PEOPLE
Bridget Bilinski Named GM of Anaheim Marriott
Compiled by Meenakshi Viswanathan
San Diego native Bridget Bilinski recently was named general manager of the 1,000-room Anaheim Marriott and general manager for North Orange County Marriott properties.
She replaces Doug Watson, who took over as area manager of Marriott hotels in the Palm Springs area.
Bilinski is the first female general manager for the Anaheim hotel.
Bilinski, a graduate of the Collins School of Hospitality Management at California Polytechnic University in Pomona, has spent her 25-year career with Marriott International Inc., including stints at the Los Angeles Airport Marriott, and the Phoenix Metrocenter Courtyard and Scottsdale Marriott, both in Arizona.
Bilinski also was the first female vice president of franchising at Marriott’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., where she led the effort to open more than 100 Courtyard by Marriott hotels in the U.S. and Canada.
Bilinski said that since her return to the area, she has been busy reconnecting with hospitality industry people she knew in Southern California 20 years ago.
She said she also wants to focus on getting more people to come to the new Anaheim Resort District around Disneyland.
“The challenge is to let people know there’s more to do in Anaheim than Disney,” Bilinski said. “It’s so beautiful here now.”
The booking pace for 2005 at the Anaheim Marriott is ahead of projections,a good sign for all the North Orange County hotels, she said.
“The success of all our Orange County properties is dependent on the Anaheim (Marriott),” Bilinski said, because citywide conventions push business to outlying areas.
Bilinski lives in Laguna Beach with her husband, their English Mastiff Raina and a rescued cat, Sarge.
,Sandi Cain
ADVERTISING & PUBLIC RELATIONS
Erica Rios joined Waters & Faubel, a public relations agency in Lake Forest, as an account executive. Rios formerly was an executive aide to Orange County Supervisor Chris Norby.
APPAREL
Foothill Ranch-based retailer Wet Seal Inc. appointed Lisa Stanley as vice president, marketing for its Arden B. division.
ARCHITECTURE
Ware Malcomb promoted Jon Zimmerman to regional director of the commercial architecture & technology group at its Irvine headquarters. Zimmerman joined the company in 1998 and most recently served as director of its technology group.
HEALTHCARE
Michael Palmer was hired as mechanical design lead of smart technology for Freedom Science & Technologies, a division of Irvine-based Freedom Innovations Inc., which makes prosthetics and other products for amputees.
Conexis, a benefits administrator based in Orange, appointed Dagmar De Stefano to the newly created position of vice president, client services.
HOSPITALITY
Kimberly Hoppe was appointed director of catering & conference services at the Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel.
INSURANCE
Christopher John Bissonnette joined FMC/Mass Mutual Financial Group in Newport Beach, part of Springfield, Mass.-based Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co., as sales manager.
NONPROFIT
Stephen B. Wilson joined the Community Service Programs of Orange County in Santa Ana as director of finance and administration.
REAL ESTATE
Newport Beach-based Hopkins Real Estate Group added Edward C. Bach as development manager. Bach comes from GVD Commercial Properties Inc. in Orange.
KBS Realty Advisors, a Newport Beach-based real estate investment management company, hired Mark Brecheen to manage its properties in Colorado and Houston.
Costa Mesa-based homebuilder Alexander Communities named James D. McMenamin vice president of land acquisition and planning. McMenamin comes from Trimark Pacific Homes of Westlake Village, where he was director of development and acquisitions.
CT Realty Corp. in Newport Beach appointed J.R. Pearce as senior vice president of acquisitions. Pearce brings more than two decades of experience in the industry and most recently served as executive vice president of Dallas-based Koll Development Co.
RESTAURANTS
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar in Newport Beach appointed Jaye Sechrest as operating partner. Sechrest has been with Fleming’s since its inception in 1998.
