"We've seen a very healthy growth of clients located in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties," said Donny Disbro, Chief Executive Officer at PCM. "Our Inland Empire Management team now has the space and location to meet the needs of the growing number of communities we serve in the region."

PCM recently added to its client list, Tuscany Hills, a master-planned community of 1,148 single-family homes located in Lake Elsinore, California. In February, PCM was selected by Brookfield Residential to manage the Audie Murphy Ranch Community Association, a new master-planned community located in Menifee, California with 2,300 homes projected at build-out.

Vice President Alisa Toalson will continue to lead the Inland Empire Region for PCM.

"This is an exciting time for our company," Toalson said. "Our commitment to providing excellent customer service has put us in a very good position to ride the wave of recovery as the market picks up."

PCM celebrated its 40th anniversary this year.

About Professional Community Management of California:

Professional Community Management of California, Inc. (PCM), an Associa company, specializes in the management of Common Interest Developments of homeowner associations for family oriented master-planned developments, resort-style master-planned communities, active-adult master-planned communities, condominium associations and boutique communities throughout Southern California and Southern Nevada.

With headquarters in Lake Forest, Calif., PCM and its companies employ a staff of more than 1,500 people. PCM has offices in serving all of Southern California and Southern Nevada and is recognized by the Multi Housing Council as one of the county's largest managers of common interest developments. Management services by PCM are backed by state-of-the art Internet technology and comprehensive financial and management systems. For additional information, please contact PCM at 800.369.7260 or at www.pcminternet.com.

About Associa:

Building successful communities for more than 30 years, Associa is North America's largest community association management firm and serves its clients with local knowledge, national resources and comprehensive expertise. Based in Dallas, Associa and its 8,000 employees operate more than 150 branch offices in the United States, Mexico and Canada. To learn more about Associa and its charitable organization, Associa Cares, go to www.associaonline.com and www.associacares.com.

Copyright © 2012 CaliforniaNewswire® and Neotrope®. California Newswire is a publication of the Neotrope News Network and a U.S. reg. TM of Neotrope.

"Entrepreneurship is a viable career alternative for dislocated workers," said Sandy Harmsen, Executive Director of the San Bernardino County Workforce Investment Board. "According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, small businesses produced the largest amount of employment in 2010, generating 72.1 percent of net new positions."

The Workforce Investment Board is partnering with Empact (www.iempact.com) to provide the training necessary to start a business with little start-up capital. Attendees will learn how to develop their business inexpensively while creating enough profit to earn a living wage.

The training requires a one-year commitment. Each participant will receive a full-day of training followed by weekly trainings for the first month, and monthly virtual trainings for the remainder of the year. Each participant will be assigned a mentor to support them throughout the program.

"Entrepreneurship is vital to San Bernardino County's economic growth and prosperity," said Josie Gonzales, San Bernardino County Chair and Fifth District Supervisor. "I encourage residents who are thinking of starting their own businesses to take advantage of this unique opportunity to learn proven, real life tools shared by successful entrepreneurs."

To apply, San Bernardino County residents may visit one of the three Employment Resource Centers to take the assessment. To find the nearest location, please visit www.sbcstartup.com or call (800) 451-JOBS.

About the Workforce Investment Board of San Bernardino County:

The Workforce Investment Board of San Bernardino County is comprised of private business representatives and public partners appointed by the County Board of Supervisors. The Board strives to strengthen the skills of the County's workforce through partnerships with business, education and community-based organizations.

The Workforce Investment Board, through the County's Economic Development Agency and Department of Workforce Development, operates the County's Employment Resource Centers (ERCs) and Business Resource Centers (BRCs). The ERCs provide individuals with job training, placement and the tools to strengthen their skills to achieve a higher quality of life. The BRCs support and provide services to the County's businesses including employee recruitment.

Copyright © 2012 CaliforniaNewswire® and Neotrope®. California Newswire is a publication of the Neotrope News Network and a U.S. reg. TM of Neotrope.

Levenglick regularly acts as outside general counsel and adviser to venture-backed start-up, early stage, emerging growth and high growth companies, and as transactional counsel to fund, corporate and high net worth investors in such companies. He has represented clients in a wide range of industry areas with a particular focus upon the internet, software, media, technology and biopharma.

"We are extremely delighted to have an attorney of Martin's level of knowledge and expertise join our Corporate and Emerging Companies practice," said Geoff Willard, co-chair of the firm's corporate practice group. "In addition, I am excited to see our East Coast presence, and in particular our New York presence, further enhanced with the addition of a truly top-notch attorney. VLP continues to focus on creating a place where exceptional attorneys from top-tier, nationally prestigious firms can practice in a more client-centered environment. We are so pleased that Martin has joined the VLP family."

As company counsel, Mr. Levenglick guides entrepreneurs, management teams, boards of directors and investors from a company's inception, with particular focus upon and attention to capital raising activities, equity and debt financings, acquisitions, joint ventures, strategic alliances, corporate partnering transactions, critical business contracts, recapitalizations, liquidity and exit transactions, and key personnel matters. He also works closely with venture capital funds, corporate venture capital groups and strategic investors that finance, sponsor, acquire, and sell such companies, in all phases of their investment cycle, including financings, mergers and acquisitions, change-in-control transactions, and exits; and in connection with fund formation activities.

Levenglick began his career at O'Sullivan Graev & Karabell LLP, where he practiced for eighteen years (thirteen as a corporate partner), following which he practiced for eight years as a corporate partner in the New York office of Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP and thereafter as a corporate partner in the New York office of Heller Ehrman LLP. He joins us from Morrison Cohen LLP in New York, where he was a partner in the corporate group.

Levenglick received his J.D. from New York University School of Law and a B.A. (with first class honours) from McGill University. He is a member of the New York Bar.

"VLP's people and its truly innovative business model resonate with me in a profound way," said Levenglick. "By taking full advantage of cutting-edge technology, the firm is pioneering the future of the practice of law and the seamless delivery of outstanding service to clients in a cost effective manner. I am very much looking forward to collaborating with VLP's exceptionally distinguished team of lawyers."

About VLP:

Founded in 2008, VLP (www.vlplawgroup.com) is a business and transactional law firm that delivers top quality, efficient and cost-effective legal services. Our practice reaches across many industry sectors, including high tech, life sciences, angel and venture capital financings, clean tech, retail, consumer product, commercial lending and real estate. VLP has continued its strong growth, and in recent months has added noted attorneys from firms on the West and East coasts who believe VLP's unique, client-oriented and cost-effective model is the best platform for their practice. Our partners are regularly recognized by their peers as outstanding attorneys, and the firm has been recognized as a top company for its promotion of quality of life in the workplace.

VLP partners represent clients that vary in size from individual executives and early-stage startups to Fortune 500 companies. Our client base includes public and private corporations, venture capital investors, private equity funds, educational institutions, nonprofits and individuals. We provide general corporate, licensing, contract, intellectual property protection and counseling, securities regulation, financing, executive compensation, merger and acquisition, real estate, tax and other legal services.

VLP is a geographically distributed firm of highly qualified attorneys with exceptional credentials and an average of over 10 years of experience. We have no central office, and our technology platform allows us to collaborate easily and to operate with a small, highly specialized staff. Our lean model means that we can provide sophisticated, focused services to our clients, and we can do it at competitive rates.

For more information about VLP, visit www.vlplawgroup.com .

Copyright © 2012 CaliforniaNewswire® and Neotrope®. California Newswire is a publication of the Neotrope News Network and a U.S. reg. TM of Neotrope.

The Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD) estimates this new office can accommodate approximately 550 employees, a five-fold increase over current employment.

“From cloud to mobile to social to gaming, San Francisco is ground zero for innovative companies like Dropbox,” said Mayor Lee. “Dropbox’s decision to locate their headquarters in San Francisco demonstrates what we already know – that San Francisco is the ‘Innovation Capital of the World.’ The tech ecosystem we are nurturing now has the best local talent, is helping us create jobs and reinvigorate our local economy. I am thrilled to officially welcome them to their new home in SoMa.”

“We’re proud to call San Francisco our home; there’s no better place in the world for creative thinkers and builders,” said Dropbox CEO and Co-Founder Drew Houston. “We’d like to thank the Mayor for joining us today and for the City’s support.”

The new Dropbox location in the China Basin Landing Building provides the company with an opportunity to create their own office space, is located next to convenient transit, is adjacent to AT&T Park, and enjoys access to the best talent and creativity of the San Francisco workforce.

About Dropbox: Dropbox simplifies millions of people’s lives by letting them bring their docs, photos, and videos anywhere and share them easily. The service has more than 50 million users in over 175 countries. Dropbox was founded in San Francisco in 2007 by Drew Houston and Arash Ferdowsi. For more information, go to www.dropbox.com/press.

Standing at the historic African-American bookstore Marcus Books, Mayor Lee and Supervisor Olague announced that the City is also partnering with merchants and property owners to improve the storefronts of 23 businesses from McAllister to Post Streets and is initiating a neighborhood marketing and events program aimed at celebrating the Fillmore’s culture and history and driving additional foot traffic to the area.

“With new businesses, storefront improvements, events programming and the leadership of business owners and the community, today there is renewed energy and optimism in the Fillmore, one of our City’s great historic neighborhoods,” said Mayor Lee. “We still have much work to do, but the dramatic drop in commercial vacancies and the progress we are seeing in the Fillmore demonstrates the promise of our Invest in Neighborhoods strategy to transform our neighborhood commercial corridors through targeted City and community resources, assistance and leadership. I want to thank Supervisor Olague for her tireless efforts since taking office to champion the needs of the Fillmore and bring new resources and focused attention to the neighborhood.”

“As we gear up for Small Business Month in May, we have a great opportunity to highlight The Fillmore’s thriving business community,” said Supervisor Olague. “I am thrilled to support the diverse merchants in the Jazz District, many of whom have been here for decades, as well as newcomers who see the limitless potential in this growing corridor.”

Three new businesses – State Bird Provisions, The Social Study café and wine bar, and 1307 Gallery, a multi-media space in the Fillmore Center owned by two local Fillmore residents – opened in late 2011 and early 2012. State Bird Provisions has already made the San Francisco Chronicle’s Top 100 Restaurants. Hapa Ramen and Prime Dip will open in the end of May, and Progress and City Grange restaurants, will open in Fall 2012.

Progress will be the second project of the owners of State Bird and will be located two doors down. City Grange will be a second project of the owners of Phat Angel, also in the Fillmore. Hapa Ramen is a food truck that will make its first permanent home on Fillmore. Prime Dip is expanding from its first location on Larkin Street to the Fillmore. The City has been working with property owners since 2010 to diversity the business mix in the area and fill vacancies, and has provided financial and technical assistance to many of the new entrepreneurs.

The City’s investment in the Fillmore builds on efforts by the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency to restore the area as a cultural center for African Americans and for music and entertainment in the aftermath of Urban Renewal. The Redevelopment Agency’s investments led to new development and anchor businesses such as Yoshi’s, 1300 on Fillmore, Sheba Lounge and Rassela’s. The City’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD) has continued to build on these investments by implementing initiatives aimed at supporting long-time Fillmore businesses; providing resources for area residents who wish to start their own businesses; bringing in new neighborhood-serving businesses; and activating the street with festivals and other events that showcase the culture of the district. OEWD’s Fillmore work started in early 2010 and has shown a decrease from 35 percent vacancy rate to 14 percent, showing a declining change of 21 percent.

Today’s Fillmore merchant walk coincides with the recent kick-off of the Mayor Lee’s new Invest in Neighborhoods initiative, which will coordinate the City’s many programs and neighborhood resources to make targeted improvements in key neighborhood commercial districts.

In each participating commercial district, City services—including business retention and attraction programs, community planning activities, cleaning, greening and beautification services, public safety programs, and neighborhood art projects—will be deployed in a focused, customized manner that responds to the corridor’s unique challenges and opportunities. Invest in Neighborhoods will create infrastructure to leverage programs like the Small Business Revolving Loan Fund, which Mayor Lee recently recapitalized with $1 million with unanimous support from the Board of Supervisors.

He will report to Joseph Hayes, director of New York operations. WTCI operates as WTC Insurance Services, LLC in New York.

Prior to joining WTCI, Jamison was an underwriter with Chartis Insurance, where he specialized in commercial general liability, automobile liability and workers' compensation coverage. Additionally, he focused on executive liability exposures, including directors & offices liability, employment practices liability and fiduciary liability coverage.

Joseph Hayes, WTCI's Director commented, "Jeff strengthens WTCI's already deep casualty team and we are excited to have him. By working closely with our retail broker members and key specialty insurance markets, he will be perfectly positioned to bring the interests of the buyer, retailer, wholesaler and specialty carrier into direct alignment."

Jamison is a graduate of Tufts University in Boston, Mass., where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Entrepreneurial Leadership. He is a licensed Property, Casualty, Life, Accident and Health Insurance Broker and is obtaining his Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation.

Born and raised in Westchester, Jamison has worked in New York City and Boston for the past four years. A fourth generation insurance professional, Jamison is the great grandson of Herbert L. Jamison, Sr., who founded retail insurance brokerage Herbert L. Jamison and Co., LLC in 1938.

Jeffrey R. Jamison can be reached at:

WTC Insurance Services, LLC
149 Madison Avenue, Suite 610
New York, NY 10016
Direct (347) 338-3406
jjamison@wtcis.com.

About Wholesale Trading Co-Op Insurance Services, LLC:

WTCI is an independently operated and managed wholesale brokerage firm that collaborates directly with its retail insurance broker members to develop comprehensive placement strategies to better serve clients, increase transparency between retail brokers and specialty insurance markets, reduce frictional costs, and develop exclusive programs and binding authority facilities for its retail members. Offices are located in San Francisco, New York and Atlanta. More information: www.wholesaletradingins.com .

Copyright © 2012 CaliforniaNewswire® and Neotrope®. California Newswire is a publication of the Neotrope News Network and a U.S. reg. TM of Neotrope.

We are recruiting laid-off workers for this special program that provides no-fee job training and placement assistance in high demand industries in the county that have current job openings. This program is designed to benefit employers in many ways, including reimbursement of a substantial portion of wages paid to new hires from this program.

To date, over 700 individuals have signed up to take advantage of this opportunity. Space is still available now that the deadline to enroll has been extended to June 30, 2012. Interested employers and job seekers should contact us immediately by email at neg@css.lacounty.gov or visit our website at www.worksourcecalifornia.com .

"The California Multi-Sector Workforce Partnership addresses 123 mass layoffs in California that have affected over 32,000 workers in 19 industries statewide," said Richard Verches, Executive Director of the Los Angeles County Workforce Investment Board. "In Los Angeles County, we expect nearly 1,000 individuals to take advantage of job services paid for by this grant."

This program will pay for laid-off workers to participate in On-the-Job Training, paid work experience, internships and customized training programs in order to increase their opportunities for employment, and the costs of equipment or transportation, depending upon one's situation.

"The support of government is critical to meet the needs of and support local businesses that employ local residents," said Mr. Verches. "Employers who participate in On-the-Job Training programs can receive recruiting support to locate well-qualified candidates and possible reimbursement for the wages of new employees."

About the Los Angeles County Workforce Investment Board:

The Los Angeles County Workforce Investment Board (WIB) is established by federal law as the oversight and policy body comprised of private business representatives, labor, higher education, government and non-profit partners who are appointed by the Board of Supervisors. The WIB funds 17 one-stop WorkSource Centers to provide employment and training services to residents and businesses in 58 of the County's 88 cities and all 151 unincorporated areas throughout the County.

Copyright © 2012 CaliforniaNewswire® and Neotrope®. California Newswire is a publication of the Neotrope News Network and a U.S. reg. TM of Neotrope.

The secret to PCM's longevity has been a commitment to developing long-term relationships with its clients by delivering unmatched customer service.

"We are in business because of our clients and our attitude to take care of our clients," said CEO Donny Disbro, who took over the firm from his father, Russ and co-founder Jeff Olsen. "We have been able to grow from a single on-site office to managing 127,000 housing units in more than 300 homeowner associations across Southern California and Southern Nevada, because of the trust they placed on us."

PCM recently renewed its 25-year old relationship with Casta del Sol in Mission Viejo. "Our community management team completed a major renovation of our main pool restrooms and locker rooms and they worked diligently with the city and the contractors to resolve building defect issues and deliver a beautiful product," said Bill Burfeind, president of the association. "They are backed up by the expertise of their corporate headquarters and have the ability to deliver a breadth of services that we appreciate."

Last year, PCM made an unprecedented expansion into Southern Nevada to manage eight new communities. "Pulte Group has worked with PCM for more than 20 years and they effortlessly transition the management of our new communities from us to the home owner associations," said Chris Haines, division president of Southern California and Southern Nevada at The Pulte Group. "Their proactive management style upholds the integrity and desirability of the communities they manage."

PCM not only manages the daily business of homeowner associations, it also sponsors events and charitable endeavors that are important to the individual communities. They are also committed to growing and improving the communities they manage and received numerous awards for green practices and service.

"Professional Community Management of California, Inc. has been a trusted partner to the Aliso Viejo Community Association for almost three decades," said Ross Chun, president of the association. "Our members rely on PCM's experience and expertise, and benefit from their dedication to our association, and participation in all that our community does."

The company is also well known in the industry for supporting the professional development of employees, or family members as Disbro calls them. The average PCM employee is with the company for more than ten years.

"I'm a big believer in employee morale," Disbro added. "When our team members are committed to serving our clients and the greater community, the energy among everyone is unstoppable."

PCM is a dedicated supporter of Orange County United Way, youth sports programs and many philanthropic organizations. Since 1998, PCM employees began organizing an in-house campaign that has raised approximately $450,000 to date for Orange County United Way. The company also contributes to youth sports programs throughout the county, reflecting the value of team work and philanthropy.

In 2010, PCM became an Associa company.

Disbro's primary focus moving forward is to lower costs for clients while increasing service and delivering value-added programs.

"Last year we delivered programs such as Associerge(R) and Associa Advantage to our employees and residents of PCM-managed associations," he said. "Having personally benefitted from both services, I can recommend them with total confidence in that they bring substantial cost savings and benefits to our valued clients."

A 24/7 virtual concierge program, Associerge(R) provides a no-cost service to assist callers and online users with services such as party-planning, dry-cleaning pick-up, travel reservations and arrangements and floral delivery.

About Professional Community Management of California, Inc.:

Professional Community Management of California, Inc. (PCM), an Associa company, specializes in the management of Common Interest Developments of homeowner associations for family oriented master-planned developments, resort-style master-planned communities, active-adult master-planned communities, condominium associations and boutique communities throughout Southern California and Southern Nevada.

With headquarters in Lake Forest, Calif., PCM and its companies employ a staff of more than 1,500 people. PCM has offices in serving all of Southern California and Southern Nevada and is recognized by the Multi Housing Council as one of the county's largest managers of common interest developments. Management services by PCM are backed by state-of-the art Internet technology and comprehensive financial and management systems. For additional information, please contact PCM at 800.369.7260 or at www.pcminternet.com .

About Associa:

Building successful communities for more than 30 years, Associa is North America's largest community association management firm and serves its clients with local knowledge, national resources and comprehensive expertise. Based in Dallas, Associa and its 8,000 employees operate more than 150 branch offices in the United States, Mexico and Canada. To learn more about Associa and its charitable organization, Associa Cares, go to www.associaonline.com and www.associacares.com .

Copyright © 2012 CaliforniaNewswire® and Neotrope®. California Newswire is a publication of the Neotrope News Network and a U.S. reg. TM of Neotrope.

That press release noted that SecuGen obtained a permanent injunction against RBH Access Technologies, Inc. and RBH USA, Inc. from importing, offering for sale, distributing or selling within the United States products that incorporate non-licensed Suprema fingerprint sensors. SecuGen now clarifies that, based on information provided by Suprema, RBH Access Technologies, Inc. and RBH USA, Inc. are not Suprema distributors or OEM partners.

About SecuGen:

SecuGen Corporation (www.secugen.com) is the world's leading provider of advanced, optical fingerprint recognition technology, products, tools and platforms for physical and information security. SecuGen designs and develops FBI-certified fingerprint readers and OEM components, developer kits and software, including NIST/MINEX-compliant algorithms. Known for high quality, ruggedness, and performance in a wide variety of applications and environmental conditions, SecuGen products are used by world-leading financial, medical, government, educational and corporate institutions and are sold through a partner network of over 200 original equipment manufacturers, independent software vendors and system integrators around the world.

Since 1998, SecuGen has made considerable investment in research and development for core technologies and to develop, maintain, and protect its valuable worldwide patents. Strengthened and validated through numerous invalidation attempts and upheld in litigation and reexamination, SecuGen's patents and intellectual property cover essential technology required to manufacture compact, durable and high quality optical fingerprint sensors that have been adopted by leading fingerprint vendors in the biometrics industry.

SecuGen(R) is a registered trademark of SecuGen Corp. in the United States and other countries.

Copyright © 2012 CaliforniaNewswire® and Neotrope®. California Newswire is a publication of the Neotrope News Network and a U.S. reg. TM of Neotrope.

“By signing the Multiple Approvals Ordinance today, we are making progress on reforming the zoning code and moving towards a more stable, predictable and transparent land-use regulation system in L.A.,” Mayor Villaraigosa said.

The ordinance was unanimously approved by the City Council on March 30 after extensive outreach involving business groups, development leaders, neighborhood councils, and community stakeholders. It maintains all current land use protections while cutting procedural red tape, simplifying development review and approval utilization, and clarifying local implementation of recent State-mandated extensions of time for approved projects.

Along with clarifying project approval processes, the new regulations will provide assurance and certainty after projects have been approved. Currently, one part of a project approval may expire before others, resulting in duplicate case filings and redundant staff review. The new ordinance simplifies the process by grouping individual approvals into a single project.

“The Multiple Approvals Ordinance will be a huge benefit to infill development projects that often require several approvals in order to be sensitive to the complex needs of existing communities” said Percy Vaz, CEO of AMCAL Multi-Housing. AMCAL has developed market-rate and affordable housing projects throughout Los Angeles.

The new ordinance will also clarify the implementation of three recent State laws – SB 1185 (2008), AB 333 (2009), and AB 208 (2011) – that have extended project approvals during the ongoing economic recovery. The State extensions apply only to some approval types, threatening numerous approved development proposals now seeking financing and securing building permits.

“Approving this ordinance will help our city weather this recovery period and emerge even stronger on the other side,” Mayor Villaraigosa said. “Giving already approved projects the ability to become realized after years of recessionary pressure will stimulate our local economy and drive new investment into Los Angeles.”

The ordinance represents a major step toward realizing the Mayor’s Development Reform Strategic Plan, which includes reforms to the development process that will make Los Angeles a better place to live, work and visit.

In late 2010, the Department of City Planning issued a new blueprint for the department and began a structural reorganization that has allowed them to do more with less.

“The Multiple Approvals Ordinance will help the Department of City Planning to fully implement the blueprint’s ‘one project, one planner’ approach to case processing, allowing interested parties easier, more direct access for customer service,” said City Planning Director Michael LoGrande.

The proposal for the ordinance was approved with broad community support in public hearings at the City Planning Commission in June 2011 and the Planning and Land Use Management Committee in July 2011.

“The Multiple Approvals Ordinance represents a huge step toward realizing the City’s Development Reform Strategic Plan,” said Gary Toebben, President and CEO of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce. “It will simultaneously make the review process simpler and more transparent for business and the community alike.”

Today’s signing ceremony was attended by Councilman and Chair of the City’s Planning and Land Use Management Committee Ed Reyes, Deputy Planning Director Alan Bell, Executive Vice President of Regent Properties Daniel Gryczman, Central Hollywood Neighborhood Council Board Member Laurie Goldman, Percy Vaz and Gary Toebben, among others.

The ordinance will go into effect on May 10, 2012.

For further information visit LosAngelesWorks.org.