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Saturday, May 9, 2026

PEOPLE



Compiled by Roberta Boginis

Irvine-based Toyota Material Handling U.S.A., a maker of forklifts and other products, named Tatsuo Matsuura as chief executive of its production unit, Toyota Industrial Equipment Manufacturing.

Toyota Industrial Equipment Manufac-turing oversees production at the company’s factory in Columbus, Ind. Toyota Material Handling U.S.A distributes and sells the forklifts. Both are part of Japan’s Toyota Motor Corp.

Matsuura is set to work from Japan and come to Irvine regularly, according to Toyota. Matsuura also is an executive vice president for the Toyota Material Handling group of companies and chairman of Toyota Material Handling U.S.A.

At Toyota Industrial Equipment Manufacturing, Matsuura is set to oversee day-to-day operations and set strategy in sales, marketing, manufacturing and distribution for North America.

The company also named Susumu “Sonny” Toyoda, grandnephew of the company’s founder, as president and chief operating officer of Toyota Industrial Equipment Manufacturing.

Toyoda is set to manage Toyota In-dustrial Equipment Manufacturing’s In-diana plant, which makes the bulk of forklifts sold in North America.

Matsuura and Toyoda are taking over duties previously handled by Yoshimitsu Ogihara, who had headed up Toyota Industrial Equipment Manufacturing.

Ogihara is taking a step back with a return to Japan as a senior technical adviser.

Toyoda lives in Columbus, Ind., with his wife and two daughters. Matsuura continues to live in Aichi, Japan.

Matsuura has a degree in economics from Nagoya University in Aichi. Toyoda has a bachelor’s in German literature and a law degree from Waseda University in Tokyo.

,Purnima Mudnal

ADVERTISING

NAS Recruitment Communications in Orange, a recruitment advertising agency, named Matthew Warholy as regional manager at its Orange headquarters. Warholy previously was account executive at the Los Angeles Times for more than two decades.

BANKING

Ron Ventre was hired as factoring representative in Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas and Washington at the Mission Viejo office of IronStone Bank. IronStone runs an accounts receivable funding and management program that provides cash flow and working capital to businesses. It’s also a unit of First Citizens Banc-Shares Inc.

EDUCATION

Concordia University in Irvine promoted Joseph Bordeaux to dean of the School of Education. Bordeaux previously was associate dean. He replaces Barbara Morton, who will remain at the university as associate dean. Bordeaux joined Concordia in 2002.

EMPLOYMENT

Pleasanton-based Ro-bert Half International Inc., a staffing services company, named Brett Good president of operations for Southern California, Arizona and New Mexico, working from its Irvine office.

ENGINEERING

Jeff Greinke joined Phoenix-based DL Engineering & Controls Inc. as project engineer. Greinke will be based in Mission Viejo and will handle the company’s Orange County services.

FINANCE

WFS Financial Inc., an auto financier, named Bill Katafias to national production manager from interim national production manager. WFS Financial is a unit of Western Financial Bank, which is owned by Westcorp. Katafias joined WFS Financial in 1993.

GOVERNMENT

Paul Glaab, president of Laguna Hills-based public affairs firm Glaab & Associates Inc. and a Laguna Niguel councilman, was appointed to the Commission on State Mandates. Previously, Glaab was director of public affairs for the Transportation Corridor Agencies and senior consultant to the Assembly Republican Caucus on business, transportation and housing issues. The Commission on State Mandates position requires Senate confirmation and is unpaid.

MANUFACTURING

Tustin-based Balboa Instruments Inc. named Stephen J. Scherer president and chief operating officer. The company provides electronic controls, sanitization, lights and wireless devices for hot tubs.

NONPROFIT

Michelle Ray became development director at the Art & Creativity for Healing Inc. in Laguna Niguel. Ray comes from Boys and Girls Clubs of Southwest County in Temecula.

The Ocean Institute in Dana Point named attorney Bill Steel as chairman of its board and Jim Wehan as captain of its two tall ships, the Pilgrim and the Spirit of Dana Point.

Carol Stone is set to retire this year as chief executive at the Volunteer Center Orange County in Santa Ana. Stone has served in the position since 1981.

REAL ESTATE

Irvine-based Granite Homes appointed Laura Hughes as customer care administrative manager. She previously was customer service administrative manager at Pinnacle Communities Inc.

Information in People is supplied by businesses. Submit items to features@ocbj.com or Orange County Business Journal, Attention: People, 2600 Michelson Drive, Ste. 170, Irvine, CA 92612. Include the name and phone number of someone to contact. Photos are encouraged but cannot be returned.

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