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SANTA CLARITA VALLEY BUSINESS JOURNAL Santa Clarita’s Only Business Publication
www.scvbj.com
$2.00 · Volume 7 · Number 11
march 2016
To the Moon and Back for Valencia Firm Page 5 ■ The Comisar Collection has had a 20 year association with Warner Bros. by providing original artifacts for exhibits. Photo from the Museum of TV website.
The Museum of Television Takes a Peek at Santa Clarita By Jana Adkins SCVBJ Editor
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lthough only taking a preliminary look at Santa Clarita, The Museum of Television in Beverly Hills is in conversations with a See MUSEUM page 18
■ Cicoil Corporation in Valencia. Photo by Dan Watson
New Media Team Puts Control of SCV News Group Back into Local Hands
SCV Firm Reportedly Attracts $75M Investment By Jana Adkins SCVBJ Editor
T ■ Newsroom of the Santa Clarita Valley Signal. Photo by Dan Watson.
By Jana Adkins SCVBJ Editor
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he SCVBJ welcomed new buyers on Jan. 1, the Paladin Multi-Media Group. In a stunning announcement on Dec. 15, 2015 ownership of the 97-year old Signal newspaper, ownership of this publication’s media company, came back home to Santa Clarita. The hometown and homegrown newspaper had been owned by Georgia-based Morris Multimedia group for more than three decades.
Now privately owned, the Paladin MultiMedia Group consists of Charles F. Champion, longtime business partner Gary Sproule, and former Signal Publisher Russ Briley. Of special note, the new ownership team personally prefers not to be called “owners” saying they are only stewards whose role is to ensure the continuation of the newspaper and its products for generations to come. During this sit down Q&A with the new owners, questions were plentiful and specific responses somewhat elusive – for good reason. It had only been six weeks into the ownership See PALADIN, page 20
he blockbuster movie “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” may be playing at multiple screens in theaters around the country, but its marketing materials are expertly handled behind the scenes by Vision Media Management. And, the Valencia-based firm just had a blockbuster event of its own. Private equity firm, CenterGate Capital, has just bet big on Vision, making a sizeable investment in the firm. “Today I’m so happy for our people, our employees, our Vision family, and thrilled for our clients,” said Founder Michael Alvarez. “This re-capitalization from a phenomenal partner, CenterGate Capital, has
■ From left, Vision Media Management CFO Michael McLaughlin, Chief Operating Officer Mary Nakagawa and CEO and President Michael Alvarez in the Vision Media Management conference room. Photo by Dan Watson.
given us such great opportunities on so many levels.” A provider of fulfillment services and technology solutions to entertainment and See VISION, page 7
SCV Native on Forbes List After Raising $1.8M By Jana Adkins SCVBJ Editor
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ormer Santa Clarita resident and Hart High graduate Andrew Yakub was just named a 2016 Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree in Energy; raised $1.8 million for his second company, Santa Monica-based Rayton Solar; and hopes to open a manufacturing plant in Santa Clarita by the Q1 2017. And he still leases space in Valencia for his first company, ReGen America.
While saying it is absolutely possible to make solar energy cheaper than energy generated from fossil fuels, Yakub hopes to spark a much larger conversation about solar panels and their potential to solve current and future energy crises. With silicon being the most expensive component of a solar panel, Yakub set out with the second company he founded, Rayton Solar, to find a cheaper way to make panels. Rather than using traditional methods of cutting the silicon wafers, the firm See RAYTON, page 16
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