The Stony Point Campus is a collection of four Class A office buildings located on a beautiful three-acre manmade lake with glass block fountains, walking paths and dramatic water displays. The buildings offer extensive glass lines and oak trim finishes. These four buildings were built between 1990 – 2001 and are considered the “premier” office park within Santa Rosa. The project is known for its unique campus-like environment, institutional quality construction, and central location providing easy access for clients and employees.

Dave Peterson, Shawn Johnson and Brian Keegan of Keegan and Coppin represented Basin Street Properties.

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ABOUT SWAD WEALTH MANAGEMENT:

Swad Wealth Management takes the stress out of retirement by offering extensive planning services to clients. Zack Swad founded Swad Wealth Management to help others accomplish their personal retirement vision and create a personalized financial plan that fits its client’s needs.

Download Zack Swad’s eBook “15 Retirement Planning Tips for People Age 50+” here: https://swadwealth.com/

ABOUT BASIN STREET PROPERTIES:

Basin Street Properties, established in Petaluma in 1974, is one of Northern California’s and Northern Nevada’s most prominent developers, investors and managers of commercial properties. The company owns and manages over 5 million square feet of Class A office space. Basin Street is widely recognized for its office, retail, hospitality, multi-family and mixed-use developments. The company offers a broad range of real estate services, including development, property management, construction management, financial and asset management, and property acquisition and disposition. For more information, visit basin-street.com.

Bank of America Enhances Employee Benefits as Part of Being a Great Place to Work

New global Electric Vehicle Program for employees to buy or lease new all-electric passenger vehicles

We’ve rolled out a new global Electric Vehicle Program in which teammates who purchase or lease a new all-electric passenger vehicle on or after July 1, 2022 can receive $4,000 after making a new purchase and $2,000 after starting a new lease. We also offer employee discounts on home electric vehicle chargers, residential solar and Zipcar® car-sharing.

In addition, we are more than doubling Electrify America ultra-fast charging stations at our financial centers, intending to grow to more than 350 chargers at over 90 financial centers by the end of 2023. These are just a few examples of how we are focused on improving the environment through our global business strategy, our work with clients and partners, our sustainable operations, risk management and governance, and our support of teammates as environmental stewards.

U.S. minimum hourly wage increase to $22 in our next step toward $25 by 2025

We recently announced that we are again accelerating our path forward on our U.S. minimum hourly wage for employees. We will move to $22 in June, ahead of schedule, and further on our stated path to $25 by 2025. This move builds on our history of being a national leader in establishing a minimum rate of pay for U.S. hourly employees. In the last five years, we have raised the minimum hourly wage to $15 in 2017; to $17 in 2019; to $20 in 2020 — and to $21 in October 2021. The latest increase will increase annualized salary for full-time employees to more than $45,000.

Salary increases for U.S. teammates making less than $100,000, based on years of service

We also announced salary increases for U.S. teammates with annual total compensation of less than $100,000. The percentage increase for eligible employees will range from 3% to 7%, increasing with years of service. This move recognizes and reinforces our appreciation for employees’ years of service, and is in addition to performance year pay increases; Sharing Success stock awards; and other equity awards for employees across our compensation ranges.

New industry-leading, company-wide sabbatical program to recognize tenure at the company
As we continuously evaluate our resources in response to the needs and feedback of our employees, we launched a new industry-leading sabbatical program recognizing tenure at the company at certain career milestones, beginning at an employee’s 15-year milestone. The program, launching early in 2023, provides employees with the opportunity to take 4-6 weeks off to reinvest in their priorities in life.

As we continue to invest in our teammates and communities as part of being a great place to work, we are helping employees thrive and contribute to the resilience of our local economy.

Exchange Bank Grant puts Ipads to Work for Local Promoteres

We are thrilled to acknowledge a grant from Exchange Bank Foundation for technology hardware that will support the crucial work of local promotores de salud (also known as community health workers) in their capacity as community health liaisons in northern Sonoma County.

The grant of $5,000 equips local clinic-based promotores with iPads that will allow better, more efficient and coordinated outreach in predominantly low-income and Latinx neighborhoods. The iPads will be used for social determinants of health (SDH) needs assessments and linkages to critical resources such as food, housing, transportation, childcare, elder care, legal aid, financial aid, PPE, vaccine testing sites, vaccination sites, and more.

Promotores are bilingual and bicultural public health workers who act as trusted health messengers and navigators for their communities. Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, promotores have proved vital to outreach efforts in our region’s most vulnerable and marginalized communities. This outreach includes education and support with access to care, resources, and vaccinations. The close relationships promotores have with their communities makes possible this targeted outreach.

Founded in 1890 in Santa Rosa by father and son Manville and Frank Doyle, Exchange Bank has a long track record of community support in Sonoma County. Perhaps most famously, the trust established by Frank Doyle before he died has been awarding scholarships to students of Santa Rosa Junior College since 1948, helping more than 139,000 students to date with the Doyle Scholarship.

Despite the huge effort being mounted by promotores, they remain as a group generally underfunded and under-resourced, often operating in volunteer or temporary stipend-based positions through grassroots organizations that are themselves operating on shoestring budgets.

Thanks to the grant from Exchange Bank, the new iPads offer this effort a significant technological upgrade that will increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the outreach, resulting in more people contacted, informed, supported with access to vaccinations, and connected to other Covid-19 and health-related resources and services.

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College of Marin to Hold 95th Annual Commencement and Transfer Recognition Ceremony In Person

College of Marin (COM) will be holding its annual Commencement and Transfer Recognition Ceremony in person this year, after two years of celebrating the event virtually because of the pandemic. The event will commemorate the accomplishments of nearly 400 students who completed a certificate, degree, or transfer degree.

The ceremony will take place on Friday, May 27, at 6 p.m. During the outdoor event at the Kentfield Campus, 396 students will be recognized for their dedication to their academic and career goals, including 71-year-old Caryl Grubbs, the most mature graduate, and 15-year-old Juniper Yoshihara, the youngest of the graduating class. Grubbs earned an Associate in Science in Architecture. Yoshihara earned an Associate in Arts in Music.

In spite of the persisting challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the remote learning environment and returning to campus, COM students maintained their resilience. Some 132 students earned an associate in art degree; 86 earned an associate in science degree; 116 earned an associate in art for transfer; 63 earned an associate in science for transfer; and 51 earned a certificate of achievement.

Student Trustee Juan Camara Pech and transfer student Carolina Zaragoza were selected as this year’s student speakers. Read more about the Class of 2022 student speakers online.

COM Superintendent/President Dr. David Wain Coon said that the Board of Trustees, faculty, and classified professionals are excited for the return of an in-person ceremony.

“In addition to celebrating the extraordinary accomplishments of the Class of 2022, we welcome back and congratulate the Class of 2020 and Class of 2021, as they were invited to participate since their ceremonies were held virtually,” said Dr. Coon. “I’m pleased that despite the challenges of the pandemic, our student outcomes are up to pre-pandemic numbers.”

Recognizing the Class of 2022 for their grit and determination through incredibly difficult circumstances at scholarship and other end-of-year ceremonies, Dr. Coon also expressed his appreciation.

“Thank you for sticking with your education, and thank you for sticking with us.”

For more information about the 95th Annual Commencement and Transfer Recognition Ceremony, visit marin.edu/commencement.

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About College of Marin

Established in 1926, College of Marin remains committed to educational excellence, providing equitable opportunities, and fostering success for all members of its diverse community. With campuses in Kentfield and Novato, students of all ages have affordable access to an exciting variety of credit and noncredit courses as well as community education classes for lifelong learning. College of Marin is one of 116 public community colleges in California and nearly 14,000 credit, noncredit, and community education students enroll annually.

College of Marin is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, Western Association of Schools and Colleges, 10 Commercial Boulevard, Suite 204, Novato, CA 94949, (415) 506-0234, an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education.

Bank of Marin Makes Donation to Santa Rosa City Schools

Bank of Marin is the newest partner with Santa Rosa City Schools. They presented them with a substantial investment, sharing their vision of providing equitable enrichment opportunities for students most in need. Collaboration with investment partners helps to close the access and achievement gaps, building bridges that help students grow and succeed.

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/made-in-santa-rosa-foundation_opportunities-investment-students-activity-6932734218158448640-qU9Y/?utm_source=linkedin_share&utm_medium=android_app

Basin Street Properties Welcomes Guardian Angel Home Care to Stony Point Campus

Basin Street Properties, a prominent real estate investment, development, and management firm, is pleased to announce Guardian Angel Home Care has signed a lease at Stony Point Campus, premier office park in Santa Rosa, known for its unique campus-like environment.

“We’re excited to occupy our new space at Stony Point Campus, enabling us to continue to deliver our high-quality care to clients in need around Santa Rosa,” said Tanna Shock at Guardian Angel Home Care. “Having a suitable number of staff is critical for providing the best possible care to each patient and giving families peace of mind that their loved ones are being cared for by qualified professionals.”

Guardian Angel Home Care of Santa Rosa provides a wide range of high-quality home health care services in the comfort of your own home. Guardian Angel Home Care of Santa Rosa is happy to assist with everything from companionship to hospice care. The established company is well known in the market for offering great care for your loved one while keeping in mind that your health comes first.

“We’re happy we were able to find Guardian Angel Home Care the space they need to thrive in Santa Rosa,” said Kyle Young, North Bay Leasing Director at Basin Street Properties. “Stony Point Campus’s close proximity to Highways 101 and 12, provides Guardian Angel a centralized location to easily reach their client base throughout Santa Rosa.”

The Stony Point Campus is a collection of four Class A office buildings located on a beautiful three-acre manmade lake with glass block fountains, walking paths and dramatic water displays. The buildings offer extensive glass lines and oak trim finishes. These four buildings were built between 1990-2001 and considered the “premier” office park within Santa Rosa. The project is known for its unique campus-like environment, institutional quality construction, and central location near both employee and executive residences.

Christopher Vogt of eXp Commercial of California represented Guardian Angel Home Care. Dave Peterson, Shawn Johnson and Danny Jones of Keegan and Coppin represented Basin Street Properties.

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ABOUT GUARDIAN ANGEL HOME CARE:

Guardian Angel Home Care provides patient-centered in-home health care services you can trust. Our skilled medical professionals, nurses, therapists, etc. are available 24-7 to bridge the gap between your loved ones & the high-quality life they deserve. Learn more about Guardian Angel Home Care of Santa Rosa at https://guardianangel.net/.

ABOUT BASIN STREET PROPERTIES:

Basin Street Properties, established in Petaluma in 1974, is one of Northern California’s and Northern Nevada’s most prominent developers, investors and managers of commercial properties. The company owns and manages over 5 million square feet of Class A office space. Basin Street is widely recognized for its office, retail, hospitality, multi-family and mixed-use developments. The company offers a broad range of real estate services, including development, property management, construction management, financial and asset management, and property acquisition and disposition. For more information, visit basin-street.com.