Tag: Client Profile

October 23, 2019

Client Profile : Northgate Ready Mix

Northgate Ready Mix logo
Northgate Ready Mix logo

CEO Troy Soiland runs Northgate Ready Mix, a family-owned and operated business. After buying the name of the company and the client list from the previous owner in 2010, Troy also purchased three trucks and sought to modernize and rebrand the business. Almost immediately, he began searching for a larger location and shrewdly began investing money during a time when economic growth was at a standstill. What started as a three-truck, five employee operation has grown to 30 trucks and 39 employees.

Located in Windsor, CA, Northgate supplies quality concrete throughout the North Bay. Created with premium, locally-sourced aggregates and sand, Northgate’s product is created with its state-of-the-art computerized plant. The process ensures batch consistency and also facilitates the use of the latest admixtures.

We caught up with Troy and were able to speak with him about Northgate Ready Mix and his family’s ties to the community. He talked to us about the rapid growth of his company and how much has changed since he bought the use of the company name and customer list nine years ago.

The Soiland family has solid ties in the North Bay. Can you tell us a little bit about the family’s business history and how it has helped shape the surrounding communities?

The Soiland family has deep, deep ties to the North Bay building community, and it spans three generations. My father was a pipeline contractor, sand and gravel operator, quarry operator, and a land developer in the Marin and Sonoma County region. He was also politically active locally.

Besides Northgate Ready Mix, our extended family is involved in four different quarry operations, an asphalt supply company, a general engineering company, two different composting and topsoil companies, two portable concrete and asphalt recycling companies, two different heavy equipment repair and maintenance companies, a major commercial building contractor, and an industrial property management company. I have siblings who serve on local bank boards and planning boards of local government.

Northgate truck at batch plant

Each of these related businesses is owned and operated by the individual family members who work in them. We are not one big company. Growing up, we were given tools and provided opportunities, but all businesses sprung from personal inspiration and motivation. Very little was inherited.

Northgate Ready Mix is family-owned. How many people from your family are involved in the business? What are their roles?

Mix is a concrete supply business founded back in 2010 by myself, and my brother Dean. My wife Dawn and I are active in the daily operation and administration of the company as President and CFO, along with our oldest daughter. Both Dean and his wife Belinda are critical to the operation as the aggregate supplier, financial support, and as board members.

A fleet of Northgate trucks lined up in parking lot

What were your most important projects?

Northgate Ready Mix is fortunate to have been involved in numerous bridge projects, wineries, breweries, subdivisions, and countless wildfire rebuild of single-family dwellings. But I think the most memorable projects are the ones that “took you to school.” You know, the ones that gave you sleepless nights wondering if you would be able to pull it off. As with any business, when you try something new, mistakes are bound to happen. But once we completed those projects and learned what we can and cannot do, the projects following run more smoothly, and you can take on more of the same types of projects.

What do you think are the key ingredients that have made Northgate Ready Mix so successful?

I believe that a big part of what makes Northgate Ready Mix successful is our community connection. As a proud member of this family, our name and reputation are very important. We service customers frequently that we’ve known for decades through school, church, or related business. In part, due to our community connection, I feel a sense of duty to uphold the highest standards in the industry.

Another important aspect of our success has been innovation. We have always sought to reuse and up-cycle at every opportunity. We have developed markets that allow us to reuse all our returned and leftover concrete by crushing it back to pieces less than 1 inch in size and shipping it to job sites in one form or another. We capture all our rinse water on-site and reuse it. We also have the capability to capture and store our rainwater for use in concrete production. We are always trying to innovate and make the most of the resources at our disposal.

What brings me the greatest satisfaction as a company owner is when a customer comments regarding the professionalism of a driver or the office staff, the first-class equipment we send out each day, the respect we have for providing excellent service, or the quality of the finished product. These represent our values. The central theme is to take pride in what you do and strive for excellence.

Northgate Ready Mix strives to provide the absolute highest level of customer service. The company makes it a point to cater to customers of all sizes and seeks to provide the highest level of customer service, taking pride in every job.

To learn more about Northgate Ready Mix, visit their website at northgatereadymix.com.

July 1, 2019

Client Profile: The Sacramento SPCA

Sacramento SPCA logo
Sacramento SPCA logo

With leashes in hand and shoes laced up, River City Bank joined the Sacramento SPCA at their 2019 Doggy Dash. A beautiful spring day accompanied RCB employees and their families as they came out in full force to show their support. The event drew more than 5,000 participants, and RCB was proud to be one of the largest groups in attendance. The event raised more than $164,000 to help provide direct care and safe refuge for thousands of animals. However, this event is just a small part of what the SPCA contributes to our community. We sat with Kenn Altine, Chief Executive Officer of the Sacramento SPCA, to find out more about this worthwhile organization that not only shelters and cares for animals, but one that is also helping people who love animals.

The SPCA has been around for 127 years. How much has changed since they opened their doors in 1892?

The SPCA was founded in the late 1800s and incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1927.  Though the role of the Sacramento SPCA in our community has evolved over the years (from originally being involved in investigating and enforcing laws surrounding animal cruelty cases and complaints), our mission has remained the same – providing homeless animals with individual comfort, shelter, and love.  We provide compassionate medical care to tens of thousands of animals annually and offer a variety of programs and services designed to keep people and pets together for life.

The Sacramento SPCA provides more than shelter and medical services to animals. What services do you offer that most folks would be surprised to hear?

Most people identify animal shelters as a place where stray and homeless animals are housed and also adopted to new families. While we certainly do house stray and homeless animals, as well as find them new homes, we do give much more than shelter to the animals and people in our community. We serve the entire Sacramento region as a premier provider of low-cost spay/neuter services, collaborating with local rescue groups, feral cat caregivers, those in need, and the public to alter more than 18,300 animals in 2018. Additionally, 16,200 low-cost and no-cost vaccinations were provided to the community, 1,200 animals received low-cost veterinary exams and more than 3,600 sick, injured, and homeless animals found new homes through the shelter’s adoption facility. An active humane education program reaches over 7,000 children each year, and a dog training program gives advice and training to more than 3,000 adults each year. We reach out to seniors as hundreds are visited under the pet-facilitated visitation program, and thousands receive free vaccinations for their pets. Over 800 volunteers augment the care for the thousands of unwanted, abused and injured animals that seek shelter at the Society and help with special events

Sacramento SPCA CEO, Kenn Altine, enjoys a comforting moment with cat Tomasina prior to her surgery in the shelter’s spay & neuter clinic.
Sacramento SPCA CEO, Kenn Altine, enjoys a comforting moment with Tomasina prior to her surgery in the shelter’s spay & neuter clinic.

Where do most of your animals come from?

Because we are the only owner-surrender facility in the Sacramento region, the majority of animals housed and adopted through the Sacramento SPCA begin their journey with us after being surrendered by their owner(s). There are many reasons why an individual or family would decide to surrender their animal, most of which are related to housing, veterinary costs, other financial reasons, pet behavior, separation/divorce, or original owner passed away, and the other family members cannot care for the pet.

To help more animals in our region and the surrounding communities, the Sacramento SPCA also regularly transfers animals in from other overburdened shelters. The relocation of these pets not only allows the overburdened shelter to have open kennels for incoming animals but gives the pets transferred the opportunity to find loving homes in a new environment. In 2018, the Sacramento SPCA transferred in 438 animals from other shelters, including animals from the Sacramento City & County shelters, as well as areas impacted by Hurricane Michael and the Camp Fire. So far this year, we have already transferred in more than 300 animals, putting us on track for 600 transfers in 2019.

Team River City Bank at the 2019 Doggy Dash
Team RCB at the 2019 Doggy Dash (photo credit: [email protected])

Besides the Doggy Dash, what other fundraising events happen throughout the year?

We host three signature events annually, more than a dozen smaller events, and participate in a multitude of other community partner-hosted events throughout the region.  Our signature events consist of: The Doggy Dash 2k/5k walk and pet festival each April, held at William Land Park; our fall gala, held at the Sacramento SPCA (this year on October 26th) and the Jingle Bell Pup Crawl in December (December 14th this year), which begins at Midtown’s Truitt Bark Park in partnership with a handful of local breweries.

We also regularly host “Yappy Hours” at local breweries throughout Sacramento.  These are great opportunities for the community to join us with their pup to enjoy brews, food, raffle prizes and fun (including meeting adoptable dogs) – all to benefit the animals at the Sacramento SPCA.  In addition, during the summer months, we host several “Splashy Hours” at The Animal Den Pet Resort & Spa, where people and their pups can have fun escaping the summer heat.

For more information about all our events, visit sspca.org/events.

What advice would you give someone looking to adopt a pet?

If you are like most of us, falling in love with a pet is easy. Pets give us unconditional love and loyalty, and they provide constant companionship. Adopting a pet, however, is a big decision. Dogs, cats, and small animals are living beings that require a considerable amount of time, money, and commitment — more than 15 years’ worth in many cases. Pet ownership can be rewarding, but only if you think through your decision before you adopt. Things to consider before adopting would be:

  • How much time do you have for a pet?  
  • Can you afford a pet?
  • Can you have pets where you currently live?
  • What pet is right for you?
  • Other Considerations – Depending on the age and behavior of the animal, can you commit your time and money to support ongoing training?  Also, who will care for the pet while you are away on vacation or business?

Why did the Sacramento SPCA choose River City Bank?

When we decided to change banks, we had three “set-in-stone” requirements. The first is that the bank had to be financially strong with a track record of managing the accounts and activities of a business. In addition to being a non-profit, we are also a medium-sized employer, run a retail store (our Adoptable Goods thrift store) and have all the accounts payable and receivable associated with any business. Second, we wanted the bank to be local. We are a local organization (not affiliated with the ASPCA or other regional and national groups) and wanted a local partner. Finally, we needed the bank to be invested in the community – not necessarily through donations to animal groups (although that is a plus), but involved in giving their time and their donations to the Sacramento region.

RCB hit all three of those with a proven track record in each, while also aligning with our organization’s mission and core values. While other banks we interviewed offered low or no fees on the services we needed, RCB took the approach of helping us succeed as a business. They also came up with a proposal to help make our money work harder for the animals. We could not be happier with the choice nor the experience we have had as a member of the RCB business family.

March 28, 2019

Clean Power Alliance: Providing clean energy and empowering communities

Clean-Energy-Header_768x309

Established in 2017, Clean Power Alliance (CPA) has quickly become the largest CCA in the nation. CPA currently serves over 900,000 homes and roughly 3.5 million people throughout Southern California.  Beginning in May 2019, CPA will also provide clean energy to approximately 130,000 businesses as well.

As a Community Choice Aggregator (CCA), Clean Power Alliance is a government entity that purchases clean power directly on the open energy market and delivers it to consumers on existing Southern California Edison (SCE) power lines. Originally established as a joint powers authority with unincorporated Los Angeles County, Rolling Hills Estates, and South Pasadena as founding members, it quickly grew to a coalition of 31 agencies across Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.

Choice and Growth

For more than a century, Southern California Edison had been the region’s dominant electric utility. But for nearly a million homes across Southern California, the days of Edison’s monopoly are coming to an end. Clean Power Alliance and other CCAs are offering a cleaner option and bringing competition on a larger scale.  CPA offers consumers three energy options at three price points: Green (100 percent renewables), Clean (50 percent renewables), and Lean (36 percent renewables.)  Consumers can decide their level of investment in clean energy.

Communities join because it is a platform for environmental protection and combatting climate change, and because cities have their own local sustainability goals. They also join because they are given a choice on how their energy is sourced. Clean Power Alliance also reinvests funds in innovative projects and programs within the communities they serve.

“The benefits of removing the monopoly system are that it brings innovation and lower rates,” said Ted Bardacke, Executive Director of Clean Power Alliance. “People want choice and the idea that if they can save money and be a little greener, or pay a bit more and be a lot greener, appeals to consumers.”

Creating a Strong Foundation

Before Clean Power Alliance was born, Bardacke knew there were things he needed to get right to build a thriving CCA. Although CCAs have been around Northern California since 2010, they are a relatively new concept in Southern California.  Ensuring there was a robust infrastructure in place, the organization set high standards for its employees, officers, and directors.  Along with strong corporate governance, Bardacke and his team took their time hiring experienced staff and figuring out how the agency is organized to ensure a secure future.

“We spent a lot of time hiring staff who knew what they are doing and to keep the place running,” said Bardacke.

According to Bardacke, by 2020 the Clean Power Alliance is set to take in over $800M in annual revenue. He attributes this success to applying the organization’s best practices and creating a framework of tools and techniques that identify, assess, mitigate, and monitor risk within the organization. Nothing is built at breakneck speed, and policies are carefully and thoughtfully considered.

“We want to make sure that we don’t get out over our skis,” said Bardacke.  “It requires a lot of work to be conservative and disciplined.”

CPA turned to River City Bank for its financial needs.  Bardacke knew that River City Bank has taken a bold lead in the clean energy space, supporting CCA clients throughout California with their depository, cash management, and lending needs. He has seen RCB provide other CCA clients with custom-tailored solutions spanning start-up capital, lines of credit, renewable energy project financing, and custodian “lockbox” accounts.

“We know that River City Bank understands the CCA business and is comfortable in the space,” said Bardacke. “They are entrepreneurial without being bureaucratic.  They understand what it takes to start this type of business, and we appreciate working with people who get that mindset. I know that I can call Steve Fleming directly and get something done.”

What’s In Store for Clean Energy

With talks about a “Green New Deal” which includes a 100% reliance on renewable energy, mitigation of climate change, and increasing green jobs, CCAs like Clean Power Alliance will be right in the middle of the action.

“There will be a change in a systemic and personal level when it comes to where Californians get their energy,” says Bardacke.

Since 2010, CCAs have given customers the ability to directly influence their community’s energy options by giving them the power to choose how and where they buy their electricity and natural gas. In light of California’s Senate Bill 100 which requires California to get 60% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030 and to eliminate the burning of fossil fuels for electricity by 2045, CCAs are very likely to grow in prominence in the coming years. Gradually, it could mean incentives for customers to install electric water or space heaters, reducing the need to burn natural gas. It might pave the way for free or discounted electric vehicle chargers or special electricity rates that encourage people to charge their electric vehicles at home.

In the clean energy arena, there will be new players and opportunities.  The state continues to be open to innovation and technology that will help eliminate the use of fossil fuels in the next few decades.

“In California, this idea of bold and ambitious goals based on local priorities has been successful across the board,” Bardacke says. “Everything we’re experiencing right now is what the other CCAs (community choice aggregators) have experienced around the state.”

To learn more about Clean Power Alliance visit their website at www.cleanpoweralliance.org.

December 20, 2018

The Rotary Club of Carmichael

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Uganda Rural Community Water Wells Project

In late 2015, the Rotary Club of Carmichael embarked on a project that would affect the lives of thousands of people in Uganda.  The group learned about the rural village in Iyolwa, Uganda named Poyemi through a presentation given by Rotary Member, Richard Olebe. Olebe described Poyemi as a place where villagers spent an average of four to five hours per day walking to and from their primary water source. Much of the time, nearby water sources – like a river or swamp– can be contaminated.

Richard Olebe, a long-time resident of Carmichael who was born and raised in Uganda, proposed the project of building five 200-foot wells in an area where people were living with contaminated water. Olebe, who holds an engineering degree from the University of Nairobi and two master’s degrees from Stanford, spoke on the life-changing benefits these wells can create. The group agreed that this was a project worth taking.  Once receiving final approval, the newly-appointed Project Chair traveled to Uganda to iron out the logistics and jumpstart the project.

On December 5, 2018, the project was completed with the final installation of fencing and testing of all the solar-powered submersible pumps associated with each well.  The project cost over $200,000 and took three years to finish.  The funding for the project originated from grants from the Rotary International Foundation and funds raised by the Carmichael Rotary Club in conjunction with other local clubs within their district. The project commissioning took place at Poyemi on December 15th with Project Chair Olebe and immediate past Carmichael Rotary President Richard Bauer attending the ceremony on behalf of the Carmichael Rotary Club.

The wells now serve approximately 10,000 people and have the potential to output over 7,000 gallons of water per hour.  The task that once took several hours to complete reduced to just over 30 minutes per day. The time saved could now be spent studying, earning an income, and performing other essential activities.

By changing the availability of water, the Carmichael Rotary Club’s water wells project has and will continue to have a profound impact on the lives of the people in Poyemi.

Richard Olebe with the local team
Richard Olebe with the local team
Schoolchildren gather at the new well sitePoyemi
Schoolchildren gather at the new well sitePoyemi
Villagers draw water from the newly-completed wells in Poyemi
Villagers draw water from the newly-completed wells in Poyemi
One of the completed wells in Poyemi
One of the completed wells in Poyemi
October 15, 2018

The California Museum: Inspiring the Future with California’s Past and Present

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California Museum Logo

The California Museum opened its doors on September 9, 1998. As a private non-profit institution focused on California’s rich history and culture, the Museum was created to be the public showplace for contents of the California State Archives.

Former First Lady Maria Shriver began working with the Museum in 2003 to expand its vision and mission. In 2004, the “California’s Remarkable Women” exhibit opened as the first of her many collaborative efforts with the Museum. The Museum’s exhibitions have since then continued to highlight stories to reflect all aspects of California’s diverse population and culture, with a particular emphasis on the contributions of women and under-represented groups.

Today, Governor Jerry Brown and First Lady Anne Gust Brown are Honorary Co-Chairs of the California Museum and the California Hall of Fame. Both the Governor and First Lady continue to work with the Museum in the selection of California Hall of Fame inductees, bringing their appreciation of California history and the educational mission of the Museum to the forefront.

We met with the Museum’s Executive Director, Amanda Meeker, to learn more about and discuss this hidden gem located right in the heart of Sacramento.

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The “California at Bat” Exhibit at the California Museum

When did the California Museum for History, Women and the Arts change its name to The California Museum? Why the change? Our name officially remains the California Museum for History, Women & the Arts, but in our day-to-day branding, we go by the shorter version for a couple of reasons. First, the official name is a bit of a mouthful! Second, people who are unfamiliar with the Museum often interpret the name as meaning that our exhibits are only about women. We do have a permanent exhibit celebrating California women, and we recognize the contributions of women and other historically underrepresented groups in all of our programming, but there are plenty of men depicted here as well. The name “California Museum” gives us wide latitude to address virtually any topic about California, past or present.

How many people visit the museum every year? Annual attendance is around 120,000 per year. Of those visitors, about half are students taking part in field trip programs.

What makes the California museum special? Only at the California Museum will you see the California Hall of Fame, an annual ceremony and exhibit where such legendary figures as Harrison Ford, Serena Williams, and Ronald Reagan are represented by artifacts personally loaned by the inductees or their families. The California Museum is also one of the few general museums to house a permanent exhibit about the wartime incarceration of 120,000 Japanese Americans, and we present an annual 8-week education program in which docents who experienced the camps recount first-hand stories of their experiences during WWII.

The Museum offers a diverse set of works. What has been your favorite exhibit thus far? In the twenty years the California Museum has been open, we have presented many wonderful temporary exhibits on topics ranging from natural history to art, cultural history to sports, so it’s hard to choose a favorite. The most popular was our presentation of “With Malice Toward None: The Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Exhibition.” This traveling exhibit from the Library of Congress featured historic documents such as the Emancipation Proclamation and Gettysburg Address; Mary Todd Lincoln’s emeralds; and items the President had in his pockets the night of his assassination, including a Confederate dollar bill and a pair of eyeglasses broken at the temple that Lincoln had mended with a bit of string.

What are some upcoming exhibits? On display through December 30, 2018 is “California at Bat: America’s Pastime in the Golden State,” which covers California baseball from the Gold Rush to the present, featuring Joe DiMaggio’s New York Yankees rookie uniform, the cap Ted Williams wore the season he was the last MLB player to bat over .400, Jackie Robinson’s MVP award, and scores of other historical items. Additional upcoming exhibits in 2019 include “Before They Were Heroes: Sus Ito’s WWII Images,” which provides a rare look into the daily lives of the Japanese American soldiers whose heroic service made the segregated 442nd Regimental Combat Team the most decorated unit of its size in U.S. military history; and “Dolores Huerta: Revolution in the Fields/Revolución en Los Campos,” a Smithsonian traveling exhibit that highlights the significant role of the iconic Latina leader in California’s farmworker movement.

The Unity Center at the California Museum – Photo by Robert Durell
SACRAMENTO, Calif., July 25, 2017 Children and adults visit the Unity Center's new exhibit at The California Museum, July 25, 2017, in Sacramento, Calif. Photo by Robert Durell

In 2017, the Museum launched the Unity Center which celebrates California’s diversity. Tell us more about this unique part of the Museum. The Unity Center initially was conceived in response to the 1999 “Summer of Hate” attacks in Northern California. Its interactive exhibits highlight leaders in the state’s rich civil rights history and encourage visitors to exercise their rights and stand up for the rights of others.

What is one thing that many people do not know about the Museum? Many think that the Museum is a State agency, but it’s actually a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. It relies on the generosity of Museum patrons and receives most of its funding from grants and sponsorships. Admissions and Museum store sales also support our operations.

To learn more about The California Museum or how you can donate, visit their website at www.californiamuseum.org.

July 3, 2018

Calvada Celebrates 50 Years

Calvada Food Sales

Calvada Food Sales reached a milestone, turning 50 this year.  With three trucks, rented freezer space at US Cold Storage in Sacramento, and a facility in Reno, Calvada opened for business on April 1, 1968. Only one of the original owners, Thomas Mackey, has stayed on for the entire half-century.  Tom is now joined by partners Bruce Wade, Bill Hill, Andy Wong, Tom Green, and Tom’s son Thomas (TJ) Mackey.

During the last 50 years, the company continued to grow and expand.  In 1980, the Reno facility moved into a larger space in Sparks, NV. While in Sacramento, additional property was purchased to keep pace with the growing demands of their products.

Calvada, which started with three partners and one employee, now boasts 62 in their ranks.  Congratulations on 50 years and here is to 50 more!

Celebrating Calvada’s 50th Anniversary
Celebrating Calvada’s 50th Anniversary
Calvada’s Thomas Mackey with Steve Fleming, CEO and President of River City Bank
Calvada’s Thomas Mackey with Steve Fleming, CEO and President of River City Bank
The Calvada Team
The Calvada Team
July 3, 2018

Redefining the Family Business

Elite Services Logo

A Q&A with Roy Hill, Jr. of Elite Service Experts

The Hill family founded IMS nearly two decades ago.  As a second-generation owner of the company, Roy Hill, Jr. lives and breathes the company’s mission of being the “best” in delivering service and improving the lives and businesses of those they connect with and serving others as they would like to be served.  We sat down with Roy to discuss the exciting changes at IMS and how he embraces the unique challenges and triumphs that come along with a family-owned business.

After many years, IMS will become Elite Service Experts. What prompted the change in name?

IMS was started by my father Roy Hill, Sr., in April of 2000.  Primarily focused in Commercial Facility Maintenance and Repair services, it quickly grew to incorporate a full line of Facility Services to include Landscaping, HVAC, Janitorial, Roofing, Facility Management, Lighting, Electrical and General Maintenance and Repair Services.

My father unexpectedly passed away in February 2017.  This unfortunate event was very tragic for the family as well as the business and those who worked for it.  While dad had planned for the succession of the business to my brother and me, we were not prepared for the unfortunate and unexpected situation we found ourselves.

Among the many positive changes we made in the business over the last year, one of them was the decision to create a new company and a fresh start.  A new brand and name that would signify the absolute best that IMS has always strived to achieve.  We decided on the name Elite Service Experts to boldly express our capabilities above others.  We incorporated a Phoenix in the logo to represent a rebirth of our father’s great legacy.

The rebranding of IMS had generated a powerful synergy with our team, and an excitement and momentum from every level of the company.  It’s both energizing and exciting to be part of something new that has the experience, knowledge, resources, and connections of a well-established and seasoned business.

Elite is a family-owned business. What are some of the unique challenges that you as CEO have faced?

The family works well together with four family members working in the business, including my brother and partner.  Overall, the family supports decisions I make as CEO, but they don’t hesitate to chime in if they have questions or opinions.  Their feedback allows me the opportunity to step back and reassess a situation, especially through their eyes.  I believe this results in sound business decisions.

We aren’t perfect, but we are a family dedicated to our company mission established by Roy Hill, Sr.

Roy Hill, Jr. and Ryan Petree
Roy Hill, Jr. and Ryan Petree

Outside of the unique hurdles I have faced with regards to the family-owned business, I have had many other challenges, especially over the last year.  The biggest of which would have been the decision to downsize and refocus our services to core competence.  That included the decision to eliminate the Janitorial and HVAC Business Units.  It would have been easy to stop service and terminate employees.  However, all decisions we make in the company must align with our Core Values and accomplish our mission.  Our Core Values are Respect, Compassion, Righteous Behavior, and Faith.  I had to eliminate two Business Units while maintaining compassion and serving others the way we would want to be served.  So I took the challenge head-on and decided to identify prospective Janitorial and HVAC contractors who would be willing to take on the current contracts, while agreeing to hire every employee at their current wage, benefits structure, schedule, etc.  This would ensure we have served our customers the way we would want to be served but with compassion for our employees top of mind.  In two short months, I completed the challenge leaving Elite Service Experts with three core competencies:

1.  General Building Maintenance and Repair specializing in all aspects of building maintenance such as plumbing, electrical, lighting, carpentry, on-site and scheduled building technicians and handyman type services.

2.  Landscaping specializing in routine maintenance, field mowing, property clean-ups, irrigation repair and installation, renovations, backflow repair, and certifications, etc.

3.  Specialty Services specializing in services such as pressure washing, concrete sealing and staining, construction clean-up, window cleaning and calcium removal, laborer support and more.

How do you characterize your leadership style?

Servant Leadership.  I’m not opposed to doing anything my team does; in many cases, I get my hands dirty right alongside them.  However, I feel my job as CEO is to motivate the team then get out of their way.  You provide guidelines and parameters along with clear goals then empower your team to make the decisions they need to win.  Lastly, we are humans and mistakes are inevitable.  I feel that mistakes should be a teachable moment that everyone should learn from to avoid making the same one again.  We don’t reprimand for mistakes.  However, if the same error is made multiple times, it becomes a competence issue.  We do reprimand for incompetence.

What piece of advice would you give to a future entrepreneur or your 25-year-old self?

Face your challenges head-on, be flexible and available to employees, learn to say no and remain focused, and believe that anything can happen.  Lastly, if you demand your employees to work hard, lead by example.

What’s next for Elite?

We are currently preparing our infrastructure for continued growth.  We have invested in a Mobile Field Software for our technicians and crews.  We are planning to invest significantly in equipment and vehicle upgrades to maximize efficiencies and reduce operating expense.  Lastly, we are looking into offering service solutions for residential applications.

You have many banking options, why did IMS/Elite choose River City Bank?

We have been partners with RCB for well over 15 years.  Our relationship is mutually beneficial, and that is a true partnership.  We like what RCB stands for in the community and the support it has for Family Businesses in the region.  Lastly, there isn’t a branch you can go into that doesn’t treat you like you are their only customer.  We look forward to continuing our partnership for many years to come.

July 11, 2017

Silicon Valley Clean Energy: Redefining Energy

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Silicon Valley Clean Energy

After decades of dominance by electricity monopolies, California is experiencing the emergence of Community Choice Aggregators (CCAs), a new type of electricity provider that provides cities and counties the opportunity to choose what kinds of energy to purchase for their needs.  CCA is a state policy that enables local governments to aggregate electricity demand within their jurisdictions in order to procure alternative energy supplies while maintaining the existing electricity provider for transmission and distribution services. On April 3, 2017, Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE) commemorated its first official day of operation, supplying 100% carbon-free electricity to its customers in Silicon Valley.  River City Bank was in attendance that day to celebrate SVCE’s launch and our banking partnership.  We circled back with CEO, Tom Habashi, to find out more about SVCE and the important role they play in reducing the region’s carbon emissions.

How many customers does SVCE serve?

SVCE currently serves 240,000 residents in the area. SVCE, is a Joint Powers Authority (“JPA”) comprised of 11 municipalities located within the County of Santa Clara, as well as the unincorporated areas of the County itself. They have elected to allow SVCE to provide electric generation service within their respective jurisdictions.

SVCE just launched in April and is now supplying parts of the Silicon Valley with 100% carbon-free electricity. Were there any challenges you faced as you were trying to bring the program to fruition?

We knew we had to make sure our policies were in place, contracts were sound, and that we had set up a good foundation rather than building on quicksand. We learned from our predecessors and knew we needed to be better than the incumbent utility already in place.

The one problem we didn’t anticipate was how difficult it was to find office space in the Silicon Valley.  For a time, we had trouble finding enough space that made sense for the organization.  Luckily we found a great space in Sunnyvale.

What types of renewable sources does SVCE utilize and does it all come from California?

SVCE offers residents and businesses two main electricity choices.  The default choice is GreenStart, which is 100 percent carbon-free.  Under the GreenStart option, 50 percent of electricity comes from renewables such as wind and solar, while the other 50 percent comes from large-scale hydropower that we receive from the Upper Northwest.  Customers currently pay 1% less for this option compared to the incumbent utility’s base plan with lower renewable content.

The other choice is GreenPrime, which is sourced from 100% renewables and is also 100% carbon free.  GreenPrime is generated from 100% renewable, carbon-free sources, primarily from solar and wind farms in California and on the western grid. Buying GreenPrime further expands generation from these new and competitive renewable energy sources. Customers can choose to upgrade to GreenPrime for about $3 to $5 more per month. Customers enroll in Silicon Valley Clean Energy through an “opt-out” system.   This means customers within SVCE’s service area receive alerts in the mail about switching to the agency, and they’re automatically switched over unless they choose to opt out.

SVCE is working on a program where 100% of the carbon free energy comes exclusively from California.

Why do you think more residents are leaning towards renewable energy and are willing to spend more to have greener options?

For many CCA customers, it actually saves them money.  For example, SVCE GreenStart customers will pay 1% less than the incumbent utility’s current rates.  With the opt-out option, customers are automatically enrolled and do not need to do a thing if they want cleaner, greener electricity, at a better price.  For consumers, the benefits of the CCA are a no-brainer. They can choose to increase the amount of clean energy they use, thereby helping to reduce greenhouse gases and to reach, and even exceed, state and national clean-energy goals. CCA customers have also benefited from rebates on energy efficiency upgrades.

On another level, more and more communities are coming together to be a part of a solution to ease carbon emissions.  They realize that it affects all of us, our children, and grandchildren.

California is experiencing the emergence of CCAs. Do you see more and more communities moving towards clean energy?

More and more communities are demanding more renewable energy options. California’s push for cleaner energy has been driven by a desire to limit greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels, which are the primary driver of climate change. Locally-governed public agencies like SVCE allow participating communities to reinvest revenues to keep rates low, provide energy efficiency programs, and promote a cleaner energy infrastructure.

Because of the success of CCAs, more and more communities are aching to take the leap and have environmental and energy stewardship over their regions.

What advances have you seen in renewable energy?

Energy storage has been a hot topic in the last couple of years. It is needed to store solar energy at night or wind power on days when there is no breeze. Energy storage plays an important role in this balancing act and helps to create a more flexible and reliable grid system. There are a number of technology choices available, but the cost of energy storage is still a concern. Solar energy has recently dropped in price by ~40%, but the question remains if it would be more profitable to simply add more generating capacity rather than more storage capacity. California, where there is already strong public policy support for renewable energy, is the undisputed king of US energy storage. However, in other places around the country, there is the need to stimulate technological improvement in storage to encourage further growth.

There are many other banks out there. What made SVCE choose RCB?

River City Bank was there for us from day one.  We’ve seen them help other CCAs get their financing, even when it was unchartered territory.  River City Bank had the experience and understanding for what CCAs encounter at various stages of financing and banking needs. They put together an offer that made sense for us and we were compelled to work with a community based bank with similar values. Steve (Fleming) and Rosa (Cucicea) were able to come up with solutions for our issues, helping us get through all the roadblocks we encountered and enable us to get the funding and banking services needed to launch SVCE.  River City Bank’s experience and knowledge in the renewable energy industry is second to none.

To find out more about SVCE, visit their website at ww.svcleanenergy.org.