Compiled by Kelly Ryan
O’Grattan: Overseeing Local Disney Operations
Michael O’Grattan, a 36-year employee of Walt Disney Co., has been promoted to senior vice president of operations for the Disneyland Resort.
He most recently was vice president of Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fla. At Disneyland, O’Grattan replaces Greg Emmer, who retired.
O’Grattan, a native of La Canada, is a graduate of California State University, Long Beach, where he earned a bachelor’s in finance and general management.
He began his Disney career in the local character department in 1972 and later worked at Walt Disney Studios before heading to Walt Disney World in 1982.
In Anaheim, one of his first endeavors was to open the new Playhouse Disney show at California Adventure. He also opened Playhouse Disney at Studio Park in Florida. The next major project will be the June debut of “Toy Story Mania”,an attraction also set to open in Orlando in April.
O’Grattan said he’s looking forward to working on the expansion of California Adventure, Disney’s second theme park in Anaheim. The park hasn’t lived up to expectations and is undergoing an expansion and makeover.
“If there’s a heart of the company, it’s here,” O’Grattan said. “My primary goal is to remain true to that.”
Disneyland Resort President Ed Grier also came from the operations side of the business.
O’Grattan said he’s also interested in the demographic changes in Orange County and across the U.S., calling it a “natural evolution” of a mixture of cultures. He and his family have begun to learn Spanish, he said.
His family plans to move to OC after the school year ends for his 8-year-old twins in Florida. For now, he’s house hunting.
,Sandi Cain
ACCOUNTING
Gary Curtis joined Haskell & White LLP as a partner in its Irvine corporate mergers and acquisition practice. He’s a member of the OC chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth.
ARCHITECTURE
Mel Tan was promoted to associate partner at MVE Institutional in Irvine. He previously was lead design architect.
ASSOCIATIONS
Wayne Lindholm was named president of Associate General Con-tractors of California. Lindholm is vice president of Hensel Phelps Con-struction Co. in Irvine.
Four people were elected to the California Association of Community Managers: Diane Houston of Transpacific Management Service, Rene Decker of Professional Community Management, Patty Garcia of MCM LLC and Valerie Strauch of Merit Cos.
CONSTRUCTION
Wentz Group in Newport Beach named Richard Majestic vice president. He has more than 20 years of experience in Southern California construction.
CONSULTING
Alan Dasca was promoted to vice president for the Microsoft Dynamics team for Hitachi Consulting in Orange.
GOVERNMENT
Anaheim named Marty Z. De Sollar external affairs manager. She will manage the city’s public information and government relations.
HEALTHCARE
Raymond Casciari was named chief officer of medical affairs at St. Joseph Hospital in Orange. He has been a doctor at St. Joseph for nearly 30 years.
HOSPITALITY
Doug French rejoined the Hilton Anaheim as director of revenue management after spending four years at the Hilton Orange County/Costa Mesa. Esther Yun was promoted to director of group and catering revenue management at the Hilton Anaheim.
LAW
Margaret A.M. Heine joined DiMarcho, Arujo & Montevideo as a partner in its Santa Ana office. She will head the firm’s business group.
MARKETING
Christie Cruz rejoined Pacific Communi-cations in Costa Mesa as associate creative director. She has worked as creative director at DevicePharm, associate creative director at Ignite Health and group creative leader at FCB Healthcare. Nicole Stark also returned as account supervisor. She was an account executive at Bates USA Advertising and Campbell Mithun.
NONPROFIT
Kendra Angier was hired as chief people officer at Think Together Inc. She previously worked in human resources, staffing and training at Pepsi Bottling Group, Corning Inc. and Accenture. She will be based in Santa Ana.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of OC added John Mongillo of Anaheim as a graphic designer/marketing coordinator. Mongillo previously worked for the National Football League and Los Angeles Dodgers.
