Compiled by Kelly M. Ryan
ACCOUNTING
Lei Jiang joined HMWC CPAs & Business Advisors as a senior staff accountant in the accounting and audit department. Jiang has more than five years of experience in public accounting. He specializes in midsize business audits and consulting, preparation of financial statements and tax returns. The Tustin-based company is one of OC’s top 25 accounting firms.
APPAREL
Vans in Cypress promoted Jeff Moore from director of sales for the core channel to vice president of sales, U.S. wholesale. Before joining Vans in 2005, Moore was vice president of Ambiguous Clothing. Also, Todd Stanley and Derek Voit were promoted to managers in the core markets for the East and West Coasts, respectively.
ARCHITECTURE
Irvine-based Gkkworks hired Brandon Dekker as business development director. Dekker will work on finding new business. He has 11 years of experience in business development and sales management. Dekker is a member of the Urban Land Institute’s Young Leaders Group and serves on the USC Architectural Guild Committee.
CONSTRUCTION
Taisei Construction Corp. added Robert Carley as vice president of business development. Carley has more than 30 years of experience in business development, marketing and engineering. He will build the company’s client base throughout Southern California from the Cypress office.
FINANCE
U.S. Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management hired Stephen Grimm and Daniel McCutcheon to work at its Newport Beach office. Grimm was named portfolio manager and McCutcheon regional mortgage specialist. Paul Hoskin joined the Costa Mesa office as a private client manager.
Summit Financial Resources added Jim St. Clair as national underwriting manager. St. Clair has 17 years of experience in commercial lending and business development. He most recently was an underwriting and due diligence adviser for Focus Management Group in Tampa, Fla.
HOTELS
Tanya Matthews was promoted to director of sales and marketing for the Fairmont Hotel in Newport Beach. Matthews joined the hotel in 2005. She began working in the hotel industry in 1998 as a sales manager for Delta Hotels.
Scott Gaw was named ambassador for the global marketing group of Best Western International. Gaw is currently director of sales and marketing for the Best Western Laguna Brisas Spa Hotel in Laguna Beach. The global marketing group promotes Best Western properties in the U.S., Canada and Caribbean.
LAW
Pamela R. Milner joined Hart King & Coldren as a partner and member of the transactional department. Milner specializes in commercial real estate and business transactions. She was previously senior vice president and general counsel for El Pollo Loco and has worked with Taco Bell and Advantica Restaurant Group.
MANUFACTURING
Tustin-based Fluid Research Corp. hired Jeffrey McConnell as marketing manager. He has experience in marketing, sales and project management. McConnell has a bachelor’s degree in sociological sciences from California State University, Fullerton and a master’s degree in business from Keller Graduate School of Management in Irvine. Fluid Research Corp. manufactures precision dispensing equipment for adhesives, sealants and polymers across several industries.
MEDIA & MARKETING
Jennifer “JP” Patterson joins Shelter, a creative editing house based in Irvine. Patterson will serve as the executive producer on commercial and long-form editorial work for Shelter’s clients, which include Bose Corp., Del Taco LLC, Hilton Hospitality Inc., Land Rover Group Ltd. and others. Patterson has worked for Sony Pictures, Paramount Pictures and editorial companies Cake, Crush and Beast.
NONPROFIT
Donna Heller Mogilski was named associate director of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s OC chapter. The organization promoted Erika Overland to special events director and Jennifer Garner to special events manager. Theresa Swalek was hired as administrative assistant and Laurel Bullington Szwilling signed on as data coordinator.
Megan Woodmansee was hired as foundation coordinator at the Newport Beach-based Ronald Simon Family Foundation. She has a background in nonprofit advocacy and youth mentorship. She has volunteered with the Muscular Dystrophy Association and the Boys & Girls Club. The Ronald Simon Family Foundation provides six-year scholarships for high school students who plan on going to college.
PUBLIC RELATIONS
MMW Group hired Sarah L. Catz as senior counselor in its Irvine office. She has experience as California’s acting deputy secretary of transportation and as project manager for The Commission on Building for 21st Century. Catz spent 10 years on the board of directors of the OC Transportation Authority.
REAL ESTATE
The Ladera Ranch Maintenance Corp. added Alex Vellandi to its board of directors. Vellandi is a real estate attorney and realtor. He is owner of OC Property Co. and has 10 years of experience in real estate law and sales. Larmac exists to manage and maintain Ladera Ranch as a masterplanned community.
