Tom Thompson has been promoted to president of Irvine-based Real Estate Partners Inc., a real estate brokerage and investor.
Thompson, previously a vice president at Real Estate Partners, replaces Dawson Davenport, who remains chairman and chief executive.
“Tom is the perfect candidate to drive our continued growth,” Davenport said.
Real Estate Partners invests in and works with investors buying apartments, office buildings and shopping centers. Last year Thompson handled $200 million worth of deals, mostly apartments.
He’s quick to share the credit: “Without the right people, I can’t make the right decisions.”
In the next year or so, Real Estate Partners plans to double its investment to $500 million. The company also plans to step up its work on 1031 exchanges, which defer capital gains taxes on the sale of investment and business properties.
Thompson holds a California real estate broker license and Coldwell Banker Commercial senior certifications in office, industrial and investment properties marketing.
Prior to cofounding Real Estate Partners, Thompson was with the Investors Group for five years and before that with Telacu, an investment firm in Los Angeles.
He lives in Irvine with his wife, Virginia and has a son and a daughter, both in college studying business.
,Jonathan Reagan
ADVERTISING & PUBLIC RELATIONS
Rodheim Marketing Group in Costa Mesa hired Ashley Adams to its public relations and marketing team. Adams, a Newport Beach native, has a bachelor of science degree in communications from Endicott College in Beverly, Mass.
BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS
Jeanne Gormick of Laguna Niguel was appointed regional director for the Orange County area of San Diego-based LeTip International Inc., a professional networking company. Gormick currently serves as the vice president of membership for the Laguna Hills/Laguna Woods Chamber of Commerce.
CONSTRUCTION
Boston-based Suffolk Construction Co. made two additions to its Western operations headquarters in Irvine: John C. Kerley joined as president and general manager; and Scott Vath was named vice president and general manager of the California division.
EDUCATION
Buena Park resident Dr. Rajen Vurdien was named vice president, office of instruction, at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo. Vurdien most recently was dean, school of language arts, work experience, honors and study abroad programs at Long Beach City College.
INSURANCE
Lockton Insurance Brokers Inc., which is part of Kansas City, Mo.-based Lockton Cos., promoted Dayna DeVito-Fleck to vice president. DeVito-Fleck specializes in employee benefits and workers’ compensation and will work out of the company’s Irvine office.
LAW
Jim Scheinkman, a partner in Phoenix-based Snell & Wilmer LLP’s Irvine office, was named president-elect of the Orange County chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth. He will serve a one-year term and be-come president the following year.
NONPROFIT
The Alzheimer’s Association of Orange County appointed Kevin Nowicki to its board. Nowicki is a partner at Los Angeles-based law firm Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP.
Orange County United Way hired Laurie Shepard as communications manager in its marketing department. Shepard previously served as vice president of communications for the Irvine Chamber of Commerce for three years.
RESTAURANTS
Alan Ashkinaze was appointed to the position of executive chef at Aqua, the seafood restaurant at The St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort & Spa in Dana Point. Ashkinaze comes from Trev & #237;sio Restaurant in Houston, where he was executive chef since its opening in 2002.
