Business

SANTA FE SPRINGS, Calif. -- In recognition to his dedication to business ethics, Phillip (Phil) M. Ramos, Jr., CEO of Philatron International, Inc, was appointed to the Business Ethics Panel of the upcoming 6th Annual Orange Catholic Foundation Conference on Business and Ethics.

SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- Finally, there's a new way to enjoy a night on the town in your own car and never worry about getting a DUI. Those with a lot to lose from a DUI arrest call it their "career insurance." Safe Ride Solutions (SRS) is a national network of off-duty and retired, veteran police officers. It's a new, unique, collaborative DUI prevention program developed by peace officers, professional athletes and business professionals to address the real world problem of DUI.

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- The California economy may be struggling, but that doesn't mean it's impossible to sell a business. Members of the California Association of Business Brokers (CABB) are seeing a strong future for business sales within the state. "As baby boomers look to retirement, a large number of businesses will continue to change hands," said Ron Hottes, CABB president.

ATLANTA, Ga. -- M2SYS Technology, an award-winning biometric technology research and development firm, announced today that it has finalized an agreement with DAXKO, a leading provider of operations software and services to the YMCA market. The agreement will benefit YMCAs and their members by speeding the flow of critical information and increasing the efficiency of operations.

FRESNO, Calif. -- Cypress Systems, Inc, a Fresno CA based biotechnology company, announced that it has promoted Mark E. Whitacre, Ph.D. to become the company's Chief Operating Officer (COO) and President of Operations. Dr. Whitacre joined the executive management team in December 2006 as President of Technology and Business Development for the new east coast office.

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. -- President and CEO Frank Manley of PMI Financial, a provider of ATM (Automated Teller Machine) service with contractual second party cash advance solutions for the gaming industry, announced today a new multi-year contract with Suquamish Clearwater Casino Resort, a Port Madison Enterprise and an agency of the Suquamish Tribe.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Barbara Bickham is the wizard behind the curtain and is creating digital media magic at TechGenii, Inc. And, as a result, Entrepreneur Magazine recently recognized her as an expert in the field of digital media.

CALCUTTA, India -- Caribsoft Infosystems Pvt Ltd (Caribsoft India), has been assessed and certified as meeting the requirements of the prestigious ISO 9001:2000 certification for design, development, testing and implementation of software projects.

PARRAS, COAHUILA, Mexico -- TJ's Custom Jeans (Tailormade Jeanswear Ltd.), the global leader in made-to-measure jeans and chinos, has relocated their facilities to Parras, Mexico. The choice of move to Parras de la Fuenta is significant in that the town which is considered an oasis in the desert has 2 premium quality denim mills and boasts a 100 year old history of weaving denim fabric and sewing jeans.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- 2007 will go down in the books as a banner year for Relios Jewelry, America's largest manufacturer of natural lifestyle designer jewelry. Relios saw gross sales skyrocket in 2007 to more than 30-percent over 2006.

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. -- KGA Inc., a human resources consulting firm based in Framingham, Mass., has hired Betsy Pratt as its account executive. According to KGA President Kathleen Greer, the newly created position involves overseeing approximately half of the company's Employee Assistance Program (EAP) accounts, as well as improving upon and building new client relationships.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Underground Mexican hip-hop artist/entrepreneur, SOLOW13, breaks the music game wide open by establishing his own label, TRUTH LOVES LA WFAMILIA, LLC or simply LAWFAMILIA, LLC. The new imprint is a collaborative partnership between SOLOW13 and famed West Coast label, Latin Thug Records - best known for being founded by Cypress Hill's Sen Dog and home to the Reyes Brothers, B Real's "Gunslinger" albums and many other notable releases.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- "Every February for the last 50 years, stock car enthusiasts across the country have packed their sunscreen and descended on Daytona," said Ethan Whitehill, CEO of Two West, Inc. "This year, unfortunately, the economy also decided to head south for vacation."

WESTWOOD, N.J. -- Imagine Tomorrow, a leading provider of computer classes developmentally designed for young learners, announced today that the company has attained a 33 percent share of the computer-based early childhood education market.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- LocaModa Inc., a leading out-of-home social platform provider, announced today that Stephen W. King has joined the company as Vice President of Sales. Mr. King has over 10 years of experience selling interactive advertising and social media at Dotomi, Monster and Facebook.

CHANTILLY, Va. -- OMNISEC International Investigations, Inc., the trusted leader in personal security investigations services, today announced that Major General (USAF Retired) John Casciano has joined the company as President of its wholly owned subsidiary, OMNISEC International Investigations, Inc.

BREVARD, N.C. -- Insulation Business Consultants announced today that the firm has developed a means of maintaining the thermal integrity of exterior walls, eliminating the voids in the insulation where electrical boxes (switch and receptacle boxes), create significant holes in the residential thermal envelope.

KIRKLAND, Wash. -- In February 2007, "President Bush signed into law a significant piece of legislation, the Deficit Reduction Act," says Todd Grove, Maine-based Partner of LTC Financial Partners LLC, the nation's most experienced long term care insurance agency. "This one act is causing the majority of small business owners to seriously evaluate the financial risks posed by an extended illness -- to themselves, their families, their assets and their companies."

PENSACOLA, Fla. -- Is your inner P.I. waiting to be released? Do you question your neighbors, rent Magnum P.I. reruns and have an obsession with dark corners and disguises? If so, John Krause's recently re-released, "The Private Investigator's Guide" (ISBN: 978-0-615-13411-6), may be just what the doctor ordered.

ATLANTA, Ga. -- Author Quincella C. Geiger, announces the release of her new book, "Bringing Home the Baking," (ISBN: 978-0-615-14518-1) that reveals the secrets to setting up a successful home-based baking business. Starting a business can be expensive, but starting a home-based baking business is smart and cost-effective.

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. -- Global Quarters, Inc. has announced its formation as the world's first fractional ownership brokerage, addressing changing trends in the international real estate marketplace. "Three things are changing where and how Americans buy real estate: retiring baby boomers, inherited wealth and technology," says Global Quarters' founder Paula Gold-Nocella.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- SolarReserve, the Los Angeles-based solar thermal power company that has licensed an innovative energy storage technology for on-demand utility-scale solar power, today announced the appointment of William R. Gould, Jr. to serve as Chief Technical Officer.

SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- 1st Pacific Bancorp (NASDAQ: FPBN) announced today that Frank J. Mercardante, a member of the board of directors of 1st Pacific Bancorp since July 2007, resigned from the Company's board. Prior to his appointment as a director of 1st Pacific Bancorp, Mr. Mercardante was Chairman and CEO of Placer Sierra Bank and previously was President and Chief Executive Officer of Southwest Community Bancorp since 1998.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- SolarReserve, the Los Angeles-based solar thermal company that has recently commercialized an innovative heat storage technology that provides utility-scale solar power on demand, today announced that Kevin Smith has been hired to serve as Chief Operating Officer and Head of Development.

NEW YORK, N.Y. -- Implementation Solutions LLC, a technology consulting firm that services global investment management customers, announced today that it has formulated a subsidiary organization in Australia named Implementation Solutions PTY LTD. Simultaneously it also announced the opening of its seventh office, this time on Kent Street in Sydney, Australia.