PEOPLE
Compiled by Meenakshi Viswanathan
CONSTRUCTION
Andy Buerk joined Taisei Construction Corp. in Cypress as project executive. Buerk brings 20 years of experience to Taisei. He spent the past 12 years as area manager for Costa Mesa-based S.J. Amoroso Construction Co.
DINING
Danny Stevens was promoted to executive chef at Z’Tejas Southwestern Grill in South Coast Plaza. Stevens previously was sous chef for the Costa Mesa restaurant.
ENGINEERING
Jaime E. Moreno joined the Costa Mesa office of Oakland-based Geomatrix Consul-tants Inc. as a principal engineer. Moreno brings 20 years of engineering experience to Geomatrix Consultants.
Aliso Viejo-based engineering and construction company Fluor Corp. made two appointments to its environmental and nuclear operations, which are part of the company’s government group. Gary Coxon was named vice president of operations and Beth Bilson was hired as senior project director. Both Coxon and Bilson will be based in Arlington, Va.
FINANCE
Sharon Updike, chief executive and president of Lake Forest-based Eagle Community Cre-dit Union, was elected to the board of San Dimas’ Western Corp-orate Federal Credit Union, which provides transaction processing and other services to credit unions.
LAW
San Francisco-based Morrison & Foerster LLP added James J. Thompson to its corporate finance practice at the firm’s Irvine office. Thompson previously was an associate at Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP in Los Angeles.
NONPROFIT
Costa Mesa-based Earth Resource Foun-dation, which promotes environmental awareness in OC, added three new members to its board: Ted Flittner, principal of Kinetic Engineering in Irvine; Brenda Stouffer, project manager for the Endangered Habitats League’s Heart and Soul Coalition; and Teri B. Tieman, president and creative director of Quintessence Creative, an advertising agency in Irvine. Other new officers elected were: Linda Nicholes, vice president; David Martyn, treasurer; and Narsis Kabiri, secretary. Founder and Executive Director Stephanie Barger and President Dennis Baker were re-elected into their positions.
Melinda Masson, chief executive and president of Merit Cos., which includes Merit Property Management Inc., Merit Association Services Inc. and Community Technologies Inc., was named 2004-2005 campaign chair for United Way of Orange County. Masson founded Merit in 1980 and will be the first woman in the nonprofit’s history to chair its campaign effort.
Jerry Nieblas was named artifacts coordinator at Mission San Juan Capistrano. Nieblas has been with the mission for more than 20 years.
Amanda McDorman was named director of special events of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s Orange County chapter. McDorman most recently served as events manager for the MS Challenge Walk.
Art & Creativity for Healing Inc. in Laguna Niguel appointed three members to its board: Diana Colon, a medicinal chemist at Allergan Inc. in Irvine; Elias Dawly, national manager of media service for Hyundai Motor America Inc. and Kia Motors America Inc.; and Adrienne Drake, a retired Laguna Hills physician.
REAL ESTATE
Irvine-based FlexPoint Funding Corp., a subprime mortgage banking company, named Melanie Daly to the position of vice president of strategic alliances at its newly opened Dallas offices. Daly has more than 15 years of experience in the financial services industry and most recently was national sales manager with Centex Home Equity Co., part of Dallas-based homebuilder Centex Corp.
Kym Coblenz and Toni Mora joined Keystone Pacific Property Management Inc. based in Irvine. Coblenz will be architectural coordinator/custom lot coordinator for the Shady Canyon Community Association in Irvine. Mora will be architectural coordinator for CZ Master Association in Coto de Caza. Keystone Pacific also promoted Carrie Powell to architectural administrator at its headquarters.
SERVICES
Farmington Hills, Mich.-based Morpace Inter-national Inc., which provides market research and consulting services, appointed Tony A. Cosentino as vice president of business development for its technology and tele-communications group. Cosentino is based out of the company’s Irvine office.
TECHNOLOGY
Laguna Hills-based Interchange Corp., a provider of paid Web search advertising, appointed Scott Wessler to the position of director of product development. Prior to joining Interchange, Wessler was director of product development for the Walt Disney Internet Group.
