BRANCHING OUT

Calgary, Alberta-based E=MC2 EVENT MANAGEMENT has expanded its operations, opening an office in Banff, Alberta. ERIN O'REILLY will oversee the new office location. Call 866/762-0992; www.emc2events.com. • MILLS JAMES PRODUCTIONS in Columbus, Ohio, has relocated its event technologies division to a new 20,000-square-foot warehouse and office complex. Call 614/777-9933; www.millsjames.com. • Peekskill, N.Y.-based technical production company MARLYN PRODUCTIONS has opened a Las Vegas location to serve its growing client base. STEPHANIE LANIER will head up the new office. Call 702/987-1472; www.marlynproductions.com.

BUSINESS BUZZ

JASON KIMLER, owner of corporate event management firm EVENT STRATEGIES in New York, has acquired NYC EVENT PROFESSIONALS MEETUP, a 700-member networking group for event pros. Call 917/496-8662; www.eventstrategies.net. • ERIC GREENSTEIN of CONTEMPORARY CATERING and JON ESFORMES of COUNTRY MARKET CAFE have formed a joint venture: COUNTRY MARKET CATERING in Los Angeles. The new company will focus on providing fresh fare to corporate clients. Call 310/558-8190; www.customcater.com. • Seattle-based DMC and event management company SEATTLE HOSPITALITY GROUP has acquired Bellevue, Wash.-based corporate event planning and hotel site selection firm VENTURE2. Call 206/674-3021; www.seattlehospitality.com. • Longtime employees MARC GROSVENOR and TOM BONNER have assumed ownership of Highwood, Ill.-based CAROUSEL LINEN. Call 847/432-8182; www.carousellinen.com.

NEW NAME

Torrance, Calif.-based SIGNATURE CHOCOLATE, which provides sweet custom favors and gifts for social and corporate events, has changed its name to OVATION CHOCOLATES. The company's phone number remains 800/961-2387; the new Web site is www.ovationchocolates.com.