NorthBay biz isn’t the only Sonoma County institution celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. Sonoma County Alliance (SCA), a coalition of business, agriculture, labor and individuals incorporated to encourage a healthy economy, maintain a sound environment, protect private property rights and promote a responsive political process, was also founded in 1975. This year, Marlene Soiland, owner and president of Soiland Management Co., Inc., serves as SCA president. Are you a North Bay native?
I was born at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital and, during my elementary school years, we lived in Novato. My family moved to Petaluma when I was in ninth grade. I attended middle and high school in Rohnert Park and went to college at Cal Poly SLO. After graduating, I came back to Santa Rosa and have lived here ever since. I’m fortunate that my children have also chosen to live and work in Sonoma County, so I get to spend regular time with them.
What was your first job?
My father introduced his seven children to working in the family business when they reached age 13. We had instructions to call him by his first name, just as all of the other employees did. This provided each of us with an important lesson about doing our job well without using our relationship to the boss for favor. We also learned about entrepreneurship and the importance of working, contributing to the organization and keeping our commitments. After college, I returned, at my father’s request, to absorb everything I could and to be mentored by his administrative manager, who was to retire in five years. I learned computer programming, managed all aspects of our retirement plan, personnel management and was responsible for labor negotiations; I’ve been involved in land acquisition and development, building projects, as well as accounting and legal matters. I don’t know where I could have received such diverse career opportunities in the outside world.
How do you maintain life balance?
About 15 years ago, I was introduced to a group of eco-psychologists based in Sebastopol, who facilitate day quests and 10-day vision quest work. Based on the traditions of Native American cultures, a quest is supported by ceremony and intention; it’s a time to go out on the land to find spiritual guidance and purpose. I’ve incorporated this into my life and am a part of a small group that meets quarterly, as each season changes, to spend a day fasting out on the land. This work feeds my soul.
What’s your secret skill or hidden talent?
Over the years, I’ve taken classes on acupressure and integrated awareness, as well as yoga teacher trainings. For the past two years, I’ve been studying under a Reiki master to become a practitioner. It’s been a spiritual journey of personal growth and healing, which has called me to set my ego aside in service of a higher power and purpose.
Tell us about a recent adventure.
My husband, Mark Stanley, and I are outdoor enthusiasts, and we enjoy white water rafting, kayaking, skiing, backpacking, hiking and scuba diving together. Markhas been a white water rafting guide for more than 35 years. About 25 years ago, he applied for a private boater’s permit to raft the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. Last year, he finally won a permit for a self-guided and self-supported rafting trip to launch in November 2014. Unfortunately, all his former rafting friends were no longer interested in being away from home for 35 days or sleeping under the stars for 30 nights straight. So he gathered a group of people from a private boaters website to join us (kind of like Internet dating). The seven of us had an amazing trip, ate gourmet meals, benefitted from near-perfect weather, navigated some of the biggest white water in the states—and got along amazingly well, considering we didn’t know one another before the trip.
What’s your favorite question to ask?
What are you grateful for today?
