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Sunday, Apr 26, 2026

PEOPLE



Compiled by Andrea Rangno


ACCOUNTING

John Hanson joined accounting firm Macias, Gini & O’Connell LLP as an audit manager in Newport Beach. Han-son’s responsibilities will include assisting with the planning and reviewing of field work. He previously worked at Owl Cos. as a staff accountant and also as a manager at Moreland & Associates Inc.


ARCHITECTURE

Newport Beach-based architecture firm Taylor promoted Alyssa Scholz to senior associate. Scholz currently is children’s practice leader and specializes in design, planning and research for children’s healthcare facilities. Taylor has completed more than 2,500 healthcare projects. Clients include Kaiser Permanente and St. Joseph Health System.


BANKING

Wells Fargo & Co. hired Jason Tajima as manager of its office in the Orange County airport area. Tajima began his career at Wells Fargo as a teller and most recently was the sales director for the central foothill market banker program. He will oversee 19 employees.

Wells Fargo named Kimber Carter private banker in its Newport Beach office. Carter began her career at Wells Fargo as a premier banker in 2007. She will be responsible for managing investments for clients.



EDUCATION

Steven George was named founding director of The Edwards Lifesciences Center for Advanced Cardiovascular Technology at University of California, Irvine. George is currently the William J. Link chair and a professor in UC Irvine’s biomedical department. The center’s research focuses on heart and vascular diseases and advanced cardiovascular device technology.

The Irvine Public Schools Foundation named Neda Zaengle chief executive. Zaengle, who graduated from University High School in Irvine, brings 10 years of experience in nonprofit management to the position. She previously worked as senior programs operations manager for Boys Town U.S.A.


EMPLOYMENT

Amy Zimmerman & Associates Inc. hired Dennis DeFeo to head the direct hire division in its Los Alamitos office. DeFeo has more than 28 years of experience in recruiting and previously owned the staffing company Rd Resources.


FINANCE

Mark Mansfield joined Irvine-based Global Capital Markets Inc. Mansfield has worked in investment banking in Europe, Asia and North America and currently is a member of the advisory board for the Center of Unconventional Se-curity Affairs at UCI.


FOOD

San Francisco’s Classic Foods Inc. hired Ann Marie Hermanson as director of sales in its Irvine office. Hermanson previously spent 12 years at Coca-Cola Co. as director of local accounts strategy. At Classic Foods, she will be responsible for establishing accounts and expanding current business.


GOVERNMENT

Will Kempton was named chief executive of the Orange County Transportation Authority. Kempton has served as head of the California Department of Transportation since 2004. Prior to his appointment with Caltrans, he was the assistant city manager for the city of Folsom.

Joe Tait was named San Juan Capistrano’s interim city manager. Tait currently is the city’s interim utilities director and will continue that role, as well. He is the founder and president of the Municipal Management Group, a public sector-focused management consulting company.


NONPROFIT

The local chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation added Beth Bidna, Mike Butier, Kalid Dakak, Scott Farber, Kelvin Hiraishi, Donna Longo, Jenee Morrocco, Marsha Rebney, Linda Maxwell Robertson and Cara Stewart to its board. The foundation funds research to find a cure for type I diabetes.

Santa Ana-based Community Service Programs Inc. added Rick Vaughn to its board. Vaughn is a project manager at the Irvine office of Swinerton Builders Inc. CSP programs include the Huntington Beach Youth Shelter and the Laguna Beach Children’s Crises Residential Program.


REAL ESTATE

Lee & Associates-Newport Beach Inc. hired Gary McArdell as an associate. He formerly was with Grubb & Ellis Co.’s Newport Beach office as an office specialist. McArdell specializes in the office market.


TRAVEL

Gary Sherwin, president and chief executive of the Newport Beach Conference and Visitors Bureau, was appointed chairman of the California Travel Industry Association board for 2009-10. Sherwin is a 24-year veteran of the travel and tourism industry, having previously held positions at the Long Beach and Los Angeles conventions and visitors bureaus.

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