Hosts: Kip Altman with Scot Hunter Guests: Vivien Straus & Michael Straus - Cheese Trail We will talk about: 1) 15 years of the Cheese Trail, 2) Vivien’s avowed ‘cow expertise’, 3) how and why you started the Trail, 4) the challenge of getting cheesemakers to “join” the Trail, 5) how people find the Cheese Trail, 6) how long does it take to cover the whole cheese Trail, 7) the variety of cheeses represented on the Cheese Trail, 8) how cheese making has changed over time, 9) the effect of com...
Dec 03, 2024•51 min
Hosts: Kip Altman with Scot Hunter Guest: Heidi Diestel Orrock and Jared Orrock - Diestel Farms (75th Anniversary) We will talk about: 1) the history of the Ranch, founded in 1949, 2) how ranch management has evolved over 4 generations, 3) operating changes/improvements in production practices over the years, 4) the effect of changes in consumer tastes on methods of production, 5) changing profile of the consumer of turkey products, 6) the complexity of shifting to organic farming, 7) the shift ...
Nov 25, 2024•50 min
Hosts: Kip Altman with Scot Hunter Guest: Benson Wang - Co-Founder Palm House Hospitality We will talk about: 1) years in the restaurant industry after a career in finance, 2) how and why shift careers, 3) entry into the hospitality industry, 4) why the acquisition of The Flamingo Hotel and Nick’s Cove, 5) the marketing of each property, 6) the difference in hospitality concept differentiation between restaurants and hotels, 7) competitive factors which have affected Palm house hospitality holdi...
Nov 21, 2024•51 min
Hosts: Kip Altman with Scot Hunter Guest: Phil Barber - Investigative Reporter for the Press Democrat We will talk about: 1) His 20+ years at the Press Democrat, 2) Why he shifted from NFL coverage in articles and books to general reporting, 3) His in depth coverage of LeFever and Mattson - how/why it started, 4) The ability to cultivate sources to talk about them, on or off the record, 5) His opinion on what L&M were trying to accomplish, 6) His opinion on whether they will survive as an on...
Nov 13, 2024•55 min
Hosts: Kip Altman with Scot Hunter Guest: Richard Hertz - Public Opinion Pollster and Lecturer at SSU We will talk about: 1) his years as a public opinion pollster, 2) how and why he got started in political science after a career in MLB, 3) how one creates unbiased surveys, 4) what he wants election apps to do, 5) his perspective on the most reliable public opinion polls and why are they reliable, 6) thoughts on the evolution of polling, 7) his opinion on the usefulness of polling - to the cand...
Nov 04, 2024•57 min
Hosts: Kip Altman with George Webber Guest: Diane Dwyre, Prof. Political Science, CSU Chico We will talk about: 1) your new book on the U.S. campaign finance system, 2) how and why you started researching and writing about campaign finance policy, 3) why the campaign finance system has developed as we find it today, 4) your perspective on campaign finance regulatory structure, 5) why the Supreme Court sided with free speech over political equality, 6) the impact of corruption - in what form and ...
Oct 28, 2024•50 min
Hosts: Kip Altman with Scot Hunter Guest: Willard 'Dub' Hay, Coffee Expert We will talk about: 1) Dub's 40+ years in the industry, 2) how and why Dub got started in the business, 3) the development of his ‘coffee palate’, 4) Dub's transition from coffee buyer for Procter & Gamble’s Folgers Coffee brand to… 5) Dub's position as Starbuck’s top coffee expert and master taster to… 6) Dub's leadership in creating new blends and coffee education inside Starbucks, 7) how consumer tastes have change...
Oct 21, 2024•54 min
Hosts: Kip Altman with Scot Hunter Guest: Aman Garg and Paul Clark of Adobe Drug Store We will talk about: 1) the 70+ year history of Adobe Drugs, 2) the effect of the change in ownership to Pharmaca in 2004, 3) the sale of Pharmaca (28 stores integrative pharmacy chain) to Medly Health (a digital pharmacy) in 2021, 4) Medly’s bankruptcy in 2022 - what happened, 5) Walgreens acquisition of Medly’s assets and Pharmaca customer list and the closing of Pharmaca in February 2023 - why, 6) your decis...
Oct 15, 2024•54 min
Hosts: Kip Altman with Scot Hunter Guest: Eddie Mora-Loera, President & GM, Sonoma Stompers Baseball Club We will talk about: 1) Being in sports management for 5 years, 2) Responsibilities as President and GM of the Sonoma Stompers, 3) how and why he got interested in sports management, 4) Why shift the Stompers from the Pacific League to the CCL, 5) trends in attendance at Stompers games, 6) how he attracts players to the Stompers, 7) the essential elements of player development, 8) the fin...
Oct 07, 2024•52 min
Hosts: Kip Altman with Scot Hunter Guest: Jeff Quackenbush, Reporter, North Bay Business Journal We will talk about: 1) his 25 year perspective on business in Sonoma, 2) how he got started in business journalism, 3) how Sonoma business and industry has changed over your years covering both, 4) how coverage of business has changed, 5) the biggest stories he's covered, 6) the ‘largest’ personalities he's encountered, 7) the biggest challenges he's faced, 8) the important contribution his coverage ...
Sep 30, 2024•51 min
Hosts: Kip Altman with Scot Hunter Guests: Denise & Scott Silveira, owners, Silveira Chevrolet We will talk about: 1) their almost 40-year history in the auto industry, 2) their acquisition of Sonoma Chevrolet, 3) the growth of the company, 4) competition in your industry, 5) competition among makes and models, 6) evolution of customer tastes and driving habits, 7) competition in the truck sector of the market, 8) the rebranding/reintroduction of the Chevy Blazer as a subcompact SUV, 9) effe...
Sep 24, 2024•57 min
Hosts: Kip Altman with Scot Hunter Guest: Al Coopin, Shawn Johnson - Keegan & Coopin Commercial Real Estate We will talk about: 1) Al's more than 50 years in real estate development and brokerage, 2) how and why Al and Sean got started in the business, 3) Al's founding of Keegan & Coppin Company almost 50 years ago, 4) ) competitive factors which have affected commercial RE industry, 5) how K&C have adapted to economic cycles and changing market conditions over the years, 6) changes ...
Sep 19, 2024•50 min
Hosts: Kip Altman with Scot Hunter Guest: Heather Irwin - Dining Editor, Press Democrat, Sonoma Magazine & SMI Media We will talk about: 1) Her 18 years at the Press Democrat and 10 years as Dining Editor at Sonoma magazine, 2) how and why she got started in the business, 3) why the move to Dining editor, 4) her perspective on the restaurant business, 5) her expectations at the beginning 6) what she found regarding ‘professionalism’ in the restaurant industry in Sonoma, 7) observation of the...
Sep 10, 2024•49 min
Hosts: Kip Altman with Scot Hunter Guest: Zachary Kushel, Founder & Managing Partner, Marin Sonoma Impact Ventures We will talk about:1) the founding of MSIV, 2) why Marin and Sonoma Counties were targeted- how robust is their ‘entrepreneurial ecosystem’, 3) how are prospective VC opportunities sourced 4) how ‘high-growth’ prospects are defined, 5) regional competition for investing decisions, 6) exit strategies for portfolio companies, 7) what is required of prospective additions MSIV’s por...
Aug 27, 2024•50 min
Hosts: Kip Altman with Scot Hunter Guest: Professor Liz Thach - President, Wine Marketing Council We will talk about: 1) your being the first woman in California and the 7th woman in the US to become a Master of Wine, 2) how and why you ‘transitioned’ to researching, writing and teaching about the wine business, 3) your 20 years teaching of management and wine business classes in SSU Bachelors and MBA programs, 4) research you conducted in your holding the Korbel Professorship for wine research,...
Aug 19, 2024•57 min
Hosts: Kip Altman with Scot Hunter Guest: Stephen Chen, Founder, CEO of NewRetirement We will talk about: 1) founding of NewRetirement, 2) why they targeted the ‘retirement market’, 3) what the market ‘looked like’ when NewRetirement started, 4) how well customers understand personal finance and the basics of financial planning, 5) is ‘do it yourself’ financial planning a daunting prospect vs. choosing to work with an RIA, 6) factors which individuals or families must consider in structuring a r...
Aug 14, 2024•56 min
Hosts: Kip Altman with Scot Hunter Guest: 8/5 Nancy King, Jeni Nichols - La Luz Latino Leadership Program; We will talk about: 1) how and why the Latino Leadership Program was created, 2) to whom do you hope to appeal, 3) what you hope participants will learn, 4) how past Latino leaders in the community became leaders before the program began, 5) the profile of a desirable candidate for the program, 6) how do you follow up on leadership lessons learned, 7) how you determine that a participant is...
Aug 05, 2024•50 min
Hosts: Kip Altman with Scot Hunter Guest: Dayna Ghirardelli - ED of Sonoma County Farm Bureau We will talk about: 1) the 107-year mission and goals of the Sonoma County Farm Bureau 2) your responsibilities as Executive Director, 3) the current state of farming in Sonoma County’, 4) the varieties of farming in Sonoma County, 5) competitive factors which have affected farming in Sonoma County over the years, 6) how agricultural production has changed, 7) problems/challenges unique to Sonoma County...
Jul 30, 2024•50 min
Hosts: Kip Altman with Scot Hunter Guest: John Sullins, Professor of Ethics at Sonoma State (especially as it relates to AI) We will talk about: 1) your concerns about AI, as a Professor of Philosophy and Director of Programming for SSU’s Center for Ethics, Law, and Society, 2) your definition of ‘responsible use of generative AI’ 3) when you started to focus on the ethical dimensions of AI design and implementation, 4) the ethical differences, if any, between AI use in education or business, 5)...
Jul 22, 2024•52 min
Hosts: Kip Altman with Scot Hunter Guest: Ethan Brown, ED Sonoma County Economic Development Board We will talk about: 1) your years at the EDB of Sonoma, 2) how and why you got started at the EDB in 2012, 3) your elevation to Director of the EDB in 2023, 4) competitive factors which affect and have affected Sonoma industry over the years, 5) the critical elements of economic health in Sonoma County, 6) how economic output in Sonoma County has changed over the years, 7) the prospects for growth ...
Jul 15, 2024•50 min
Hosts: Kip Altman with Scot Hunter Guest: Mike Esmith, The Cottages of Napa Valley We will talk about: 1) your almost 20 years ownership of the Cottages of Napa Valley, 2) how and why you got started in the business, 3) competitive factors which have affected your industry, 4) how you attract customers, 5) what customers want from a visit to Napa Valley, 6) how your experience as a hotelier has changed over the years, 7) how you determine pricing for your rooms, 8) your recommendations to travel...
Jul 08, 2024•50 min
Hosts: Kip Altman with Scot Hunter Guests: Hilda Swartz (founder of Sonoma Farmers Market and Tuesday Night Farmers Market) and Melissa ‘Missy’ Lely (her associate). We will talk about: 1) the almost 40 years of farmers’ markets in Sonoma, 2) how and why Hilda got started in the farmers’ markets movement and how/when Missy joined her, 3) how Sonoma’s farmers’ market differs from those in other towns, 4) how the Sonoma farmers’ market has changed over the years, 5) how you select vendors for the ...
Jul 02, 2024•52 min
Hosts: Kip Altman with Scot Hunter Guest: Les Vadasz, The 4th employee and one of the founding members at Intel Corp. We will talk about: 1) the serendipitous fact that you and I share the same birth date (though slightly different birth years) = a short discussion, 2) your early life and departure from Hungary in 1956, 3) your years at Fairchild Semiconductor, 4) the early years at Intel as employee #4 in 1968, 5) your camaraderie with Bob Noyce, Gordon Moore and Andy Grove, 6) your being prese...
Jun 25, 2024•52 min
Show: Strictly Business Date/Time: June 17 at 1:00 PM Hosts: Kip Altman with Scot Hunter Guest: Tony Greenberg, SilverThread Farm Restaurant, Healdsburg We will talk about: SilverThread has been named in the top 50 restaurants - how does that happen? Tony’s background and training Does winning a reward increase his business Does he ever get the sense that the prestige of the restaurant can be intimidating to some customers? Why Healdsburg? How long is a dinner at SilverThread? Is he opening anot...
Jun 18, 2024•51 min
Hosts: Kip Altman with Scot Hunter Guest: Jon Sebastiani, Founder & Managing Partner, Sonoma Brands We will talk about: 1) your founding and selling of KRAVE Pure Foods, 2) how and why you got started in the business, 3) how you shifted from ‘founder’ to ‘investor’, 4) competitive factors which have affected your industry, 5) how you identify growth opportunities, 6) how ‘patient’ is your capital investment, 7) how growth stage investing and consumers’ tastes have changed over the years, 8) ...
Jun 12, 2024•53 min
Hosts: Kip Altman with Scot Hunter Guest: Jim Witous, Owner, CafeMac We will talk about: 1) your 20+ years operating cafeMac in Sonoma, 2) how and why you got started in the business, 3) competitive factors which have affected your business, 4) how computers have changed users’ lives over the years, 5) how sophisticated today’s computer users are (or are not), 6) your experience with the ‘downside of computers’: scams, theft, fraud 7) efforts computer users can make to protect themselves online,...
Jun 04, 2024•53 min
Hosts: Kip Altman with Scot Hunter Guest: Amy Bach, Co-Founder & Executive Director of United Policyholders We will talk about: •Amy’s background •The origination story of her organization (a non-profit consumer advocacy organization for consumers of all types of insurance in all 50 states) •Her take on providers fleeing CA •Success stories •Biggest challenges •Climate change and its effect on insurance •What she sees as the future of all types of insurance going forward in CA and regionally...
May 28, 2024•53 min
Hosts: Kip Altman with Scot Hunter Guest: Erika Thibault - Sonoma Library Director We will talk about: 1. The library as a business - the three most important aspects of running a library 2. Do your librarians all have a masters in library science? 3. What is the shrinkage rate for the Sonoma County Library system 4. How many people are served each year 5. What sort of outreach does the library do? To the public at large? To business? 6. What is Erika’s background and training? 7. How long have ...
May 28, 2024•52 min
Hosts: Kip Altman with Scot Hunter Guest: Dick Ogg, President of the Bodega Bay Fishermen’s Marketing Association We will talk about: 1) your 50+ years as a resident of Bodega Bay, 2) your being President of the Bodega Bay Fishermen’s Marketing Association, 3) how and why you got started in the fishing industry after decades as an electrician, 4) how the fishing industry has changed over the years, 5) the atmospheric challenge: impact of draught, climate change and oceanic conditions, 6) the eco...
May 28, 2024•51 min
Hosts: Kip Altman with Scot Hunter Guest: Jim Simpson, O.D.D. Parts Fabrication We will talk about: 1. Everything! 2. What is Odd Parts? 3. How did he get started 4. Where are his customers from 5. How do customers find him 6. Does he have any stories of princes or masters of the universe needing him to solve their problems 7. What is the most unique part he’s ever had to fabricate 8. What does he like best about his business 9. How did he learn all this stuff 10. What does he do in his downtime...
May 28, 2024•52 min
