Meet Folsom's new city manager

Cheers to another Friday, LinkedIn community. Let's start this newsletter with an update from the fast-growing City of Folsom .

Bryan Whitemyer will take the role of Folsom's city manager on March 10, according to a news release from the city. Folsom's City Council unanimously approved the appointment this week.

Whitemyer will receive a base salary of $310,000 per year, according to the City Council agenda. He replaces former Folsom City Manager Elaine Andersen, who retired at the end of 2024. Read more

Don't miss these other local business headlines, either.

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Ethan Conrad under investigation over assault allegation

The Sacramento County Sheriff's Office is investigating an allegation that real estate investor Ethan Conrad assaulted a local real estate agent who was seeking employment at his firm.

Conrad owns one of the largest commercial real estate companies in the region, managing a mix of office, retail and industrial properties across Northern California.

Ethan Conrad Properties Inc. owns and manages more than 11 million square feet of commercial real estate and has regularly been named as one of the Business Journal's Fastest Growing Companies since it started more than 15 years ago. Read more

Trader Joe's makes $85M real estate deal in Rancho Cordova

Popular grocery chain Trader Joe's has made a huge investment in the Sacramento region — though it's not in the form of a new store.

At least, not yet. But the Monrovia-based chain's purchase of a newly built, 441,618-square-foot industrial building in the City of Rancho Cordova would seem to at least make it easier to open new stores across the region.

According to records, Trader Joe's closed escrow in late 2024 on 12100 Atlanta Circle, part of the Rancho Cordova Logistics Center by NorthPoint Development .

Read more in this scoop by Senior Reporter Ben van der Meer .

Brewery plans Folsom taproom

Auburn-based Knee Deep Brewing is expanding with plans to open a taproom in a Folsom retail center.

Knee Deep Brewing is seeking a license through the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control to open a taproom at 2793 E. Bidwell St., Suite 100, in Folsom. The space in the Broadstone Plaza center was last occupied by Round Table Pizza, which closed in late 2023.

Family-owned Knee Deep Brewing has been around since 2010. It offers a variety of beers, including ales, porters, stouts and sours. Read more

Italian retailer joining Westfield Galleria at Roseville

Italian clothing label Intimissimi has filed plans for a location at the Westfield Galleria at Roseville, which would be its first in the greater Sacramento area.

The retailer sells lingerie, underwear, pajamas, bras, swimwear and other men's and women's apparel. Intimissimi is seeking permits to renovate an approximately 1,230-square-foot space at 1151 Galleria Blvd., Suite 111, in the City of Roseville .

Read more in this article by reporter Jacob Abbott .

Local AI company goes public with Nasdaq listing

El Dorado Hills-based artificial intelligence hardware and software developer Blaize is now called Blaize Holdings Inc. as it begins trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market.

Blaize is now one of just a handful of public companies based in the region, and the area's only publicly traded technology company.

"We will now build it in a public setting. The exciting thing is that we are building the company,” said Blaize CEO Dinakar Munagala . Read more

Button Up Boutique closing Folsom location

A women's clothing boutique that has operated in Folsom's Palladio at Broadstone for over a decade is closing its doors.

Locally based Button Up Boutique, located at 330 Palladio Parkway, Suite 2017, in Folsom, specializes in women's clothing and fashion accessories. The store opened at the shopping center in 2012.

Button Up Boutique announced on Instagram last week that the business will be downsizing and has chosen not to renew its Folsom lease.

Owner Robin Bernardoni also has Runway Boutique in El Dorado Hills and Button Up Boutique in Fountains at Roseville. Those locations are staying open. Read more

Meet this year's Corporate Citizenship honorees

The Sacramento Business Journal's Corporate Citizenship Awards recognize companies and individuals that give back to the community through volunteerism, philanthropy, or by other means.

We revealed the 2025 honorees this week. Here's the full list.

Congratulations to these outstanding companies and individuals, who will be honored at a breakfast in April.

Thanks for reading our Weekly Edition, which was compiled by Managing Editor Sonya Sorich. Send feedback and news tips to ssorich@bizjournals.com.