California: June 8, 2001

St. John Knits co-founder Bob Gray announced he will retire as chairman of the Irvine-based company on Jan. 1, turning the company over to chief executive officer H.W. Mullins...Manhattan Beach-based Skechers USA Inc. has received the supplier divisional award for family footwear from JC Penney Department Stores; this marks the second year the shoe manufacturer has received the honor from the retailer...Laguna Beach will be the pilot site for Beaverton, Ore.-based Nike’s “Reuse-A-Shoe” program, which allows consumers to recycle old athletic shoes. Laguna Beach residents were given special bags for the shoes, which are then placed curbside for pick-up on trash-collection days. The shoes are sorted, cleaned and shredded to create “Nike Grind,” a material used in athletic courts, fields and playground surfaces. Shoes collected that are still in good condition will be donated to charity.