Welcome to the NorthBay biz Top 500 issue. The magazine began publishing this list of the top revenue-producing companies in 1991 as the Sonoma Business 350. In 1997, in response to the growth in Sonoma County, this issue was expanded, and it became the Sonoma Business 500. Now this special issue, in its 24th year, is celebrating its 12th as the NorthBay biz 500, reflecting the magazine’s expansion into Marin and Napa counties in November 2002.
Several years ago, we decided to publish the Top 500 as a bonus issue. So now it comes out between the March (Leaders) and April (Business of Wine) issues. In addition to being delivered to all our subscribers, the NorthBay biz Top 500 will be available at newsstands for the entire year—effectively extending its shelf life so it can be a resource to more people and businesses throughout the year. We also publish four other bonus issues during the year. The BEST Of the North Bay publishes in May, GameChangers is published in July, the special Harvest Fair/Wine Issue in October and North Bay Perspective: A Climate for Success publishes in December. That’s how a monthly magazine manages to print 17 issues annually.
The business climate in 2013, although encouraging due to improving economic news, continued to contribute its share of negative national and state news, especially on the job front. However, we in the North Bay were more fortunate. Overall, business conditions got better here at a faster pace. The local economy took its share of hits over the past five years, but it’s held up remarkably well, especially when compared to other locales. In a survey released in 2010 by the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, Sonoma County residents are happier and healthier than anywhere else in California—and are rated fifth overall in the entire nation. The North Bay’s diverse economy works in our favor, as does the area’s beauty and myriad natural resources. The tourism/hospitality industries are healthy and growing. The unemployment rate has dropped as private groups and agencies have concentrated their efforts on creating jobs. It’s becoming plain that energy, the economy and the environment are intertwined, and letting them work in concert is a winning solution.
While the overall business climate in 2013 still had many challenges, the bright spots grew and the market remains a very competitive environment. So, we’d like to congratulate each company that made this year’s Top 500 list. It took creativity and courage to make the difficult decisions that resulted in positioning each company for success.
We strive to make the NorthBay biz Top 500 list as accurate and up-to-date as possible. Our database has really grown and improved over the past 12 years as we’ve migrated to assembling more information online, simplifying the process and enhancing accuracy.
Some companies provide their revenue numbers as estimates because their fiscal years are incomplete. We report those numbers as verified because the company supplied them. When the company can’t or won’t divulge revenues, we estimate based on history, research and comparative industry data. If a company is headquartered here we count all its revenues. If a company does business here, but is headquartered elsewhere, we count only its North Bay-generated revenue. Six zeros have been omitted from all the revenue numbers on the list because of space constraints. Therefore, the first four companies on this year’s list reported revenues in the billions, and every other company reported revenues in the millions.
We work hard on this issue to make it as complete and accurate as possible. If you discover any inaccuracies, or if we’ve overlooked a company that merits inclusion, please let us know and we’ll correct it in the future. Please contact us there if you have any input about this year’s list.
We certainly hope you enjoy perusing the Top 500 and find it interesting, informative and useful in running your business. The North Bay possesses tremendous economic power and vitality, and with a little luck and continued hard work, let’s hope 2014 turns out even better.
That’s it for now. We hope you enjoy this special issue of NorthBay biz.
