• Howard’s, the La Habra-based independent appliance/TV/mattress retailer, announced today that its board of directors has appointed Peter Boutros as its new CEO. Boutros will also join the company’s board of directors. Boutros is a respected retail and branded consumer goods executive with broad management experience leading customer-centered teams and directing company-wide functions. 

• Gianna R. French has been hired as national account manager for the San Francisco office of Stewart Title Guaranty Company – National Commercial Services. During her career, French has closed countless sophisticated commercial real estate transactions and served as underwriting title counsel for a prominent title insurance company, assisting clients in risks evaluation on behalf of the company and clearing title to real property transactions in preparation to close.  

• Cayla Kondo has joined C&R, a leading public relations agency in the luxury real estate and hospitality industries, as VP, real estate. Kondo joins C&R most recently from Concord Companies, a vertically integrated real estate corporation based in Beverly Hills, CA with an estimated $1B AUM across the U.S. There, as chief marketing officer, Kondo was responsible for all marketing, branding, and communications for the organization.  

• Four Corners Property Trust has acquired three newly built properties for $5.2 million. The portfolio spans three brands: Aspen Dental, Starbucks, and WellNow Urgent Care. The properties are newly constructed and located in a strong retail corridor in Michigan and are all corporate-operated under long-term net leases. The transaction was priced at a 6.9% cap rate on rent as of the closing date, exclusive of transaction costs. 

• Federal Realty Investment Trust has earned a place on The San Francisco Chronicle’s 2023 Top Workplaces list for its commitment to employee well-being and satisfaction. The list ranks the best workplaces in the Bay Area based solely on employee feedback. 

• Hestia Venture Partners, a San Francisco-based venture firm investing at the intersection of proptech and climate tech, as well as in targeted real estate assets, acquired Davis Research Station, an ag tech research facility in Davis. The 40-acre property encompasses office, lab and greenhouse space, plus significant acreage for row crops. The facility sits adjacent to University of California, Davis, which is ranked among the best universities in the world for agriculture and food sciences. 

• GoDocs, a leader in automated commercial loan document automation, has launched an on-demand webinar, Navigating Loan Modification Demand in Commercial Lending. It addresses a spectrum of critical subjects for commercial lenders, including: Unveiling Loan Modification Data, Identifying Market Opportunities, Best Practices for Streamlining Loan Modifications and Perspectives from Expert Commercial Lenders. 

• Knightscope, Inc., a Mountain View-based developer of autonomous security robots and blue light emergency communication systems, has secured a new seven-robot contract with a publicly traded biotechnology company that invents, develops, and commercializes life-transforming medicines for people with serious diseases. The Company’s new client subscribed to one K5 Autonomous Security Robot assigned to patrol a four-story garage and six K1-Tower ASRs that will watch over building entrances, open areas and parking lots throughout the corporate campus. 

• CoreLogic, the property data and insights provider, is hosting a live wildfires webinar, “Fire on the Horizon,” on Tuesday, Sept. 12 at 9:00 am PT / 12:00 pm ET. The presentation and open Q&A by five CoreLogic experts will highlight the 2023 Wildfire Risk report, shedding light on the critical issue of wildfires and their impact on communities, property, and the insurance industry. Experts will discuss best practices for underwriters and mitigation for homeowners in reducing their risk this year, while also discussing regulation and insurability in wildfire-prone areas. 

Connect Orange County will take place Sept. 27, 2023 at VEA | Newport Beach Marriott in Newport Beach, concurrently with Connect Healthcare Real Estate on Sept. 27 and 28. Click here to register for Connect Orange County, and here to register for Connect Healthcare Real Estate.