SFVBJ BI-WEEKLY LISTS

Corporate Hotels Loosen Up, Go Boutique

Hospitality: Trendy makeovers continue at Valley-area lodgings.

LIST STORY: Business travelers can choose: Chain hotels or boutiques? Includes SFVBJ's 2013 VALLEY'S LARGEST HOTELS list for download (pdf)

Growth a Challenge at Women-Owned Businesses

Management: Top firms enjoy success, but owners pay price in long hours.

STORY: Women-owned businesses across the Valley area report growth in 2012.

Indoor Shopping Malls Find New Life Outdoors

Development: Owners add patios, other innovations to attract shoppers.

STORY: Shopping centers remodeled during the recession and now expect to reap the rewards.

Government May Loosen SBA Purse Strings

Lending: Borrowers could qualify for loans despite investors, personal assets.

STORY: The feds want to make it easier to get an SBA loan.

Lean Firms Go Toe-to-Toe with Corporate Giants

Profitable: Crown Media, Cherokee rank highest on return-on-equity list.

Even small companies can give investors a big return on equity. Includes SFVBJ's 2013 VALLEY'S LARGEST PUBLICLY TRADED COs list and MOST PROFITABLE COs for download (pdf)

Private Schools Flex Financial Muscles at Rivals

Education: New programs, flexible schedules offered to attract more students.

STORY: Private high schools attract affluent students with high technology and flex hours. Includes SFVBJ's 2013 VALLEY'S LARGEST PRIVATE and PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS lists for download (pdf)

Membership Rolls Rebounding from Recession

Chambers: Organizations lower fees, add programs following downturn.

THE LIST STORY: Chamber executive look forward to increasing membership and programs. Includes SFVBJ's 2013 CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE FIRMS list for download (pdf)

Accounting Firms Gear Up for Expanding Economy

LIST: Local firms saw slow CPA growth in 2012 but expect to boost hiring.

STORY: Accounting firms look forward to growth in 2013. Includes SFVBJ's 2013 TOP ACCOUNTING FIRMS list for download (pdf)

Tenant Retention a Challenge Amid Slow Recovery

Leasing: Property managers offer amenities like Wi-Fi to add value to offices.

LIST STORY: Property managers want to keep tenants at their current addresses. Includes SFVBJ's 2013 PROPERTY MANAGEMENT FIRMS list for download (pdf)

Market Swings Put Money Managers in the Money

Investing: Local firms see funds under management grow during wild year.

Story: Management firms grow in turbulent year. Includes SFVBJ's 2013 MONEY MANAGEMENT FIRMS list for download (pdf)

Hospitals Slowly Recuperating from Long Recession

LIST: Revenue falls at Valley-area facilities as patient rolls thin out.

STORY: Hospitals pick a niche and specialize services to grow revenue. Includes SFVBJ's 2012 VALLEY'S HOSPITALS list for download (pdf)

Nonprofits Lift Themselves Above Bottom Line

Charities: Large area groups adopt business mentality after recession.

STORY: As donations have dwindled, savvy nonprofit managers have created new revenue streams. Includes SFVBJ's 2012 VALLEY'S LARGEST FIXED BASED OPERATORS list for download (pdf)

Valley Surging On Connection To Technology

FASTEST: Tech companies dominate the Business Journal’s list of Fastest Growing Private Companies. Includes SFVBJ's 2012 VALLEY'S FASTEST-GROWING PRIVATE COs list for download (pdf)

Local Schools Find International Business Growing

EDUCATION: Overseas, younger students fueling growth in area programs.

LIST STORY: Valley-area graduate programs in business see a continued upward trend in applicants and graduates. Includes SFVBJ's 2012 VALLEY'S LARGEST COLLEGE and UNIVERSITY BUSINESS PROGRAMS list for download (pdf)

Valley’s Largest Credit Unions Holding Steady

list: Burbank-based Logix tops list of 35 largest credit unions in valley region.

LIST STORY: Numbers are holding steady for area credit unions. Includes SFVBJ's 2012 VALLEY'S LARGEST CREDIT UNIONS list for download (pdf)

Auto Dealers and Buyers Showing Confidence

Sales: Financial incentives, new Models are bringing shoppers back to dealers.

LIST STORY: Auto dealers report optimism on sales. Includes SFVBJ's 2012 VALLEY'S LARGEST AUTO DEALERS list for download (pdf)

Valley Aerospace and Defense Firms Top List

manufacturing: Largest manufacturers list features 17 new faces in rankings.

List story: Largest Manufacturing List has aerospace and defense firms on top. Includes SFVBJ's 2012 VALLEY'S LARGEST MANUFACTURERS list for download (pdf)

Valley Advertising, PR Firms Expand Services

List: Online firms ValueClick and ReachLocal rank as Valley’s largest players.

LIST STORY: Valley advertising, PR firms expand digital and global footprint. Includes SFVBJ's 2012 VALLEY'S LARGEST ADVERTISING and PUBLIC RELATIONS AGENCIES list for download (pdf)

Valley Accounting Firms Eyeing Tax Laws, Mergers

TAX: Valley accounting firms prepare for mergers and 2013 tax law changes. Includes SFVBJ's 2012 VALLEY'S LARGEST ACCOUNTING FIRMS list for download (pdf)

Valley Meeting and Convention Business on Up Swing

PROMOTION: Valley now has representative to promote meeting facilities.

Area meeting venues struggle to bounce back from the recession. Includes SFVBJ's 2012 LARGEST MEETING FACILITIES list for download (pdf)

As Executive Travel Returns, Hotel Occupancy Rises

HOSPITALITY: Valley hotel properties invest in renovations and hire new employees.

Business travel a boosts Valley region hotel industry. Includes SFVBJ's 2012 LARGEST HOTELS list for download (pdf)

Outlook Favorable For Small Business Lending in 2012

Finance: Los Angeles area tops the nation with SBA loans for expansion, new equipment.

ABOUT THE LIST: Largest SBA Lenders. Includes SFVBJ's 2012 SBA LENDERS list for download (pdf)

Repackaging the Malls

Valley Malls Get Makeovers to Stay Competitive

We take a look at Valley shopping centers currently in the midst of revamps and redevelopments. Includes SFVBJ's 2012 LARGEST SHOPPING CENTERS list for download (pdf)

Private Schools Compete with Adjusted Business Plans

Lessons: Valley institutions adding space, online courses and interest-based tracks.

List Story: Valley private schools make moves to remain competitive. Includes SFVBJ's 2012 VALLEY'S LARGEST PRIVATE and PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS lists for download (pdf)

The Walt Disney Co. Reigns on Public Companies List

Diverse: Public companies touch on many industry sectors, including health care, aerospace.

LIST STORY: We analyze the top public companies that made our list. Includes SFVBJ's 2012 VALLEY'S LARGEST PUBLIC COMPANIES list for download (pdf)

Rising Earnings, Stock Lead to Higher Compensation

PAY: Chief executives of Valley public companies benefit from pay for performance packages.

LIST STORY: Board leaders speak out on executive compensation. Includes SFVBJ's 2012 VALLEY'S HIGHEST PAID CEOs and the 2012 PUBLIC COMPANIES PROFITABILITY INDEX lists for download (pdf)

Real Estate Brokerage Firms Predict Bright Spots For 2012

Growth: Apartment sales will remain hot this year as other markets begin to warm up.

ABOUT THE LISTS. Includes SFVBJ's 2012 REAL ESTATE BROKERAGE FIRMS, PROPERTY MANAGEMENT FIRMS, LEASED OFFICE SPACES, and SOLD OFFICE SPACES lists for download (pdf)

Chambers Use Programs to Bring Value to Members

Assistance: Beautification efforts, and farmers markets among Valley examples.

LIST STORY: Valley Area Chambers of Commerce Listed in alphabetical order. Includes SFVBJ's 2012 VALLEY AREA CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE list for download (pdf)

Encino Law Firm Rises to Top for Ninth Straight Year

LIST: Michelman & Robinson, LLP has 54 attorneys in Valley region and keeps hiring.

LIST STORY - LARGEST LAW FIRMS: List of firms by key practice areas, number of attorneys, number of employees. Includes SFVBJ's 2012 LARGEST LAW Firms lists for download (pdf)

Careful Planning Drives Demand for Wealth Advisors

invest: Real estate seen as good investment as banks hold off on making loans.

New opportunities and new clients increase assets at money management firms. Includes SFVBJ's 2012 LARGEST MONEY MANAGEMENT Firms list for download (pdf)