To better reflect its member companies, the Software Council of Southern California has changed its name. The new name of the Technology Council of Southern California took effect on June 7. Council Chairman Jon Kraft said the name change had been in the works for about two years and was done because of an evolution in the technology industry in Southern California. “We’re seeing tremendous growth in mobile technology and digital media, a lot of areas in which the companies don’t identify themselves as software companies but there is synergy with the software community,” Kraft said. “We thought there was an opportunity to create connections between all these tech companies that will benefit everyone.” The name change also reflects an evolving role the council has for being a resource to companies that don’t fall under the software category, said Kraft, who is president of Auryn, an animation technology company. The name change was approved by the council’s board of directors in collaboration with membership and sponsors. Ron Peeters, executive vice president of Xytech Systems in Burbank, is among the council’s directors. Chad Olson, vice president of sales and marketing at software development company R.I.S. Inc., is the organization’s Valley chapter chairman. The council serves companies ranging from start ups to large global technology companies. Venture capitalists, attorneys and others who provide services to the tech community are allowed in as associate members. The organization’s core offerings are networking events, industry connections, information and resources. “Our events range from mutual education programs, networking events, two of the area’s flagship events our annual awards gala and Venturenet, a venture capital fundraising event,” Kraft said. The council’s focus areas are Los Angeles, San Fernando Valley and Orange County “The Valley is a tremendous growth area for technology,” Kraft said. “Southern California as a whole is an underrated region for technology.” The wireless sector was one area identified by Kraft as one that is undergoing tremendous growth and said that Southern California has become a hub for the wireless industry. The Valley and Los Angeles has also become a dominant region nationally for companies developing digital media, Kraft added. Expanding to Texas The website for Assistingu.com is not unlike the shoemaker’s children the last one to be updated because the company is busy working on its client’s sites, quipped President and Chief Executive Officer Tim Keaney. The Simi Valley-based Internet design and host company is now reaching out to new customers in the Austin, Texas area when it opens an office there in August. The family-owned and operated firm set its sights on Austin because it often topped lists of areas undergoing economic growth, Keaney said. “We could have done it virtually but we wanted to build relationships in person and immerse ourselves in the community,” Keaney said. The company was founded six years ago and counts small businesses, not for profits and governmental agencies such as park districts and school districts among its clients. “We work well with businesses that don’t have a lot of money to waste,” Keaney said. A key to a successful website these days, Keaney said is that it needs to be interactive and provide fresh, updated information for the user. “People are going to come back for more and more information,” Keaney said. “They are not going back to a static page.” Assistingu.com’s foray into Texas is the just the first of what could be multiple expansions. The company is also looking at other areas where there is growth in the business community, such as South Carolina and North Carolina, Keaney said. More Than a Store Wes and Alison Roelke have brought a bit of Japanese culture to Newbury Park with their retail shop J-pop and its accompanying web presence at myspace.com The couple opened the shop two months ago and has engaged marketing firm DegreesInc, also in Newbury Park, to devise strategies to put a campaign together. Recognizing that she and Wes had little expertise in marketing, the couple sought out an outside firm. She interviewed three firms before deciding to go with DegreesInc., Alison Roelke said. “They had an interesting model themselves that focused on the kids market,” Alison Roelke said. The retail store sells video games, anime DVDs, action figures and costumes, much of which is imported from Japan. Their selection is what sets the business apart from others, Wes Roelke said. “No one can compete with us in selection,” Wes Roelke added. “There are other places but we take it to a depth the area has not seen before.” But J-Pop is more than just a store. It hosts children’s birthday parties and hosts themed events, such as ones based on the characters from Naruto, a Japanese anime series. The store is attempting to create a community, a safe place for children to go to play video games and allows parents to experience first hand what interests their child, Wes Roelke said. Rather than go with traditional forms of marketing such as newspaper ads and television commercials, DegreesInc. steered J-pop toward the Internet and the social networking site myspace.com and auction site eBay, said brand marketing director Rob Wickens. Through the Internet, the store could better reach its target demographic as many anime enthusiasts and collectors can be found there, Wickens said. “With their limited budget we had to go with what was most effective,” Wickens said. The Roelke’s originally were located in a kiosk at the Westlake Promenade before moving to their new retail space that was designed and set up by DegreesInc. With the Newbury Park shop in place, the marketing firm is looking into having J-pop open a second location, Wickens said.
