People in the News
Compiled by Samantha Lee
ADVERTISING/PR
Laguna Hills-based Laer Pearce & Assoc-iates added two people to its staff. Amber Smith has been hired as an associate. Smith provides government relations support for accounts including the Southern California Stormwater Coalition, Unocal Corp. and the Building Industry Asso-ciation.
Scott Starkey joins the group as account coordinator. Starkey will provide public relations services to consumer and public affairs accounts.
ASSISTED LIVING
Costa Mesa-based ARV Assisted Living Inc. promoted Doug Armstrong to senior vice president and general counsel. Armstrong is an attorney and began his career with the group four years ago as the transactional attorney in the legal department. Additionally, the group has promoted Anita Ryan senior vice president-controller and chief accounting officer. Ryan has more than 20 years in finance and management and is a certified public accountant.
BUSINESS SERVICES
The Santa Ana Chamber of Commerce has appointed Larry Feldman director of communications. Feldman will oversee the day-to-day marketing and public relations for the chamber.
ELECTRONICS
San Clemente-based Sonance, a home electronics company, hired Thomas Robinson as business development manager. Robinson will be responsible for identifying markets and designing and bringing new products to market. Additionally, the company has named Sharmon Rodgers marketing services manager. Rodgers will oversee the company’s trade shows and marketing events, as well as manage the development of collateral and marketing materials.
FINANCIAL SERVICES
Gary Bechtel has joined Johnson Capital Group Inc. as a managing director in the company’s Irvine office. Bechtel will be involved in the company’s strategic initiatives and lender relations, as well as other global issues affecting the company.
GOVERNMENT
Orange County Sanitation District board of directors has elected Anaheim City Councilwoman Shirley McCracken as vice-chair. McCracken has served on the board since 1998.
HEALTHCARE/BIOTECH
Sheryl Vacca, a director in health care regulatory practice at Deloitte & Touche LLP, Costa Mesa, has been chosen to serve as president of the Health Care Compliance Association. Vacca has more than 23 years of experience specializing in the health care industry with a focus on developing and implementing compliance programs.
Santa Ana-based Pro-Dex Inc. has appointed Gary G. Garleb divisional president of the company’s Oregon Micro Systems Inc. division. Garleb joined Oregon Micro Systems in July 1995 as vice president and general manager of the division.
Clinical research company The Phoenix, Irvine, has added two new business development managers to its staff. Chris O’Neal will operate out of Raleigh, N.C., serving clients in the Carolinas, Georgia, Florida and the upper Midwest. Ken Allebach will work out of Pennsylvania, with responsibility clients in the New Jersey and Philadelphia areas.
LAW
Irvine-based Snell & Wilmer LLP has added three attorneys to its firm. Samantha M. LaPine’s practice is concentrated in real estate and commercial finance. LaPine graduated cum laude from Westminster College with a Bachelor of Arts degree and earned her law degree at University of San Diego School of Law. Tanya N. Mason’s practice is concentrated in commercial litigation. Mason graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s from San Diego State University, and earned her law degree from University of California, Los Angeles School of Law. Brian J. Mills will specialize in labor and employment. Mills earned his bachelor’s at the University of California, Irvine and his masters degree from North Carolina State University. He received his law degree from Loyola University of New Orleans School of Law.
MOVING & STORAGE
Tustin-based Alexander’s Moving and Storage has hired Chris Lechner and Mike Franco as national account managers. Lechner and Franco will be responsible for developing and maintaining relationships with corporate customers throughout the region.
REAL ESTATE
Terry W. Thompson has been appointed vice president for the Orange County and San Diego regions of Newport Beach-based PM Realty Group. Thompson will be responsible for existing client services, new business development and overseeing management operations.
Irvine-based Dimension Funding LLC has named David Budman national accounts manager. Budman has served as senior account executive since 1998.
Richard G. Newman, Jr. has been appointed president of California offices properties for Lowe Enterprises Southwest. Newman will be responsible for Los Angeles-based Lowe’s commercial property activities, and will work with the group’s Irvine office.
TRADE ASSOCIATION
Doug Lofstrom was recently elected president of the Western Fairs Association.
Lofstrom is presently director of operations for the Orange County Fair & Exposition Center, overseeing the maintenance and operations, public safety and graphics departments and equestrian center. The Western Fairs Association is a nonprofit trade association of more than 2,200 members in the western U.S. and Canada.
