52.7 F
Hollister
January 18, 2026

Fortino named Rabobank business banking officer

Phil Fortino has been appointed vice president and business banking officer for Rabobank, N.A. As business banking officer, Fortino is responsible for fostering relationships with small- to medium-sized companies and providing solutions to meet the banking needs of customers in Gilroy, Hollister and the surrounding area. Before joining Rabobank, Fortino served as small business banker for Bank of America and was president and general manager for his own company, Fortino’s Total Home. He attended Gavilan College in Gilroy and Fresno Technical College. He is involved with several organizations in Hollister, including the Rotary Club, Community Foundation, Elk’s Lodge, Chamber of Commerce and the Hollister Downtown Association.

Business Buzz: Property management firm changes name

The property management firm at 4 San Benito St., in Hollister, has changed its name to EM Property Management.

Business Buzz: Calvista Insurance starts Facebook campaign

Calvista Insurance Agency, located at 370 Fifth Street in Hollister has started a Facebook campaign they hope will give local businesses a little boost.

Updated: Graniterock CEO Woolpert dies in boating accident

Bruce Woolpert, president & CEO of Graniterock Company, died Sunday afternoon in a boating accident in Tahoe.

Rabobank celebrates 10 years

Deanna Franklin and her staff at Rabobank are joined by Chamber Ambassadors at a ribbon cutting ceremony and open house to celebrate their 10th anniversary in Gilroy. Rabobank is located at 761 First St. in Gilroy.

Bree Koehler names top sales advisor

lia Sophia, a direct sales jewelry company, named Bree Koehler as its top sales advisor in Hollister. She was named an Excellent Beginnings Program Achievers for her sales and work with new advisors during her first 15 weeks with the company. “This immediate success is a result of Bree’s hard work and dedication,” said Jim Turner, the executive vice president of global sales and marketing for lia Sophia. Details: www.liasophia.com/breekoehler.

Ford Store MH earns national awards

The Ford Store Morgan Hill is among an elite group of Ford and Lincoln dealerships to be recognized with the 2011 President’s Award and Ford Motor Credit’s Partners in Quality Award. These prestigious awards honor dealerships that have excelled in automotive retailing for the year, by providing exceptional customer service and satisfaction. The Ford Store Morgan Hill is currently the No. 1 retail volume Ford dealership in the Bay Area. Ford Motor Company’s President’s Award recognizes dealers who have excelled in achieving superior sales, service and vehicle ownership experiences to their customers. The Ford Store Morgan Hill is the only dealership in Northern California to receive this award in the past eight years.

Nancy Martin to complete contracts but leaving EDC

The San Benito County supervisors were expecting a progress report by Nancy Martin, the executive director/CEO of the San Benito County Economic Development Corporation, at Tuesday’s meeting. Instead, they received word from County Administrative Officer Rich Inman that he had been informed that Martin is no longer with the EDC.

Business Buzz: Long-time law office changes name

The law firm of Paxton-O’Brien changed names earlier this spring to Pipal & Spurzem, LLP.

Gilroyan pens ‘Old Hope Road’

Matthew Carvalho, of Gilroy, is a first-time, self-published author and “Old Hope Road” is his first novel. “Old Hope Road” follows the life of Dominic Mercy, an orphan who makes his home on a fictional Caribbean island. Mercy is Defense Attaché to the island's president. Following a political conspiracy, an unknown group attacks the presidential palace. As the conspiracy unfolds, Mercy's childhood and rise to the highest office is revealed through a series of flashback vignettes. This sparks a desire to find his 'kin'. Author Carvalho, who works as a manager for a Silicon Valley medical equipment manufacturer, has a bachelor’s degree in international relations and a master’s degree in diplomacy/global commerce. “Old Hope Road” is available in both paperback and Kindle formats through Amazon. The author welcomes fans to follow “Old Hope Road” on Facebook.

SOCIAL MEDIA

5,035FansLike
325FollowersFollow
1,077FollowersFollow