Diversity & Inclusion

Have you heard of Silicon Beach? No, it isn’t an offshoot of Silicon Valley. It is a phenomenon emerging in West Los Angeles, home of The Promenade at Howard Hughes Center, a mixed-use development with office, residential, hotel, retail, restaurant and entertainment offerings.

Silicon Beach has taken its name from Silicon Valley — both are notable for the number of creative business start-ups.

MIAMI — Ryder System, a leading commercial transportation and supply chain management solutions provider, has appointed Karen Jones as SVP and chief marketing officer. She will report to chairman and CEO Robert Sanchez.

Jones will be responsible for leading both the Fleet Management Solutions and Supply Chain Solutions marketing departments and integrating the management of all marketing and brand related activities across Ryder.

Walmart awarded a $500,000 grant to the Northwest Arkansas Council to support the advancement of healthy living and economic improvement initiatives throughout Northwest Arkansas. 

The grant is part of a three-year commitment by Walmart to fund the Greater Northwest Arkansas Development Strategy, a regional growth and development plan spearheaded in 2010 by the Northwest Arkansas Council, local chambers of commerce and other organizations. 

Special guest judge, Marlon Wayans, was on hand to help Miller Lite select the winner of the brand's national comedy competition "Stand Up. It's Miller Time."

Mason, Ohio -- Pearle Vision will unveil its new store design on Sept. 17 in Legacy Village, Lyndhurst, Ohio. The new Cleveland-area location features a completely remodeled design, which includes everything from a new brand logo and signage to modernized displays and a completely transformed floor plan. The store design is by WD Partners, Columbus, Ohio.

Richfield, Minn. -- Hubert Joly, president and CEO of Best Buy Co., Inc., exercised and sold 350,467 stock options and sold 100,686 shares of company stock on Sept. 6. Joly sold the stock due to circumstances relating to his divorce that was concluded in June of this year.

“As reflected in the Form 4, Joly's holdings remain substantially in excess of his 140,000 share ownership target under the company's executive stock ownership guidelines following the reported transaction,” Best Buy said in a press release.

Columbus, Ohio – Employees at the Victoria’s Secret store in Herald Square, New York City have reportedly won concessions on pay and promotions from the retailer. According to CNNMoney, following a petition effort started by employees at the store in June of this year, Victoria’s Secret agreed to give them pay raises between $1 and $2 per hour and also start promoting employees at the location.

FAIRFIELD, Calif. — Jelly Belly has introduced Camo Beans, a special selection of jelly beans inspired by the art of camouflage, as part of its initiative to support military families.

Jelly Belly Camo Beans come in 3.5-oz. bags in 12-ct. cases and come with seven flavors inside each bag: chocolate pudding, green apple, licorice, juicy pear, orange sherbet, toasted marshmallow and watermelon.

Dayton, Ohio -- Retail design and brand strategy firm Interbrand Design Forum, the retail division of Interbrand, said it has hired Dirk Defenbaugh as managing director.

New York - Tiffany has appointed Francesca Amfitheatrof as design director effective immediately. She will oversee design of all Tiffany product categories.

Amfitheatrof’s background is as a jewelry designer and silversmith. Her designs have been sold internationally, including at the Museum of Modern Art in New York and Colette in Paris.