Costa Mesa company wins technology award Costa...

Costa Mesa company wins technology award

Costa Mesa-based Vigilistics Inc. won the best of show award at

last weekend’s VentureNet technology conference in Newport Beach.

Vigilistics, a company that designs, fabricates, installs and

maintains automation controls, manufacturing systems and processing

operations, was one of 10 new technology companies selected to

present its business plan to a panel of business investors.

The event, held at the Four Seasons Hotel, is one of two held by

the Software Council of Southern California, a trade group that

serves the local technology community.

More than 330 investors and senior executives from the area’s

technology companies attended the conference.

Companies announce fundraising project

Fletcher Jones Motorcars is teaming with Saks Fifth Avenue and

Mercedes-Benz USA to launch a fundraising program called Key to a

Cure.

In conjunction with National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in

October, Key to a Cure will benefit more than 60 charitable programs

across the nation that are dedicated to finding new treatments for

breast cancer. Mercedes-Benz and Fletcher Jones hope to raise more

than $1 million through sales of vehicles.

Arts center names education director

The Orange County Performing Arts Center announced last week that

it has named Nancy Warzer-Brady as its director of education and

community programs. She replaces Troy Botello, who has worked with

the center for the past 15 years.

Warzer-Brady, who joined the center in 2004, previously served as

director of arts, humanities and fundraising for UC Irvine extension

and headed educational programs at the Bowers Museum of Cultural Art

in Santa Ana. She has also held administrative roles at the State

University of New York in Albany, the New York State Council on the

Arts and the American-Scandinavian Foundation.

As director of education for the center, she will oversee a number

of programs, including the Summer Teacher Professional Development

Institute, a series of performances for young children and workshop

for at-risk teenagers.

Coast district names employee of year

Joe Wild, the lead mechanic for the Coast Community College

District’s transportation department, has been named the district’s

2004-05 employee of the year.

A 31-year veteran of the district, Wild oversees service and

maintenance for all the district’s vehicles. He was named district

employee of the year in 1996 as well.

“I am honored, grateful and even a little embarrassed because

there are so many wonderful people at the district who also deserve

this award,” Wild said in a statement. “I am truly shocked to have

received this award from my colleagues.”

Wild beat out six other nominees for the honor: human resource

specialists Carolene Backley and Cathy Mesenbrink, staff assistant

Nancy Hatley, recruitment supervisor Shannon O’Connor, buyer Jan

Olufson and senior account clerk Karen Plaia.