The Other Santa Rosa

A brief Press Democrat business page item today (7/20) reported that San Anselmo consultant Don Duncan has been appointed executive director of the North Bay Council.  The story said,

"The North Bay Council is a group of employers, selected by invitation, that promotes policies it believes will benefit the North Bay in six key areas--transportation, housing, education, environment, economic development and health care.  Members include Kaiser Permanente, Bank of America, Sonoma State University and The Press Democrat."

North Bay citizens ought to be aware of any self-appointed, invitation-only, issue-oriented activist organization with members as prominent as just those listed.

According to the NBC website, here: www.northbaycouncil.org,

"Thirteen years ago, leaders from eight Marin companies founded the Council on a simple premise: We can accomplish more by working together.
 
Today, the Council has grown to include 30 private employers in Marin and Sonoma counties. We represent a broad spectrum of industries, professional services, non-profit employers and educational institutions, with a workforce in excess of 20,000."

The website says the current members include:

Autodesk, Inc.
Bank of America
Bank of Marin
Birkenstock
Dominican University of California
Fireman's Fund Insurance Company
Frank Howard Allen Realtors
Guide Dogs for the Blind
Infineon Raceway
Kaiser Permanente
Lanahan & Reilley LLP
LucasArts Entertainment Company
Lucas Digital Ltd.
Lucasfilm Ltd.
Lucas Learning Ltd.
Lucas Licensing Ltd.
Marin General Hospital
Marin Independent Journal
Matsen Insurance Brokers
Medtronic AVE
Nielsen, Merksamer, Parrinello, Meuller & Naylor
North Bay Business Journal
Northbay Family Homes
Novato Community Hospital
Pacific Gas & Electric Company
Press Democrat
Sonoma State University
The Vick Group/Smith Barney

You can follow the links to their individual websites.

Members of the current NBC board of directors are:

ChairmanRobert Griswold
     President & CEOBank of Marin
Vice-ChairSteve Page
     President & General ManagerInfineon Raceway
Secretary/Treasurer/Counsel
     Chip Nielsen, Partner, Nielsen, Merksamer, Parrinello, Mueller & Naylor
Chairman Emeritus
     Gordon Radley, Retired, Lucasfilm Ltd.

Dr. Ruben Arminana
     President, Sonoma State University
Massey Bambara
     Market President, Bank of America
Larry Brackett
     President, Frank Howard Allen Realtors
Ken Clark
     Publisher and Editor, North Bay Business Journal
Dr. Joseph Fink
     President, Dominican University of CA
Tom Forster
     Director of Operations, Lucasfilm Ltd.
Roger Grossman
     Publisher, Marin Independent Journal
Kent HarveySr.
     Vice President, Treasurer, and CFO, Pacific Gas & Electric Company
Patricia Kendall
     Medical Group Administrator, Kaiser Permanente
Gene Kunde
     Chief Operating Officer, Birkenstock
Daniel J. Lanahan
     Partner, Lanahan & Reilley LLP
Pat Mackin
     VP & General Manager, Medtronic AVE
Mike Parman
     Publisher, Press Democrat
Bob Phillips
     President and CEO, Guide Dogs for the Blind
Jeff Post
     President & CEO, Fireman's Fund Insurance Company
Margaret Sabin
     CEO, Marin General Hospital & Novato Community Hospital
Mike Sutton
     Executive Vice President, Autodesk
              
NBC Executive DirectorDon Duncan

North Bay Region corporate cats don't get much fatter than those on the list.

So what does the North Bay Council do?

"Our members are dedicated to achieving the long-term economic sustainability and quality of life in the North Bay by collaborating with other business and civic leaders to promote sound, regionally-focused public policy.

We believe North Bay employers have a responsibility to be involved in programs and policies that support our community and its future. Through philanthropy, volunteerism, community service, and by successfully employing thousands of local residents, our members are major contributors to the quality of life in the region."