Biz News: Costa Mesa electric automaker to introduce new car this summer
Karma Automotive, a Costa Mesa-based electric automaker, is introducing a new car this summer.
The Revero, a luxury sedan, is being made at Karma’s Moreno Valley production facility. Asking prices or specific launch dates were not available.
Karma also recently hired Dennis Dougherty as its president and chief operations officer.
“Dennis brings with him extensive operations experience in the U.S., China and Mexico, which will be invaluable as we launch the Revero and expand our global footprint,” CEO Tom Corcoran said in a statement.
Karma was formerly known as Fisker Automotive and Technology Group, also based in Costa Mesa. Karma is owned by Wanxiang Group, an international automotive component conglomerate.
Ultra Mobile names president, COO
Ultra Mobile, based in Costa Mesa, recently named Sherrie Simmons as its chief operations officer.
Simmons will be “responsible for streamlining product release cycles and improving overall efficiency with new launches, overseeing innovation and development initiatives,” according to a news release.
She has worked for Toyota and Nissan, among other companies. Simmons is a graduate of Cal State Fullerton, with a master’s from Cal Poly Pomona.
“Sherrie’s background and skill set in both technology and operational management will be instrumental in driving Ultra Mobile’s continued growth at this stage of our development,” said Ultra Mobile President Tyler Leshney in a statement. “At this pivotal moment in Ultra’s growth, we were looking for talent that complemented the company’s scrappy, development mentality with a thorough understanding of global operations.”
Irvine company promotes language-learning products
Neuroscientists Kaveh Azartash and Dhonam Pemba, who earned their PhDs from UC Irvine, have developed language-learning products designed to help young children.
Their Irvine-based company, Kadho, distributes electronic games and e-books that teach children how to learn sounds associated with 12 major languages.
For more information, visit www.kadho.com.
Photo shoot store opens at Fashion Island
Blink Inc., a photo shoot store, has opened at Fashion Island in Newport Beach.
The business offers shoots starting at $25. Walk-ins and reservations are accepted.
“Whether you’re an aspiring blogger who wants editorial-quality photos to [a] corporate executive looking for head shots or an engaged or expecting couple who want stylish portraits, Blink Inc. is perfect for anyone looking for sleek, professional images,” Easther Liu, chief marketing officer for Irvine Co. Retail Properties, said in a statement.
Blink Inc. is in Atrium Court, next to Restoration Hardware.
Park Place honored with industry award
Park Place in Irvine was recently honored during the Building Owners and Managers Assn.’s conference and expo in Washington, D.C.
The development received a TOBY (The Outstanding Building of the Year) Award in the renovated building category.
Park Place — a mixed-use campus off Michelson Drive with office, retail and residential — is owned and managed by LBA Realty.
It was first built in the 1970s and underwent an extensive renovation, with enhancements to building entries, landscaping, common areas and amenities. Park Place also received energy-saving retrofitting, new technologies and a sustainable landscape pallet, according to the Building Owners and Managers Assn. website.
Marijuana company moves to Irvine
Cannabis Science, Inc., which develops cannabis-based medicines, announced that it is moving its headquarters from Colorado to Irvine.
The company said the move to 19800 MacArthur Blvd., Suite 300, is temporary, and it is looking at Washington, D.C. as its “next and possibly fully functional” headquarters.
Being in California puts Cannabis Science “in closer proximity to its vital laboratory resources, key distributors and many patients,” according to a news release. The company sees potential in California because the state is looking to legalize recreational use of marijuana with a vote in November.