Compiled by Kelly Ryan
ACCOUNTING
Javier Ramirez was promoted to executive director and George Afremow and Tim Hosford were promoted to senior managers at the Irvine office of Grant Thornton LLP. Ramirez is a member of the Society of Auditor Appraisers. Afremow has expertise in manufacturing, distribution and technology. Hosford is part of Grant Thornton’s professional standards group, providing support to local office professionals with technical research.
Ernst & Young LLP named Kim Letch strategic growth markets leader. Letch is a partner in the firm’s Irvine office and specializes in working with emerging companies through IPOs, mergers and acquisitions and international expansion. She also is a member of Ernst & Young’s Orange County flexibility task force and innovation committee.
ARCHITECTURE
LPA Architects Inc. made several new hires in its Irvine office: Daniel Kang, Kari Kikuta, Dan Pahlajani, Chad Parsons and Donovan Helminiak. Other new hires are Carlos Buenrostro and John Rauh. James Ross and Nadia Montes joined the office as interns. Mina Roades became a licensed architect.
CONSULTING
Mike Jensen was named president of Aliso Viejo’s Cumming Group Inc. Terry McDonald joined the company as vice president of marketing. Jensen has been with the company for 12 years. McDonald previously was director of marketing for Arizona-based Pinnacle-One Inc.
EDUCATION
Sylvia Turner was promoted to dean of fine and performing arts at Santa Ana College. Ed Ripley was named vice president of continuing education at the college. Turner previously was associate dean of fine and performing arts. She is a former member of the Ann Arbor Dance Theater and the Gloria Newman Dance Company. Ripley will manage English as a second language, citizenship and other adult education programs. He previously was dean of human services and technology.
FINANCE
Thomas Giddings joined Keller Wealth Advantage LLC in Irvine as president and chief operating officer.
FOOD
Ladera Ranch-based Dulcinea Farms LLC added John McGuigan as vice president of sales and marketing and Frank Mejia as senior manager of operations for Mexico. McGuigan previously held senior management positions at Sunkist Growers Inc. Mejia most recently was general manager for the Southwest production unit of Del Monte Fresh Produce Inc.
HOSPITALITY
Ronald Braxton Jr. was named food and beverage director at Morn-ingside of Fullerton retirement community. He will supervise the culinary and serving staffs and the community’s catering, bakery, food and beverage departments. He previously was general manager for Logan’s Roadhouse in Fontana.
HEALTH
John Zehren joined the sales management division of Ev3 Neurovascular, part of Ev3 Inc. in Irvine. Zehren previously was vice presi-dent of sales and marketing at Edwards Lifesciences Corp.
Terrence Noonan was named interim chief executive and president at Endocare Inc. in Irvine. Noonan previously was president and chief operating officer at Furon Co. in Laguna Niguel.
INSURANCE
Heritage General Agency in Irvine added Diane Rusk as underwriting supervisor. Rusk most recently was an underwriter and broker at Yates & Associates Insurance Services.
LAW
Charles Spagnola was named to head of the criminal defense practice group at the Newport Beach office of Cummins & White LLP. Tom Lamons joined the firm as a partner. Spagnola is a partner at the firm and specializes in representing corporations and business professionals in criminal and white-collar crime matters. Lamons is a board certified specialist in tax law and specializes in all stages of tax controversy, including large audits, trial work appeals and collection forums.
MEDIA & MARKETING
Gary Tackett was promoted to director of automotive and real estate advertising at Orange County Register Communications Inc. He will oversee business development, branding, distribution and new products.
PRINTING
Costa Mesa-based C2 Reprographics added Keath Lauderdale as senior vice president in charge of onsite services. In 2006, Lauderdale and a partner launched Professional Rep-rographics LLC. He left the company when it was purchased by its employees.
REAL ESTATE
First American Title Insurance Co., part of Santa Ana-based First American Corp., added Michael Ehms as senior vice president and strategic account director in its lenders advantage division’s sales division in Santa Ana. Ehms previously was a sales manager and senior account manager for Republic Mortgage Insurance Co. in North Carolina.
