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Sunday, Jul 12, 2026

PEOPLE



Compiled by Kelly Ryan


Kulik Tapped as CEO for Abbott Staffing

Shelle Kulik has been named chief executive of Abbott Staffing Cos.

She replaced Karen Powers, who retired after 37 years with the Santa Ana-based employment agency.

“Karen and I worked together my whole life,” Kulik said. “I reported to (her) for almost 24 years and nobody was surprised when Karen stepped back and I stepped forward.”

The two executives spent the past two years running the company together, preparing for the transition.

Kulik joined Abbott Staffing in 1984 after company founder Louise Pomeroy visited her California State University, Fullerton, classroom as a guest speaker. At the time, Kulik already had some experience handling payroll for the four lighting stores her parents owned.

After only eight weeks as a payroll clerk at Abbott, Kulik was promoted to operations

assistant under Powers.

In 1995, she was tapped to head the diversification efforts at Abbott, which had been known for clerical and administrative workers.

Kulik launched a specialty services division, which provided employees in accounting and food preparation.

Kulik lives in Aliso Viejo with her husband and two children, ages 8 and 10. She and her family spend spare time skiing and snowboarding at their house in Big Bear. The family also loves basketball.

,Kelly Ryan


ARCHITECTURE

Jeff Liederman joined BSW International as managing director for the company’s Western regional offices. He previously was managing director of the Arizona office. Liederman began working at BSW in 2004 and has

more than 17 years of architectural experience in development. He is certified through

the National Council

of Architectural Reg-istration.


ASSOCIATIONS

Don Hicks was named executive director of American Electronics Association, known as AeA, Orange County Council. Hicks previously worked at Irvine’s Quantum Leaders, a management consulting and strategy company.


CONSULTING

Terracon Consultants Inc., which offers engineer and scientist consultants, hired Mike Riggle as a geologist in its Irvine office. His duties include geotechnical and environmental investigations, data collection and evaluation, and report development. Terracon serves customers in the agriculture, commercial development and energy sectors.


FINANCE

Jennifer McCall was named vice president for business development at Strategic Financial Alliance offices in Costa Mesa and Los Angeles. McCall will direct the recruitment process of new sales agents and train agents and staff. She began working in the financial services sector in 2000.


LAW

Gabriela Salazar Burns joined the Irvine office of Fisher & Phillips LLP as an associate. She will represent clients in employment-related litigation and will offer preventative advice for employers. Before Fisher & Phillips, Salazar Burns was a litigation associate at Cozen O’Connor.


REAL ESTATE

Keystone Pacific Property Management Inc. in Irvine hired Renee Morales as a community association manager. She will manage a portfolio of existing association communities in OC. Morales will work with the board of directors to oversee operation of the association, prepare budgets and oversee vendor compliance.


TECHNOLOGY

Irvine-based Integrien, which makes software to manage software on corporate computers, added Dale Quayle as executive vice president of sales and field operations. Quayle has more than 25 years of experience in driving sales growth for software companies.

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