Laguna Hills-based Blytheco LLC, the top reseller of business software made by Irvine’s Sage Software Inc., is continuing its consolidation run.
Privately held Blytheco bought a small Frederick, Md.-based competitor called Software Partners.
Terms of the deal, which closed Jan. 1, weren’t disclosed.
Both companies sell Sage’s software, which helps small businesses manage and automate human resources, accounting and other back office tasks.
The companies provide service, training and support for Sage customers and also write programs that tweak the software to fit specific company needs.
For the past few years, Blytheco has been rolling up smaller companies with the goal of creating “a national Sage Software business partner,” said Chief Executive Stephen Blythe, who started Blytheco in 1980.
The company’s goal is to grow revenue to about $50 million a year, up from $25 million now, and have 10 regional offices.
Last month, Blythe was honored with a community service honor at the CFO of the Year awards presented by the Business Journal and the Orange County and Long Beach chapter of the California Society of Certified Public Accountants.
Blythe uses his pilot skills to fly medical supplies to Mexico as part of an effort by a group called the Flying Samaritans.
Director Goes to D.C.
Newport Beach chipmaker Mindspeed Technologies Inc. lost a board member a few weeks ago when he accepted a post in the Obama administration.
Donald Gips stepped down from Mindspeed’s board after he accepted an appointment by President Obama to be White House director of presidential personnel.
Gips has been on Mindspeed’s board since 2004.
Since 2001, Gips has been vice president of global corporate development for Level 3 Communications Inc., a Broomfield, Colo.-based Internet service provider.
At Level 3, Gips headed the company’s acquisition efforts.
Late last year, Gips was named to the advisory board of Obama’s transition team.
He is a former chief of the international bureau of the Federal Communications Commission. He also served as chief domestic policy adviser to former Vice President Al Gore.
Wireless Inauguration
In other presidential news, Santa Ana’s Powerwave Technologies Inc., a maker of gear for wireless networks, helped attendees of Obama’s inauguration stay connected.
It was a big concern that wireless networks stay up and running when some 2 million people descended on the Capitol Jan. 20.
Powerwave had to prepare for “record levels of network traffic,” the company said.
It worked with a handful of wireless carriers to allow them to expand their networks on demand.
“The combination of the massive crowd and the growing prevalence of cell phones in society poses an unprecedented challenge to U.S. wireless carriers, creating a strain on existing wireless networks,” a Powerwave spokesman said.
Powerwave’s antennas and repeaters boosted wireless signals and network capacity around the Capitol grounds, parade route and National Mall.
The company does similar projects in buildings and skyscrapers, where cell phone signals might not always reach.
Powerwave said it has done deployments for the Olympic Athletic Center of Athens, the Chicago Transit Authority, the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas and Torre Mayor, the largest skyscraper in Mexico.
Jazz in South Korea
Jazz Semiconductor Inc., a Newport Beach-based contract chipmaker that’s part of Israel’s Tower Semiconductor Inc., opened an office in South Korea.
Jazz hired two managers who are charged with increasing the company’s business making power management, mixed-signal and image sensor chips.
The chips end up in GPS devices, tuners and other networking gear, a lot of it made in South Korea or by companies based there.
The company hired Michael Song as South Korea country manager and Michael Yoon as a technical sales manager.
Refueling at Octane
Aliso Viejo-based Octane, a booster group that supports Orange County technology and biotechnology startups, is on the hunt for a chief executive.
Gary Augusta, who’s held the post for five years, is stepping down.
The group contracted with the Irvine office of search firm Spencer Stuart to find a new leader.
“I value change and think a leadership change for Octane will be healthy,” Augusta said. “Octane is not about one person. I am confident the next CEO will lead Octane’s next stage of growth and success.”
Augusta didn’t elaborate on why he’s leaving, but hinted at landing another position elsewhere.
“I am fortunate to have been able to meet literally thousands of great people in my role and each year the network affords me certain relationships and business opportunities and each year they have become more enticing.”
Emulex Anniversary
Costa Mesa-based Emulex Corp., a maker of electronics for data storage networks used by banks, insurance companies and brokerages, is set to mark its 30th anniversary by ringing the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange.
On Feb. 18, Emulex’s cofounder and former chairman Fred Cox will ring the bell to end trading for the day. Chief Executive Jim McCluney will give brief remarks that outline a product roadmap and strategy for the future for Emulex.
