Peter Brennan

California

Editor-in-Chief at Orange County Business Journal

Journalist 40+ yrs. Published 30k+ articles. Editor in Chief Orange County Business Journal. Reposts breaking news, influential, fun or interesting.

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Articles

Compass Adds 2022-23 Statements as Unreliable

3 days ago | ocbj.com | Peter Brennan

Compass Diversified added two more years – 2022 and 2023 – as financial statements that weren’t reliable in addition to its previously disclosed 2024 because of alleged fraud at its portfolio company, Newport Beach-based Lugano Holding. Compass said it is focused on completing the investigation into Lugano, whose founder and former Chief Executive Moti Ferder has been accused of fraud. Efforts to contact Ferder have been unsuccessful.
OC Unemployment Falls to 3.6% in May

1 week ago | ocbj.com | Peter Brennan

Orange County’s unemployment rate fell to 3.6% in May from a revised 3.7% in March and above the 3.3% in May last year, according to the state’s Employment Development Department. The state’s unemployment rate was 4.9% while the U.S.’s was 4.0%. Nonfarm OC employment increased by 5,700 jobs from April to May when 1.7 million were employed. Seven of the 11 industry sectors saw job increases. Leading the job increase was the leisure and hospitality sector, which added 2,500 jobs.
Ware Malcomb Acquires CBRE's U.S. Design Team

1 week ago | ocbj.com | Peter Brennan

Ware Malcomb, an Irvine-based international design firm, announced the acquisition of CBRE’s U.S. Design Collective team, effective July 2. CBRE’s U.S. Design Collective team is comprised of interior design, architecture, MEP, structural engineering and experiential design specialists. The 75 employees are in several U.S. markets, including Atlanta, Chicago and Denver.
Martell Joins SmartRent as CEO

1 week ago | ocbj.com | Peter Brennan

Frank Martell, who headed two major Irvine-based publicly traded companies, was announced as the new chief executive and president of SmartRent Inc., a Scottsdale, Arizona-based software provider for the rental housing industry. Martell resigned earlier this month as CEO of LoanDepot Inc., one of the nation’s largest providers of mortgages. He previously spent over a decade at CoreLogic, serving as CEO and chief financial officer. SmartRent reported 2024 sales fell 26% to $174.9 million.
Rhode Island's Green Amendment puts far more at risk than it protects | Opinion

2 weeks ago | providencejournal.com | Peter Brennan

Peter BrennanGuest columnistThe Rhode Island Senate passed a "Green Amendment" to the state constitution, which guarantees clean air, water, soil, and a healthy climate. The amendment's broad language raises concerns about potential negative impacts on the state's economy and development projects. Critics argue the amendment is unnecessary due to existing environmental regulations and could lead to excessive litigation.
Crisp Imaging Buys Silicon Valley Printer

3 weeks ago | ocbj.com | Peter Brennan

Crisp Imaging, a Costa Mesa-based provider of digital printing and reprographic services across the West Coast, has acquired DES Reprographics, a Silicon Valley-based firm with over 33 years of industry experience. Financial terms weren’t released. Garry Groninger, who founded the Santa Clara-based DES Reprographics in 1992, is retiring. DES provides a variety of printing services, including having installed 750 wide-format systems throughout Northern California.
Evolus CFO to Resign

1 month ago | ocbj.com | Peter Brennan

Sandra Beard is resigning as chief financial officer of Newport Beach-based Evolus Inc., a maker of beauty products, effective June 13. Beard is taking the same position at an unidentified private mental health and wellness technology company, Evolus said in a statement. The company said the resignation isn’t the result of any disagreement about its operations.
The Art of Raising Capital: Beacon Pointe Founder Convinces Investors

1 month ago | ocbj.com | Peter Brennan

Shannon Eusey has had to convince investors to let her manage millions of dollars of their money at Beacon Pointe Advisors, the firm she co-founded with her father. On top of that, she’s employed a roll-up strategy to make dozens of acquisitions around the nation where she had to persuade savvy registered investment advisors who own their own firms to join Beacon.
Brennan: Listen to the voters on ‘nicotine-free-generation’ moves

1 month ago | bostonherald.com | Peter Brennan

We are living in times where the demand for transparency and the mistrust of government is as high as it has been in generations. Local, state and federal elected officials and policymakers are under the microscope daily to make sure they respect democracy and the will of the people. That’s why the recent decision by the Manchester-by-the-Sea Board of Health to ignore town meeting voters is so egregious.
Alex Thurman: Dealing with Too Bullish Investors

1 month ago | ocbj.com | Peter Brennan

Investors became so excited about the potential of Glaukos Corp. that from late 2023 until early February, they had more than doubled the price of each share to more than $160 and an $8.8 billion market cap. “All the analyst reports were super bullish,” recalled Glaukos CFO Alex Thurman.