PEOPLE
DENTAL
Stanley J. Andrakowicz, vice president of plan operations and government programs for Western Dental Services Inc., has been elected to Western Dental’s board of directors. The company, based in Orange, operates more than 140 dental centers throughout California and Arizona.
EDUCATION
Satya N. Atluri, an engineer involved with aircraft safety and durability, will join the University of California, Irvine’s Henry Samueli School of Engineering this month.
Alturi will be the Henry Samueli “von Karman” Endowed Chair in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and will head the Center for Aerospace Research and Education, a program he will bring with him from UCLA.
FINANCE
Irvine-based The Keller Group Investment Management has promoted Rick Bamish to director of research.
R. Daniel Banis has joined Santa Ana-based First American Trust FSB as executive vice president with responsibility for marketing and national sales.
HEALTHCARE
Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) has appointed Thomas Brotherton executive vice president and chief operating officer. He will be responsible for overall hospital operations at CHOC. Brotherton has almost 30 years hospital experience and more than 22 years experience at pediatric medical centers.
Bill Elliott, former chairman, president and chief executive of Irvine-based Embion Inc., has joined Quidel Corp. in its newly-created position of executive vice president. Elliott also served as president of Orange-based Bergen Brunswig Corp. and IntePlex.
HOTEL
Tony Bruno has been promoted to general manager of the Disney-land Resort hotels and will oversee all three Disney-owned hotel properties in Anaheim. Bruno’s role is to oversee and implement new business strategies and strengthen the hotels’ focus on guest and employee operations. Bruno was most recently general manager of Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel.
INSURANCE
Santa Ana-based Tutton Insurance Services Inc. has promoted Ray Fuentes and Pat Barnes to assistant vice presidents. Both employees served in the company’s sales division.
INVESTING
Tech Coast Angels of Laguna Hills has elected new officers for its board of governors. Dave Berkus will serve as chairman, with Ken Deemer as outgoing chairman. Vern Yates became vice chairman. Fred Selby will serve as president of the Orange County network, with Ed Setzer also representing.
Founded by Luis Villalobos, the board is responsible for setting policy and overseeing shared resources for a group of more than 200 angel investors throughout Southern California.
LAW
Costa Mesa-based Rutan and Tucker has hired Paul Castor, a fifth-year associate currently with the Palo Alto firm of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati.
Michael R. Gandee has joined Watt, Tieder, Hoffar & Fitzgerald LLP’s Irvine office. Gandee concentrates his practice in public and private construction disputes and contractual disputes.
NONPROFIT
The Balboa Performing Arts Theater Foundation has added two new board members: Nancy Gardner, founder of the Surfrider Foundation, and Seth Siegel, proprietor of The Health Emporium in Corona del Mar.
REAL ESTATE
Nadia Gilmore has joined Coreland Cos., a Tustin commercial real estate company, as director of retail leasing and sales to its Los Angeles brokerage office.
SALES
Catalina Design Group has promoted Wendy Potter director of sales. She served as senior sales manager for three years. In addition, Debbie Coleman-Leitch was hired as senior sales manager in the Irvine office. Coleman-Leitch served as sales and marketing director at Diamond Crest Homes. The company also hired Kim Ice as the Irvine office’s sales coordinator.
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