Orange County Business Journal

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Manufacturing CFOs Lean Into Unique Challenges

“Reshoring,” Demands for Cost Controls Drive the Trend

SPECIAL REPORT - CFOs: CFOs at manufacturers get closer to action

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Q&A: Then and Now

The Business Journal’s Jane Yu asked six chief financial officers to talk about the hurtles their companies faced during the recession, and the challenges that come with recovery.

SPECIAL REPORT - CFOs: Q&A: recession’s lessons, recovery’s challenges.

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CFOs’ Post-Recession Challenge: How to Spend

Real Estate, IT, New Hires on Shopping Lists

SPECIAL REPORT - CFOs: The return of spending

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Plaza Bank Q1 Profits Up

Irvine-based Plaza Bank more than quadrupled its first-quarter profit, which totaled nearly $1.3 million.

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OC’s Jobless Rate Falls to 6.3%

Orange County added 5,100 jobs in March, bringing the unemployment rate down to 6.3% from the month-earlier reading of 6.6%.

Margolis Shifts to CEO’s Job at Software Startup

HEALTHCARE: Will oversee Denver company from NB office

Margolis shifts to chief executive’s job at software startup

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Ceradyne Trims Jobs on Defense Cutbacks

3M Co. subsidiary Ceradyne Inc. will trim 93 workers at its plant in Lexington, Ky., according to a filing with the Kentucky Office of Employment and Training.

Ceradyne Trims Jobs on Defense Cutbacks

3M Co. subsidiary Ceradyne Inc. will trim 93 workers at its plant in Lexington, Ky., according to a filing with the Kentucky Office of Employment and Training.

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Experian Buys Toronto Software Maker

Information services company Experian PLC has acquired Toronto-based Decisioning Solutions Inc. on undisclosed terms.

Boston Firm Buys Irvine Litigation Specialist

Brown Rudnick LLP in Boston has acquired Irvine-based litigation firm Rus Miliband & Smith in a move to establish a presence on the West Coast and open a door to business in Asia.

Boston Firm Buys Irvine Litigation Specialist

Brown Rudnick LLP in Boston has acquired Irvine-based litigation firm Rus Miliband & Smith in a move to establish a presence on the West Coast and open a door to business in Asia.

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Experian Buys Toronto Software Maker

Information services company Experian PLC has acquired Toronto-based Decisioning Solutions Inc. on undisclosed terms.

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Gone, Not Forgotten

Where 10 Publicly Traded Firms Went

SPECIAL ISSUE: PUBLIC COMPANIES - Business Journal’s list of the biggest OC-based public companies is missing 10 entries from a year ago

Yokohama Tire Exec Changes Continue

MANUFACTURING: Head in Fullerton leaving for Japan

Yokohama Tire exec changes continue

Ceradyne Finds Fit in 3M’s Global Lineup

MANUFACTURING: Will stay in Costa Mesa in wake of $860M sale

SPECIAL ISSUE: PUBLIC COMPANIES - Ceradyne Inc. finds fit in 3M’s global lineup

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Universal Protection Adds N.C. Company to Fold

Santa Ana-based Universal Protection Service has acquired Allegiance Security Group in Morehead City, N.C. on undisclosed terms.

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Chapman COO Named Chair of Accrediting Commission

Chapman University’s chief operating officer, Harold Hewitt Jr., has been named chair of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges’ commission for senior colleges and universities.

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American Vanguard Ups Stake in N.C. Company

Newport Beach-based specialty chemical products maker American Vanguard Corp. has taken a stake in TyraTech Inc. with a $3.7 million investment into the Morrisville, N.C.-based company.

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Golden State Foods Buys Illinois Distributor

Irvine-based food processor and distributor Golden State Foods Corp. has acquired Gateway Distribution Inc. in Lebanon, Ill.

Opus to Add Offices in Seattle, Tacoma

Irvine-based Opus Bank has signed leases for new offices in Seattle and Tacoma, marking its entry into the cities as part of its overall push to target metropolitan markets along the West Coast.

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Golden State Foods Buys Illinois Distributor

Irvine-based food processor and distributor Golden State Foods Corp. has acquired Gateway Distribution Inc. in Lebanon, Ill.

MS International’s Building Blocks

Shah Took Black Granite to Next Level With Move Into Household Market

EXCELLENCE IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP AWARDS: Manu Shah took black granite to next level with move into household market

Corinthian Sees Danger in Vocational Gap

EDUCATION: Company says lack of public options costly

Corinthian Colleges Inc. sees danger in vocational gap

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CiTrials’ Winning Mix: Science, Patient Care

Founder Juggled Duties on Way to “Something More Meaningful”

EXCELLENCE IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP AWARDS: Debra Hoffmeyer juggled duties on way to “something more meaningful”

Greenberg, Gross to Look Both Ways on Trial Work

LAW: Partners see opportunity to go on “offense” for plaintiffs

Greenberg, Gross to look both ways on trial work

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CSUF Says Business Confidence at Height Not Seen Since 2004

ECONOMY: Greater certainty on taxes helps; outlook up across board

Cal State Fullerton says business confidence at height not seen since 2004

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Jobless Rate Falls to 6.5%

A gain of 14,300 jobs in February helped push Orange County’s unemployment rate down to 6.5% from a revised 7.1% in January.

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Fisker Calls Weeklong Furlough

Anaheim-based luxury hybrid automaker Fisker Automotive Inc. has instituted a weeklong furlough of its U.S. employees to save money.

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PacMerc Adds Director

Costa Mesa-based Pacific Mercantile Bancorp has named Stephen Yost a director for the bank holding company and also for its Pacific Mercantile Bank subsidiary.

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Ceradyne Lands $40M Body-Armor Contract

Costa Mesa-based Ceradyne Inc. received a contract from the U.S. government to supply more than $40 million worth of body armor plates to the Afghani military.

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Vanguard U. Seeks New President

Vanguard University in Costa Mesa has begun a search for a new president to replace Carol Taylor, who has accepted the same post at Evangel University in Springfield, Mo.

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Ensign to Sell Urgent-Care Franchise

Mission Viejo-based Ensign Group Inc. has agreed to sell its Doctors Express Inc. urgent-care franchise system to American Family Care Inc. in Birmingham, Ala.

Anaheim HVAC Firm Adds in Southeast

Anaheim company takes another step in an expansion strategy that targets the Southeastern U.S.

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Deal for Strawberry Brand in Placentia Tracks Back to Area’s Agricultural Roots

Strawberry producer SGF Produce Holdings LLC in Placentia has been acquired by San Mateo-based buyout firm Paine & Partners LLC on undisclosed terms.

Profiles of Top Pros

A Look at Members of the Business Journal’s List

SPECIAL REPORT - WEALTH MANAGERS: Profiles

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SD Wealth Management Firm Starts OC Push in Brea

SERVICES: Affiliates with former Morgan Stanley team

SPECIAL REPORT - WEALTH MANAGERS: San Diego-based Washington Wealth Management LLC has pegged Brea as the starting point of its push into Orange County. Includes the 2013 OC's TOP WEALTH MANAGERS list for download (pdf)

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Skiver Says Touché to SNL’s Meyers on Hooters Hit

Agency Goes to YouTube on Behalf of New Client

Skiver says touché to SNL’s Seth Meyers on Hooters hit, in Media and Marketing

Wealth Managers Hire as Baby Boomers Reach Retirement

Post-Recession Trust Factor Adds Fuel to Ongoing Trend

SPECIAL REPORT - WEALTH MANAGERS: Hiring push as baby boomers reach retirement

Jobless Rate Up on Revised Data

Orange County’s unemployment rate ticked up in January, as an annual revision of data showed 28,000 fewer jobs compared with a month earlier.

2 OC Banks Make SNL Financial’s Top 25

Two Orange County-based banks were among the best-performing community banks last year, according to a ranking compiled by SNL Financial LC, a Charlottesville, Va.-based information services firm.

2 OC Banks Make SNL Financial’s Top 25

Two Orange County-based banks were among the best-performing community banks last year, according to a ranking compiled by SNL Financial LC, a Charlottesville, Va.-based information services firm.

Credit Union in Buena Park Shut Down

Buena Park-based Pepsi Cola Federal Credit Union was shut down after the National Credit Union Administration deemed it insolvent and saw “no prospect for restoring viable operations.”

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Local Auto-Equipment Specialists Hit Road to Dubai

Trade Group Got Federal Funds for Mideast Expo

Radflo Suspension Technology was among a handful of Orange County car-equipment companies that were in Dubai last week for the Middle East Business Development Conference

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Do-It-Yourself Trade Schools

Companies Look In-House to Offset “Skills Gap”

Companies look in-house to offset “skills gap”

Little Saigon Sees Business Sense in CSUF’s Vietnamese-Language Program

EDUCATION: Business track part of program in works

Little Saigon sees business sense in CSUF’s Vietnamese-language plans

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Samsung Spinoff’s OC Plan: Dumplings

MANUFACTURING: Factory, warehouse set for Fullerton

Korean food specialist CJ Foods sees Fullerton as key to plans to boost business in U.S.

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Windjammer Closes Fund at $726M

Newport Beach-based private equity firm Windjammer Capital Investors closed its fourth investment fund with more than $726 million in capital commitments.

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Dumpling Factory Underway in Fullerton

CJ Foods Inc. has broken ground on a 68,000 square-foot manufacturing plant in Fullerton.

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Windjammer Closes Fund at $726M

Newport Beach-based private equity firm Windjammer Capital Investors closed its fourth investment fund with more than $726 million in capital commitments.

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Kia Sponsors Univision Beauty Pageant Show

Irvine-based Kia Motors America Inc. has signed on as the official automotive partner for Nuestra Belleza Latina, a beauty pageant reality show produced by Spanish-language Univision Communications Inc.