INSURANCE
HNC Software, Irvine, promoted Earl Malit from senior vice president of product management to president of HNC Insurance Solutions, the company’s insurance division. Previously, Malit was vice president of business planning at Sega of America.
The Newport Beach office of Marsh Risk & Insurance Services appointed Blake Rea to senior vice president. Rea joined the company in 1998. In addition, Marsh named Tom Cammann a managing director and Sharron Dowis senior vice president. Cammann will also continue as middle market practice leader and Dowis will oversee operations in the insurance brokerage services department.
Colleen Hippard was hired to head a new professional liability division of Chaix & Associates in Newport Beach. The division will expand the services offered by the brokerage to include directors’ and officers’ liability, errors and omissions, medical malpractice and other business policies.
LAW
Joel T. Montminy was promoted to director of business development for Arter & Hadden LLP. Montminy was previously office administrator for the firm’s Irvine and San Diego offices.
Joel S. Miliband, an attorney with Irvine-based Rus, Miliband & Smith, was elected president of the Orange County Bar Association.
MARKETING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS
Hahn Communications, Newport Beach, promoted Keri Follmer to vice president. Follmer joined the firm in 1995 and became a senior account executive in 1997. Previously, she managed special event fundraisers for the American Heart Association.
John P. McDonald joined MORPACE International to head the firm’s new Western and Pacific Rim office in Irvine. He is a former senior vice president of marketing and sales at For Health in Costa Mesa.
Kevin Olson was promoted to director of new business development at the Orange County Register. He will oversee the newly consolidated business development and marketing promotions departments that will handle product marketing, database marketing, promotions and communications. Olson, who joined the Register in 1991, was most recently co-director of Discover Orange County 2000.
NON-PROFITS
The Discovery Museum of Orange County, Santa Ana, appointed Nick Alivojvodic director of marketing and community relations. Alivojvodic, principal of Anaheim-based NWA Consulting, also counts positions with the Anaheim Boys & Girls Clubs and the Santa Ana Council of Arts and Culture among his volunteer community activities.
REAL ESTATE
Pacific Gulf Properties Inc., Newport Beach, promoted J.R.Wetzel to chief operating officer as of Jan. 1. Wetzel, who was previously executive vice president, will also retain that title.
Costa Mesa-based WNC & Associates Inc. named Raymond Olsen president of WNC Management Inc., a subsidiary of the company that provides apartment management services in Southern California. The 20-year industry veteran was previously with United Dominion Realty Trust.
First American Title Insurance Co., Santa Ana, named Roger S. Hull chief information officer. Hull came to First American in 1998 as senior technology officer and was previously vice president of information systems for Coldwell Banker Relocation Services.
RETAIL
Allan Cooper was appointed director of Internet/fleet/leasing for Tuttle-Click Chrysler-Plymouth/Dodge/Hyundai/Jeep/Mitsubishi/Suzuki. He will oversee a staff of 15 in developing and marketing the company’s e-commerce sector.
Pacific Sunwear of California Inc., Anaheim, promoted Debbie Shim to vice president of juniors. Shim joined the company in 1998 as divisional merchandise manager, juniors.
Jim Fisher was named vice president of marketing for Coco’s and Carrows restaurants. Fisher came to the restaurants from Sodexho Marriott Services and has had a 25-year career in marketing. The two chains, which operate a total of 331 family restaurants, were put on the block by parent company, Advantica Restaurant Group Inc., earlier this month.
Newport Beach-based Horton & Converse Pharmacies hired Jeffrey B. Brouelette as vice president of finance. He was formerly an accounting manager with Haskell & White LLP in Newport Beach. Horton & Converse has 14 locations in Los Angeles and Orange counties.
The Festival Cos., Buena Park, promoted Angela Abshier to director of corporate marketing. She will add the duties of corporate marketing to the responsibilities she has for Buena Park Mall.
Go2 Systems Inc., Irvine, appointed Timothy J. Roy director of online development. Roy, a 17-year industry veteran, previously developed the Internet Yellow Page Directory for Southern New England Telephone.
TECHNOLOGY
Lake Forest-based Who?Vision hired Doug Antone as CEO and promoted Alex Dickinson from CEO to executive chairman. The pair hopes to develop the company into a leader in the e-commerce authentication industry. Antone is a veteran of Borland International and Ingram Micro. Who?Vision provides fingerprint identification technology for digital applications.
Sonance, a San Clemente manufacturer of high-end distributed audio systems and home theater products, named Chip Brown chief operating officer. Brown was most recently a principal of Strategic Growth Inc. and has 15 years of management experience with companies that also include Barbeques Galore, PepsiCo. and Deloitte & Touche.
