After building his business guardNOW on a model of providing security for celebrities and other types of VIPS, founder and owner Zabi Kantor is now offering the same services to the general public. Kantor decided to expand his client base following an experience in which a senior citizen whose children did not live in the area called wanting a security guard at her home. The woman was very grateful and that got Kantor thinking of who the public calls when they need security. In conjunction with expanding the client base, Kantor also made enhancements to the guardNOW website in which a customer can submit an order at any time of day. Guards will be available with as little as a few hours notice. A Valley native, Kantor worked as a security guard himself for three years before starting Global Shield, a security firm for businesses. He started guardNOW, a subsidiary of Global Shield, in 2009. In their red and black uniforms, guardNOW personnel have appeared at events featuring Shannon Doherty, Kim Kardashian, and Pamela Anderson. “I am happy with guarding celebrities but who do (regular) people call when they need the same service,” Kantor said. For the general public, guards will come out for parties, graduations, and weddings. One client in Encino needed a guard posted outside their business after a car smashed through the front window, Kantor related. – Mark R. Madler SAN FERNANDO VALLEY Van Nuys Counters: CaesarStone took part in the third annual Kitchen of the Year at Rockefeller Plaza in New York City. The event showcases the best in kitchen design, cooking, entertaining and contemporary lifestyle. The kitchen was designed by Jeff Lewis, host of the Bravo series “Flipping Out” and was open to tours by the public. CaesarStone designs and manufactures original quartz countertops and surfaces. Flying: A new book has been published chronicling the life and aviation achievements of Clay Lacy. “Lucky Me: The Life and Flights of Veteran Aviator Clay Lacy” is available in a limited edition and features rare photos and previously untold stories by friends and colleagues of Lacy. The book was authored by Stacey Geere and published by The Donning Company Publishers. Lacy has flown planes in and out of Van Nuys Airport for more than 50 years. He is credited with bringing the first corporate jets to the airfield and in 1968 started his eponymous charter and aircraft management firm. “Lucky Me” has an introduction by U.S. astronaut and Apollo 11 commander Neil Armstrong and features recollections from hotelier Barron Hilton, physician and inventor Dr. Forrest Bird, and American automotive designer and racing champion Carroll Shelby. Cars: Keyes Audi sold the 2 millionth Audi in the United States with the sale of an Audi A3 TDI to a first time buyer. Audi has been selling cars in the American market for more than 40 years and has become a top seller in the luxury car brand market. The 2 million Audis sold in the U.S. include breakthrough models, such as the Coupe quattro, the Audi 5000, and the Audi V8. “The story of Audi in the U.S. is really a story written by the hundreds of thousands of people who’ve invited our brand into their lives,” said Johan de Nysschen, President, Audi of America. “We’re grateful for those opportunities.” Woodland Hills Songs: Glyphix Advertising has been selected by Walt Disney Records to produce three music videos for the upcoming release of the “Hannah Montana” Season 4 soundtrack. The first video aired in July with the second coming out in August. To understand the Hannah Montana character and her appeal to a teen audience, the Glyphix team watched three seasons of the show and videos available on YouTube. The assignment came as a bit of a surprise, said Glyphix Creative Director Brad Wilder. “(Disney) asked us to compete for this music video project against several other well known firms and we were definitely the underdog,” Wilder said. “But they did say they were going to award the business to the best creative, and I have to give them credit, they lived up to that promise and awarded us the business”. Calabasas Tops: Informa Research Services Inc. was ranked the 33rd top market research firm in a list compiled by the American Marketing Association and Inside Research. Informa Research Services provides market research and mystery shopping services to the financial industry and has worked with banks, credit unions and thrifts for more than 27 years. It has more than 6,500 clients with representation from every state. The Top 50 U.S. Market Research Ranking in Review” report is based on 2009 revenues. Burbank Identity: Technicolor won the best new logo award by the Business Marketing Association. The new logo reflects the company’s activities in content creation, management and delivery. It was designed in partnership with brand agency GYRO:HSR. “It symbolizes a departure from our old heritage to a new dynamic platform that celebrates all of our employees, products and services throughout the world,” said Chief Marketing Officer Ahmad Ouri. Sherman Oaks Space: Valley Industry and Commerce Association is moving to a new set of offices and is offering room naming opportunities for sponsors. The group’s new office will continue to be located in its current building on Van Nuys Boulevard on the second floor. Each sponsor will have the room they support named after them for five years with a plaque at the door of each room. The organization’s work room and two executive offices are available for sponsorship for $5,000 each. The large room that consists of staff offices is also available for sponsorship for $5,000. The group’s reception area is available for $10,000. The $25,000 sponsorship of the conference room has already been sold. All sponsorships are payable over a five-year period. Sponsors will additionally be recognized in an advertisement in the organization’s 2010 Business Forecast Conference journal and 2011 Hall of Fame journal. West Hills Cook Out: Public relations executive Joseph Molina placed the winning bid to get a ride in the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile. The auction on eBay benefited Osacr Mayer’s Good Mood Mission to donate food to help people struggling with hunger. Molina rode in the campy bright yellow and orange Wienermobile with his dog, Professor Ryley Barker. Molina and his family and friends were also treated to a free cook out. Molina founded and operates JMPR located in Woodland Hills. Encino Educate: The Visual Effects Society will host its 2nd annual Production Summit in October. The summit will bring together entertainment industry professionals to look at how to thrive over the next five years in a rapidly changing global economic and technological entertainment environment. “Because industry changes come so rapidly – on the creative, technological and business fronts – and will likely continue to do so for the foreseeable future, we decided that bringing key industry stakeholders together annually would be truly beneficial to everyone in our industry,” said VES Executive Director Eric Roth. The summit takes place at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Marina del Rey. CONEJO VALLEY Agoura Hills Film: Outdoor clothier Gramicci has signed on as a sponsor of the documentary, “The Last Wild Mountain: Portrait of the American Climber.” Gramicci will donate signature organic hemp “Camu Tees” to support the production, promotion and distribution of the film. “The Last Wild Mountain” follows the parallel stories of the first two generations of rock climbers in America “This film’s mission is an ideal match to the very roots of the Gramicci Brand, so we are honored to be a part of the film,” says Patricia Babka, U.S. vice president of Sales. “The filmmakers explore both the past and the future of climbing — the wild experiences, the offbeat antics, and the environmental aspects on which the future of climbing depends.” ANTELOPE VALLEY Palmdale Metal: The staff of Patton’s Steel has settled into its new location following a move from Lancaster to Palmdale earlier this year. Patton’s purchased a building in Palmdale that had been in foreclosure and gave more space than the previous location, said branch manager Howard Bloemendaal Jr. “We made an offer that was a low offer and they took it,” Bloemendaal said. The long-range plan for the Palmdale location is to make it the second distribution center for Ontario-based Patton’s. Hiring: Macy’s has opened an employment center for its new store at the Antelope Valley Mall. There are more than 150 positions to be filled, including management opportunities. The center, located at 1123 Rancho Vista Boulevard, will accept only online application submissions. Once the application is complete, qualified candidates will be contacted to schedule an interview.