Our Name

Northern California’s Noyo River has its headwaters in the coastal Mendocino Range, home to giant old-growth redwood stands and habitat for a variety of plant and animal species.  The Noyo watershed is under the ownership of companies that manage productive forestlands with high standards of environmental stewardship.  At Noyo Partners, we seek to invest in established companies that will grow and prosper in ways that benefit their local communities and provide stewardship for future generations.

Corporate Experience

AIG
Cooper Industries
DuPont-Teflon
InfoSpace
General Motors
Hang Ten
Matrix Direct
Mendocino Forest Products
Monitor Group
Pebble Beach Company
Philips
Square D
Valeo
Walmart.com

Consulting Partners

 

Richard J. Sondgroth

Richard J. Sondgroth is an active and important consulting resource for Noyo Partners LLC.  Through his business consulting firm, RJS Consulting, Richard conducts financial analysis, creates financial projections, reviews and drafts contracts, and provides due diligence services for clients.  Since its formation seven years ago, RJS Consulting has served numerous clients in various industries including high tech, energy, transportation, forestry, building products and wine. 

A veteran business executive, Richard holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from San Jose State University and a Juris Doctorate degree from Empire College School of Law.  He is a licensed California CPA who began his career working in the tax department of Ernst & Young.  During his career, Richard has held several senior executive positions including CFO at Redwood Reliance Peterbilt and Corporate Treasurer at Harris Moran Seed Company.

 

Jim Winningham

Jim Winningham is an accomplished manufacturing and operations executive.  Throughout his career Jim has been a highly sought leader to implement world class business processes, develop people, fulfill stringent customer demands, and optimize earnings.  Since his first job after college as an Industrial Engineer, to his most recent position as Plant Manager of a highly profitable 600 employee $250 million operation in Tennessee, Jim has earned a reputation for excellence. 

After a thirty-year career, eleven relocations across five states, and numerous successful turnarounds Jim semi-retired from corporate life.  Today he works as an independent consultant and interim manager.  Jim and Richard Higgenbottom’s paths crossed on three occasions while they both worked for operations supplying design-and-build components for OEM and aftermarket automotive companies.  Because of their friendship and mutual respect they provide professional support for one another whenever possible.  Jim graduated from Tennessee Technological University with MS, BS and MBA degrees.