LATINA Style Magazine, with the participation of the U.S. Small Business Administration, will host the 2007 LATINA Style Business Series on Friday, August 10, 2007 at the Sheraton Grand Hotel (1230 J Street). The event will be chaired by a committee made up of: Martha Montoya, Los Kitos; Diana Borroel, Sacramento Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Alice Perez, Sacramento Municipal Utility District.

The conference seeks to empower Latina professionals and business owners by bringing them together with key corporations and agencies that provide goods, services and essential information most needed by today’s entrepreneur.

The Business Series starts at 8:00 am and concludes at 4:00 pm. Attendees have the opportunity to interact with the panelists. The event includes exhibits and expert presenters from sponsors American Airlines, AARP Health Care Options, AT&T, ExxonMobil, IBM Corporation, Principal Financial, State Farm Insurance, Sam’s Club, UnitedHealthcare, and Wal-Mart. In addition, LATINA Style has partnered with Conexion, Sacramento Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Alianza Metropolitan News, Los Kitos, La Region, La Tricolor 99.9, Super Estrella 104.3, ALPFA, Employers Group, National Latin Business Women’s Association Sacramento, US Small Business Administration, Women in Public Policy, Hispanic Empowerment Association of Roseville and Northeastern California Small Business Development Center.

The emcee, Nicole Chavez, News10, of the luncheon will introduce our keynote speaker. Northern California native, Nicole left Sonoma County to attend Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. There, she got behind the microphone for the first time at KXLU radio. From the "Biggest Little City" to the "Capital City," Nicole Chavez joined News10 as a reporter from KTVN in Reno, Nevada. Nicole's career's taken her from the glitz and glamour of Los Angeles to the apple orchards of Central Washington state to the Nevada desert. Moving to Sacramento, though, finally feels like home.

In conclusion of the luncheon, a Latina entrepreneur from the Sacramento area will be recognized as the 2007 “Latina Entrepreneur of the Year” award.

Registration fee includes seminars, high power networking opportunities in the exhibit area, breakfast, lunch, commemorative gift bag and a two-year subscription to LATINA Style Magazine, for a total of $30!

For more information or to register for the Sacramento Business Series visit http://www.latinastyle.com or call 1-800-651-8083.

Gillian Parrillo
The Sacramento Executive

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INVENTIVE Japan grants more patents than any other country. In 2002-05, on average 1,213 were given out for every million people, according to data collected for 82 countries by the Economist Intelligence Unit. But this impressive number is partly explained by multiple counting: each part of a new product required a separate patent application. Elsewhere, the parts would all be submitted in one. Generally, small countries grant the most patents. Switzerland, Sweden and Finland benefit from clusters of world-class companies in high-tech sectors and a highly educated workforce. Israel can thank its well-educated immigrants. Crumbling Cuba grants more patents than fast-growing India or China, though both countries are better known for their ability to copy, rather than create, intellectual property.

Source: The Economist

Gillian Parrillo
The Sacramento Executive

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Last week, I was back to training so as not to completely embarass myself in the leg of the triathalon in which I have foolishly agreed to compete in August. Armed with all of the technology that I am sure is going to make this easier, I set out on a 1 hour walk. As I progressed, I would check my iPod Nano periodically to see how far I had gone and at what pace I was moving. The Nike iPod connection is a cool measuring device in my running shoes that transmits to my Nano. It helps keep me motivated and maintains a record of all of my training sessions on my personalized Nike account. It is also possible to set attainment goals and challenge other runners around the world, along with other cool things.

The hour was over and I was very pleased that I had walked more than 4 miles. Imagine my surprise when through my headphones, I hear, "Congratulations, this is Lance Armstrong, you have just completed your longest workout yet". Wow, Lance Armstrong congratulating me. That was a nice, and very unexpected, touch!

Gillian Parrillo
The Sacramento Executive

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Conventional thinking breeds mediocrity. I see it every day - in our corporate work force; in our political system, and in our investment system. I remember one of the daily quotes posted by my ninth grade homeroom teacher – just because 99 out of 100 people think an idea is good, doesn’t make it a good idea. How true these words have proven to be!

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median household income is $46,326 (2005 data). Corporate America is not paying the average person very much, unless you are the CEO of a Fortune 500 company, where the median pay in 2005 was $8.4 million.

Our political system has failed to deliver, over and over again. 46.7 million people subsist without healthcare insurance (2005 U.S. Census data). 50% of Hispanics and 45% of blacks (I think it is politically incorrect to refer to blacks as African Americans) do not graduate from high school. More college-aged black men are in prison than in college. And according to the Chinese government, in the past twenty years, California has built 20 new prisons while building just one new university.

And then there’s the rock – our investment system – the institution that is looking out for our future, after we retire. It’s a sham, whether it’s social security or Wall Street. Just ask the average 75-year old social security recipient if she is living comfortably in her golden years. I bet not. The median American household’s net worth is $46,506 (2000 U.S. Census data). Only 2% of retirees are financially secure. The rest (98%) scrape by, struggling to make ends meet.

Half of all American households survive on an income less than $46,326. 37 million people live in poverty (again, 2005 U.S. Census data). 25% of blacks and 22% of Hispanics live in poverty. 10.8% of whites live in poverty. (News flash: These poverty statistics are an outrage! Does the word bias or discrimination apply here?) For a family of four, our government defines poverty to be household income below $20,650 (a 2007 report from the Health and Human Services department). I don’t know about you, but try adequately feeding, clothing, housing, educating and providing healthcare for a family of four on $20,000. It simple can’t be done.

The conventional wisdom has been and continues to be - prepare high school students to go to college, yet most don't go to college; get a corporate job; work five or more days a week from 9 to 5, or longer in many cases; buy a house; commute to work, in many cases more than 30 minutes each way; work forty years; and, retire.

The results, well they speak for themselves. They stink. Therefore conventional wisdom needs radical change.

Look what conventional wisdom gets you. If you are lucky enough to have gone to college and nailed an above average job, you might have saved a few dollars and invested in a mutual fund. Over the years, the stock market on average has yielded an 11% return. But here’s the rub, 85% of all mutual funds under perform the market. So, even though you may be above average in income, your mutual fund is under performing in investment returns.

See, invariably, conventional ways of doing things do not produce great results!

Over the years, I frequently commented to my co-workers that I needed to change things. That is, find a job with a two-day workweek and a five-day weekend. Well, I haven’t been thinking big enough.

What about a 4-hour workweek? Surely you think that I jest. Well, call me crazy, but I think it’s possible. And it is not conventional. Therefore, almost no one will even attempt to create a 4-hour workweek.

But I am. I will. That is my new objective. But before you send me to the loony bin, try reading Timothy Ferriss’s book, “The 4-Hour Workweek”.

Just maybe, you might break away from the crowd and put yourself in a position to succeed.

And one other thing – Dallas will soon be in my rearview mirror. Tim has opened my eyes and asked me, “Why am I paying $3,500 a month on my mortgage to live in Dallas? Think of all the places in the world I could live and work for much less!” Well I am. And I will.

Gillian, pack your bags, we’re moving!

Pierre Cutler
The Sacramento Executive

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Entrepreneur magazine, in partnership with the Women Presidents' Organization (WPO), announces a search for the Top 50 fastest-growing women-owned/women-led businesses in the U.S. and Canada. With women-owned companies growing at twice the rate of all firms, the results of Entrepreneur's Top 50 search will showcase some of the hottest of these businesses to watch.

The Top 50 businesses will be revealed in the November issue of Entrepreneur magazine and honored at a special event with the WPO in New York City on December 3, 2007. Applications to enter and submission details can be found here; the deadline to enter is August 5, 2007.

To be eligible, companies must:

-- Be privately owned
-- Be women-owned/led
-- Have started generating revenue by the first week of 2002
-- Have reached revenue of $1 million by year-end 2006

Come on, talented Sacramento women, amaze us!

Gillian Parrillo
The Sacramento Executive

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Gillian & I extend our gratitude and appreciation to Dave Mendoza at Comstock Mortgage, Caroline Jensen at Coldwell Banker, Joe Milam at Legacy Capital, Frank Bodie at Montgomery Professional Services, Michelle Hallsten at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, Mark Zetter at Amplify LLC, Suzette Riddle at California Lectures, Andy Eppinger at Sacramento Speakers, and Dave Ross at Alpine Adventures for their generous support of Sacramento Executive.

Pierre Cutler
The Sacramento Executive

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From Colliers International, here is the list of most downtown office space under construction in Q1'07:

Washington, DC
New York, NY - Downtown Manhattan
New York, NY - Midtown Manhattan
Chicago, IL
San Francisco, CA
Seattle, WA
Charlotte, NC
Atlanta, GA
Philadelphia, PA
Sacramento, CA

And here's the list for most suburban office space under construction in Q1'07:

Phoenix, AZ
Washington, DC - N. Virginia
Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX
New Jersey - Northern
Seattle, WA
Atlanta, GA
Orange County, CA
San Diego County, CA
Houston, TX
West Palm Beach, FL
Miami, FL
Sacramento, CA

Rents continued to increase in 2007. Sacramento has the 19th most expensive downtown office rent.

Gillian Parrillo
The Sacramento Executive

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Gillian Parrillo
The Sacramento Executive

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Haven't seen Sicko Yet? You really should. It provides insight on a major issue facing this country. And the director of the movie, Michael Moore, has a special offer this weekend - Take a Republican to 'Sicko!'" Take them this weekend and send the ticket stub and entry form to Michael and he will enter them into a drawing. The lucky winner will get Michael Moore to come to their home and do their laundry - just like in France. As Michael Moore says, "What would make a Republican happier than him working away in their laundry room?"

And talking of Sicko - the debates continue and swirl. One of the issues is whether the fact that this country has, in many cases, worse outcomes in terms of life expectancy or infant mortality, than other countries can be attributed to the American lifestyle and not the American health care system. Well, for sure, the British have higher smoking rates than we do and yet they have much better outcomes. I think it's all about preventative care and free care. If you don't have to make a decision between feeding your 2 year old and getting a prenatal checkup, then you are more likely to go get the check up. Or if you learn to control diabetes by early and regular doctor's visits, you don't end up having your legs amputated. And as for the wait times, I would be perfectly happy to wait a few extra days to get elective surgery if it meant that everyone in this country could have access to good quality, free healthcare. And I think there are many others that would too.

Check out this 5 minute movie on single payer
or read the facts behind a bill that is currently in Congress - HR676 - that would implement single payer healthcare. You will be amazed at the savings even though it will provide insurance to everyone in this country. Take the middleman and the profit factor out of the equation. After that, we can take the lobbyists out of the political process. But one thing at a time!

Gillian Parrillo
The Sacramento Executive

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Under new rules that the Small Business Administration is set to adopt, women-owned small businesses would be given the same preferences in bidding for federal contracts that are available to businesses considered to be disadvantaged. The rules would apply to contracts worth less than $3 million and would allow agencies to restrict competition for such contracts to businesses owned primarily by women.

Source: American City Business Journals/Washington (7/20)

Gillian Parrillo
The Sacramento Executive

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SACRAMENTO—A charter school opening in Sacramento this fall will teach students in three languages from the time they start kindergarten.
Students will be taught in English, Spanish and Mandarin Chinese by teachers who are native speakers. They will practice by participating in video conferences with students in Beijing, Shanghai and Mexico City.

The program will teach about 120 students from kindergarten through third grade in the North Sacramento School District, where many students come from poor immigrant families. About 83 percent of the district's students qualify for subsidized lunches, and 39 percent are not fluent in English.

"Kids that don't get out of Sacramento now are going to see people around the world," said Linda Ventriglia, a former Sacramento teacher who started the school. "We're trying to create a 21st century school."

Students at the Lindsay Global Language Academy will spend half the day working in English and the other half in Spanish and Mandarin.

Ventriglia developed the school with federal grant money intended to encourage more schools to teach languages such as Mandarin that are considered vital to commerce and national security.

Source: Associated Press

Studies have shown that children that are taught in more than one language lag initially but ultimately fare better gradewise than their counterparts who only learn in English. This charter school sounds like a great place, especially for the kids who are living in North Sacramento. Imagine being fluent in Mandarin Chinse in 2020. It would be a great benefit businesswise.

Gillian Parrillo
The Sacramento Executive

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Every day your company is doing its own customer satisfaction survey. Every call that comes into your company is full of information to allow you to delight your customers, stop customer problems in the bud, and cut down on your customer service costs. Do you have a mechanism in place to ensure you are on top of the latest results? If not, you are missing a great opportunity.

You could be missing input for the next great product feature, a heads-up that there is an error in your software product that could be quickly fixed, or feedback on something your competitor is doing. And all from a great source, your customer.

Similarly, the hospitality desk of your conference is a great place to take the temperature of your meeting and make instantaneous adjustments. Are the participants confused about the meeting schedule? Are multiple queries coming in about a session? Did you forget to plan for lost and found items? Gather the information quickly and adjust right away.

Make sure you are always checking with your first line of customer service to monitor trends and adjust your plans. It’s the difference between a C grade and an A+ from your customers and shareholders.

Gillian Parrillo
The Sacramento Executive

Posted by Gillian Parrillo at 9:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Sacramento County ranked 7th on the The Center for Digital Government's 2007 list of most digital county governments in the 500,000 or more population. The survey found many counties using information technology in innovative ways to improve services to their residents.

Here's the rest of the list in this category:

500,000 or more population: 1st: Montgomery County, Maryland 2nd: Orange County, Florida (tie) 2nd: Anne Arundel County, Maryland (tie) 3rd: Fulton County, Georgia 4th: Fairfax County, Virginia 5th: Snohomish County, Washington 6th: Oakland County, Michigan 7th: Sacramento County, California 8th: Westchester County, New York (tie) 8th: Tulsa County, Oklahoma (tie) 9th: San Diego County, California 10th: Wake County, North Carolina.

Gillian Parrillo
The Sacramento Executive

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The amphibious Golden Dawn tour has come to Sacramento. It starts in Old Sacramento between Joe's Crab Shack and Rio City Cafe. Tours run about 90 minutes and begin at 11 a.m. and run until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Until Sunday, the tour is free. After that, the price will be $25 for adults, $15 for seniors, and $15 for children.

On land, the tour travels past the Governor's Mansion, Sutter's Fort, Capitol Mall, the Stanford Mansion, and the Crocker Art Museum. At Discovery Park the bus tour stops, two pontoons inflate and the vehicle splashes into the water.

The Golden Dawn is owned by Sacramento Yacht Charters. Another vehicle wil be added in late August.

All aboard.

Gillian Parrillo
The Sacramento Executive

Update: The tours were temporarily suspended on July 18th until licensing issues could be resolved. Be sure to check they are back on track before you go.

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Last week I volunteered at a global conference. During the week, I met a group of women from Siberia. I invited two of them to come stay at my house for a couple of days. Neither spoke a word of English, I don't speak a word of Russian - although my husband speaks a few. But we managed to communicate well enough to understand that our idea of Siberia is so outmoded and completely wrong as to be laughable.

One of the women is a math teacher and her husband is a physics teacher. Her 20 year old daughter is attending university and studying English and Economics. The other woman is a retired medical doctor. They both live in very nice houses with multiple cars and TVs. They both love Putin, and didn't love Yeltsin, and have no regard for Gorbachev. They both have 2 computers in their homes with download speeds that are twice as fast as ours. They had with them digital cameras and video cameras and plenty of money to buy clothes and luggage and other souvenirs. They were funny, happy, caring, stylish. They were everything that we never think of when we think about Siberia. We were so happy to have had this opportunity. Even my husband, who often wonders how I get us into all this craziness, was very positive about the ability for us to get direct information from citizens of another country.

We are planning on doing this again. It's a super way to do away with silly stereotypes and not be swayed by the misinformation we get from the media.

Gillian Parrillo
The Sacrmento Executive

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Renae Merle reports in the Washington Post that no-bid contracts for the delivery of armored vehicles to troops in Iraq may have led to needless delays that may have cost lives. The Marine Corps issued $416.7 million in contracts to Force Protection of Ladson, S.C., even though other vendors were available. The contracts continued even through the company didn't meet delivery schedules for getting the vehicles to Iraq. In one case, Force Protection failed to deliver 98 percent of 122 mine-resistant vehicles (that's 119.56 vehicles) in time, despite getting $6.7 million from the Marines to upgrade their factories. In another case, 60 percent of 233 vehicles from Force Protection were more than 30 days behind schedule. But the Marines declined to collect late fees of $6.6 million because the company had "cash flow problems" and collecting the money would have cause the company "financial difficulty."

Sad thing is, that's our money and those are our kid's lives.

Gillian Parrillo
The Sacramento Executive

Hat tip to Iraqslogger

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Seven months ago we began tracking the Magic Formula Index. Since December 13, the Index has been nothing but magical. Up an amazing 27.8%!

At that time we introduced Joel Greenblatt's book The Little Book That Beats the Market. In his book, Greenblatt shared his success with the Magic Formula. And it continues to succeed.

Recall that we started with a notional $100,000 investment in a basket of 25 stocks. The investment is now worth $127,755. The index is up 27.8% versus 10.0% for the Standard and Poor's 500 Index, which closed yesterday at 1552.5 (the S&P 500 Index closed on December 12 at 1411.56).

In our basket of stocks, 18 are up and 7 are down. The best performing stock is Western Refining Inc., up 139.8%. The worst performer is VAALCO Energy Inc., down 36.6%. Details of the index, assuming closing prices on December 12 and July 13:

• Aspreva Pharmaceuticals Corp. (ASPV), $19.70 vs. 20.18, up 2.4%
• Biovail Corp. (BVF), $21.00 vs. $26.25, up 25%
• Cavco Industries Inc. (CVCO), $34.41 vs. $36.69, up 6.6%
• EPIQ Systems Inc. (EPIQ), $15.76 vs. $17.92, up 13.7%
• Earthlink Inc. (ELNK), $6.42 vs. $7.98, up 24.3%
• Fording Canadian Coal Trust (FDG), $22.58 vs. $34.64, up 53.4%
• Freight Car America Inc. (RAIL), $53.39 vs. $52.73, down 1.2%
• Frontier Oil Corp. (FTO), $31.34 vs. $48.49, up 54.7%
• Harvest Natural Resources Inc. (HNR), $10.21 vs. $12.94, up 26.7%
• King Pharmaceuticals Inc. (KG), $16.56 vs. $21.08, up 27.3%
• Korn/Ferry International (KFY), $22.30 vs. $25.90 up 16.1%
• Mannatech Inc. (MTEX), $13.46 vs. $12.14, down 9.8%
• New Frontier Media Inc.(NOOF), $9.31 vs. $8.55, down 8.1%
• OmniVision Technologies Inc. (OVTI), $14.59 vs. $19.01, up 30.3%
• PW Eagle (PWEI), $34.96 vs. $33.91, down 3.0%
• Palm Inc. (PALM), $14.01 vs. $16.37, up 16.9%
• Pinnacle Airlines Corp. (PNCL), $10.34 vs. $19.49, up 88.49%
• PortalPlayer Inc. (PLAY), $13.40 vs. $13.48, up 0.6%
• True Religion Apparel Inc. (TRLG), $15.41 vs. $22.49, up 45.9%
• United Online Inc. (UNTD), $13.38 vs. $16.97, up 26.8%
• Vaalco Energy Inc. (EGY), $7.97 vs.$5.05, down 36.6%
• Valassis Communications Inc. (VCI), $16.44 vs. $16.19, down 1.5%
• Verigy Ltd. (VRGY), $18.06 vs. $28.26, up 56.5%
• ViroPharma Inc. (VPHM), $14.99 vs. $14.71, down 1.9%
• Western Refining Inc. (WNR), $27.17 vs. $65.16, up 139.8%
• And cash on hand of $1,742.92 from paid dividends

So far, so good. The Magic Formula is working its magic. We will check back in on the details next month. In the meantime, remember to visit our site daily to track the Magic Formula Index summary.

Pierre Cutler
The Sacramento Executive

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Douglas Alexander, Secretary of State for International Development and (new British Prime Minister) Gordon Brown's long-time Mini-Me, comes to Washington to bravely speak truth to power. Choosing a suitably establishment venue such as the Council on Foreign Relations, Mr Alexander tells the United States that:

"In the 20th century a country's might was too often measured in what they could destroy. In the 21st century strength should be measured by what we can build together. And so we must form new alliances, based on common values, ones not just to protect us from the world, but ones which reach out to the world."

And:

"We need to demonstrate by our deeds, words and our actions that we are internationalist, not isolationist, multilateralist, not unilateralist, active and not passive, and driven by core values, consistently applied, not special interests."

The US must be asked:

"to recognise the importance of a rules based international system".

Plus:

"Given the interconnected nature of the challenges we face, I would argue that we have to simultaneously be fighting to end poverty, to secure trade justice and to tackle conflict and climate change, as well as working to defeat terrorism and ensure the preservation of our security."

The speech, obviously intended to assure the British people that things are going to be different under Brown from all those many years of former Prime Minister Tony Blair pandering to President Bush. Of course, once the speech caused a furor in the US, then Brown responded that nothing in the speech showed a different approach and he was amazed at the interpretation that had been given to the speech. Sounds like pandering to me - to both sides of the Atlantic. And I guess I like the message the Brits got better.

Hat tip to: The Debatable Land

Gillian Parrillo
The Sacramento Executive

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Interesting article in the Wall Street Journal discussing how business travel time will increase again this year while more and more employees are trying to negotiate less. Featured is Donald Kowall of Sacramento who 'traveled more than 100,000 miles a year for his work as an information-technology consultant.'

How do you feel about business travel. Are the packed planes and the absymal airline customer service getting to you? Last week we ended up in Row 26 despite our platinum and gold membership levels - this on a flight we had booked 7 months earlier with confirmed seats in Row 9. To their credit, American Airlines sent us 4000 miles each and a profuse apology, but frankly I would much rather have had my row 9 seat. Air travel, whether for business or pleasure isn't fun anymore...and getting worse.

Gillian Parrillo
The Sacramento Executive

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...but European cities have not offered much in the way of public support for funding the kind of state-of-the-art facilities that the league has come to expect

Courtesy: Evan Weiner, The New York Sun, Least of Stern's Problems This Summer

Gillian Parrillo
The Sacramento Executive

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Yesterday I was walking my dogs in the neighborhood. From a distance I could hear loud music blaring. As I got closer, I recognized Edith Piaf singing her lungs out. As I got even closer, I discovered the source - the trash truck. Sometimes, things aren't what you expect.

Last week, I was in a conference room full of women. I was sitting next to a woman with ragged clothes, no makeup, dishevelled hair. During the meeting, someone referred to the newsletter editor, and lo and behold all eyes turned to the woman sitting next to me. And then the speaker added that my neighbor was just finishing up her PhD dissertation. Sometimes, things definitely aren't what you expect.

Look beyond your expectations, sometimes there is a lovely surprise.

Gillian Parrillo
The Sacramento Executive

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Sacramento-based DMGI (Nasdaq: DMGI) has entered into a reverse merger with The Orchard. Local investors in DMGI are waiting to understand how this effects them. After going public February 1 2006, the stock price quickly dwindled, earning DMGI the dubious honor of the 2nd worst IPO of 2006.

As of the date of this transaction, the stock was off more than 50% from its IPO price of $9.75. The Motley Fool's take - "Digital Music (Nasdaq: DMGI) faltered as an IPO last year. It was hoping to cash in on the popularity of digital distribution, but it simply lacked the content library to make a material difference." After the anouncement, the stock was up 12% to close at $4.48. And now the Motley Fool seems much more bullish: 'The makeover it's now getting should give the combined company a clean slate in the minds of burned investors. Clearly, there are many opportunities waiting to be milked in digital distribution. Now with The Orchard on its side, DMGI has some good chances to finally produce a worthy harvest.' Groan at the cheap orchard/harvest connection!

Here is a rundown on the deal from Digital Mediawire

The Orchard, a digital distributor and marketer of independent music, announced on Wednesday that it has agreed to a reverse merger agreement with fellow digital music and video distributor Digital Music Group, Inc.

Under the terms, DMGI will issue 9.1 million shares of common stock and 4.5 million shares of convertible preferred stock to The Orchard, whose shareholders will own about 60% of the merged entity.

The combined business will retain DMGI's Nasdaq listing and change its name to The Orchard, whose president and CEO Greg Scholl will lead the combined company.

Following completion of the deal, The Orchard will control over one million recordings and thousands of hours of film and video programming.

Last year, DMGI reported revenue of $10.2 million and $2.4 million in profit, while The Orchard had revenue of $14.9 million and $4.2 million in profit.

Another potential Sacramento-headquartered company not destined to grow to maturity in our region. Has anyone any ideas as to how we can get them past a certain size - the size where they get snapped up by companies headquartered elsewhere - so they can grow and mature here?

Gillian Parrillo
The Sacramento Executive

Posted by Gillian Parrillo at 11:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

A new study by the Corporation for National and Community Service

Topping the list of the top 50 - Minneapolis-St. Paul, followed by Salt Lake City, Austin, Omaha and Seattle. Bottom of the list - Las Vegas. Sacramento came in as 13th, better than the rest of the California cities. I guess we still retain some good, old-fashioned hometown spirit.

Gillian Parrillo
The Sacramento Executive

Posted by Gillian Parrillo at 11:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

A friend sent this to me today. A video about a remarkable woman, an artist, who uses her talents to lessen the suffering of relatives of soliders who have lost their lives in Iraq.

Who says one person can't make a big difference?

Gillian Parrillo
The Sacramento Executive

Posted by Gillian Parrillo at 6:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

1. Get introduced through an entrepreneur or attorney to a VC they have worked with in the past. A good law firm can be very valuable for investor introductions if you can convince them your business would be a good investment.

2. Talk to multiple firms at once. Create a competitive process and seek multiple term sheets if you are able.

3. Read up on term sheets and have a good understanding of them before you start talking to investors. The key terms are pre-money valuation, liquidation preference, participation, share revesting, dividends, board size and protective provisions.

4. Be upfront about the general terms you are seeking to save yourself and the investor time.

5. Know that the pre-money valuation is only one of the most important terms.

6. Get involved with organizations in your community that can connect you to other entrepreneurs who have done it before and then have lunch with those entrepreneurs.

7. Realize that it will probably take at least 9 months to raise money from start to finish your first time doing it.

8. Realize that until you have at least $1 million in annual revenue it may be difficult to get most VCs interested.

9. Know that it may take 6 months of sustained product and revenue progress after your first meeting before a VC will consider your deal seriously.

10. Know how much money you are trying to raise before you begin discussions.

11. Know that it may be easier to seek angel funding or debt funding instead of venture capital early on.

12. Know that once you sign a term sheet it will be at least 30 days and up to 90 days before you actually close on the funds.

Courtesy of Ryan Allis. Follow the journey of entrepreneur Ryan Allis as he builds his company iContact into the worldwide leader in on-demand software for online communications, publishes his book Zero to One Million, travels the country as a speaker on entrepreneurship, explores the worlds of public policy, technology, marketing, management, leadership, venture capital, and organizational behavior, and lives a passionate life as a North Carolina entrepreneur and CEO.

Gillian Parrillo
The Sacramento Executive

Posted by Gillian Parrillo at 9:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

The poem below is written by Michael Smith, a man I know who has just been sentenced to 16 years in jail under a three strikes conviction. He has never commited a violent act, he has been addicted to drugs for a long time, and, although he has been jailed before, he has never once received drug treatment. Now he will spend 80% of 16 years less 3 years credit (10.4 years) in jail at the cost of $43,000 a year ($447,200) to taxpayers because we didn't insist that he take drug treatment at a cost of $4000 (or maybe $8000 as he might have had to go twice because meth is a powerful drug).

Another $6.1B approved earlier this month to build even more prisons. To house even more non-violent, drug addicted people who could well be rehabilitated to be additive to our economy and not a huge drain. (Although frankly, there is a massive industry that lives off those who are in prison, that has no desire to see it shrink!) And the $6.1B approved without any voter involvement due to some fancy footwork of lawyers.

If you are interested in reading some of the three strikes stories, you can visit FACTS

And as for Mike, he has become a poet and a writer of children's books and someone who desperately hopes that he can make the rest of his life productive. Here is his poem:

Righteous Man
by
Michael Smith

I've made the wrong choice many times.

I've made the wrong turn,

said the wrong thing,

hurt many people

And committed crimes . . .

Yet I know I'm a righteous man.

I've shed blood before

and stole before

and hurt the ones

that I adore.

I've took a peek

and turned the other cheek

And stepped on a man

when he was weak.

. . . Yet I know I'm a righteous man.

I've made the wrong decision

when I knew it was wrong

And begged for forgiveness

while I sang my sad song.

And I've had many chances,

yet still I fxxx up.

Am I just stupid or crazy

or just not grown up?

The funny thing is, I know I'm a righteous man.

When will I learn

or what will it take,

To make me think first

with the actions I make.

I know I'm capable,

I know I care,

I know I give a damn

When I walk by in cuffs

and people stare. . .

And I know I'm a righteous man.

I know I like freedom,

yet it seems that I don't.

I know I can be something,

but it seems that I won't.

And believe it or not,

I'm scared and hate pain.

And I know that I'm smart

and not just insane . . .

And I also know I'm a righteous man.

I know how to love

and be loved and share.

I know how to feel,

to trust and be fair.

And I know how it feels

to give and not take.

And deep down I'm sorry

For my every mistake.

I also know I'm a righteous man!

I've even forgiven,

so can't you forgive,

And I know this ain't livin'

So please let me live.

Don't judge me right now,

there's still so much hope.

Don't hang me right now,

Let go of that rope.

Because I swear I'm a righteous man .

Because I will touch somebody

In the right way someday,

And I will make a difference

to somebody in some way.

And when it's all over

and I've taken the last breath that I can. . .

Somebody will say . . .

Now, there's a Righteous Man!

Posted by Gillian Parrillo at 12:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I received this piece in the mail today. Looks like something worth checking out.

A new tour company is in town -- one that will show visitors a side of the capital city often overshadowed by Napa Valley. More than 200 wineries operate within 60 miles of the capital, and now locals and visitors alike can enjoy tasting tours at the area's most popular wineries and discover intimate hidden gems along the way. Sacramento Wine and Nightlife Tours will showcase wineries within Amador, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Nevada, Placer, El Dorado and Calaveras counties.

Customer interest prompted entrepreneurs Grady and Gina O'Bryant to start this new venture. Before moving to Sacramento, the O'Bryants operated G.O. Transportation Services, Inc., which catered to tourists visiting Alaska. They decided it was time visitors became familiar with the wineries of the Central Valley after receiving a phone call from two women visiting from Mississippi. The women wanted to enjoy an afternoon of wine tasting in the Sierra Foothills. "We called the Sacramento Convention and Visitors Bureau and asked about tours to local wineries and were told they didn't have any tour company to recommend," Grady O'Bryant said. "We were also told to call a limousine company, but every limousine company recommended a trip to Napa Valley wineries. The ladies decided to pass on the trip. Gina and I decided to investigate the reason why no local company was promoting local wineries. That's when we decided to jump on board and start our tour company."

The O'Bryants' main goal is to make sure that both their customers and the wineries have a pleasant experience with Sacramento Wine and Nightlife Tours. "Wineries want quality customers, and often limousine companies will bring in anyone," said Grady. "They don't qualify their customers beforehand, and often bring large groups without making reservations."
Grady and Gina have developed relationships with winery owners, working closely with them to create an ideal wine experience for their customers. "We post wine tasting etiquette on our Web site and on all our printed material," said Grady. "More importantly, we fit the right group with the right winery. And we'll make reservations as far in advance as possible."

Sacramento Wine and Nightlife Tours has partnered with one of Sacramento's largest limousine companies. With a fleet including sedans, limousines, limo-buses and motor coaches, they can provide service to any size group.

For more information about Sacramento Wine and Nightlife Tours, contact Grady or Gina O'Bryant at 916-443-8741 or visit www.sacramentowinetours.com.

Gillian Parrillo
The Sacramento Executive

Posted by Gillian Parrillo at 9:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The Central Valley Fund, a private investment firm focused on mid to later stage Central Valley companies, today announced a mezzanine investment of $1.65M in Administrative Systems, Inc. ("ASI").

The capital will be used by ASI to help finance its strategic growth initiatives, including the launch of ASIOne, a next generation, web-based Benefits Payments solution.

ASI provides employee benefits disbursement software and service solutions to many of the nation's major financial institutions and unions. In 2006, ASI processed over $12 billion in employee benefit payments for its clients.

Gillian Parrillo
The Sacramento Executive

Posted by Gillian Parrillo at 8:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)