California Business Journal focuses on writing dynamic and compelling magazine articles on CEOs/C-Level executives, small and medium-businesses, startups, entrepreneurs and general business professionals and owners.
Approximately 96 percent of companies in California — and the U.S. — are considered small businesses (500 or less employees), $7.5 million in revenue). Of the 96 percent, less than one percent receive media exposure. That’s what spurred the creation of California Business Journal, which believes “Every Business Has a Story⟨™⟩.”
CalBizJournal tells the story of these businesses and startups in an engaging, insightful, authoritative, entertaining and compelling manner. The articles are written in a professional, lively style that is geared to uncover the inside story, the drama, excitement and challenges in businesses, industries and business people.
For more information or to submit a story idea or for advertising questions, contact Rick@CalBizJournal.com or call 949-648-3815.
The Founder, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of California Business Journal is Rick Weinberg, formerly of the New York Times, FOX, On Wall Street Magazine and ESPN.
Rick Weinberg has written extensively about business, sports, art and culture, education, human interest and entertainment. He has covered Major League Baseball, Wall Street, NFL, NBA and professional boxing, and has written more than 5,000 stories in his career.
He has conducted one-on-one interviews with and written stories on some of the most well-known personalities in business and sports, including Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriquez, John Elway, Joe Montana, Troy Aikman, Brett Favre, Steve Young, Shaquille O’Neal, Cal Ripken Jr., Roger Clemens, Mickey Mantle, Reggie Jackson, Ken Griffey Jr., Charles Barkley, Rick Pitino, Oscar De La Hoya, Mike Tyson, Pete Rose, Barry Bonds, Darryl Strawberry, Deion Sanders, Mark McGwire, Hank Aaron, Patrick Ewing, Wayne Gretzky, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kirby Puckett, Bo Jackson, Lawrence Taylor, Julius Irving, Jerry Rice, Tony Gwynn, Mike Schmidt, Rickey Henderson, Wade Boggs, Dan Marino, Roberto Duran, Dwight Gooden, George Brett, Robin Yount, Paul Molitor, Jerry West, Al Davis, Fernando Valenzuela, Sugar Ray Leonard, Bill Russell, Joe DiMaggio, Bobby Orr, Julius Erving, Jimmy Connors, Sammy Sosa, Dennis Rodman, George Steinbrenner, John Wooden and Nolan Ryan.
Outside of sports, Rick has interviewed such prominent personalities as Warren Buffett, Steve Wynn (Owner of the MGM and Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas), former Merrill Lynch CEO Stanley O’Neal, former New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon, actors Clint Eastwood and Arnold Schwarzenegger, former Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairmen Arthur Levitt and Harvey Pitt, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Rosario Marin and many politicians including Dianne Feinstein, Richard Riordan and Oscar Goodman.
In addition to working in sports for FOX, New York Times, ESPN and Associated Press, Rick worked as a national columnist, editor and lead feature writer for Inside Sports Magazine, SPORT Magazine and TotalSports.net, where he was one of the co-founders and original columnists. (TotalSports.net was sold in 2006 and renamed TotalSports Entertainment.) Rick’s articles have also appeared in the Los Angeles Times, Sports Illustrated, USA Today, Boston Globe and an assortment of books, including Glory in the Fall and the Best Sportswriting book series. Additionally, Rick helped launch Los Angeles Lifestyle and Golf Magazine and was the publication’s Editor-in-Chief.
After joining the New York Times, Rick soon launched his TV career with ESPN2 before moving to FOX Sports, where he hosted his own “insider” segment called Press Box Insider.
PRESS BOX INSIDER HIGHLIGHTS
Press Box Insider (multiple segments with assorted feature stories)
Press Box Insider (multiple segments with assorted feature stories)
FOR ALL VIDEOS ON RICK WEINBERG, GO TO RICK WEINBERG (FOX SPORTS AND ESPN) and CALIFORNIA BUSINESS JOURNAL’S YOUTUBE VIDEO CHANNEL
Rick has also written a book on former NFL and MLB star Bo Jackson and has edited many books, including Tibet: Treasures From The Roof of the World (an acclaimed museum art exhibit) and Classic Wiley: A Lifetime of Punchers, Players, Punks and Prophets, one of ESPN’s best-selling books.
Rick has also written three screenplays: The Comeback, Masquerade and Amazin’, all of which are collecting dust at Mirimax Studios.
At the height of his career, Rick decided to leave sports to become a business writer and editor covering Wall Street and finance. He has authored hundreds of stories on Wall Street firms, business executives, financial trends, news, entrepreneurs and IPOs.
It was at this time that Rick noticed a void in the media’s coverage of businesses — the lack of media exposure given to small- and medium-sized local businesses. So he launched California Business Journal to focus on these types of companies — to tell their compelling and inspiring stories.
To read testimonials about Rick Weinberg and the impact of California Business Journal articles, go to Testimonials, California Business Journal.
Rick Weinberg’s Body of Work
Wall Street, ESPN, New York Times articles and assorted feature stories
One Strike Away From First World Series Title in 68 Years, Red Sox Lose On Buckner’s Error
New York Attorney General: ‘I Could Have Nailed Merrill Lynch’
Shot Heard ‘Round The World, Part 2: Gibson’s PH, Bottom-of-the-9th Homer
Schwab Accused of Conflict of Interest
Commish to Rose: ‘You’re Banned’
**Ageless Wonder: Nicklaus Wins Masters at Age 46
No More Magic: Johnson HIV-Positive, Career Over
Merrill Lynch To Focus on Wealthy in Japan, U.S. Market Has ‘Bottomed Out’
Salomon Dropped From Smith Barney Name
**Kerrigan Attacked by Harding’s ‘Hoodlums’
**7th Heaven: Ryan Tosses Record 7th No-Hitter
Wait Is Over: Rangers Win Stanley Cup
Upset of Decade: Villanova Shocks Georgetown for NCAA Title
Rick Weinberg selected New York Times articles
Bitter Conclusion To A Confusing Bout
De La Hoya Turning Lightweight
Dodgers Suspected Drug Use by Strawberry
Being Decked Gave Him Back His Punch
Angels Salvage a Playoff From Out of the Rubble
De La Hoya Aims to Put Doubters in Their Place
De La Hoya Wins Title on 2nd Round Knockout
================================
No Limits: Cancer-stricken Armstrong Wins Tour de France
Absence of Schwab, E-Trade at Conference Draws Attention
Closing Act: MJ’s Final Shot Wins Bulls’ 6th NBA Title
**Watson’s Birdie Chip Wins U.S. Open
Mother of All Hail Mary’s: BC’s Flutie Stuns Miami, 47-45, in Marquee Showdown
Move Over Ty: Rose Becomes All-Time Hit Leader
**Consecutively Brilliant: Ripken’s 2,130 Sets All-Time Record
Rick Weinberg’s Sport Magazine Cover Story on Michael Jordan (his first major national media interview after quitting the NBA for baseball)
Lipstick On The Pig: Charles Schwab Co-CEO Says ‘Disclose All’
Sprint Right Option: Montana to Clark Pass Wins NFC Title
Out of Nowhere: NC State Wins NCAA Title
71: Bonds Sets All-Time HR Record
Terrorists Beware: New Tool Helps Brokers Spot Terrorists
Roger and Out: McGwire’s 62 HR
Rick Weinberg’s Inside Sports Magazine Cover Story on Barry Bonds
Five-Lateral TD: Cal Stuns Stanford in Final Second
UBS PaineWebber Sued Over Enron Recommendations
Why First Union Chose To Merge With Wachovia
No Ordinary Joe: Montana Wins Super Bowl
An Earful: Tyson Bites Holyfield
Pru’s IPO Filings Reveals Turnover Problem
Burning Issue: Fees vs. Commission
Morningstar Launches Managed Money Program
Rick Weinberg Sport Magazine Columnist (selected “Sport Beat” columns)
Sport Beat Handling Success Pg. 1
Sport Beat Handling Success Pg. 2
Sport Beat Ripken Streak Pg. 1
Epic Wimbledon Finale: Borg Outlasts McEnroe in Classic Marathon
SunTrust Vying for Wachovia, Bids More Than First Union
Wide Left: Giants Win Super Bowl as Bills’ Norwood Misses Last-Second FG
At 17, Williams Wins U.S. Open
Ultimate Walk-Off: Carter’s HR Wins World Series
Ex-Templeton Prez Wins $858K Award
*Tuck Play: Patriots Win Playoff on Disputed Play
MJ’s Last-Second Shots Wins NCAA Title for UNC
Rick Weinberg’s Inside Sports Magazine Cover Story Interview with Denver Broncos Hall of Fame Super Bowl-Winning Quarterback John Elway
Strug Ignores Pain, Helps USA Win Olympic Gold
Perfect Script: Gretzky Returns Home, Becomes All-Time Scoring Leader
Johnson Fails Drug Test, Stripped of Gold Medal
**Ripken Homers in Final All-Star Game
*Mize Chips in From 140 Feet, Wins Masters
Rick Weinberg’s Sport Magazine Exclusive Interview With Roger Clemens (his first national media interview after defecting from the Boston Red Sox to sign a free-agent contract with the Toronto Blue Jays)
**Gonzalez Wins Series On Bottom-of-the-9th Hit Off Rivera
**Leonard’s 45-putt Wins Ryder Cup
**Elway’s ‘Gutsy’ Run Leads Broncos To First Super Bowl Win
**Jansen Falls in Olympic Race Moments After Sister Passes Away
Johnson Blazes To Gold in 200 Meters
Van de Velde Triple Bogeys On 18th, Blows British Open
Rick Weinberg on Critical Mass Radio Show with Ric Franzi.
Rick Weinberg’s Inside Sports Magazine Exclusive Interview With Rick Pitino (his first national magazine interview since taking over as Boston Celtics President, GM and Head Coach)
Exhausted: Dolphins, Chargers Nearly Collapse En Mass in Heat of NFL Playoff
Louganis Gashes Head on Dive, Still Wins Gold
Ultimate Buzzer Beater: Laettner Stuns Duke in Regional Final
Patriots Win Super Bowl on Last-Second Field Goal
Canadians Robbed of Gold Medal By Corrupt Judge
Flu-Stricken MJ Beats Jazz in NBA Finals
MJ’s Buzzer-Beater Eliminates Cavs
Earnhardt Wins Daytona 500 on 20th Attempt
Rick Weinberg’s Sport Magazine Exclusive Cover Story Interview with NFL and MLB Star Deion Sanders (he announced he was quitting the NFL to concentrate on baseball full-time)
Knight-Mare: Angry Bobby Knight Tosses Chair Across Court
Bourque Wins First Stanley Cup
*Yanks Rally Again in 9th, Stun Diamondbacks in Series
No Longer Invincible: Gardner Beats Karelin
*Miller’s Eight Points in Final 11 Seconds Stuns Knicks in Playoff Showdown
*Heiden Destroys Olympic Competition, Cruises to Gold
Father Carries Olympian Son Over Finish Line
Clemens ‘Loses It,’ Flings Bat at Piazza in World Series
One Strike Away From Elimination, Red Sox Stun Angels in Extra-Inning ALCS Masterpiece
Rick Weinberg’s Sport Magazine Cover Story on Patrick Ewing’s and Hakeem Olajuwon’s “Quest For The Ring.” (One month later, the two centers met in the NBA Finals. Olajuwon prevailed for his first of two consecutive NBA titles. Ewing never went on to capture a NBA title in his career.)
One Day After Being Selected No. 2 in NBA Draft, Bias ODs on Cocaine, Dies
Brothers Win Case Against A.G. Edwards
Odd Couple: Forrest Koening and Mary Sweetman
Weill Pledges More Reforms in Citigroup Memo
Twins Win Epic Game 7 of World Series
Rick Weinberg’s Inside Sports Exclusive Interview with Baseball’s Baddest Bad Boy Albert Belle
PUBLIC RELATIONS
Rick has also worked extensively in public relations, marketing, media relations, corporate communications, corporate and strategic partnerships, community relations and business development. He was the Founder and Director of RWPR, which focused on eco-friendly companies, cultural and education organizations and businesses.
As a PR strategist, Rick utilized his extensive journalism experience and global contacts to generate $100 million in media exposure for such clients as Richard M. Nixon Library and Museum, BioLargo Inc., Penn Museum, ArmorLite Technologies, Bowers Museum, Carden Academy, Fairmont Private Schools, Houston Museum of Natural Science, Newport Harbor Nautical Museum, The Rubin Museum of Art, The Leeds Group, Going Green OC, Progressive Lighting and Energy Solutions, REDC Group, Virtuoso Russian Music Academy and an array of art galleries in Laguna Beach and Los Angeles, California.
Rick grew up in Rhode Island, attended Hamilton Country Day High School and went to college in Boston at Northeastern University, majoring in business and partying! He then got serious and graduated from Suffolk University in Boston — Cum Laude — with a Bachelor’s in Journalism and Communications. He has two grown children — Aric and Michelle — and a Superstar grandson and granddaughter — and lives in Huntington Beach, Calif., with his wife, Ofra — and the non-stop drop-ins from their children!
CALIFORNIA BUSINESS JOURNAL STAFF
- Susan Belknapp, CBJ Senior Writer. Susan is the former editor of OC Register Metro, an Orange County business-lifestyles magazine and website, and OC Register Family. She has published hundreds of articles on topics that range from semiconductors to surf culture. She holds a degree in screenwriting from USC. To read Susan’s CBJ articles, click here.
- Christian Keszthelyi, Senior Writer. Christian a “corporate storyteller” with more than 10 years experience producing editorial and advertorial content for print and digital publications and platforms. To read Christian’s articles, click here.
- Victoria Kertz, CBJ Senior Writer. Victoria has written for Laguna Beach Magazine, Newport Beach Independent, Saute Magazine, The Fullest, Local Dish Magazine and Blue Sky The Color of Imagination. She holds a business degree from Appalachian State University. Read Victoria’s CBJ articles here.
- Becky Holladay, Senior Writer. Becky is a former New York Times reporter who is living between Athens, Greece, Himara, Albania, and Oklahoma. She received a B.A. in Liberal Studies from California State University, San Marcos, and is a graduate of the International Center of Photography’s Photojournalism Program. Read Becky’s articles here.
- Brooke Becher, Senior Writer. Brooke has written for the Orange County Register, Long Beach Press-Telegram, Los Angeles Magazine and LA Weekly. She received her Bachelor’s in Journalism at California State University at Long Beach and earned her Master’s at the University of Lincoln in International Human Rights and War Reporting. Read Brooke’s CBJ articles here.
- Brenda Rees, Senior Writer. Brenda has written for The Los Angeles Times, Westways Magazine and Pasadena Magazine. She attended University of St. Thomas, earning a Bachelor’s in Journalism. She has also studied Drama. Brenda researches, writes and photographs stories involving wildlife issues for her self-created site Southern California Wildlife (www.socalwild.com). Read Brenda’s CBJ articles here.
- Chloe Caldwell, Staff Writer. Chloe is a LA-based freelance writer and copywriter who writes digital content pieces about business, human interview, travel and lifestyle. Besides CBJ, Chloe has been published in Thrillist, Group Nine Media, FabFitFun, TripSavvy, Verte Luxe, The Small Business Journal and Uproxx Life. See Chloe’s CBJ articles here.
- Judd Spicer, Senior Writer. Judd has written for Los Angeles Magazine, ESPN, Golf Channel, Super Lawyers, Minnesota Golf & Living, SLAM.com, Palm Springs Life, Desert Golf Magazine, The Desert Sun, NCAA.com, and Pebble Beach Magazine. The Wall Street Journal online has twice linked to his work, with one piece appearing in the “Numbers Guy” column and two articles referenced in “The Daily Fix.” To read Judd’s CBJ articles, click here.
- Dana Kilroy Sullivan, Staff Writer. Dana has written for Fast Company, Inc., New York Times, USA Today, Los Angeles Times, Wall Street Journal.com, The Oprah Magazine, ESPN, Outside, as well as Parenting, Self, Redbook, Health, Parents, Fitness and Shape magazines. She teaches Journalism at the University of Nevada, earned her B.A. in English Literature at UCLA, her Masters in Digital Journalism at the University of Nevada and is working on her second Masters in English at Butler University. See Dana’s CBJ articles here.
- Brenda Gazzar, Staff Writer. Brenda has written for the Los Angeles Daily News, The Jerusalem Post, Pasadena Star-News and is Founder and Chief Speech Writer at Keynote Creations. She earned her Masters in Communications and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Texas. She also attended The Hebrew University, specializing in Middle Eastern Studies. See Brenda’s CBJ articles here.
- Chris Cassacchi, Senior Writer. Chris was Technology Editor for the Orange County Business Journal before joining CBJ. The Arizona State grad also covers U.S. small businesses, trends and policies. See Chris’ CBJ articles here.
- Magda Hernandez, Staff Writer. Magda is a multi-lingual journalist with years of experience in print and digital media and TV production, and possesses an expertise in storytelling and cross-promoting brands domestically and internationally. She spent 10 years at NBCUniversial as a Producer and Reporter and was also an Editor and Reporter at the Orange County Register. See Magda’s articles here.
- Sharael Kolberg, Staff Writer. Sharael (pronounced “Cheryl” and is a combination of her parents’ names Sharon and Michael) has written for Sunset Magazine, Wired, Outside Magazine, MSN.com, Working Woman magazine, Women’s Health, Marin Independent Journal, San Mateo Daily Journal and Palo Alto Weekly. Sharael currently runs Kolberg Creative Services with her work being featured in various publications throughout the U.S. She has a degree in Journalism from the University of Hawaii. Sharael’s articles.
- Ruksana Hussain, Staff Writer. Ruksana is Founder and Publisher of Traveler and Tourist Magazine and an award-winning journalist. She was Editor at Del Mar Lifestyle and La Jolla Lifestyle and launched Carlsbad Lifestyle Magazine. Her CBJ work can be found here.
- CBJ Publishing Editor Azka Tanveer
- CBJ Writers: Annette DuBois, Lizbeth Mora, Debra Amato, Roberta Silverglate, Anna Rodriguez, Karen Janowitz, Bia Pendleton, Dale Weinbaum, Jackie Crowley, Ann Mazzotta, Claire Cattone, Bobbi Marin, and Joanie Moretti.
