Webley appointed to economic board

John Webley, a Telecom Valley pioneer, has been appointed to the Sonoma County Economic Development Board by Supervisor Shirlee Zane.

Webley co-founded Petaluma's Advanced Fibre Communications, an optical networking company. Later he started Turin Networks, also in Petaluma, creating new technology for broadband phone calls.

Now Webley is chief executive officer of PAX Streamline, a spinoff of PAX Scientific, a San Rafael company that designs energy-efficient products using natural principles.

The economic development board encourages business startups, retention and expansion to increase job opportunities and economic activity in the county.

-- Michael Coit