May 2009 Archives

About a year ago, I wrote about Lakewood resident Linda Ikeda, who debuted her three Jumpstarter Bodyfuel health bar flavors -- cranberry, raisin and dates -- at four It's A Grind coffeehouses.

Now the health bars are at 32 It's A Grind locations nationwide and will be available at Whole Foods Market in Long Beach this month. (The former registered nurse and current graphic artist has expanded her offerings to include three more flavors -- apricot, appleberry and chocolate raisin.)

"I'm thrilled that these homemade bars are a part of people's healthy lifestyles," said Ikeda, who a few days ago delivered 150 bars to the 6550 E. Pacific Coast Highway store. "It's wonderful to see my lifelong goal of raising food awareness being realized through this homemade, flavorful and healthy food. It's critical that people understand the effects of what they put into their bodies, and that there are so many better choices over unhealthy, chemical-laden and preservative-saturated goodies."

Ten years ago, Ikeda suffered from chronic pain and was diagnosed with lupus, rheumatic heart disease and fibromyalgia. Her doctor advised her to change her diet. So she begin cooking healthier fare, including an oat-based snack bar that contained dried fruit and no wheat, eggs or dairy. The result is Jumpstarter Bodyfuel. Visit www.smartsnackbars.com for more.

In the "green gold rush" of California's emerging clean energy industry, where does California's diverse population fit in?

Today's summit at the Long Beach Convention Center, "Advancing Diversity in the New Green Economy" sponsored by the California Utilities Diversity Council, brings together more than 500 leaders in state politics, energy and diversity to discuss that and other related topics, including the future of the green job market and how businesses can go green.

"This will be the first green energy conference to directly address diversity and inclusion," according to Jose Perez, chairman of the California Utilities Diversity Council. "This is our opportunity to be on the cutting edge of new economic growth in California." Read more about it in tomorrow's Press-Telegram.

Then consider this afternoon's 5th Annual Youth Opportunities Fair at the Long Beach Convention Center, where youths ages 14 to 24 can meet with more than 50 employers and agencies.

The event will be from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Long Beach Convention Center, 300 E. Ocean Blvd.

The Pacific Gateway Workforce Investment Network's Youth Opportunity Center-sponsored fair links youth directly to employment, internship, and volunteer opportunities. Last year, more than 1,700 youth attended, according to a city release.

To pre-register, go to www.HireAYouth.com, download a registration form, fill it out, and bring it to the fair. (It will be your ticket to get in.)

Forms can also be picked up at the Youth Opportunity Center, 3447 Atlantic Ave. 2nd floor, Long Beach. Registration will also be available on Thursday at the Convention Center.

Also, check out www.HireAYouth.com for a complete list of employers, non-profits and agencies at this year's fair. 

Dress to impress and come prepared with a pen, notepad, several copies of your resume, a list of references (names and phone numbers). Parking is free. Visit www.lbtransit.com for bus services.

The latest from The Laugh Factory in Long Beach:

Hollywood's World Famous Laugh Factory in association with K-EARTH 101 Radio will host a special show to raise money for the USO at 8 tonight at its new Long Beach location. The show will feature some of comedy's biggest stars, including Tom Arnold, Paul Rodriguez, Tom Dreesen and Tom Papa and will be hosted by K-EARTH's morning show host Gary Bryan.

The entire event will be filmed and then made available online at www.laughfactory.com to all the American service men and women around the world at no cost. In conjunction with this event, five members of the United States Armed Forces have been chosen to compete for the funniest service member. These brave men and women will each perform three minutes of stand-up comedy and be judged by a jury of famous comedians, the Hollywood industry and their fellow service members.

"American service men and women have faced life's tough encounters on the battlefields of Afghanistan and Iraq and now they have a chance to face the tough encounters of being on stage," says Laugh Factory owner Jamie Masada.

The winner of this competition will receive $1,000 in cash, $4,000 in gift certificates and an encore performance at the Hollywood Laugh Factory with their name on the marquee. The other participants will receive $1,000 in gift certificates.

Tickets are $30 and all of the admission fees will go to the USO to help fund their continuing efforts to bring laughter, smiles and entertainment to the troops. "This event will continue on a monthly basis until we bring all of the service people back home safely," says K-EARTH personality Gary Bryan.
 
This is the first of a continuing series of events with the USO.

The Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce today announced that it has earned the California Chamber of Commerce's first President's Circle award and the first Political Partner of the Year.

The new President's Circle award, presented May 18 at the CalChamber's annual
Business Summit in Sacramento, spotlights chambers for excellence in
business advocacy and helping their members comply with the state's labor laws.

The new Political Partner award recognizes chambers for excellence in
recruiting, endorsing and funding candidates for political office.

"The Long Beach Chamber thanks the CalChamber for honoring our efforts
representing the interests of business at all levels of government," Long Beach Chamber Chairman of the Board Blake Christian said in a statement. "Our board of directors, staff and many volunteers are committed to strengthening our local economy and being honored twice in the same week is a reflection of all of their hard work and dedication."

DENSO Sales California, an automotive components sales and distribution company that employs 273 people in Long Beach, has won the National Catalog Management Association's President's Award for Electronic Data Excellence.

The award recognizes companies for the accuracy of the data they provide to Activant Solutions, the largest electronic parts catalog provider for the independent aftermarket. Providing accurate data reduces cost, improves efficiency and eliminates duplicated effort required to fix errors.

"We are pleased to be recognized by the NCMA and Activant for the quality of the data that DSCA supplies for our electronic and printed parts catalog," marketing manager Larry Fidance said in a statement. "This recognition is the result of listening to our internal and external customer requirements and creating an application parts catalog that exceeeds their expectations."

Established in 1971, DENSO Sales California was the first overseas affiliate of DENSO Corporation, based in Japan.

This just in from the city:

If you are a Veteran, you will want to attend a free Veterans' Resource Fair on Thursday, May 21, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Veterans Park, 101 E. 28th St., Long Beach.

The fair, hosted by the Pacific Gateway Workforce Investment Network, Employment Development Department, and US Vets will provide a great opportunity for military veterans and their families to obtain information about local community resources.

"We hope that all Veterans, including those recently separated, will attend this Thursday to receive valuable information on resources and job opportunities," said Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster.  "This is our opportunity to say thank you to all those who have served this great country."

Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster; Vice Mayor Val Lerch; Long Beach City Councilmembers Gerrie Schipske, Dee Andrews and Tonia Reyes Uranga; Veterans Blas Villalobos and Danielle Fulcher; and Phil Lawrence, Veteran and CEO of Superior Grocers, will honor Veterans at a Special Ceremony beginning at 10 a.m.  Several non-profit organizations and community service providers will offer veterans valuable information, resources and job opportunities.             

For more information, call 562.570.4558 or 562.570.3673.

A few years ago, I wrote a story about Tim Connaghan, a Lakewood native who has created a business out of being Santa Claus and teaching people how to be Santa. (He runs a school called The International University of Santa Claus, which has churned out more than 1,500 Santas and Mrs. Clauses since 2003.)

Anyway, I received word this week from our neighborhood Kris Kringle, who is apparently preparing for a working vacation of sorts.

Connaghan on Saturday will join 25 "real bearded" Santas and their wives on Santa Cruise II, which combines Santa School with a seven-day Voyage of the Glaciers cruise on the Diamond Princess. They'll visit Juneau, Skagway and Anchorage, to name a few.

"There were always business groups having seminars and workshops aboard cruise ships, so I said, 'Why don't we do this with the Santas?" said the Millikan High School alum. "Thought it would be kinda neat."

Also, two Santas and their wives will tie the knot ... again.

Santa David Smith and his wife of 44 years, Carol, plus Santa Ben Williams and his wife of 33 years, Susan, will renew their wedding vows in a joint ceremony at the Santa Claus House at North Pole Alaska. Connaghan will preside over the ceremony.

A wedding toast of cookies and milk, perhaps?

"I think we'll have a champagne toast," Connaghan said, chuckling. "We have enough cookies and milk on the cruise."

The Downtown Long Beach Associates is looking for candidates to serve two-year terms on the Board of Directors, the organization announced today.

The DLBA released the following:
 

Business owners in the Pine Avenue and Waterfront areas and Downtown commercial property owners are sought to serve on the DLBA Board of Directors, beginning October 1, 2009, and expiring September 30, 2011.  Since terms expire in alternate years, eligible Downtown stakeholders representing the East Village, North Pine, and West Gateway business areas will be sought in 2010.

 "The DLBA Board of Directors is responsible for providing leadership for the organization, so it is imperative that we engage the best and brightest from among our business community," said DLBA Nominating Committee Chair Jane J. Netherton of International City Bank.   To encourage a broad, diverse pool of candidates, the DLBA has contacted all stakeholders via postcard and included a call for candidates in the May edition of its monthly e-newsletter, Downtown Scene.

Business and commercial property owners who are interested in participating in an active, non-profit business organization working on behalf of the property and business owners of the Downtown Long Beach Business Improvement Districts are encouraged to contact the DLBA before May 29, 2009. 

A special webpage with more information has been established at www.dlba.org/Board09 with more information about the process to become a DLBA Board member, boundaries of Downtown areas, and overall roles and responsibilities of Directors.

 For more information about the DLBA, please visit www.downtownlongbeach.org or call 562-436-4259.

A colleague just e-mailed me this Q&A from the Beachcomber, which reports that the owners of Morry's of Naples, a longtime Long Beach retailer of fine wines and spirits, are facing foreclosure and are seeking a stay of relief court hearing on May 18 in an effort to buy them some time to save the family business.

From the Beachcomber:

"Potential investors are invited to a "VIP Event" Thursday, May 14, at 6 p.m. at their 5764 E. 2nd St. store in Naples. Rabin's sister, Annie, said in an e-mail to the Beachcomber that 'In a nut shell, it looks as if we plan to create a new company, retire most of the past liabilities and begin something fresh and new with much potential for profits and equity growth.'"

Check out the Beachcomber's exclusive here.

The former CEO of eBay, who was in Long Beach Tuesday to campaign for governor in 2010, spoke about the company that went from 30 employees and about $4 million in revenue to more than 15,000 people and nearly $8 billion in revenue.

"I was not sure this job was for me," said Whitman, who was approached by the founder of eBay, who at 29 developed the coding for his company in a weekend. "You had to remember the Internet was such in its early stages."

However, Whitman - who would go on to serve as eBay's CEO from 1998 to 2008 - saw the potential for technology that could "change lives."

"What I saw was very powerful, in many ways a uniquely American concept," she told the nearly 400 people present at the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce event at the Hyatt Regency. "What he had done was he had created a level playing field where your next door neighbor had equal chance of success to a large corporation. ...

"eBay provided the training tools, but it was inspired individuals who took up the training tools to create businesses in ways we never dreamed that they would."

She also talked about that moment when the company became more than a vehicle for selling collectibles, when one day in the miscellaneous category there were 300 used cars for sale. Now eBay's largest single category is used vehicles, Whitman said.

"And I promise you, a host of MBAs sitting in a conference room would never have dreamed of going from Beanie Babies to Beemers," she said.

For more about her visit, check out my story here.
 

Looking for more ways to party during Gay Pride weekend this weekend? Then consider Renaissance Long Beach Hotel's Blue Party, which benefits the Gay and Lesbian Center of Long Beach.

The Fiji Water and Comisario tequila-sponsored event on May 16 will feature the tunes of DJ Lobo, free "downloadable" CD, $5 margaritas, blue shots and drink specials. Party's at 10 p.m.

Check out the flyer:

Kevin L. Wattier, general manager Long Beach Water Department, will speak at the Women's Business Council Lunch on Friday, May 22.

A professional engineer, Wattier has an extensive background in the water industry in both the public and private sectors and possesses the highest level of certification achievable in the state.

The event will be at 11:30 a.m. at Ristorante Da Vinci's, 2801 E. Spring St. Call 562-432-8128.

From one of my sources:

FREE appetizers to the first 20 people who go into all Daily Grill Restaurants (offer does not include the Daily Grill at LAX.) after 5 p.m. today, May 8, with the secret password.

Go on TWITTER for the secret password.

http://twitter.com/dailygrill

Thirty-nine condos at 411 Seaside Way are on the auction block all day Monday, with bids starting at $195,000 for a one-bed, one-bath unit with dining room. (Asking price was at one time $548,000.)

Check it out here.

This just moved through the business wires:

LONG BEACH, Calif., May 05, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Long Beach Memorial Medical Center (LBMMC) today announced it has been named one of the nation's top 125 hospitals by Consumers' CHECKBOOK, a study sponsored by AARP The Magazine. Long Beach Memorial is one of only four hospitals in Los Angeles and Orange Counties and one of only 14 California hospitals included in the report.
 
Initial findings from the study conclude that nearly 74 percent of doctors surveyed rated LBMMC as "very good" or "excellent," compared to the national average of 35 percent. In addition, 72 percent of patients who received care at LBMMC reported that they would recommend this hospital, compared to the national average of 67 percent.

"At Long Beach Memorial Medical Center, our physicians, nurses, and each and every staff member are dedicated to providing patients with the highest level of care," said Diana Hendel, CEO, Long Beach Memorial Medical Center. "This recognition from both our patients and physicians truly reinforces our continued commitment to the well being of our patients and the communities we serve."

Consumers' CHECKBOOK is a non-profit consumer research group based in Washington, D.C. The organization conducted a study which surveyed nearly 140,000 doctors on where they send a patient to receive the highest quality of care for difficult to treat or rare conditions. Other factors that were examined were: a comparison of death and "adverse outcome" rates for major types of cases, assessments of whether the hospitals fail to provide proper tests and procedures and ratings of hospitals on key patient safety measures.

CHECKBOOK's researchers calculated an overall score for each hospital using weights the researchers assigned to each measure. The hospitals were ranked based on this overall score and the highest scoring hospitals in each community made the top 125 list--at least two hospitals in each community and three or four in larger communities. The list came out of analysis done for the latest edition of CHECKBOOK's Consumers' Guide to Hospitals, a book and website that rates over 4,500 acute-care hospitals in the U.S., located in the 53 largest metropolitan areas.

The complete version of the Consumers' Guide to Hospitals will be available online in May and in hard copy at the beginning of June.
 
With Miller Children's Hospital, Long Beach Memorial Medical Center is the second largest not-for-profit, community-based hospital west of the Mississippi. The 54-acre campus houses 716 beds, employs more than 5,200 people and has more than 800 volunteers.
 

To celebrate the reopening of his newly remodeled skate shop in Bixby Knolls, District 8, owner Felix Babauta is hosting a shoe release party on Friday. Expected to attend are pro skaters Ryan Sheckler of MTV's "Life of Ryan," Paul Rodriguez (son of comedian Paul Rodriguez) and Long Beach native Terry Kennedy, who is captain of Pharrell Williams' skate team and is launching his new shoe line.

The event is open to the public and will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. at 4242 Atlantic Ave.

Check it out:

A longtime retailer may stay put on Pine Avenue after all.
After a September announcement that Z Gallerie was leaving downtown, the furniture store will now remain open at the 230 Pine Ave. building and has even reopened its second floor for retail.
"Although the building at Pine Avenue is for sale (has been for some time), the intention is to continue to lease space in the building for our store," said Dan Hilley of The Abernathy MacGregor Group, which is speaking for the Gardena-based company.
News of the stay comes after Z Gallerie chose recently to reorganize under Chapter 11 last month to reinforce its balance sheet and eliminate liability from the leases associated with 21 closed stores and an Atlanta distribution center. Three stores closed in California as part of the nationwide scaling back and one additional store in Pasadena was closed when the lease expired at the end of March.
"In light of current economic conditions, our company has had to make some difficult decisions," Chief Financial Officer and company co-founder Mike Zeiden said in a statement. "Restructuring through Chapter 11 will allow us to eliminate certain lease liabilities from discounted stores and to continue to operate and serve our customers well."
The remaining Z Gallerie stores -- 56 nationwide, including 21 stores and one outlet in California -- will remain open "without interruption."
"The company has sufficient cash to operate all aspects of its business, including custom furniture orders through its stores and Web site, and has received court approval to do so," according to the company's release.
In September, co-owner Joe Zeiden said the lack of retail and attention on the street led him to put his building up for sale. Z Gallerie has been on Pine Avenue since 1993.

Sometimes it's good to be a mom, especially if restaurants want to celebrate her with free food and "bottomless" champagne. Tracht's at the Renaissance Long Beach Hotel is offering a special Mother's Day brunch.

Check it out here:

Howdy.

My name is Karen. I cover all sorts of business-related stories for the P-T, mostly redevelopment and small business. I'm also the keeper of InBasket, the weekly briefs column that runs every Monday.

The column ran in our Biz Monday section with features like New In Town and Career Paths. But as the news hole shrank, so did the content. (Our Biz Monday section now runs on A3 and InBasket is one of our remaining business features still in the print edition.)

So how does one try to address all the business-related things going on in Long Beach, Lakewood, Bellflower, Cerritos and other parts of Southeast Los Angeles?

Online seemed like the way to go.

So here it is, decked with a sandy-colored background and retro-looking paper tray logo --- ready to feed your InBasket needs.

And I promise it won't be just a repository for briefs. I intend to mix in some New in Town and other fun stuff. 
 
So, welcome! Let this new online venue be the place to submit business openings, corporate events, philanthropic efforts, holiday-themed sales or whatever else is going on with business. E-mail me at karen.robes@presstelegram.com to submit items.