Peter Brennan

3 weeks ago | ocbj.com | Peter Brennan

Jack Hartung, who’s been a key executive at Newport Beach-based Chipotle Mexican Grill during its rise to national prominence, has been named to the board of directors of Tesla Inc., the world’s biggest maker of electric vehicles. He’ll start his role on June 1, including on Tesla’s auditing committee. Tesla will have nine members, including Elon Musk, the world’s richest person.

3 weeks ago | ocbj.com | Peter Brennan

Orange County’s unemployment rate fell to 3.7% in April from a revised 3.8% in March and above the 3.4% in April last year, according to the state’s Employment Development Department. The state’s unemployment rate of 5.0% The U.S.’s was 3.9%. Nonfarm OC employment increased by 5,000 jobs from March to April when 1.7 million were employed. Seven of the 11 industry sectors saw job increases. Leading the job increase was leisure and hospitality sector, which added 3,000 jobs.

3 weeks ago | ocbj.com | Peter Brennan

MeridianLink Inc., a Costa Mesa-based software provider for small banks and credit unions, said President Larry Katz will become chief executive, effective Oct. 1. Current CEO Nicolaas Vlok plans to depart the post, while remaining on the board of directors  (NYSE: MLNK). Katz joined MeridianLink in early 2024 as chief financial officer and was promoted to president later that year.

3 weeks ago | ocbj.com | Peter Brennan

The Surfing Heritage & Culture Center is moving from a warehouse in a San Clemente business park to downtown Laguna Beach. The new site is located at 239 Broadway, which previously housed Laguna Drugs and is owned by the Duda family, according to the Stu News Laguna website. “The Duda Family recognized the importance of SHACC to Laguna, to surfing and to Orange County as a whole,” Mark Christy, a museum Co-Chair and president of Hobie Sports, told the website.

3 weeks ago | ocbj.com | Peter Brennan

Crisp Imaging, a Costa Mesa-based provider of digital print and reprographic services across the West Coast, said it acquired Orange-based AAA Blueprint & Digital Reprographics Inc. Terms weren’t disclosed. AAA Blueprint & Digital Reprographics was founded in 1968 as a small, garage-based operation and steadily grew through two locations and four ownership changes. Doreen Valadez, who has been at the helm since 2010, was one of the original employees of Crisp Imaging.