Contents

Welcome 03

About the Chamber 06

Chairman’s Circle 08

Alkar Human Resources:
Creating new strategies for a changing workforce 09

Pip Wine Bar & Shop:
Keeping the Dixon community happy and comfortable 10

California Water Service:
Helping Dixon to stay health and safe 11

Cattlemen’s Steakhouse:
One of Dixon’s favorite restaurants for more than 50 years 13

Century 21 EPIC:
Adapting to unpredictable market and changing community 14

Demaray Chiropractic and Nutrition Center:
Patients are part of the family 16

Dixon Historical Society: Preserving the past for Dixon’s future 18

Les Schwab Tire Center:
Keeping the cars and the community rolling 20

Membership Directory 22

220 N. Jefferson Street, Dixon, CA 95620

707-678-2650 | dixonchamber.org

facebook.com/thedixonchamberofcommerce

Managing Director | David Small

Director of Production | Ryan Moore

Pre-Production Manager | Stefanie Nugara

Graphic Design | Mike Nickells

Editor | Bob Oswald

Sales Executive | Tyler Busby

This is a MetroMedia, A Town Square Publications Company, publication created and produced for the Dixon Chamber of Commerce

Copyright © 2022 MetroMedia, a company of Town Square Publications, LLC.
14300 Kenneth Rd., Ste. 210 Leawood, KS 66224
913-951-8413 | www.MetroMediaPublishers.com

On the Cover

Photo by Gary Erwin

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracyof the information in this publication. The Chamber and MetroMedia
assume no responsibility for misinformation. Please contact the Chamber with any additions or corrections.
Reproduction in whole or in part without permission of the Chamber and MetroMedia is prohibited.

Welcome!

Welcome to the Summer 2022 issue of the Chamber Connections, a quarterly magazine for, and about, our members! We are proud to continue to feature articles about more of our business and organization members in this issue.

Inside you will find our Membership Directory, with listings of our members through the end of March 2022. Please support those businesses who support our community, who are willing to invest in the economic well-being and future of Dixon.

You will also find information about the Dixon District Chamber of Commerce, its leadership, what it does, and its committees and programs.

If you want your business to be even more successful, consider joining the Chamber, and take advantage of the many opportunities that Chamber membership offers. It is a wonderful way to make a positive impact in this community.

In the future, we will continue to feature articles about our member businesses and organizations. For more information, visit our website at www.dixonchamber.org, or call 707-678-2650.

Read and enjoy!

Respectfully,

Shauna Manina

President/CEO

About the Chamber

CONNECT COMMUNICATE COLLABORATE

Being a Chamber member is not just about paying your dues and attending mixers.

Our committees and programs offer the opportunity to engage in networking and advocacy; to learn new skills and make new friendships; and to experience the satisfaction of having a positive impact in the community.

We encourage all businesses and organizations who are Chamber members — or their employees and representatives — to get involved in one of our committees or attend our programs.

CHAMBER COMMITTEES

Ambassadors – Meets at 5 p.m. on the first Wednesday of the month.

Business Issues & Governmental Affairs – Meets at 8:30 a.m. on the fourth Monday of the month.

Business Education and Resources – Meets at noon on the first Tuesday of the month, two months of each quarter.

Cultural Arts Roundtable – Meets at 4 p.m. on the second Wednesday of the month.

Fundraising and Events – Meets at 8:30 a.m. on the third Wednesday of the month.

Education – Meets at 2 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of the month.

Latino Business Roundtable – Call 707-678-2650 for meeting time and day

Membership Attraction & Retention – Meets at 2 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month.

Nonprofit Roundtable – Meets at 5 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of the month.

Veteran’s Roundtable – Meets at 5 p.m. on the second Thursday of the month.

CHAMBER PROGRAMS & EVENTS

Member Orientation – Meets at 5 p.m. on the third Monday of the month, or as needed, at the Chamber office.

The Lunch Bunch – Meets from noon to 1:30 p.m. on the third Tuesday of the month at various locations.

Monthly Mixers – Held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of the month at various locations.

For more information on these committees or programs, call 707-678-2650, send an email to info@dixonchamber.org or visit dixonchamber.org

The Dixon District Chamber of Commerce brings value to our members by promoting economic well-being through leadership, economic development, education, networking and advocacy for our business, industry, nonprofit and community members.

We are a nonprofit membership organization comprised of business enterprises, civic organizations, educational entities and individuals who all believe that a positive business environment is essential to the well-being of the City of Dixon.

The Dixon District Chamber of Commerce was formed in 1909 and formally incorporated with the state of California in April 1950. For decades, we have been a group of dedicated business leaders and volunteers who actively work together to advocate for our town, local businesses and organizations.

We are Connectors – We bring businesses and individuals together through networking, referrals, events and introductions.

We are Communicators – We keep our members informed of what is happening on a local, county, regional, state and national level.

We are Collaborators – We build partnerships and work together with our members and other organizations to build strong, mutually beneficial relationships.

We are Advocates – We monitor, evaluate and address the issues of concern to businesses through our relationships with city, county, state and national representatives.

We are Promoters – We offer free promotion and advertising to our members through our e-newsletters, Facebook posts and local media. We promote members by giving referrals through our office and our lobby resource center.

We are Educators – We help our members access the resources and education needed to respond to the challenges and competition of a rapidly changing business world. We provide information on workshops, seminars, and other resources to help our businesses and nonprofit groups grow and be successful.

We are Problem Solvers – We have the tools, resources, connections and expertise to help you grow your customer base and increase your revenue.

The Dixon District Chamber of Commerce is all about our members!

What can we do to help you?
How can the Chamber promote your business?
What tools can we offer to help you become more successful?
What added value can we provide?
What do you want as a Chamber member?

Chamber membership adds credibility to your business by creating a positive perception among consumers and business owners when you are identified as a member of the Dixon District Chamber of Commerce.

Contact us at 707-678-2650 or via email at info@dixonchamber.org and find out how we can help your business or organization succeed!

– IT’S GOOD FOR BUSINESS!

GET INVOLVED WITH THE DIXON CHAMBER

2022 Board of Directors

Robin Tully

Chair of the Board

Tully Consulting Group

Haley Andrew

1st Vice Chair

Dixon Wellness Collective

Ted Jorgensen

Treasurer

Dixon Tire Pros

Herb Cross

Immediate Past Chair

Independent Associate

Jill Orr

Director

Dawson’s Bar & Grill

Karstin Stranger

Director

Almond Tree Mortgage

Kathy Ernest

Director

Ramtown Karate

Julia Lopez

Director

Recology

Fernando Ontivers

Director

Johnson Group, Re /Max Gold

Rodolfo Pineda

Director

Universal Services

Alkar Human Resources creates new strategies for a changing workforce

By Ann Piccininni

Alkar Human Resources has responded with creative solutions to labor force challenges and an economy knocked off balance by pandemic mitigation strategies.

“We’ve kind of just been going with the changes, which is about a hundred times harder than normal,” said Lauri Law Leifker, the company’s sales and operations manager.

The staffing company, founded in 1985, is currently headed up by president Elizabeth Davis. It is a certified woman-owned business by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council. Lauri has been with Alkar since 1996.

“We’re a small, local, woman-owned business providing permanent and temporary staffing,” she said.

With offices in Fairfield and Napa, Alkar serves clients in the Central Valley, including the Solano, Sonoma and Napa County areas and going as far north as Woodland, west to Napa and east to Sacramento.

Lauri, who works from the Fairfield office, said the group works to match client companies with both temporary and permanent employees.

“We do a lot of temp and a lot of temp-to-hire,” she said. “We do get quite a few client hires in administrative, light industrial, food service and the hospitality industries.”

Recruits are often looking for short-term employment, so Alkar is frequently asked to fill and re-fill similar positions for client companies.

“We serve 160 clients right now throughout Solano County,” Lauri said. “They know they can trust us to do the best possible job. We overcome the obstacles and we pride ourselves on that.”

Recruitment is one of Alkar’s strong suits. Lauri said recently they have hosted outside recruiting fairs.

“The way we’ve adjusted, over time, has been very innovative,” she said.

Sign-on bonuses are sometimes available for employees.

“The clients are open to new ideas,” she said.

Individualized customer service is another way Alkar boosts its client base. Lauri said she personally visits up to 20 client sites per day to ensure that staffing needs are being met. Her efforts are supported by a cohesive staff.

“I have an incredible team. We’re customer service oriented, maintaining good communication with our clients,” she said.

Alkar works with clients to broaden their job descriptions so that a wider swath of potential employees may present a possible good fit.

“We’re trying to screen people in, rather than screen them out,” she said. “Our motto is, ‘We can fill those shoes.’”

Lauri said Alkar is proud to be a longtime member of the Dixon Chamber of Commerce.

“I love Dixon. Alkar firmly believes in giving back to the community. We’ve had a lot of business in Dixon in the past. I feel it is important to be a part of Dixon. We love to show our clients that we are supporting your local community,” she said.

For more information, visit 1alkar.com or call 707-421-0110.

Pip Wine Bar & Shop owner keeps
Dixon community happy and comfortable

By Kaylea M. Hutson-Miller

As a young teen, Amy Grabish was called ‘a pip’ by a friend’s mom. As Grabish began contemplating opening a wine bar in Dixon, the name re-emerged as a contender.

Pip, defined as a “very attractive person or thing” (or smart ass) is also defined as the hard seed of a fruit, or in this case, a grape. Thus, The Pip Wine Bar & Shop at 116 N. 1st Street in Dixon was born.

Amy opened The Pip Wine Bar & Shop two years ago, celebrating her second anniversary in business on March 4, 2022.

A resident of Dixon, Amy wanted to find a business to add to the growing community. The Pip Wine Bar, she said, provides adults with a place to not only learn about, but enjoy wine, along with a comfortable place to meet with friends or unwind after a long day.

Amy offers a menu featuring wine flights and wine by the glass, as well as snacks. During the weekend, she offers special classes combining wine with special foods or general wine education.

“We range from super esoteric to fun,” Amy said with a laugh. “The customer is always supposed to be welcome. It’s nice to hear my customers say they are comfortable here.”

Prior to opening the wine bar, Amy worked within the wine industry as an independent contractor representing three different, small broker books.

She took that knowledge and a desire to represent great wine with her as she opened her business. Wines offered at the wine bar range from those made in Armenia, Georgia (the country), Germany and Argentina, to beverages grown and bottled in Oregon, Washington and New York.

“We want to provide great wines at different price points,” Amy said. “It’s not a matter of spending more money to get a better bottle. We want to help our customers find what makes them happy, at any price point.”

Amy said the wine bar’s offerings, which include a retail space, work hand-in-hand together.

“We want people to be able to try something before they buy it,” she said. “We don’t want them to get a glass and say ‘oh it’s not my style.’ We want them to come back. Having people come back is our ultimate compliment.”

Amy said her first priority, as a local business owner, is to serve those who call Dixon home.

“I want to make my Dixon regulars happy and comfortable,” she said. “As we grow our pool of people who come in to try us, it gives us a chance to make more and more people happy.”

The Pip Wine Bar & Shop is open from 2 to 8 p.m., Tuesday to Thursday; and from 2 to 9 pm., Friday to Saturday. Patrons must be 21 years old to enter the business. For more information, visit www.thepipwinebar.com or follow @thepipwinebar on both Facebook and Instagram.

California Water Service keeps
community healthy, safe

By Angela Harrington

Water is a resource that deserves attention and respect. It is so fundamentally important, that without it as part of the infrastructure, there would be no civilizations, no cities and no society.

California Water Service (Cal Water) provides service in five states: California, Washington, New Mexico, Texas and Hawaii. It is traded on the New York Stock Exchange, and in California they serve more than 100 communities in twenty-five separate districts.

“In California we’re serving approximately 2 million customers,” said Jack Caldwell, recently retired manager at Cal Water. Cal Water is the largest regulated water utility west of the Mississippi, and the third largest in the country.

“We are a regulated utility that receives our governance and oversight from the California Public Utility Commission (CPUC). Our rates are actually set by that regulating body,” Dixon resident and active community member Jack said.

Dixon has two water utilities, and service area boundaries determine which service provider any home or business will utilize.

“We’ve been serving water in Dixon since 1927. We have been a key part of the growth of the community there over the decades,” he said.

A new well was recently completed in Dixon and the on-going water main replacement program is in full swing.“You hear a lot about infrastructure these days, in the news, in the headlines. We’ve been doing this for decades. We’ve always kept our infrastructure up to date and continuously improving,” Jack assured.

Cal Water’s dedication to the communities it serves is apparent in its philanthropic giving program, funded by shareholders, not rates. In addition to the thousands of dollars donated to various charitable and community organizations, Cal Water recently awarded a large grant to the Dixon Fire Department.

“Over the course of the last year, throughout our service areas, we’ve given over $175,000 to local fire departments so that they can purchase needed equipment, supplies, and training,” said Shannon McGovern, Cal Water Regional Community Affairs Specialist.

Water conservation is more important now than ever, and by helping customers save water and money, via customer assistance programs and rebate information, Cal Water is not only a provider of service, but an active part of the community.

“The health and safety of our customers is always our number one priority,” Shannon said.

“We’re always improving. We never rest. We do that so our customers will always have a safe and reliable water supply,” Jack added.

We’re always improving. We never rest.
We do that so our customers will always have a
safe and reliable water supply.

— Jack Caldwell

California Water Service

Cattlemen’s offers great steak, familiarity for long-time customers

By Dave Hoffman

They call it Western Hospitality, driven by their “Cattlemen’s Code,” and it’s what has made Cattlemen’s Steakhouse one of Dixon’s favorite restaurants for more than 50 years.

“We’ve had generations of families come through, where people bring their grandkids and their grandkids bring their grandkids,” said Social Media Manager Miranda Smith. “That goes back to how supportive the Dixon community has been.”

Cattlemen’s was founded by cattle ranchers Pete Mrozik and his son Pete Jr. in Rosando Beach because they felt like they couldn’t find a restaurant that knew how to serve a good steak. Since beef was their expertise, they opened the first Cattlemen’s restaurant in 1968. The Dixon location was fourth of the chain of eight spread throughout Northern California.

What sets Cattlemen’s steak apart is their on-premise meat cutters. Rather than having different cuts delivered, Cattlemen’s butchers hand cut each piece of steak. They bring the full cow into the shop, age it on premise, and serve the steak the same day it was cut so it is fresh as can be.

“I’d say what goes into a great steak is being picky about what we’re serving, and then having the best cooks in the West serve it right,” Miranda said. “You want to make sure it’s cooked perfectly to temperature.”

To provide only the top quality steak, Cattlemen’s gets their beef from Harris Ranch, which they consider the best in Northern California. Besides steak, Cattleman’s serves seafood such as lobster and crab, but they are most known for all-you-can-eat salad, beans and sourdough bread.

In addition to top-notch food, Cattlemen’s is known for its décor. The Cattlemen’s Code dictates that diners get a taste of the Old West. The Dixon restaurant boasts a full wagon that sits on top of the dining area, over the tables. Cattlemen’s also uses the Western motif to amplify the community atmosphere by creating full-size wooden statues of cowboys, based on people in the company, and placing them throughout the restaurant.

“They’re based on the founders, some of the notable investors and anyone who has worked for Cattlemen’s for 20 years,” Miranda said. “They’re full wood statues that weigh hundreds of pounds.”

Cattlemen’s keeps customers engaged by continually updating the menu and sending out a VIP email list with deals and specials.

Complementing the long-time customers are long-time employees, long-time servers and managers. For birthdays, long-time customers know to expect a celebration complete with a cowboy hat and cowboy song.

“It’s a taste of the old school,” Miranda said. “You feel like family when you come in.”

Century 21 EPIC agents adapt to unpredictable market and changing community

By Ann Piccininni

Century 21 EPIC is a sprawling business with branch offices in 14 communities, including one in downtown Dixon, handling property sales in Solano, Sonoma, Lake and Contra Costa counties.

Formerly known as Century 21 MM, the group employs 355 agents and the company’s reach is the result of a recent merger that helped define the firm’s geographical emphasis.

“We decided to stay in wine country,” said CEO Lauralee Ensign.

With a real estate market currently experiencing buyer demand outpacing available inventory, agents need to respond quickly and nimbly to shifting conditions.

“Our agents are very well-trained,” Lauralee said. “Century 21 is the most recognized real estate brand in the world.”

Agents help sellers prepare their properties for sale.

“We do whatever it’s going to take to make their property stand out without any up-front costs. This is one of those amazing benefits for them,” she said.

EPIC’s global relocation department assists with major moves.

“We handle a lot of corporations,” Lauralee said.

Key to the company’s success is agents’ knowledge and familiarity with the local community.

“Our agents are part of that community. They live there, they raise their children there,” she said. “That’s who we’re doing business with.”

“Many of our agents were born and raised in Dixon,” said Bonna Stratton, sales manager for the Dixon and Vacaville offices. “Our goal is to have agents with the same philosophy that we do, exceptional agents that deliver quality service to their clients, who want to educate themselves and continue to improve and use the technology that is available to them. We have to be ethical and we have to be fiduciary.”

She said Century 21 EPIC sells single-family and multi-family residential properties, including mobile homes, along with commercial properties and farmland.

A 22-year veteran of the real estate industry, Bonna has been with Century 21 since 2016. She said local real estate market trends are following patterns emerging nationwide.

“Historically low inventory and low interest rates causes valuation to go up,” Bonna said. “There are corporations that are buying real estate because they know long-term it’s going to be a great investment.”

Bonna said she and her colleagues are looking forward to resuming more active involvement with the Dixon Chamber of Commerce as conditions surrounding the pandemic change.

Lauralee said the company is continuing to evolve. Business is more technology-driven and has seen the advent of “café-style” branches that offer wi-fi service and larger conferencing areas.

“It’ll be interesting to see where we land after this,” she said.

For information, visit C21epic.com.

At Demaray Chiropractic and Nutrition
Center patients are part of the family

By Kaylea M. Hutson-Miller

A holistic alternative, designed to help patients achieve optimum health, is the goal of Demaray Chiropractic and Nutrition Center, owned and operated by Dr. Carla Demaray.

“This path of healthcare works with the body to create the best environment for healing and maintenance of the body without the use of prescription medications which oftentimes have detrimental side effects,” Carla said. “We utilize chiropractic adjustments to the spine and all the joints of the body from TMJ down to the bones of the feet. We focus on the spine as the spine houses the spinal cord and the spinal nerves.”

Demaray said every patient becomes part of the family at Demaray Chiropractic and Nutrition Center.

“We are interested in their lives and how we can help them improve their body so that they can improve their lives,” Carla said. “We spend time with the patients. We are curious about their past, present and future because this affects their health. We consider every patient a lifetime patient. Once we get them over the acute, painful time, we encourage them to maintain their health with regular care.”

Carla said she hopes her patients leave the practice, with the sense they were cared for not only as a body worked on for a while, but as a person. The practice combines both chiropractic and nutritional care for multiple reasons.

“The brain is our master computer,” Carla said. “It takes in 300 thousand neurological messages a day and computes them and tells the body how to adapt to the information. The spinal cord and spinal nerves convey the information to the entire body.

“If the 26 bones of the spine get pulled out of alignment by physical, emotional and chemical stresses, the pipeline of information is interrupted. The body then can no longer work with ease.

“Chiropractic adjustments realign the spine and open the lines of communication (the nerves) to the entire body, allowing the body to communicate at 100 percent and then the body can begin to heal itself,” she said. “Nutrition in the form of fresh food is necessary to provide the building blocks to make good repair of the constantly renewing cells of the body.”

Carla said she encourages patients to participate in their own healthcare.

“We answer any questions about their body that they might have so that they are fully equipped to gain the optimum health and enjoy their lives to the fullest,” Demaray said.

Demaray Chiropractic and Nutrition Center is at 805 N. Lincoln Street, Suite E, in Dixon. For more information, visit http://demaraychiropractic.net.

Historical Society preserves past for
Dixon’s future

By Dave Hoffman

The town of Dixon, Calif. has quite a storied past, but for Historical Society members Bill Schroeder, Loran Hoffman and Gary Erwin, preserving the past is the way of the future.

The story of Dixon starts thousands of years ago, when Patwin Indian tribes lived off the plentiful fish and acorns the region had to offer. The native population was diminished when Spanish explorers settled in the area, bringing with them diseases like smallpox. Once California became a state, the gold rush brought pioneers. When the search for gold didn’t work out, settlers moved down from the Sierras and opened dairies and farms to raise dry crops like wheat and barley. In 1868, Dixon was formed, and in 1978 it was incorporated.

In the 1950s, a local librarian noticed that many families were leaving town, taking artifacts and memories with them. In order to preserve the history, she formed the Historical Society where people would meet quarterly to exchange family histories.

The idea of creating a museum began around 1986 as the Historical Society was incorporated as a non-profit organization, and in 2016, some new retirees began fundraising for a museum.

“Before that it was informal,” said Bill, who is a former president and current historian of the society. “People would share histories and collect artifacts, but [the artifacts would] go into the basement where nobody could see them.”

In a bittersweet twist of fate, it took the global pandemic shutdown to put things in motion. When Dixon resident Gary Erwin lost his job in the events business, he applied his expertise and time to locate a building, design exhibits and get the museum off the ground, while leading a team of 20 enthusiastic volunteers.

“I did the research and he wrote all the captions for the pictures,” Bill said.

Bill has shared personal photos with the museum, including a 1873 photo of his great grandfather’s ranch, and a 1890 panoramic view of the family in front of his house displayed in a frame made of old barnwood.

Preserving the past is just another chapter in Dixon’s resilience. The town survived a fire that wiped out the business district on Nov. 19, 1883 — inspiring an ordinance requiring all future buildings to be made out of brick — and on April 19, 1892, an earthquake took out many of those buildings. (Locally, the 19th of the month is a bad omen, Bill said.)

Between the town’s pioneering origin and stories like these, the museum documents a town that perseveres. In doing so, it becomes another chapter in Dixon’s continuing history as new families move in.

“New families are coming to Dixon and they’re curious about the history,” said Loran Hoffman, Historical Society President.

Les Schwab Tire Center keeps cars and community rolling

By Bob Oswald

The Les Schwab Tire Center has been a part of Dixon since 2010, helping residents keep their cars and trucks running while taking a leadership role in the community.

The service center, at 1920 N. 1st Street, is the place to go for any tire issue, including new tires, repairs, alignment and rotation. The group also deals with other repairs and replacements, including batteries, wheels, shocks and struts.

And the organization is also a full-service provider of community involvement.

“We like to be involved in our local community,” said Tim Rowland, manager at Les Schwab Tire Center. “We wish we could be involved in everything, but that’s just not possible.”

There is an extensive list of groups and events the company supports, including the Dixon 4-H Clubs, local little league teams, the Dixon Lions Club, the Esparto Lions Club and Dixon High School’s Sober Grad Night.

“The most important, I think, are any organizations that help our children — FAA, 4-H, all sports — anything that keeps our children learning and involved,” Tim said. “These are the things that are inspiring our next generation.”

Tim has been part of the Les Schwab organization for 32 years. He began working in an auto shop when he was a 17-year-old high school student. He had more than 13 years experience before he started at Les Schwab.

He oversees an experienced crew, including one employee who has been with Les Schwab more than 20 years. They all “work well together” in a spot that was remodeled and spruced up over the past two years, he said.

The first Les Schwab tire store was opened in 1952 by Oregon resident Les Schwab. The organization has been growing since and currently has more than 500 stores in 10 states, employing more than 7,000 people. Schwab died in 2007 at age 89.

“I had the privilege of meeting Les Schwab about three months after i started with the company,” Tim said.

“I can tell you he was very smart and down to earth and he never forgot who you were. Over the years I got to talk to Les at many meetings and diners and events. He was always easy to talk to and always there if you needed him.”

Tim said the Les Schwab corporation has been there whenever they have needed the help. And the workers at the Dixon store are always there for the community.

“I think we have a good relationship with the people and the community because we do our best to help out as many people and organizations as possible,” he said.