Doug Henton Quotations

What's really happening is a restructuring. There are companies spread out all over the valley that do nothing but help other companies get started.

We're still not at the levels of 2000, but that was an aberration.

I think that's the general sentiment. I think 2006 will be seen as a real turnaround year.

We actually have a totally different economy now in Sonoma County.

We are shifting from an economy that is industrially focused to one that relies on creativity for the consumer.

Ten years ago, this was an engineering Valley that pumped out chips and computers. Now it's all about creative tech and staying on the cutting edge.

Probably the most important ingredient of a competitive region is the workforce. And we can either import our workforce, or we can train and support our own workforce to make sure everyone can participate. If all those pieces are in place, we can have a high-growth economy where everyone can participate.

This isn't extremely rapid job growth, but it's job growth that's being sustained.

The Valley's coming back with a very different profile.

There's a higher level of skills being required. The average pay levels have been going up.

You've got to figure out what you do best as a community. We sometimes get enthralled with the idea of high-tech. But it's all about innovation. And tourism can be very innovative. Health care can be very innovative.