BRIEFLY IN BUSINESS

Vestal nominated for brand award

Costa Mesa-based Vestal Watch Inc. announced last week that the Surf Industry Manu- facturers Assn. nominated the company for the Breakthrough Brand of the Year honor.

The award is given to companies in the surf industry that have grown in products, brand recognition and appeal.

Vestal has been nominated twice in as many years for the award.

The association will present the award during its Surf Summit in Cabo San Lucas May 16 through May 19.

Hurley adds young shredder to surf team

Costa Mesa-based Hurley announced it signed a Florida boy to its surf team.

Up-and-comer Evan Geiselman, 13, started surfing when he was 7 years old and since then he’s competed across the country, winning fifth place at the Billabong Pro Jr. in March.

According to Hurley, Evan’s style in the water mimics Rob Machado’s — Hurley’s main man — who has had 12 career World Championship Tour victories, including last year’s U.S. Open of Surfing.

Hurley focuses on youth in its surf, skate, art and music brand. The company is expanding its surf team.

“We’re thrilled to have Evan join the Hurley team,” Hurley’s surf marketing manager Pat O’Connell said in a news release. “This new group of riders reminds me of the Momentum generation — at only 13 years old, Evan is driven, ambitious and is already competing against kids who are years older than him.”

Sprinkles Cupcakes adds Dallas location

Sprinkles Cupcakes, which has a Newport Beach cupcake bakery, is expanding outside California, baking the treats in Dallas.

The Texas location will be bigger than both its Beverly Hills flagship bakery and the Newport location, which opened last year.

Sprinkles Dallas will have new longhorn decorations for its cupcakes. The Dallas loca- tion is at 4020 Villanova Drive.

StacoSwitch hires former football player

Costa Mesa-based StacoSwitch appointed Jason Childs, former San Francisco 49er and Seattle Seahawk, to vice president of sales for the design and manufacturing company’s global sales team.

Prior to joining StacoSwitch, Childs worked as the regional sales director of QWEST Communications, based in Colorado.

StacoSwitch makes lighted push-button display switches and indicators, as well as keyboards for various industries, including the military, law enforcement, medical and industrial.

Dog Bakery announces new products, stores

Three Dog Bakery, which has a store in Corona del Mar, announced last week a multi-million dollar expansion plan for the brand.

The new investment will add products, including Spearmint Bagels, Itty Bitty Bones and a reformulated Dry Kibble Dog Food with no gluten.

The company also plans on tripling the number of stores in the country, with plans to have 130 shops in North America, Japan and Europe by 2010.

Newport company announces promotions

Newport Beach-based PIMCO announced last week a series of promotions at its Newport office.

The Newport office saw the promotion of five new executive vice presidents, five senior vice presidents and 21 new vice presidents.

Cyrille Conseil, John B. Cummings, Bob Greer, James F. Moore and Jonathan Short were named executive vice presidents.

Jennifer S. Bridwell, Giang Bui, Alfred T. Murata, Wendong Qu and Lori Whiting were named new senior vice presidents.

PIMCO is a fixed-income, fund-management company in Newport Beach.