About Us

Laser Focus World is an industry bedrock—first published in 1965 and still going strong. We publish original articles about cutting-edge advances in lasers, optics, photonics, sensors, and quantum technologies, as well as test and measurement, and the shift currently underway to usher in the photonic integrated circuits, optical interconnects, and copackaged electronics and photonics to deliver the speed and efficiency essential for data centers of the future.

Our 80,000 qualified print subscribers—and 130,000 12-month engaged online audience—trust us to dive in and provide original journalism you won’t find elsewhere covering key emerging areas such as laser-driven inertial confinement fusion, lasers in space, integrated photonics, chipscale lasers, LiDAR, metasurfaces, high-energy laser weaponry, photonic crystals, and quantum computing/sensors/communications. We cover the innovations driving these markets.

Laser Focus World is part of Endeavor Business Media, a division of EndeavorB2B.

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  • Professor Andrea M. Armani, University of Southern California
  • Ruti Ben-Shlomi, Ph.D., LightSolver
  • James Butler, Ph.D., Hamamatsu
  • Natalie Fardian-Melamed, Ph.D., Columbia University
  • Justin Sigley, Ph.D., AmeriCOM
  • Professor Birgit Stiller, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, and Leibniz University of Hannover
  • Professor Stephen Sweeney, University of Glasgow
  • Mohan Wang, Ph.D., University of Oxford
  • Professor Xuchen Wang, Harbin Engineering University
  • Professor Stefan Witte, Delft University of Technology
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Empowering Change Through Innovation: The Journey of Christine Ferns

By: Small Business Trendsetters

Christine Ferns is a dynamic entrepreneur juggling two thriving ventures—Step Up Consulting and Step Up Foods. Based in Los Angeles, she has carved a niche for herself in both the technology consulting and culinary industries by addressing gaps in the market and staying true to her passion for simplicity and impact. 

Simplifying Software Implementation with Step Up Consulting 

Step Up Consulting, a boutique software implementation firm, specializes in deploying UKG’s cloud-based HR, time, and payroll software for small and medium-sized businesses. Christine founded the company to address a need she observed in her 16-year career in software implementation: smaller organizations often lacked access to specialized support for their IT transitions. 

The firm’s approach focuses on helping clients resolve critical challenges during implementation, equipping them with the tools and knowledge to manage their systems effectively. By honing in on a few key pain points and offering customized solutions, Step Up Consulting has become a trusted partner for organizations across various sectors, including public and private institutions, education, healthcare, and retail. 

This targeted strategy has not only garnered repeat business but has also underscored the value of focusing on a niche. Christine believes in addressing the most pressing issues first, enabling clients to achieve a return on investment quickly while building long-term success. 

Introducing Regional Indian Cuisine with Step Up Foods 

Christine’s passion for food and her culinary roots inspired her to launch Step Up Foods. With a degree in hospitality and culinary management, she combined her love for authentic Indian cuisine with her entrepreneurial drive to bring regional Indian dishes to the North American market. 

Step Up Foods offers snacks, desserts, spice blends, and beverages that go beyond the more familiar Indian dishes available in the U.S. Christine’s vision is to introduce these regional specialties in their authentic form or through creative fusion, aiming to make them accessible in mainstream grocery stores and big-box retailers. 

Her culinary venture applies the lessons learned from Step Up Consulting, such as simplifying processes and prioritizing customer experience. She believes that understanding people’s needs and delivering meaningful solutions are keys to success, whether in technology or food. 

Commitment to Empowering Women 

Christine is deeply committed to creating opportunities for women and minorities. Step Up Consulting’s workforce includes many working mothers who benefit from a flexible, virtual work environment designed to support their personal and professional lives. 

Her involvement with WBENC (Women’s Business Enterprise National Council) has been instrumental in driving this mission. Since becoming certified, Christine has leveraged WBENC’s training programs and networking opportunities to grow her businesses and connect with like-minded entrepreneurs. She advocates for more in-person events and branding support from WBENC to further empower small business owners. 

Building a Legacy of Innovation 

Christine’s entrepreneurial journey reflects her dedication to simplifying complexities and creating meaningful impact. Whether she’s helping businesses optimize their software systems or introducing North America to new flavors of Indian cuisine, her work is rooted in the belief that success lies in addressing real-world challenges with authenticity and care. 

Her dual ventures, Step Up Consulting and Step Up Foods, embody her philosophy of innovation, empowerment, and a relentless drive to make a difference in her community and beyond. Listen to Christine’s full journey on Women in Motion here: https://businessradiox.com/podcast/women-in-motion/power-of-connection/ 

About Women’s Business Enterprise Council-West (WBEC-West)         

WBEC-West is a regional partner of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), a coalition of corporations, WBEs, and regionally focused women’s business organizations. As an affiliate organization, WBEC-West implements the certification standards of WBENC throughout Arizona, Colorado, Southern California, Utah, Wyoming, Nevada, Hawaii, and Guam. WBENC is the largest certifier of women’s business enterprises in the U.S. and a leading advocate for women business owners, leaders, and entrepreneurs. WBENC certification is nationally recognized and accepted by more than 10,000 major corporations. We also support corporations in their efforts to include WBENC Certified WBEs in their supply chain. 

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