AROUND THE VALLEYS

News and notes from around the greater San Fernando Valley area SAN FERNANDO VALLEY North Hills Toys: North Hills-based toy maker, Imperial Toy LLC, announced its recent licensing agreement with MGA Entertainment to produce toys based on MGA’s Lalaloopsy brand. Launched in 2010, Lalaloopsy, is one of the latest doll lines by Van Nuys-based MGA. A modern version of the classic rag doll, the line features fabric dolls in a number of different themes including “Pillow Featherbed,” “Crumbs Sugar Cookie” and “Mittens Fluff ‘N’ Stuff.” Imperial’s line of Lalaloopsy novelty toys, which will include play lanterns, projectors and wind-up toys will debut in fall 2012. It’s collection for spring 2013 will include a comprehensive line of bubble toys as well as sand and beach toys. In a prepared statement, Peter Tiger, president of Imperial Toy, said the company was thrilled to add the doll brand to its portfolio, which already includes MGA’s Little Tikes toy line. “We are honored to embark on a new comprehensive product line infused with innovation and the whimsy of their magnificent award-winning property for our line of novelty toys, bubbles and water play products based on the characters and brand,” Tiger said. Woodland Hills Honor: Woodland Hills-based online marketing firm, ReachLocal Inc. last month was ranked one of the country’s top 50 “Best Places to Work” by Glassdoor, an online community career source. Of 65,000 companies that met the award requirements, ReachLocal ranked 27 out of 50. Other award recipients included Apple, Google Inc., Facebook and Intel Corp. Glassdoor distributed surveys to participating employees that addressed work-related factors such as career opportunity, employee morale and fairness in the workplace. Award recipients were determined by the company’s overall ratings, which were derived from the cumulative average rating from employee surveys. Robert Hohman, co-founder and CEO of Glassdoor, said in a prepared statement, the award program offers a closer look into the top U.S employers. “For companies on the list like ReachLocal, we have received positive feedback on the company culture, benefits and open communication practices, while we also tend to see competitive pay packages and high opinions of the chief executive,” Hohman said. The award is one of two recognitions the firm received this month. The Dwyer Group, a Texas-based holding company of service-based franchise organizations, also awarded ReachLocal with Vendor of the Year. In a prepared statement, Zorik Gordon, co-founder and CEO of ReachLocal, said employee and customer satisfaction are the company’s “formula for success.” “Both the Glassdoor and The Dwyer Group honors reflect our dedication to making ReachLocal a great place to work with happy customers,” Gordon said. “We thank both organizations for their recognition.” Glendale Game: Glendale-based DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc. has teamed up with Beeline Interactive Inc. to create a videogame based on the “Shrek” film franchise to play on smart phones. “Shrek’s Fairytale Kingdom” will be available in the first half of the year and features the green ogre interacting with other characters from the films, including Fiona, Donkey, and Lord Farquaad. The four Shrek films have brought in more than $1 billion in box office receipts in the U.S. alone for DreamWorks Animation. “Shrek’s Fairytale Kingdom” is the first social game based on the film’s characters. “Fans of all ages will enjoy creating and personalizing their own fractured fairy tales in the world of Shrek as they interact with the lovable ogre in ways they never imagined,” Chris Hewish, head of Global Interactive for DreamWorks Animation, said in a statement. Beeline, based in Los Angeles, has produced games based on the Smurfs and characters from the Peanuts comic strip. CONEJO VALLEY Westlake Village Movie: Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas will enter the Los Angeles area market this year with the opening of an upscale movie theater at The Promenade at Westlake. Cinépolis will extensively remodel the existing Mann Theater at The Promenade that is closing Dec. 27. The Cinépolis theater is scheduled to open in May and will offer reserved seating, plush leather electric recliners, and in-seat service where waiters take guest orders. “Caruso Affiliated brings only the ‘best in class’ operators and businesses to our properties,” said Paul Kurzawa, chief operating officer of Caruso Affiliated, owner of The Promenade. “Cinépolis is revolutionizing the movie-going experience and setting a new industry standard.” Cinépolis, based in Mexico, is the fourth largest theater chain in the world. In California, it operates a theater in Del Mar near San Diego, and will open locations in Laguna Niguel, La Costa and Rancho Santa Margarita. VENTURA COUNTY Simi Valley Awards: The Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce announced the recipients of its 2011 Business Awards. Lost Canyons Golf Club was named Business of the Year; Curt Witeby of Insurance West, Business Person of the Year; Tim Shannon of Farmers Insurance, Strathearn Lifetime Achievement Award; and former mayor Paul Miller was honored with the Chamber’s Legacy Award. Leigh Nixon, president and CEO of the Chamber, said each of the recipients has greatly contributed to the community. “We are proud to give our honorees the recognition they deserve,” Nixon said. Honorees will be recognized at the Chamber’s Business Achievement Luncheon on Jan. 27 at the Grand Vista Hotel in Simi Valley.