Peter J. Brennan

Five CFOs Won, Then Had Dramatic Years

Global Unrest, Unruly Weather, C-Suite Changes, New Roles

From the U.S. banning a key Chinese customer, to a real live hurricane, to a chief executive in office seven months, to new roles, last year’s Business Journal Chief Financial Officers of the Year had quite the 2019 … where 2020 will take our next slate of honorees after they’re named is a story for another day. For now, we tell the tale of last year’s Gang of Five, their companies, and five thrilling years in one. —Peter J. Brennan

ShiftPixy Shares Nearly Triple on Deal

Shares of ShiftPixy Inc. (Nasdaq: PIXY), a tech-based restaurant staffing company, almost tripled after raising $20 million.

CoolSys Shopping Spree Could Push Sales to $1B

SERVICES: CEO Plans ‘Transformative’ Q1 Buys

CoolSys Inc., the Brea-based parent of a collection of refrigeration and heating companies that’s been among Orange County’s fastest-growing private firms the past few years, is gearing up for an eventful 2020.

Steve Jones: CEO of a 230,000-Employee Company

SERVICES: Built security firm worth $8.4B

When Steve Jones started working in 1996 at a Santa Ana security firm that had $12 million in annual sales, he had a goal that he was reluctant to share.