ARCHITECTURE
Houston-based EDI Architecture Inc. named Les Persohn principal in its Newport Beach office.
Carter & Burgess added Lorinda Hill and Bruce Greenfield to the firm’s Santa Ana office. Hill joined as marketing manager. Greenfield joined as associate, hospitality practice leader.
ASSOCIATIONS
James G. Zack Jr., executive director of corporate claims management at Fluor Corp., was named president of the Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineering International. The association is a professional society for cost estimators, cost engineers, schedulers, project managers and project control specialists.
BANKING
Farmers and Merchants Bank named Mona McGrury vice president and branch manager at its newly opened San Clemente branch. Minal H. Gandhi was named operations manager at the same branch.
CONSULTING
The Irvine office of Tatum LLC, an executive services and consulting company, added the following partners to its financial and technology leadership practice: Mike Kelly, Frank Schools, Jim Sorensen and Robert Trebing.
EDUCATION
Robby Ray was named director of corporate relations for the University of California, Irvine’s athletics department. Ray has been with UC Irvine’s marketing staff for four years and most recently served as the interim director of marketing.
FINANCE
Financial Diligence Partners in Irvine added Eduardo Anguizola as a sales assistant and Janet Maldonado as an account manager.
HEALTHCARE
Tustin-based Toshiba America Medical Systems Inc., the U.S. medical device arm of Japan’s Toshiba Corp., named Aaron Hudy as vice president of sales. Hudy joined Toshiba in 2002. Prior to that, he served as a zone sales manager and finance specialist for Marconi Medical Systems.
HOTELS
Kevin Pasek joined Costa Mesa-based Atlas Hospitality Group as senior associate. Prior to joining Atlas Hospitality, Pasek was the managing sales director for California at Cendant Corp.
NONPROFIT
Ken Inouye, managing partner at Inouye, Shively and Longtin in Laguna Hills, was elected chair of the Orange County Human Relations Commission. Nadia Saad Bettendorf was elected as vice chair of the commission. Bettendorf, a high school French teacher, is set to retire this year.
Fitness industry entrepreneur Augustine “Augie” Nieto II of Corona del Mar was re-elected a national vice president of the Muscular Dystrophy Association. He will serve a one-year term as a voluntary leader for the association.
Friendship Shelter, an adult homeless rehabilitation program and emergency residence shelter in Laguna Beach, appointed Carol Rhoads as its executive director. Previously, Rhoads served as president and chief executive of Delos WomensHealth in Orange. She also was a vice president of PacifiCare of California and PacifiCare Health Systems Inc., now part of Minnesota’s UnitedHealth Group Inc.
PUBLIC
RELATIONS
Saretta Holler joined Synergy Media & Consulting Inc., a public relations company in Irvine, as account manager. Prior to joining Synergy Media & Consulting, Holler owned a small creative services company that specialized in media relations in San Diego.
REAL ESTATE
Passco Cos. promoted Gary Goodman to senior vice president, acquisitions. Goodman joined the company in 2005 as vice president of acquisitions for apartments and condominiums.
Tom Lenny rejoined Hopkins Real Estate Group in Irvine, where he’ll look for potential opportunities and acquisitions for the company. He previously was with Cousins Properties in Irvine for six years. Before that, Lenny was with Hopkins for 18 years.
Cohen Financial, a commercial real estate finance company in Newport Beach, promoted Mark Strauss to managing director of the capital markets unit. Strauss joined the company in 2001 as director.
ResMae Mortgage Corp. named Dan Payne as senior vice president, division manager, and Gary Ward as senior vice president, chief appraiser. Payne joined ResMae in 2003 as regional vice president and Ward joined in 2003 as vice president, chief appraiser.
RESTAURANTS
Irvine-based El Pollo Loco Inc. named 20-year restaurant veteran Jonathan Rogan to the newly-created position of manager of the culinary development. Prior to El Pollo Loco, Rogan worked for California Pizza Kitchen, Gelson’s Markets, Good Earth Restaurants, Square One Restaurant and Moose McGillycuddy’s Pub and Cafe.
RETAIL
Santa Ana-based Harveys Industries Inc., a maker of handbags, named Joe Citizen head of retail sales. Citizen has 16 years of experience in retail sales management and development. He previously worked for Merry-Go-Round Enterprises, Gap Inc. and Apple Computers Inc. Citizen will head up Harveys retail store in Santa Ana, set to open in spring 2007.
SPORTS
Anaheim Arena Management LLC, the management company for the Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim, and the Anaheim Ducks promoted six people and hired one. James Bakken was hired as manager of ticket operations, Anaheim Ducks. Gina Bulgheroni was promoted to assistant manager, premium ticketing, Anaheim Arena Management and Anaheim Ducks. Lauren O’Gorman was promoted to communications/publicity coordinator, Anaheim Ducks. James Panetta was promoted to director of premium sales and service, Anaheim Arena Management. Antonio Ruscitto was promoted to public safety office, Anaheim Arena Management. Justin Sheppard was promoted to senior account executive for season sales, Anaheim Arena Management and Anaheim Ducks. And Casey Norvall was promoted to senior account executive for group sales, Anaheim Arena Management and Anaheim Ducks.
San Clemente-based Execute Sports Inc., a maker of wetsuits, vests, rash guards, snowboards and other products for the action sports industry, added Todd Hahn as chief executive. Hahn cofounded Action Sports Management.
TECHNOLOGY
Vanguard Voice Systems Inc. appointed Walt Straub as chairman of its board and Bob Bova, president and chief executive of Vanguard, as a board member. Straub was chief executive of Irvine’s Rainbow Technologies, now part of Maryland’s SafeNet Inc.
Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America Inc. in Irvine named David Naranjo director of product development for its audio/video products division. Prior to joining Mitsubishi, Naranjo was vice president of consumer electronics research with DisplaySearch, a market research and consulting company.
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