By THOM SENZEE Contributing Reporter Three of the Fernando Award’s biggest proponents gathered in a conference room at the Business Journal’s offices in Warner Center to lay bare the award’s soul for all to see. It was part of an effort to remake the image of the Valley’s now 50-year-old top prize for volunteerism. Past president and most recent Fernando honoree, Gloria Pollack, and President Bruce Ackerman, along with Immediate Past President Brad Rosenheim are seeking to ensure the Fernando Award stays relevant throughout the 21st Century. At the moment, however, Fernando has an image problem. “The idea that we’re just an old boys and girls network is simply mistaken,” Rosenheim said. “Despite the misimpression of some, it’s not a case of ‘if you wait long enough it’ll be your turn’ if you’re in some so-called inner-circle.” Yet, “stodgy,” “insular,” and “drawn-out” are terms sometimes associated with the Fernando and its selection process. That is why the Fernando Award Foundation’s Ackerman says he and the board of directors are laser-focused on casting a new, dynamic, and more transparent image for the award one that dispels any notion that the board members, benefactors and patrons take turns passing the Fernando around. “For people to think we have any control is just not understanding the selection process,” Pollack said. “We don’t know until the envelope is open. The accountants are the only ones who know the outcome because they do the tabulating.” The selection process is described in detail on page 11 of this report. Nominations can be made by anyone on behalf of a person who has made a positive impact, through volunteering, on the quality of life in the Valley. The front end of the process is, at least officially, wide open. The integrity of the tabulation of finalists’ votes is unquestioned. Ackerman agrees that it may be the middle part of the sandwich the work done by the selection committee that is the source of most cynicism regarding the Fernando Award. But he believes the solution is with the front end, with the initial solicitation of nominations. In a region with more than two million people, the Selection Committee only gets about 20 nominees to consider when choosing its five finalists. Ackerman thinks that number could, and should, be higher. “There’s a packet and a notification letter that goes out to all of those chambers, those past honorees, the board of directors our little universe,” Ackerman said. “Change number one is we need to broaden that. We need to say if you’re a church, a club, an organization and you want to nominate someone, here’s how you do that.” “And we have started to do that,” Rosenheim added. Ackerman continued “But we need to do a better job; we need to do way more in reaching out to new constituencies,” he said. Committee changes Although generating more awareness and participation among nonprofits that have heretofore been unconnected to Fernando is Ackerman’s first priority, he is interested in also making changes to the selection committee’s lineup. “I think if we were to do that it would be in the form of adding representation from some of the local volunteer organizations such as ONE Generation, the [American] Cancer Society, or the Boys and Girls Club,” he said. “I think it would be interesting to look at that.” Pollack summed up what winning the Fernando Award meant to her, echoing the sentiments of many other past recipients. “When I first came to the Valley, a dear friend took me to a special place by the Odyssey Restaurant, high on the hill,” she said. “… My friend told me that during the time the Valley was growing up, the Fernando Award was there to honor its greatest volunteers. It gave me a chill and I knew I wanted to somehow be a part of it ….” Pollack, Ackerman and Rosenheim want the message of honoring volunteerism to be served, regardless of what changes they and future leaders of the Fernando Award Foundation make. “I think we need to focus additionally on how we market Fernando and volunteerism itself,” Rosenheim said. “They are one and the same, but the goal of a marketing campaign if we’re able to get a real, professional marketing company to do it for us pro bono should not be to market the Fernando Award; it should be to market volunteerism and say ‘oh by the way, this is how we recognize great volunteers.'” The three said just getting to a point recently where the foundation could pay for a very part-time administrative assistant to handle the scheduling and recordkeeping issues of Fernando was a momentous triumph. “We just bring in enough to cover the costs of the events,” Pollack said. “People think we have all this money, but there is none just enough to pay for our costs.” Aspirations Rosenheim oversaw the second term of what Ackerman and Pollack see as the current transitional era Fernando is experiencing. During his tenure, the Fernando scholarship program gathered a full head of steam, according to Pollack. “When Brad was president, we expanded the scholarship program and brought new people on to the board,” said Pollack. “There are some past recipients, one in particular, who do not want to see a single change. But change is the only constant.” Pollack would not say whom she had in mind. But one past recipient who is the custodian of Fernando’s historical heart and soul its archives is leery about change merely for change’s sake. Fred Thomas, Fernando’s historian, is also a past recipient of the award and a past president of the Fernando Award Foundation. He believes the board of directors must act with care as they complete the transition that was embarked upon during Gloria Pollack’s term of office beginning in 2004. “The only people who can destroy the Fernando Award are the past recipients,” Thomas said. “If they go sour on the award, the foundation has lost their headlights; they’ve lost their way.” Thomas does, however, agree with the addition of the scholarship program. “Giving out scholarships has brought a lot of young people into volunteerism,” he said. “Now I would like to see a Junior Fernando Award.” The advent of a Fernando Award for young people would be a boon to volunteer-based organizations, said Thomas, because it would augment the growing number of young people interested in being of service to others. “The one thing I would say is it should be completely separate from Fernando,” he said. The business connection Recalling the business origins of the Fernando Award, the trio of presidents agree that the benefit of the award to the business community is still powerful. “The exposure a business gets when its CEO or owner is selected is immeasurable,” Pollack said. Rosenheim added that the associations are formed throughout each year as the three award events unfold also help businesspeople get to know one another, thus helping to unite the Valley’s business community. “But we’re really so much more focused on what businesspeople do for the Valley as volunteers,” said Ackerman. “CEOs have so much more to do nowadays, and that’s why this award is more relevant today than ever.” Ackerman believes changes in who qualifies to be awarded a Fernando may be necessary because of greater demands top executives face. Such a change might even include allowing “professional” volunteers to be nominated. Others have suggested opening the process to elected officials as well as volunteers. That idea appears to have the least appeal among the past presidents.

The best news for businesses large and small is that to be a Best Place to Work doesn’t necessarily require a huge financial investment. Camaraderie, family, and work-life balance are the words most often used to describe the atmosphere of the top-ranked companies. Creating that type of environment can be as simple as management acknowledging special achievements with a handwritten note, preparing an internal newsletter, or sponsoring a company sports team. Flexibility was another oft-used word. One of the most valued perks in the traffic-jammed Valley is the option to telecommute. Many of the companies stressed their support of employees working from a remote location when possible. In addition to cell phones, laptops, PDAs and high-speed Internet connections are often provided. Support of family was also high on the list. On-site or subsidized childcare, flex-schedules to accommodate soccer games or recitals, and support for caregivers of ill loved ones were among the benefits cited. There’s a real push to helping employees stay healthy and get fit. Some companies pay 100 percent of the employee’s health insurance, others add dental, vision, and mental health; some treat domestic- or same-sex partners as equal to legal spouses. Many do not require an employee to work full-time to be eligible for health benefits. Employees also appreciated having options like savings accounts, 125 plans, HMOs and PPOs. On-site workout facilities were not the norm, but many companies will subsidize employee fitness by paying portions of health club membership fees. Personal growth is supported through tuition reimbursement, advancement training and coaching, and promotion opportunities. When longevity is rewarded, loyalty ensues. Many companies celebrate employment anniversaries and milestones in some way whether through a balloon bouquet or additional vacation time. Fair wages are expected; the Best Places to Work set the bar much higher in compensating their employees. Most companies had a pension or 401(k) plan and many encourage participation by matching employee contributions to some extent. Profit-sharing takes a wide variety of forms but the most widely-used compensation tool is the performance-based bonus. Some companies even offer quarterly or on-the-spot awards just to mix things up. Food is apparently a great motivator as well. Break rooms across the Valley are well-stocks with beverages and snacks. Company lunches, picnics, and holiday parties abound. Businesses that have periods of heavy activity, such as accounting and law firms, often provide free meals for employees working late hours. It’s not all take, take, take, at the Best Places to Work. It feels good when you have the opportunity to give something back to the community and that good feeling reverberates throughout the workplace when corporations support volunteerism and civic participation among their staff. This can take many forms: offering paid time to perform jury service, sponsoring food or clothing drives, and compensating employees for time spent volunteering at their favorite charity. In this special report discussing the Business Journal’s search for the Best Places to Work in the greater-Valley area, reporters looked deeper into how and why companies provide perks to keep employees happy; what some of the intangible things are that businesses do to promote a positive work environment; and the hard facts about the bottom line benefits of being a Best Place to Work.

A pioneering spirit has guided eyeglass-frame manufacturer LBI Group for going on 60 years. That spirit showed itself when founder Sheldon “Shelly” Lehrer was among the first in the optical industry to import frames from Europe and then Asia. In the 1990’s the Chatsworth-based company became the only U.S. firm to own a frame manufacturing facility in China. Later, LBI struck licensing deals for lines of children’s frames branded with animated characters Paddington the Bear and Garfield the Cat. Next month, the company debuts at a trade show a line based on the characters from the mega-popular “Shrek” movies. Not stopping there, the company looks for other licensing opportunities in which it can design eyewear in special and unique ways through style, quality and value. “If you can create a compelling story based upon those elements then we get excited about the opportunity,” said Shelly’s son Keith Lehrer, who is now chief executive. “It’s easy to convey that enthusiasm to the potential partner.” That entrepreneurial passion applies to the three areas LBI specializes in – the manufacture and distribution of eyeglass frames, and the distribution of lenses and eyeglass cases. Take for instance the frames, an item that combines the medical purpose of correcting bad vision with the component of style. That’s why it is not strange to see pages taken from fashion magazines tacked up at LBI headquarters to get ideas. The bi-colored plastic frames worn by the girlfriend of Beatles progeny Dhani Harrison can be replicated by LBI; as can the split-colored sunglass lenses worn by the Olsen Twins. (And, yes, LBI can copy the rimless titanium frames popularized by Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin.) Input on industry trends also comes from the retailers selling their products. The company isn’t afraid to have its executives visit the stores in the Eyeglass Factory chain to get input that helps them stay ahead of the market, said owner Rick Feldman, a customer of LBI since 1982. “They see trends and go out on a limb to create something that is attractive to the consumer,” Feldman said. The smaller European countries are of particular interest to Keith Lehrer as sources for future eyeglass frame trends. On the flip side is the ability to recognize what styles lack a universal appeal and should not be seized upon for wider distribution. It all comes down to instinct, said the younger Lehrer. “Knowing the difference is part of the savvy from a design standpoint,” Keith Lehrer said. Staying Ahead of the Curve As the son tells the story, when his father entered the optical business, all of the major makers of eyeglass frames were based on the East Coast: Bausch and Lomb, Pearle, and American Optical. Shelly Lehrer bought in large quantities from these firms and made sales to independent optometrists. After serving in the U.S. military during the Korean Conflict, Shelly Lehrer returned to his company and it was in this period that he noticed starlets and other celebrity types wore eyeglasses with a lot of ornamentation: rhinestones, filigreed decor and such. These frames were made in France, so Shelly Lehrer went to the factory and ordered 100 frames of 10 different models. The order took a year to fill but Lehrer and LBI had taken an important step in the company’s growth. That the frames were made of plastic represented an industry shift away from metal frames. The scenario repeated itself in the early 1970s. At that time Shelly Lehrer was on sales trips to Asia and saw frames made in Japan, Hong Kong and South Korea for those domestic markets. Just as he had done with the French company, Lehrer began importing those glasses for distribution in the U.S. market. By that time, practically all eyeglass frame manufacturing went overseas. The American suppliers either folded or got out of that business, such as Bausch and Lomb when it turned to contact lenses over prescription frames. Europe remains an importer of higher-end frames more likely than not assembled from pieces made in Asia. Designing new frames is influenced by styles from the past combined with emerging new materials that make the frames stronger and lighter. A current style is the vintage look; thick plastic frames evoking a time of 40 or 50 years ago that Keith Lehrer called the Cary Grant look. “When we do an interpretation of vintage it always has a twist or element that grounds it in something contemporary,” Keith Lehrer said. Branding and Licensing For its branded lines, identifying logos are placed on the frames and specially-designed novelty cases. The Shrek line uses the Shrek name, the “S” logo and the green ogre’s ear. To avoid the tensions that can emerge between a licensee and licensor, LBI approaches its relations with DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc. as one of a partnership. From the studio’s side, the eyewear line fits in with a strategy of taking its film franchises and turning them into fashion and lifestyle brands. The LBI proposal perfectly matched the company’s objectives. Children’s eyewear is not simply a scaled down version of adult-sized glasses, so LBI worked with a leading designer to assure fit and comfort in the frames. “This is a global brand for us so the fact they match up in all of our top territories and can do this on an almost worldwide basis was important to us,” said Kerry Phelan, head of worldwide consumer products for the Glendale-based animation company. Also of importance was that LBI owns a factory to make the eyewear. That ownership and having first-hand quality control gives assurance and reliability when translating a recognized character into a consumer good, Phelan said. The decision to locate a plant in China came at a time when the country was opening its doors to foreign companies and a growth in optical frame manufacturing in Asia. LBI already had a Hong Kong-based distribution center. The company went through a lengthy process to select a site in Shenzhen, an area undergoing rapid industrialization outside of Hong Kong, to make government connection and line up suppliers. “There is no such thing as a sure bet but it became a good bet as a window of opportunity opened,” Keith Lehrer said. SPOTLIGHT – LBI Group Year Founded: 1949 Revenues in 2006: $21.8 million Revenue in 2008 (projected): $23.1 million Employees in 2007: 70 Employees in 2008: 88 Employees worldwide: 2,100

By THOM SENZEE Contributing Reporter At 50, the Fernando Award is well into middle age, and most of its recipients are at least at that stage of life. But Fernando Award officials want to infuse some younger blood into the Valley’s most prominent tribute to volunteer service. “One of the most interesting things we want to do is to bring younger businesspeople into the process,” Brad Rosenheim, Fernando Award Foundation board member and past president said. Rosenheim and current president Bruce Ackerman said there is room for people in their forties and younger to receive recognition as Fernando nominees, finalists and even award recipients, even though the award is, officially, a lifetime-achievement award. “Of course the idea is not without controversy,” Rosenheim said. “Some people will say ‘how can you give a lifetime achievement award to someone who’s only, say, 35 or 40?'” Nevertheless, Fernando officials are convinced that in order for the award they hold in such high esteem to survive for another 50 years, its near-term future must offer more accessibility to younger professionals, as long as they are very civically active. Still, for many under-50 San Fernando businesspeople, basic awareness of the Fernando Award is lacking. “I’ve heard of it,” said Charity Alliance Realty founder and broker Ray Calnan of Northridge. “But I’m not sure what it is exactly. Is it a business-achievement award?” As a 32-year-old real-estate broker, Calnan can be forgiven for not being aware that the Fernando is not a prestigious business-achievement honor, but the most prestigious volunteer-service award for Valley businesspeople with a lifetime of such service under their belts. Upon learning exactly what the Fernando Foundation is and what its namesake award represents, Calnan instantly became an enthusiastic fan. “Obviously I’m a big fan of supporting charity,” he said. “The way our real estate company is designed, we actually give a percentage of our sales and leases to various charities, depending on what group the buyer or customer says they want to have benefit.” While Calnan’s actual business model is based on the appeal of giving back to the community, he gives of his time and resources outside of business as an individual as well. Organizations he has served include Habitat for Humanity, Valley Interfaith Council’s food banks, urban tree-planting efforts and neighborhood cleanups. “I think in the past, businesses put all their charitable donations into one big gift,” he said. “They did a press release and that was it for a while. Now I think we give in our personal lives and in business whenever and wherever we can. Service has become a core value for more people today.” He believes people give and volunteer for personal satisfaction and for a genuine drive to help others, not because they want to network, get recognition or win awards. “However, I think recognition is important because it promotes the idea of service,” he said. “When you have a high-profile event like this Fernando Award, you tell the community that that kind of activity is highly valued by society. You get young people interested in doing something too.” But Laura Gallardo, spokesperson for Kaiser Permanente who was also unaware of the Fernando Award, recognition for volunteer service is essential to building good communities, and not only because it can encourage more people to be involved. “I think awards like that can also help a community know itself,” Gallardo, 39, said. “And I think reaching out to younger volunteers and recognizing them for their lifetime so far is a way to recognize also what an amazing and wonderful place this really is.” Impact of volunteerism From her perspective facilitating communications between the public and one of the country’s largest healthcare networks, Gallardo said she sees the impact of volunteerism on the lives of individuals and their families. Marrying business and service makes sense to her. “It’s probably just as good an idea today for businesspeople to be at the forefront of the volunteer efforts of a community as it was 50 years ago,” she said. “I think the business community in the San Fernando Valley has always been phenomenal at organizing to help people.” Gallardo believes anything the Fernando Award Foundation can do to promote the award among her generation will go a long way toward keeping the award alive and well for years to come. She sees no conflict inherent in focusing a lifetime achievement award for volunteer service on younger people. “I think it’s a good idea just as long as you don’t neglect the older people as a result,” she said. Marnie Nemcoff, vice president of marketing at Chatsworth-based Matadors Community Credit Union, has been an admirer of the Fernando Award recipients for years. “It’s important for me to show the younger generation how important it is to be involved and a part of the community,” said Nemcoff, 37. “I think if we’re a good role model for them, just as the older executives and businesspeople have been to us, the business community and the community as a whole is better off.” Setting an example She believes nothing works better than being an example to others as a means to encourage volunteerism. “But I think awards do just about as much good, because they do bring attention to the organizations being served by the award winners,” she said. “Getting younger people involved is easier when they see people just a little bit older, sort of older siblings rather than parental figures, because it may be easier for someone in their twenties to relate to someone in their thirties or forties a little more than someone in their fifties or sixties.” That, she said, is why she was glad to learn about the Fernando Award Foundation’s stated desire to reach out to people in her age bracket. Marnie Nemcoff herself is involved in numerous charitable endeavors, including cancer causes and youth financial literacy in public schools. At 40, Steven Mehta believes lifetime achievement is a relative term. “I don’t know if being young is opposite of having a lifetime of experience,” said the principal of the Mediation Offices of Steve G. Mehta. “Your lifetime is governed by your age, and America is about merit not age or any other classification.” Mehta volunteers his time to help mediate in the courts as well as his general labor for charitable organizations and arts groups such as the Santa Clarita Symphony. He is also a coach and a referee for AYSO Soccer. Importance of awards Awards, he says, are important in business, sports and volunteer service. “I may not have known about the Fernando Award until now,” he said. “But everyone has heard of the Emmys and the Oscars. Just as those awards promote the entertainment industry, I think volunteer-service awards help promote volunteerism.” Mehta said giving back is beneficial for businesspeople because it makes them part of a community. “And there is a saying: Give and ye shall receive,” he said. “But first you need to give. If you don’t give often you don’t receive. I think sometimes people want to receive before they give.” Mehta said he still benefits from the education he received as a child, and feels a strong desire to give back to the society that gave it to him. Nonprofits and charities make it easy for him to fulfill that desire. “Imagine if we didn’t have a lot of the types of nonprofits we kind of take for granted,” he said. “We couldn’t have the quality of life we enjoy in America today.” Mehta hopes the name “Fernando Award” will become a household term eventually. “I think making younger people aware of something that makes people covet the ideal of volunteer service is something that should be promoted any way it can be,” he said. According to Bruce Ackerman, Fernando Award Foundation president, a concerted effort is now underway to do just that. “We have some ideas that we’re working on,” he said. “I think you should see some new organizations submitting some younger nominees as the next selection process starts to begin.”

Online business website Zubican grew out of Matthew Graczyk’s frustration that so many online sites were geared toward consumers and not the business-to-business market. “It is just crazy because businesses spend twice as much as consumers,” said Graczyk, the firm’s president and CEO. With a database of thousands of businesses coast-to-coast, Moorpark-based Zubican facilitates contact between companies looking for goods and services. The database is the most comprehensive that he knows about for businesses, Graczyk said. Zubican became public in July following beta-testing of three private versions of the site. An updated version arrives in October. A visitor to Zubican types in a company name with the results presented in a profile that includes revenue and employee figures. Companies are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5 given by registered users; and through the Z-Profile on a scale of 1 to 100 based on the community rating, when the business last confirmed the information in profile, the number of links on its profile, and how many times the profile is viewed in a month among other criteria. The new version of the site will include business linking components and a more explicit explanation of what Zubican does. Graczyk is a serial entrepreneur of sorts, having taken early-stage Internet companies public, and turned around struggling tech ventures. In December he dedicated himself full-time to Zubican, which he founded and funded with two partners, Joseph Kevin and Brian Newton. While the site is currently ad supported, future plans call for premium pay services of a request for quotes section and a classified section for businesses to sell their wares. In the meantime, Graczyk and his partners tapped angel investors, including another serial entrepreneur in Robin Richards, now the advisor to the CEO of Blackboard Connect, a voice and text notification provider in Sherman Oaks. Having experienced the rise and fall of the first wave of Internet companies, Graczyk now rides the second wave of Web 2.0 that is more about connecting online users and creating a give and take between them rather than just trying to sell stuff. To that end, Zubican allows companies to customize profiles and to link those profiles with those of other companies to show its professional network. The new version gives users the power to send profiles and invite others to rate businesses within Zubican via e-mail. The functions all contribute to the site becoming the “business district” for the Internet. “We want to be the place online where businesses congregate and interact with each other,” Graczyk said. But why call the site Zubican? Graczyk explained there are no preconceived notions over the word and so has control over how to market the brand. The word, which is the Latin root for “to locate,” is easy to say, memorable because of using “Z” as the first letter, cannot easily be misspelled and lends itself to symbolism as starting with the last letter of the alphabet. “Zubican is the last place people will search for a business because they will find what they are looking for,” Graczyk said. Scour the Net Daniel Yomtobian plugs his new search engine Scour as being the bridge or missing link between the established search players of Yahoo! and Google and the Web 2.0 world of social networking and using visitor feedback to hone the quality of search results. Scour allows users to vote and comment on search results and make contact with other users with similar interests all the while earning points that go toward a $25 Visa gift card. “We are building a community and we are creating a better experience for future users who want to search the web and experience the next generation of web search results,” Yomtobian said. Operating from offices in Sherman Oaks, Yomtobian and his team employ a proprietary algorithm that differs from those used by Google and Yahoo! in that it refines the search results over time to make them more relevant. The Scour algorithm was included in the acquisition of After Vote, a search engine similar to what the new site does but lacking the incentive program or the connection features. In August, just a month after going live, Scour attracted 1 million unique users with very little advertising or marketing on the part of the company. That viral growth excites Yomtobian who sees it leading to the goal of up to a 5 percent market share. To bring users to this burgeoning community, an incentive in the form of the point system was created. Users collect the points through voting and commenting on search results. If a user gets a friend to join, the user collects 25 percent of the friend’s points. At 6,500 points the user receives a Visa gift card. This social networking aspect is what sets Scour apart from other search engines, Yomotbian said, and future features will allow users to e-mail or instant message other users. Scour is the second company in which Yomtobian has a stake. He also heads ABCSearch, a a pay-per-click search engine started in 2001. ABCSearch provides the sponsored listings on the Scour search results page. Merger Talks Tech industry trade groups AeA and the Information Technology Association of America are in discussions on a possible merger. Combining the two groups would give a strong voice to member companies and bring together the complementary offerings of both organizations. Changes in Washington, D.C. require the tech industry to speak with a louder, clearer voice, said AeA Chairperson Deirdre Hanford. “Our member companies compete in a global marketplace. In the states, in Washington, and around the world, this merger would allow the U.S. technology industry to further strengthen its partnerships with government for the continued advancement of technology,” said Hanford, Senior Vice President, Global Technical Services, Synopsys, Inc. The Los Angeles chapter of AeA is based in Woodland Hills. Staff Reporter Mark Madler can be reached at (818) 316-3126 or by e-mail at [email protected]. . He does his social networking the old fashioned way, face-to-face.

Accounting CPA firm Breard & Associates, Inc. has won a Practice Innovation Award for the second year running from Practical Accountant, the industry’s leading and most venerable publications. Firm partners Kevin Breard and Andrew Prentiss are pictured on the front cover of the magazine’s September issue. The awards recognize firms that have taken the lead in developing new or improved services in the accounting field. Banking The Pacoima Development Federal Credit Union Board of Directors has elected Raul Bocanegra as its new chairman. Bocanegra has been a member of the board since its inception in 2005. Bocanegra serves as Chief of Staff for Assemblyman Felipe Fuentes and was previously Chief Deputy for former 7th District Councilman Alex Padilla. Raul Bocanegra has a long history of community service in the Northeast San Fernando Valley. He has worked or volunteered for many groups including Pacoima Beautiful and the North Valley YMCA. Bocanegra, a long time resident of Pacoima, teaches Chicano and urban studies courses at California State University in Long Beach. He has bachelors and masters degrees from University of California, Los Angeles. Entertainment Imagi Studios announced that it has promoted Erin Corbett to president of Imagi Studios U.S. In addition, Cecil Kramer was promoted to vice chairman of Imagi Studios U.S. Both will oversee the development and launches of the studio’s CG-animated theatrical feature films including Astro Boy. Diarmuid Quinn, chief operating officer of Warner Bros. Records, has been named president of Reprise Records. As president of the label, Quinn will be responsible for developing and guiding their roster of artists. Since joining Warner Bros. Records in 2001, Quinn has been involved in the global development and marketing of the company’s roster, which includes Red Hot Chili Peppers, Madonna, Tom Petty, Linkin Park, Faith Hill, Disturbed, and Enya, in addition to the Reprise artists mentioned above. Quinn’s first signing to Reprise was British rock superstars Oasis. Executive Vice President of Promotion Tom ‘Grover’ Biery has been appointed general manager for Warner Bros. Records. Senior Vice President of A & R; Craig Aaronson has been appointed president of Sire Records by Whalley and Sire’s founder Seymour Stein. Aaronson will work closely with Stein. Aaronson has recently been involved in the signing and A & R; development of My Chemical Romance, The Used, Avenged Sevenfold, Taking Back Sunday, Mastodon, Serj Tankian, and Against Me!. Todd Whiting has been named vice president, cable and ancillary sales at NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution. Since September 2006, Whiting has served as director for the division. Prior to joining the Domestic Distribution team, Whiting was an executive in NBCU’s Digital Media division. He has worked in a variety of positions in business development, digital distribution, operations and production. Whiting earned his Masters of Business Administration from the Darden Graduate School of Business at the University of Virginia Healthcare Glendale-based Apollo Medical Holdings, Inc. has appointed Jilbert Issai, M.D. as Apollo’s senior vice president of operations. Issai joined ApolloMed Hospitalists, an affiliate of Apollo Medical Holdings, in 2006 as medical director of Region 1 (North Los Angeles). Prior to joining Apollo, he practiced as a hospitalist for four years in Downey, California. Issai completed an internship and residency in internal medicine at LAC-USC Medical Center and is board certified in internal medicine. Internet Business Michael Ziegler has appointed to the position of senior vice president for Youbet.com. He comes to Youbet.com from Hollywood Park where he was most recently vice president and assistant general manager. Ziegler has also had senior positions at Bay Meadows, Santa Anita and Golden Gate racecourses. Before entering the horse racing industry, he worked in marketing with the Oakland Athletics Baseball Company and Gatorade. Mr. Ziegler holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Marketing AvatarLabs has named Josh Golsen as producer, Rex Cook, executive creative director and founder of AvatarLabs, announced. Golsen started at AvatarLebs in 2007 as an outside contractor. He previously developed film and television projects for Warner Bros., New Line Cinema, and Artisan Entertainment. He also created and produced the episodic television series “CollegeTown USA” for NL College, National Lampoon’s college television network that reaches over 600 campuses and nearly 5 million students nationwide. Non-Profit Cheri Fleming of Valencia was elected 2008-2010 Camino Real Region governor of Soroptimist, an international volunteer organization for business and professional women who work to improve the lives of women and girls. As region governor, Fleming will serve as top administrative officer for Soroptimist clubs in her geographical territory. She will ensure that clubs complete all fundraising, recruiting and public awareness activities, and will annually report on clubs successes in these areas. Fleming is a member of Soroptimist International of Santa Clarita Valley, one of 3,100 Soroptimist clubs in the country. Technology Ronald A. Ramos has been named general manager for California operations of Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne. In that role Ramos has overall responsibility for the Space Shuttle Main Engine program, J-2X and missile defense programs. Ramos was most recently director of Expendable Propulsion Programs. He replaces Steve Bouley who was named as general manager, Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne Florida and Mississippi Operations.

Scholarships have played a fundamental role in the Fernando Award Foundation Inc. for the past decade. The foundation, which celebrates volunteerism in the San Fernando Valley, uses event proceeds to issue about ten scholarships to high school and community college students annually. Today, scholarships remain the primary method by which the foundation makes a direct contribution to the community. “The scholarships are awarded to the most deserving Valley graduating students based on their participation in community activities and their volunteerism,” said scholarship chairman Karl Boeckmann. “The scholarships certainly give them a foot up on going to college, particularly the first year.” The scholarship has the distinction of being one of the few with no grade point average delineation. “It’s strictly based on how you help other people,” Boeckmann explained. Each year, the foundation gives out 10 scholarships, nine of which amount to $1,000 and one for $2,000. Normally, between 60 and 70 students apply for the scholarships annually, according to Tom Soule, who has been Fernando treasurer for 10 years and has also served as president of the foundation. Contacting high schools To find qualified students, the foundation sends information out to guidance counselors at area high schools. “They work with students in the schools they think are worthy and have done a lot of volunteer work,” Soule said. Scholarship winners don’t have to attend a four-year college. Those headed to community college or trade schools may also receive scholarships. “Generally, we find that the students are also involved in their churches and temples, but it’s definitely not required,” Soule said. “They just seem to be very well-rounded, good in their schools. A lot of them start new organizations that help people.” This was the case for 2008 scholarship recipients Niminde and Jeneeka Perera. The fraternal twins and graduates of Chaminade College Prep in West Hills began an organization called ECS World to provide relief to tsunami victims. The twins are now enrolled at California State University, Northridge. Niminde Perera will study electrical engineering, while Jeneeka Perera will study animal science. “It helps me greatly as far as Cal State’s tuition. It’s going to help me a lot,” Niminde Perera said of the Fernando scholarship. Jeneeka Perera is grateful that the award has brought awareness to her and her brother’s efforts towards tsumani relief, which they have been involved in since their freshman year of high school. “It was a really nice, big surprise for us, a huge award,” she said. “I wasn’t sure how far it would go.” Scholarship funds The scholarships are funded by the proceeds the Fernando Foundation earns from dinners and other events. The foundation has considered using event proceeds to make contributions to the community other than scholarships, but “nothing has come to fruition at this point,” Soule said. For now, the remaining proceeds go toward running the foundation, as the 10 to 15 individuals and about 20 board members who run the foundation receive no compensation for their work. The foundation also has no plans to increase the dollar amount of the scholarships it gives out. Instead, Boeckmann said that he would rather give out scholarships to more students because of how tough the first year of college is. He especially aims to help volunteer-minded students with scholarships. He explained, “If you’re out there helping other people, that’s pretty much what it’s all about in life.”

The second annual “Honor a Hero, Hire a Vet” job and resource fair took place Sept. 17 at the Warner Center Marriott in Woodland Hills. The event,sponsored by the Economic Alliance of the San Fernando Valley, Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne Inc., Los Angeles Valley College and many others,began with an opening ceremony featuring Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich, Mission College President Judith Valles, Pierce College President Robert Garber and Economic Alliance President and CEO Bruce Ackerman, among others. “Raising awareness of veteran contributions is critical in a time when they so desperately need our appreciation and support,” stated Economic Alliance Chairman David Fleming about the job fair. A total of 36 businesses and employers participated in the job fair, including Anthony International, Kaiser Permanente, Wells Fargo and the California Dept. of Veterans Affairs. According to Kenn Phillips, director of workforce and education for the Economic Alliance, as many as 1,500 people attended the job fair, which ran from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The evening before the fair, Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne sponsored a reception called “The Art of Workforce: Repurposing the American Hero.” The event featured the artwork of artist David Schwartz, who is known for using American flags as canvases in a series called American Icons. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger presented Schwartz with a U.S. flag that was flown over the State Capitol to use as a canvas in light of Schwartz’s artwork in support of veterans. The finished artwork made its debut during the Sept. 16 reception. “This is the 15th U.S. flag that I’ll have used in the American Icon series,” Schwartz stated. “I’m honored to join with Gov. Schwarzenegger and the business community in raising awareness of the sacrifices that our veterans make for this country,not just while they serve in our military, but when they return from their tour of duty and repurpose themselves in the workforce.”

Capstone Turbine Corp. signed a distribution agreement for its low-emission microturbines in Chile. The deal with KLIMA, Distribuidora y Comercial Termica Ltda. has Capstone making inroads into multiple markets with multiple applications, said company President and CEO Darren Jamison. KLIMA is the largest energy consulting company in Chile and sells a complete line of products, equipment and accessories for HVAC contractors and industries. “We continue to work hard to increase the awareness of microturbines and show the world our place in providing green and reliable energy with improved efficiency,” said Jim Crouse, Executive Vice President, Sales & Marketing. “We are pleased to note that the qualified engineers and technicians at KLIMA are not only members and directors of the Chilean Chamber of Builders, but they are also LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) certifiers for over 10 million square feet of various types of buildings.”

It’s no secret that health care benefits have become one of the largest, fastest growing and most significant expenses for American companies. With no end in sight to crippling increases, many companies are seeking more innovative and effective strategies to keep costs in check. While traditional strategies, like cost shifting to employees and increasing co-pays, deductibles, or lifetime limits, are used by most employers through 2007, industry experts say innovative approaches may be the best way to control rising costs in the long run. Key trends reported by health care consulting firm Watson Wyatt Worldwide provide insight into what employers are doing to realize these long-range goals. A growing number of companies are utilizing the following cost-containment ideas: 1. Incentives for healthy behaviors: More companies are offering financial incentives to employees who have healthy lifestyle behaviors or participate in wellness, fitness and weight reduction programs. 2. “Full coverage” for preventive care benefits: Employers are covering preventive medical care and not subjecting them to a deductible. Included in these fully- paid benefits are vaccinations, exams and screenings for early diagnosis and intervention in breast, colon, and cervical cancers. 3. Wellness programs including health coaches/onsite health centers: A growing number of employers offer access to health coaches, nurse hotlines, and health advocates. Individualized advice is provided to workers on personal health care needs to educate employees about the best care and what questions to ask their providers. Many health insurance carriers’ websites provide extensive online tools to support healthy lifestyles and change behavior. 4. Consumer-driven health plans. Consumer-driven health plans such as Health savings accounts (HSAs) and health reimbursement accounts (HRAs) continue to grow in popularity. 5. Voluntary benefits (paid by the employee) to meet individual needs: Companies are offering a variety of benefits such as: homeowners, automobile, long-term care insurance, supplemental life, pet insurance, and Section 529 programs. 6. Web-based personal health care management: Employers are providing online tools to help employees evaluate and estimate their health care expenses and needs. Employers interested in offering wellness programs must consider a variety of legal issues before implementing them in their organization. Depending on the nature of the program and the incentives, wellness programs may call into play the Employment Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) and IRS tax considerations. The good news is that wellness programs can be designed with relatively little legal risk. Employers need to be sensitive to their company culture to minimize resistance to new programs. Human resource professionals need to know what employees like and what their hot buttons are. Companies like Dole Foods are finding that employees’ initial resistance to new programs have not prevented them from participating in innovative options, according to Jennifer Grossman, Vice-President of Dole Foods, and the Director of the Dole Nutrition Institute. One year after launching their wellness program, Dole saw a 31% drop in claims paid, coupled with a 19% reduction in the amount of the overall claims paid. Health insurance premium audits are emerging as another cost containment measure. It’s only natural to analyze health insurance, one of any company’s largest expenses. Common Sense Tips In an episode of the Drew Carey show, Drew’s dog needed a hip replacement but Drew could not afford it so he claimed the animal was his gay husband to get coverage under his employers’ medical plan. More and more employers are auditing their health plans and requiring employees to prove eligibility. – Regularly audit medical invoices to make sure that only eligible and dependents are being paid for. At any given time, 10 percent of dependent members are ineligible according to HR Best Practices, a third party healthcare administrator. – Encourage generic prescription drug utilization instead of brand name drugs when appropriate. Prescriptions account for up to 21 percent of the premium dollar and for many, prescription costs are at the top of the list when considering health plans. – Educate employees about convenient 24-hour nurse help lines which can be useful to determine if a visit to the emergency room or even the primary care doctor is necessary. – Consider financial rewards for employees that enroll on their spouse’s medical plan. Require proof of coverage to be sure the employee is actually covered, though. – Conducting regular audits of the healthcare bills. One audit reflected more than $200,000 in recoveries related to several erroneous claim payments made in conjunction with a Medicare-eligible case. – Direct employees injured on the job to the industrial medical center or occupational care center for treatment rather than to their primary care physician. In today’s business environment, no firm can afford to stand on the sidelines and ignore active management of their health insurance program. Barbara C. Oberman is the CEO of Barbara C. Oberman Insurance Services, Inc. in Calabasas, a professional employee benefits insurance brokerage and consulting firm. She is also secretary of the Consultants Association for the Natural Products Industry. Reach her at [email protected].