ARTS
Sophie Cripe was named chair of the South Coast Rep- ertory’s annual Gala Ball. The fundraiser supports educational programs at the theater. Cripe serves as a trustee for the South Coast Repertory. This will be the second year she and her husband have helped produce the annual Pacific Playwrights Festival.
EDUCATION
The George L. Argyros School of Business and Economics at Chapman University in Orange added Phil Cohen, Harshad Dharod, Alex Hayden, Selwyn Joffe, Nick Lambesis and Brenda Schowalter to its advisory board. Cohen is a senior vice president of Lee & Associates-Irvine Inc. Dharod is the president and owner of Friendly Franchisees Corp. in La Palma. Hayden is executive director of Cushman & Wakefield Inc. in Irvine. Joffe is chairman, president and chief executive of Motorcar Parts of America Inc. in Torrance. Lambesis is chairman emeritus of Lambesis Agency in Carlsbad. Schowalter is the president of Palagon Partners LLC in Irvine.
LAW
Los Angeles-based Manning & Marder, Kass, Ellrod, Ramirez LLP added Tom Wagner and Su Yi Lai to its Irvine office. Wagner will serve as an associate practicing real estate law. Lai’s practice focuses on the representation of employers in workers compensation matters.
Russell Hill has joined the Costa Mesa office of Sheppard Mullin Richter Hampton LLP as partner in the firm’s intellectual property practice group. Hill previously worked at Howrey LLP in Irvine and specializes in patent litigation and trials.
MANUFACTURING
Liquidmetal Technologies Inc. in Rancho Santa Margarita has named Martin Weinstein vice chairman of its board. Weinstein previously served as the chairman and chief executive of Sequa Corp. in New York. He is the founder of Sheffield Scientific, a company that pursues developments in advanced materials and energy.
NONPROFIT
Chris Serocke has been elected chairman of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s Pacific South Coast chapter in Costa Mesa. Serocke serves as chief operating officer of Aliso Viejo-based Cianna Medical Inc. He will serve a two-year term on the board.
PUBLIC RELATIONS
Morgan Marketing & Public Relations LLC promoted Keri Follmer to director in its Irvine office. Follmer oversees numerous accounts including BJ’s Restaurants Inc., Daphne’s Greek Cafe, Wildfish Seafood Grille, Lugano Dia-monds, Morgan Drex-en Inc. and Ramirez International. She also will be the responsible for media relations and special events planning for clients. She has been with the company for two years.
REAL ESTATE
Anne Willis has rejoined Johnson Capital as a senior closer in its Irvine office. Willis previously worked with the company for five years and has more than 10 years of commercial real estate experience. She will be focusing on the closing of loans.
Torelli Realty in Costa Mesa has named Holly Shwartz media producer and marketing director. Shwartz previously worked for Home and Garden Television as a director, producer and promoter for real estate shows such as “House Hunters” and “Designers’ Challenge.” She will organize events that benefit local schools to enhance the company’s involvement in the community.
Irvine-based Jamboree Housing Corp. added Ray Silver, Richard Lamprecht and Cesar Covarrubias to its board. Silver is a government consultant and former city manager of Westminster. Lamprecht is principal of REL Property Consulting. Covarrubias is executive director of the Kennedy Commission, a nonprofit dedicated to solving housing issues in Orange County.
Todd Gladis was promoted to senior vice president of the commercial and notes division of Real Estate Disposition LLC in Irvine. Gladis will oversee and direct all operational aspects for the company’s business development, marketing and asset management. He has been with the company for seven years.
Holliday Fenoglio Fowler LP has named Sean Deasy co-head of the national multihousing investment sales group recently added to its Irvine office. Deasy previously served as vice chairman of CB Richard Ellis Group Inc. for 25 years. He is a National Multi-Housing Council board member and a member of the Urban Land Institute.
TECHNOLOGY
Mike McDaid was hired as director of sales at Custom Silicon Solutions Inc. in Irvine. Custom Silicon Solutions specializes in semiconductor technology. McDaid previously served as senior account manager at Smart Modular Technologies Inc.
