1. Friday, APRIL 4, 2014 ISSUE # 324791 | $1.25 PER COPY USPS 145-100
www.tbjnow.comDAILY NEWS UPDATES!
This Week Online 6
Gitomer 7
Calendar 7
Leads 12, 14
People on the Move 13
Public Notices 16-25
Opinion 26
Don Pickett and
Associates tops the list
of Solar Companies
THE List | 10
UPDATED DAILY
www.thebusinessjournal.com
Corey Burleson,
Owner,
The Big Local.com
AGRICULTURE
Drought touches
delicate dairy industry
APRIl 4, 2014
THE PROFILE | 9
THE FOCUS | 8
Growing big, growing small in Fresno
Walmart supercenter,
neighborhood market
in works for area
W
almart believes a
107,000 square-
foot former
Mervyn’s location is a good
fit for a Fresno supercenter
as it kicks off a multimil-
lion-dollar project to re-
furbish the interior of the
store located at Ashlan and
Blackstone avenues for a
summer opening.
The retail giant, now
building smaller neighbor-
hood stores as well, also
likes the 41,000 square-foot
size of the former Cedar
Lanes bowling alley that it
is refurbishing at the inter-
section of Shields and Cedar
avenues in Fresno.
Walmart expects good
support for a supercenter
and the smaller neigh-
borhood Walmart mar-
ket scheduled to open in
Chuck Harvey – Staff Writer
2015. One of the reasons it is
downsizing some stores is the
growth in e-commerce sales.
Shoppers can order items on-
line and pick them up at their
nearest Walmart store.
Still, Walmart plans to con-
tinue building supercenters
that range from 100,000 square
feet to 180,000 square feet.
The bigger stores will be
built in locations where vehicle
and shopper numbers are high.
One concern with the Ashlan
and Blackstone location is an
adequate number of parking
spaces.
Walmart shares the park-
ing lot with other tenants in
the shopping center. However,
Steve Rontell, broker with Col-
liers International in Fresno,
said the other tenants, includ-
ing a furniture store and Petco
store, are not heavy users of the
CHUCK HARVEY | Walmart expects to complete the refurbishing of a former Mervyn’s location in Central Fresno by the summer. The
107,000 square-foot building has been empty for five years.
CONTRIBUTED | Fresno Art Museum officials attended the San Mateo maker faire to
gain inspiration for a similar event in Fresno April 12.
SoCal firm, agave crop Tulare County-bound
Hobbyists, builders and
tinkerers will have a place to
showcase their creations dur-
ing Fresno’s first mini maker
faire April 12.
The daylong event, hosted
by the Fresno Art Museum,
will replicate maker faires that
have been a huge success for
the last decade in cities like
San Francisco, San Mateo and
New York City.
Launched in 2005 under the
direction of Make Magazine,
the annual gatherings give
thousands of curious atten-
dants a chance to engage with
local crafts people as they
demonstrate everything from
robotics, rockets and circuit
boards to model planes, metal
sculptures and just plain weird
inventions.
For Fresno’s inaugural mini
maker faire, made possible by
a grant from the James Irvine
Foundation, around 100 exhib-
itors have signed up so far to
give their gadgets a go at Radio
City Park outside the Fresno
Art Museum.
“We’ve predicted we would
have about 50 makers and
we’ve doubled that,” said Fres-
First mini maker faire coming to Fresno
Walmart | 3
Maker Faire | 5
Firm | 4
Forest Wood Fiber Products, based
in Lake Elsinore in western Riverside
County, is in escrow to buy property in
southern Tulare County east of Delano
with plans to relocate operations there
in the next 45 days.
That’s the word from owner Mark
Carlston, who adds he is buying near-
ly 40 acres adjacent to the 5-acre site
in Richgrove to cultivate blue agave
plants for a second business line — te-
quila. The family forest products busi-
ness has been operating since 1905.
The wood fiber company grinds
waste wood, some from nearby Sierra
Forest Products of Terra Bella, into
nursery products including organ-
ic soil amendments and landscaping
material.
“Many of our customers are from
Northern California and our trucks
were having to go back and forth be-
tween there and our Southern Califor-
nia markets,” Carlston said.
“Now we are half way to both plac-
es.”
Finding enough logging material in
Southern California is becoming in-
creasingly difficult, he added.
John Lindt – contributing writer
Ben Keller – Staff Writer
2.
3. FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2014 www.thebusinessjournal.com 3
lot.
Also, an El Pollo Loco restaurant at
Ashlan and Blackstone avenues has
its own parking area, Rontell said.
In addition, the new Walmart will
have parking in the rear of the store
for employees, said Rontell, who rep-
resented the landlord in the lease
transaction.
“We believe there is sufficient
parking to serve our customers,”
said Delia Garcia, director of com-
munications for Walmart.
The supercenter will employ ap-
proximately 250 workers on a full
and part time basis. Average hourly
pay is $13.08.
Garcia said hourly employees
would have the opportunity to work
toward higher-paying management
positions.
A hiring center will open near the
Ashlan and Blackstone avenues loca-
tion in early summer, Walmart re-
ported.
Rontell said the deal with Walmart
has been in the works for years. He
said Walmart officials wanted to
make sure the new store was not
too close to other Walmart stores.
Also, it had to pencil out in terms
of attracting shoppers and potential
sales.
Smaller stores inquired about the
space, but it was hoped the store
would not have to be split up.
“So Walmart was a good fit,” Ron-
tell said.
The Ochinero family of Fresno
leased the Ashlan and Blackstone
avenues property to Walmart.
City officials were also pleased
that Walmart decided to lease the
space.
“I’m so happy that Walmart picked
Central Fresno,” said Clinton Olivier,
city councilman for the 7th
district.
“I only see benefits.”
Olivier said he is also glad Walmart
is building a neighborhood store at
Shields and Cedar avenues.
Olivier added that in campaigning
for reelection, he has not found any
opposition to the stores. “I knock on
doors and not one person has told
me I am disappointed that Walmart
is coming.”
However, he pointed out that
Walmart did not face public com-
ment at a public hearing. Because
Walmart is moving into an existing
retail building, neither a hearing nor
a permit from the city council or
planning commission is required for
the refurbishing projects.
Still, the work is seen as a big
improvement, considering the
Mervyn’s store has been vacant for
more than five years.
“We welcome this private invest-
ment along the city’s major north-
south commercial corridor,” said
Ashley Swearengin, mayor of Fres-
no, in a release. “Projects like these,
coupled with the city’s vision for
improving Blackstone Avenue with
public infrastructure will help give
new life to this critical commercial
corridor.”
Some sprucing up at the location
is also expected to discourage pros-
titution, gangs, crime and graffiti —
all cited as problems in the area.
Most of the work and expense in
upgrading the Mervyn’s building
has been in installing cold cases for
perishable groceries, Garcia said.
She said the exterior of the build-
ing would remain mostly the same,
but would include new signage and
decoration.
Reeve-Knight Construction of
Roseville is doing the refurbishing
work.
Along with food, the supercenter
will carry value-priced general mer-
chandise including apparel, elec-
tronics, toys and sporting goods.
Food offerings include organic selec-
tions, fresh dairy and meat depart-
ments and fruits and vegetables.
The store also features a pharma-
cy.
“It will be one-stop shopping,”
Garcia said.
The Walmart Neighborhood Mar-
ket at Shields and Cedar avenues will
offer a full supermarket line of gro-
ceries along with some household
products, pet supplies and pharmacy
services.
Fresno’s first neighborhood mar-
ket opened near Herndon and Wil-
low avenues in May 2013, followed
by a Clovis location near Clovis and
Shaw avenues in September 2013.
Visalia received the Valley’s first
neighborhood market in March 2013.
Each store typically employs about
65 people.
Garcia added that supercenters
also have a positive impact on the
community. They help to revitalize
the area and bring back local shop-
pers, Garcia said.
Also, businesses tend to invest
in new stores once a strong anchor
store is in place, she said.
Chuck Harvey | Reporter can be reached at:
490-3466 or e-mail chuck@thebusinessjournal.com
Walmart Expansion
in the Central Valley
From large to small-format stores, Walmart has been on
an aggressive growth path in the last year.
Walmart | from 1
Projected opening, new
Fresno neighborhood market
(3131 N. Cedar Ave.)
Fresno’s first neighborhood
market opens
(6855 N. Willow Ave.)
Visalia neighborhood
market opens
(1320 N. Demaree St.)
Clovis neighborhood
market opens
(1830 Shaw Ave.)
Projected opening,
Fresno supercenter
(4150 N. Blackstone Ave.)
Kerman supercenter opens
(4061 W. Whitesbridge Ave.)
Clovis supercenter opens
(323 W. Shaw Ave.)
Source: Business
Journal reporting
4. 4 www.thebusinessjournal.com FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2014
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The manufacturing operation in
Richgrove is a former almond pro-
cessing plant on Avenue 24 that has
not been used recently. Carlston
said he is selling his Lake Elsinore
building and will invest money back
into his new Richgrove facility to
add power and a septic system.
“Tulare County and especially
Mike Washam (new economic de-
velopment manager) have been
great to work with. We expect to
get all permits in place in 45 days.
In Southern California that took 3
years.”
Carlston said he will be hiring
about 25 employees at the plant in
addition to 10 others, mostly drivers
who deliver product.
Regarding the agave plantation,
Carlston said he also owns a te-
quila company, Los Angeles-based
Crotalo Tequila, but that some of
the agave will be harvested to make
agave nectar, a source of sugar ben-
eficial for diabetics. The outer fiber
is used to make rope and the waste
material is a good cattle feed.
Facebook | Mark Carlston, owner of Lake Elsinore’s Forest Wood Fiber Products, plans to relocate
the company to Tulare County. He also owns a tequila company.
Hanford City Manager Darrel
Pyle said the Hanford City Coun-
cil is expected to put a new tax
sharing agreement on the ballot
this November.
The measure would authorize a
sales-tax incentive agreement that
would return up to $2 million in
sales-tax revenue to the developer
of the new Costco center over 10
years. The idea is to stimulate de-
velopment on the east side of town
anchored by the new 59-acre Cost-
co shopping center.
The developer, John Kashian,
needs to install expensive new in-
frastructure to make that happen.
Supporters say the city will more
than get their investment back.
Hanford seeks independence
Hanford City Manager Dar-
rell Pyle said the city has a goal
to become “energy independent,”
installing up to 2.3 megawatts of
solar power under a proposal by
Chevron Energy Solutions.
Pyle suggested the project
should move forward with “per-
mits likely by the end of June.” In
late 2012 Chevron completed a so-
lar installation expected to reduce
energy costs at the city’s wastewa-
ter treatment plant and save more
than $7 million over the program’s
life.
The installation uses a 1 mega-
watt, ground-mounted, single-axis
solar tracking system that auto-
matically positions solar panels to-
wards the sun. Now the city looks
to make an even larger deal with
Phase 11 including the wastewater
treatment plant.
The contract calls for some $14
million in savings to the city over
25 years.
Tulare cities want streets lights
Visalia, Tulare and Porterville
are negotiating with Southern Cal-
ifornia Edison to buy street lights
in their communities. Visalia has
6,200 street lights in the city and
pays Edison up to $850,000 annu-
ally to use them.
Buying the system and main-
taining it internally would save
enough money, the city expects,
to convert them to energy savings
LED light. The other cities are on a
similar track but behind Visalia on
their timeline.
Visalia believes the price tag to
buy the system will be $4 to 5 mil-
lion.
Visalia permits strong
Visalia building permits were up
in February for the second month
in a row over totals for the same
month last year. The city permit-
ted 26 single family homes in Feb-
ruary compared to 23 in Feb 2013.
Commercial improvement permits
jumped to 121 versus 79. Total per-
mits numbered 288 versus 226 and
valuation increased to $11.2 million
compared to $10.3 million in Feb
2013. For the year so far, new home
permits are up 18 percent.
AROUND THE SOUTH VALLEY
Hanford to vote on tax sharing
for Costco development
Firm | from 1
South Valley | 5
John Lindt – contributing writer
5. FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2014 www.thebusinessjournal.com 5
Thursday, April 17
5 pm to 7:30 pm
The New Exhibit Hall | 848 M Street
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no Art Museum Executive Director
Linda Cano. “We’re expecting about
1,000 (attendees) and I think we’re
on track for that.”
Cano mentioned that one area of
the park will be set aside for “Ste-
ampunk” enthusiasts working with
gears or steam-powered inventions
that call upon the science fiction sub-
genre’s Victorian era and American
Wild West roots.
Local designer Benjamin Short
will rove the grounds with his con-
fetti cannon blasting from the back
of a mini-car that looks like some-
thing out of Willy Wonka and the
Chocolate Factory. Seven-year-old
Fin Walling allows attendees to
control his street-sweeping robot
dubbed Pascal that can be controlled
remotely by iPhone.
Meanwhile, booths lining Radio
Park will feature a myriad of hand-
built, homemade products. One
exhibitor will display his electric
quads, bicycles and other vehicles
while another will let attendees play
some made-from-scratch flutes and
saxophones.
And the list goes on, from Lego ro-
bots, 3D printers, costumes and life-
like prosthetic devices to duct tape
and garden art, wood-carved bowls
and kitchen utensils and do-it-your-
self snow globe construction kits.
One class of students from Duncan
Polytechnical High School in Fresno
will have their own section devoted
to the acclaimed work students have
done in robotics as finalists in the
FIRST Robotics Competition Cen-
tral Valley Regional in Madera last
year.
“The goal of this stuff is not that
the makers want to sell things like
Pascal the robot,” said Nate Gilbert,
co-chair of the Fresno Art Museum’s
membership committee coordinat-
ing the event. “They want to enable
people to make their own Pascal ro-
bot, like ‘if you’re interested in this,
this is exactly how I did it so make
your own by all means.’ It’s called
the do-it-yourself, do-it-with-others
movement.”
The science and technology exhib-
its will be matched by a strong arts
components as well, Gilbert said.
Inside the museum, one room has
been set aside for an artist creating
an enchanted forest scenery using
recycled materials.
The gift shop will be blacked out
as a performer decked in a neon light
suit flails with dazzling colors while
the short films of the Galactic Ad-
ventures of John Neptune will play
in the auditorium in homage to old
sci-fi films and serials from the 30s,
40s and 50s like Flash Gordon and
Buck Rogers.
Outside, another group of per-
formers known as The Fireflies will
be putting on their own show with
flames and pyrotechnics as one of
the walls lining Radio Park will
serve as a mural that artists and the
public alike can slather with their
imaginations.
Since hearing about Make Maga-
zines many maker faires from the
Science, Art and Music (SAM) Acad-
emy in Sanger, Cano knew it was
something she wanted to take on be-
fore she stepped down as executive
director this year. But it was by no
means a solo effort.
“Some of our staff went to a big
one in San Mateo and when we saw
it we said ‘this is crazy fun, we have
to do this if we possibly can,’” she
said. “But it’s way bigger than just the
museum so we got some community
partners on board. So it’s not the mu-
seum’s program.”
The Fresno Grizzlies is helping to
plan the event and bring young audi-
ences, along with Fresno County li-
braries and Fresno Ideaworks, which
put on a similar but smaller event
last year at Chukchansi Park.
A handful of sponsors also stepped
up with financial support, includ-
ing companies like Baker, Peterson
& Franklin, Lyles Diversified, Inc.,
Donaghy Sales, Speck Media and
CCIS Insurance Group.
Additional exposure has come
from the City of Fresno as Mayor
Ashley Swearengin earlier this year
declared April to be Maker Month in
the city.
And while nowhere near the
200,000 or so that visit San Mateo’s
maker faire each year, Cano said
she’s hoping for even larger crowds
next year as the James Irvine grant
provides the funding for two mini
maker faires taking the place of the
museum’s Trashique fashion show.
“The purpose of the grant was so
the museum could find new ways
to engage audiences and to bring in
folks that don’t normally come here,”
Cano said.
Ben Keller | Reporter can be reached at:
490-3465 or e-mail ben@thebusinessjournal.com
Maker Faire | from 1
South Valley | from 4
Fitch downgrades
hospital bonds
New York-based Fitch Ratings has
recently downgraded to ‘B’ from
‘B+’ the rating on $15,230,000 series
2007 fixed rate bonds issued by the
Tulare Local Health Care District
d/b/a Tulare Regional Medical
Center (TRMC).
The bonds have been placed on
Rating Watch Negative. The rat-
ings firm said “TRMC’s liquidity
position is very weak” adding that
unrestricted cash and investments
were $6.3 million at Dec. 31, 2013
compared to $10.5 million at Dec. 31,
2012 and $24.4 million at FYE 2010.
Looking at TRMC’S delayed tow-
er construction project, Fitch point-
ed to new efforts by the hospital’s
recently hired management firm.
“TRMC is leveraging HCCA’s ex-
pertise to renegotiate contracts and
develop a recovery schedule.” Fitch
sounded a hopeful note on TRMC’s
declining patient revenues. “HCCA
is projecting TRMC to break even
by the end of calendar year 2014,
which Fitch believes is relatively at-
tainable.”
Also recently the District’s Bond
Oversight Committee, after hear-
ing a discouraging report on lack
of progress on construction of the
tower in January, heard that the dis-
trict had just $6.31 million left in its
budget for a project that will need
$18.5 million to complete. The advi-
sory group said they had lost confi-
dence in the way the tower project
was moving and will report that to
the District board later this month.
6. 6 www.thebusinessjournal.com FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2014
EDUCATION
Library kiosk debuts
in Clovis mall
Taking a cue from the proliferation
of Red Box and other rental kiosks,
the Fresno County Public Library
has unveiled a new touchscreen 400-
book library kiosk at Sierra Vista
Mall in Clovis.
April 1 was the first day the kiosk
was available to Sierra Vista Mall
shoppers, said Jonathan Waltmire,
library spokesperson. It will be open
during regular mall hours.
The kiosk is located inside the
mall next to the Kohl’s entrance. All
that is required to use the system is
a Fresno County Public Library card.
Waltmire said this is the first in-
door automated library kiosk to be
located inside a US shopping mall.
The 24-hour library system, which
can hold 300-400 books, books on
CD, DVDs and other digital media
materials, is made by a company
called EnvisionWare. Fresno’s is
one of the first systems in use in the
country, according to the School Li-
brary Journal, which states the sys-
tems cost about $200,000 each.
The kiosk allows patrons to search
the Fresno County Public Library
catalogue, place holds on items and
return items. Waltmire said to start
the kiosk has only books, but other
digital media will be available in
coming weeks. Library staff will
man the kiosk for a while to help pa-
trons learn the system, but eventu-
ally it will be a standalone kiosk that
will be serviced with new materials
twice a week, Waltmire said.
A grand opening is planned for
next month.
ENERGY
Energy group scraps nuclear
A group of local investors that
intended to build a nuclear power
plant capable of producing 1,600
megawatts for the region has now
changed its focus to treating agricul-
tural run-off water with new tech-
nology.
Formerly the Fresno Nuclear En-
ergy Group, the reorganized Fresno
New Energy Group has set its sights
on a hydrogen-based energy process
that will provide energy to remove
contaminants from some 100,000
acre-feet of brackish groundwater at
the start.
Partnering with Hydrogen Tech-
nologies, Inc. of Stockton, the group
will use the company’s hydrogen
boiler technology to burn hydrogen
and oxygen in a vacuum chamber in
order to create heat and steam.
Energy produced from the process
is planned to power a water desalina-
tion plant without producing green-
house gases and the only bi-product
being water.
Depending on where it’s sited, the
electricity generated is also expect-
ed to supply the state’s energy grid
through local transmission facilities.
The directors for the Fresno New
Energy Group include the firm’s
President and Chief Executive Of-
ficer John Hutson, B.B. Blevins,
Jim Boone, Richard Caglia, Tom
McClean, Al Smith and Robert
Smittcamp.
First forming in 2006, the band of
investors had originally partnered
with French energy company ARE-
VA several years ago to build dual
nuclear energy reactors that would
produce up to 20 million megawatt-
hours of energy annually.
The project, at an estimated price
tag of $5 billion per reactor, was ex-
pected to be the cornerstone of a
planned clean energy park complete
with wind turbines and solar panels.
Hutson figured the new endeavor
would cost no more than $100 mil-
lion and take less than five years to
build.
HEALTH CARE
Saroyan joins
Children’s Hospital
Rob Saroyan has joined Children’s
Hospital Central California as vice
president of philanthropy and chief
development officer.
In his new role, he leads the Chil-
dren’s Hospital Foundation and the
Guilds of Children’s Hospital.
Saroyan came to Children’s from
Community Medical Centers, where
he served as vice president and chief
development officer for its founda-
This Week Online
DEVELOPMENT
tion for 13 years. Prior to that, he was
senior development director at the
California State University, Fresno
Foundation.
Saroyan’s previous positions in-
clude working in Sacramento as an
independent legislative and public
affairs advocate; advisor to the chair
for the California Integrated Waste
Management Board and assistant to
California Gov. George Deukmejian,
first as a writer and later in public af-
fairs as a member of the governor’s
Advance Team.
Chubb leaves CRMC
After nine years, Jack Chubb has
left his position as CEO of Com-
munity Regional Medical Center in
Fresno on April 1.
In a memo to staff, Patrick Raffer-
ty, chief operating officer of Commu-
nity Medical Centers, lauded Chubb
on his performance with the down-
town Fresno hospital, including the
move from University Medical Cen-
ter, transition to electronic health
records and a number of expansion
projects.
“More recently, CRMC smoothly
earned reaccreditation from the
Joint Commission, and cardiac sur-
gery earned the highest possible
rating from the Society of Thoracic
Surgeons—while the facility also
has accommodated unprecedented
patient volumes,” Rafferty wrote.
No explanation was given for
Chubb’s sudden departure.
Craig Wagoner will serve as inter-
im CEO for CRMC on top of his ex-
isting duties as COO of the hospital.
RETAIL
Maurices opens Fresno store
Maurices, a fast-growing women’s
clothing store, has opened a Fresno
store in Marketplace at El Paseo,
6599 N. Riverside Drive in Fresno.
It is the 900th store built for the
chain and the 13th in California.
Maurices also has stores in Visalia,
Hanford and Clovis.
The Fresno store has 10 employees,
two full-time and eight part-time.
It is a milestone for the women’s
fashion clothing provider that start-
ed with a small retail store in down-
town Duluth, Minn.
Maurices will open 60 new stores
and will operate more than 925
stores in 46 states and Canada by the
end of its fiscal year in July. In addi-
tion to new store openings, Maurices
is remodeling or expanding 80 stores
this year with an inspiring new look
to keep the fast growing chain fresh.
The company’s long-term goal is to
reach more than 1,200 stores domes-
tically and 100 stores in Canada.
TRANSPORTATION
Lyft seeks Fresno drivers
Ridesharing service Lyft is seek-
ing drivers for its launch in Fresno,
following in the footsteps of Uber
that started up in the city just a few
months ago.
Known for its cars with the pink
mustache, Lyft launched out of San
Francisco-based startup Zimride in
2012, connecting drivers to people
in need of transportation when they
request a ride through their mobile
phones.
FILEPHOTO | Fresno is in middle ground when it comes to sprawl in the US, according
to a new report.
Fresno’s not the greatest example
of how to keep sprawl contained,
but it’s not the worst either, a new
report showed.
The report, Measuring Sprawl
2014, was released by Washington
D.C.-based Smart Growth America,
an organization that advocates for
policies and research that lead to
safer, more vibrant communities.
In the report, 221 larger metro-
politan areas and 994 counties in
the U.S. were measured on how
connected residents and businesses
were to their urban cores or else
spread out in suburban areas where
jobs and services are harder to
reach.
The Fresno metropolitan area
came in at No. 9 with an overall
composite score of 92.24. Scores
higher than 100 tend to be more
compact and connected while areas
with scores lower than 100 are con-
sidered more sprawling.
Bringing down Fresno’s score
was a lack of nearby activities. With
a score of 95.56 in that category, the
Fresno area also scored 101.58 in
terms of density, 126.18 for land use
mix—measured by the balance of
jobs to total population—and 82.42
for street accessibility like the av-
erage length of a street blocks and
percentage of four-way or more in-
tersections.
That’s a far cry from the top
ranked New York City metro with
a total composite score of 203.36,
including 384.29 for density, 159.34
for land use mix, 213.49 for activity
centering and 193.8 for street con-
nectivity.
However, the Fresno area was
still pretty high up from the bot-
tom of the list, reserved for Hicko-
ry-Lenoir-Morganton, N.C., which
achieved a composite score of just
24.86, including 78.64 for density,
40.46 for land use mix, 67 for ac-
tivity centering and 56.95 for street
connectivity.
Among counties, Fresno County
received a composite score of 109.31.
Kings County managed a score of
105.04, followed by Tulare County
with 104.49 and Madera County
with 94.12.
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The Business Journal, Inc. 1315 Van Ness Avenue Suite
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Fresno average
for sprawl
7. FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2014 www.thebusinessjournal.com 7
When you’re giving your sales
presentation, do you really know
what the customer is thinking or
what they’re asking themselves as
you’re presenting?
I doubt it. You’re
too busy trying to
sell.
Shake the hand.
Smile the smile.
Show the slides.
Talk the talk. Do
the demo. Ask
the superficial
questions. Try
the close. Try to
overcome, “the
price is too high.”
Propose the proposal. Do the sales
dance.
Meanwhile the customer is
thinking. He or she is asking
themself questions about the
validity of your product and your
offer. They’re thinking about how
your stuff might fit into their
company. And while you're talking
they may be Googling.
While you are trying to prove a
point, they are trying to verify your
information. And in these times,
they can do it in a nanosecond. And
you can’t stop them.
While you’re talking, they may
be wondering if you have a Twitter
account. So they do a quick search
and find out that you do not. What's
that about? How validating is that?
If they ask you about it, you’ll just
brush it off. Suppose the customer
is exceptionally Twitter active? How
does that make you look?
That’s a small tip-of-the-iceberg
example of the thoughts that
differentiate your sales presentation
from the customer’s decision to buy.
But let me take it deeper.
All customers, not just the
decision maker, have a buying
process. It’s a strategy and a process
by which they make a purchase.
And that purchase is based around
the trust, safety, and comfort
your customer feels when buying
something from you.
In order to gain that trust, and
that feeling of safety, they asked
themselves a bunch of questions
without ever saying a word. You
answer those questions by the
words you speak. Your job as a
master salesperson is to answer
those silent questions in a manner
that drives the customer to say, “I’ll
take it!”
The following list of questions
is exactly what goes through the
mind of a prospective customer
during your presentation. The list is
long, and every customer may not
ask themselves every one of these
questions, but since you don’t know
specifically which ones they are
going to ask themselves, you better
be prepared with answers to all of
them.
Here are the questions the
prospective customer is asking:
• What do you offer?
• What do you offer that no one
else has?
• What do you offer of value?
• How does your product compare
to others I have seen?
• Does it really fill my need?
• Can you deliver?
• Is it real-world?
• Will it work?
• Will it work in our environment?
• How will it impact our people?
• How could it impact our success?
• Will senior or executive
management buy in?
• Will my people use it?
• How will we produce as a result
of the purchase?
• How will we profit as a result of
the purchase?
• How will it come together?
• How do we buy it?
• What’s the risk factor in buying?
• Will you and your company keep
its promises?
• Do I trust you and the people I’m
buying from, both as humans and
their ability to deliver service after
purchase?
• Will you be my main contact after
purchase or are you going to relegate
me to “the service department”?
• Do I believe you?
• Do I have confidence in you?
• Are you telling me the truth?
• Do I have the trust and comfort to
buy now?
HOLY COW! All that?
YES! All that and more!
This list of questions is by far
the most comprehensive I have
put together. They address both
confidence in product and confidence
in the salesperson.
The customer is seeking validation
and wants to believe you. They need
what you have and they're going to
buy what you offer. The only question
is: From who? Depending on the
answers to the above questions, they
may not buy from you. OUCH!
Here are a few more thought-
provoking challenges to help you
understand the buying process:
1. The first sale that’s made is the
salesperson. If the prospect doesn’t
buy you, he’s not going to buy your
product or service.
2. How’s your online reputation?
What’s your Google ranking and
reputation? NOT YOUR COMPANY.
YOU!
3. What’s your social media
reputation? Not Tweeting is a choice,
but a poor one. How about LinkedIn?
Do you have a business Facebook
page?
4. Did you offer proof? Did you use
“voice-of-customer” as testimonial
proof to your claims?
4.5 Does the buyer have enough
peace of mind to purchase?
I have just given you a mind full of
sales information, from the mind of
the only person that matters in your
sales conversations: the customer.
Jeffrey Gitomer is the author of
twelve best-selling books including
The Sales Bible, The Little Red Book
of Selling, and 21.5 Unbreakable Laws
of Selling. His books are now available
as online courses at www.GitomerVT.
com. For information about training
and seminars visit www.Gitomer.com
or www.GitomerCertifiedAdvisors.
com, or email Jeffrey personally at
salesman@gitomer.com.
The questions that matter most in
a sales presentation
The
Sales Guru
Jeffrey Gitomer
APRIL 4
• Eggs & Issues with State Sen.
Anthony Cannella, Madera Community
Hospital, Shebelut/Pierini Room, 1250
E. Almond Ave., Madera, 7:30-9 a.m.
State Sen. Anthony Cannella will talk
about upcoming legislative issues
affecting businesses. Sponsored by the
Madera County Economic Development
Commission. $15. Reservations to Lois
Grow at lgrow@maderacountyedc.
com; (559) 675-7768.
• CCHCC Toastmasters Meeting,
Central California Hispanic Chamber
of Commerce, 2331 Fresno St., Fresno,
noon-1 p.m. Promote your business
or career by improving your public
speaking skills. Sponsored by the
Central California Hispanic Chamber of
Commerce. Free. www.cchcc.net; (559)
495-4817.
APRIL 5
• Ag Crime Prevention Seminar,
International Agri-Center, Heritage
Complex, 4500 S. Laspina St., Tulare,
7 a.m.-3 p.m. Presentations on the
various types of agricultural crimes
and how to prevent them. Sponsored
by Western Executive Protection.
Free. Breakfast and lunch provided.
Registration to Rocky Pipkin at rocky@
pipkindetectiveagency.com or (559)
622-8889. www.wep247.com.
APRIL 7
• High Speed Rail: A Systems
Approach, Fresno State University,
University Business Center, 5245 N.
Backer Ave., Fresno, 8:30 a.m.-5:45
p.m. Workshop for practicing engineers,
construction managers, planners and
policy makers and others to learn about
the systems approach towards high
speed rail implementation. Sponsored
by the Lyles College of Engineering
and the Division of Continuing and
Global Education. $295. Registration
to www.fresnostate.edu/engineering/
hsrworkshop.html; (559) 278-2500.
• How to Deliver Exceptional Customer
Service, Radisson Hotel and Conference
Center, 2233 Ventura St., Fresno, 9 a.m.-
4 p.m. Training for sales professionals
on how to increase the return on your
customer service dollars and make
your customers feel important and
appreciated. Sponsored by Fred Pryor
Seminars. $199; $189 in groups of five
or more. Registration to www.pryor.
com; (800) 780-8476.
APRIL 8
• SCORE Simple Steps Workshop:
Startup Basics, Central Valley SCORE,
801 R St., 201 Training Room, Fresno, 9
a.m.-noon. Part 1 of workshop series on
starting up a business. (April 8, 15, 22,
29, May 6, 13). Reservations to www.
centralvalleyscore.org/events; (559)
487-5605.
• Mastering Microsoft Excel (2-day),
Holiday Inn Plaza Park, 9000 W. Airport
Drive, Visalia, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Learn
shortcuts, tips and straight answers
to all your Excel questions Sponsored
by Fred Pryor Seminars. $199; $189 in
groups of five or more. Registration to
www.pryor.com; (800) 780-8476.
• Fresno Women’s Network Luncheon:
Dress for Success, TorNino’s Banquets,
5080 N. Blackstone Ave., Fresno,
11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Networking among
professional women leaders. Brenda
Budke of Sierra HR Partners talks
about what to wear for a professional
appearance. $21; $17 FWN members
and guests. Register at www.
fresnowomennetwork.org or (559)
450-2102.
• Property Management Certification
Series, Part 8, UC Merced Center, 550
E. Shaw Ave., Fresno, 6-9:30 p.m. Series
of nine courses on how to become a
property manager. Part 8 on fair housing
and the law. Series completion earns
your California Certified Residential
Manager designation. Sponsored by the
California Apartment Association. $800
or $90 per course; $610 CAA members
or $55 per course. Registration to
sbabb@caanet.org or (559) 221-2533.
• Fresno Women’s Network Small
Business Owners Forum, Robin
Goldbeck’s Home, 3546 W. Lima Linda
Ave., Fresno, 6-9 p.m. Peer-to-peer
support for women business owners
in a diverse and positive atmosphere.
Reservations to https://www.facebook.
com/events/1407341672865501; (559)
450-2102.
APRIL 9
• Reedley College Virtual Enterprise
Trade Fair, Reedley College, 995 N.
Reed Ave., Reedley, 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Event presents the business ideas of
high school entrepreneurs for a judging
competition. Sponsored by Reedley
College. Free and open to the public.
www.reedleycollege.edu; (559) 638-
3641.
• Property Management Certification
Series, Part 9, UC Merced Center,
550 E. Shaw Ave., Fresno, 6-9:30
p.m. Series of nine courses on how to
become a property manager. Part 9
on ethics in property management.
Series completion earns your California
Certified Residential Manager
designation.SponsoredbytheCalifornia
Apartment Association. $800 or $90
per course; $610 CAA members or $55
per course. Registration to sbabb@
caanet.org or (559) 221-2533.
APRIL 10
• Fresno Job Fair, Radisson Hotel and
Conference Center, 2233 Ventura
Ave., Fresno, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Come
meet with hiring managers from local,
national and Fortune 500 companies.
Sponsored by HireLive. Bring 10
to 15 resumes and dress business
professional. Registration to www.
hirelive.com; (949) 599-1870.
• How to Communicate with Tact and
Professionalism (2-day), Park Inn By
Radisson, 3737 N. Blackstone Ave.,
Fresno, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Learn how to
avoid misleading verbal and visual
cues that interfere with clear, concise
communication. Sponsored by Fred
Pryor Seminars. $299; $279 in groups
of 3 or more. Registration to www.pryor.
com; (800) 780-8476.
APRIL 11
• CCHCC Toastmasters Meeting,
Central California Hispanic Chamber
of Commerce, 2331 Fresno St., Fresno,
noon-1 p.m. Promote your business
or career by improving your public
speaking skills. Sponsored by the
Central California Hispanic Chamber of
Commerce. Free. www.cchcc.net; (559)
495-4817.
CALENDAR
Calendar | 13
8. 10 The List: Solar Companies
AgricultureFOCUS
April 4, 2014
INSIDE
Dairy farmers are
experiencing record prices
driven by global demand for
milk and dairy products.
It’s great news after three
years of low dairy product
prices that drove many
Central Valley dairies out of
business.
Dairy farmers are also
benefiting from a big drop in
corn prices resulting from a
bumper corn crop.
However all the good news
is tempered by the fact that
drought has cut sharply into
California hay and grain
production, leading to low
supplies and high prices.
And cows need hay and
grain.
“California producer
margins are being trimmed
as a result of the drought
and diminished availability
of alfalfa hay,” said Michael
Marsh, CEO of Western
United Dairymen in Modesto.
“Drought has caused some
alfalfa growers to fallow
their fields due to a lack of
available water.”
Pete Degroot, partner with
John Degroot & Son Dairy
in Fresno, said his dairy is
fortunate in that it has wells
to supply irrigation water to
grow feed crops on land the
dairy owns. He added that
without the wells, he would
be paying high prices for
alfalfa hay.
Groundwater levels have
dropped, but for now the
wells continue to keep the
Degroot farm in operation.
For dairies that buy their
hay, alfalfa hay prices have
again jumped to the $300 per
ton range, making it harder to
profit even with higher milk
prices.
Degroot said dairies must
borrow money from banks
to stay operational in years
of low milk profits. In more
profitable years like 2014,
dairies pay back the banks,
he said.
“When you’re
overextended,you’reworking
for nothing,” Degroot said.
Degroot added that this
year’s milk prices have been
strengthened by a strong
export market.
Degroot & Son Dairy
sells milk to the Visalia-
based California Dairies
cooperative. It is then sold
as retail milk or milk for
processing.
Although business has
improved significantly for
Degroot and other dairy
operators who survived hard
times in the industry, the
severe drought will continue
to make it more costly to feed
cows.
Marsh said problems with
price guarantees further
complicate the life of dairy
operators.
He said the price for milk
used for cheese processing
remains disconnected from
market milk prices because
of a California Department of
Food & Agriculture pricing
blunder that occurred in
2008.
It still lacks remedy today,
Marsh said.
He said former CDFA
Secretary A.G. Kawamura
disconnected the basic milk
price from milk earmarked
for cheese processing.
“Kawamura not only exposed
California dairy farmers to
extraordinary additional
basis volatility, but also
undermined the best risk
management tool dairymen
in our state have ever had,
the California pool,” Marsh
wrote in a Western United
Dairymen column.
The pool Marsh referred to
is the Gonsalves Milk Pooling
Act that was signed into
law by former Gov. Ronald
Reagan. It was created in
an effort to end processor
abuses against dairy farmers.
Milk processors are
required to pay dairy farmers
at least a regulated minimum
price in California. Money
generated from milk going
into the fluid market, cottage
cheese, yogurt, ice cream,
butter, cheese and nonfat dry
milk is pooled together.
The farmers are then paid
a blend price from those
pooled revenues.
Marsh said that despite
repeated attempts by
Western United Dairymen to
correct the problem caused
by disconnecting milk for
cheese processing from the
basic market milk price,
the California Department
of Food & Agriculture
has refused to correct the
blunder.
“It’s very hard to get a
bureaucrat to admit an error
and unfortunately California
dairy families continue to
suffer as a result,” Marsh said.
He added that regulated
minimum prices for
dairy products are highly
correlated with announced
prices in federal marketing
orders, with the exception of
milk going to cheese.
Kawamura’s action along
with skyrocketing feed costs
driven by the corn-based
ethanol mandate, forced
hundreds of California
diary families out of their
multi-generational legacy
businesses, Marsh said. “The
shakeout has been horrific,”
Dairy dilemmaBureaucratic blunder keeps local producers down
Chuck Harvey – Staff Writer
Chuck Harvey
Cows at Gasper & Son Dairy
in Hanford may be more
expensive to feed this year with
the drought’s impact on feed
prices. In addition, dairymen are
lobbying the state to correct a
pricing error for milk made into
cheese.
he added.
Meanwhile, the Milk
Producers Council reported
that on March 24, prices for
blocks and barrels of cheddar
cheese reached record highs.
Blocks reached $2.43 per
pound and barrels hit $2.37
per pound.
Prices dropped some since,
but remain at high levels.
Prices for butter and dry
whey have also been on the
rise.
The Chicago Mercantile
Exchange reported that
butter hit $2 a pound on the
wholesale market on March
31. Price for 40-pound blocks
of butter reached $2.38 a
pound the same day.
A barrel of butter sold for
$2.25 a pound.
The latest report on dry
whey was on March 27. On
that day, dry whey sold for 64
cents a pound.
That compares to about 62
cents a pound on February 27.
Whey is the liquid part
of milk that remains after
the manufacture of cheese.
Dry whey is manufactured
by removing a substantial
portion of water from whey.
Whey is used to produce
ricotta, brown cheeses and
other products for human
consumption. It is also an
additive in many processed
foods, including breads,
crackers, and commercial
pastry and in animal feed.
Wholesale price for class 3
milk used to produce cheese
has also been on the rise.
The price was $21.93 per
100-weight in March and is
expected to reach $23.50 per
100-weight in May. In March
of 2013 class 3 milk sold for
$17.76 per 100-weight.
One year before that, the
price was about $14 per
100-weight.
At $14 per 100 weight and
feed costs soaring, many
dairies found it impossible to
remain in operation.
At that time, many
of dairy farmers, along
with the Milk Producers
Council, complained that
the California Department
of Food and Agriculture
failed to allow prices of
milk produced for cheese
manufacturing to rise high
enough to cover costs.
Chuck Harvey | Reporter can be
reached at: 490-3466 or e-mail chuck@
thebusinessjournal.com
9. FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2014 www.thebusinessjournal.com 9The Profile
Owner
The Big Local.com
What we do:
The Big Local was built on the premise that word-of-mouth advertising
is far more effective and affordable, and creates a clientele more than
likely to do repeat business. When a business posts an item on The Big
Local —it could be a normal advertisement, but it is better as a single
or group of items that the vendor is wanting to move quickly — it gets
posted on the Waterfall (our home page), linked to the city area within
our site and can be shared on major social media networks. This last
portion is significant in that items or ads on The Big Local can be text-
based, single images, multiple images and even embedded video or a
combination of everything. Each item gets its own page with no size
limit, although we have found that shorter posts perform better.
What’s more impressive is that The Big Local is not relying on pay-per-
click or cost-per-thousand marketing models. Rather we are asking
vendors to join us for less than $1 a day through an annual subscription-
based plan. And with that, vendors are able to post four items per day.
We currently are in the Fresno market, but are expanding this week into
Bakersfield, Denver and the Quad Cities in Washington and Idaho.
The Big Local started in 2009 and has increased our local network to
over 30,000 people, with that number growing daily.
In addition, vendors who sign up now will be encouraged to participate
in a new app that we are currently developing, allowing patrons the
ability to make electronic payments using their smartphones — without
a processing charge to the merchant. We anticipate launching the app
by the end of July 2014.
The Big Local covers 80 percent of what people search for. Our
categories extend from restaurants, nightlife, tax preparation to retail
and specialty stores. Since we cover most of what people are searching
for, almost any business can advertise with us and that helps increase
our sales.
Education:
Selma High School
Age:
41
What are the advantages of using The Big Local.com over Facebook and
Craigslist?
What makes The Big Local standout from Facebook and Craigslist is that
we have developed a way to connect local businesses to their local markets
without breaking the bank. And while a business might be able to make a post
on Craigslist for free, that ad does not allow for images to be on the main page,
which statistics show is a driving factor in marketing. We make it easier for the
end user to see what the business is showcasing.
Also, Craigslist allows each posting to a single area and category, once per 48
hours. On The Big Local, a business can select which cities they wish for their
items to be placed. Every business’ items get placed as they are created on the
homepage on the Waterfall, with a quick option to narrow down by city directly
to the right of the Waterfall. On The Big Local, visitors can and are encouraged to
share what they have found with their friends. You cannot do this on Craigslist.
How did you get involved in this kind of service?
New emission laws put me out of business when I had a trucking company. Shortly
after, I ventured into opening a restaurant. I tried several forms of advertising,
spending dollar after dollar and didn’t see a return on my investment. This is
when I learned how expensive the cost of advertising was to a small business
owner. Unfortunately, I was not able to keep up with the high cost of advertising
and had to close my doors.
I was left with no business, no job and feeling very discouraged. I saw there was
a vast need for affordable advertising for the small business owner. Much like
me, too many small businesses were closing their doors because of the high cost
of advertising and something needed to be done. The few businesses making
the biggest impact and able to afford the high price of advertising were the big
box stores. I wanted to eliminate some of the risk in advertising for the business
owner, but also create the impact they needed to attract new customers. I saw
social media becoming more and more the new word of mouth, and causing
a tremendous impact on how businesses can utilize these networks for more
exposure. I wanted to level the playing field.
Times have been tough for advertisers and sellers over the seven years. Has
the advertising business been picking up some?
Small businesses are finding it hard to compete against corporate giants when it
comes to advertising and marketing. In fact, when it comes to those expenses,
they tend to be the first cut and the last added back into a company’s budget.
That being said, we have found that most small businesses are very interested
in avoiding a shotgun approach to marketing and want to be able to focus on
targeting individuals who are actually interested and can hear the marketing
message through the noise that bombards them throughout the day. This is
where social marketing is the most effective. If someone takes advantage of a
good deal, they tell people. Today that is happening on Facebook and Twitter.
Tomorrow it will be on something else. The Big Local is a growing local network
that effectively makes the connection — all for less than $1 a day.
What was the best business advice you received? Was there someone who
inspired you?
The best business advice I ever received was from a salesman I admire very
much and has given much insight on my approach with this business. He told
me, “People never appreciate a product or service when it’s free.”
What was your very first job?
I had my first job when I was 16 years old as a meat wrapper in Grumbles Market
in Selma.
What do you do in your spare time?
Spend time with my sons and travel to the coast whenever possible.
10. 10 www.thebusinessjournal.com FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2014
The List
Solar CompaniesIn the Central San Joaquin Valley- ranked by capacity installed in 2013; if tied, by number of installations
2014
2013
Company name
Address
Phone
Fax
Installed
Kilowatts
2013
No. of
installations
Local gross
revenues
No. of local
employees
Types of solar energy systems, services
offered
Founded
Years
installing
solar
Location of
headquarters Top local executive
1
(2)
Don Pickett and Associates,
Inc.
7395 N. Palm Bluffs Ave. #101
Fresno, CA
431-3535
431-5360 3,936 33 WND 14 Agribusiness, commercial, and residential
1988
WND Fresno Mike Pickett, president
2
(3)
Solar Universe
5096 Blythe Ave
Fresno, CA
277-2000
476-8080
2,500 1,150 WND 35 Commercial and residential
2009
5
Fresno
James Vumback, Hogi Selling
IV, Mark Worthington, co-
owners
3
(5)
REC Solar
4933 W. Jennifer #101
Fresno, CA
888-657-6527
251-1126
1,500 200 $6.0 mil. 30 Photovoltaic
2004
17
San Luis Obispo
Mike Gallagher, regional sales
manager
4
(4)
Nova West Solar
7429 N First Street
Fresno, CA
291-9900
476-5235
1,064 WND WND WND WND
2005
8
Fresno Gary Fairhead, owner
5
(7)
JT Solar Inc.
7539 N. Wheeler Ave.
Fresno, CA
906-4920
276-3305 600 30 WND 16
Photovoltaic, residential/commercial, we are also
a licensed electrical contractor
2008
6 Fresno Jeff Tozlian, owner/CEO
6
(8)
Energy Concepts
112 E. University Ave.
Fresno, CA
485-2504
485-2554 500 1,000 WND 6 PV, DHW and pool
1991
38 Fresno
Patrick Connelly, CEO/
contractor
7
(10)
American Green Solutions
415 W. Shaw Ave.
Fresno, CA
866-438-7873
WND 300 15 WND 3
Residential, all types of solar and all types of
installations.
WND
WND WND Terry Carson, owner
8
(9)
Sundowner Solar
8627 W. Goshen Ave
Visalia, CA
741-9022
741-9200 300 WND WND WND PV & water heating
2009
WND WND David Wind, owner
9
(NR)
Altsys Solar
1434 E. Tulare Ave.
Tulare, CA
688-2544
WND
200 30 $800,000 8 Solar installer/distributor 2007
7
Tulare
Jack Ramsey, pres., Vahnn
Blue, , Mitch Evans, , Ricardo
Armendarez, , Teresa Thomas,
10
(NR)
4th Day Energy
36886 River Belle
Tollhouse, CA
87704thDay1
N/A 154 WND WND WND PV
2007
15 WND Duane Deister, owner
Key:WND-Would not disclose. NR-Not ranked. All data has been provided by representatives of the firms listed and Business Journal research.
Not all sources surveyed responded to inquiries.
Research: Chris Rose
Original Publication Date: April 4, 2014
E-mail: chris@thebusinessjournal.com
11. FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2014 www.thebusinessjournal.com 11
Presented by:
Bullard High School
5445 N Palm Ave
Fresno, CA 93704
(Drop off at the North Parking lot off
Browning)
April 5th, 2014
10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
(Or until truck is full)
First 2 boxes per car are free. $3/box donation for
additional boxes. For health reasons, we cannot accept wet,
moldy or mildewed materials. Trash bags (up to 13 gallons) will
be accepted. No hard plastics! No trash! No fasteners! No 3
ring binders! No metal strips!
The Bullard Tennis Team benefits from all
proceeds.
Everything is shredded onsite in a professional mobile shredding truck.
Drive up-Drop off- Drive off
For more info
contact Gaby at
559-256-6331…
If you have more
than 10 boxes
call to make an
appointment…
Proudly Servicing
Businesses and
Residents
For additional
shredding at your
location contact
12. 12 www.thebusinessjournal.com FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2014
LEADS Guide
THE contents
The Leads information found in this issue of The
Business Journal is a sampling from the Business
Leads Download Center. The Business Leads
Download Center is available free with your paid
subscription to The Business Journal. For questions
about the content listed in this section or how to
obtain a subscription to The Business Journal, contact
Ashley Webster at 559.490.3481 or e-mail ashley@
thebusinessjournal.com.
How it works: The Business Journal’s Leads
listings are designed to help you find the latest
legal transactions to grow your business. Find out
who’s new in town, who’s going out of business
and what neighborhoods are becoming a hotspot
for new business. We’ve pulled information from
the county clerks’ and recorders offices in Fresno,
Kings, Madera and Tulare counties to bring you the
latest in business news. No matter what business
you are in, you can gain a competitive advantage
from these Leads each week.
What these listings mean:
Leases/Escrow: Transfer of real property as
provided by local real estate firms. For more
information on how to submit lease information,
please call 559.490.3400
Bankruptcy: The following samples of business
bankruptcies are filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court
in Fresno. The information below is retrieved by The
Business Journal Business Leads Download Center.
For questions about the content shown below or
how to obtain the complete and digital list weekly,
contactAshley Webster at 559.490.3481 or e-mail
ashley@thebusinessjournal.com.
Chapter 7: A straight bankruptcy involving an
appointed trustee to sell assets by auction or other
means to pay creditors.
Chapter 11: A procedure that allows businesses to
gain temporary relief from paying debts in order
to reorganize. The debtor remains in control of the
business during the bankruptcy and the business
continues to function.
Chapter13: A bankruptcy plan available to individuals
whose income is sufficiently stable to enable the
individual to make payments under a plan to a trustee
who disburses the funds to creditors.
Tax Liens: Encumbrances placed on a property as
a claim for payment of an outstanding tax liability.
The Business Journal lists both state and federal
liens. A lien is released when debt repayment has
been resolved with the creditor. The information is
retrieved by The Business Journal Business Leads
Download Center. For questions about the content
shown below or how to obtain the complete and digital
list weekly, contact Ashley Webster at 559.490.3481 or
e-mail ashley@thebusinessjournal.com.
New businesses: Newly licensed or incorporated
businesses. The new businesses listed below are a
sampling from The Business Journal Business Leads
Download Center. For questions about the content or
how to obtain the complete and digital list weekly,
contact Ashley Webster at 559.490.3481 or e-mail
ashley@thebusinessjournal.com.
page 12 APRIL 4, 2014
REAL ESTATE
RETAIL CALIFORNIA is reporting
the following real estate transactions:
900 square feet at 1177 N. Willow Ave.
in Clovis, to Leilani Shave Ice, Inc. from
Willow Station LLC. Michael Arfsten of
Retail California was the agent.
5,000 square feet at the Marketplace
at El Paseo Shopping Center at the
southwest corner of Herndon Ave.
and Riverside Dr. in Fresno, to Famous
Footwear, from DCTN3388 Fresno, LLC.
Lewis Smith with Retail California was
the agent in cooperation with Matthew
Lux with Colliers International, Santa
Barbara.
8,003 square feet at the Marketplace
at El Paseo Shopping Center at the
southwest corner of Herndon Ave. and
Riverside Dr. in Fresno, to Tilly’s, from
DCTN3388 Fresno , LLC. Lewis Smith
with Retail California was the agent
in cooperation with John Beaney with
Edge Realty.
9,000 square feet at the Marketplace
at El Paseo Shopping Center at the
southwest corner of Herndon Ave.
and Riverside Dr. in Fresno, to Anna’s
Linens, from DCTN3388 Fresno, LLC.
Lewis Smith and Peter Orlando with
Retail California were the agents.
15,000 square feet at the Marketplace
at El Paseo Shopping Center at the
southwest corner of Herndon Ave.
and Riverside Dr. in Fresno, to Old
Navy, from DCTN3388 Fresno, LLC.
Lewis Smith with Retail California
was the agent in cooperation with
Drew Greenspan with Terranomics,
Burlingame.
12,500 square feet at the Marketplace
at El Paseo Shopping Center at the
southwest corner of Herndon Ave. and
Riverside Dr. in Fresno, to PetCo Animal
Supplies Stores, Inc., from DCTN3388
Fresno, LLC. Lewis Smith with Retail
California was the agent in cooperation
with Tim Bettencourt with CoSol.
60,000 square feet at the Marketplace
at El Paseo Shopping Center at the
southwest corner of Herndon Ave. and
Riverside Dr. in Fresno, to Burlington
Coat Factory, from DCTN3388 Fresno,
LLC. Lewis Smith with Retail CaCa
was the agent in cooperation with
Kent Despain with Retail West, San
Francisco.
bankruptcies
Stanger Construction
Case No: 14-11307-7
135 Rall Ave
Clovis CA 93612
Assets: $6,627, Liability: $210,145,
Exemptions: $4,039
C&R Cleaning
Case No: 14-11317-7
1473 Carolyn St
Exeter CA 93221
Assets: $49,598, Liability: $43,199,
Exemptions: $31,425
Anysthings
Case No: 14-11330-7
2688 E Kelso Ave
Fresno CA 93720
Assets: $653,038, Liability: $340,369,
Exemptions: $37,560
T Manfredo
Case No: 14-11363-7
2616 E Princeton Ave
Visalia CA 93292
Assets: $545,400, Liability: $541,287,
Exemptions: $0
Zapateria Diana
Case No: 14-11391-7
133 W San Joaquin Ave
Fresno CA 93706
Assets: $121,283, Liability: $125,804,
Exemptions: $121,283
Leads
Real Estate 12
Bankruptcies 12
Federal Liens 12
State Liens 12
New Businesses 12
Christine Loberg
Photography
Case No: 14-11395-7
39674 Pierce Lake Dr
Oakhurst CA 93644
Assets: $47,735, Liability: $58,759,
Exemptions: $47,735
KB Transportation Inc/Circle
KB Industries
Case No: 14-11397-7
124 S P St
Bakersfield CA 93304
Assets: $246,038, Liability: $1,059,955,
Exemptions: $105,038
Ken's Plumbing Rooter &
Handyman
Case No: 14-11445-7
2375 Pasadena Lane
Lake Isabella CA 93240
Assets: $111,793, Liability: $133,068,
Exemptions: $30,003
Super Shine Hand Carwash
Inc/AGE Enterprises llc/
Gabriel and Armen Ekezyan
Ca Gp
Case No: 14-11452-7
882 Spruce
Clovis CA 93611
Assets: $21,198, Liability: $3,591,071,
Exemptions: $21,198
Super Shine Hand Carwash
Inc/AGE Enterprises llc/
Gabriel and Armen Ekezyan
Ca Gp
Case No: 14-11453-7
880 N Rogers Ave
Clovis CA 93611
Assets: $20,948, Liability: $3,608,183,
Exemptions: $20,948
Tornado Group/Mercury
News
Case No: 14-11455-13
1734 N Cherry Ln
Clovis CA 93619
Assets: $0, Liability: $0, Exemptions:
$0
federal LIENS
Best Glass Enterprises
Doc No: 14-030231, IRS tax lien
2998 E Belmont Ave, Fresno, CA 93701
Amount: $19,204
Brock Liquid Transportation
Inc
Doc No: 14-030232, IRS tax lien
3110 W Muscat Ave, Fresno, CA 93706
Amount: $232,924
Brock Liquid Transportation
Inc
Doc No: 14-030233, IRS tax lien
3110 W Muscat Ave, Fresno, CA 93706
Amount: $58,798
CA Freight Xpress Inc
Doc No: 14-030235, IRS tax lien
P O box 8466, Fresno, CA 93747
Amount: $40,851
Hassibah TLC Inc
Doc No: 14-030242, IRS tax lien
345 S Locan Ave, Fresno, CA 93737
Amount: $145,448
Mosqueda Farm Labor
Doc No: 14-030243, IRS tax lien
5550 W Athens Ave, Fresno, CA 93722
Amount: $5,617
Ag Labor Service
Doc No: 14-030244, IRS tax lien
13459 E Mulberry Ln, Parlier, CA 93648
Amount: $185,477
Superior Satellite Ltd
Doc No: 14-030702, IRS tax lien
1230 W Shields Ave, Fresno, CA 93705
Amount: $4,619
Mackys Recycling Center
Doc No: 14-030703, IRS tax lien
1646 N 1st St, Fresno, CA 93703
Amount: $11,665
Lizarraga Concrete
Doc No: 14-030709, IRS tax lien
5397 W Shields Ave, Fresno, CA 93722
Amount: $22,954
STATE LIENS
Fowler Auto Sales
Doc No: 14-029088, Board of
Equalization tax lien
102 N 8th St, Fowler, CA 93625
Amount: $550
American Video & Desert
Shop
Doc No: 14-029089, Board of
Equalization tax lien
6680 N Blackstone, Fresno, CA 93710
Amount: $15,982
Ray Fisher Pharmacy Inc
Doc No: 14-029523, Board of
Equalization tax lien
6629 N Blackstone Ave, Fresno, CA
93710
Amount: $6,065
Fresno Landscaping Nursery
Center
Doc No: 14-029524, Board of
Equalization tax lien
12099 E Stroud Ave, Kingsburg, CA
93631
Amount: $380
NP Inc
Doc No: 14-029994, Franchise Tax
Board tax lien
1105 E Kelso Ave, Fresno, CA 93720
Amount: $1,259
Tranzform Inc
Doc No: 14-029995, Franchise Tax
Board tax lien
3381 N Bond Ave Ste 101, Fresno, CA
93726
Amount: $34,683
Barczar Inc
Doc No: 14-029996, Franchise Tax
Board tax lien
P O Box 374, Friant, CA 93626
Amount: $70,049
KW Apparel llc
Doc No: 14-029997, Franchise Tax
Board tax lien
6770 N Pleasant Ave, Fresno, CA 93711
Amount: $5,022
Levite Ministries
Doc No: 14-029998, Franchise Tax
Board tax lien
1801 2nd St, Selma, CA 93662
Amount: $3,146
Don Simon Products Inc
Doc No: 14-029999, Franchise Tax
Board tax lien
431 N 1st St, Fresno, CA 93702
Amount: $5,628
Blossom Trail Insurance
Services Inc
Doc No: 14-030067, EDD tax lien
1027 G St Ste 2, Reedley, CA 93654
Amount: $5,883
Indian Food Mart
Doc No: 14-030068, EDD tax lien
4784 E Kings Canyon Rd, Fresno, CA
93702
Amount: $1,499
Bullard Chiropractic Clinic
Doc No: 14-030069, EDD tax lien
330 Bullard Ave, Clovis, CA 93612
Amount: $1,538
SCV Freight Inc
Doc No: 14-030070, EDD tax lien
P O Box 11885, Fresno, CA 93775
Amount: $1,823
Global Direct Media Inc
Doc No: 14-030071, EDD tax lien
6364 N Figarden Dr Ste 114, Fresno,
CA 93722
Amount: $4,211
Fryer Roofing Co Inc
Doc No: 14-030072, EDD tax lien
4877 W Jennifer Ave Ste 105, Fresno,
CA 93722
Amount: $1,748
Power Design Electric Inc
Doc No: 14-030073, EDD tax lien
P O Box 251, Kingsburg, CA 93631
Amount: $3,081
Aria Persian Cuisine
Doc No: 14-030074, EDD tax lien
9415 N Fort Washington Rd Ste 101,
Fresno, CA 93730
Amount: $2,843
Dhillon Brothers Express Inc
Doc No: 14-030075, EDD tax lien
255 E Curtis Ave, Fowler, CA 93625
Amount: $126,028
Bennie M Gonsalves Dairy
Doc No: 14-030078, EDD tax lien
6665 E Harlan Ave, Laton, CA 93242
Amount: $4,412
Sierra Data Management &
Storage Inc
Doc No: 14-030079, EDD tax lien
2615 N Argyle Ave, Fresno, CA 93727
Amount: $1,244
Lee Insurance Agency
Doc No: 14-030080, EDD tax lien
1555 Shaw Ave Ste 106, Clovis, CA
93611
Amount: $123
Cal Western Paving Inc
Doc No: 14-030081, EDD tax lien
129 W Indianapolis Ave, Clovis, CA
93612
Amount: $15,152
Beebe and Company Inc
Doc No: 14-030082, EDD tax lien
1141 W Shaw Ave Ste 102, Fresno,
CA 93711
Amount: $3,182
JSV Farm Labor Inc
Doc No: 14-030645, EDD tax lien
10732 Elkhorn Ave, Kingsburg, CA
93631
Amount: $6,789
Continued | pg 14
Short or long -term leases, any size is acceptable
– Excellent lease rates
– Professionally farmed
– Will consider lease/purchase
Let’s Talk 559-970-0125
Email : Lakhy@Diamondwestfarming.com
13. FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2014 www.thebusinessjournal.com 13
Simon
Minas
QuatackerLuck
APRIL 12
•FresnoMini-MakerFaire,FresnoArt
Museum, 2233 N. First St., Fresno,10
a.m.-6 p.m. Event to showcase the
projects of Fresno area inventors and
tinkerers along with food vendors
and musical artists. Sponsored by
the Fresno Art Museum and Make
Magazine. More information to Eva
Torres at eva@fresnoartmuseum.org
or (559) 441-4221.
APRIL 15
• SCORE Simple Steps Workshop:
Business Concepts, Central Valley
SCORE, 801 R St., 201 Training
Room, Fresno, 9 a.m.-noon. Part
2 of workshop series on starting
up a business. (April 15, 22, 29,
May 6, 13). Reservations to www.
centralvalleyscore.org/events; (559)
487-5605.
• The Exceptional Assistant,
Radisson Hotel and Conference
Center, 2233 Ventura St., Fresno, 9
a.m.-4 p.m. Learn to manage people,
problems and priorities, and become
an indispensible member of your
organization. Sponsored by Fred
Pryor Seminars. $99; $89 in groups
of five or more. Registration to www.
pryor.com; (800) 780-8476.
• SHRM T/K Monthly Luncheon,
Visalia Holiday Inn, 9000 W. Airport
Drive, Visalia, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Gathering of local human resource
professionals and a presentation
on employment issues. Sponsored
by the Society of Human Resource
Managers of Tulare/Kings County.
$30; $12.50 students. Registration
to www.shrmtularekings.org; (559)
827-3342.
APRIL 16
• Central Valley Business Diversity
Expo, University Square Hotel,
4961 N. Cedar Ave., Fresno, 8 a.m.-
4 p.m. Gathering and workshops
to engage, educate and encourage
greater business diversity in Central
California. Sponsored by the Fresno
Metro Black Chamber of Commerce.
Prices and registeration to www.
fmbcc.com; (559) 441-7929.
• How to Handle Conflict and
Confrontation, Holiday Inn Airport,
5090 E. Clinton Ave., Fresno, 9 a.m.-4
p.m. Learn how to disarm disagreeable
people and build more cooperation in
the workplace. Sponsored by National
Seminars Training. $199. Free to Star12
members. Registration to www.
nationalseminarstraining.com; (800)
258-7246.
• Employee or Independent
Contractor Tax Seminar, Workforce
Investment Board, Business Services
Center, 7475 N. Palm Ave., Suite
105, Fresno, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Seminar covers the basics of statutory
employment and the difference
between reporting an employee and
independent contractor. Sponsored
by the Employment Development
Department. Register to www.edd.
ca.gov/Payroll_Tax_Seminars; (866)
873-6083.
• Fresno Mayor’s Youth Job Fair,
Manchester Center Mall, 1901 Shields
Ave.,Fresno,10a.m.-1p.m.Invitingyouth
ages 16 to 25 dozens of companies with
immediate and near term job offerings.
Bring multiple copies of your resume
and be prepared for job interviews on
the spot. More info to www.facebook.
com/pages/fresno-mayors-youth-job-
fair/168188526561925.
• California’s Water System and the
City of Fresno Metro Plan, Water
and Energy Technology Center, 2911 E.
Barstow Ave., Fresno, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Learn how California’s water system
works and what can be done to ensure
a sustainable water supply. Sponsored
by the U.S. Green Building Council,
Central California chapter. $10; $5
students; free for USGBC members.
Registration to info@usgbccc.org;
1-800-788-9013.
APRIL 17
• Government Contracting Workshop
for Small Businesses, U.S. Small
Business Administration, 801 R. St.,
Ste. 201, Fresno, 8:45-noon. Workshop
on the federal and state government’s
procurement process and an
overview of SBA’s various contracting
programs. Free parking available on R
Street. Reservations to William Hori
at fresno@sba.gov or (559) 487-5791.
• Visalia Business Academy: The
3 Keys to Hitting Your 2014 Sales
Goals, Brandman University, 649 S.
County Center Drive, Visalia, 9-10
a.m. Monthly seminar series on topics
important to business. Presented
by Dale Bierce of Sandler Training.
Sponsored by the Visalia Chamber
of Commerce. $30 per seminar or
$250 for an annual pass; free to
Chamber members and $15 for each
additional seat. Registration to www.
visaliachamber.org; (559) 734-7479.
• Safety Programs: Understanding
CalOSHA’s Written Safety Program,
Tulare-Kings Builders Exchange, 1223
S. Lovers Lane, Visalia, 10-11:30 a.m.
Seminar to review the IIPP or SB
198 requirements for your business.
Sponsored by Pacific Employers.
Free. Reservations to (559) 733-4256.
www.pacificemployers.com.
APRIL 18
• CCHCC Toastmasters Meeting,
Central California Hispanic Chamber
of Commerce, 2331 Fresno St., Fresno,
noon-1 p.m. Promote your business
or career by improving your public
speaking skills. Sponsored by the
Central California Hispanic Chamber
of Commerce. Free. www.cchcc.net;
(559) 495-4817.
APRIL 22
• SCORE Simple Steps Workshop:
MarketingPlan,CentralValleySCORE,
801 R St., 201 Training Room, Fresno,
9 a.m.-noon. Part 3 of workshop series
on starting up a business. (April 8, 15,
22, 29, May 6, 13). Reservations to
www.centralvalleyscore.org/events;
(559) 487-5605.
• Business After Hours Mixer, Family
'
• Creating Leadership for
Managers, Supervisors and Team
Leaders, Holiday Inn Downtown,
1055 Van Ness Ave., Fresno, 9 a.m.-
4 p.m. Learn to motivate and re-
energize your team by developing
an environment of creativity and
collaboration. Sponsored by Fred
Pryor Seminars. $179; $169 in
groups of five or more. Registration
to www.pryor.com; (800) 780-
8476.
• Business Writing for Results,
Visalia Convention Center, 303 E.
Acequia Ave., Visalia, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Learn how to write powerful emails,
letters, reports and proposals that
get results. Sponsored by Fred Pryor
Seminars. $149; $139 in groups of
five or more. Registration to www.
pryor.com; (800) 780-8476.
• Fresno Council of Governments
Public Hearing, 2035 Tulare St.,
Suite 201, Fresno, 5:30 p.m. The
Fresno COG Policy Board will hear
public comments about their
Draft 2015 Federal Transportation
Improvement Program, Draft 2014
Regional Transportation Plan/
Sustainable Communities Strategy
and Draft Air Quality Conformity
Analysis. Comments can be sent
prior to the hearing to Barbara Steck
at bjsteck@fresnocog.org. More
information to (559) 233-4148.
APRIL 25
• Loan Workshop for Small
Businesses, U.S. Small Business
Administration, 801 R St., Ste. 201,
Fresno, 9-11 a.m. Learn the specifics
of SBA loans and how to apply for
them. Sponsored by the U.S. Small
Business Administration. Free.
Reservations to William Hori at
fresno@sba.gov or (559) 487-5791.
• CCHCC Toastmasters Meeting,
Central California Hispanic Chamber
of Commerce, 2331 Fresno St.,
Fresno, noon-1 p.m. Promote your
business or career by improving your
public speaking skills. Sponsored
by the Central California Hispanic
Chamber of Commerce. Free. www.
cchcc.net; (559) 495-4817.
Calendar | from 7
HEALTH
California Cancer Associates
for Research and Excellence,
has announced the hiring of
its new CEO, Troy J. Simon.
Kaweah Delta is pleased to
announce the new class of
graduate medical education
resident physicians:
Emergency Medicine
Sean Andrews, DO, Western
University of Health Sciences
David Denson, MD, Medical
College of Wisconsin
Tam Le, MD, Chicago Medical
School Rosalind Franklin
University of Medicine and
Science
Phyllis Cowan, DO, Arizona
College of Osteopathic
Medicine of Midwestern
University
Erik Miguel, DO, A.T. Still
University
Kunal Sukhija, MD, UCLA
David Geffen School of
Medicine
Family Medicine
Desta Ellis, MD, Escuela
Lationoamericana de
Medicina
Aisha Hanif, MD, Ross
University
Uzma Qureshi, MD, Dow
Medical College
Pouria Sadeghi, MD, Saba
University
Adesina Sanni, MD, Obafemi
Awolowo College
Tehniyat Shorish, MD, King
Edward Medical College
Psychiatry
Kingwai Lui, DO, Western
University of Health Sciences
Gagandeep Randhawa, MD,
Government Medical College
of Amritsar
Kamaldeep Sandhu, MD, St.
George’s University
Michael Serna, MD,
Universidad Autonoma de
Guadalajara
EDUCATION
The 2014 Common Threads
Award, which recognizes
women in Fresno, Kern, Kings,
Madera, Merced and Tulare
counties for their agricultural,
philanthropic and community
service, is pleased to
announce this years recipients,
Juliet Campos of Caruthers,
Lorraine Machado of Merced,
Alice Saviez of Fresno,
RoseAnn Serrano of Le Grand
and Helen Sullivan of Hanford.
Fresno businessman Frank
Villegas, whose longtime
family business Chihuahua
Tortilleria thrived for more
than six decades in the Valley,
is the 2014 Chicano Alumni
Legacy Builder recipient.
MEDIA &
MARKETING
Kristin Luck of Decipher, a
market research firm in Fresno,
has received the top award in
the “future-forward” category
of the Advertising Research
Association’s (ARF) 2014 Great
Minds Award.
BANKING &
FINANCE
Central Valley Community
Bank is pleased to announce
the addition of Scott
Quatacker as Vice President,
agribusiness loan officer for
the bank’s south valley region
covering Tulare, Kings and
Kern counties.
Central Valley Community
Bank is pleased to announce
that veteran manager Leslee
Minas has been named Vice
President, branch manager for
the Fresno downtown office.
PEOPLE ON
THE MOVE
CALL 490.3400
People on the Move
