This is a regular feature on philanthropic activities by Valley-area businesspeople and companies. A cadre of California State University, Northridge volunteers were feted at a ceremony on Nov. 1 at the Odyssey Restaurant in Granada Hills. “Cal State Northridge wants its volunteers to know that their generous work on the university’s behalf truly is valued,” said Gray Mounger, alumni relations assistant vice president. “Their skills, time and spirit are invaluable assets to the university and its mission.” President Jolene Koester and Alumni Association V.P. Maria Ramos led the tribute to 24 dedicated volunteers. Top honors were given to a member of the Foundation board and a retired biology professor. John Golisch, class of 1972, received the Dorothea “Granny” Heitz Award for outstanding volunteer leadership. Golisch, partner at BDO Seidman, LLP, has served the board since 1985, when it was known as the Cal State Northridge Trust Fund. Biology professor-emeritus Daisy Kuhn, was given the Emeriti Merit Award. Kuhn taught at CSUN from 1959 to 1992, during which time she taught a range of courses, from general biology and microbiology to graduate courses. A species of bacterium, Conchiformibius Kuhniae, was named in honor of the scientist, who has identified several unusual organisms. Kuhn now volunteers as an advisor to CSUN pre-med students. Kudos were also given to 22 additional volunteers, listed below: Daniel Anderson by the College of Business and Economics Patrick Baker by KCSN 88.5 FM Damon Cianci by the Health Administration Alumni Chapter Deborah Cours by the Master’s in Business Administration Alumni Chapter Lisalee Egbert by the National Center on Deafness Alumni Chapter Gevork Gabrelian by the Alumni and Friends of the Armenian Studies Program Bernice Haber by the Oviatt Library Marni Hager by the College of Engineering and Computer Science Ralph Jones by the Environmental and Occupational Health Alumni Chapter Tahseena Khan by the Engineering and Computer Science Alumni Chapter Mark Lainer by the College of Humanities Phil Minah by University Advancement Harry Murphy by Student Affairs Marcy Newman by the Education Alumni Chapter John Perez by the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences Kenn Phillips by the Michael D. Eisner College of Education Steve Pomerantz by Intercollegiate Athletics Carson Schreiber by the Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, and Communication Ronald Sorensen by the College of Health and Human Development Patricia Tabidian by the Recreation Alumni Chapter Donna Watkins by the Accounting and Information Systems Alumni Association Bryce Yokomizo by the Tseng College of Extended Learning LEAP Seeks Raffle Items The Women’s Services group of the North Valley Chamber of Commerce is requesting donations of goods or services that can be raffled at a fundraising mixer Dec. 13 to benefit the LEAP Academy. Contact Rebecca Olkowski at (818) 831-3009 or visit www.nvrcc.com for details. Home Tour and Auto Raffle The Valley/Ventura chapter of the Wellness Community will host its 16th annual Holiday Homes Tour on Dec. 1 and Dec. 2. Tickets can be purchased online at www.TwcVv.org or by phone by calling (888) 557-3177. Funds raised will support the group’s cancer support services. The Wellness Community is also selling $100 raffle tickets for the opportunity to win a 2007 Volkswagen Beetle. Only 1000 tickets will be sold. Raffle tickets can be purchased at The Wellness Community in Westlake Village or by calling (805) 379-4777. Performing Arts Grants The Lancaster Performing Arts Center Foundation awarded grants to seven local groups to help underwrite low-cost and free performances for local students. Grant recipients were the Lancaster Educational Foundation, Cedar Street Theatre, Antelope Valley Symphony Orchestra and Master Chorale, the Antelope Valley Ballet, the West Antelope Valley Educational Foundation, Lancaster Community Orchestra and Hotfoot Productions. Thanksgiving Food Drive Coldwell Banker will be collecting non-perishable food donations in its Glendale, Sherman Oaks and Studio City offices through Nov. 19. The bounty will be delivered to the Salvation Army, the San Fernando Valley Rescue Mission and Friends of the Family on the Day of Giving, Nov. 20, so they can distribute the goods in time for Thanksgiving. For information on these office locations, visit the company’s website at www.californiamoves.com.

Take a look at our Fastest Growing 50 Private Companies list in this issue and you’ll get a snapshot of what our Valley economy looks like. You can also see why our economy, although it has its ups and downs from time to time, is generally solid and sound and diversified. The fastest growing private companies in our area at first glance don’t look like a real sexy bunch. Yes, we’ve got a lot of technology companies but we’ve also got contractors, moving companies, refrigerator door manufacturers, landscaping firms, car dealers and a metal distributor. “Traditional” may be the best word for many of these firms. And that’s OK. That’s what keeps us alive. Unlike such places as the Silicon Valley, we’re not vulnerable to any volatile tech scene like our neighbors up north were vulnerable to a few years ago. These “traditional” firms here generally can weather the storm more easily than some other companies because they have proven business models and sell products that generally don’t go out of style. Take the No. 1 company on the list this year Capital Network Leasing Corp. This is an eight-year-old firm that is a small-ticket lender to businesses for equipment purchases. Unless there’s a huge slowdown in the economy where production slows drastically, there’s usually a general need for buying equipment and for financing it. Take a look at some other companies on the list. No. 9 Onestop is a distributor and wholesaler of office supplies such as toner. No. 22 Regency Lighting distributes industrial and commercial lighting products. No. 23 Munchkin Inc.designs, manufactures and markets baby products. No. 29 A-1 Textiles & Hospitality Products provides products to the hospitality and health care industries. No. 47 Maria’s Italian Kitchen is a no-frills Italian restaurant chain. All these companies mentioned provide staples of some sort, whether they are staples for dinner or for the office. As I said, these may seem like boring industries but they’re sustainable if run properly. They’re generally not susceptible to huge contract losses, major layoffs or boom-and-bust cycles. Before you think that our industries are downright vanilla, let me also point out that the No. 2 company on the list, NxTV, provides Internet protocol video on demand to hotels and other such venues. Fairly cutting edge, As Mark Madler points out in a story in this issue, the L.A. music scene is vibrant in the Valley. You’ve got No. 18 Schecter Guitar Research Inc., a manufacturer of guitars, basses and acoustics. No. 48 Line 6 develops and manufacturers amplifiers and effects processors for guitar and bass. As I said, we’ve got a diversified business inventory here. And diversified is good. Jaycees Awards Congratulations to the San Fernando Valley Jaycees for receiving seven awards among Jaycee Chapters from all across the state at the California Jaycees (Junior Chamber) convention earlier this month in Santa Clara. The local chapter received “Top Chapter for the 3rd Quarter,” “Top Impact Project” – shared each year by three California chapters, “Top Membership Vice-President” Max Haghighi, “Top Executive Vice President” Victoria Bourdas, “Impromptu Speak Up (Speech) 3rd Place” Leslie Kaz, “Brownfield (Interviewing) 3rd Place” Leslie Kaz “Impromptu Write Up (Timed Essay) 1st Place” Juliet Mothershed. Business Journal Editor Jason Schaff can be reached at (818) 316-3125 or at [email protected] .

North Hollywood When the International Student Film Festival kicks off on Nov. 14, the five-day event will be more than screening films from young, aspiring moviemakers. For organizer Robin Saban, the festival is a cross-cultural exchange between filmmakers from around the globe. “Having films coming from other countries is a way for the student filmmakers in the United States to see (foreign students’) techniques and their way of making films,” Saban said. The festival features 105 films from 13 countries screened at the Beverly Garland’s Holiday Inn in North Hollywood. A.C. Lyles, a senior producer at Paramount, receives the Lifetime Achievement Award at the festival’s closing gala. In a city never lacking for film festivals, why would Saban put on yet another one, now in its fifth year? While other festivals may accept student entries there was no single event just for student filmmakers. So Saban, who has worked as a writer and editor, started the international festival as a means to give exposure to up and comers of the next generation. The students range from university and college age to middle schoolers. A new category for this year’s event is claymation shorts from elementary school students. Their work reflects their worldview and what is important to them, Saban said. “We can see all this through their films,” he added. The event does attract distributors and agents as well as those interested in seeing what different film programs are producing. The films to be screened were pared down from 350 submissions. A panel of judges will award prizes in multiple categories. Area schools represented in the festival’s competition include California Institute of the Arts, Grant High School, Calabasas High School, and Providence High School in Burbank. The festival is supported by the Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency, the Universal City-North Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, and is promoted by the Economic Alliance of the San Fernando Valley as a Valley of the Stars event. SAN FERNANDO VALLEY Burbank Benefit: Blogger Will Rogers hosts “Burbank: Confidential, a humorous look at the events, stories and scandals he has written about as a journalist in Burbank and Glendale on Dec. 6 at the Colony Theatre. The show benefits the Burbank Temporary Aid Center. Tickets are $30. Rogers is a former columnist with the Burbank Leader newspaper and now brings his observations to his website, willrogers.com The Colony Theatre is at 555 N. Third St., Burbank. For tickets and more information contact the Burbank Chamber of Commerce, (818) 846-3111. North Hollywood Space: Orbital Outfitters unveiled its next generation space suit in October at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico. The Industrial Suborbital Space Suit-Crew is designed for test pilots and other crew members of commercial sub-orbital flights. It can keep the wearer alive in the event of cabin de-pressurization and return them to Earth safely. “It is by intent a bit conventional in appearance, if not retro although the technology inside of it is definitely 21st Century,” said Chris Gilman, chief designer of Orbital Outfitters, which has a facility in North Hollywood. The first customer for the spacesuit is XCOR Aerospace, a developer of rocket propulsion systems in Mojave. Panorama City Education: Los Angeles Unified School District Board Member Julie Korenstein and Los Angeles City Councilman Richard Alarc & #243;n recently joined Panorama City residents for a groundbreaking ceremony marking the construction for Valley Region Early Education Center #1. The Center will serve 175 children between the ages of two and four. The project, scheduled for completion in 2009, is located next to Chase Elementary School. The center will include seven new classrooms, a food preparation area, an administration building, playfields, surface parking, and operate on a two-semester calendar. Valley Region Early Education Center #1 is part of LAUSD’s $20 billion school construction program to build 132 schools by 2012. Information: www.laschools.org. Sun Valley Honor: Metro maintenance employee Paul Rankin was among the six employees honored Nov. 2 at “Night of Stars” recognizing the achievements of Metro employees. Rankin is a warranty equipment mechanic in the Sun Valley division and was honored for being an integral part of ensuring the safety and reliability of the division fleet. Rankin has worked for Metro for 23 years and lives in Valencia. Calabasas Write: Scriptwriting software firm Final Draft announced the winners of its annual Big Break screenwriting contest on Oct. 19 in Wes Hollywood. The Calabasas company received 3,500 entries, choosing ten finalists and three winners. The winners were Robert Frisbee, of California, for “Cityfall;” Geraint Horwood, of Buckinghamshire, England, for “Knight Knight;” and Tony Urgo, of California, for “The Wizard Joe.” Woodland Hills Hospital: Kaiser Permanente’s Woodland Hills Medical Center will host 45 students from Columbus and Lawrence middle schools in the West Valley who will become “physicians for day” during an interactive tour in which students will don surgical caps and gowns, peer through microscopes, watch how a cast is made and learn how to take their blood pressure. The students are part of Kaiser Permanente’s Hippocrates Circle Program, created to promote diversity among health care professionals by encouraging middle school students of all socioeconomic backgrounds to become physicians. Highlights of the four-month program include a visit the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California and attendance at a graduation ceremony. SANTA CLARITA VALLEY Santa Clarita Sushi: The Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center will offer sushi classes Nov.12 and Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. Haru Nikaido will teach the making of California Rolls (comprised of rice, cucumber, avocado, sea weed, and imitation crab). Class size will be limited to 10 students per session. Cost will be $10, plus $2 for the mats needed in making sushi. R.S.VP. between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. with Elaine at (661) 259-9444. ANTELOPE VALLEY Palmdale Haunted: “Mystery, Murder and Mayhem,” the Palmdale City Library’s Mystery Book Discussion Group will discuss Erin Hart’s book “Haunted Ground” Nov. 19, 7 p.m., at the Palmdale City Library, 700 E. Palmdale Blvd. The event is free. Information: (661)267-5600. Roundtable: The City of Palmdale and the Palmdale Playhouse Writers’ Roundtable are accepting entries for the 12th annual Short Story Contest through Nov. 29, 5 p.m. The contest has two age categories: youth (14 and under) and adult (15 and over). There is a $10 fee for each entry. The theme for this year’s contest is “Current Environmental Concerns.” Submissions must address the theme; be typed and double-spaced on plain white 8 & #733;” x 11″ paper; include the entrant’s name, address, age (if under 15), e-mail address, phone number and story title on each page; and not exceed 2,000 words. Entry fee checks should be made payable to City of Palmdale and include driver’s license number and expiration date. Send submissions to the Palmdale Playhouse, Writers’ Roundtable Short Story Contest, 38334 10th St. E., Palmdale, CA 93550. Information: (661) 267-5684. Auditions: The Palmdale Playhouse will hold auditions for its 13th annual Cultural, Historical and Educational Drama Nov. 16 at 6 p.m. and Nov. 17 at 10 am. The Playhouse is looking for men and women who can portray ages 30 to 60 in a powerful drama. All audition materials will be provided at the time of the audition. “This year’s drama features ‘The Exonerated’ by Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen,” said Playhouse Marketing Manager David Smith. “It’s a collection of true stories of wrongfully convicted survivors of Death Row as told in their own words.” The show will run March 14 through March 16, 2008, with two additional weekday morning performances for high schools March 12 and March 13. Palmdale Playhouse is at 38334 10th St. East in Palmdale. Information: (661) 267-5684. Painting: The Palmdale Playhouse Visual Arts Group will hold its second oil painting workshop Nov. 13 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Playhouse, 38334 10th St. East in Palmdale. The workshop fee is $5 for members of the Palmdale Playhouse Visual Arts Group. Admission for nonmembers is $15. One of a series of visual arts workshops presented during the season, Oil Painting II will instruct beginning to intermediate students in oil painting techniques. Participants should bring the following supplies: tabletop easel, a picture you wish to duplicate, oil colors to complement the chosen picture, brushes, odorless Turpenoid and a canvas board. Information: (661) 917-8141. CONEJO VALLEY Thousand Oaks Lecture: Jim Cathcart, an inductee of the Council of Peers Award for Excellence Speaker Hall of Fame, will give a free lecture titled “How to Use Public Speaking to Grow Your Success” Nov. 14, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., in Lundring Events Center of California Lutheran University, 60 W. Olsen Road in Thousand Oaks. During the lecture, Cathcart will share techniques for speaking with confidence, capturing attention and motivating listeners. A past president of the NSA, Cathcart has also received the group’s Cavett Award for demonstrating the spirit of sharing, guiding and inspiring other professional speakers. Toastmasters International honored him with the Golden Gavel award in 2001. The Cathcart Institute founder and president has delivered more than 2,600 presentations around the world and written 14 books, including “Relationship Selling” and “The Acorn Principle.” R.S.V.P: (805) 988-0196, ext. 110, or [email protected]. Groundbreaking: Officials from the City of Palmdale have broken ground on a new recreation center to be located at Marie Kerr Park, 2723 Rancho Vista Blvd. The new facility will include a 17,643-sq.-foot recreation center with a gymnasium that will function as a sports court for basketball and volleyball, as well as a rental facility for functions. It will feature a multipurpose hall with kitchen, fitness studio, youth game area, lounge and vending machine area. The building will also be designed for use as an emergency facility. Information: (661) 267-5611. Float: More than 450 individuals have registered to decorate the City of Palmdale’s third Rose Parade entry, “Celebrate the World Through Reading.” Several decoration days are already full. Participants must be 13 years of age or older. No special skills or talents are required. Decorators will be provided with a free commemorative T-shirt and meal during their shift. Round-trip bus transportation from the Palmdale Transportation Center to Duarte is available on certain decoration dates for $5. Information: (661) 267-5611 or www.palmdalerosefloat.com. Halloween: More than 300 children, teens and their parents participated in Halloween festivities at the City of Palmdale’s Neighborhood House Oct. 26 from 4:30 to 8 p.m. The event was hosted by the City of Palmdale and Golden Steps Youth and Family Foundation as part of the City’s Partners for a Better Palmdale program. Festivities included pumpkin decorating, a backyard haunted house and maze, indoor games and crafts, refreshments and candy giveaways. Golden Steps Youth and Family Foundation’s mission is to steer at-risk youth away from destructive behaviors and toward activities that lead to success in school, career choice, and life. Partners for a Better Palmdale is a communitywide program designed to better Palmdale by bringing together the resources of businesses, neighborhoods, community groups, individuals and government. Mousetrap: Tickets are available for the City of Palmdale Parks and Recreation Department’s bus excursion to Agatha Christie’s “The Mousetrap” Nov. 17 at the Glendale Centre Theatre. The excursion fee includes round trip transportation and admission. Palmdale resident fee is $22 per person; nonresident fee is $27 per person. Register online at www.PlayPalmdale.com or visit the parks and recreation office at 38260 10th St. East, Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Information: (661) 267-5611. CONEJO VALLEY Thousand Oaks Lecture: Jim Cathcart, an inductee of the Council of Peers Award for Excellence Speaker Hall of Fame, will give a free lecture titled “How to Use Public Speaking to Grow Your Success” Nov. 14, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., in Lundring Events Center of California Lutheran University, 60 W. Olsen Road in Thousand Oaks. During the lecture, Cathcart will share techniques for speaking with confidence, capturing attention and motivating listeners. A past president of the NSA, Cathcart has also received the group’s Cavett Award for demonstrating the spirit of sharing, guiding and inspiring other professional speakers. Toastmasters International honored him with the Golden Gavel award in 2001. The Cathcart Institute founder and president has delivered more than 2,600 presentations around the world and written 14 books, including “Relationship Selling” and “The Acorn Principle.” R.S.V.P: (805) 988-0196, ext. 110, or [email protected]. Presentation: Three California Lutheran University students will present their research before a group of professional bioengineers and medical researchers Nov. 14, 7 p.m., in Richter Hall in CLU’s Ahmanson Science Center. Thomas Estus, a sophomore bioengineering major, will summarize his research on molecular diffusion, which he hopes to translate into new drug delivery systems for diabetes patients. Chase Linsley, a senior bioengineering major, will discuss his work on synthetic bone materials, which he hopes has the potential to improve healing in patients with a variety of bone defects and diseases. Tiffany Linville, a senior exercise science/sports medicine major, will discuss her work developing an in-home training program to improve balance and reduce falls among the elderly. The public is welcome. Information: (805) 493-3296 or [email protected]. Sherman Oaks HEADER:Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent David Brewer will speak at the Valley and Industry Commerce Association’s Newsmaker Connection Nov. 14, at the VICA Building, 5121 Van Nuys Blvd., Sherman Oaks. During the event, the state of LAUSD, as well as proposed changes for the school district, will be discussed. There will be a complimentary breakfast for Circle of Influence members. Others must pay $10. Street parking is available. R.S.V.P.: (818) 817-0545.

Your local Chambers are working for your business everyday. They work to help you promote your business, network with other business leaders and provide you with the resources your business needs to grow and prosper. Another way your local Chamber works for you is by uniting together as United Chambers and working with other business organizations in the Valley and region to advocate on behalf of business. United Chambers is a coalition of 31 business organizations including 22 Valley Chambers of Commerce and nine other business organizations from the Valley and surrounding region. We are the “Voice of Valley Business” and collectively we represent just under 21,000 businesses who provide over 385,000 jobs. By uniting together here in the Valley and working with organizations in and around the Valley, like the Los Angeles Area Chamber, Simi Valley Chamber and our newest Affiliate Member, the Valley Industrial Association of Santa Clarita, we are able to provide businesses with a much bigger voice on the issues we face everyday. These affiliations and partnerships with organizations like the Economic Alliance of San Fernando Valley, the Valley Economic Development Center and the Southland Regional Association of Realtors give us access to more programs and opportunities for businesses. We also work with the California and U.S. Chambers of Commerce to keep us up-to-date on current affairs and to join them in their efforts to advocate on behalf of business and fight against legislation deemed detrimental to a healthy business climate. Through this united organization, we are able to spread the word to businesses on timely advocacy and action items as well as regional events and opportunities. We are the only Valley organization of its kind that unites so many organizations and business leaders together to fight for business issues and provide opportunities for business growth and prosperity. By uniting and partnering with others, United Chambers has been able to facilitate opportunities for our business leaders to participate in workshops on starting a business, strategic planning for businesses, financing for business, volunteer leadership training, an employee job fair and meetings with local and state elected officials. On the advocacy side, United Chambers has been addressing the LA River Revitalization Plan, the Orange Line Expansion Project, DWP Rate Increases, the Community College District Initiative, and Pension Reform. We took action on legislation termed “job killers” and we were successful on helping to defeat many of them. These bills ranged from Port container fees to taxing business to pay for healthcare for all. One of the programs we just brought to our businesses leaders was our 3rd Annual Mayors’ Luncheon which featured Los Angeles City Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and the Mayors from the Cities of Calabasas, San Fernando and Simi Valley. We were honored to recognize Mayor James Bozajian from Calabasas, Mayor Julie Ruelas from San Fernando and Mayor Paul Miller from Simi Valley. Close to 500 business leaders welcomed Mayor Villaraigosa to the Valley as he reported on the status of programs and services the City provides to Valley businesses and residents. He updated Valley leaders as to the progress these programs and services have made and he urged that we work together to find solutions to the problems we still face. Bringing the Mayor to the Valley every year has proven to be a program our business leaders want and we are already planning next year’s luncheon. We will be holding our Annual Meeting and Election of Officers on Wednesday, November 14, 2007, Noon, at Porter Valley Country Club and we will be hosting our Annual Legislative Staff Reception to show our appreciation to the Field Deputies and Representatives we work with all year that same evening from 5:30-7:00PM at the Hilton Woodland Hills. Look for our announcement of another new Affiliate Member in a couple of weeks and save the evening of January 18th for our Annual “Celebrating Business” Recognition Dinner. Also, look for United Chambers to bring you a very important forum on the water crisis and other issues facing our region in late February. If you or your business are not involved with your local Chamber, why not? As you can see, the benefits you receive by joining your local Chamber and thus becoming a member of United Chambers are immense. We invite you to become part of a bigger voice for business. United Chambers is growing and we want you to grow with us. As 2008 approaches, make it your resolve to join your local Chamber and if you are already a Chamber member, take advantage of the benefits your membership offers and participate in United Chambers activities. We are all in this together, and united our voices can make a difference. Debi Schultze is President and Chief Executive Officer for United Chambers of Commerce~ San Fernando Valley & Region. Visit their website at www.UnitedChambers.org.

Collier’s International released its third-quarter Office Market Report for the San Fernando Valley and Ventura County two weeks ago. The news was generally positive, according to Roger Beck, vice president of Colliers’ office division. Although commercial vacancy rates rose by 10 percent they are still at a reasonable 9.8 percent and there has been no discernable change in rental rates. Most of the newly vacant office space is the result of, you guessed it, shuttered mortgage finance and related companies. Half of that is large blocks of space, over 15,000-square-feet and bigger. According to Beck, activity has been pretty constant on smaller suites. “What’s interesting about what’s going on now,” said Beck, is that “even though there is more space, landlords aren’t reducing rates at all.” He went on to say that asking rates in most parts of the Valley have increased monthly over the last 12 months but have stabilized now. According to Beck, this is at least in part because a lot of the commercial office property in the Valley is owned by REIT’s (real estate investment trusts) who need to maintain property values for their shareholders. “A lot of them are happy to sit on vacant space and hold their rates,” said Beck. Although some minor concessions are being given, such as additional tenant improvement allowances or parking offsets, no one is really budging, said Beck, “not even the little guys.” Another reason for firm rental rates is that the costs for new construction, like the 300,000-square-foot LNR Center nearing completion on Canoga Avenue in Warner Center, are so high that owners need to get extremely high rents to get a decent rate of return. Sounds like some people have their fingers crossed. The only commitment penciled in for LNR’s new project is 20,000 square feet for Countrywide. Anybody want to take the overs on that bet? And aside from the LNR Center, there is nothing notable in the planning stages. The one part of the Valley where office rents have continued to climb is in Encino and Sherman Oaks, the areas at the base of “the hill,” immediately adjacent to the 405 and 101 freeways. While Warner Center landlords are seeing full-service gross numbers of roughly $2.85 completed, over in Encino and Sherman Oaks the closed comps are closer to $3.00 and even as high as $3.20, said Beck. “That’s unusual, because up until the last six months we really haven’t been seeing profoundly higher rates over there,” he continued, “but the vacancy rate in Sherman Oaks and Encino is so low now it’s 4 percent at most.” Beck said that with rents as high as $6 per square foot in West L.A., Brentwood and Santa Monica, many companies are finding the south end of the Valley a very agreeable alternative. Things are different up in Northridge and Chatsworth. “The Washington Mutual complex is almost all vacant,” said Beck. It seems those westsiders want their office space located along public transportation lines which gives the buildings along the Orange Line an edge in attracting tenants. “I keep waiting for activity to slow down,” said Beck, “and it is staying strong.” Koll Acquires Calabasas-Adjacent Parcel A 4.97-acre vacant parcel on Ventura Boulevard, just below the Valleycrest headquarters on the north side of the 101 freeway, has been purchased by Koll for $12 million. Don Wood, Koll’s development director, confirmed the acquisition but did not have further details. With land sales in the area running in the $40 to $45 per-square-foot range, this is a high-water mark, said Colliers’ Roger Beck. Plans are to construct an 85,000-square-foot Class A office condominium development. Maureen Tamuri, Calabasas community development director, said she wasn’t aware of the sale. The project is not actually in the city, she said, but rather in an unincorporated area of Los Angeles County and the original entitlement for an office building probably dates back to pre-city entitlement. “We’ll just have to live with it,” said Tamuri. Both Tamuri and Beck said that Ezralow, the seller, had at some point entitled the parcel for a residential senior-housing condominium project, a use that would seem to be a better fit for that traffic-choked side of the freeway. The only way to get to or from that side of Ventura Boulevard is from Parkway Calabasas, across a two-lane bridge. During rush hour it can be a real challenge. Unless some traffic mitigation is planned, Koll’s high-profile neighbors (both Stevie Wonder and Barbra Streisand’s business manager live up the hill) can be expected to put up some opposition to new construction, said Beck.

QPC Lasers Inc. narrowed its net loss for the third quarter when compared with the same period a year ago. The Sylmar-based designed and manufacturer of high-brightness, high-power semiconductor lasers reported a net loss of $5 million, or a loss of $0.13 per diluted share on revenues of $2.2 million for the quarter ending Sept. 30. For the same period in 2006, the company reported a net loss of $8.3 million, or a loss of $0.22 per diluted share, on revenues of $930,184. The company launched its Generation III product line during the quarter and is seeing strong interest from the military and defense markets, said QPC Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Ungar.

Change is in store for Thousand Oaks-based restaurant chain Baja Fresh. In October, the company announced plans for a strategic expansion plan, which would have it grow to different states and different countries, alike. As part of the plan, the company will roll out a smaller new model restaurant that will allow it to enter into new markets such as airports, colleges and universities. “With our new restaurant designs encompassing a smaller footprint, we are now able to deliver our product to the customer with the freshness and quality they expect without paying for excess space which is not being fully utilized,” President James Walker stated in October. Walker has been president of Baja Fresh since November 2006 when Wendy’s sold it to a private investor consortium for $31 million. Launched in Newbury Park in 1990 by Jim and Linda Magglos, Baja Fresh became a subsidiary of Wendy’s International in 2002 for a reported purchase price of $275 million. The company is categorized as fast-casual, meaning it has the attributes of both a fast-food restaurant and a sit-down restaurant. Accordingly, the company abides by a philosophy it calls “Live Fresh,” which has resulted in it eschewing the use of microwaves, can openers, freezers, lard and M.S.G. in its restaurants, with self-serve salsa bars being a mainstay. This year, Baja Fresh was named Restaurants & Institutions 2007 Consumers’ Choice in Chains. Moreover, television and radio personality Ryan Seacrest recently began doing advertisements for the restaurant on KIIS FM in Los Angeles. The Business Journal talked to Baja Fresh President Walker about the impetus for the changes the chain is making and what the future holds as well. Question: Baja Fresh has recently made several changes. What’s responsible for them? Answer: Most of these changes are very intuitive. I don’t know if there’s any rocket science or stroke of genius behind it. It’s kind of Business 101. If we can build a store that costs less money, those stores will show a run on the investment much quicker. Q: You’ve recently partnered with travel venue concession planner HMSHost (formerly Host Marriott Services). Based on this relationship, Baja Fresh is now the company’s preferred fast casual Mexican food chain and is available as part of HMSHost’s airport and motorway operations across the country ( with initial outlets slated for Los Angeles International Airport and the Pennsylvania Turnpike). What are the goals for these first two outlets? A: Baja (will) help fill a void that HMSHost has in its airport venues with a high quality, best in class, fresh Mexican offering. I think it will help our brand exposure, especially outside of California. I think something like our relationship with HMSHost in some of these locations will certainly build brand awareness in some of these new markets. Q: You’re focusing on expanding in this state, as well as Nevada, Washington D.C., Missouri, Illinois, Georgia and Florida. Why these markets? A: It really depends. The short answer probably is we’re looking at some new markets where Baja currently is not as well known, some markets where Baja Fresh would be a new entity as well as where we’re already known. I think we tend to do very well where there’s knowledge of Mexican food at a higher level, at the level of Baja Fresh where people are looking for a quality Mexican product, where there’s a more educated consumer. Q: You also hope to expand internationally,in which countries exactly? A: We’re looking really at expansion in numerous countries. We’re probably in active negotiations with probably about 20 different countries. We’re certainly looking to the East and to the West. Q: You have a new model restaurant that encompasses just 600 sq. feet, and you’ve downsized the restaurant design to approximately 1800 sq. feet. Will service be any different now? A: These two new footprint buildings assist us in finding better suitable sites and venue opportunities, as well as allow a faster speed of service. I think the main impact of the new prototype is faster service. Q: Discuss how allowing franchisees to have the option to open a single unit or multi-unit franchise locations will aid in the company’s growth. A: There’s different types of franchisees out there. There’s franchisees who are looking to do single stores and franchisees who are looking to do multiple stores. We’re really looking at taking it on a case-by-case basis by appealing to a broader audience. This strategy creates more opportunities in more markets for franchise development. Q: Why do you think Baja Fresh was named R & I;’s 2007 Consumers’ Choice in Chains? What is unique about the restaurant? A: Baja won the platinum award for R & I; Consumer Choice based on best in class Food Quality, Service, Cleanliness, and over all satisfaction. I think it’s our quality. There’s certainly a number of quick casual Mexican players, but no one really plays at the level we’re at. It’s very unique what Baja Fresh has,that food quality and product quality. Q: The restaurant has been categorized as “fast-casual.” What does this mean exactly? A: A higher level of food quality, and service then you’d find at a QSR (Quick Service Restaurant), with faster service and lower pricing then you would find in a Casual Theme Restaurant. Q: In addition to the expansion plan, is there anything else in the works for the company’s future? A: A continued focus on being the best in class in food quality, service, and convenience. We’ve got new menu items coming out. I would say we’ll have some out before the end of the year. Q: Are there any challenges to being headquartered in the greater Valley area? A: No. I think it’s probably a positive. Most of our employees enjoy working here. This area is a great area to live in. In some cases it might be easier to attract those high level employees who might not want to live in a Los Angeles area.

The lowly bicycle has gone high-tech thanks in great part to Chatsworth-based Currie Technologies, who is on track this year to sell $33 million worth of electric scooters and cycles and whose new product line debuting in January has company officials seeing green. Currie Technologies was founded in 1998 by what could seem like an unlikely pair the former chairman of Hughes Aircraft and Delco Electronics, Dr. Malcolm Currie, and Richard Mayer, a former high school automotive shop teacher at Van Nuys High School. At the time, Currie oversaw the solar and electric vehicle projects at GM and Delco after GM bought Hughes. Meanwhile on a similar path, Mayer was having his shop classes convert gas-powered cars to electric vehicles. They even sold some of the converted autos, with one of their first customers being actor/environmentalist Ed Begley, Jr. who is also a proponent of Currie’s current products. Currie and Mayer met at a competition where they were both racing electric vehicles and decided to join forces. Schwinn Bicycle Company became one of Currie’s first investors and helped the company get up and running. Although they sold thousands of units, sales never really reached critical mass. While Schwinn lost interest, Currie and Mayer continued to market electric bikes under the Currie Technologies brand name. Then, on the coattails of the kick scooter craze in 2000, Mayer modified a drive system that he patented and applied to a two-wheel scooter. The wheels were a little larger than those on the super-popular Razor and, in essence, created a new category of mini-electric scooters. “That really accelerated the company’s business,” said Currie President and CEO, Larry Pizzi. When Pizzi joined the company in the spring of 2002 as vice president of sales and marketing, the company’s revenues were primarily from electric mini-scooter sales. “In fall of 2002, a few months after I joined the company, I struck a deal with the folks at Pacific Cycle, a company that owned the rights to the Schwinn and Mongoose brand names, to license those brands for our category of light electric vehicles,” said Pizzi. “We made some moves to make some changes in our manufacturing process and we were able to hit some critical price points that really worked very well in retail.” When Pizzi stepped into the president/CEO role upon Currie’s retirement in April 2005, he made some even greater shifts in the company’s thinking. “Because I’ve had about 30 years in the bicycle industry and a passion for bikes, I began to refocus the company’s attention on bicycles and real transportation vehicles.” That refocusing combined with increased consumer interest in pedal-assist vehicles caused, in part, by rising gas prices and renewed awareness in environmental issues helped company revenues grow from less than $10 million in 2005 to more than $30 million last year. “Over the course of the last 18 to 24 months there’s been more growth in the electric bike category than there had been in the past eight or nine years,” Pizzi said. A number of companies dabble in the electric bike and light electric vehicle category but Pizzi said that in the U.S., they are the only company that has the niche as their sole focus. Currie’s bikes and scooters are manufactured in China by a factory outside of Shanghai that is dedicated to making only their products. The bikes are then shipped to Currie’s 51,000-square-foot headquarters in Chatsworth, which also houses R & D; functions and a distribution center. “We’ve stayed in the Valley primarily because we’ve been able to find a consistent, quality workforce here,” Pizzi said. In April, the company moved to that Chatsworth location a facility that more than doubled Currie’s space. “When we looked to move, we looked at all of our associates and where they resided and they pretty much they all lived within a 10-mile radius.” Currie’s scooters are sold under the Mongoose and Schwinn brand names as well as Currie’s own Izip and Ezip brands. All of those products use the patented Currie electro-drive power system. Pizzi describes it “as sort of the ‘Intel Inside'” for the company’s varied brands. Wal-Mart is the firm’s largest customer, selling a complete line of Currie’s products through its Web site. “For our store, [Currie] is our main electric bike/scooter,” said Erick Fernandez, manager of Cycle World in Northridge. “We do carry another company, but they’re more high end. For the entry market, the Currie is a good product. Their scooters start around $400 and the bikes start at around $600.” According to Pizzi, that’s set to change in January when they enter the “high-end” market with a new consumer product. Thanks to advanced batteries and advanced electronics, the new product line will have the ability to travel at a range of up to 75 miles on a single charge and the ability to climb a 15% grade at speeds of up to 20 mph. “What’s cool about these bikes,” said Pizzi, “is they really don’t look like electric bikes.” Batteries will be concealed in the bike’s frame and compact-size hub motors are used. “Also, they don’t have a throttle,” he said. “They use something called a pedal-torque sensor.” That means that as a rider pushes on the pedals they have the same sensation as if they were riding without the power assistance. Pizzi, who is one of the only company employees who doesn’t live in the Valley, puts his money where his mouth is. He rides a prototype of Curries’ next-generation Express bicycle on his daily commute from Santa Monica to Chatsworth. Wearing his office attire and carrying his computer in a bag slung over his back, the road warrior pedals over Topanga Canyon, arriving at work as clean as a whistle. Pizzi said the hard-core, Lycra-clad cyclists he passes on the upgrades are amazed when they see him passing them effortlessly. That passion for cycling and sustainable transportation is manifest in the company’s support for groups like the Los Angeles Bicycle Coalition. A photo of Darryl Hannah astride a Currie bicycle graces the front page of the company’s Web site. “That was from the Los Angeles River Ride sponsored by LABC,” Pizzi said. “We’ve attempted to be actively involved in things that are promoting the use of cycling as an alternative to getting in a car,” said Pizzi. In this car-centric city, that can be a tough sell. But Currie Technologies is intent on making the right moves to meet the challenge. SPOTLIGHT Currie Technologies Year Founded: 1998 Revenues in 2003: $10 million Revenues in 2005: $25 million Revenue Forecast in 2007: $33 million Employees in 2005: 42 Employees in 2007: 45

The technology industry represented the highest number of companies on this year’s Fastest Growing Private Companies list. From Glendale to Camarillo these companies provide information technology services, Internet service, web and server hosting, consulting and staffing. None of the companies, however, made it into the top ten of the business journal’s annual list. Cal Net Technology Group ranked the highest at No. 13 with 36.9 percent growth from $4.5 million in 2005 to $6.2 million in 2006. Through June 30, the technology consulting firm had nearly $4 million in revenues. The answer to why tech companies have done well lies in the fact that even in tough economic times business invests in technology because it creates efficiencies that reduce costs and help margins, said Arnie Friedman, president of CPI Solutions, a network and software consulting firm in Camarillo. “They may cut workers but they will always invest in the infrastructure to secure data and streamline their business,” Friedman said. CPI landed in the No. 36 position with nearly 11 percent growth of $12.3 million in 2005 to $13.7 million in 2006. CPI was No. 3 on the previous year’s list with revenue growth of 86 percent between 2004 and 2005. The 2006 list included nine technology related companies with the equal number appearing in 2007. Four companies made both lists. The Valley region historically has had a strong technology base, going back to the days as a hotbed of aerospace manufacturing. The entertainment, gaming and biotech industries in Southern California now play a substantial role in keeping tech at the forefront. The Information sector, which includes Internet service providers and web portals, is forecast for 4 percent growth this year, according to a study from the San Fernando Valley Economic Research Center at California State University, Northridge. The CSUN study has the professional and business sectors, which includes computer systems design and consulting services, growing at 1.4 percent as a result of fewer temporary workers being hired but then expected to increase to 2.5 percent in 2008. “It almost feels like a mini boom of sorts,” said Benjamin Kuo, of the website SoCalTech.com. Good business model After the tech bubble burst in 2000, those tech companies remaining lost funding but by sticking out lean times they were able to find a good business model. It is those companies tending to show up on fast growing companies lists, Kuo said. Technical support and consulting firms are taking advantage of the shift to outsourcing as companies find it easier and cheaper to have servers off location and maintained by a contract staff. Those outsourced services led to growth for SADA Systems, No. 15 on the list with revenue growth of 35 percent; and Faye, Pollack & Associates Inc. in Encino at No. 24 on the list with 22 percent growth from 2005 to 2006. Company co-founder David Faye described the firm as a one-stop shop for services ranging from network support to backup monitoring. The advantage of outsourcing IT functions lets a company concentrate on its core business rather than worrying about toner, Faye said. “We are reaping the benefits of that,” Faye said. The rest of the list While technology represented the single largest industry on the list, the remaining companies gave proof of the diversity of the economy of the San Fernando, Conejo and Santa Clarita valleys. This year’s list includes 27 companies that did not make it onto last year’s. Two landscaping companies made the list the giant ValleyCrest Companies in Calabasas at No. 33 with nearly 13 percent revenue growth; and Stay Green Inc. in Santa Clarita at No. 38 with 10.2 percent growth. Valley car dealers were represented by Bob Smith BMW/Mini at No. 42 with 9.6 percent growth from 172,700 in 2005 to 189,400 in 2006. From the hospitality industry came three companies: Newhall Coffee in Valencia at No. 26; Tarzana caterer and event manager Someone’s in the Kitchen at No. 37; and Maria’s Italian Kitchen in Van Nuys at No. 47. There was one clothier, Art Lewin & Co. Custom Clothier at No. 41, one moving company, NorthStar Moving Corp. at No. 12, and a travel agency, Altour/Classic Cruise & Travel at No. 46. Five of the businesses making the list are women-owned or operated with A-1 Textiles & Hospitality Products ranking the highest at No. 29 with 17.3 percent growth from $11.2 million in 2005 to $13.2 million in 2006. Real estate companies and builders were scattered throughout the list, from the No. 3 spot of The Siegel Group, a commercial real estate business developer; the No. 4 spot of Tower General Contractors; and the No. 20 spot of Behr Building, a residential contractor in La Canada. Falling from the top five in 2006 to the bottom five this year was California Home Builders, landing at No. 49 with revenue growth of 3.3 percent. Two other real estate firms in the 2006 list, shopping center developer and manager NewMark Merrill Cos. and homebuilder and developer Larwin Group, also failed to make the 2007 list. The woes in the construction market even affected Exaktime, which had placed No. 11 on the 2006 list with 54 percent revenue growth but failed to make this year’s list. The Calabasas-based company makes time-keeping systems for the construction industry. With the lean times, Exaktime shifted the focus of its marketing efforts and emphasizes how it’s JobClock guards against payroll loss and let an employer know how much they might be losing, said CEO Tony Pappas. “When that market is down you need to be competitive,” Pappas said.