ARCHITECTURE
Irvine-based landscape architecture firm ima + design promoted Glenn Ho, Kari Kikuta, Rob Moffat and Tim White to senior associates.
AUTOMOTIVE
James B. Griffin has joined Columbus, Ohio-based Safelite AutoGlass Inc. as the Orange County area sales manager.
BUSINESS GROUPS
The Orange County Business Council appointed five board members: Arthur Kraft of Chapman University, Steven Takei of U.S. Bank, Chris Harrington of Toshiba America Information Systems Inc., Bruce Chapman of Toshiba America Electronic Components Inc. and Diane Sigfried of Freedom Communications Inc.’s Freedom Orange County Information unit.
CONSULTING
Nancy Hernandez was hired as project manager at 360 Business Consulting, a sales and technology consulting company in Mission Viejo. Hernandez is set to manage the implementation of clients’ marketing programs.
Dana Point-based Corcoran Consulting & Coaching appointed Sandra Morphis to business consultant/coach. Corcoran provides personalized coaching and business systems to realtors.
EDUCATION
Rancho Santiago Community College District appointed Leila Mozaffari to director of the Orange County Small Business Development Center.
ENGINEERING
RBF Consulting’s executive and corporate management committees promoted the following to senior associates in the Irvine office: Tom Bonigut, Susan Jackson-Harden, Jeff Langdon, Bill Madigan, Kelly McCann, John Pfeifer, Faye Stroud and Rhonda Tijerina.
FINANCE
Brea-based Fremont Investment and Loan, part of Santa Monica’s Fremont General Corp., promoted Ali Govahi to vice president and national manager of its asset management department. Govahi has been with the company since 1995.
Gary A. Pulford was named senior vice president and portfolio manager of Private Asset Management Inc.’s new Costa Mesa office. Pulford has 23 years of experience in investing.
HEALTHCARE
Irvine’s Dynamic Healthcare Systems appointed Terry Hartshorn to its advisory board. Hartshorn headed Cypress-based PacifiCare Health Systems Inc. from its start in 1976 to 1993. PacifiCare was bought by Minnesota’s Unitedhealth Group Inc. late last year.
LAW
Sheppard Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP named Mark Watkins partner in its Irvine office. Watkins does mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, real estate, licensing and distribution and general business counseling.
Irvine-based Busch Firm appointed attorney Steve Howard to managing partner. The firm specializes in corporate law, tax law and estate planning.
Kevin J. Gramling of Klinedinst PC in Santa Ana was promoted to equity shareholder. Gramling practices product liability, mold and indoor air quality, construction and retail defense.
Newport Beach-based Cummins & White LLP has named Fred M. Whitaker to managing partner and Laya Dogmetchi and Jennifer L. Ramsden to partners in the business litigation practice group. Ismail Amin joined the firm in the real estate and transactional practice groups.
MARKETING
Laguna Niguel-based marketing and communications company C & M; Communiqu & #233; hired Beth Thompson as media director. Thompson is set to manage media strategy, planning and implementation for the agency’s clients.
Maggie Ford joined Irvine-based JNR Inc. as vice president of consumer promotions. Ford will be responsible for development and implementation of consumer and trade promotions to increase product sales and raise customer awareness in sales and marketing arenas.
InterCommunicaitonsInc promoted Karen-Taylor Weber and Chad Wise to account executives. The company hired Robert Morris as director of interactive.
MUSEUMS
The Newport Harbor Nautical Museum appointed Stacey Lee as director of development. She will be responsible for developing the museum’s annual fund as well as overseeing donations to the museum.
NONPROFIT
Goodwill of Orange County hired Anne Blasius as its communications manager. Blasius is responsible for the marketing and public relations activities for Goodwill. Blasius is a volunteer for Make-A-Wish Foundation and participates in numerous Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation events.
REAL ESTATE
General contractor Roel Construction Co.’s Irvine office hired Rajesh Badri as assistant project engineer.
Frank V. McMahon took over late last month as vice chairman and chief financial officer at Santa Ana-based First American Corp. McMahon, a former Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. executive, is set to be responsible for First American’s financial reporting division, capital markets’ activities, investor relations and will oversee the operations of First American Trust and First Security Thrift. First American’s former financial chief, Thomas Klemens, died earlier this year of blood cancer. He was 55.
Bruce Schuman has joined the Irvine office of Studley Inc., a brokerage representing tenants in Orange County. He also is set to help develop business in OC.
Opus West Corp. named Beverly Metz director of retail development for Southern California at its Irvine office.
Staubach Retail Services Inc. of Southern California appointed Jeff Straka to vice president of the Newport Beach office. Straka focuses on tenant representation for national and regional retailers.
Sperry Van Ness named Tom Hershey national director of research of the Sperry Van Ness research group.
The board of directors of the California Apartment Association elected Scott Monroe as an officer for 2006. Monroe is a property manager and senior vice president of Sares-Regis Group in Irvine.
Joan Marcus-Colvin of Laing Luxury Homes, part of Newport Beach-based WL Homes LLC, was promoted to vice president of sales, marketing and design studio.
SERVICES
Racquel Betiong, Kim Anh Ngo, Joseph S. Reiver and Josh Sager joined the Costa Mesa office of California Office Systems as document solutions consultants. Kristine Diem Chau joined as administrative assistant. The company provides businesses with office equipment, maintenance and repair services.
SPORTS
Western Golf Properties LLC in Lake Forest hired Michael P. Viola as chief financial officer. Viola will be responsible for the financial reporting and analysis of all managed courses as well as the corporate office.
TECHNOLOGY
Michael Pham has joined Irvine-based Portellus Inc. as director of technology operations. The company provides software for the mortgage banking and insurance industries.
TOURISM
Newport Beach Conference & Visitor Bureau named Jessica Roswell public relations and marketing manager and promoted Monica Smith to deputy director of sales. Nancy Shugg joined as membership/conference services manager.
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