Business Briefs for April 24

Carson City comic book shop participating in Free Comic Book Day

Dreamwell Comics, 4250 Cochise St., Suite 20, will participate in the national Free Comic Book Day on May 7 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

The national promotion, now in its 10th year, will promote the "fight against illiteracy" while introducing the community to the comic book specialty market.

Every major comic book publisher produces an edition for Free Comic Book Day, which ranges from kid-friendly to superhero titles.

For more information contact Dreamwell Comics at 775-887-1255.

WordPress workshop planned at UNR

This year's Reno-Tahoe WordCamp will be held June 4-5 at the University of Nevada, Reno and will include two days of WordPress-based sessions and in-depth workshops for the open source blog and website publishing platform.

Previous Reno-Tahoe WordCamps attracted such speakers as WordPress founding developer Matt Mullenweg, Merlin Mann of 47 Folders, and Dave Moyer of Bitwire Media.

"We hope to expand on the success of the last two WordCamps by increasing our involvement with the local community," said organizer Chelsea Otakan. "In the past few years, WordPress' success has fueled the prosperity of businesses and users alike. We want to help grow Reno's WordPress community and spread that success here."

General admission costs $30. Registration for both general admission and one workshop costs $40.

For more information or to register visit www.renotahoewordcamp.com.

Starbucks plant installs efficient lights

Starbucks has reduced energy consumption at the company's Carson Valley Roasting Plant in Minden by installing energy efficient fluorescent and LED lights.

The lights installed inside the plant and the parking lot area are expected to reduce the facility's annual electricity usage by 621,000 kilowatt hours. Starbucks also added controls to conveyor belt motors that will enable them to be automatically shut off during break times, an annual savings of about 90,600 kilowatt hours. The improvements are expected to lower the plant's annual electric bill by approximately $64,000.

To help offset costs for the upgrades, Starbucks will receive a $44,509 rebate from NV Energy's Sure Bet program, which provides financial incentives to large

commercial energy users that invest in energy efficient lighting and equipment.

Since 2003, the program has helped northern Nevada companies reduce their annual electricity usage by approximately 220 million kilowatt hours.

Commercial real estate listing

501 S. Carson St., Carson City: A 7,548-square-foot building was listed for sale by its owner, Vision Investments Group Inc., with Bob Fredlund and Larry Messina of Coldwell Banker Commercial Premier Brokers.

- Northern Nevada Business Weekly

Chamber announces nominating committee

The Carson City Chamber of Commerce announced the selection of its nominating committee for the three vacant positions on the Chamber Board of Directors.

Members are entitled to submit any name for consideration before May 10 when the nominations close and become final.

The 2010-2011 Nominating Committee was chaired by Terrie McNutt of the Courtyard by Marriott, AJ Matule, of East to West Embroidery and Steve Lasco of Lumos & Associates.

The following have been chosen to serve three year terms of office:

• Margie Quirk, Owner, Lone Mountain Veterinary Hospital

• Collie Hutter, President, Click Bond Manufacturing

• Lori Bagwell, Co-owner, Charley's Grilled Subs.

Feds: Personal income fell in Carson City during recession

Per capita personal income in Carson City fell to 40,218 in 2009, compared to 41,922 in 2008, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Statewide, Carson City had the fifth highest per capita personal income in 2009. Douglas County was No. 1 at $55,080. Lincoln County had the lowest at $23,787.

Joe Bourdeau

City National Bank has hired Joe Bourdeau as a relationship officer in its Private Client Services group in Northern Nevada.