MSC’s Perna is OC’s Unlikely Brash Tech Executive
DPAC Targets Aerospace, Again; SSP Securing Venetian Data
TECHNOLOGY
by Andrew Simons
Every place needs a Larry Ellison,a swarthy executive who, in the tradition of Oracle Corp.’s boss, speaks louder than the rest.
Up to now, Broad-com Corp.’s Henry Nicholas has filled that role for Orange County. The chief executive of the Irvine-based chipmaker is known to issue backhanded swipes about the folks over at Newport Beach-based Conexant Systems Inc. and take his shirt off for photos in the ever conformist Worth magazine.
But Frank Perna, who the Software Council of Southern California recently named chief executive of the year for his work at MSC.Software Corp., Santa Ana, could give Nicholas a run for his money.
Never one to mince words, Perna, who moved his company from Los Angeles to Santa Ana last May, brashly told me recently he wasn’t concerned about the technology slowdown.
“The fact that we have the envy of the world today doesn’t hurt,” he said of the company’s strong showing of late on Wall Street.
I almost expected to see Perna’s words punctuated with an animated Bang!” and “Whap!” like some episode of “Batman.”
Reporters live for quotes like this. Often, we’ll hear the same staid, PR-coached comments from executives. But not Perna.
Here’s another example. When asked recently about MSC’s status in the industrial design software market, Perna came back with, “We’re the best company in Orange County.”
And it’s not just a brash personality Perna brings to OC. The company he runs is in a dispute with the U.S. government that has the intrigue to match Per-na’s conceit.
In October, the Federal Trade Comm-ission began a formal inquiry into MSC’s 1999 buy of two industrial design software makers.
The commission claims the deals have stunted competition for a certain type of software code used in testing product designs,a claim Perna vigorously denies.
A trial set for May could spell trouble for MSC’s acquisition strategy, which Perna has overseen. Perhaps under advice of attorneys, Perna has remained tight-lipped about the company’s dealings with the government, only off-handedly mumbling his disagreement with the commission’s inquiry.
But if the investigation and trial stretch into years, which some MSC attorneys expect, there could be stronger words coming from Santa Ana’s software firebrand, giving OC a tech story reminiscent of another software maker 1,000 miles or so north of here.
DPAC Eyes Aerospace
Garden Grove-based DAPC Technologies Corp. recently unveiled new offerings for the aerospace industry and has shipped off some of its LP-Stack memory products to an unnamed aerospace company.
“DPAC was originally founded in the defense business,” said Ted Bruce, the company’s chief executive. “Our new stackable plastic configurations are of the highest quality, form and weight, many of which fit the needs and configuration for military and defense applications.”
To help promote it wares, DPAC said it also recently expanded its sales partners. The maker of high-density memory products hopes the increased demand for electronic surveillance gear, guidance systems and defense systems will help prompt growth in its products.
SSP Goes to Vegas
Irvine’s SSP Solutions Inc., a provider of software and services that help companies control access to financial transactions, recently closed a deal with the Venetian Resort Hotel Casino in Las Vegas.
The value of the deal wasn’t disclosed, but SSP said it is addressing “specific technology and regulatory needs” for the hotel.
“The SSP suite of security products was developed to provide the security infrastructure required for complex business processes including rigorous gaming industry applications,” said Richard Depew, SSP’s president. “Working with gaming leaders such as the Venetian provides new opportunities to build on our existing strengths as a technology provider and answer their needs for strict compliance with exacting security standards.”
The systems SSP is set to sell to the Venetian include military strength encryption and secure smart cards. The products are designed to protect gamblers’ personal details and casino transactions.
Best Acquires BatchMaster
Irvine’s Best Software Inc. only wanted BatchMaster Software Corp. for its software. It’s process-manufacturing software, specifically.
Earlier this month, Best acquired Batch-Master from eWorkplace Solutions Inc. of Laguna Hills for undisclosed terms. The buy adds process manufacturing to Best’s accounting and business software offerings.
Process manufacturing software is used by companies that produce fluids in batches that are packaged in differing quantities and container types. Those include paint, chemicals, food and milk. The software tracks and tests the quality of products in real time as they are being made.
“With the addition of BatchMaster to our product offerings, process manufacturers now have a complete solution that ties production and financial information together, giving managers deeper insights into their business,” Best chief operating officer David Butler said.
