Donald J. Black |
Donald J. Black has been practicing law for over 35 years. He began his legal career in Los Angeles and moved to Sonoma County in 1989. Don specializes in real estate and business transactions and financing, business organization, formation and succession planning, general commercial and business law, employment law and risk management issues. He is also Vice-President and General Counsel of Lok Group of Companies, Inc., a hotel management and development firm. Don also serves as a mediator in business, real estate and employment cases and as Mandatory Settlement Conference Panelist for Sonoma County Courts.
Don went to college at the University of California at Santa Barbara (B.A., 1978), and to law school at the University of California at Los Angeles, School of Law (J.D. 1981). Don is actively involved in the Sonoma County community. He served two terms as President of the Sonoma County Family Service Agency and was a member of the Board of Directors of the Museums of Sonoma County. Don and his wife, Michele, live in Bennett Valley and raise lavender and medicinal herbs. |
Cate Steane |
Cate Steane founded Make It Happen Project Services to make small businesses and nonprofits more successful. She provides them with the powerful tools of professional project management to move projects from concept to complete. A Certified Associate in Project Management, Cate combines 20 years of experience managing projects for small businesses and nonprofits with in-depth training in project management. She served in senior operations roles in leading Bay Area nonprofit organizations from 1996 to 2016. Cate’s 12 years as an attorney included such roles as Deputy City Attorney for the City of Oakland and Senior Attorney for the Environmental Defense Fund. She is a Fellow of the Leadership Institute for Ecology and the Economy, a Certified California Naturalist, and chairs the Board of Directors of the sustainability nonprofit Daily Acts. Cate earned her law degree at Yale and her bachelor’s degree in English, summa cum laude, at Boston College. |
Tim Saavedra |
Tim Saavedra is a store manager and Vice President for Umpqua Bank in Petaluma CA since 2011. He has been in the banking and lending related positions ever since college graduation with a BA from Colorado State University. Some of the customer focused companies Tim has worked for are: Nordstrom, Toyota, Sherman Clay, and Factual Data. Having experienced customer interaction from many different perspectives, Tim has a broad understanding both personal and business financial relationships. |
Oren Wool |
Oren Wool, Oren Wool is the Executive Director of Sustainable North Bay and produces the Sustainable Enterprise Conference. He is part of a growing movement to build resilient, just, and environmentally responsible communities.
Oren is a consultant in the Natural Products industry helping companies bring products that improve our health and well- being to market. Recent clients include organizations focused. |
Laurie Zerga |
Laurie Zerga, Strategic Business Advisor and founder, Chef-K®, combines her passion for relationships, community, and business to support companies keep fast tracking their multimillion dollar companies. She helps clients 10X their value with tips that provide the shortest distance to their next revenue goals. She uses surprising secrets to grow without pain in rapidly changing times. These super tips work for companies big and small. But very few small businesses use these techniques that allow you to serve a lot more people and increase the bottom line. While raising two daughters she climbed to an officer at a Fortune 500 company. Since 911 she transitioned from consultant to entrepreneur, launching Chef-K nationally. She’s experienced all aspects of business. Now she helps business owners expand their dream business as a strategic business advisor and through programs, speaking and workshops. |