BRIEFLY IN BUSINESS

Burbank mortgage company takes another layoff hit

Burbank-based WMC Mortgage announced Thursday it closed its Costa Mesa processing center as part of a layoff that left 771 of its employees without a job, according to a wire and Los Angeles Times report.

The Los Angeles Times reported 52 employees at the Costa Mesa center were laid off but given 60-days pay. Regional processing centers in the Bay Area and Addison, Texas, were also closed.

The company laid off 460 employees in March.

Costa Mesa offices using renewable resources

Costa Mesa-based Commerce Energy Group Inc. announced it was using clean energy to power its Costa Mesa and Dallas offices.

Commerce Energy rents about 45,000 square feet of space in Costa Mesa. Between the Costa Mesa and the Dallas office, the company uses 906,000-kilowatt hours every year. The company bought renewable energy credits in Texas to cover energy used last year and will buy credits at the end of each year to offset what the company used.

Employees are scheduled to meet preschool and kindergarten students in Newport-Mesa to help them learn about responsible energy use.

Lawyers to hold lecture on maximizing profits

The Costa Mesa Neighborhood Community Center will host a lecture May 22 for businesspeople about how to legally maximize profits by using intellectual property laws.

The free presentation will be given by Amanda V. Dwight of the Dwight Law Group and Philip H. Haymond of the IP Legal Counsel. The pair are scheduled to show audience members how to use patent, trademark and copyright laws to create “legal monopolies.”

The presentation will be from noon to 2 p.m. and space is limited. For more information or to make a reservation, e-mail lawlecture@yahoo.com. The community center is at 1845 Park Ave.

Newport real estate firm announces new hires

Grubb & Ellis in Newport Beach announced last week it welcomed a new senior vice president to its office group.

The commercial real estate company announced David T. Girty as the new senior vice president and Benjamin C. Gott as an associate in the office group.

Girty has 19 years of experience in the field and prior to joining Grubb & Ellis worked as a senior vice president with Transwestern Commercial Services. In his new position, Girty will work as a landlord and tenant representative in Orange County.

Gott also worked previously for Transwestern and will have a similar focus.

New dental office puts patients at ease

Newport Smiles announced the grand opening of its dental office on Pacific Coast Highway and Newport Boulevard, using state-of-the-art equipment to make dental visits easier on their patients.

Dr. Ellie Shirazi has tried to create a “spa-like” atmosphere using things like beverages, noise reduction headphones, aromatic pillows and warm towels to put patients at ease. The office will also uses nitrous oxide, oral relaxation tablets and mild intravenous sedation for a more relaxing visit to the chair.

For more information call (949) 642-1033.