EDUCATION
The University of California-Irvine received a five-year, $14.7 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The funding will help expand the university’s Pathway to Academic Success project, which helps close reading and writing gaps in seventh- through 12-graders. It’s the biggest grant the Pathway program has received.
— Subrina Hudson
HOSPITALITY
Marriott Irvine Spectrum named Dianne Markis general manager, replacing Chris Harrison, who served as preopening GM at the 271-room full-service hotel that opened about a year ago, and operating GM since. Harrison, the great-grandson of J.W. Marriott Sr., founder of Marriott Corp., is now vice president of loyalty, strategy and innovation at Marriott International in Bethesda, Md. Markis was most recently a manager at Anaheim Marriott, an Anaheim Convention Center campus hotel.
— Paul Hughes
SERVICES
Irvine-based outsourcing company Alorica Inc. added three locations in Asia, growing employment by more than 5,000. An office in Yokohama, Japan, employs 100 offering customer service to Japanese-speaking consumers on behalf of media services providers. The center is its second Japan location. Alorica also added two locations with a combined 5,500 employees in the Philippines, joining 18 others there and making it the second-largest outsourcing provider in the country, according to Alorica. President of Asia Bong Borja said the call centers reflect the firm’s commitment to expand its network in key markets. Alorica plans to add 28,000 jobs next year to a current workforce of 100,000.
— Subrina Hudson
SPORTS
Honda Center executives and Anaheim city officials are discussing a 25-year arena management contract that could also involve development of some of what’s now parking around the Anaheim Ducks’ home facility, news reports said. A new deal could potentially include giving Honda Center manager Anaheim Arena Management LLC oversight of the city-owned Arctic public transit station.
— Hannah Mitchell
