At least two specialized firms in the Valley have hopped locations, scooping up new office leases.
Miller Kaplan, one of the largest accounting firms in the San Fernando Valley, has signed a 10-year lease at The Tower in Burbank, officially relocating its Los Angeles headquarters from North Hollywood to the media capital of the world.
Miller Kaplan plans to occupy 22,700 square feet at The Tower, spanning a floor and a half, while it’s also currently in the process of selling its current office building, located at 4111-4123 Lankershim Blvd.
“The move to The Tower in Burbank is a strategic real estate decision for Miller Kaplan,” Scott Romick, a principal and managing director at Lee & Associates – Los Angeles North/Ventura, who represented Miller Kaplan in the signing, said. “More than just a prime location, The Tower Burbank aligns with Miller Kaplan’s prestigious history while also providing a freshly built-out space and prominent signage in front of the building, positioning the firm for furthered success.”
The Tower offers modern amenities, including an on-site gym and a marketplace. Miller Kaplan is expected to move into its new space later this year.
And not too far away, Valley-based law firm Volchok, Volchok & Swire moved from its Northridge office and signed a new 2,710-square-foot lease at 6200 Canoga Ave. in Woodland Hills.
Coldwell Banker Commercial Quality Properties sold its former 10,000-square-foot office building for $2.6 million, which also included retail space.
— Brynn Shaffer
House of Mouse Looking for Next Big Cheese
The Walt Disney Co. intends to announce a new chief executive in early 2026.
James Gorman, the chair of the succession planning committee of the Burbank entertainment and media giant, said that the timing reflects the progress the committee and the board are making.
“It will allow ample time for a successful transition before the conclusion of Bob Iger’s contract in December 2026,” Gorman said in a statement.
Iger is on his second go around as head of Disney. He originally was chief executive from 2005 to 2020, when he took on the roles of executive chair and chair of the board through 2021. He returned to Disney in November 2022 to replace Bob Chapek, who had been unanimously chosen by the Disney to head up the company in February 2020.
(Photo by Angela George)
Since returning as chief executive, Iger has led a significant, enterprise-wide transformation to restore creativity to the center of the company and position Disney’s streaming business for sustained growth and profitability.
The board’s succession planning committee is chaired by Gorman and includes directors Mary T. Barra and Calvin R. McDonald.
The committee met six times in fiscal year 2024, consistently engaging with the full board on the substance of the decisions to be made. The committee and board continue to review internal and external candidates. — Mark R. Madler
Glendale Hosts Tech Week
The city of Glendale recently hosted its annual Tech Week where innovators come to the city to participate in a wide variety of interactive events.
During the Demo Day Pitchfest event, 10 startups participated in a Shark Tank-esque competition where they pitched their businesses to a panel of industry-expert judges.
This year Tactun, led by Chief Executive ​​Rafayel Ghasabyan, earned the coveted first place ranking. Headquartered in Minnesota and backed by Glendale-based venture capital fund SmartGateVC, Tactun designs and manufactures custom advanced machinery and software in just hours, according to its website, through its streamlined no-code controller and application builder.
“This award at Glendale Tech Week not only recognizes our dedication, but also highlights the significance of smart machinery in today’s tech ecosystem. We’re proud to contribute to the advancement of this industry,” Ghasabyan said in a statement.
With the win, Tactun took home the event’s prize package which includes services from companies local to Glendale including Oceanview Capital, Hero House and Full Circle Business Law.
While the prize package is certainly beneficial, Pitchfest judge and Oceanview Chief Executive Armen Vartanian said the most valuable part of the event boils down to networking and securing investors.
“What the startups really get is a platform (where) they get to showcase their ideas, and there’s tons of investors in the room that are interested in whatever the pitch is about. So in a weird way, I kind of see the prize package as secondary to the many connections that are formed based on this event,” Vartanian said.Â
Along with its Tech Week, the city of Glendale recently disbursed $1 million to two tech accelerators, FoundersBoost based in Santa Monica and SmartGateVC.
After receiving a grant from the State of California’s Office of Business and Economic Development, the city’s selection committee evaluated 17 proposals before ultimately choosing the two finalists. The $1 million will be split evenly between the companies over a three-year period to support their project proposals to bring in more tech startups to Glendale’s economic landscape.
“These two candidates demonstrated, over the course of the application and interview process, a track record of building and running highly successful startup growth programs, an ability to accelerate the tech ecosystems they have been involved in, and a commitment to the advancement of the tech community here within the city of Glendale,” the city said in a staff report. — Kennedy Zak
AVMC Expands Emergency Department
Antelope Valley Medical Center in October opened a newly expanded emergency department and a new infusion center.
The medical center’s existing emergency department has served as the Palmdale/Lancaster region’s only Level II trauma center and was seeing more than 9,000 patients per month, making it the second busiest emergency department in the state.
To accommodate this high level of patient traffic, the medical center opened a 7,200-square-foot addition.
The addition includes 40 new treatment bays, bringing the total to roughly 150. It also features a new nurses’ station, among other upgrades.
“This expansion is a crucial step forward for Antelope Valley Medical Center,” said Edward Mirzabegian, the hospital’s chief executive.
“As the second busiest emergency room in California, this additional space will allow us to better serve our growing community. We are committed to providing the highest quality of care, and this new facility is a testament to that dedication,” he added.
A couple of weeks later, the medical center opened a new infusion center, operated in partnership with CarepathRx, a pharmacy care delivery company based in the Seattle area.
Infusion therapy refers to the delivery of medications intravenously or through other specialized applications. Patients requiring this service often battle type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic wounds, lupus or psoriasis, among other diseases and conditions.
Up until now, infusion therapy at the hospital has been conducted within various specialty departments. By centralizing these services in one accessible location, the medical center aims to streamline the patient experience and make patients more comfortable.
“Patients will benefit from receiving their treatments in a space designed with their comfort and well-being in mind, supported by a team of experts who are passionate about delivering the best care possible,” Mirzabegian said.
— HOWARD FINE
Supplier Signs Chatsworth Leases
Voyant Beauty, a Chicago-based beauty supplier and personal care manufacturer, signed three leases totaling 180,000 square feet at an industrial campus in Chatsworth.
Rexford Industrial Realty Inc. is the owner of the three-building complex, located at 9200-9250 Mason Ave.
“We needed to prioritize operational efficiency,” Michael Partridge, head of operations at Voyant Beauty, said. “The new campus on Mason Avenue enables our team to condense most of our manufacturing to one site.”
Erica Balin and Scott Caswell, both principals at Lee & Associates – Los Angeles North/Ventura, represented Voyant in the negotiations.
According to the team, they had already secured a lease at one of the buildings before realizing the two adjacent sites were likely about to come to market and took immediate action to win the portfolio.
“Securing this expansive campus for Voyant Beauty marks a significant milestone in their strategic growth plans,” Balin said, emphasizing the importance of the property. “The consolidation of Voyant Beauty’s operations at this location underscores the property’s appeal as a premier industrial site. Landing their next home was a big win for us.” — Brynn Shaffer
