Compiled by Roberta Boginis
Walt Disney Co. veteran Jim Alessandro has joined the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim as senior vice president of marketing.
Alessandro comes from Disneyland Resort Paris, where he was vice president of global marketing support.
He replaces Marty Muller, who returned to a prior position with the company in Burbank.
Alessandro will oversee all aspects of marketing at Disney-land, including press, publicity and special events.
His top priority: Disneyland’s 50th anniversary marketing effort, which kicked off in May and continues through next September.
“I want to ensure that our target (market) knows that our 50th anniversary celebration is kicking into high gear,” he said.
Disneyland saw a crush of visitors for the anniversary during the summer and is seeking to keep up attendance for the rest of the year and into next.
Alessandro has been with Walt Disney for 12 years. He previously worked in marketing for the Disney Cruise Line and as director of brand management at the Walt Disney Resort in Orlando, Fla.
Prior to that, the Cleveland Heights, Ohio, native worked for ad shop Saatchi & Saatchi in Los Angeles and Foote Cone & Belding in Chicago.
Alessandro now lives in Corona del Mar with his wife, Tish, and their two children.
“We love the beach and feel fortunate to be able to live so close,” he said.
,Sandi Cain
BANKING
FirstBank hired Sanda Carrie-Pronier as manager at its Harbor Boulevard branch in Fullerton. Carrie-Pronier, with 19 years of banking experience, is responsible for generating deposits, fee income and loans.
CONSULTING
British consulting firm Environmental Resources Management Inc., specializing in environment, health and safety, appointed Robin Woolson as partner at its Santa Ana office. Woolson directs compliance and management consulting services for the Southern California region and is the company’s corporate health and safety officer for the Western region.
FINANCE
Bruce Manchester was named senior managing director at Costa Mesa-based RSM EquiCo Capital Markets LLC, the brokerage subsidiary of investment bank RSM EquiCo Inc.
GRAPHIC DESIGN
Irvine-based DB Studios Inc. promoted Haller McCrory from graphic designer to design director. McCrory formerly designed products for large corporations at Big Design Inc. in New York
HEALTHCARE
Marie Zappia-Kuz-mack was promoted to executive director of ancillary services at the San Clemente campus of Saddle-back Memorial Medical Center. Zap-pia-Kuzmack was previously a quality resource clinical nurse specialist.
INSURANCE
Coralee “Cookie” Talmage joined the Irvine office of Coun-trywide Insurance Services Inc., part of Countrywide Financial Corp., as senior vice president of its emp-loyee benefits practice. Talmage previously worked at PrideMark Insurance Agency as executive director for employee benefits department.
MARKETING
Steve Sheldon was named account coordinator at Costa Mesa-based Roxburgh Agency Inc., a real estate marketing company. Sheldon formerly was marketing coordinator at Carlsbad-based Jenny Craig Inc.
NONPROFIT
Orange-based Pro-vidence Speech and Hearing Center named Joseph McHugh, senior vice president at City National Bank’s Irvine regional office, to its board. The center, an affiliate of Children’s Hospital of Orange County and St. Joseph Hospital, is accredited by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
Patricia Patano was hired as director of development at Olive Crest Homes and Services for Abused Children in Santa Ana. Patano formerly was a partner at J.D. Power and Associates.
REAL ESTATE
Tustin-based Roddel & Associates, a new-home sales and marketing company, named Ron Carl as vice president of sales and marketing. Carl has served as a planning commissioner and design review board member for the city of Del Mar.
Irvine-based Jackson, DeMarco, Tidus, Peckenpaugh added Rafik Mattar as an associate in the real estate group and Linda Trang as an associate in the community interest subdivision practice.
Terry Thompson was named vice president of acquisitions at the Newport Beach office of WCB Properties Ltd., based in Pittsburgh. Thompson formerly was senior vice president for the Western division at PM Realty Group.
SERVICES
Lake Forest-based Accurate Background Inc., which provides international employment screening services, named Teresa Corso as implementation manager. Corso previously worked as project manager in the integration and implementation department at Santa Ana-based Ingram Micro Inc.
Cassie East was promoted from manager to president of Newport Beach-based Collectors Universe Inc.’s newly formed division Certified Assets Exchange. The company provides services to dealers and collectors of valuable items. Collectors Universe also promoted Mike Lewis from chief financial officer to senior vice president of finance and Joe Wallace from vice president of finance to chief financial officer.
San Diego-based Four Square Productions Inc., a multimedia services provider, appointed Vern Vihlene as director at its newly established Irvine office. Also added were Scott Sorensen as senior producer and Tom Merritt as senior manager. TECHNOLOGY
Nathan Silberman was named vice president of engineering at Irvine-based WiSpry Inc., which designs and markets components for the wireless industry. Silberman most recently was vice president of engineering from Rfco Inc., where he is a cofounder.
Fairport, N.Y.-based Paetec Communi-cations Inc., which provides data and voice services, added Teresa Tolins as account manager at its Irvine sales office. Tolins brings more than a decade of telecommunications experience to the position.
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