EDUCATION
The Irvine Museum will give the University of California-Irvine its collection of California impressionist paintings, which are valued at about $17 million, UCI said. “All collectors should know that our ambition is to become the focus for the study and appreciation of California art, Chancellor Howard Gillman said. The collection will continue to be exhibited at the museum until UCI finds a site for it. California Impressionism originated in the early 20th century. Artists worked outdoors to take advantage of the state’s abundant natural light.
HOSPITALITY
Irvine-based Brighton Management bought the Radisson hotel on Greenleaf Avenue in Whittier and renamed it Whittier Grand Hotel, according to news reports, which didn’t name a sale price. A Whittier Chamber of Commerce spokesperson said Brighton plans to make the property a DoubleTree by Hilton.
Montage Hotels & Resorts in Irvine said it aims to add a location in London, a U.K. trade journal said.We “definitely regard London as a target market,” Montage Executive Vice President of Operations James Bermingham told the attendees at the European Hotel Investment Conference in September. The conference is held in London and produced by the Costa Mesa-based Burba Hotel Network. Montage manages high-end resorts open or in development in California, Hawaii, Utah, South Carolina and Mexico.
RESTAURANTS
Del Taco Restaurants Inc. in Lake Forest said two franchisees would open 14 stores in the Phoenix market. The first new restaurants are planned for 2018; the Mexican-style fast food franchise system currently has 36 locations in Arizona (see related story, page 3).
Engineering firm and technical consultant Willdan Group Inc. in Anaheim named Thomas Brisbin chairman to succeed Win Westfall, who remains on the board. Brisbin will relinquish his title as president and retain the chief executive role, positions he’s held since 2007. The company named Michael Bieber president to fill Brisbin’s slot and Daniel Chow to the newly created position of chief operating officer.
MaxGen Energy Services LLC in Costa Mesa acquired on undisclosed terms the commercial services unit of Next Phase Solar Inc. in Berkeley. MaxGen Energy, formerly Solarrus Corp., provides operations and maintenance services to solar power distributors, electric vehicle charging stations and battery storage sites. Next Phase provides operations and maintenance services to solar equipment makers and contractors.
TECHNOLOGY
Irvine-based Blizzard Entertainment Inc. plans to establish a professional e-sports league for “Overwatch,” its team-based shooter game that attracts about 20 million players. The Overwatch League will “focus on long-term stability for teams as well as opportunities for players to establish the types of professional careers associated with traditional sports,” according to the Irvine-based unit of Activision Blizzard Inc. in Santa Monica. Its inaugural season is scheduled to be next year.
Newport Beach-based cybersecurity company Franklin Data acquired on undisclosed terms Scarab Consulting in Austin, Texas. Scarab provides investigation and litigation services to companies and law firms and has raised $20 million in private equity and debt during its 16-year expansion.
TRANSPORTATION
Ross Aviation in Denver closed its purchase of the AirFlite fixed-base operator at Long Beach Airport. The FBO was built by Toyota in 1989 and run by its AirFlite subsidiary. Toyota Motor Sales sold the facility as part of a move of its North American headquarters from Torrance to Plano, Texas. An FBO provides fuel, hangar space, and aircraft parking, rental and maintenance, among other services, to owners of small planes and general aviation charter carriers.
OBITUARIES
The fourth University of California-Irvine chancellor, Ralph Cicerone, died on Nov. 5 at age 73. He was an internationally acclaimed atmospheric chemist whose research helped shape environmental policy in the U.S. and overseas, the school said. He was chancellor from 1998 to 2005.
Apex Parks Group LLC Chief Executive Al Weber Jr. died Nov. 8 while on vacation in the British Virgin Islands. He had led the Aliso Viejo-based company since forming it in November 2014. It owns and runs 17 amusement parks in six states and has Boomers entertainment centers in Irvine and Fountain Valley. Apex launched with the purchase of 15 parks from Palace Entertainment Holdings LLC in Newport Beach, which Weber had previously led.
