Compiled by Kelly Ryan
CONSULTING
Precept Group, a human resources and employee benefits consultant, hired Mercedes Meseck as vice president. Peggy O’Neill was hired as an account executive. Meseck has more than 20 years of healthcare and brokerage experience. O’Neill has more than 20 years of client management experience in employee benefit consulting and brokerage services. Both are based out of Precept’s Irvine headquarters.
ENGINEERING
Hichborn Consulting Group added Alicia Cropper as a senior engineer. Cropper will perform forensic investigations related to concrete and cement materials. She has experience as a construction manager for large public works projects. Cropper is on the Orange County committee for nonprofit Water for People.
FINANCE
Venture capital group Tech Coast Angels named Sid Mohasseb president of its Irvine office. Mohasseb is managing director at Venture Farm and has more than 25 years of experience in management and investment. He serves on the boards of Clupedia Corp. of Santa Ana and Aliso Viejo-based Cerius Consulting Group. Mohasseb teaches about globalization at the University of California, Irvine.
Irvine-based real estate investment bank Johnson Cap-ital promoted Cliff Carnes to chief operating officer. Carnes joined Johnson Cap-ital in 2007 as senior vice president of operations. Pre-viously he was an activated Navy Reserve officer.
LAW
Archer Norris named Namvar A. Mokri a partner in its Newport Beach office. Mokri focuses on civil litigation with an emphasis on construction, bodily injury, business litigation and transactional matters.
Tamara I. Devitt joined Fisher & Phillips LLP in the firm’s Irvine office. Devitt has eight years of experience practicing law. She specializes in representing employers against claims of discrimination, unlawful harassment, wrongful termination and unfair business practices. Devitt advises and counsels employers regarding hiring, discipline and termination practices.
Erich R. Luschei joined the Costa Mesa office of Theodora Oringher Miller & Richman as senior attorney. Luschei has 20 years of experience representing cities, counties, school districts and other governments. He previously worked at Jones Day and McDermott Will & Emery.
MANUFACTURING
Foothill Ranch-based Kaiser Aluminum Corp. promoted John Barneson from senior vice president and chief administrative officer to senior vice president of corporate development. Additionally, John M. Donnan was named senior vice president, general counsel and secretary. James E. McAuliffe was named senior vice president of human resources. Also, Lynton J. Rowsell was promoted to vice president and chief accounting officer.
MARKETING
Brenda Deeley was promoted from vice president to senior vice president at Porter Novelli in Irvine. Deeley manages strategic communications programs for businesses and governments. She recently received a Silver Anvil award for her work for the Orange County Water District.
Joe Lawson joined CDM Co. as executive director with a focus on lifestyle and entertainment marketing. Lawson previously worked at 20th Century Fox in worldwide licensing and merchandising. He has led promotion programs for “24,” “Ice Age” and “The Simpsons.”
NONPROFIT
Erica Rosas of Aliso Viejo was named chairman for Art & Creativity for Healing in Laguna Niguel. New vice president Jackie Fairney has been on the board since 2006. Board Secretary Estrella Harrington joined in 2007. John Kay has served on the board for five years and was named treasurer.
REAL ESTATE
Oscar Uranga joined Athens Group in Laguna Beach as assistant project manager. Uranga has more than seven years of experience in geographic information systems. He specializes in production and analysis of maps and graphics, database management and project management. Previously he worked as an analyst for LSA Associates in Irvine.
TECHNOLOGY
Hitachi Consulting in Orange hired Sean Bernhoit as vice president of specialized services. He’ll lead the financial planning, reporting and consolidation practice with an emphasis on Oracle Corp.’s Hyperion software. Bernhoit is a member of the customer advisory board for Hyperion planning. He is also a speaker and author on financial planning and technology.
