Biz News: Groundbreaking set for Hoag Health Center Irvine
Newport Beach-based Hoag Hospital will break ground Thursday for Hoag Health Center Irvine.
The ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. at Alton Parkway and Sand Canyon Avenue, near Hoag Hospital Irvine.
Hoag Health Center Irvine will encompass 150,000 square feet of medical space and provide an array of primary and specialty healthcare services. It is scheduled to open in early 2016.
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Irvine Marriott to host entrepreneurs
The Irvine Marriott is one of the hotel chain’s first sites to have a new restaurant incubator program for food and drink entrepreneurs.
The program, called Canvas, will “help hungry entrepreneurs realize their vision for amazing food and drink concepts in the company’s hotels,” Marriott said in a news release. The company will accept ideas from chefs and bartenders through Friday in a competition at https://www.canvas-startup.com. Winners will be given kitchen space and other resources to develop their ideas.
Locally, that will include the 500-square-foot former private dining room at the Irvine Marriott. Other sites are in Phoenix and Shenzhen, China.
Marriott plans to make documentary “webisodes” about people participating in the Canvas program. After six months, the chain will evaluate each concept based on popularity and return on investment.
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Alliant Insurance acquires Eastern firm
Newport Beach-based Alliant Insurance Services, the nation’s largest specialty insurance brokerage firm, said it has acquired American Benefits Consulting, an employee-benefits consulting firm with offices in New York and Pennsylvania. Terms were not disclosed.
It is Alliant’s third such acquisition in the Northeast in the past year.
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Thomas Bradford launches with Newport office
Real estate professionals Peter Thomas and Mitchell Bradford announced that they have launched Thomas Bradford Communities, a new residential investment and development company with offices in Newport Beach and Phoenix.
The company plans to acquire $100 million worth of residential assets in the next 24 to 30 months, with a focus on existing multifamily communities of 50 to 400 units, especially in Southern California, Arizona and Nevada.
“TBC transforms outdated properties by improving design and function to appeal to everyone from millennials to ‘empty-nesters’ seeking a living environment that is hip, inviting and connects with their lifestyle,” Bradford said in a statement.
The company’s Newport Beach office is at 4940 Campus Drive.
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Pacific Club to host economic presentation
The Orange County chapter of the Risk Management Assn. will present a 2015 economic forecast by Christopher Thornberg, founding partner of Beacon Economics LLC, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Jan. 21 at The Pacific Club, 4110 MacArthur Blvd., Newport Beach.
The cost is $95 by Thursday and $115 afterward. To register, visit community.rmahq.org/orangecounty or call Vicki Phillipy at (714) 267-5281.
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Dental office opens in Newport Center
Dental practice Newport Center Smile Design opened recently across from Fashion Island in Newport Beach.
The office, led by Dr. K. Douglas Barker, is at 400 Newport Center Drive, Suite 408.
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UCI Extension names marketing director
UC Irvine Extension, the university’s continuing-education arm, appointed Tim Keef as director of marketing and communications.
He will lead the promotion of UCI Extension’s certificate and specialized study programs in business, engineering and sciences, education and other departments. He also will head the planning of new branding and messaging.
“By generating increased awareness for the school and its various programs, we hope to serve many more students seeking to better themselves both professionally and personally,” Keef said in a statement. “Continuing education has become increasingly more important, and UC Irvine Extension has been and continues to be a leader in the space.”
Before joining UCI Extension, Keef was head of online marketing at RED Digital Cinema and senior manager of marketing at Disney/ABC Television Group.
--From staff reports