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Thursday, Apr 9, 2026

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ACCOUNTING

Gerald Herter, managing partner of Tustin-based Sterman, Higashi & Herter CPAs, was named president of Integra International Inc. Integra is a global network of local independent accounting and consulting firms with offices worldwide.


ADVERTISING

Newport Beach-based Point B Inc. promoted 14-year industry veteran Stacey Witt to vice president, client services. Previously, Witt was with Sandy Corp. where she was account manager. In addition, the firm promoted Rosemarie Ryder to account supervisor. Prior to joining the firm, she was a marketing manager for Leiner Health Products.


ARCHITECTURE

Newport Beach-based JBZ Architecture+Planning promoted Anastacio Martinez to principal; Patricia Towle to associate and Ronald D. Krater to director of planning.

Depika Vidyarthi was named director of west division marketing operations for HNTB Companies, Irvine. She was previously director of corporate business development services for the company.


BANKING AND FINANCE

Berkshire Mortgage Finance, Irvine, hired Jeff Day as senior vice president and production manager. Day will oversee the loan production of the West coast division of the firm. Day comes to the firm from Key Commercial Mortgage.


CONSTRUCTION

Albert M. Figone joined Andrew L. Youngquist Construction Inc. as project manager. Previously, the 22-year industry veteran was a construction manager for Legacy Partners Commercial Inc.


EDUCATION

Samantha Dobyns was appointed manager of the vocational rehabilitation training school for Laguna Hills-based Allied Business Schools Inc. Prior to the promotion, she was director of education for the school, a provider of career retraining programs.


HEALTHCARE

PacifiCare Health Systems, Santa Ana, promoted Edward C. Cymerys to senior vice president of pricing and underwriting. Previously, Cymerys was with Towers Perrin, where he was senior actuary for the health industry consulting practice.

Chairman and CEO of IMS HEALTH David M. Thomas was named to Newport Beach-based TriZetto Group’s board of directors.


HUMAN RESOURCES

Denise Greenstein joined BC Management Resources in Fullerton as executive vice president of business development. Greenstein brings 15 years of experience in outplacement, career and training development to the business.

Andrew Johnson was promoted to senior vice president of senior executive services for the Irvine office of Lee Hecht Harrison. Johnson will oversee the creation and implementation of an executive resource board and to develop career objectives and communications strategies.


INSURANCE

Newport Beach-based Pacific Life Insurance Co. announced the following promotions: Mark W. Holmlund to executive vice president, institutional products division; Henry M. McMillan to senior vice president in the institutional products division, Daragh O’Sullivan to vice president, product design in the life insurance division; Thomas C. Bilello to assistant vice president, life insurance division.


LAW

Snell & Wilmer elected Daniel S. Rodman and Sean M. Sherlock partners in the firm’s Irvine office.

Fred M. Whitaker joined Cummins & White LLP as a partner in the Newport Beach office. Whitaker is the former general counsel and Northwest COO for the Southern Counties Oil Companies in Orange. Whitaker comes to the firm from private practice.

Sherry M. Du Pont has returned to Cox, Castle & Nicholson LLP in Irvine as senior counsel. Du Pont returns to the firm from Archon Group in Dallas, a real estate subsidiary of Goldman, Sachs & Co.

Resolution experts JAMS added 31-year judicial officer Robert E. Thomas to its panel of neutrals in Orange. Previously, Thomas was an Orange County Superior Court Judge who handled complex civil disputes, including the UCI fertility clinic litigation.


MARKETING

Santa Ana-based United Printing & Mailing hired Chuck Hayford as art director. Hayford comes to the firm from the Orange County Museum of Art, where he created museum publications and publicity materials. Hayford will oversee the firm’s graphic design department, which provides creative, design and layout services.

Debra A. Miller joined Sinickas Communications Inc., Costa Mesa, as senior communication consultant. Previously, the 20-year industry veteran owned her own public relations firm in Washington, D.C.


NONPROFITS

Dana Point-based Ocean Institute named Dan S. Gee president. The organization is committed to increasing awareness and understanding of the marine environment.


REAL ESTATE

The Irvine Co.’s investment properties group announced the following executive promotions: Bill Halford, president of the office group; David Patty, investment properties group’s executive vice president for finance and administration; Ron Keith, investment properties group’s executive vice president for commercial property development; Keith Eyrich, president of the retail group.

Steve Sprenger of Grubb & Ellis’ Anaheim office was promoted to associate vice president. Sprenger, a Yorba Linda resident, specializes in the leasing and sale of industrial buildings in Mid-Cities and North Orange County.


RETAIL

John Sinclair was named executive vice president and acting chief operating officer for Playmates Toys Inc., Costa Mesa. Prior to joining the firm, Sinclair was with a Canadian retailer, The T. Eaton Co. Playmates Toys is a division of Hong Kong-based Playmates Interactive Entertainment and Sinclair will report to the Hong Kong office.


TECHNOLOGY

Tracy Price was appointed president and CEO of Irvine-based FieldCentrix. Previously, the 17-year industry veteran was president and CEO of Mesa Energy Systems. The firm is the largest provider of wireless and Internet-based software to the field service industry.


TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Cox Communications, Rancho Santa Margarita, promoted Michael Michota to vice president and general manager. In his new role, Michota will oversee the advertising sales operations. In addition, the firm promoted Amy Olmsted to general sales manager, CableRep Advertising.


UTILITIES

Jerry A. King, president of the Orange County Water District, was elected chairman of the Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority. King has been on the water district board since 1998. In his new role, he will assist in launching the organization’s integrated watershed program.

F.M. Ameri was appointed to the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Santa Ana, by Gov. Gray Davis. Ameri, a senior vice president for RBF Consulting, is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the World Affairs Council, Orange County Chapter.

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