A national search will be done by The Walt Disney Co. to find a new creative executive for its theme parks as a replacement for Marty Sklar, a 50-year veteran of the company who is taking on a new role within Disney. The expanded role of creative executive will take in not only theme park rides designed at Disney Imagineering but also live shows, firework displays, and parades at the parks; an online element; and research and development, said Marilyn Waters, spokeswoman for Disney Imagineering. “The expanded role will allow for collaboration across various company divisions,” Waters said. Sklar, 72, is stepping aside as vice president and creative executive at Glendale-based Imagineering for a new role as an “ambassador” with the company’s global parks and resort operations, which includes Imagineering, the theme parks and cruise line. “Every job that Marty has had he’s been the first one to have that job,” Waters said. Among Sklar’s duties in his new role will be recruitment; giving speeches and presentations; organizing museum exhibitions; and involvement with the company-wide leadership development program, Waters said.

Healthcare staffing firm On Assignment in Calabasas increased net earnings to $821,000, or $0.03 per share on revenues of $64.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2005. On Assignment had a net loss of $5.7 million, or ($0.22) per share on revenues of $51.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2004. Earnings in 2005 included an income tax expense of $150,000, while the loss in the fourth quarter of 2004 included almost $2 million in income tax expenses. Fourth-quarter revenues for 2005 increased 26.2% over the previous year. For the full year of 2005, the company reported a net loss of $96,000, or $0.00 per share on revenues of $237.9 million versus a 2004 net loss of $42.4 million, or $1.68 per share on revenues of $193.6 million.

Chatsworth/Porter Ranch Chamber of Commerce, Ambassadors Meeting 9:00 AM Chamber Conference Room, 10038 Old Depot Plaza Rd. Chatsworth 91311 Contact (818) 341-2428 Encino Chamber of Commerce, Business & Professionals Luncheon 11:45 a.m.-1:15p.m. Encino Glen Restaurant, 16821 Burbank Blvd. Encino 91316 $19.50 Members, $25 Non-Members Contact (818) 789-4711

A local investor has acquired a 31,828-square-foot property in Sylmar for $3.2 million. The property, located on a 1.5 acre parcel of land at 15094 Bledsoe St., is leased to Strategic Partners. The buyer, Z. Patrick Berberian of La Canada, was represented by David Hoffberg at Delphi Business Properties. Delphi’s Ross Thomas represented the seller, Luskin Family Trust.

CB Richard Ellis has relocated its Sherman Oaks and Glendale offices to 10 Universal City Plaza effective today. As previously reported, CB Richard Ellis decided to combine the two offices with the intention of creating a critical mass that would help to expand its business. In July, when they confirmed plans to consolidate, officials at CB said they would expect the consolidation to yield a 40 percent growth spike in two to three years time. The two offices, at the time were generating revenues of about $30 million to $35 million annually, officials told the Business Journal last summer.

Kaiser Foundation Health Plan Inc., Kaiser Foundation Hospitals and their subsidiaries reported that revenue for 2005 increased to $31.1 billion, up from $28 billion in 2004. Spending on health care systems, technology, facilities and health programs and services also increased to $2.5 billion from $2.2 billion the year before. “We are investing our membership dollars to extend and improve our ability to broaden access and provide affordable and quality care,” said KFHP/H Chairman and CEO George C. Halvorson. “The health care landscape is changing and we are committed to rounding out our care delivery capabilities and product offerings, and building new facilities and renovating existing ones to satisfy the direct and increasingly complex needs of our members.”

Washington Mutual Inc. will provide severance packages and job search assistance for the 600 employees to be let go with the closure of its Chatsworth loan-processing center, the company said Thursday. This was the second round of layoffs to hit the banking company, following last month’s announcement that 1,000 jobs would be transferred out of the state with the closing of a call center. “They will be getting severance and job search assistance will be made available to them,” Washington Mutual spokesman Tim McGarry said. The job assistance will include resume preparation and counseling on job hunting skills, McGarry said. In addition, the City of Los Angeles has also offered to help the laid-off workers to find new jobs, McGarry said. The layoffs are part of a plan by the company to increase efficiency and productivity through relocating office support functions, consolidating offices, and outsourcing, McGarry said. Altogether, Washington Mutual is closing 10 offices nationwide and consolidating the loan-processing service to 16 other offices. The job reductions will be offset by new hires at the other offices, the company said. “Chatsworth is the largest loan fulfillment center to be closed under this program,” McGarry said. The two layoffs account for more than half of Washington Mutual’s 3,000 employees working in Chatsworth.

The Valley Economic Development Center (VEDC), a non-profit business development corporation, has relocated its Capital Access Center to downtown Los Angeles. The VEDC will host an open house Wednesday, February 22 with speakers Councilwoman Jan Perry, and Capital Access Center client Jackie Pratt. The Capital Access Center loaned Pratt $150,000 to assist her in opening 626 Reserve, a wine and cheese bar downtown. The Capital Access Center packaged over $13 million dollars in approved loans for business owners last year and offers free loan packaging for loan products including the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) 504 and 7(a) loan programs. The Center also offers bi-weekly capital classes to educate business owners on available loans.

Trio-Tech International reported a loss from continuing operations of $446,000 or $0.15 per share for the company’s fiscal second quarter. The result compares with a loss from continuing operations of $111,000 or $0.03 per share for the same period last year. The company said that, including the sale of a property in Dublin, Ireland, which included an after-tax gain of $8.9 million, its net income rose to $8.4 million or $2.76 per diluted share in the period. Revenues for the second quarter of 2005 were $7.4 million, up from $5.5 million from the comparable period last year. Van Nuys-based Trio-Tech is engaged in the development of testing equipment and services for semiconductors. Youbet.com, a Woodland Hills-based online wagering company, said today its earnings rose to $1.5 million or $0.04 per diluted share on revenues of $20.8 million for the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31, 2005. That compares with earnings of $500,000 or $0.02 per share on revenues of $16.2 million for the comparable quarter last year. The company noted that it completed the acquisition of United Tote Co.

Winnetka Chamber of Commerce, Installation Dinner 6:00 p.m. Warner Center Marriott, 21850 Oxnard St.,Woodland Hills $40 Contact (818) 341-6733