Compiled by Johanne Chou
Business Journal Names Garrett VP, Associate Publisher
Laura Garrett, the Business Journal’s vice president of marketing and advertising for more than a decade, has been named vice president and associate publisher.
Garrett oversees advertising sales and marketing for the weekly paper and the Business Journal’s Web site with breaking daily news.
She’s also chair of the Business Journal’s six yearly events honoring women in business, entrepreneurs, chief financial officers, fast-growing private companies, family businesses and the inaugural 2009 Best Places to Work.
The Business Journal has seen revenue triple since Garrett came to the paper in 1996.
“It is a joy to recognize Laura’s contribution to the success of the OCBJ,” Publisher Richard Reisman said. “I don’t think there is another business journal anywhere that has grown advertising revenue the way Laura has here.”
Garrett began her publishing career in New York as associate publisher for TV Trade Media Inc., an international publisher of television trade magazines and event dailies.
She moved to the West Coast to work for Advanstar Communications Inc., where she headed up national publishing and international events for its business communications group.
Garrett is involved with Orange County United Way’s Women’s Philanthropy Fund and other charitable groups.
She lives in San Juan Capistrano with her husband Tom Gill, a conflict and mediation lawyer.
ARCHITECTURE
Gkkworks in Irvine hired Okkwon Kim as associate principal, director of interior design. Kim will oversee the interior design unit and work with the architecture unit. She oversaw the interior design for Sun Micro-systems Inc.’s new office building in Seoul, South Korea, designed by architectural firm Gensler.
AUTOMOTIVE
Irvine-based Mazda North American Operations, part of Japan’s Mazda Motor Corp., promoted Nobuyuki Sato from sales operations to vice president of strategic planning and market integration.
LAW
David Wald joined Hughes & Sullivan, a family law firm in Tustin, as a principal. Wald specializes in child custody and visitation, valuation and division of community business entities and child and spousal support.
Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth in Newport Beach named Susan Krause and Jeremy Suiter shareholders. Krause’s practice includes formation of new companies, venture capital financings and mergers and acquisitions. Suiter’s practice focuses on complex business litigation with an emphasis in securities litigation.
REAL ESTATE
Merit Property Management Inc. in Aliso Viejo named Pat Barry general manager of Ladera Ranch. Barry will be responsible for managing the Ladera Ranch Maintenance Corp. and the Ladera Ranch Community Services Corp. Barry most recently was town manager of Talega, a housing development in San Clemente that is managed by Merit Property Management.
Irvine-based Keystone Property Management Inc. hired Kristin Vils as onsite activities and facilities manager for One Ford Road Community Association in Newport Beach. Vils will assist the community association manager and plan, organize and direct all events.
RESTAURANT
Arturo Briones was promoted from sous chef to executive chef of Wildfish Seafood Grille in Newport Beach. Briones will oversee the restaurant’s entire culinary team, daily preparation of the menu and raw bar.
RETAIL
Gian Vex joined Studio Chameleon, a furniture and fine art store in Newport Beach that offers interior designing, as showroom manager. Vex will oversee retail operations, staff and client relations.
