SMALL BUSINESS

ProVoteSolutions, a leader in innovative voting ballot products and services, has announced it has hired Brad Stiers (P) to serve as its president. Stiers will be focused on Paso Robles and Porterville operations as well as growing and maintaining Pro’s product and service portfolio throughout the U.S. markets. With more than 30 years of leadership and experience in the printing industry, Brad has focused on developing businesses from an executive leader role and has been responsible for several acquisitions including a publishing company. Stiers previously was president and CEO of his own privately held company and winner of a Gold Management Plus award. He served two terms on the board of directors of the National Association of Printing Leadership (NAPL) East Hanover, NJ. Board member and President of the Printing Industries of California (PAC) and is a member of the prestigious Soderstrom Society.

Michael Manjarrez (P) has joined BOLT Wealth Management (BOLT WM) in Clovis as a wealth adviser. Manjarrez began his career in financial services in 2011, focusing on teaching clients to use money as a tool to help them achieve their financial goals. He has taught personal finance seminars at the college level, showing students how to build a solid financial foundation. Known for explaining complex topics in a way that is easy to understand, Manjarrez helps his clients make sense of their current financial situations working with them every step of the way. He serves on the board for Kepler Neighborhood School and also as the finance committee leader for his church, Woven Community, since 2013.

ARCHITECTURE

Bill Craig (P) has joined TETER, cementing the architecture firm’s commitment to its thriving healthcare studio. With four decades in health care planning and design, a list of very impressive projects, and highly satisfied clients, TETER is thrilled to welcome Bill to its Fresno office. Craig’s work ranges from small projects to multi-million dollar ones, and his skills cover all the bases from planning and programming through design and construction, but his added value to health care clients rests in his deep knowledge of their industry and his ability to be a trusted adviser to them on all aspects of their growth. TETER looks forward to building a better (and healthier) Valley with Bill as an integral part of our health care practice.

AGRICULTURE

Randy Giumarra, chairman of the California Fresh Fruit Association (CFFA) board of directors recently announced that Ian LeMay (P) will serve as the new president of the CFFA. LeMay will succeed George Radanovich, who has held the position since 2016 and will be leaving CFFA to promote sound ag labor policy in Washington, DC. LeMay will begin his tenure as CFFA President on June 1. Since 2015, LeMay has served as CFFA’s director of member relations and communications. From 2011 to 2015, LeMay served as the district director for Rep. Jim Costa. As district director, LeMay managed Costa’s district staff and advised on a number of issues including agriculture, water and transportation. Prior to working for Rep. Costa, LeMay worked as a California Market Specialist for the Lindsay Corporation. LeMay is a recent graduate of the California Agricultural Leadership Program (Class 48).

LEGAL

Fresno law firm Whitney, Thompson & Jeffcoach is proud to announce its newest addition, Justice James Ardaiz (P), retired Administrative Presiding Justice from
California’s Fifth District Court of Appeal. Prior to joining the WTJ team, he was with Baker, Manock & Jensen PC in Fresno since 2011. Justice Ardaiz’s experience as a trial and appellate judge includes business, personal injury, governmental policy, environmental, agricultural, estate, and property disputes. He has authored over 2,000 appellate opinions and participated in over 6,000 total opinions, encompassing all areas of the law practiced in the State Courts of California, with precedent-setting opinions in virtually all areas of the law. As a trial judge, he primarily handled general civil and criminal trials. Since retiring from the Court of Appeal, Justice Ardaiz’s practice has primarily consisted of mediation, arbitration and appellate evaluation, and strategic planning in large litigation, although he does act as counsel to a limited number of commercial clients. His primary case involvement has been in commercial and property disputes, with personal injury being a lesser portion of his caseload.

MILITARY

SASEBO, Japan – Petty Officer 3rd Class Henry Clark (P), a native of Fresno, California, said there weren’t a whole lot of jobs available here he lived, so he turned to service in the U.S. Navy. “At first, I just wanted to see how it would go,” he said. Now, three years later and half a world away, Clark serves aboard one of the Navy’s newest and most advanced amphibious ships at Fleet Activities Sasebo, patrolling one of the world’s busiest maritime regions as part of U.S. 7th Fleet. “It’s busy,” he said. “Being forward deployed, we do a lot of operations, and when we’re out to sea, every day is something new. The crew becomes like a second family. We’ve all got each other’s backs here. If anyone needed anything, we’d be right there for them.” Clark, a 2015 graduate of Washington Union High School, is a damage controlman aboard the forward-deployed amphibious transport dock ship USS Green Bay in Sasebo, Japan.

NONPROFITS

The Fresno Chamber Junior Board of Directors Book drive, benefiting Reading Heart, more than doubled its goal for donations — receiving more than 2,000 books.
The Junior Board initially launched the drive with a goal of collecting 750 donations from the community. They knew they wanted to reach a higher goal but never imagined their class project would have this much success. The Fresno Chamber Junior Board is a program that provides proactive leadership training within the youth community. The mission of the Board is to teach high-school aged students how to become leaders in sustaining the business environment and affect change in our schools, neighborhoods and community.