Strictly Business on KSVY

KSVY Radio

Strictly Business engages the people and issues of business and management history, corporate growth and profitability, entrepreneurial breakthroughs, operating successes and failures. Covering all factors contributing to Sonoma County’s economic growth and development. Kip Altman: Raised in Boston, graduated from Georgetown and the Un-O-Chicago Graduate School of Business. Worked on Wall Street and lived in New York City for many years, moved to S.F. in 2003, Glen Ellen in 2013. An active trader of stocks, author, and creator of the largest existing business history site businesshistory.com.

  1. 4d ago

    Strictly Business KSVY - Reporter for the Press Democrat - Phil Barber

    We will talk about: 1) Why did LeFever/Mattson target Sonoma for real estate purchases?, 2) When did you first cover this scandal?, 3) Were purchases random or did they fit a pattern?, 4) Were objectives more than real estate fraud (political or religious)?, 5) Had LeFever not discovered questionable transactions by Mattson, would anyone else have uncovered this fraud?, 6) Was the town of Sonoma sitting on his hands through all of this? could it have done something to prevent this from happening? 7) Was the real estate industry in Sonoma complicit in these transactions (L/M bought about 200 properties without negotiating terms) - did realtors have an obligation to blow the whistle?, 8) Do you know how many real estate owners refused to sell to Mattson? Were there some realtors who refused to work with Mattson?, 9) Were you ever able to interview Mattson or LeFever? 10) Whom did you interview who might have given you insight to what Mattson’s objectives were (people whose properties were purchased, people who invested with Mattson, people who were associates at Mattson)?, 11) Why do you think that LeFever turned on Mattson (fear of discovery and prosecution? guilt feelings)?, 12) Was Mattson’s family involved in the real estate fraud and are there a criminal or civil consequences that they will face?, 13) Do you think Mattson hoped for a ‘bailout’ of his Ponzi scheme - somehow?, 14) Was Mattson’s plea deal too lenient?, 15) Should Sonoma county credit Wake-Up Sonoma for having brought attention to questions about LaFever/Mattson real estate activities?, 16) Is/was there any backlash against Wake-up Sonoma for its watchdog efforts (by the city or community)?, 17) Current disposition of remaining properties?, 18) Will the terms of victims’ restitution be acceptable, reasonable?, 19) Are there other real estate build-ups in Sonoma County which are attracting attention?, 20) How can Sonoma prevent this from happening again? 21) Other issues which you might want to discuss Guest URL: https://www.pressdemocrat.com/author/phil-barber/

    53 min

  2. Jun 4

    Strictly Business KSVY - Professor Landscape Architecture & Environmental Design: "Pastoral Capitalism" - Louise A. Mozingo

    What we will talk about: 1) First transitions - when the executives at companies like Connecticut General or General Foods decided to pack up their urban offices - what was the defining financial or cultural trigger point? 2) Did abandoned cities try to fight to retain their corporate citizens - how and why did they fail? 3) A landscape architect’s dream: what was the cost of these landscapes, role of architects and landscape architects in the business of creating them - free rein to create an ‘environment’ with minimal cost constraints? 4) From General Foods and Connecticut General - how did the concept of pastoral capitalist landscape morph over time? 5) Did corporate managements envision more stable communities, rising real estate values, auto-friendly environs - or were those a byproduct? 6) Social, racial costs of suburban corporate development? 7) Did productivity increase (sales, margins, profitability)? 8) Did these new environments enhance corporate power? How? 9) How attentive were/are corporations to the environments they paid to have created? 10) Over time - have the ‘components’ of corporate campuses, corporate estates or office parks changed? Different priorities? 11) How were employees’ needs considered in creating suburban corporate landscapes? 12) Over time - have ‘features’ of corporate landscapes, which employees care about most, changed (perceived benefits)? 13) Silicon Valley seems to have remained more viable and visible than Rt. 128 or Research Triangle- why? Ability to attract talented producers? Capital access? Fluid labor pool? A as 14) Do talented technology producers care where they’re located? 15) Today - an operating problem or a tax problem (Tesla and Chevron to TX, Starbucks, AMZN, In-n-Out Burger to TN? 16) Corporate moves to suburbs = boon to communities in which new jobs are created (healthier tax base) - role of public investment in places like Silicon Valley or Research Triangle? 17) Effect of COVID ‘work-from-home’ period on management thinking about employee ‘location and productivity’? 18) Were Downing and Olmsted correct: picturesque or pastoral landscape = ‘instrument of social order’? 19) Impact of ‘greenness’ = goodness, ‘capitalist magic’? 20) Contrarian opportunity - is the urban melting pot now a spatial condition for creative business environments? 21) Your perspective on your book after 15 years? 22) Your perspective on the future of corporate landscapes - what more (or less) is required? Where might these landscapes be developed? Guest URL: https://ced.berkeley.edu/people/louise-mozingo

    54 min

  3. May 12

    Strictly Business KSVY - Executive Director, Green Music Center - Jacob Yarrow

    1) What does Kennedy Center debacle suggest about leadership in the arts? 2) Renee Fleming (has performed at GMC), among others, cancelled scheduled performances at the Kennedy Center - was she right to do so? 3) Role of the Board in steering the direction of the Green Music Center?, 4) How you have changed the direction or content of thew Green Music Center since you assumed the ED role?, 5) What are measures of success: audience number, ticket sales, number of performances?, 6) Re: University presenters (GMC has been invited to join ‘major university presenters’ - 23 University presenters around the country - almost entirely research universities) - what is the difference between managing a university-based art center versus one that is independent? 7) Composition of performances - breakdown by type? Which attracts biggest audiences?, 8) Motivation for performers to appear: reputation of the venue, reputation of leadership, location, size of audience, size of fee?, 9) GMC presenting touring artists - What are the expectations of the university, community re: booking performers? 10) Prices range from $65 to $1450 - annual revenue for the Center? 11) What does ‘most compelling artists of our time’ mean? 12) Over the years - which type of performance sells best?, 13) How do you spend the majority of your time: programming, fundraising, performance, higher education, marketing or nonprofit management?, 14) Potential of a great music center for the region and for the students - different from the past? How will potential be realized in the future?, 15) How do performing art and touring artists interact with an academic environment?, 16) ‘New sense of energy that I get at Sonoma State that is thrilling’ - what is that new sense of energy? How different from other arts venues?, 17) What, arts-related, have you found matters most to people in the North Bay region?, 18) What is the phenomenal power of live performance?, 19) Are philanthropic donations as robust as you would like here in Sonoma County?, 20) The Garth Newel music center in Virginia and the University of Iowa Hencher auditorium are both over 50 years old. Does the fact that the green music center is only 14 years old make a difference to you in terms of your ability to influence it and its direction?, 21) What mattered most to you about the Green Music Center, which influenced your decision to leave Iowa?, 22) What are annual audience attendance numbers?, 23) Each year more than half of Sonoma State students engage with GMC programming. Should the number be higher?, 24) Was SSU’s being a public, liberal arts and sciences, student-centered, residential campus make a difference to you? Why?, 25) ‘We have become one of the leading university presenters in the country through deep engagement with students, ethical support of artists, and engagement with the international presenting arena.’ What does ethical support of artists mean?, 26) How do you find your performers - use an artist management company?, Do you negotiate price per performance, 27) How often do you repeat performances-invite artists back?, 28) Characterize GNC as multi-disciplinary performing arts center? Which discpline attracts the largest audiences?, 29) Other issues which you might wish to discuss Guest URL: https://gmc.sonoma.edu/

    53 min

  4. May 7

    Strictly Business KSVY - Founder of Press Onward an Alternative News Source for Sonoma County - Troy Niday

    What we’ll talk about: 1. How did you feel when Alden Capital showed itself as a likely buyer of Sonoma Media Investments?, 2. How differently was the PD run vs. other newspapers you’d worked with (Omaha World Herald, the Oklahoman, Birmingham News, Arizona Republic)?, 3. Why nonprofit digital news vs. alternative publication like Sonoma Valley Sun?, 4. Why go nonprofit instead of a low-cost, for-profit digital startup?, 5. 5. How has find raising gone thus far - how have you been received?, 6. How does Preas Onward differ from the ‘Patch’ concept?, 7. What ‘really’ gets people to subscribe: politics, sports, criminal activity, people news?, 8. When was PD peak circulation?, what was it?, what was it when you left in 2025?, 9. Print vs. digital - which commands a premium price?, 10. Expected frequency of publication?, 11. On which topics has media coverage in Sonoma County weakened the most?, 12. Effect of political condemnation on print vs. digital- (trust issue)?, 13. Greater trust in local media than national sources?, why?, 14. Who is more demanding of coverage and results- shareholders or donors?, 15. Can you be 'editorially independent' when your largest donors might also be the subjects of your reporting?, 16. What are the 'must-have' roles in a nonprofit newsroom?, 17. Can AI act as an operating aid to support journalistic efforts?, 18. Examples of successful digital newsrooms in Sonoma County?, 19. Grants vs. major donors vs. small-dollar membership - which is most preferable?, 20. Investment vs. ad buying - how would local businesses respond and handle that?, 21. Will you accept advertising?, 22. What would major donors want in return for their contribution?, 23. How do you measure success for a digital platform: subscribers, impact on policy change, readers’ response?, 24. Does the community realize that its issues are less well covered? How?, 25. Toughest operating issues you ever faced?, how did you handle them?

    50 min

  5. May 4

    Strictly Business KSVY - Associate Professor of Media and Pop Culture at UCSD and Author of "Derivative Media - How Wall Street Devours Culture" - Andrew Dewaard

    What we will talk about: 1. Why the book thesis and project?, 2. Why is ‘financialization’ a dirty word?, 3. Financing vs. financialization - the difference?, 4. Did ‘Hollywood accounting’ draw scrutiny from ‘financial actors?, 5. Was operating record of studios, broadcasting companies and labels subpar, on average, drawing attention of activist investors?, 6. What was returns record of studios, broadcasting companies and labels before financialization?, 7. From tax shelters, conglomeration in the 1970s - concentration of ownership not new?, 8. 1990s - monetization of libraries and back catalogues - logical operating decision?, 9. Content treated as a capital asset - when?, 10. Effect of Telecommunications Act of 1996 on cultural industries?, 11. Citibank deal for 20th Century Fox - blueprint for future acquisitions?, 12. AOL Time Warner merger considered disastrous - why?, what was learned, by whom?, 13. Effect of 2008 crisis on Wall Street‘behavior’?, 14. Effect of streaming on musicians’ earning potential?, 15. Why musicians sell their catalogues?, 16. Maximization of value of IP assets - reasonable operating decision?, 17. Capitalizing on IP success - reasonable operating decision (i.e. sequels)?, 18. Effect of AI on creatives in LA? 19. Anticipated impact of Paramount’s takeover of Warner Brothers Discovery?, 20. More than 4,000 Hollywood actors and industry professionals joined the ‘Block the Merger’ campaign - what did they want?, why did WB shareholders apparently not care what they wanted?, 21. Are audiences aware of the impact of financialization on cultural industries?, Should they care about who owns what?, 22. What can/should consumers do to exert influence?, 23. What would it take for lobbyists to support legislative reform to ‘protect’ cultural industries’? https://sites.google.com/view/andrewdewaard

    52 min

  6. Apr 22

    Strictly Business KSVY - 4th Generation Owner of Corrick's in Santa Rosa - Keven Brown

    1. Has the store experienced an incarnation with each new family owner over the past 111 years?, 2. You’ve said that as you were growing up, you always knew you wanted to run the store (family business)- why?, 3. How big a burden is ‘legacy’ in managing a family business?, 4. How big a burden is ‘longevity’ in managing a family business?, 5. Changes you’ve made over the last 34 years?, 6. You pride yourself on ‘old fashioned service’ - what does that mean?, 7. Which products sell best?, 8. Which artists have attracted the most visitors?, 9. Is stationery considered ‘old fashioned’ vs. today’s electronic messaging?, 10. Profile of customer who wants personalized stationery?, 11. How big is wedding invitation business?, 12. Do you sell online? If not, why?, 13. Do people buy ‘journals’? 14. How to compete in the electronic/digital age?, 15. Innovations you’re most proud of?, 16. Representing Swarovski seems incongruous?, 17. What is capacity for the store re: guests for art or music?, 18. How seasonal is the business: Christmas, graduations? 19. How do you decide which greeting card makers to carry?, 20. Who prices greeting cards - manufacturer or Corrick’s?, 21. What sells a greeting card- message or design?, 22. Re: sales of art supplies, is Sonoma a ‘very’ artsy region?, 23. What is the future of downtown Santa Rosa? 24. Advice you give, would give, to family members taking over family businesses? rosacorricks.com

    51 min

  7. Apr 7

    Strictly Business KSVY - Author of "Inflation" - Martha Olney

    What We’ll talk about: 1) Why write the book now? 2) What have been, or should have been, the obvious economic lessons from inflationary periods post WW I, post WW II and OPEC oil crisis in the 1970s?, 3) Why 40 years of ‘manageable’ inflation?, 4) 2008 - deflation - aggregate demand shock, liquidity trap, interest rates lowered to 0 - still trouble reviving demand = colossal economic aberration brought on by loosening of credit requirements and reckless use of leverage?, 5) Current structure of U.S. economy = more services than goods, oil = less consequential component in inflation measurement - was COVID an inflationary aberration?, 6) CPI or PCE - vague concept to or real ‘feeling’ for consumers? 7) Role of scarcity in supply induced inflation?, 8) Role of credit in demand-induced inflation? (Total household debt = $18.8 trillion at the end of 2025 per FRB), 9) Is debt burden pricing out the next generation from asset ownership/investment - price of credit vs. wage gains?, alternatives?, 10) Can/should shifts in debt-financed consumer demand be better anticipated?, 11) Should changes in pricing be resisted (eggs, coffee, gas, copper)?, how?, 12) Is inflation an event-driven phenomenon (wars, oil, virus - supply shock or demand shock)?, 13) Consumer response to inflation - rational expectations in line with behavioral economics?, 14) How interest rate adjustments affect demand?, 15) Most competent/effective Federal Reserve chairmen/chairwomen?, why?, 16) What are the first signs of oncoming inflation?, 17) Shrinkflation - reflection of cost pressures on producers or profit maximization strategy?, 18) Effect of protectionism on prices and demand?, 19) Political influence on the central bank - risks?, 20) Effects of technological advancement or disruption on inflation - impact of AI on unemployment and inflation prospects?, 21) Effects of competition on inflation?, 22) Can citizens, consumers insulate themselves from inflation and its consequences?, 23) other issues you might wish to discuss Guest URL: http://www.econ.berkeley.edu/~olney

    51 min

  8. Mar 24

    Strictly Business KSVY - Wealth Manager and Former Tax Accountant - Lillian Meyers

    We will talk about: 1) Why the move into wealth management in 2003 after 18 years as a tax accountant?, 2) What constitutes ’high net worth’?, 3) How liquid are the assets of high net worth individuals?, 4) Do you find that clients have historically overpaid their taxes?, 5) How well do clients understand the ‘structure’ of their finances when they come to you?, 6) What kind of restructuring of finances may be required?, 7) How do investing objectives differ with age, gender, income?, 8) Primary ‘life changing’ circumstance - death of spouse (vs. divorce, retirement, inheritance, career change)?, 9) True that clients’ most valuable asset is their home?, 10) How well do surviving widows know about their family’s finances?, What should they do to be better prepared?, 11) What financial management advice is hardest to give, hardest to follow?, 12) Do men have different wealth management objectives from women?, 13) Do market conditions affect the advice you give?, 14) What constitutes a ‘secure financial future’?, 15) Is cash king?, 16) What tends to be the most reliable incoming producing moves clients can make?, 17) What do you advise for most effectively ‘passing on wealth’ to the next generation?, 18) Should clients resist calls from children for receiving their inheritance now vs. waiting for a ‘natural’ transfer of assets?, 19) What are the most important financial priorities for most clients: retirement, education, advancing inheritance for future wealth building?, 20) Common mistakes clients have made in their efforts to build wealth?, 21) How the advice you give has changed over the years?, 22) How risk averse should clients be?, 23) How scam susceptible do you find clients to be?, 24) At what age should investing objectives shift from growth to preservation of capital?, 25) Other issues you might want to discuss Guest URL: http://www.meyersfinancial.com/

    52 min
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About

Strictly Business engages the people and issues of business and management history, corporate growth and profitability, entrepreneurial breakthroughs, operating successes and failures. Covering all factors contributing to Sonoma County’s economic growth and development. Kip Altman: Raised in Boston, graduated from Georgetown and the Un-O-Chicago Graduate School of Business. Worked on Wall Street and lived in New York City for many years, moved to S.F. in 2003, Glen Ellen in 2013. An active trader of stocks, author, and creator of the largest existing business history site businesshistory.com.

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