San Fernando ValleyNORTHRIDGEAmazon.com Inc. has opened an Amazon Fresh grocery store in the Porter Ranch Shopping Center. The new grocery banner fills a 30,000-square-foot vacancy left behind by Whole Foods Market, which relocated to the neighboring Vineyards at Porter Ranch shopping center. Whole Foods is also owned by Amazon. Amazon Fresh uses technology as a differentiator, specifically with the Amazon Dash Cart feature, which automatically charges shoppers using sensors when they leave the store. The Northridge grocery is the third Amazon Fresh location, including Woodland Hills and Irvine outlets. All three Amazon Fresh stores are operating at 50 percent capacity as a coronavirus safety measure.Medical device giant Medtronic has launched InPen, the first FDA-cleared smart insulin pen for diabetes patients needing multiple daily injections. The Dublin company’s diabetes division is based in Northridge. InPen uses Medtronic’s Guardian Connect Continuous Glucose Monitoring data to provide a patient with real-time glucose readings and insulin dose information, which results in a more independent take on diabetes management, the company said in a statement. Medronic acquired San Diego-based Companion Medical, manufacturer of the InPen, in September. The decision brought together Medtronic’s CGM software and InPen’s ability to measure the right dose of insulin in one medical device.STUDIO CITYAlex Trebek, the longtime “Jeopardy!” host and prominent Valley philanthropist, died Nov. 9 at 80 years old. Trebek revealed in March 2019 that he had been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. He continued to shoot episodes of “Jeopardy!” as he publicly battled the disease. He lived in Studio City. Locally, Trebek and his family donated $600,000 over the last two years to homeless services nonprofit Hope of the Valleys in Pacoima. Those contributions helped fund the construction of Hope of the Valleys’ 85-bed shelter in North Hollywood as well as the establishment of a new headquarters facility called Hope Central, which aims to break ground next year. Hope of the Valleys Chief Executive Ken Craft said of Trebek: “He’s one of the kindest, most sincere, generous, thoughtful people I’ve ever met – and selfless.” Trebek became host of “Jeopardy!” in 1984 after hosting several game shows for Canadian Broadcast Corp., NBC, CBS and other networks. His appearance in more than 8,200 episodes of the series over 37 seasons is a record among television game show hosts. His work earned him seven Daytime Emmy Awards.WOODLAND HILLSHuman resources provider Insperity Inc. has opened a sales office in Woodland Hills. The office at 6320 Canoga Ave. is the company’s fifth in the Los Angeles market and first in the west Valley – it has sales offices in Glendale, Irvine and Century Park and a client and customer service center in Brea. Insperity offers a suite of human resources and administrative solutions including payroll management, recruiting services, new hire screening, retirement services and insurance services. Leading the Woodland Hills office will be District Manager Michelle Perez, who will oversee sales.A four-story hotel will go forward at 20401 Ventura Blvd., between DeSoto and Winnetka avenues, where 149 rooms are slated to rise after receiving approval by Los Angeles City Planning Commission. Designed by North Hollywood studio Architectural Dimensions, the 90,213-square-foot hospitality complex will include meeting rooms and 213 parking spaces on three subterranean levels. No hotel brand has been attached to the project as of yet. Once the April-scheduled groundbreaking takes place, construction will unfurl across 19 months, with a tentative completion date of October 2022.Warner Center has been designed as the first Transportation Technology Innovation Zone in Los Angeles where innovators can test transportation technology projects. L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti said that the city takes pride in serving as a testing ground for mobility solutions. Garcetti worked with City Council member Bob Blumenfield to create the zone designation in Woodland Hills. The first pilot project to launch this year is a zero-emissions, last-mile delivery service that connects individuals homebound by the coronavirus pandemic to food from local businesses. A second pilot project, to launch in the spring, will create mini-mobility hubs throughout the Warner Center campus.
Santa Clarita ValleyVALENCIACheri Fleming, among the most accomplished business and civic leaders in the Valley area, died after suffering a brain aneurism earlier this month. She was 69. Fleming won numerous awards and honors for her philanthropy and community involvement. She was vice chair this year of the Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital, and chair of the Child and Family Center Governing Board last year and this. She has been involved with the American Cancer Society, the Boys and Girls Club of the Santa Clarita Valley, Habitat for Humanity and several other charitable and civic organizations through the years. She was president of Soroptimist International of the Americas – which includes 19 countries – and participated in the Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations. She was named “Woman of the Year” several times, including by the Los Angeles County Fifth Supervisorial District and Commission for Women in 2012, by the Business Journal in 2008 and by State Sen. George Runner in 2007. “Cheri Fleming was such an integral part of the community’s fabric, and her impact woven into so many lives,” said Teresa Todd, who worked for Fleming as an advertising and marketing specialist. “Her kindness, optimism, and enthusiasm inspired everyone around her.” Tri-CitiesGLENDALEIHOP and Applebee’s parent company Dine Brands Global Inc. announced John Peyton will be its next chief executive. Peyton will replace current chief executive Steve Joyce effective Jan. 4. Peyton comes from the lodging industry, where he has more than two decades of experience managing hotel and real estate franchises. He most recently served as chief executive of Realogy Franchise Group in Madison, N.J. Dine Brands Chairman Richard Dahl said in a statement: “John’s extensive background working in the hospitality industry enables him to provide outstanding leadership and guidance as Dine Brands continues to accelerate long-term growth.” Dine Brands’ board revealed in May that it would not renew Joyce’s contract past February 2021. The company did not give a reason for the non-renewal.Ventura CountyCHANNEL ISLANDSCalifornia State University – Channel Islands has appointed Richard Yao as interim president, less than a month after outgoing president Erika Beck announced her move to the same role at California State University – Northridge. Yao, who currently serves as CSUCI’s vice president for student affairs, was named to the position by California State University Chancellor Timothy White. He is the first person of color to lead the campus; the interim president identifies as a Chinese Filipino American. He will take over the job on Jan. 11 and will serve through June 30, 2022.WESTLAKE VILLAGEGuitar Center confirmed it will soon enter a Chapter 11 financial reorganization to offload about $800 million in debt. The Westlake Village musical equipment retailer said in an operations update that it has entered a restructuring support agreement with creditors including Ares Management in Los Angeles, Brigade Capital Management in New York and a fund managed by Carlyle Group in Washington, D.C. Implementing the plan will require filing for Chapter 11, which the company said it plans to do before the end of 2020. It added it expects no changes or interruptions to operations at the nearly 300 Guitar Center retail stores throughout the country. Under the restructuring agreement, Guitar Center will receive up to $165 million in new equity financing from Ares, Brigade and Carlyle. To rid $800 million of debt from its balance sheet, the company plans to raise $375 million of debtor-in-possession financing from lenders and noteholders and another $335 million by selling new senior secured notes.
AROUND THE VALLEYS
