April 2010 | 1

THE AWARD-WINNING PUBLICATION OF THE OAKLAND METROPOLITAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE |

Oakland Business Review

www.oaklandchamber.com | VOL XXXIX NO. 10 OCTOBER 2013

Visit www.oaklandchamber.com for more businessopportunities, news and event registration.

Women in BusinessThe 15th annual celebrationPage 7

CHAMBER MEMBERSHIPMaking a differencePages 20-21

WELCOMENEW MEMBERSPage 18Oakland Green, Cleantech

sectors growingPage 11

SBDCHelping you start,grow, thrivePage 24

> Public safety #1; butballot measure successdoubtful

> Don’t let the paradepass you by

Throughout this country, in parts of Canada, and 175countries overseas, millions will enjoy the sites andsounds of family fun in Oakland. This year, the 14thannual America’s Children’s Holiday Parade onSaturday, Dec. 7 might just be marching to the beat ofa different drum when 22 high school marching bands –representing some 2,800 band members – will bemarching along the parade route to help make theholiday season bright.

While most bands come from Northern California, highschools in Southern California will be well represented, andtwo bands from outside of the United States – fromGuatemala and Jamaica – are hoping to perform. This wouldbe the first holiday parade in the country, in fact, that

> Join us for a PowerBreakfast with SuperintendentGary YeeOn Wednesday, Nov. 20,the Chamber will presenta Power Breakfastfeaturing Dr. Gary Yee,superintendent of theOakland Unified SchoolDistrict.

Do you want to knowhow our schools have beenprogressing? What’s in sightfor the future?

Dr. Yee stepped downfrom his position as a school

boardmemberand wasappointedby theboard inApril totakeover thepositionfrom TonySmith,

who is moving to Chicago.“My first message to thecommunity is that I’ve beenaround a long time,” saysDr. Yee. “I was a teacher andprincipal in Oakland for25 years and I retired fromthe Peralta CommunityCollege District asassistant chancellor. I’mvery fiscally prudent, butI’m fundamentally aneducator.”

Dr. Yee was director ofresearch, associate vicechancellor of planning anddean of instruction atMerritt College beforeretiring from the PeraltaCommunity College District

Join us for Dr. Yee’saddress at the WaterfrontHotel in Jack LondonSquare. Breakfast registra-tion begins at 7:30 a.m.The breakfast runs from8 to 9:30 a.m.

To register or formore information, visitwww.oaklandchamber.comor contact Ivette Torres atthe Chamber at itorres@oaklandchamber.com or at(510) 874-4800, ext. 319. �

GREEN BUSINESS

Diversity and weather top the list of the best things aboutliving in Oakland, while crime remains the top concern.Those results are clear in the second annual poll ofregistered voters in the city of Oakland, presented by theOakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce.

When asked if they felt safer or less safe as compared to ayear or two ago, 55 percent say “less safe” while only 13 percentfeel safer. Last year 47 percent felt less safe and 12 percent safer.

The poll was conducted by EMC Research from Sept. 24 -29.Five hundred people were surveyed and the poll has a margin oferror of +/- 4.73 percentage points.

Despite the concern about crime, the prospects for a ballotmeasure to hire more police officers do not look good. Afterbeing reminded that Measure Y was a parking lot and parcel taxto reduce crime and increase public safety, only 48 percent said

they would vote to approvea similar measure, while 30percent said they wereopposed. Since two-thirdswould be necessary forapproval, proponents will havesome work to do to get newrevenue for public safetybefore Measure Y expires atthe end of 2014.

There were areas votersfelt needed more funding.Public education topped thelist with 80 percent sayingthere was a great need in thatcategory.

Police services was a closesecond with 75 percent seeingthat as a great need.

When combining greatneed and small need, a cleartop four emerge – road repairand maintenance (92 percent),public education (91 percent), economic development and jobcreation (89 percent) and police services (87 percent).

The poll also contained bad news for Mayor Jean Quan. Only24 percent had a favorable opinion of the mayor – that’s downfrom the 36 percent that felt that way one year ago, while thoseholding an unfavorable view rose from 53 percent last year to 62percent today. When asked if they would vote to re-elect MayorQuan, only 18 percent said they were likely to back the mayor,while 69 percent say they would vote for someone else.

Collectively, the rest of the City Council doesn’t get highmarks either. Only 14 percent thought that group was doing agood job, while 75 percent rated their results as poor.

Dr. Gary Yee

by Paul Junge

> Join us for the Chamber’s 2013 Golf Classic

The Oakland Chamber is tee-ing up to bring our membersanother fabulous day of golf,quality networking, good food,and loads of fun. If you’re alocal businessperson lookingfor a day of relaxation, butwith some important businessmixed in, this is the perfectevent for you.

The 22nd annual OaklandChamber Golf Classic isscheduled for Monday, Oct. 21at Sequoyah Country Club inthe Oakland hills. This annual,

all-day tournament brings together some of the top businessleaders in the city for breakfast and lunch, a shot-gun start,and the 19th Hole Awards dinner-reception.

Sponsorship packages are:• Major Tee Sponsor – $2,500, includes four playing spots,

tee signs, banners, display table and reception advertising• Chamber Challenger – $1,750, includes four playing

spots, gift bags, breakfast and golfer fees• Hole in One Sponsor – $500, includes a sponsor prize

and a tee sign at the sponsored contest hole• Tee/Green Sponsor – $325, includes company signage

at sponsored teeThe fee for individual golfers is $325.For information on playing golf with other local business-

people, visit www.oaklandchamber.com or contact IvetteTorres at itorres@oaklandchamber.com or call (510) 874-4800,ext. 319. �

– continued on page 4

– continued on page 6

� At the recent Pulseof Oakland breakfast(seated, left to right) –pollster Alex Evans(EMC Research), Port ofOakland CommissionerMichael Colbruno, OUSDSchool Board memberJody London, andOakland City Council-member Libby Schaaf.Standing, left to right,are Chamber VicePresident Paul Junge,Vice-Chair of OakPACJohn Gooding, CityCouncilmember LynetteGibson-McElhaney, BARTDirectors RebeccaSaltzman and RobertRaburn, and AlamedaCounty Supervisor NateMiley.

| OBR Oakland Business Review | www.oaklandchamber.com2

Names in the news

• Stan Hebert, a member of theChamber’s Board of Directors, has beennamed acting vice president of the newlyre-established Student Affairs Division atCalifornia State University, East Bay(CSUEB). According to university presidentLeroy Morishita, Hebert’s “. . . long-lastingassociation with Cal State East Bay, as well ashis broad experiences in student services andhis deeply-rooted commitment to studentsuniquely qualify him for this role.”

• Comcast has named veteran commu-nications professional Mary Stutts to thenewly-created position of regional vicepresident of external affairs for California.Stutts will oversee all aspects of Comcast’scommunications, government affairs, com-munity investment and telecommunicationspolicy matters throughout the state. Shewill be based in the company’s Livermoreoffice, and will manage a recently mergedteam of government affairs andcommunications professionals.

• Corinne Avganim, who has sevenyears of experience in a diverse range offields, has been named marketingmanager at Visit Oakland. Avganim hasdeveloped fully functional websites formicro campaigns, managed social mediaactivity and global content channels,developed marketing and brandingstrategies and managed cross-functionalmarketing campaigns.

• Hawaiian Airlines has announced anexpansion of flights at Oakland International Airport,makingOakland the only mainland city with nonstop service to the fourmain islands of Hawaii. Beginning in January, service to Oahuwill increase by 75 percent with the current four weekly flightsincreasing to daily service.

• Nina Quintero has been namedthe new esthetician at Skin Deep inAlameda. Quintero graduated fromAlameda Beauty College and did anexternship at Bella Pelle Skin Studio inSan Francisco. She is skilled at all looks,from weddings to stage make-up.

• Samuel Merritt University(SMU) has been awarded a $100,000grant from the Robert Wood JohnsonFoundation to provide scholarship fundsfor under- represented and economically disadvantagedstudents in the university’s accelerated nursing programs. Theaward will fund ten scholarships of $10,000 each for the 2013-2014 academic year, supporting SMU’s continued efforts toreduce financial barriers to enrollment and further diversify thenursing program.

• The tenth annual Countywide Disability EmploymentAwareness Conference and Training for managers andsupervisors will be held on Thursday, Oct. 17 from 8:30 a.m. to 5p.m. at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center, 388 9th St., suite 290.Produced by The Welsh PR Group, this year’s conference willfocus on cutting-edge topics related to disabled workers andtheir workplace needs. For more information, visithttp://www.acgov.org/cao/diversity/ or call (510) 272-3895.

• Holy Names University’s Department of Nursing hasunveiled its state-of-the-art nursing simulation lab. The center,which will provide training to about 200 nursing studentsannually, supports “close-to-reality” teaching strategies thatpromote critical learning skills. The Nursing Simulation Centeris housed in 3,600 square feet of new modules built on campus.

• The Alameda County Transportation Commission,which plans, funds and delivers transportation programs andprojects that expand access and improve mobility, has movedits offices to 1111 Broadway, suite 800. For more information, call(510) 208-7400 or visit www.alamedactc.org. �

Stan Hebert

Mary Stutts

Corinne Avganim

Nina Quintero

October 2013 | 3

future – our future? The person on the monument thatstands out the most to me is Helen Keller because she wasblind, mute and deaf, but she still worked hard to make adifference in her life and in the world.” – Christine

“I feel that the graffiti on the monument shows disrespect.No one should damage someone’s hard work, especiallywhen it helps better our community’s knowledge of thepeople that are honored in the sculpture.” – Chynna

We are pleased the monument is coming alive to Oakland’syouth! �

From the President | Joe Haraburda

We all know by now of the accomplishments of thosememorialized on Remember Them: Champions forHumanity. We know that they had to overcome great innerturmoil as well as the wrath of others in order to fight forwhat they knew was right.

Now the students of Oakland are learning as well.Within the past couple of weeks students from the School

for the Arts, which is located right across the street from themonument on 19th Street, have spent time at the magnificentstructure drawing the sections and individual humanitarians.They’ve come out more than once to re-create the art on paperand learn more about why the monument was completed andwhat the humanitarians had to overcome in order to fight forfreedom, peace and equality.

Then, even more recently, students from Oakland’s EnvisionAcademy of Arts & Technology have committed to keeping themonument pristine while learning about the history of thelargest bronze monument. Teachers and students alike wereoutraged by the graffiti that has been drawn. Each of the30 high school students has selected a favorite humanitarian,participated in an orientation, and written an essay describinghis or her reaction to what they have observed and learned.

During the time that they spend at the monument, the

students will share their knowledge with visitors.The school is located at 1515 Webster St., a short walk from

the monument.The following are excerpts from some of their essays:

“Coming to the site today made me realize that graffition the monuments was indeed an issue…Green, Pinks,Whites, Grays all covering a priceless monument with manyof the leaders of our country. Martin Luther King, Rosa(Parks), (Abraham) Lincoln all are individuals who played apart in our desegregation and progress of this nation…Themonument must be respected.” – A’Yahna

“Just because people vandalize the monument doesn’tmean others like me aren’t willing to help maintain itsbeauty and purpose.” – Akira

“Why would anyone want to do that to the people thatmade our nation what it is today and helped shape the

Joe Haraburda

Students are learning

4 | OBR Oakland Business Review | www.oaklandchamber.com

> Taking the trauma out of transit

If you’ve ever been unexpectedly stranded or caughtup in a transit breakdown, you know how traumatic itcan be.

Whenever something is a challenge – evenwithout any sort of emergency circumstances goingon – it’s an opportunity to make a difference. Here aresome simple ways you can help your employees, yourcustomers, your volunteers, and your community atlarge to weather transit upsets, emergencies, andchanges.

One of the easiest things to do is to give themlots of information and options, and help them toput these resources in their immediate environment.When it’s readily available, it means that anyone canembrace the new solutions much more easily.

Resources to provide: links to BART, AC Transit,Amtrak, taxi cab companies, shuttle buses, casual carpool, ride share, 511.org, 211.org, car rental companies,Paratransit, etc.

A quick search of the Chamber’s MembershipDirectory will lead you to the Chamber businessesproviding these services.

Post this information on bulletin boards, newsracks, public meeting spaces, mailboxes, and ensurethat you send it via email, have it posted on yourintranet, and just generally make it readily available.

Providing anything and everything that will helpyour community to negotiate transit easily and effectively, especially when it’san emergency situation, is a great service to all.

As always, we encourage you to help your community members to maketheir cell phones their very best preparedness tools. Urge the people in yourcircle of influence to download helpful apps and links (do it during staffmeetings or other gatherings) so that the information will just be there whenthey need it.

We champion the idea of having everyone create a personal map. Puttingthemselves – meaning their homes, offices, or other key locations – on a map,and then plotting out different routes, different on-ramps, nearby friend’s orcolleague’s homes where they could take shelter, is extraordinarily helpful.

When it’s complete, your personal map should depict your alternatives,options, and safe spaces, such that you can see your way to your favorite “portin a storm,” no matter what the transit upset may be. Make sure you turn yourmap into a PDF and send it to yourself so that you can access it via your email,the cloud, your phone, your iPad, etc.

Oakland is an amazing city with so many wonderful things to see andworld-class venues to experience. Taking these small steps will help everyoneto negotiate our great city – whether it’s rain or shine, whether it’s for busi-ness or personal, and whether it’s during times of emergencies or merriment.

Let’s all build the habit of keeping Oakland resilient and brilliant. �

Ana-Marie Jones is the executive director of CARD – Collaborating AgenciesResponding to Disasters. She can be reached at (510) 451-3140.

by Ana-Marie Jones

Whether it’s apotential BART ortransit strike, theclosure of the BayBridge, or even afantastic streetcelebration thatgrows larger orgoes longer than

expected,sometimes just

getting from pointA to point B in

Oakland can be achallenge.

Ana-Marie Jones

Individually, however, Councilmembers get a little more respect. Ofthe three members up for re-election next year, Council President PatKernighan has a favorable impression, outranking unfavorable by threeto one, while Libby Schaaf is up nearly four to one in that measurement.Desley Brooks is looking at a reverse of those numbers, with herunfavorable rating exceeding her favorable number 18 to 26.

On the question of Oakland’s sports teams, opinion was mixed. Halfof those polled say keeping the A’s, Raiders and Warriors in Oakland isimportant, while just under half thought it was not all that critical. Thatsplit is true despite the fact that most residents do not attend a game ofany of the teams in person. Just over half of those polled say they have notattended an A’s game in the last year, while 80 percent say they have notattended a Raiders or Warriors game.

While people may not be attending many games, they are dining outand shopping in Oakland. More than three quarters of those respondedsay they are eating out and shopping in many of the regions of Oakland.Although perhaps surprisingly fewer than half say they have been to FirstFriday, the Oakland Zoo or America’s Children’s Holiday Parade in thelast year. �

Paul Junge is the Chamber’s vice president and director of public policy.

> Public safety – continued from page 1

5 1 0 . 6 5 3 . 2 1 5 3 • c c @ c h e r i e c a r t e r d e s i g n s . c o m

C O M M U N I C A T I O N D E S I G N T H A T R E A L L Y M E A N S B U S I N E S S

BrandstormingWe work with you and your team to connect your product

or service with your target. We create quality publications

and websites that help build your brand – annual reports,

brochures, logos, corporate newsletters,

advertising, sales kits and

WordPress web sites.

=C A R T E RD E S I G N S

October 2013 | 5

> Flexible office space supportsBay Area business success

And, as a business grows or contracts,owners quickly find themselves committedto an environment that doesn’t suit thechanging needs and work styles of anincreasingly mobile workforce.

The way people are working has dramati-cally changed in just the past ten years, andcompanies of all sizes – from "solopreneurs"to Fortune 500s – are gravitating to a morefluid work environment as employees exertmore control over how, when and wherethey work. Open floor plans, the desire to

foster more collaboration, and employee interaction is fuelingdemand for Regus’ flexible space in the Bay Area and around thecountry.

These customizable spaces enable businesses to be more

efficient, effective and productive. Flexible workplace providersallow companies to use a variety of workspaces, including offices,meeting rooms and business lounges by the day, month or year. And,the opportunity for impromptu conversations with a mix of differentbusiness minds is proving to be beneficial.

The wide appeal of flexible working has prompted Regus to openits first locations in Emeryville and Oakland this year. The Emeryvillebusiness center located at 1900 Powell St. gives local residents aprofessional place to do business for any amount of time. Regus’ firstOakland center is a welcome reprieve for weary commuters travelingto and from San Francisco. Located at 505 14th St., this businesscenter presents an ideal location for professionals who want to workcloser to home, avoiding a lengthy commute to work.

Aside from sharing a workspace, Regus’ customers get theopportunity every day to share ideas with seasoned professionalswith diverse backgrounds, perspectives and points of view. Theseunplanned meetings bring together corporate neighbors that canlead to new partnerships, projects and additional revenue.Traditional space that isolates one company into a fixed space can’toffer this experience. Clients also direct their time on growing theirbusiness rather than worrying about office space.

Each Regus location has a dedicated support team, so manyof the non-core aspects of running a business are lifted fromcustomers’ shoulders.

In the Bay Area, Regus operates more than 35 locations and 1,500globally. Visit www.regus.com for more information. �

For businesseslooking to grow in

the Bay Area,locking into a

long-term leaseagreement could beone of the biggest

mistakes theymake. The cost to

fit out and maintainthe space is often a

major drain offinancial resources.

> Invest in the future: Enroll in theLeadership Oakland program nowThe Chamber's Leadership Oakland program is based on the belief thatour city's most valuable resource is people - people who have the talent,energy and motivation to assume leadership roles in the years ahead.It encourages the establishment and operation of an effective networkof informed and talented citizens who are dedicated to making ourcommunity a better place in which to live.

According to 2010 Leadership Oakland graduate and 2013 LeadershipOakland Alumni of the Year, Martin Reynolds – the former editor of theOakland Tribune, AME News and the Bay Area News Group – “The LeadershipOakland program proved essential in my role as editor of the Oakland Tribune.Even though I had a good understanding of how things worked in this city,the program expanded my knowledge and gave me front row access to thepeople at the center of many of Oakland's institutions, public and private.Perhaps more importantly, were the connections I made and the relationshipsI developed with my Leadership Oakland class.”

If you, or one of your staff members, are ready to become a local leader,visit http://www.oaklandchamber.com/pages/LeadershipOakland1/ for

an application or email Executive Director Cat Brewer at catbrewer.leadershipoakland@gmail.com.

Orientation for the new class is Friday, Oct. 11. �

| OBR Oakland Business Review | www.oaklandchamber.com6

> Oakland schools continue their modernization

Among the final projects completed under the last bond initiative (Measure B),were a new building at Montclair School, a new science complex at the CalvinSimmons campus for Life Academy, a significant modernization at SankofaSchool, and completion of the La Escuelita Education Center (LEEC) in the EastLake neighborhood.

In September, the sale of the initial $120 million in bonds was completed. Iwant to thank Ruth Alahydoian from KNN Public Finance for her consistent andwise assistance through very complex planning and negotiations. These fundsare particularly important to current and future generations of Oakland’schildren, because many of our facilities do not reflect our current educationalneeds. We hope to begin new construction this school year. Our current AssetManagement Policy, adopted by the board in August of this year, identifiesapproximately $1.5 billion in critical projects and outlines the process forprioritization.

Some of the first jobs will be long overdue modernization projects atGlenview Elementary and Fremont High School.

Not only do students and teachers benefit from a modern school, the

community itselfbenefits as well. Ournew schools haveenergy efficientdesigns, more greenspace, naturalventilation and light,and other amenities.Nutritious andattractive schoollunches will beprepared on site innew regional, centralkitchen centers. Thiswill move us strongly toward our vision for a Full Service Community SchoolDistrict.

Just as important, our current Local Business Policy has returned much ofthe money to our community through contracts with local businesses thatemploy local residents. One such employer is the Turner Construction Group.Turner’s current projects include joint ventures to complete the La EscuelitaEducation Center, and modernize Washington Sankofa School in NorthOakland and Montera Middle School in the Oakland hills.

I met with Len Turner recently at Turner’s new facility near the airport.Turner employs up to 75 workers, most of them Oakland residents. Like me,Len went to Markham, Frick and Castlemont, all Oakland public schools. Aftera career in design around the world, he returned to join his family and build aconstruction company. The company’s first Oakland public schools project,ten years ago, was for $36,000.

Today they work as partners on multi-million-dollar projects with partnerssuch as GKK/McCarthy.

Before, smaller companies like Turner Construction Group had a difficulttime meeting the strict accountability and reserve standards for working onschool projects. But the School Board adopted innovative practices such asthe Lease-Lease Back procurement process, which gave smaller contractorsthe opportunity to joint venture on larger projects with large generalcontractors, while still protecting the purpose and integrity of Oakland schoolprojects.

Not only does Turner Group employ local residents, it also gives back inother ways – by building pro bono projects, such as the announcer’s booth atMcClymonds High School, by offering paid summer internships for Oaklandhigh schoolers, and by helping other small businesses gain a foothold inbidding for work on public projects.

Such partnerships between public agencies like the Oakland schools, localbusinesses like the Turner Group, and local voters, express this generation’sconfidence in a bright future for Oakland.

On a final note: the superintendent and Board of Education have movedto temporary headquarters at 1000 Broadway, just across from the MarriottHotel. My email remains gary.yee@ousd.k12.ca.us. �

Gary Yee, Ed.D, the former vice chancellor of Peralta Community CollegeDistrict, is now superintendent of the Oakland Unified School District.

by Superintendent Gary Yee

As you may recall,Oakland voters ap-

proved a bond meas-ure to modernize ourschool facilities nearlytwo years ago. Meas-

ure J will provideabout $450 million for

us to continue ourmodernization ofschools and other

facilities over the nextten years.

Gary Yee

EDUCATION UPDATE

� The currentprojects of TurnerConstruction Groupinclude joint ventureswith OUSD tocomplete three localschools. At one schoolsite, SuperintendentGary Yee, second fromthe right, meets (leftto right) La TanyaHawkins (Turner’schief executiveofficer), Lagon Turner(vice president, fieldoperations), and LenTurner (chief financialofficer).

would feature bands from outsidethe country.

Helping to upgrade the 2013parade are sponsorships fromChildren’s Hospital Oakland,Macy’s and Visit Oakland, joininga long list of sponsors that alreadyinclude presenting sponsor KaiserPermanente as well as Wells Fargo,Alta Bates Summit Medical Center,The Clorox Company and RadioDisney.

On parade day in downtownOakland, more than 100,000spectators – children of all ages –will enjoy the colorful balloonsand the award-winning marchingbands. Some 40 cartoon andstorybook children’s charactersentertain. All bands are judged byprofessional parade judges whoare sanctioned by the NorthernCalifornia Band Association.

These are your sponsorshipdollars at work, with people allover the world seeing Oakland in adifferent light – a shining light thatdemonstrates that Oakland is acity of families that has a sense ofpride and purpose.

The parade will march throughthe streets of downtown Oaklandbeginning at 2 p.m., with children’scharacters that include CharlieBrown and the Peanuts gang,Strawberry Shortcake, Garfield,the Berenstein Bears, and others.

This year’s parade will take aslightly different route. Beginningat 11st Street in downtownOakland, it will turn up Clay Street,make a right turn onto 14th Streetfor one block, and then turn left onBroadway, proceeding all the wayto 20th Street and Lake Merritt.

The parade truly is a nationalevent, with parade items, entriesand volunteers coming in from tendifferent states, and from as faraway as New Jersey, Ohio,Pennsylvania, South Carolina andFlorida.

Don’t let the parade pass youby. Be part of the excitement, thethrills, the pageantry of America’sChildren’s Holiday Parade, seen byviewers worldwide. Show yoursupport today. For sponsorshipopportunities for the 14th annualparade, visit www.oaklandholidayparade.com or contact ChamberPresident Joe Haraburda at (510)874-4810 or at jharaburda@oaklandchamber.com. �

> Parade – continued from page 1

October 2013 | 7

Women in Business RoundtableEAST BAY

As the full moon rose above Lake Merritt one evening last month, some80 businesswomen and a handful of businessmen gathered together atthe Lake Chalet restaurant to celebrate 15 years of networking, businesssuccess and friendships – the 15th anniversary celebration of the EastBay Women in Business Roundtable (EBWIBR).

> East Bay businesswomen celebrate 15 years

The event featured past chairs, current leaders, a continuing slide show of past members, and thepresentation of the first-ever “Trailblazer Award,” which was presented to Dale Marie Golden, vice pres-ident of Torrey Pines Bank, for her contributions to women in business and to East Bay businesses at large.

Known fondly as “the woman in purple,” Golden has a long history of working with and assistingwomen in business. She was a founding committee member of EBWIBR, currently serves on the Boardof Directors for Women’s Initiative for Self Employment, and is the Northern California head of theWomen’s Business Banking and Non-Profit Programs for Torrey Pines.

Golden works tirelessly to build strong business alliances. Her success was marked by the largecrowd of well-wishers who came to cheer her on.

“I feel strongly about small businesses in Oakland,” she said, “and to be recognized for my work isabsolutely fabulous. I give thanks to the many small businesses and the women in business who makeOakland a better place.”

Attendees were treated to a retrospective slide show of past steering committee members and pastpresenters, all put together by Cherie Carter, the group’s secretary and a ten-year committee member.Current co-chairs Kim Arnone and Bedilia Ramirez, presented a brief history of the committee and itsfounding story. Founding committee members Paula Welsh and Suzanne Waligore joined the celebra-tion, and Susan Harlow-Schott made the presentation of the Trailblazer Award. �

Trailblazer Awardwinner Dale Marie

Golden (secondfrom left) proudly

shows off herplaque, which was

represented by(left to right)

committeeco-chair Bedilia

Ramirez (RubiconPrograms), Susan

Harlow Schott(2CP MerchantProcessing) and

co-chair KimArnone (Katovich

& Kassan LawGroup).

Dr. Elnora Webb(right), president ofLaney College and acurrent member ofthe Chamber’s Boardof Directors, meetstwo former ChamberBoard members –Aziz Khatri, directorof KW Commercial;and Ana Chretien,president of ABCSecurity Services.

Paula Groves (left),business servicesdirector of theAlameda County SmallBusiness DevelopmentCenter (SBDC), sharesa moment with DougEschen and DawnnHills of Guardian BayArea Agency.

Cherie Carter (left,Carter Designs),

secretary of the Womenin Business steering

committee and aten-year committee

member, spends timewith Beth Frankland(Mills College). Carter

designed a retrospectiveslide show of past

steering committeemembers and

presenters.

Carol Taylor of AdeptPrinting (left) meets

Margee Witt,president of

Blaisdell’s BusinessProducts.

Thank you to our sponsors

| OBR Oakland Business Review | www.oaklandchamber.com8

SPECIAL SECTION Small Business

For some tenants subleases are a way to enter new marketsor lock up otherwise unavailable locations; for others,particularly in the retail sector, subleases provide anopportunity to unlock the value of real estate holdings ordispose of underutilized or closed locations.

While people often view a sublease as a simple,straightforward agreement that does not require muchthought or effort, a sublease is almost never that simple. Inreality, there are many potential pitfalls and risks inherent in asublease transaction that necessitate thorough due diligence,analysis and care.

Below is a brief roadmap of key due diligence issues andprocedures to address after the sublandlord and subtenanthave reached an agreement on the economics of the subleasetransaction:

1. Review of existing lease documents – As a first step,the parties must carefully review the underlying or masterlease and any other applicable documents, such as CC&Rs.

Key questions include whether a sublease is permitted and what conditions orlimitations the underlying lease imposes on subleases. Other issues include: 1) whetherthe subtenant’s intended use, signage and trade name are permitted; 2) the proceduresand limitations on making alterations; and 3) whether the underlying lease containsrestrictions, prohibitions and obligations that could affect the subtenant’s operations.

2. Obtaining master landlord’s consent – Assuming the underlying lease isacceptable, the parties must then review the procedures for obtaining the masterlandlord’s consent, including the standard for approval (reasonable or otherwise) andwhether the lease contains specific requirements that must be met by proposedsubtenants. Determining the full effect of any restrictions or standards may involvereviewing state laws, which can vary from state to state. Before entering into asublease, the parties should also confirm whether the lease requires the tenant to paythe landlord some or all of the “bonus” rent and whether the tenant has to pay thelandlord an administrative fee or reimburse the landlord’s legal fees and other costs.

Since some leases make certain rights personal to the original tenant and nottransferable to a subtenant, the parties must confirm that key rights (such as optionsto extend and early termination) will survive. In addition, some leases give the landlordthe right to “recapture” the premises (i.e., terminate the lease) rather than approving orrejecting the request to consent to a sublease. If the lease contains such a provision,the parties should determine as early as possible whether the landlord intends toexercise its recapture right to avoid pursuing an ill-fated sublease.

3. Non-disturbance protection – Another important, but sometimes overlookedconsideration arises out of the fact that a sublease is subordinate to the underlyinglease and a subtenant’s rights can be impacted or terminated by the sublandlord’sactions or inactions under the master lease. Therefore, it is important to negotiaterecognition protections with the master landlord (whereby the master landlordrecognizes the subtenant’s rights in the event the master lease is terminated). Inaddition, subtenants should also request the right to receive notices of default, cureany tenant defaults, give notices and exercise extension options and other rightsdirectly with the landlord. The subtenant should verify that nondisturbanceagreements with the landlord’s lenders are in place and cover subtenants. Thesubtenant should also obtain representations from the sublandlord, and ideally alsocertification from the landlord, to verify that there are no defaults or issues on the partof either the tenant or the landlord under the master lease.

With ever-changing conditions and opportunities in the leasing market, subleasesare an important part of the landscape. Done right, a sublease can be an effective realestate strategy. Done wrong, a sublease can expose the parties to unintended risks andobligations.

Paying careful attention to the points discussed above will help ensure that youproperly identify, evaluate and address important issues as you approach subleasetransactions. �

Daniel B. Myers is a real estate and land use partner with Wendel, Rosen, Black &Dean LLP in Oakland. He can be reached at dmyers@wendel.com.

SMALL BUSINESS ADVOCATE

> The commercial sublease – A strategictool for shifting real estate needs

Fred Schott, the regional sales managerof 2CP Merchant Processing – althoughmost people refer to him as a “merchant

advocate” – isthe Chamber’sAmbassador ofthe Month forAugust 2013.

Fred and hiswife Susan havebeen working inthe merchant pro-cessing industryfor more than 11years. As merchantadvocates they

strongly believe in honesty, integrity, andexpertise. They are active Ambassadors forthe chambers in Oakland, San Leandro andHayward.

Fred and Susan are both major network-ers. Besides their active participation inlocal chambers, they have been active mem-bers and leaders in BNI (Business Network-ing International) since 2002.

Fred and Susan put customer servicefirst. Their emphasis is on finding the rightsolution at competitive rates and the properservice for each prospective customer. Theytake the time to educate their prospectiveclients on the “ins and outs” of the mer-chant processing industry. After assessingtheir client’s needs and individual circum-stances, they prepare a written proposalfrom which the client can make an informeddecision without pressure.

After an agreement is reached, they areon hand to train and assist their new cus-tomers with their new solutions, equip-ment, and services for as long as they areneeded. They are willing to come back asoften as is needed or desired. Then theykeep in touch, stopping by on a regular basisto make sure their customers are happy andsatisfied.

For more information, contact Fred orSusan Schott at (510) 786-9595 or atfreds@2cpusa.com – or visitwww.2cpbay.com. �

AMBASSADOR OF THE MONTH

> Fred Schott of 2CP is #1 for August

by Daniel B. Myers, Esq.

Fred Schott

Tenants throughoutthe San FranciscoBay Area are usingsubleases as a partof their real estate

strategies.

Daniel B. Myers

October 2013 | 9

SPECIAL SECTION Small Business

The purpose of a one-to-one is to find out ifthere is a good connection for your businesssuch as referring business, supporting eachother in marketing efforts, or in other ways.

The first one-to-one is often aboutgetting to know each other. Finding outwhere we connect on a personal level isvery important. If there is no affinity, therelationship will likely be unproductive.There will be a discussion of what eachperson does in their business, and withinan hour or less, you’ve got a feeling forwhether you would want to continue therelationship with that person.

The difficulty comes with the follow-upone-to-ones. How do you maintain focus sothat as you get to know each other anddiscover measurable results from thegrowing relationship? People often avoidfurther one-to-one meetings as they appear

unproductive. This hurts the chances of developing profitable, longterm business relationships. With the proper preparation andintention, regular one-to-ones with the right people will lead togetting more business done.

The first step to preparing for a one-to-one is to determine thetopic. Is it to be learning about your businesses? Is it how torecognize what is a good referral? Is it strategizing on introductions?Is it determining ways that you might collaborate on projects? Havinga focus will help you stay on topic during the meeting.

My top five tips for effective one-to-ones are as follows:1. Meet in a professional environment. Busy locations are

distracting. The noise may make it difficult to hear what the otherperson has to say. Notes can’t be taken easily if the space is crampedor messy.

2. Be on time and come prepared. Honoring the time of yourpartner is invaluable. How you show up for a meeting reflects howyou show up for your clients. Be on time, bring the appropriatematerials, and be dressed appropriately, and cleanly, for yourprofession.

3. Have an agenda. If you find that you are talking aboutsomething other than what is on the agenda, and that’s not asproductive as you intended, go back to it. This honors their time andyour time. A simple agenda might be:

a. 20 minutes getting to know each other or catching up socially.b. 20 minutes of talking about them and how you can help them.c. 20 minutes of talking about you and how they can help you.4. Commit to the follow up. If you’ve agreed to do something,

like make a contact or an introduction, put it in your calendar. Includea time to follow up with your one-to-one partner.

5. Listen. You have two ears and one mouth. Use themproportionately.

Effective one-to-one meetings will take your businessnetworking to the next level. You will get more results in less time,and you will be helping others in the process. �

Cory Nott is the owner of the Referral Institute Oakland wherehe helps his clients with the art and science of word-of-mouthmarketing.

ASK THE EXPERT

> Effective one-to-one networking

But we aren’t just talking. We areconducting business.

We are having what’s called a“walking meeting,” and it’s thegood kind of multi-tasking – I’mworking as I exercise and enjoy theoutdoors. We are all so busy athome and at work, so re-claimingsome fresh air and exercise duringthe workday is smart timemanagement.

The health benefits of walkingare well documented – just 30minutes a day, five days a week isenough to improve your health.

Research has shown thatregular brisk walking lowers bloodpressure and the effects of depres-sion. Walking reduces the risk ofstroke and heart disease by 40percent. Clearly, the more we walkand the farther our two feet takeus, the more rewards we reap.

As an organization, KaiserPermanente has been walking the

“walk talk” in a myriad of ways. The most visible evidence isour Everybody Walk! program (www.everybodywalk.org). Onthe website, you’ll find plenty of free resources, including amobile-phone app.

Now that I covered the health benefits, what are thebusiness benefits of a walking meeting?

I began holding walking meetings in 2007, soon after Icame to work for Regional Health Education at KaiserPermanente’s downtown Oakland offices. Our department’sobjective is to help our members take care of their ownhealth, and we strive to set a good example of that.Walking meetings were part of the culture when I arrived.

I quickly realized that walking meetings were a wisepath for me to take. I encounter fewer interruptions,distractions from my computer and smart phone, and otherwork demands competing for my attention. I'm a kineticlearner, so the conversations and my thinking while walkingare more alive. The change of atmosphere and movementstimulate my creativity.

I also found walking meetings have strengthenedrelationships with my team and helped foster new onesacross the organization. Getting out of the traditional officesetting has been conducive to connecting with people in adifferent light. And when I visit colleagues in our medicalcenters, I make sure to take walking tours there so I can bestunderstand their environment.

Six years after my first walking meeting, I now hold twoor three a week. I’m always ready for a meeting-on-the-go. Ikeep T-shirts, yoga pants, visors, shoes and sunscreen in myoffice.

Decide on your own routine, but since I like to build intime to change, I find walking meetings work best aroundthe lunch hour.

I encourage those who want to try walking meetings tofind a favorite route. Choose a, park, a quiet street, or just adestination route that ends in picking up lunch or coffee.

But remember – only certain meetings are fit for walking.The ones that work best are more conversational, such ascheck-ins, brainstorms, “getting to know you,” or sharedproblem-solving sessions. This is not the time for disciplineor negotiations.

As with any productive meeting, it’s always a good ideato conclude your walk-and-talk with a summary of how eachparticipant is going to follow up.

Every time I return from a walking meeting, I feel great. Iwas able to get work done while getting a mini workout.With my head clear from a walk, I can then focus better inthe office.

Try it. You may find you’re at your most productive insneakers. �

Kathleen Eyre is the managing director of HealthEducation at Kaiser Permanente Northern California.

ASK THE EXPERT

> Work as you exercise – a ‘walking meeting’

by Cory Nott

Kathleen Eyre

Have you ever hada one-to-one

networking meetingwith someone thatyou’ve met through

the Chamber orother networking

group?

Cory Nott

by Kathleen Eyre

I have my blue visoron, my sunscreen

rubbed in, and whitewalking shoes lacedup. I’m strolling the

shores of LakeMerritt in downtownOakland, stealing aglimpse at the geeseas my companion

and I talk.

| OBR Oakland Business Review | www.oaklandchamber.com10

> Illegal dumping continues to increaseby Paul Junge

If you’ve driven around Oakland lately you’ve probably seen it. It mightbe an abandoned sofa or a stack of mattresses, piles of garbage by theside of the road or in an abandoned lot, an unsavory collection ofwaste by a fence or even blocking a road or driveway. According to theOakland Public Works Department, the incidents of illegal dumping inthe last year are up 34 percent from the previous year.

It’s not that nothing is being done to discourage the practice and cleanit up. There are laws on the books and many volunteers, including a grouporganized weekly by Oakland City Councilmember Noel Gallo, who arecleaning up after those that are making their garbage somebody else’sproblem. But right now the garbage is piling up.

A new measure championed by Oakland City Councilmember LynetteGibson-McElhaney and City Attorney Barbara Parker attempts to develop a com-prehensive approach to illegal dumping. The principal means of enforcementunder existing law is citing illegal dumping violators for misdemeanors understate law when violators can be identified and arrested. But with police spreadthin as it is, the difficulties of making a case has made prevention a tough chore.

To try to fill the gap, the City Attorney’s Neighborhood Law Corps is workingwith the Public Works Agency and the City Administrator's Nuisance AbatementDivision to initiate a pilot program to cite illegal dumpers who can be identifiedby their license plates.

The new law creates additional penalties (includingrecovery of attorney's fees) and provides additional penaltiesfor particular types of dumped materials, such as mattresses,large furniture, televisions, electronics, and hazardousmaterials.

Illegal dumpers can be eligible for community serviceinstead of fines. However at this time the city does not havefunding for such a community service program.

Another new wrinkle in the fight against illegal dumpingis the possibility of seizing any vehicle used to dump illegally.

State law allows cities to adopt legislation for the seizureof vehicles involved in illegal dumping, and so this legislationenacts the necessary procedures to utilize this stateauthorization.

The measure also requires businesses that rent places foroccupation to permanently mark mattresses and furniture forlater identification and make landlords responsible formaterials tenants illegally dump near their rental units.

The Chamber of Commerce has expressed concern abouthow these measures might be enforced and worked with thebill’s author to address those concerns. �

Paul Junge is the Chamber’s vice president and director ofpublic policy.

Public PolicyREPRESENTING THE INTERESTSOF BUSINESS WITH GOVERNMENT

JOIN Chamber members for this informative breakfast at theOakland Chamber of Commerce, 475 14th Street.

This event is free to Chamber members and $10.00 fornon-members. To attend, you must RSVP by Wednesday, Oct. 23.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE AND REGISTER ONLINE www.oaklandchamber.com.

Have questions? Contact Paul Junge at (510) 874-4817 or atpjunge@oaklandchamber.com.

Come to “Inside Oakland Breakfast Forum” and hearfrom people who affect the policies and progress ofthe city in which we live and do business.

Panel discussion

FIRE PREVENTIONDISTRICT BALLOT MEASURE

> Alameda County – The ‘provider of last resort’by Paul Junge

With one and a halfmillion people living there,it ranks seventh in popula-tion of the 58 that exist inCalifornia. It has a budgeton $2.7 billion andemploys almost 9,200people. The averageannual income of the peo-ple who live there is$49,617 and the unemployment rate in Augustamong its inhabitants was 7.4 percent. It’sAlameda County.

The woman who runs day-to-day AlamedaCounty government is County Administrator SusanMuranishi, and she was the guest speaker at theSeptember Inside Oakland breakfast at theChamber offices.

Muranishi described many of the servicesprovided by the county, from public safety (thecounty operates a Sheriff’s Department, which inturn runs the county jails) and the prosecutor’s office, to health care and othersocial services including food stamps. She says county government is oftenreferred to as the provider of last resort.

Muranishi says the fiscal management of Alameda County has been veryprudent and forward looking. She cited several examples to justify the claim.One was the creation many years ago of a Surplus Property Trust Fund whereproceeds from county-owned lands went into a trust in which the interest

income from the trust would fund capital projects. She alsoexplained a Fiscal Management Reward FMR) system thatincentivizes county departments to save money in theirbudgets instead of the “use-it or lose-it” that is prevalentin other government budgeting systems.

The good fiscal management translates to recentupgrades from the three credit rating agencies and arelatively low 4.5 percent the county had to offer on arecent $260 million bond offering to finance the HighlandHospital Acute Tower replacement project.

Muranishi also talked about the many regionalcollaborations in which Alameda County participates.One example is the Regional Communication system,which is an emergency response system covering Alamedaand Contra Costa counties and all the cities in both ofthose counties, with one exception, Oakland. As followersof Oakland politics know, this absence from the regionalsystem is controversial.

While there have been many reasons given formaintaining this independence, critics say that the city ofOakland could save money and improve the performanceof its emergency communication systems (in particular,police radios) if it would join the regional system. �

Paul Junge is the Chamber’s vice president and director of public policy.

> New ‘InsideOakland’ chairJackie Lynn Ray, the regionalgovernment and public affairsmanager for Schnitzer SteelIndustries in Oakland, has beennamed chair of the Chamber’sInside Oakland BreakfastForum.

Ray joined Schnitzer Steel inJuly 2012 and currently overseespublic policy, community rela-tions, and outreach activities forSchnitzer’s facilities in Californiaand Nevada. Prior to joiningSchnitzer, she served as govern-ment affairs manager and Tex-tilePAC director at the NationalCouncil of Textile Organizationsrepresenting the U.S. textileindustry in Washington, D.C. �

� Guest speakerSusan Muranishi(second from theright) joins AlamedaCounty SupervisorKeith Carson (left)along with ChamberVice President PaulJunge and InsideOakland Chair JackieRay.

INSIDE OAKLAND BREAKFAST FORUMFriday, Oct. 25 • 8:30 - 10 a.m.

October 2013 | 11

SPECIAL SECTION Green Business

> Oakland Green and Cleantechsector growing, poised for takeoff

bay in mid-October will gather thought leaders including AmoryLovins, Paul Hawken, former US EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson,and many others. You can find GreenBiz.com right in Frank H.Ogawa Plaza, or on line, of course.

BuildItGreen delivers solutions for home energy efficiencySimilar to Sungevity, BuildItGreen (BIG) expanded to downtownOakland from neighboring Berkeley in mid-2010 with 25employees, with a plan to go to scale that was hampered initiallyby slow building during the historic recession. Pivoting into amajor role in delivering residential energy retrofits via California’sstimulus-funded Energy Upgrade program, BIG quickly doubledits staff from 25 to over 50 and opened offices in SouthernCalifornia as well.

BIG is just the latest majorsuccess story in Oakland’sauspicious energy efficiency

cluster known as Negawatt Alley (witha “negawatt” being a “megawatt,conserved”). Other members of thismighty cluster include Lucid, kWEngineering, Energy Solutions, and

Integral Group, to name a few.From these examples alone, you can tell that Oakland has

strong momentum in the green and cleantech space, with evenmore exciting developments sure to develop before my nextreport in October 2014. �

Steve Lautze is the green business specialist in the city of Oakland’s

Department of Economic Development, and can be reached at

slautze@oaklandnet.com or at (510) 238-4973.

by Steve Lautze

The fifth and final subsector ofOakland’s green economy is its broadand deeply talented nonprofit sector,including many leading edge policyand research organizations.

In context of the Bay Area, one ofthe true global leaders in cleantechbusiness excellence, Oakland standspoised to garner the lion’s share ofregional growth in this vital andcritical arena, given our strongfundamentals vs. San Franciscoand Silicon Valley, including loweroperating and housing costs, transit-friendly scalability, access to UCBerkeley and Lawrence Berkeley

Lab, and diverse and magnetic amenities in downtown and otherneighborhoods.

Let’s review some of the major highlights in the green andcleantech sector in Oakland over the last year, which point theway to an even brighter future:

Sungevity, Mosaic, and new SfunCube keep shining brightWhen Sungevity moved to Oakland from Berkeley in the springof 2010, it was a promising young firm with 55 employees usingits “sunshine online,” web-based sales model to sell solar systemsin most parts of California. Three and a half short years later,Sungevity is nearly 300 employees strong, anchoring a revitalizedJack London Square, and selling and installing residential solarelectric systems in nine U.S. states, Australia and the Netherlands.

Key to the company’s expansion was its use of the “solarlease,” which allows consumers to amortize system costs in a waythat makes the first monthly payment lower than its utilityelectric charges.

Reaching beyond its own success, Sungevity helped toincubate and expand solar financing innovator Mosaic(www.joinmosaic.com), which has married the solar leasingmodel with a sophisticated, web-based “crowdfunding”technique, allowing average citizens to invest as little as $25 instable solar commercial projects, offering rates of return from4.5 to 5.75 percent.

Most recently, Sungevity teamed with former Ella Baker Centerorganizer Emily Kirsch to create the SfunCube solar technologyincubator/accelerator (www.sfuncube.biz), which nurtures solarstartups crafting solutions to economic, institutional, andtechnical barriers blocking widespread access to solar energy.Another goal of SfunCube is to create a leading solar technologycluster here in Oakland, with startups spinning out and scaling inJack London Square and downtown Oakland.

GreenBiz.com blazing greener trailsAnother major player in Oakland’s burgeoning green andcleantech economy is web journalism pioneer GreenBiz.com.Founded by Oakland natives Joel Makower and Pete May,GreenBiz continues to convene prestigious, high-levelconferences advancing corporate and overall sustainability incorners of the world including Shanghai, London, and Rio deJaneiro.

Organized around the company’s concept known as “VERGE,”which analyzes trends and potential for greater linkage betweenclean energy, information technology, buildings, andtransportation systems, the upcoming VERGE event across the

Already home to morethan 200 robust anddiversified companies

offering an environmentalproduct or service,

Oakland’s growing familyof sustainability-orientedfirms is spread across fivedistinct subsectors, includ-ing traditional strengths ofenvironmental consulting

and recycling-basedcompanies, supplemented

by dynamic, newerclusters in energy

efficiency/green buildingand alternative energy

production and support.

� Solar panels atopdowntown Oakland’sAsian Cultural Center,financed by Mosaic’s“crowdfunding” model.

� Another sunny day inJack London Square,where a solar technologycluster is taking root.

Photo courtesy of M

osaic

Our commitment starts with our employeeswho have been busy with a range ofinitiatives. Some examples include workingwith local growers who bring locally grownproduce to our stores, to decreasing ourcarbon footprint, moving toward zero wastefacilities, and volunteering in the community.

Safeway set a goal in 2013 to volunteerone million hours company-wide. In Oakland, there are several organizationswhere our employees have made a difference through their volunteer efforts.Organizations such as The Martin Luther King Freedom Center, Oral LeeBrown Foundation and The East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse have receivedThe Safeway Foundation grants among other Oakland nonprofitorganizations that are making a difference in the East Bay.

It is important to us to reduce the amount of material sent to landfill. In2012, we diverted over 474,000 tons of material and recycled items such asplastic grocery bags and film, compost, waste meat and grease andaluminum scrap.

Our customers are part of thesustainability journey. They are helping usreduce the number of single-use bags by onebillion bags by the end of 2015. Theirgenerosity has allowed The Safeway

Foundation and Safeway to raise and donate more than $1 billion since 2001.Our new store on College Avenue in Oakland is being designed with

sustainability in-mind. Some of the features that go beyond requiredbuilding standards include:

• Energy-efficient LED lights in the frozen food aisle, producedepartment and the parking lot.

• Additional windows to take advantage of natural light.• Refrigerator case doors in sections of the store that normally have open

cases, such as the beverage, cheese and yogurt sections. These doors willhelp us reduce our energy consumption and carbon footprint.

A great deal has been accomplished through employees and ourcustomers, and even more needs to be done. Together we can make adifference. �

Chris Ratto is the director of sustainability at Safeway.

| OBR Oakland Business Review | www.oaklandchamber.com12

SPECIAL SECTION Green Business

> Lowney sets a precedent in the heart of Berkeley

Consideration of the proximity of the residential area is a drivingjustification for the modular approach to building design andconstruction. Each building module, which contains two units, isdelivered to the site on a truck and quickly craned into place. The bulkof the construction will take place in a matter of days, minimizing thedisruption generally associated with construction projects of thismagnitude.

The units themselves, ranging from 305 square feet to 340 squarefeet, are equipped in the factory with full amenities, including awasher/dryer, a full-size refrigerator, and a queen size bed. Full heightglazing in each unit provides ventilation and ample light. Comfortableliving is achieved in a densified urban condition, conserving resources.

With the construction of such an innovative project at thegateway to the downtown corridor, Lowney Architecture looks to seta precedent for comprehensive sustainable community building to comein the heart of Berkeley. �

Brendan Finney is a designer with Lowney Architecture.

by Brendan Finney

To be certain, Lowney Architectureis concerned with environmentallysensitive construction, and LEEDcertified professionals in the officeworked with those guidelines in mindwhen designing the apartments at

2701 Shattuck Ave. in Berkeley.But at the center of the design for this project is Lowney’s

commitment to enriching the community in which any project issituated. While LEED guidelines matter, they are a stepping stone toachieving a larger design objective. What is most critical is how aproject operates in concert with its surroundings, how it is influencedby and shapes its site, how it contributes to and encourages asustainable, progressive community as a whole.

Considering 2701 Shattuck initially in terms of LEED, the project

does its part to be the responsiblenew neighbor. A considerable 21percent of the site will be permeablesurface, with more than a third of thatdevoted to stormwater management.

Gardens and terraces add up 3,700 square feet of open space, anearly 1,000-square-foot bonus over the required amount. Each ofthe 70 micro-unit apartments is naturally ventilated through thefaçade and the corridor, significantly trimming the energyconsumption of the building’s operation. Over 60 indoor bikeparking spaces encourage the residents to utilize the cycling corridoralong Adeline and Shattuck. Materials throughout the project will beselected for their amount of recycled content, the proximity of theirsource, and for their contribution to interior air quality.

Beyond the building itself, it is necessary to consider the projectwithin the larger context of downtown Berkeley. 2701 Shattuck is atthe intersection of Adeline Street and Shattuck Avenue, a pinch pointin the urban fabric where Shattuck transitions from a 70-foot-wide,two-lane street to a 170-foot-wide, four-lane boulevard. Accordingly,the sidewalks also widen here to 35 feet in order to eventuallyaccommodate the off-street parking pockets that line Shattuck intodowntown Berkeley.

The street at 2701 features the deeper sidewalk without theparking pockets, allowing space for the insertion of a small publicpark on the corner that includes café-style seating for the restaurant.As Adeline runs diagonally into Shattuck from the south precisely atthe site of 2701, the project is highly visible, demanding a prominentbuilding to define the intersection as the gateway that it is. Theprimary façade that faces down Adeline and west out towards thebay reaches the full 60-foot allowable height with a visible roofgarden and terrace. On the opposite side down Derby Street are thelow California bungalows that define the residential fabric of thearea.

The building responds to the shift in scale first by stepping downin the rear with a landscaped terrace on the podium level, and thenagain with a green wall facing the adjacent property to create a softerborder with its neighbor.

Sustainable design is amatter of responsibility toone’s community, and is atask that goes beyond theitems on the LEED check-list for “green building.”

� Safeway’s new storeon College Avenue inOakland is beingdesigned withsustainability in mind.

� A planned view of 2701Shattuck Avenue, aresponsible new neighborin downtown Berkeley.

> Creating better lives, vibrant neighborhoods and a healthier planetby Chris Ratto

Safeway is committed tomaking a real, positivedifference in all of the

neighborhoods it serves– from its East Coaststores to right here in

Oakland.

October 2013 | 13

completed in spring of 2007 and award LEED Silver Certification inMarch 2010.

Colliers International, Oakland is located in the Gold certified LakeMerritt Plaza. “Lake Merritt Plaza is the first existing LEED Gold certifiedbuilding in Oakland,” said Trent Holsman, senior vice president atColliers International.

Colliers International, in fact, is a global leader in commercial realestate services, with more than 13,500 professionals operating out ofmore than 482 offices in 62 countries. A subsidiary of FirstServiceCorporation, Colliers International delivers a full range of services toreal estate users, owners and investors worldwide, including globalcorporate solutions, brokerage, property and asset management, hotelinvestment sales and consulting,valuation, consulting and appraisalservices, mortgage banking andinsightful research.

For more information, visitcolliers.com/us/news. �

� Oakland InternationalAirport’s Terminal 2 is thefirst airport passengerterminal in the country toreceive LEED SilverCertification.

SPECIAL SECTION Green Business

> Oakland – A leader in the ‘Green’ movement

Oakland adopted a Civic Green BuildingOrdinance in May 2005 that requires all newand heavily renovated municipal buildingsmeet LEED guidelines.

Established by the U.S. Green BuildingCouncil (USGBC), LEED is the leading-edgerating system certifying the greenestperforming buildings in the world and theinternationally recognized benchmark forsustainability. The rating system measures the

building’s use of resources such as energy, water, natural light and airquality.

LEED certified buildings cost less to maintain and operate, are waterand energy efficient, are safer and healthier for tenants, and have higheroccupancy rates than conventional and comparable buildings. The LEEDrating system has four certifications –Platinum, Gold, Silver andCertified.

Exemplary of Oakland’s environmental awareness, all 29 buildings indowntown Oakland’s Class A office market, which total 9,842,645 squarefeet, have in some way participated in the LEED program. “We are notonly seeing a push towards greener office space from building ownersand management in Oakland. The desire for a building that participatesin the LEED program ranks high on the list of criteria for anoverwhelming number of corporate users,” says Ken Meyersieck,managing director of Colliers International’s Oakland office.

Oakland City Center at 499 14th St. and 500 12th St. were recentlyawarded LEED Silver Certifications. 1300 Clay Street and 505 14th Streetare both certified as LEED Gold Buildings. These Class A properties join555 12th Street and 1111 Broadway, both previously LEED Gold Certified.

Oakland International Airport Terminal 2 is the first airport passengerterminal in the U.S. to receive the “Silver” level of this prestigious award.LEED Silver Certification of OAK’s Terminal 2 extension was based on anumber of green design and construction features that positivelyimpacted the project and the broader community. The project was

Oakland is nationallyrecognized as one ofAmerica’s greenest

cities, and is rated #5on the list of theGreenest Cities in

the U.S. according toSmartplanet.com.

| OBR Oakland Business Review | www.oaklandchamber.com14

Schnitzer Steel Industries, which has ametals recycling business in West Oakland,has been working in conjunction with itsPick-N-Pull business to complete thelifecycle of automobiles in California formore than two decades.

The process begins with Pick-N-Pullpurchasing vehicles from auto auctions,city contracts, private owners, and areacharities and bringing those vehicles toits facility. The cars then go through adismantling process that includes theremoval and recycling of all fluids, as wellas batteries. The car is then placed on thesales floor where customers can purchase

its re-usable parts. Once customers have pulledmost or all of the usable parts, the car iscrushed and sent to a metal shredding facility –like Schnitzer’s facility in Oakland.

The Institute for Scrap Recycling Industries(ISRI) reports that the recycling of just one car

saves the energy equivalent of 502 gallons of gasoline and reducesgreenhouse gas emissions by 8,811 lbs. (of CO2 equivalent). And with morethan 200,000 cars recycled in Oakland the environmental impact ofrecycling automobiles is substantial.

Recycling also provides a direct economic benefit to our communities.As a result of its leadership, California has more than 15,000 peopleemployed in the recycling industry with an economic impact of $4 billionto the state economy. With advancements of technology and thedevelopment of goods from recycling products, we can expect thiseconomic figure to grow.

Recycling is not a new concept, but the advancements are new and wehope that California and our area recyclers will continue to be at theforefront of this movement.

For more information on where to recycle in Alameda County, visitwww.stopwaste.org/home/index.asp. �

Jackie Ray is the government affairs manager at Schnitzer SteelIndustries, which is located at 1101 Embarcadero West in Oakland. Formore information call (510) 444-3919 or visit www.schnitzersteel.com.

SPECIAL SECTION Green Business

> Incorporating sustainable features in designby Lorna Dare

There are many sustainability rating programssuch as Green Globes, Collaborative for HighPerformance Schools (CHPS) or Leadership inEnergy & Environmental Design (LEED) whereprojects can attain certification.

But can businesses, organizations andindividuals promote healthy, energy and resource efficient buildingswithout participating in a sustainability rating program?

For example, by understanding the basic categories of the LEEDrating system, it can guide an architect and owner in making decisionsand selections during the design process whether the project is eventuallycertified or not. This approach was used by murakami/Nelson at BeachElementary School in Piedmont. The project did not participate in a formalCHPS or LEED certification process; however, many sustainable featureswere incorporated into the design that did not significantly impact thebudget.

Under the LEED Materials & Resources category, building reuse, useof recycled materials, and recycling of construction waste materials wereaddressed by maintaining the majority of the existing building structureand by removing, refinishing, and reinstalling wood cabinets, windows andpaneling. Wood trim was removed, re-milled, refinished and reinstalled.Historic chandeliers were removed, reconditioned, U.L. certified andrewired to accept new energy efficient fixtures. Linoleum bulletin boardsmade with linseed oil and cork, a rapidly renewable material, wereinstalled. New carpeting was made from recycled materials. Clay roofingtiles were salvaged from another building and reused. Any existing buildingcan take a similar approach to reusing resources.

In this same school, Indoor Environmental Quality was addressed withlow VOC paints and finishes, removal of extensive vinyl covered bulletinboards (to reduce off-gassing,) reorientation of white boards (to minimizeglare), installation of energy efficient lighting with triple switching (toincrease user control), and easily operable windows (to increaseventilation).

To optimize Energy Performance the existing building was fullyinsulated, a mechanical system that could use either outside orrecirculated air was installed, and large shade trees were strategicallyplanted to reduce heat gain in the classrooms. Water Efficiency wasaddressed with installation of low flow plumbing fixtures.

Under the LEED Sustainable Sites category, the heat island effect wasreduced by the removal of hardscape and the creation of a rain garden, an

edible garden, and an ecology teachinggarden to integrate with the school’sscience program. Shade trees wereplanted in the outdoor lunch area. Forhigher solar reflectance new lightcolored concrete walkways wereinstalled. Light colored paint was usedto delineate play courts, and rubberized

matting around and under play structures is light colored as well. A “coolroof” with a high solar reflectance was installed.

To address storm water management, storm water runoff is capturedand directed to a rain garden where the water is filtered and can be used inthe edible garden or released into the city’s storm water system.

All of the above measures were undertaken without a formalcertification process and most were achieved with little or no impact tothe project budget. Ideally each project should be accessed at its outset foropportunities to incorporate sustainable measures. And, depending on thesustainability goals of the owner or client, be considered for formalcertification. Where this is not possible there still are ways to reduce theuse of our limited resources. �

Lorna Dare, LEED AP, is an associate at murakami/Nelson, an Oakland-based architecture and planning firm – a certified Bay Area GreenBusiness with six LEED accredited professionals on staff.

Sustainability hasbecome the catch

phrase for reducingnegative impacts onour environment.

� Crushed cars atSchnitzer SteelIndustries, a metalsrecycling business inOakland.

� The Beach ElementarySchool project did notparticipate in a formal CHPSor LEED certification process;however, many sustainablefeatures were incorporatedinto the design that did notsignificantly impact thebudget.

> Recycling in California saves energy and provides economic vitalityby Jackie Lynn Ray

According to theMerriam-Websterdictionary, the first

known use of the term“recycle” was in 1926.

But many argue that thereuse and recycling ofmaterials has been apractice well beforeWebster coined the

term, and many Oaklandrecycling companies areworking to ensure this

practice continues.

October 2013 | 15

SPECIAL SECTION Green Business

> McGuire and Hester help opennew OPD canine academy

The Oakland Police Department Canine Unit wasformed in 1982 and has continued with greatsuccess. The unit consists of 12 patrol dog teamswhich are utilized to search for and apprehendcriminal suspects. In addition, some of the caninesare trained in tracking and narcotics detection.

Project Manager Brian Thompson, whileworking on the 12th Street Reconstruction Project,was approached by the unit with the request for

McGuire and Hester to assist in landscaping a vacant lot that is adjacentto Lake Merritt. The lot was initially stable grounds for the horses of OPD’smounted patrol that was disbanded in 2004. The Canine Unit hoped toutilize the lot as a training ground, but unfortunately it needed quite a bitof work before that would be possible.

After learning of the need, McGuire and Hester was happy to help.Thompson reached out to the Sod Supplier for the 12th Street project,Delta-Blue Grass out of Stockton, to see if they would be interested indonating the needed sod for the project. They quickly stepped up to theplate and donated 10,000 square feet of sod.

Earlier this month an M&H crew led by Superintendent Casey Johnstonand Forman Iven Kincheloe successfully handed over the newly landscapedtraining grounds to the K9 Association.

Because of the dedication of McGuire and Hester and Delta-Blue Grass,OPD was able to open its first new canine academy with six new handlers. �

McGuire and Hester(M&H) recently

received anopportunity to giveback to a group thathas given so much

to the city ofOakland and its

residents.

> Construction industry leaders merge

The new organization is entitled the Bay AreaBuilders Exchange (BABX) and is projected to beone of the most comprehensive service providerssupporting the Bay Area construction industry.

“The Bay Area Builders Exchange is very wellequipped to provide our contractors andcustomers outstanding quality with excellentvalue in an increasingly competitiveenvironment," said Nancy Brinkerhoff, formerpresident of Contra Costa Builders Exchange andpresident of the new organization.

The Contra Costa Builders Exchange (CCBX) and the Builders Exchangeof Alameda (BEAC) collectively have served the building constructioncommunity for 135 years –CCBX was founded in 1954 and BEAC in 1932.

In 2003, CCBX was among an elite group of Builders Exchanges thatintroduced bids and specs online through a state-of-the-art online“planroom.”

Longtime associates Scott Leary, executive director of BEAC, andDenice McDavid, executive director of CCBX, shared a vision for expandingbidding coverage in the Bay Area. To that end, Leary and McDavid puttogether a merger task force of directors and executed a formal merger ofboth Builders Exchanges in a little over six months.

The new Bay Area Builders Exchange harnessed its pre-existingexecutive talent to form its current powerhouse leadership team.

Leary, the executive director of the merged organization, served as theexecutive director of the Builders Exchange of Alameda County for the past22 years and saw the merger as a way to stabilize as well as grow bothorganizations in a challenging economy. Additionally, Leary served asgovernmental education services manager for Sacramento BuildersExchange for five years, prior to joining BEAC. He is an officer on numerousprofessional boards including 2003 president of Northern CaliforniaSociety of Association Executives as well as secretary/treasurer for GoldenState Builders Exchange.

Brinkerhoff brings a wealth of industry knowledge to the organizationas owner and CEO of Ironwood Commercial Builders, a Union contractorpresently employing 60 people on commercial construction projects in theEast Bay. �

Builders Exchange ofAlameda County and

Contra CostaBuilders Exchangehave merged in astrategic move to

leverage assets andexpand services tothe construction

community.

| OBR Oakland Business Review | www.oaklandchamber.com16

Oakland has long boasted about its “GreenCorridor” status along with other East Baycities. But the questions is, can Oaklandconstruct policies and strategies that can

not only help make it the “Greenest City” in the country, but moreimportantly, help act as a catalyst for sustained economic growth,

new business attraction, and jobs forOakland residents?

The first point of consideration isto understand what and who is already

here. What is the current status of the green economy businesses inthe Bay Area? One of Oakland’s best urban economists, Linda Hausrath,has looked at this issue as part of larger city-led master plans for WestOakland and the Coliseum District. The studies reveal a number ofinteresting conclusions. First, the green-economy in the Bay Area isincredibly broad and deep. It includes a huge range of new and oldbusinesses that range from engineering, software, bio-products,chemical products, consumer products, air purification systems, energyand resource efficiency design, smart grid design, and much more.

Over the last decade the Bay Area has become the global centerof emerging green-tech technologies and businesses. This businessfootprint ranges from the obvious R&D companies to the numerousdesign, legal, banking, marketing and business consulting firms thatsupport this broad and diversified economy.

The bottom-line conclusions from the numerous studies that havebeen done are:

• First, the green business sector is huge in the Bay Area.• Second, the Bay Area is probably the world leader in “green”

research, product development, and business start-ups.• Third, the green economy is the fastest sector of growth in the

entire Bay Area, growing at a sustained rate of over 5 percent annuallyover the last decade.

Green-tech is a significant part of the “new-tech,” which is linked tothe start-up revolution that is driving the Bay Area economy. Those arepretty significant conclusions, and clearly a foundation to grow aneconomic development strategy on.

What are possible Oakland strategies that will allow it to capturemore of this high growth sector? New-tech companies like to be closeto their customers. Public policies that incentivize investment in solarand other renewables lead create a customer base that green businesseswill need to be close to. Start-up accelerators like Sungevity’s SfunCubecreates a critical mass of new companies in the solar space that beginto create a viable business cluster – a start-up ecosystem that brings acritical mass of companies with complementary knowledge and skills.This knowledge cluster itself becomes a job attraction driver, which willbegin to attract other legal, design, finance companies that want to bepart of this economic space.

Oakland’s downtown neighborhood strategy will also be a keyelement of this business attraction strategy. New-tech businesses liketo be near their employees and potential future employees. Access tosafe, “cool” neighborhoods where tech employees can live and workwill be essential. Creating transit accessible live-work locations with anetwork of street car corridors that expand Oakland’s emerginglive/work neighborhoods to BART will also be critical to create placesthat new- tech companies want to locate.

The bottom line is that the public policy and land use strategies thatOakland implements over the next several years can and will have asignificant impact on the “green-tech” business growth in ourcommunity. �

SPECIAL SECTION Green Business

> How to comply with AlamedaCounty’s new recycling lawby Rachel Balsley

A new ordinance in 13 of the county’s 14 cities,including Oakland, requires businesses andinstitutions generating four or more cubic yardsof solid waste per week and all multi-familyproperties with five or more units to providerecycling collection service.

Thousands of compliance inspections havebeen conducted and are ongoing, and repeated violations may result incitation and fine.

Materials that must be recycled include cardboard, newspaper,mixed recyclable paper, glass and metal food and beverage containers,and #1 (PET) and #2 (HDPE) plastic bottles.

Follow the law to avoid citation and fineBusinesses and owners/managers of commercial properties may be cited,and possibly fined, for the following violations:

1. Failure to provide containers of sufficient number and/or sizefor recyclable materials. Contact your service provider to arrange foradequate recycling service. Containers must be large enough and collectedfrequently enough to hold all of the recyclables generated at the propertyand they must be kept at the same location as the garbage containers.

2. Disposing of recyclable materials in the garbage. The followingmust be kept separate from the garbage – cardboard, newspaper, whitepaper, mixed recyclable paper, recyclable glass food and beveragecontainers, aluminum and metal food and beverage containers, PET (#1)and HDPE (#2) plastic bottles.

3. Disposing of garbage in recycling containers. Inspectors willverify that only recyclable materials are located in the recycling containers.

4. Failure to provide information annually to employees, tenants,and contractors describing how to properly use the recycling andgarbage containers. For commercial property owners who lease space toone or more business, this information must be provided to each tenant toshare with their employees, as well as no later than 14 days after move-inand no less than 14 days prior to move-out.

Tips for success Whether your workplace is setting up its recycling program for the firsttime or has had one in place for years, there are a number of ways you canimprove the program’s effectiveness.

• Train and communicate. Property owners and managers are alsorecommended to post prominent signs on or near the recycling andgarbage containers clearly indicating which are for garbage and which arefor recycling. Use posters or decals that contain drawings or pictures of thematerials that go into each container. This helps people understand how tosort the materials properly. Many haulers and cities can provide postersand/or decals that are specific to the materials they accept. For contactinformation or sample posters, visit www.RecyclingRulesAC.org.

Also, post reminders in break rooms and on bulletin boards. Email, staffnewsletters and Intranet sites are other effective means of sharinginformation about your recycling program. And be sure to keep custodialstaff in the loop. Whether they are employees or contractors, provide themwith training and periodic reminders about how to manage recyclables atyour site.

• Form a green team.Given the chance, many employees willvolunteer to play an active role in making your organization moreenvironmentally responsible. To form a Green Team, encourage interestedstaff from different levels and parts of your organization to get involved.Then schedule a kick-off meeting to gather input and start a plan of action.

• Show and tell. A booth or other type of display in the building’slobbies or common areas can help remind people that recycling matters.The display could include posters and simple brochures or frequently askedquestions explaining the recycling program, as well as samples of what canand can’t be recycled. Contests, raffles and other incentives help engagepeople and draw attention to their role in making the program successful.

Contact your service provider to learn more about collection serviceoptions. For contact information and additional resources to assist incompliance, visit www.RecyclingRulesAC.org or call the OrdinanceInformation Line at (510) 891-6575. �

Rachel Balsley is a program manager at StopWaste, the Alameda CountyWaste Management Authority and the Alameda County SourceReduction and Recycling Board operating as one public agency.

In Alameda County,recycling is nowmandatory for

many businessesand multi-family

properties.

� An artist’s renderingof the West OaklandMaster Plan.

> Beyond the ‘Green Corridor’to the ‘Green Economy’Is ‘Green’ a real eco-nomic development

strategy for Oakland?

October 2013 | 17

SPECIAL SECTION Green Business

> Waste Management walks the talk

WMAC and its parent company Waste Management areinvesting millions of dollars in Alameda County to reducegreenhouse gas emissions, recover more recyclable materials,and harness renewable resources for local use.

Recent initiatives include:

LEEDTM Gold CertificationThe WMAC headquarters at 172 98th Ave. in Oakland earnedthe U.S. Green Building Council Leadership in Energy &Environmental Design (LEED). It received a Gold ratingfollowing nearly $100,000 in upgrades to reduce energy andwater consumption as well as institute environmentallyfriendly landscape and facilities maintenance programs. Its

new drought-tolerant landscape features WM EarthCareTM compost and mulch, madelocally from Alameda County residents’ food scraps, yard trimmings and clean lumberdebris.

This is the second LEEDTM Gold certification WMAC has been awarded. In 2011,WMAC constructed an $11 million facility, the first industrial LEEDTM Gold building in SanLeandro, at its Davis Street Resource Recovery Complex. The state-of-the-art buildinghouses organic materials collected in Oakland and other communities prior to transferfor composting or bio-fuel. Local contractors provided a majority of the constructionservices and 92 percent of the work was union jobs.

WMAC is now actively pursuing the installation of solar panels at both 98th Avenueand Davis Street. Based on initial calculations, the multi-million dollar solar project couldgenerate as much as three million kilowatt hours and offset nearly 72 percent of WMAC’senergy consumption annually. This is just one example of how WMAC is reducing itscarbon footprint.

Near-zero carbon emissionsRecently, WMAC converted its fleet of trucks servicing the Port of Oakland fromdual-fuel diesel/liquefied natural gas (LNG) to compressed natural gas (CNG). Deliveringbetween 10 and 12 loads a day to the Port, WMAC is eliminating greenhouse gases (GHG)and particulates along this important corridor. The trucks are powered by a near-zerocarbon fuel “trash gas,” derived from landfill gas at the Altamont Landfill in Livermore.

The Altamont features the world’s largest landfill gas to LNG plant. The $15 millionfacility developed with technology partner Linde North America and funded in partwith grants from the California Air Resources Board and others, generates an estimated

13,000 gallons of bio-fuel daily. That’s enough todisplace an estimated 2.5 million gallons of fossil fuel and30 million metric tons of GHG annually and power nearly300 trucks daily.

By the end of this year, more than 150 WMAC trucks willrun on this closed-loop fuel, and the number continues to

grow. WMAC is committed to converting its entire collection fleet to natural gas trucks.Based on current production, WMAC trucks will be running on “trash gas” for the next 30years – without another morsel of organic material entering the Altamont.

In its continuing pursuit to lower its carbon footprint, WMACrecently purchased a CNG Honda sedan for monitoring commu-nity routes and a dual-fuel pick-up truck at the Altamont. It alsoreplaced 22 gas-powered pick-up trucks with 14 electric utilityvehicles at Davis Street. Converting to electric vehicles wasfacilitated by the installation of a 110/220 volt charging station,funded by a grant from the East Bay Clean Cities Coalition.

The electric vehicles eliminate consumption of nearly 2,200gallons in fossil fuel and an estimated 20 metric tons of green-house gases a year. Employees enjoy cleaner air and the quiet ofelectric vehicles plus the ability to charge their own vehicles.

“We Think Green every day,” said David Tucker, WMAC’sdirector of government and community relations. “From our areavice president Barry Skolnick to our drivers and recycling sorters,WMAC staff is committed to creating a greener, cleaner environ-ment for Oakland and beyond.” �

Think Green. Morethan a slogan, this

is how WasteManagement ofAlameda County

(WMAC)approaches its

operations, creatinga greener

environment inAlameda County

and beyond.

� The world’slargest landfill gasto liquefied naturalgas plant is locatedat the AltamontLandfill.

A Davis Streetemployee enjoysa quiet ride onhis electricvehicle.

> Local charities score$500,000Six Oakland-based community organizations receivedchecks totaling $500,000 on Sept. 4, thanks to WasteManagement of Alameda County’s sponsorship of theannual Waste Management Charity Golf Tournament.

Held in Northern California for the first time, morethan 38 companies participated, some contributing asmuch as $50,000 to play golf with Waste ManagementChief Executive Officer David Steiner and other seniorstaff at the Stonebrae Country Club in Hayward.

Representatives of the nonprofits along with 160tournament participants and local WM staff gatheredat the Claremont Hotel in Berkeley for the donationawards dinner. Guests were treated to videos createdby students from East Oakland’s Youth Uprising, tointroduce the work of each of the benefittingorganizations.

The nonprofits were chosen for their commitmentto the environment, healthy living and green jobs aswell as their proposed use of the funds. Each wassurprised with a ceremonial check revealing theamount of the donation. The recipients, projects andamounts are:

•Alameda County Community Food Bank –$95,000 to apply to the purchase of a truck for fooddistribution.

• Chabot Space and Science Center – $95,000to create an environmental education exhibit.

• Cypress Mandela Training Center – $65,000 toexpand its green jobs training program with anemphasis on reclamation and reuse of constructionmaterials.

• Friends of Oakland Parks & Rec – $75,000 toimprove recreation facilities in East Oakland.

• The YMCA of the East Bay – $80,000 tounderwrite “We Dig the Y: Urban Garden/HealthyEating Initiative” and a separate anti-bullyingprevention program.

• East Bay Community Foundation – $90,000 toestablish a donor fund directed by WMAC to supportother community projects in the future.

In his letter to Steiner, Alexander Zwissler, thechief executive officer of Chabot Space and ScienceCenter, wrote, “When we saw the size of the gift wewere simply floored. Know that this money will be putto good use furthering our efforts in informal scienceeducation here in Oakland.” �

� The Waste Management donation to CypressMandela was made to expand its green jobs trainingprogram with an emphasis on reclamation and reuseof construction materials. Pictured with the check are(left to right) Russ Bouligny (Cypress Mandela’s fiscaldirector), Brittny Wilkins (the nonprofit’s programassistant), David Steiner (CEO of WasteManagement), Art Shanks (Waste Management’sexecutive director) and Barry Skolnick (the area vicepresident for Northern California and Nevada).

�

| OBR Oakland Business Review | www.oaklandchamber.com18

SPECIAL SECTION

Oakland Restaurant Association

> Chef’s Corner – Chef Greg DiFonzoChef Craig DiFonzo, Lungomare,One Broadway (adjacent toWaterfront Hotel in Jack LondonSquare) (510) 444-7171

BACKGROUNDI was born outside of Boston,worked in kitchens from Cape Codto Maine, from Oregon and Atlantato San Francisco, Chicago,Yountville, St. Helena and nowOakland. I worked in Italy twice.Love food and wine.First job? Shucking oysters at

the Barley Neck Inn in Orleans,Massachusetts.Education? University of

Massachusetts, Amherst.Residence? Walnut Creek.

BUSINESS STRATEGYTo provide our guests with anamazing dining experience without them having to break the bank.How’s business? Great.Biggest challenge that you face? Letting people know that we are a stand-

alone restaurant, not affiliated with the (Waterfront) hotel.Personal goal yet to be achieved? Becoming an owner so it justifies the

long hours.Why people like working for you? Because I’m passionate about what I

do. I care about bringing great products into the kitchen and turning them intotasty treats for our guests. I look at every day as a window of opportunity tocontribute not only to the guests’ experience but also the next generation ofchefs.Mentor? Giovanni Perticone, John Caputo.What do you like most about your job? The creative process.What do you like least about your job? The long hours.Best meal/dish you ever created? Nantucket scallops with white truffles

and quail eggs.Most respected competitor? A-16

PREFERENCESStranded on a desert island; what cookbook would you want? “Cooking By Hand” by Paul Bertolli.Lunch with Julia Child - one question for her? What do you think about

In and Out Burgers?Favorite cause? Slow FoodFavorite restaurant? Delfina.Favorite way to spend spare time? Baking with my daughter.On your iPod? Grateful Dead.Automobile? Volvo. �

> Dine & Unwind – featuring duck confitTribune Tavern in the heart of downtown Oakland was the scene forSeptember’s Dine & Unwind, a series of monthly featured events hosted bysome of Oakland’s top restaurants focusing on wine or beer tastings, cuttingedge cuisine, and a number of vibrant Oakland-based venues.

The series is presented by the Oakland Restaurant Association in partnershipwith the Chamber of Commerce and Visit Oakland.

At Tribune Tavern, the outstanding food was partnered with beers from LindenStreet Brewery. Based in Oakland, Linden Street brews beer that closely matchesthe styles and brewing methods that originated in the Bay Area before prohibition.That means lager yeast and fermenting at all temperatures, as did early immigrantgold-seekers trying to recreate European lagers.

The special Tribune Tavern menu featured a melon salad, duck confit, braisedgoat with white wine and summer peppers, and stone fruit tart with Town Lagerice cream.

The meal and beer pairings cost $50 per person, including tax and gratuity. Aportion of the proceeds from the Dine & Unwind event benefitted Bay Area youthsoccer organization My Yute Soccer.

Located at 401 13th Street in the old Oakland Tribune building, Tribune Tavernis one of a trio of restaurants in Oakland from the owners of Chop Bar andLungomare.

The Dine & Unwind series continues in October at A16 restaurant at 5356College Ave. in the Rockridge district of Oakland on Wednesday, Oct. 16. Forreservations and more information, call (510) 768-8003. �

Aroner, Jewel & Ellis Partners (AJE Partners)1803 6th St., Suite BBerkeley, CA 94710(510) 849-4811Website: www.ajepartners.comElisabeth JewelEmail: elisabeth@ajepartners.comGovernment Relations Consultants

B.A.N.K. on 4 Personalities4200 Park Blvd., Suite 107Oakland, CA 94602(415) 515-6765Website:www.bankon4personalities.comAngie DennisEmail: info@bank300percent.comSales Training

BUILD – East Oakland7700 Edgewater Drive, Suite 658Oakland, CA 94621(510) 271-8244Fax: (510) 271-7944Dominique TaNonprofit

BUILD – North / West Oakland1212 Broadway, Suite 630Oakland, CA 94612(510) 271-8244Fax: (510) 271-7944Website: www.build.orgDominique TaNonprofit

Charles Schwab & Co.1939 Harrison St., Suite 120Oakland, CA 94612(510) 986-6050Fax: (510) 986-6030Website: www.schwab.comMary Helen DonovanEmail:maryhelen.donovan@schwab.comFinancial Services

Combined Worksite SolutionsOakland, CA (510) 333-5902Fax: (510) 333-5902Website: www.cobinedworksite.comWendy GershowEmail:wendy.gershow@combined.comInsurance

Dashe Cellars55 4th St.Oakland, CA 94607(510) 452-1800Fax: (510) 452-1818Website: www.dashecellars.comErrin LeachEmail: errin@dashecellars.comWineries

Energy Conservation Options2531 9th St.Berkeley, CA 94710(510) 647-8450Website: www.ecoptions.bizDahlia MoodieElectrical Contractors

Etheric Networks 899 Arguello St.Redwood City, CA 94063(650) 399-4200Fax: (650) 472-9225Website: www.ethericnetworks.comSonia WinlandEmail: sales@ethericnetworks.comInternet Services

JPMorgan Chase 5050 Broadway, 3rd FloorOakland, CA 94611(510) 285-3688Sean Gilmore Business Development

> Welcome new Chamber members

Jennifer Lassalles’s Gift & IncentiveProgram5307 Camino Alta MiraCastro Valley, CA 94546(510) 889-7248Fax: (510) 889-7248Website: www.gift-incentive.comJennifer LassalleEmail: jenny@gift-incentive.comIncentive Programs

Leadership Search Partners1604 Solano Ave.Berkeley, CA 94707(510) 542-2922Leyna BernsteinExecutive Search Consultants

MassMutual – Michael DeGroot101 Montgomery St.San Francisco, CA 94111(415) 871-2112Fax: (415) 956-2714Michael DeGrootEmail: mdegroot@financialguide.comFinancial Services

MIGHTYminnow Web Studio &School1440 Broadway, Suite 711Oakland, CA 94612(510) 629-1440Website: www.mightyminnow.comKristin LongEmail: info@mightyminnow.comProfessional Services Consultants

New York Life Insurance & Securities425 Market St., Suite 1600San Francisco, CA 94105(415) 393-6089Website: www.newyorklife.com/latinoJose OrtizEmail: jose_ortiz@newyorklife.comFinancial Services

Premier Hyundai of Oakland2820 BroadwayOakland, CA 94621Deborah PappasEmail:dpappas@premierautomotive.comAutomobile Dealer

Pythia Arts Foundation2100 23rd Ave.Oakland, CA 94606(510) 725-2785Dawn McMahanNonprofit

Ramada Oakland International Airport8400 Edes Ave.Oakland, CA 94621(510) 887-1600Ken BrewerHotels

San Francisco Regional Center409 13th St., Suite 888Oakland, CA 94612(510) 893-9888Fax: (510) 893-9881Website: www.sfeb5.comJennifer BronsonInvestments

Silicon Valley Advisors2311 Tulip RoadSan Jose, CA 95128(408) 999-7350Website:www.siliconvalleyadvisors.comPete CarrilloConsultants

Smart & Final – Broadway901 BroadwayOakland, CA 94621(510) 251-8221Website: www.smartandfinal.comXavier CasillasGrocers – Wholesale�

This is an addendum to the Chamber’s 2013 Membership Direc-tory & Buyer’s Guide. Please consider these businesses when youneed goods or services.

> Businesses and city officials partner to build greater resilience to disruptions

CREATING A STRONG ECONOMY

Economic Development

Workshop presenters included Harry Hamilton, Oakland’spublic information officer, a representative of theAmerican Red Cross, and others who provided helpfulresources for emergency information, employeepreparedness, and businesses resilience.

Ana-Marie Jones of Collaborating Agencies Respondingto Disaster (CARD) discussed the importance of everydayresilience and their ongoing local community programs,including “Learn, Lead, Lift.”

Aliza Gallo of the Oakland Department of Economicand Workforce Development and Renee Domingo ofOakland OES were there to welcome participants, andCaptain Anthony Toribio of the Oakland Police Departmentdelivered a few words about the importance of pre-planning and working with the business community.

The workshop, organized by the California ResiliencyAlliance, is part of a larger federally funded projectunderway in the cities of Oakland and San Jose as well as

by Aliza Gallo

In the early morning of Aug. 28 in the Council

Chambers of Oakland’s City Hall, local business

leaders came together with Oakland’s

Departments of Emergency Services and

Economic and Workforce Development to

engage the local business community in

emergency recovery. The Oakland Business

Disruption and Disaster Planning Workshop

brought together representatives from some of

Oakland’s largest employers and small business

communities to discuss resources available to

help business prepare for business resumption

in the aftermath of emergencies.

October 2013 | 19

San Mateo and Santa Clara counties.The Bay Area Public-Private PartnershipInitiative (BAPPPRI) is building strongerpartnerships between business andemergency management in Oakland,including a Resiliency AdvisoryCommittee to provide Oakland busi-nesses a conduit to work more closelywith local emergency management onplanning and priority-setting.

There are also volunteer and trainingopportunities for local business leadersto participate in disaster response asthe private sector voice in emergencyrecovery through the EOC VolunteerBusiness Representative program.

It is in the best interest of anycommunity to support recovery ofbusinesses, since the two areinterdependent. Many large privatecompanies have resources at theirdisposal such as additional offices andfacilities outside impacted areas thatcan be used during an emergency andfor short term recovery. When busi-nesses do not have ties to the affectedarea, some may move operationselsewhere rather than waiting for orparticipating in the recovery. Localbusinesses (i.e., grocery stores,restaurants, retail stores, etc.) can facegreater challenges as their facilities andcustomer base may be more directlyaffected.

Opening lines of communication andsharing in disaster recovery planning ishelpful to the long-term recoveryprocess. The BAPPPRI project is anattempt to help in the conversationbetween businesses and governmentregarding business needs and recovery.Challenges like zoning, emergencyroutes, and expedited procedures forreviewing plans, granting permits, andscheduling inspections to promoterepairs can be addressed. A streamlinedpermitting approach like this was usedeffectively by the city of Oaklandfollowing the East Bay hills firestorm.

The CORE (Committees of OaklandResponding to Emergencies) programoffered by the city of Oakland’sEmergency Management ServicesDivision trains residents to be self-sufficient for the first 72 hours after adisaster as recommended by FEMA. Thepartnership between the city of Oaklandand the California Resiliency Alliance isan important step in ensuring therecovery of Oakland’s economyfollowing a natural disaster.

In addition, the city’s Department ofEconomic and Workforce Developmentencourages all Oakland businesses, bothlarge and small, to take steps now tominimize business disruption and speedrecovery following a natural disaster.

To participate in the advisorycommittee or to volunteer as an EOCrepresentative, contact the CaliforniaResiliency Alliance at (415) 830-4230,ext. 3 or emailBAPPPRI@caresiliency.org.

To learn more about resourcesavailable to Oakland businesses, contactthe Oakland Business Assistance Centerat (510) 238-7952 or visit www.oaklandbac.com.

Additional workshops will be heldthrough September, October and earlyNovember. If you would like to attend aworkshop or host a workshop for yourbusiness, merchant association orindustry association, call the CaliforniaResiliency Alliance. �

Aliza Gallo is the economicdevelopment manager forOakland’s Department of Economicand Workforce Development.

| OBR Oakland Business Review | www.oaklandchamber.com 20

> The Oakland MetropolitanChamber of Commerce dependson dedicated volunteers to helpmake decisions and coordinateevents. It’s your chance to getinvolved, to join committees, tomeet other local businesspeople,to put your expertise to good use,and to help share the decisionsthat affect the residents andbusinesses of Oakland. Thefollowing is a list of currentChamber committees:

COMMUNICATIONSStaff: Hank MaslerChair: Dan Cohen (Full Court Press)

• Social Media (including Twitter, Facebook, Linked-In, BlogsStaff: Ivette Torres

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTStaff: Eleanor HollanderChair: Charissa Frank (FMG Architects)

• Economic Development Forum CommitteeChair: Charissa Frank (FMG Architects)

• Oakland Land Use CommitteeChair: Solomon Ets-Hokin (Colliers International)

• Oakland Restaurant AssociationCo-Chairs: Mark Everton (Waterfront Hotel & Miss Pearl’s JamHouse), Michael LeBlanc (Pican)

• Oakland Retail Advisory CommitteeChair: Ken Lowney (Lowney Architecture)

• Task Forces have been engaged around the following issues:Coliseum Commerce, Housing, Land Use & Transportation, SmallBusiness, Transportation and Zoning

• Community Benefit & Business Improvement DistrictsChair: John Dolby (Cassidy Turley)Downtown Oakland, Fruitvale, Koreatown/Northgate, LakeMerritt/Uptown, Lakeshore/Lake Park, Laurel, Montclair,Rockridge, Temescal/Telegraph

EVENTS / MARKETINGStaff: Ivette TorresChair: Greg Chan (East Bay Municipal Utility District)Vice Chair: Alison Best (Visit Oakland)

• Ambassador CommitteeCo-Chairs: Dawnn Hills (Guardian)Kelly Wright (State Farm Insurance)

• East Bay Women in Business RoundtableCo-Chairs: Kim Arnone (Katovich & Kassan Law Group)Bedilia Ramirez (Rubicon Programs, Inc.)

• Golf CommitteeChair: Stan Hebert (California State University, East Bay)

• Holiday Parade CommitteeChair: Ray Pulver (Upbeat Parade Productions)

• Annual Meeting CommitteeChair: John Nelson (murakami/Nelson Architectural Corp.)

• Young Professionals CommitteeCo-Chairs: Sofia Navarro (Unity Council)Courtney Riley (Oakland Unified School District’s Career ReadinessOffice)

LEADERSHIP OAKLANDStaff: Catherine BrewerChair: Zack Wasserman (Wendel, Rosen, Black & Dean LLP)

MEMBERSHIPStaff: Nikki MendezChair: Ken White (Fidelity Roof Company)

• Nonprofit Roundtable CommitteeCo-Chairs: Ana-Marie Jones (Collaborating Agencies Responding to Disasters)Jerry Metzker (Biotech Partners)

• ToastmastersChair: Cynthia Dorsey

PUBLIC POLICYStaff: Paul JungeChair: David Tucker (Waste Management of Alameda County)

• Inside OaklandChair: Jackie Ray (Schnitzer Steel)

• OakPACChair: John Gooding (Quadric Group)

• Public Policy CouncilChair: David Tucker (Waste Management of Alameda County)

Making a difference: Chamber membership

October 2013 | 21

Join with us in making a difference in our community by supporting these areas offocus: • Promoting the community • Representing the interests of business withgovernment • Political action • Creating a strong local economy • Providingnetworking opportunities to build business relationships

POLITICAL ACTIONJoin OakPac, the Chamber’s Political Action Committee (a separate nonprofit entity).You can add your voice to the discussion about our elected officials, announcedcandidates and ballot measures that affect our city and area.

COMMUNICATIONSOakland Business Review. The Chamber’s award-winning monthly newspaper issent free of charge to all members (subscription value unlimited).

Weekly email updates. Important and timely news and event updates are sent toChamber members every Tuesday. A nonprofit monthly eblast is sent periodically tosupport local organizations.

Committee participation. Let your voice be heard by playing an active role in thedevelopment and future of Oakland by joining a Chamber committee.

Names in the News. Place your company news free; address or phone change,announce a new staff member, award recipient, in this regular column of theOakland Business Review.

DISCOUNTSMember-to-Member discounts – There’s no charge to offer discounts to mem-bers by using our website – www.oaklandchamber.com – directing new customersto your business! Listed on the website and in Oakland Business Review.

Office products – Save 15 to 25 percent annually on office supplies, technology,furniture, promotional items, print and copy, and private brand – all from OfficeDepot. Chamber members also receive next-day delivery and monthly reports tomonitor expenses.

Human resource experts – Employers Group, the preeminent human resourcesexpert and advocate serving California employers, is providing a special offer forChamber of Commerce members – a free 60-day Employers Group trial member-ship. Chamber members will pay a $19.99 processing fee for the 60-day trial and willreceive a 25 percent discount on annual Employers Group membership thereafter.

Fitness clubs – Get a discount on your membership at Club One at City Center.Stay fit and healthy – and keep your employees healthy too.

Publications – Oakland Magazine is now offering all members a two-yearsubscription for the price of one year – $20 (a $40 value). Visit www.oaklandmagazine.com and use code CHAMBER to receive this special offer.

Expand your online marketing – Chamber members receive a 20-25% discountfor Constant Contact, one of the industry’s best email and event marketing tools.Keep your clients updated with your organization’s news and events by spreadingthe word via social media.

RESOURCESResource USA – Chamber members now have access to this premier source ofbusiness information for reference and research.

Private consultations – Meet with the Chamber president and professional staffmembers on issues affecting your business, or strategize about improving yourbottom line. Who do you need to meet?

ASSETS Attend Leadership Oakland – This annual program offers Oakland businesspeople theopportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of the role leadership plays in our city withthe goal of educating potential community leaders. Meet more than 70 of Oakland’s leadersand make your mark through this eight-month program. Tuition based.

Advertising to Chamber members – All members receive a free listing in the Chamber’sonline business directory – with a link to your own business site – and in the Chamber’sannual Membership Directory & Buyer’s Guide. Promote your business in an expanded wayon the website, in the Membership Directory, in Oakland Business Review, and throughexclusive emails sent to all active members.

Conference room / Board room reservations – Chamber members can reserve use of theChamber’s conference room and/or Board room for meetings or presentations – free (uponavailability) during normal business hours, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. One month in advanceis requested.

Training for business – Low-cost or free education, training and advancement opportuni-ties are available through business workshops and seminars held on a regular basis at theChamber office.

> Chamber membership is a smart business decision

Making a difference: Chamber membership

| OBR Oakland Business Review | www.oaklandchamber.com22

> Updates on Sexual Harassment Law for 2013

However, the actual number of people whohave experienced sexual harassment at work islikely much higher, according to Fatima GossGraves, the vice president for education andemployment at the National Women’s LawCenter.

Though a significant share of Americans arevictims of sexual harassment in the workplace,experts say that many do not report it out offear of retaliation or worries their co-workerswill make them feel ashamed by the experienceand other concerns.

Sexual harassment is prohibited regardlessof the gender of the harasser and the victim,and whether both are the same sex. Anyconduct of a retaliatory nature is strictlyprohibited.

Sexual harassment includes many forms ofoffensive behavior. A partial list includes:

• Unwanted sexual advances;• Offering employment benefits in exchange

for sexual favors;• Actual or threatened retaliation;• Leering, making sexual gestures or

displaying sexually suggestive objects, pictures,cartoons, or posters;

• Making or using derogatory comments,epithets, slurs, or jokes;

• Sexual comments including graphic comments about an individual’sbody, sexually degrading words used to describe an individual orsuggestive or obscene letters, notes, or invitations; and

• Physical touching or assault, as well as impeding or blockingmovements.

Under current law, there are two theories of sexual harassment in theworkplace: 1) quid pro quo, the unwelcome or inappropriate promise ofrewards in exchange for sexual favors; and 2) a hostile work environment,which occurs when the harassment is so severe or pervasive that it altersthe conditions of employment and creates an abusive work environment.

Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act makes it easier to hold a companyaccountable for workplace harassment if the harasser is considered asupervisor. If the harasser is simply a co-worker, the company can defenditself just by proving it was not negligent in dealing with any complaints.However, in a win for employers, the United States Supreme Court inVance v. Ball State (June 24, 2013) adopted a narrow definition of who is a“supervisor,” holding that it must be a person empowered to taketangible, adverse actions against the worker, like demoting or firing theworker or cutting pay.

However in California employers need to be aware that employees aremore likely to sue an employer under the California Fair Employment andHousing Act (FEHA) rather than Title VII (federal law). FEHA defines a“supervisor” as someone having the ability to hire, fire, discipline “or theresponsibility to direct” the employee. Thus the state law definition isbroader and would include someone such as a shift leader who has day-to-day responsibility over the worker. It remains unclear what impact, ifany, the Vance decision will have on cases brought under California law.

On Aug. 12, 2013, Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law state Senate Bill292, which revises the definition of sexual harassment under the FEHA.The new definition makes it clear that employees who assert claims ofsexual harassment need not show the harassment is motivated by sexualdesire. The new law becomes effective Jan. 1, 2014.

Senate Bill 292 overturns the 2011 California Court of Appeal decisionKelley v. Conco Companies. In Kelley, the court held that, in order to proveunlawful sexual harassment because of sex, the plaintiff in a same-sexharassment hostile work environment case had to establish that theharasser was motivated by sexual desire.

2013 is also a training year in California under Gov. Code §12950. 1 (AB1825 which became law on Jan.1, 2005), and requires employers with atleast 50 employees to provide two hours of classroom, webinar, e-learningor other effective interactive training and education regarding sexualharassment prevention to supervisory employees. New supervisors mustbe trained within six months of being promoted to a supervisory positionand every two years thereafter.

Persons qualified to deliver AB 1825-compliant training include: • Attorneys;• Professors or instructors; and• Human resources professionals or harassment prevention

consultants. Employers must track the training provided to each employee.

Employers can use individual tracking, training-year tracking or acombination of the two methods.

The DFEH can penalize employers who fail to comply with the trainingrequirement. The law states that compliance with AB 1825 is not a defense

> Two receptions at a glance

to a sexual harassment claim and, conversely, that a supervisor’s failure to receivetraining is not grounds for establishing liability for harassment under the FEHA.

If you have not done any training in the past two years, and are required tounder California law, you must do it by Dec. 31, 2013. Even if your company has lessthan 50 employees, it remains good policy to provide the training to supervisors. �

Andrew (Drew) Kozlow is an associate at Ericksen Arbuthnot in Oakland. He can

be reached at akozlow@ericksenarbuthnot.com or at (510) 832-7770.

by Andrew (Drew) Kozlow

The EqualEmploymentOpportunity

Commission receivedabout 7,500 chargesof workplace sexualharassment in 2012,

a figure that hasbeen fairly consistent

over the past fewyears, but is substan-tially lower than thehigh of 15,889 in

1997.

Andrew (Drew) Kozlow

The Chamber’s After Five Reception in August was held at The MarinaInn on San Francisco Bay, a waterfront San Leandro hotel locatedminutes from Oakland International Airport. It’s an opportunity to stayon the water with beautiful yachts in your backyard, expansive parks allaround, and views of San Francisco Bay. Perfectly placed on the easternshoreline of the bay, The Marina Inn is awaiting your discovery.

Pictured at the reception (above), which was co-hosted by the SanLeandro Chamber of Commerce, were (left to right) Emily Griego of the SanLeandro Chamber; Audrey Velasquez, general manager of The Marina Inn;Chamber Membership Director Nikki Mendez; Janise Dawson, director ofsales and marketing at The Marina Inn; Chamber Vice President Paul Junge;Cece Adams; membership director of the San Leandro Chamber; and DaveJohnson, the San Leandro Chamber’s chief executive officer.

Sequoyah Country Club in the Oakland hills helped celebrate its100th anniversary by hosting the Chamber’s After Five Reception inSeptember. Since 1913, the rolling hills, lightning fast greens and tightfairways lined with statuesque trees have tested the mettle of its golfingmembers. And this year Sequoyah is hosting the Chamber’s annual GolfClassic on Monday, Oct. 21.

Pictured at the reception, which included members of the Chamber’sYoung Professionals, were (left to right) Chamber President Joe Haraburda,Sequoyah Catering Manager Karyn Scurti, and Young ProfessionalsCo-Chairs Sofia Navarro (The Unity Council) and Courtney Riley (OaklandUnified School District).

October 2013 | 23

Keeping you connected and informed

> OCTOBER 4 | East Bay Women inBusiness Roundtable luncheon|11:15 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

“Women of Distinction” series,featuring Mary Huss, publisher of theSan Francisco Business Times, discussing“What Business Times We Live In,”Waterfront Hotel in Jack London Square

9 | Ambassador Committeemeeting |noon - 1 p.m.

9 | Economic DevelopmentForum |3 - 4:30 p.m.featuring Oakland Makers: Summer ofMakers Initiative

11 | Chamber Young Professionals Lunch & Learn|noon - 1 p.m.“Getting Past Your Fears”

15 | Nonprofit RoundtableCommittee meeting |2:30 - 4:30 p.m.

16 | Dine & Unwind|5 - 10 p.m.A16 Rockridge, 5356 College Ave.

16 | Oakland Chamber YoungProfessionals Mixer|5:30 - 7:30 p.m.Halloween theme, hosted by Regus,505 14th St.

17 | Chamber 101 |7:30 - 9 a.m.learn how to maximize your Chamberbenefits. Free marketing andnetworking opportunities. Specialoffers available

21 | Annual Golf Classic spots available for Major Tee Sponsor,Chamber Challenger, Hole in OneSponsor, and Tee/Green Sponsor.Individual golfer fee $325, SequoyahCountry Club, 4550 Heafey Road inthe Oakland hills, 19th Hole Receptionfollows event

24 | After Five Reception |5:30 - 7:30 p.m.MIGHTYminnow Web Studio & School,1440 Broadway, Suite 711, free forChamber members, $15 for non-members

25 | Inside Oakland BreakfastForum |8:30 - 10 a.m.featuring a panel discussing the fireprevention district ballot measure

All events held at Chamber offices, 475 14th Street, unless otherwise noted. Call 874-4800 to confirm dates and times. Meetings are open to all Chamber members.

CHAMBER 101Maximize yourChamber benefits

| OCTOBER 17

> NOVEMBER 13 | Ambassador Committeemeeting |noon - 1 p.m.

13 | Economic DevelopmentForum |3 - 4:30 p.m.featuring Mike Ghielmetti, presidentof Signature Development Group,discussing the Brooklyn Basindevelopment

19 | Nonprofit RoundtableCommittee meeting |2:30 - 4:30 p.m.

20 | Chamber of CommercePower Breakfast| registration 7:30 a.m., breakfast andaddress 8:30 a.m.

featuring Dr. Gary Yee, superintendentof the Oakland Unified School District,Waterfront Hotel in Jack LondonSquare

21 | Chamber 101 |7:30 - 9 a.m.learn how to maximize your Chamberbenefits. Free marketing andnetworking opportunities. Specialoffers available

22 | Inside Oakland BreakfastForum |8:30 - 10 a.m.

> DECEMBER 7 | 14th annual America’s Children’s Holiday Parade|beginning at 2 p.m.

downtown Oakland, starting at 11th andClay streets and then up Broadway

11 | Economic DevelopmentForum |3 - 4:30 p.m.featuring Phil Tagami, president andchief executive officer of CaliforniaCommercial Investments, discussingdevelopment at the Oakland Army Base

17 | Nonprofit RoundtableCommittee meeting |2:30 - 4:30 p.m.

19 | Chamber 101 |7:30 - 9 a.m.learn how to maximize your Chamberbenefits. Free marketing andnetworking opportunities. Specialoffers available

19 | Holiday Mixer|5:30 - 7:30 p.m.Claremont Resort & Spa, 41 Tunnel Road,Berkeley, free for Chamber members

Economic Development Forum“Oakland Makers”

| OCTOBER 9

POWER BREAKFAST| NOVEMBER 20OUSD SuperintendentGary Yee

The purpose of the Oakland Metropolitan Chamberof Commerce is to promote commerce and industry,to advance economic growth and to enhance thequality of life in the city of Oakland.

OBR OAKLAND BUSINESS REVIEW (ISSN 1092-7220)is published monthly at $100.00 a year by the Oak-land Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, 475 14thStreet, Oakland, CA 94612-1903. Membership duesinclude subscription. Periodicals postage at Oakland,CA. Contents can’t be reproduced without permis-sion. POSTMASTER: Send address changes toOAKLAND BUSINESS REVIEW, 475 14th Street,Oakland, CA 94612.

EditorHANK MASLER, (510) 874-4808hmasler@oaklandchamber.com | www.oaklandchamber.com

Design/Production EditorCARTER DESIGNS

The articles published in this publication do notnecessarily reflect the policies or opinions of the OaklandMetropolitan Chamber of Commerce.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEEChair of the BoardSHANNON PEDDERBRAND: CREATIVE

Vice ChairMARK EVERTONWaterfront Hotel

DAN COHENFull Court Press

CHARISSA FRANKFMG Architects

DAVID TUCKERWaste Managementof Alameda County

ZACK WASSERMANEx Officio CorporateCounselWendel, Rosen, Black & Dean LLP

KEN WHITEFidelity Roof Company

Immediate Past ChairJOHN NELSONmurakami/Nelson

BOARD OF D IRECTORS

KIM ARNONEKatovich & Kassan LawGroup (representingWomen in BusinessRoundtable)

HARMINDER BAINSSecuritas

ALICIA BERTPG&E

ALISON BESTVisit Oakland

DAVE CANNONBarney & Barney LLC

GREG CHANEast Bay MunicipalUtility District

CYNTHIACHIARAPPAChildren’s Hospital& Research CenterOakland

JOHN DOLBYCassidy Turley

SOLOMONETS-HOKINColliers International

RON FORESTMatson NavigationCompany

JOHN GOODINGThe Quadric Group

STAN HEBERTCalifornia State University, East Bay

MICHAEL HESTERMcGuire & Hester

VICTORIA JONESThe Clorox Company

ISAAC KOS-READPort of Oakland

MICHAEL LEBLANCPICÁN Restaurant

BARBARA LESLIEAT&T

KEN LOWNEYLowney Architecture

KEN MAXEYComcast

IKE MMEJEAlta Bates SummitMedical Center

SAM NASSIFCreative HospitalityCorporation

NATHANIELOUBRE, JR.Kaiser Permanente

HILARY PEARSONSungevity

MARK PHILLIPSChase

MICKY RANDHAWAWells Fargo

KEITH TURNERSafeway

ELÑORA TENA WEBB,PH.D.Laney College

RICHARD WHITEFitzgerald Abbott &Beardsley LLC

JOSEPH HARABURDAPresident and CEO

Oct.24 After Five Reception

AMERICA’S CHILDREN’SHOLIDAY PARADE| DECEMBER 7 Enjoy the fun

MIGHTYminnow Web Studio & School

1440 BroadwaySuite 711

No charge for Chamber members.$15 for non-members. 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

ANNUAL GOLF CLASSICSign up now| OCTOBER 21

P24 | OBR Oakland Business Review | www.oaklandchamber.com

Small Business Development Center

> Meet your new SBDC business advisors

Editor’s note: The Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce is the new administrator for the Alameda County Small Business Development Center (ACSBDC),which provides tools and expertise to small business owners through free counseling and outstanding seminars on a variety of topics.

The following story is one example of the work the ACSBDC is doing with AlamedaCounty businesses.

> DonationPay has found a savvy proxy in SBDC

With minimal money, staff time, and technical skills, thehall was having a difficult time accomplishing its onlinefundraising goals. Despite having a working website, italso needed to collect donations online, registerworkshop participants, sell tickets and merchandise.

The client turned to Strosahl and Sochet for help,but even as web consultants they could not find anintegrated affordable system that met the client’scomplex needs – so they built one.

Immediately after launch, Strosahl and Sochetwere inundated by requests from other clients. Thispinpointed the need for a user-and-donor-friendly,affordable, and comprehensive online fundraisingsolution for nonprofits.

This platform, called DonationPay(www.donationpay.org), has grown to serve over 250nonprofits. Clients have reported 20 percent or greaterincreases in donation and payment volume withDonationPay, as compared to their previous provider.Clients include service nonprofits like Habitat forHumanity and Larkin Street Youth.

DonationPay also works with radio stations, schools,hospices, religious groups, blood banks and others. All

of these organizations need to raise money online and indifferent ways. They can now do so with theDonationPay custom-designed payment pages, whichmatch websites and support specific and variedfundraising strategies.

DonationPay creates pages that contain donationcollection forms, online stores, ticket and eventregistration systems and much more.

Jessica Gaylord from the Georgia Conservancy says,“Without question, DonationPay provides the best valuein donation processing. We considered all the optionsand chose DonationPay for their customized pages andlow cost, but have since been most impressed by the

seamless integration and incredibly responsive customer service.”From seed stage to an investment-funded, revenue-generating company,

DonationPay has been supported by the Alameda County Small BusinessDevelopment Center. Its experience with Paula Groves, now the ACSBDC businessservices director, has meaningfully impacted DonationPay.

As a web services and merchant processing provider, DonationPay mustdistinguish itself in a crowded field, navigate constantly changing industryregulations, and grow the business with limited resources. Groves’ guidance andexperience with the nonprofit sector, paired with her limitless business knowledge,has made her invaluable to the company and a savvy proxy for clients. She hassteered the company through complicated growing pains, the development of aviable business model, the acquisition of nearly a million dollars ininvestment funding to date, and the creation of a conceptual andpractical strategy to advance the company’s position in the market.

Groves and the SBDC have truly helped DonationPay get to the nextlevel, and the impact she will make on any organization lucky enough towork with her cannot be overestimated.

For all other East Bay business owners who want to make their ideainto a reality, DonationPay offers one piece of advice – run, don’t walk, tothe SBDC and begin the process of realizing your business goals today.�

A.J. Strosahl is the co-founder of DonationPay, a provider ofaffordable online fundraising solutions for non-profits. She is awriter and web content developer whose work has been featured byWomen 2.0, LeanImpact and Slightly West. She loves helping non-profits raise money online and serves on the Board of Directors ofthe Women’s Therapy Center in Berkeley, CA. AJ writes the blog atDonationPay.org.

Editor’s note: The following is one of the Alameda County businessadvisors who can assist business owners interested in minimizing riskand accelerating the success of their ventures.

Paula GrovesFinding the right career has not been easy forthe Alameda County SBDC Business Servicesdirector, Paula Groves. Growing up in LosAlamos, New Mexico, home to the laboratoryfamous for creating the atomic bomb, careerswere not discussed over the dinner because herfather’s job was “Top Secret.”

Education was a family priority. Her fatherhad a PH.D. in chemistry and her mother a

Masters in biology. Like every rebellious youth, Groves had no interest inscience. Inspired by her high school chum’s older sister (who is nowamazingly an SBDC client), she embarked on adulthood by attendingStanford University. There she earned a degree in economics and thenwent to New York City to work for the investment bank Credit SuisseFirst Boston.

Next, Groves took advantage of her early admittance to HarvardBusiness School and jetted off to Boston to join the ranks of thecrimson MBAs.

After a brief stint with 20th Century Fox Film and Leo BurnettAdvertising in Chicago, Groves received a call from a former boss whoneeded help starting a private equity firm. She responded, “I’d love towork with you again -- uhhhh, what’s private equity?” She eventuallybecame co-founder of Axxon Capital, a private equity fund focused onwomen and minority-led technology companies. Unfortunately, Axxoncrashed along with the dot com bubble, the partnership fell apart andthe fund stopped investing.

Embodying a favorite saying, “Either way, life is right,” that sameyear, Groves married and moved to Oakland. She joined the ACSBDC asa consultant and later became business services director in 2013.

So what life lessons have she learned along the way?Build healthy self-esteem – As an African American woman,

Groves has often been a pioneer, operating as the “only” in manysituations. The whispers about whether she achieved success becauseof talent or tokenism have plagued her with self-doubt. Understandingthat low self-esteem can lead to self-sabotage and prevent one fromachieving the success meant for them, she learned that one is notnecessarily born with healthy self-esteem, but this capacity can bedeveloped over time.Learn to bounce back from failure – The banking crisis took its

toll on Groves’ peer group. Those who graduated at the top of theirgame are now out of work. It may be their first time facing failure.Developing a healthy relationship to failure has helped her strengthenher weaknesses, look to see where she puts too much pressure onherself, or when she is going after something she really doesn’t want.

Seek feedback – Learning fromothers can be hard. Feedback feels likeone should have known better, beensmarter, or will be punished. These eataway at self-esteem. Groves is learningthat feedback transforms her work from“pretty good” to “much better.”Superstar athletes achieve theirextraordinary success through coaching.At the ACSBDC, businesses workingwith consultants achieve positive resultsfaster and for less money.

The audacity of believing in oneselfrequires developing healthy self-esteem, bouncing back from failure, andseeking feedback. Doing so is helpingPaula Groves achieve her ultimate lifegoal – happiness. �

Paula Groves

To learn more about the business counseling, technicalassistance, seminars,online courses andother services offeredby the ACSBDC, visitwww.acsbdc.org.

In 2010, thefounders of

Berkeley-basedDonationPay.org,AJ Strosahl and

Noah Sochet, wereweb consultantsfor a nonprofit

performance hall.

Noah Sochet

AJ Strosahl

by AJ Strosahl