Business news: week of Sept. 17, 2012

Business Journal Staff Report
Mon, 17 Sep 2012 12:00:23 +0000
Business News, Business Register, Health Care and Senior Living, Hospitality and Tourism, Marin Report, North Bay News, Solano Report, Sonoma Report, Technology, Blue Star Gas, Central Payment, Hawk's Tavern, Mill Valley, North Bay Business Journal 9-17-2012, San Rafael, Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, SunLink, Sutter Health, Sutter Solano Cancer Center, Vallejo, Wine Country Balloons

Heath Care

Sutter Solano Cancer Center in Vallejo announced it is installing dynamic targeting image-guided radiotherapy with real-time position management from Varian Medical Systems. The installation will make it possible for physicians to use an extremely precise form of treatment that utilizes multiple imaging and motion management techniques for ultra-accurate tumor targeting. An optical camera monitors the patient’s respiratory motion and allows the treatment team to account for the motion of the tumor and normal organs during a patient’s breathing cycle, allowing a highly precise application of targeted radiation.

WomenCertified, a collective voice for the female consumer and a trusted referral source for top businesses and brands identified among women, is recognizing Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital as a region’s best hospital for patient experience based on female patient satisfaction. Hospitals are selected for this prestigious annual list based on a proprietary scoring process that incorporates Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems scores along with a higher level of analysis that weighs criteria identified as the most important to women for patient satisfaction. Additionally, it takes into consideration WomenCertified’s in-depth research on customer satisfaction among women, including a joint study on customer satisfaction by gender conducted with the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Hospitality

Hawk’s Tavern in Mill Valley has completed what they describe as a substantial realignment of its menu, moving from a small-plate focus to a traditional starter/entrée format. Unchanged at this local restaurant is serving seasonally inspired offerings prepared using locally sourced, sustainable and organic ingredients and being distinguished by great food, wine and beer.

Energy

SunLink Corporation’s complete line of roof and ground mount solar racking systems has been certified by ETL as conforming to the integrated grounding and bonding requirements of UL Subject 2703. This full-system certification means San Rafael-based SunLink’s products require fewer grounding lugs than other mounting systems – one grounding lug per continuous section of the solar array. Every mounting system in SunLink’s product line is ETL listed to UL 2703 by Intertek for its ability to bond and ground module frames using the racking as the grounding means — including Precision RMS, Core RMS, Large-Scale GMS and Ballasted GMS. The grounding method is certified for use with virtually all photovoltaic modules certified under UL STD 1703.

Blue Star Gas has partnered with Wine Country Balloons to launch the largest hot air balloon in Sonoma County. Headquartered in Santa Rosa, Blue Star Gas is a propane distributor serving 13 different markets in California, Oregon and Washington. Wine Country Balloons, a Blue Star Gas customer since the 1980s with 35 years experience operating commercial hot air balloons, offers “a nature walk in the sky” over Napa, Sonoma and Lake Counties, as well as the Russian River and the Wine Country. The Blue Star Gas hot air balloon is the largest one in Sonoma County, carrying as many as 20 passengers. It is currently taking reservations for flights over Sonoma and Lake Counties. Contact them at 707-538-7359 or WineCountryBalloons.com for scheduling and pricing information.

Technology

TSYS (NYSE: TSS) announced the formation of a joint venture with San Rafael-based Central Payment Co., LLC, which will continue to do business under its current name. TSYS owns 60 percent of the joint venture, and it will operate as a TSYS affiliate. Central Payment is a privately held direct merchant acquirer servicing small- to medium-sized merchants through an independent sales agent (ISA) model. Founded in 2005, Central Payment focuses on merchants in the restaurant, personal services and retail sectors. Central Payment is a longtime TSYS client and currently uses TSYS technology for payment processing. The joint venture will be governed by a board of directors including both TSYS and Central Payment executives. Financial Technology Partners LP and FTP Securities LLC acted as financial and strategic advisors to Central Payment in this transaction.