News Posts – Page 45 – North Bay Leadership Council

Midstate Construction Completes Celestina Garden Apartments

General contractor Midstate Construction Corporation and owner MidPen Housing Corporation recently completed construction of Celestina Garden Apartments, a new affordable senior residential facility in Sonoma, CA.

MBH Architects in collaboration with Jon Worden Architects assisted MidPen Housing Corporation in designing the Celestina Garden Apartments project. This project includes new construction of a three-story, 40 unit affordable senior residential community building on 3.06 acres of the Sonoma Springs mixed-use site.

This work represents the final phase of a master-planned, intergenerational community where people of all ages can live, work, attend school and enjoy easy access to transportation. There are 40 affordable homes for independent seniors in need of rental units in Sonoma County. Units include 37 one-bedroom and three two-bedroom apartments for low-income individuals over age 62, earning up to 60% of area median income of $47,160 for a two-person household.

The efficient design and thoughtful unit plans helped to minimize costs without sacrificing quality. Common areas, including community gardens and a fitness center, encourage movement and interaction among residents. The community features a fitness studio, bike storage, courtyard and a community room with a kitchen for social gatherings. A large garden has been created for use for Celestina Apartments senior residents to enjoy, as well as adjacent Fetters Apartment’s family residents (which opened in late 2017) and by Sonoma Valley Charter School students.

This state-of-the-art facility boasts solar energy panels to help reduce electricity costs and utilizes low-emission physical plant equipment.

Celestina Garden Apartments received a 2020 Gold Nugget Grand Award.

Sonoma Raceway’s Virtual John’s March Raises More than $9,000

Sonoma Raceway teamed up with No Stomach For Cancer for the 10^th annual John’s March Against Stomach Cancer on Saturday, Jan. 9, with the popular event taking a virtual turn for 2021.

The virtual fundraiser generated more than $9,000 for No Stomach for Cancer bringing the event’s 10-year total to more than $154,000 raised for gastric cancer research and awareness.

John’s March is the only major fundraiser for No Stomach For Cancer on the west coast and is typically a fun-filled walk/run around the raceway’s 12-turn road course. However, due to COVID-19 restrictions and precautions, the raceway and No Stomach For Cancer created a virtual option for 2021 that allowed supporters to participate from any location. The event was founded and named in honor of longtime raceway spokesperson John Cardinale, who passed away in 2013 after a two-year battle with stomach cancer.

“The humbling commitment and support of Sonoma Raceway and the Annual John’s March fundraiser is not something we take for granted. There are people everywhere whose dedication has contributed to life-changing programs for stomach cancer patients around the world,” said Jon Florin, Executive Director of No Stomach for Cancer. “There are no words to describe the gratitude we have for the fans and staff of Sonoma Raceway for continuing this tradition during the most challenging time in our recent history. Thank you to everyone who supported our cause and honored John Cardinale’s legacy at a time of great uncertainty.”

Participants and donors raised awareness and increased their impact by registering and creating a team page at www.crowdrise.com/johns-march and posted pictures of themselves completing their virtual John’s March, as well as images of loved ones affected by gastric cancer, on the John’s March Facebook event page at https://fb.me/e/1SElETj0N.

No Stomach For Cancer is a non-profit organization that works to increase awareness and education about stomach cancer, provide a support network for affected families, and support research efforts for screening, early detection, treatment, and prevention. Stomach cancer is the fifth most common cancer type worldwide, with more than 1.03 million new cases each year, and the second leading cause of cancer deaths.

Donations can still be made in honor of John’s March at www.crowdrise.com/johns-march. For more information about John’s March, contact Jen Imbimbo at jennifer@SonomaRaceway.com

Bank of America Student Leaders

Since 2004, Student Leaders has been part of our ongoing commitment to youth employment and economic mobility. Preparing a diverse pipeline of community-minded young students with the leadership training they need to be successful in the workforce is vital to our approach to driving responsible growth and helps to build thriving communities. Through our Student Leaders program we connect more than 300 community-minded high school juniors and seniors from nearly 100 communities to employment, skills development and service. They’re awarded paid summer internships with local nonprofits such as Boys and Girls Clubs of America and Habitat for Humanity and participate in a national leadership summit in Washington, D.C. The Student Leaders Summit focuses on skill building and creating a more civically engaged society. Note: in-person events will be in line with local and national guidelines around gatherings and travel and may be subject to change.

If you or someone you know have a passion for improving the community, click here to see where the Student Leaders program operates and learn more about our eligibility criteria. Click here for FAQs on our Student Leaders program. The application period for the 2021 Student Leader program is November 2 – January 29, 2021. Apply Now

https://about.bankofamerica.com/en-us/what-guides-us/student-leaders.html?bcen=8a6b#fbid=YEZ03RC6Ig3

Hanson Bridgett Names First Woman to Lead the Bay Area Law Firm

San Francisco law firm Hanson Bridgett LLP said Tuesday that Kristina Lawson became managing partner, effective at the start of this year.

Lawson, who was managing partner-elect throughout 2020, is the first woman to lead the firm. She succeeds Andrew Giacomini, who held the role for almost 20 years. During his tenure, Hanson Bridgett expanded to three new cities, including Los Angeles, and saw the firm grow to more than 180 attorneys.

Giacomini was also ahead of the curve in embracing employees working remotely. In January 2019, Giacomini told me that the firm was giving up an entire floor at 425 Market St. since so many of the firm’s people were working from home. The law firm estimated the move would save more than $13 million. He said cost-cutting wasn’t the key driver, but rather a way to allow employees to work more effectively.

“We’re building a law firm for the future, not the past,” Giacomini said in the 2019 interview. “The ability to work remotely is a competitive advantage in recruiting talent.”

Giacomini continues as a partner in the firm, focusing on his construction litigation practice as well as the firm’s government relations practice.

Hanson Bridgett, founded in 1958, ranked No. 13 on the San Francisco Business Times list of the 75 largest greater Bay Area law firms, published in January 2020, based on the number of attorneys in the region.

Lawson joined Hanson Bridgett in 2017, becoming part of the law firm’s real estate and environment section, which she led. Earlier in her career, Lawson was a member of the Walnut Creek City Council and later mayor of the East Bay city.

“In my work with Andrew last year to help steer the firm through the myriad business and personal challenges caused by Covid-19, as well as to address the industry-wide racial reckoning sparked by the murder of George Floyd, one thing was clear: Hanson Bridgett is a truly unique organization,” Lawson said.

In 2012, Lawson was recognized in the San Francisco Business Times’ 40 Under 40 publication. Her goal by the time she had reached 40: “Make a difference.”

Redwood Credit Union’s 2020 Fire Relief Fund Distributes $424,420, Wraps Up Fund

Redwood Credit Union Community Fund (RCUCF) announced today the 2020 Fire Relief Fund has collected and disbursed $424,420 from 847 donors to support the immediate needs of fire survivors.

Developed in 2013 to support financial wellness and education, RCUCF received 501(c)(3) status in 2015 to expand its mission to also address immediate disaster relief in response to regional wildfires and floods in the communities RCU serves.

Recognizing that fire season has become a recurring event, RCUCF decided to proactively open a dedicated 2020 Fire Relief Fund before disaster struck. From the Fund, one hundred percent of the tax-deductible donations from individuals and businesses were given to fire survivors—in four local counties—who lost their primary residence or experienced significant financial hardship due to evacuation or fire-related income loss⁠. RCU donated the staff time to administer distribution of the funds and worked with these nonprofit partners to support families: North Coast Opportunities and Catholic Charities in Lake County; Center for Volunteer and Nonprofit Leadership and Catholic Charities in Napa County; West Marin Community Services in Marin; and Community Action Partnership, Corazon Healdsburg, and Catholic Charities in Sonoma.

In total, the Fund provided direct assistance to more than 543 households and 81 school children. In keeping with the goal to provide immediate relief, the Fund closed on January 4, 2021, exactly four months after its opening.

“RCUCF stands ready to help when needed, but in a year as challenging as 2020, it’s been critical to have the support of local businesses and nonprofits too,” said Cynthia Negri, President of the Redwood Credit Union Community Fund. “We mobilized quickly to get money to families that desperately needed help.”

In Napa County where the home loss was greatest, RCUCF initiated a separate $75,000 matching challenge grant. Promoted by the Napa Chamber of Commerce, local businesses and residents stepped up to fully meet it, doubling the impact of their donations and raising an additional $150,000 (included in the above $424,420 total).

About Redwood Credit Union Community Fund, Inc.

Redwood Credit Union Community Fund, Inc. (RCUCF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit committed to supporting wellness in its communities. Early in its development, the Fund’s focus was financial literacy, but in 2015, the Fund expanded to help community members after the Lake County fires. Now, in times of disaster, the Fund kicks in to provide housing and food security, community-building efforts to promote resilience, connection, and healing, and mental health and wellness efforts for those impacted by a disaster. To learn more about RCUCF, visit redwoodcu.org/community/community-fund.

About Redwood Credit Union
Founded in 1950, Redwood Credit Union is a full-service financial institution providing personal and business banking to consumers and businesses in the North Bay and San Francisco. RCU offers complete financial services including checking and savings accounts, auto and home loans, credit cards, online and mobile banking, business services, commercial and SBA lending, and more. RCU has more than $6 billion in assets and serves approximately 375,000 members with full-service branches from San Francisco to Ukiah. For more information, call 1 (800) 479-7928, or visit redwoodcu.org.

Sonoma Raceway Names Award-winning NASCAR Executive Jill Gregory Executive Vice President and General Manager

Acclaimed NASCAR executive and sports marketer Jill Gregory has been named the new Executive Vice President and General Manager at Sonoma Raceway. Speedway Motorsports President and Chief Executive Officer Marcus Smith made the announcement Tuesday.

Named by Adweek one of “The Most Powerful Women in Sports” for the past two years, Gregory assumes leadership of the historic 1,600-acre property where she attended her first NASCAR road course race as a teenager.

“Growing up in nearby Modesto, my cousins brought me to NASCAR races at Sonoma when I was in high school,” Gregory said. “I’ve been a true fan of this place for most of my life, and now I’m blessed with a leadership opportunity to return and inspire others to have the same love for the region that I do.”

Gregory will follow Steve Page who announced his retirement last August after nearly three decades at the helm of Sonoma Raceway.

“Jill Gregory has demonstrated innovative leadership in sports marketing for more than 25 years,” stated Smith. “She brings a background of not only professional accomplishment and familiarity with our company, but as a native of northern California, she also brings a passion for the region that makes her an exceptional successor to follow Steve Page’s distinguished career.

“I’m thrilled that Jill is joining us at Speedway Motorsports, and I look forward to seeing all that she and our Sonoma Raceway team will accomplish in the years ahead.”

“Starting with the vision of Speedway Motorsports founder Bruton Smith, I’ve always admired the company’s efforts to grow the sport of NASCAR and embrace innovative, new opportunities,” added Gregory. “I look forward to taking that same aggressive approach to further establish Sonoma Raceway as not only a premier destination for NASCAR and NHRA events, but also elevating the historic road course as a year-round tourism and driving-experience attraction.

“I’m grateful to have worked with such a talented team of people at NASCAR, and I look forward to continuing those professional relationships from a new trackside perspective on the West Coast.”

Gregory is currently the Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing and Content Officer at NASCAR and the managing executive of the company’s Charlotte-based operations. She leads the marketing, media, communications, broadcasting and diversity and inclusion functions for NASCAR, and is responsible for the sanctioning body’s digital platform, including NASCAR.com, the NASCAR Mobile app and fantasy games. Gregory will continue in her current role through January pending transition plans and begin her new position at Sonoma Raceway Feb. 1.

“Jill’s strategic leadership has successfully guided our sport through incredibly complex challenges, all while reinventing how we engage our fans and grow this sport,” said Steve Phelps, President of NASCAR. “The impact of her legacy driving smart change management and continuous improvement will be felt for years in our operation and we look forward to partnering with Jill in her new role.”

During her tenure at NASCAR, Gregory revamped NASCAR’s marketing, content and fan development strategies to elevate strategic planning and enhance collaboration across the industry. She also launched an effort to refresh and modernize the NASCAR brand, significantly elevated the sport’s diversity and inclusion platform, and was a key leader in NASCAR’s drive to become the first major league sport to return to live competition during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prior to joining NASCAR, Gregory was the Senior Vice President of Motorsports Marketing for Bank of America, and previously served as Director of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series marketing program for Sprint Nextel. In 2011, Gregory was selected for the inaugural class of “Game Changers: Women in Sports Business” by Sports Business Journal and Sports Business Daily.

Gregory earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, Calif., and is a member of the Board of Directors for The NASCAR Foundation.

Dominican University of California Selected As School of National Service

Dominican University of California has been named a School of National Service by AmeriCorps in recognition of the University’s commitment to public service as a way to help pay for college.

AmeriCorps launched Schools of National Service on December 15. This new initiative is designed to help more AmeriCorps alumni achieve their higher education goals. By participating in the program, colleges and universities can gain access to the more than 1.2 million AmeriCorps alumni who have earned Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards.

Dominican’s Civic Action Fellowship offers incoming first-year students substantial scholarship support and an Eli Segal Federal Education Award in return for service in the community.

“AmeriCorps has a long history of partnership with higher education and this new initiative will continue that legacy by highlighting schools that are committed to the public good,” said Barbara Stewart, CEO of AmeriCorps, when making the announcement.

In 2020, Dominican partnered with California Volunteers and AmeriCorps to launch the Civic Action Fellowship, which integrates service and academic work with a focus on career preparation and community engagement. Dominican led eight California universities in developing this first-of-its-kind program, which is modeled after the Reimagining Citizenship initiative that began in 2018 as a partnership between Dominican and the City of Novato while California Volunteers CEO Josh Fryday was serving as the city’s mayor.

Meet Some of Dominican’s Civic Action Fellows:

Isa Ferris ’24, a first-year student from San Anselmo, came to Dominican to major in International Studies and run on the Penguins’ cross country team, but the biggest attraction was becoming a Civic Action Fellow with an opportunity to make a difference in the community. “I was drawn to Dominican because of the strong Service-Learning program and community outreach focus,” Isa says. “I felt like only at Dominican could I continue a high level of community involvement while also being a full-time student.” This fall Isa worked with Canal Alliance, tutoring ESL students.
Noah Pascual ‘24, a first-year student from San Francisco majoring in Political Science, is adjusting to his role at SPAHR LBGTQ Youth Group, his Civic Action Fellow’s assignment. He is honored to participate. “I was inspired to be a Civic Action Fellow because I felt that helping others in the local community would be really beneficial for me. Learning to foster change in an environment that’s new to me is exciting,” Noah says.
Oswaldo Calderon ‘24, a first-year student from Chula Vista majoring in Business, is a Penguins’ soccer player whose Civic Action Fellows’ partner site is at Canal Alliance in workforce development. He is inspired assisting and guiding hard-working people in the process of acquiring their construction license. He was also inspired by AmeriCorps’ motto and goals. “I wanted to be a part of a program that truly worked to make a change in the community,” he says “Being a part of this organization is truly honorable and a big responsibility. I plan to use this achievement to grow as a person and help as many people as I can. I hope to use my skills that I’ve learned and the experience to be able to make a change in our community in the future.”
Alyssa De Casas ‘21, a Biological Sciences major from Windsor, wants to give back to her hometown for the way the community has supported her and her success. Her fellowship role is in the Canal Alliance’s University Prep where she is supporting fourth through sixth graders with their distance learning and homework, specifically in STEM classes. “I am becoming a part of something amazing and I am taking on great responsibility to help communities,” Alyssa says. “I plan on finding a way to incorporate everything I’ve learned from the Civic Action Fellowship into my career. I plan to continue trying to find new ways to help and better my community.”

Civic Action Fellows are eligible to receive a substantial scholarship per academic year for incoming first-year students and the Eli Segal Federal Education Award after the completion of their service term. Students also receive 10 units of academic credit for the internship that is embedded into their service and six units of coursework designed to increase civic knowledge and effective practices in community engagement.

https://www.dominican.edu/news/news-listing/dominican-selected-school-national-service

Redwood Credit Union Honored in the 2020 GonzoBanker Awards

GonzoBankers of the Year

Brett Martinez, Redwood Credit Union, Santa Rosa, Calif. Let us break it down for you. In the past decade, Mr. Martinez and his Gonzo team have quadrupled the credit union from $1.7 billion to $6+ billion while increasing net worth from 7% to 11.5% and knocking out a 1.25% ROA in a margin-compressed COVID year. But here’s the real kicker – Redwood simply bleeds its member focus and commitment to community. Once again in a year of pandemic, wildfires and social unrest, the Redwood team has been both a financial and hands-on leader of relief and commitment. Bravo Brett and team!

To see the entire article and winners click this Link

PG&E Employee Resource Group and Engineering Network Group Scholarships

Each of the ERG and ENG scholarships below are supported in part by PG&E and through fundraising and contributions made by members of these employee groups and fellow employees. These groups not only help bring our employees together, but also provide an essential bridge of communication to our diverse customers. Each group awards scholarships to students who have shown commitment to specific communities or causes.

Eligibility guidelines

Applicants for ALL of the scholarships listed below must:

Be a high school senior or graduate, have received GED certification or be an undergraduate or postsecondary undergraduate student. Veterans and adults returning to school are encouraged to apply.
Have a primary residence that is a PG&E customer in California at the time of application.
Plan to enroll full-time in an accredited college or university in the Fall.
ERG or ENG scholarships do not have gender or race requirements. Thus, students are encouraged to apply to more than one or all eligible scholarships.

For more and specific information on this please visit the website below:

https://www.pge.com/en_US/residential/in-your-community/education-programs/grants-and-scholarships/scholarship-opportunities/scholarship-opportunities.page?WT.mc_id=Vanity_scholarships

Congratulations to the NBLC Members Recognized by North Bay Business Journal’s Nonprofit Leadership Awards

Helping to make the area a better place to live in a variety of ways, here are the individuals and organizations which received this year’s Journal Nonprofit Leadership Awards.