PEOPLE
Fletcher Jones Taps Song for Asian, Hispanic Sales
Fletcher Jones Motor Cars Inc. of Newport Beach has lured John Song from rival The House of Imports in Buena Park in a bid to boost sales among Asians and Hispanics.
Song, who is fluent in Spanish, Japanese and Korean, will be working with vehicle shoppers who don’t speak English as their first language. His challenge: drawing more Asian and Hispanics to the luxury auto dealership, where 80% of customers are white.
“People have a misconception about Fletcher Jones,” Song said. “We want to show it’s for everyone.”
Song said his goal is to sell 265 vehicles this year.
Since 1992, Song had worked at the House of Imports, which counts a sizable number of Asian customers. While at House of Imports, Song said he was one of the top Mercedes Benz sellers nationally and was awarded a certificate of excellence in 2001.
Prior to House of Imports, Song held managerial posts at the La Costa Inn in San Diego and the Ramada Inn in San Bernardino. He also has worked for restaurants in California and South Korea.
Song was born in Seoul in 1953. He attended the Hankook University of Foreign Studies in South Korea and later studied public relations at Palomar College in San Diego.
His father was a portrait painter for the government whose friendship with Ronald Reagan led to the family’s immigration in 1976 to San Diego, where they started the Korean House and the Japanese Samurai Restaurant.
Song has three sons with his wife of 20 years, Janet. Their oldest son, William, is an automotive designer. Middle son Steven is attending West Point. And the youngest John is in 11th grade at Brea-Olinda High School. The Songs live in Brea.
,Andrew Beck
ACCOUNTING
Blytheco Inc. of Laguna Hills appointed Julie Sheridan co-editor of the Accounting Software Advisor Web site. She will review content and offer opinions, corrections and rebuttals regarding information published by the Accounting Software Advisor.
BANKING
Investment bank RSM EquiCo Inc. of Costa Mesa and Irvine appointed Michael O’Brien director, corporate finance. He will help private middle-market businesses secure capital for growth, acquisitions, buyouts and project funding.
FINANCE
Violet P. Woodhouse was elected to the board of the Newport Beach-based Financial Planning Association of Orange County. Woodhouse was elected chairman of the professional outreach committee and is responsible for bringing in allied professionals and building relationships with professional organizations.
MARKETING
InterCommunications Inc. of Newport Beach hired Steve Sandborg as senior vice president, planning and client service. Sandborg has held senior positions with XOW! Software, Knowledge Universe and Royal Philips Electronics NV. He also has worked at Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide Inc.
Pinpoint Technologies Inc. of Tustin, a mailing list manager and broker, hired Victoria Canedo as manager of brokerage service. She will help direct mail and online marketers obtain marketing goals through list selection and recommendations.
NONPROFIT
Orange County’s United Way promoted Colleen Sandrin to executive vice president. Sandrin will continue to develop and manage resource development strategies for OC’s United Way workplace and community campaigns. She now oversees community investments and community relations.
Newport Beach-based Western Services Foundation, a nonprofit that creates and provides housing for low-income families and seniors, named Graham P. Espley-Jones president and chief executive. He will be responsible for the operations and growth of Western Services. Espley-Jones also will join the foundation’s board.
REAL ESTATE
MBK Real Estate Ltd. of Irvine promoted Robert Grandstaff from corporate controller to vice president, corporate controller. Grand-staff came to MBK in 1997 as development controller and tax manager. His responsibilities include consolidated financial reporting of MBK’s divisions and tax compliance of the company.
TECHNOLOGY
Comarco Inc. of Irvine appointed Greg Maton senior vice president and general manager of Comarco’s Wireless Test Solutions Group. Maton was chief operating officer of Racal Instruments’ Wireless Solutions Group responsible for operations in the U.S., much of Europe and Asia.
TOURISM
The board of the Laguna Beach Visitors & Conference Bureau appointed Rose Petrowich-Webb to sales manager. She will be responsible for outside sales promoting Laguna Beach as a destination for the arts, recreation, shopping and tours. She has been with visitor’s bureau for a year assisting with tours and responding to sales inquiries.
