May 2009 Update

Thanks so much for the feedback on this BLOG, but thank you more for supporting the friends highlighted below. In this tough, turbulent economy, it's great to provide some positive news; however, regardless of the highs and lows, it's wonderful to see people helping people. Love it.

There has been a ton of work going on within our “friends network.” Here are some additional friends turning hobbies into businesses and/or pushing forward with long-time dreams and passions. All the best everyone!

1. MARIE TEAGARDIN PHOTOGRAPHY – (http://www.teagardin.com/) – Marie and husband Mike are good friends, and very talented photographers. We all met in the early 1990's during our days at Andersen Consulting and we've stayed friends ever since. She mainly focuses her business in the South Bay, Brentwood and Palos Verdes, but does venture outside the area as well. She will be opening a studio in Brentwood (Barrington & Sunset) on June 1st. Check out the BLOG on her website for updates and more details. Marie has taken our family photos on a couple occasions and we've always been thrilled with the results.

2. HARPER’S ISLAND (TV SHOW ON CBS) – Karim Zreik, Dan Shotz and Jon Turteltaub from Junction Entertainment have another great show on network TV (Saturday nights at 9 PM on CBS). We’ve been watching each week and things are getting really interesting on the island. For more information, check out their BLOG -> http://www.tvwithoutpity.com/ then click “blogs” for Karim’s “Notes of an Assassin” episodic breakdown. For episodes go to http://www.cbs.com/ or http://www.youtube.com/. For “webisodes” see http://www.harpersglobe.com/.

3. STORYNAUT PRODUCTIONS – (http://www.storynaut.com/) – Bill Ellis, a friend from Herbalife, has launched a new company called Storynaut Productions. It's a small start-up focused on cool stories, modest budgets, and leveraging new marketing and distribution channels. They are currently in pre-production for their first two feature-length movies, with targeted completion dates next year. Check out their website, track their progress and get involved.

4. KINDRED – (http://www.shopkindred.com/) – Nichole and Dave Cortese have been friends for many years and are great supporters of many companies on this BLOG. When I heard of their “Twelvesies” idea I instantly loved it. On their website, they offer several items including a “Twelvesies Deluxe Gift Set” to document baby’s first year with a monthly birthday photo shoot. These unique onesies are screen printed with “1 month” all the way up to “12 months” and make the perfect “wardrobe” to take baby’s photo each month. Watch as baby’s growth unfolds in the Twelvesies accordion album.

5. SOCALTECH.COM – (http://www.socalTECH.com/) – Benjamin Kuo and I met in our EE program as USC…he was the one that “set the curve” most of the time! This incredible website provides news and information about high tech companies in Southern California, and is used to find new customers, keep updated on industry news, and learn more about what's happening in high tech and venture capital. His firm also runs silicontap.com (Silicon Valley technology news), techrockies.com (Rocky Mountains), nwinnovation.com (Pacific Northwest), and texastechpulse.com (Texas). These sites are really great resources on funding and new company information.

6. TYPE A RESOURCES – (http://www.typearesources.com/) – JM Bascom and I met a few years ago through mutual friends. She’s a very talented woman who is currently President of the Project Management Institute (PMI), Los Angeles Chapter. Type A Resources is a recruitment agency in Los Angeles, specializing in the placement of Project & Program Managers, working with both individual candidates and corporate clients. JM’s professional experience is across several industries including IT, Web Design, Entertainment (film and television), Mortgage Services, eLearning, Professional Services, and Consulting. She has a large network of available, talented and qualified Project and Program Managers. JM also recently started an online BLOG called Gumptionista (http://www.gumptionista.com/). Her BLOG is for “strong, sassy, authentic, and self-aware women, who fight for what they believe in. Women who speak with conviction, embrace their true self, empower and inspire others.”

7. LA PHOTOGRAPHER – (http://www.laphotographer.org/) – Gene Avakyan, a friend from Pepperdine grad school and a great supporter of many fundraising events. He’s been a photographer for many years and focuses on portrait, event, fine art, wedding and commercial photography. Check out his website for samples of his pictures and to find out more information about his many talents – video, graphic design, etc.

8. THE DOMAIN RESERVE – (http://www.thedomainreserve.com/) – Sanford Fitelson, a friend from Pepperdine and Herbalife recently launched a new business. “Thinking about setting up your own website? Look to TheDomainReserve.com for all of your domain and website needs at competitive prices. Get a new domain name for only $1.99 with the purchase of a web hosting package for as little as $3.99/month. You could have your own website up and running for as little as $6.00. Plus we offer more advanced features for businesses such as shopping cart, website analytics, SSL certificates, and dedicated servers. Best of all, we have the most incredible 24/7 customer support group around. Give a call if you have any questions and we're sure you will be floored by our friendly, domestic, and helpful personnel.”

9. EVENTFUL MOMENTS– (http://www.eventful-moments.com/) – Kim Tittle is a long-time friend (Junior High School I think) and a consistent supporter of many "friends" events and businesses. She recently went out on her own to start Eventful Moments - a boutique event production company based in Los Angeles focusing on weddings, mitzvah, corporate dinner and film premiere events. She's very talented, service oriented and an all-around fantastic person.