AROUND THE VALLEYS

News and notes from around the greater San Fernando Valley area Canoga Park Lights: Topanga Technologies received an award for its plasma lighting system from Architectural SSL magazine. The publication presented its 2011 Product Innovation Awards at the Lightfair International tradeshow in Philadelphia on May 17. The Advanced Plasma Lighting System is designed to replace less efficient lamps for high brightness applications in outdoor and commercial environments. Burbank Camera: The CAMERON – PACE Group won a Sport Emmy Award for use of its camera rig in live 3D coverage of the 2010 US Open Tennis Championship. The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences also presented the award to CBS Sports for broadcasting the tennis tournament for the first time in 3D. “We are honored to be recognized with CBS Sports for the US Open Sports Emmy,” said Vince Pace, Co-Chairman and CEO of CAMERON – PACE Group. “The future of 3D sports hinges on the integration of critical camera positions. Utilizing the Shadow D System we were able to give the viewer a courtside seat without any additional operators, seat kills or camera positions; a win/win for all.” Chatsworth Action: Image Entertainment Inc. was represented at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival crime thriller, “The Double.” Image will release the film to theaters in the fall with producers Hyde Park/Imagenation. “We worked together many years ago and have been trying to find the right project again. I’m thrilled that we have found it,” said Image Chief Acquisitions Officer Bill Bromiley. The film stars award-winning actors Richard Gere, Topher Grace and Martin Sheen. It is directing Michael Brandt’s directing debut. Arleta Chemistry: Miles Chemical has obtained certification that its Anaheim facility operates using an internationally recognized quality management system. The organization previously acquired ISO 14001:2004 and OHSAS 18001:2007 certifications as well as the National Association of Chemical Distributor’s Responsible Distribution (RD) verification, making it the only known chemical distributor with all four quality management standards in place. Chatsworth Gas: Rexam Beverage Can Co. received the Energy Efficiency Project of the Year Award from Southern California Gas Co. Rexam implemented energy-saving opportunities related to a new regenerative thermal oxidizer system. The technology uses internal heat generated by the burning of air contaminants, such as volatile organic compounds, to help reduce natural gas consumption and combustion emissions, including greenhouse gases. The Rexam plant operates three aluminum can lines for the soft drink and beer industries. Production occurs at the plant 24 hours a day and seven days per week. “We’ve reduced our natural gas usage by 45 percent since we’ve upgraded our system,” said Dave Darnbrough, plant manager at Rexam Beverage Can Co. “SoCalGas made every effort to help us strengthen our sustainability position by providing us the services and incentives that have strengthened our business.” Van Nuys New: TWC Aviation, Inc. and its sister company ACM Aviation Services, Inc., announced five new aircraft available for charter. Joining the fleet of more than 60 aircraft, are a Gulfstream G550, Gulfstream GV, Falcon 2000LX, Falcon 900, and Citation XLS. The G550, Falcon 2000LX, and the GV are brand new. They were delivered to locations throughout California, including the San Francisco International Airport, the Oakland International Airport and the Van Nuys Airport, respectively. The 14-passenger Falcon 900 is at Westchester County Airport, in White Plains, New York; and the Citation XLS is based at the San Jose International Airport in California. Purchase: Electro Rent Corporation launched a new equipment buyback price guarantee program to provide additional flexibility, innovation and value to the company’s customers. The program allows customers who purchase certain new Agilent equipment models from Electro Rent to upgrade their equipment within 30 months of the initial sale for a fixed-amount of credit that can be used toward the purchase of any other new Agilent equipment offered by the company. “The new buyback program gives customers an alternative method for acquiring equipment, when they need it, at the best possible price and with the most attractive terms,” said company Chairman and CEO Daniel Greenberg. CONEJO VALLEY Westlake Village Open: Fleming Jones and Marty McMahon recently founded a new executive search firm, called FlemingMartin, LLC. The firm will assist CEOs and Boards of Directors of middle-market companies to build executive management teams. A Westlake Village office serves the greater Los Angeles area, and a Pleasanton office serves San Francisco and Silicon Valley. ANTELOPE VALLEY Winning: The City of Lancaster is offering entrepreneurs a chance to pitch their business plan to a panel of potential investors through the city’s new “The Winning Pitch” program. Applicants will create a video pitch on their business idea, which city staff will review and then pick the top 10. The top 10 applications will make their pitch to an investor panel during the week of June 13. Potential investors can then arrange follow-up meetings with their selected entrepreneurs. Palmdale Flight: Volunteers turned out on May 16 for the Adopt-a-Plane program at Joe Davies Heritage Airpark at Palmdale Plant 42. Among the “adoption” duties are picking up trash and debris, pulling weeds and keeping dirt and dust off the planes. Participants included the Air Force Association-Antelope Valley Chapter, the Antelope Valley American Red Cross Youth, the Highland High School Air Force Junior ROTC, the Muroc Young Marines, and others.