PEOPLE
BANKING
Mid-Peninsula Bank of Laguna Niguel appointed Jonathan Ward vice president and relationship manager of its new division, Greater Bay Bank, Orange County office. Ward’s office will originate commercial and residential loans throughout Southern California. For the past three years, Ward has worked in OC with Bank of the West.
Wells Fargo & Co. named its current president of Orange County Coastal Markets, Kim Young, to the post of regional president for Orange County community banking. Young will be responsible for 1,200 employees and 80 banking centers.
COMPUTER
Scott Grady, business development manager for Portland, Ore.-based Full Market Value computer systems, has opened an Irvine office. In addition to managing relationships, Grady will be responsible for promoting business-building ideas for clients and providing guidance to the internal client service department.
CONFERENCE
The Sequoia Conference Center in Buena Park has hired Alan Aly and Melanie Wong to its catering department staff. Aly joins as sales manager overseeing outside sales. He has a sales and field management background in the environmental industry. Wong will act as catering manager, responsible for corporate accounts and helping to grow the center’s social business. Wong comes from the Disneyland Resort where she worked on the recruitment of professional staffing and cast members for the entire resort.
The Newport Beach Conference & Visitors Bureau has appointed Marta Hayden its executive director. Bridget Lindquist, who has served as both acting director of the bureau and director of travel industry sales, has been named deputy director. Hayden has served as director of sales for the Monterey Conference Center for 20 years.
FINANCIAL
Safeco Financial Institution Solutions of Santa Ana appointed Mark Schmitt to head the company’s research and development program. Schmitt will focus on bringing new products and services into the marketplace. Schmitt was president and founder of SES Insurance Services and also spent three years as a Safeco consultant.
GOVERNMENT
F.M. (Fred) Ameri, a senior vice president at RBF Consulting, was confirmed by the State Senate for re-appointment to the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Santa Ana region. The confirmation follows the re-appointment nomination by Gov. Gray Davis. This will be Ameri’s second term as board member.
HOTEL
Cormac O’Modhrain has been named general manager of Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa, set to open in January. O’Modhrain will be responsible for overseeing development, opening and ongoing operations of the 519-room resort. O’Modhrain previously served as general manager at the Park Hyatt Los Angeles in Century City.
HUMAN RESOURCES
Towers Perrin, Irvine-based management and HR consulting firm, has named Gloria Gowens new principal in its Irvine office. Gowens is a principal in the company’s rewards and performance management practice. She joined Towers Perrin in 1997. She specializes in compensation strategy, de-sign and effectiveness.
MARKETING
Irvine-based BDS Mar-keting has hired Richard J. Castaldo as chief financial officer. He will be responsible for overall planning, analysis and financial management. Castaldo worked previously at Rhythm & Hues Stud-ios.
NONPROFIT
The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Orange County affiliate an-nounced the election of Dr. Sandy Finestone as president by its 2002-2003 board of directors. She replaces Heidi Shurtleff, who resigned to take a position with the Alzheimer’s Association. Finestone also is coordinator of Cancer Patient Services at the Hoag Cancer Center in Newport Beach.
PRINTING AND GRAPHICS
Ray Turner has joined the sales staff of Irvine-based Consolidated Reprographics. He has worked as Consolidated’s equipment and supply sales representative for the company’s Inland Empire facility. He joined Consolidated in 1991. Previously he held numerous sales and customer-service positions, including 20 years with United Airlines.
REAL ESTATE
The board of directors of Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Brokerage Co. named four Newport Beach-based real estate specialists as senior investment associates. Greg Brown, Ed Hanley, Gordon Reese and John Reinhardt were awarded the promotions.
STAFFING
Thomas Staffing of Irvine has changed its name to Venturi Staffing Partners. Along with the name change, the firm promoted Carla Moore to general manager. Since 1999, Moore was vice president, field operations for Thomas Staffing. She joined the firm in 1992.
