When Weston Hutchings left his job at Sierra Nevada Construction in Reno in February 2009, he wasn't running from anything. He was running toward something: a chance to raise his family in the community where he grew up. But the timing couldn't have been worse. The economy was collapsing. There was almost no work. And Hat Creek Construction, his cousin Perry's company, was on the verge of bankruptcy. Yet that desperate moment became the foundation for everything that followed.
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In the latest episode of the North State Rocks podcast, host Perry Thompson catches up with Bailey Small, a Fall River High School graduate and current PRCA professional saddle bronc rider in his second year on the national circuit. What starts as a conversation about Northeastern California athletics quickly becomes a story about perseverance, goal-setting, and what it looks like when a small community decides to get behind one of its own.
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BURNEY, Calif.—Today, Hat Creek Construction & Materials, Inc. (Hat Creek Construction), a vertically integrated, family-owned company producing raw materials and constructing projects throughout California and Nevada, announced its 2025 impact.Last year, the company contributed to public safety, environmental sustainability, and economic growth through critical infrastructure projects in five California counties (Lassen, Plumas, Modoc, Shasta, and Mono). They created/sustained 185 jobs, distributed nearly $16 million in payroll, and nearly $110 million in revenue, the largest in company history.
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On this groundbreaking three-person episode of North State Rocks, Perry Thompson brought together three distinct perspectives on a crisis that's spiraling out of control: Wyatt Hanson (fourth-generation rancher), Richard Egan (rancher and former county administrator), and John McGarva (Lassen County Sheriff).
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On this episode of North State Rocks, Jessica Vigil, from Elwood Ranch and a North State native who grew up on Dixie Valley Ranch, sat down with Perry Thompson to discuss a crisis threatening generational ranching operations: wolf predation. This isn't a conversation about wildlife conservation in the abstract. It's about real families facing real losses and a policy framework that often leaves them with no legal way to defend themselves.
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In the latest episode of the North State Rocks podcast, we shine a light on the life-changing work of Lassen Family Services: a Susanville-based nonprofit that has been serving survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, elder abuse, and other traumas since 1979. This conversation explores how compassion, advocacy, and community collaboration can transform lives in California’s rural North State.Listen to the podcast at northstaterocks.com or on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, IHeartRadio, and Pandora.
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In the latest episode of North State Rocks, host Perry Thompson sat down with Paul Reuter, President and Managing Engineer of Pace Engineering, based in Redding, California. Paul, a true leader in our community and a driving force behind an incredible 100% employee-owned firm, shared his remarkable journey and profound insights into building a thriving business, nurturing a unique culture, and prioritizing what truly matters.Listen to the podcast at northstaterocks.com or on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, IHeartRadio, and Pandora.
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In the latest conversation on North State Rocks, Bruce Dean, co-founder and chairman of Black Bear Diner, shared the unvarnished truth about building a restaurant empire from humble beginnings in Mount Shasta. His story offered critical insights for entrepreneurs navigating growth, failure, and the brutal realities of business expansion. Listen to the podcast at northstaterocks.com or on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, IHeartRadio, and Pandora.
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In the latest episode of North State Rocks, host Perry Thompson sat down with Elizabeth (Liz) Ammon, agriculture teacher and FFA advisor at Lassen High School, to discuss the remarkable growth and success of the Susanville FFA program following the recent Lassen County Fair.
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Dawn Egan's path to becoming one of Lassen High School's most impactful educators began with an entrepreneurial spirit in Fallon, Nevada. After earning her finance degree from University of Nevada, Reno, Egan opened her own computer store at just 21 years old, eventually growing the business to generate $200,000-250,000 annually.
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