$75M estate
It’s been a bad year for California homeowners. Many have seen their property values plummet, and the luxury market is no longer insulated. The real estate market in and around Los Angeles has taken a hit, but one Ventura County luxury homeowner is adapting his strategy to fit the downturn. Instead of reducing the $75 Read More →
Nipped in the bud – Artificial flower business closes after 58 years
Everything is withering in this economy. Even fake flowers. Aldik Artificial Flower Co., based in Moorpark, has been the country’s leading wholesaler of artificial blossoms for more than half a century. But after seeing steady growth over the past few decades, the company was forced to dissolve in February after a massive decline in sales Read More →
Chrysler struggles in E. Ventura County
As reports surface that Chrysler may cut a quarter of its franchises across the nation, nervous Ventura County auto dealerships are struggling to stand out in an industry that has been crushed by higher fuel prices, the economy and shifting customer tastes. [Editor’s note: Read a related story about Chrysler dealerships in the Tri-Counties here.] Read More →
Film gives creative director a second life
Nineteen employees at Weiser Creative are savoring the success of Tom Nance, a former employee who wrote and co-produced “Sherman’s Way,” a film that’s getting national press and picking up awards at film festivals. However, the savoring is bittersweet. Nance, the longtime creative director at Weiser, died in a motorcycle accident last September, just as Read More →
Bold plan for First California – Acquisition gives bank foothold in Inland Empire
When First California Bank snatched failed 1st Centennial Bank off the auction block, it added six more branches to its extensive list of locations and expanded the bank’s already prominent Southern California presence. In late January, Westlake Village-based First California made a strategic move, spending $100 million to acquire the insured deposits of 1st Centennial Read More →
Chamber changes the guard – Levett hands reins to Lederer in Thousand Oaks
After 20 years of self-diagnosed “chamberitis,” Janet Levett, president and chief executive officer of the Thousand Oaks-Westlake Village Chamber of Commerce, will retire Jan. 30. Levett started in 1989 with the Westlake Village Chamber and was a key figure in merging it with the Thousand Oaks Chamber in 1999. In the past decade, she has Read More →
Rusnak looks to service as mega-store opens
As the finishing touches are being put on its new BMW dealership in Thousand Oaks, Rusnak Auto Group is banking on a strong service department and more pre-owned vehicle business to weather the global downturn. The new Rusnak BMW Westlake is the largest BMW dealer in the country, according to Tom Valasek, director of marketing Read More →
