BANKING
Comerica Inc. hired William Ergas as vice president of the financial services division in the bank’s Costa Mesa office. Ergas previously was with Bank of America Corp.’s now defunct Countrywide unit. He has more than 30 years of financial experience.
Costa Mesa-based Pacific Mercantile Bancorp has elected Andrew Phillips to its board. Phillips also will be on the board of the company’s Pacific Mercantile Bank. He is president and founder of Cardflex Financial Services Inc.
INSURANCE
Chicago-based Aon Inc. has named Amanda Posey and Erin Kayser as vice presidents in its Irvine office. Posey previously worked as a senior account executive at Liberty Mutual Insurance Co. Kayser previously worked at USI Insurance Services LLC.
LAW
Newmeyer & Dillion LLP in Newport Beach has added Susannah Eichele and Eric Rollins as associates. Eichele practices real estate and business litigation and is a member of the Orange County Women Lawyers Association. Rollins practices business, construction and real estate litigation.
Jeffer Mangels Butler & Marmaro LLP named Gregory Cordrey partner of the firm’s Costa Mesa office. The firm also added Meghan Sherrill to its bankruptcy practice as an associate. Cordrey previously worked at Howrey LLP in Irvine. His practice focuses on technology pat-ents. Sherrill previously worked at Bryan Cave LLP in Santa Monica.
MANUFACTURING
Irvine-based 3 Day Blinds Corp., a manufacturer and seller of blinds and other window products, has named Kevin Rabbitt chief executive. Rabbitt previously served as president and chief executive of GES Exposition Services Inc. in Cypress. He will be taking over for former chief executive Michael Bush, who will remain a director on the company’s board.
MUSIC
Buena Park-based Yamaha Corp. of America, a subsidiary of Japan’s Yamaha Corp., has named Takuya Nakata as president in its Buena Park office. Yamaha makes musical instruments and audio and visual equipment. Nakata has been with the company for nearly 30 years and also is a member of its board.
NONPROFIT
Orange County United Way in Irvine elected Tony Rackauckas to its board. Rackauckas is the Orange County district attorney and previously served on the board for United Way from 1999 through 2008.
Wendy Sobeski has been named controller at Habitat for Humanity of Orange County in Santa Ana. Sobeski will work with the budget, financial reporting and analysis for the organization. She has been a donor to the group for the past 15 years.
St. Louis-based Inroads Inc. has named Roxanne Banks regional director for Pacific Southwest region. Inroads is an organization that places students in salaried corporate internships. Banks will be covering Orange County as well as Los Angeles, San Diego and Arizona.
PUBLIC RELATIONS
Westbound Communications Inc. hired Jhovanna Midencey as account coordinator in its Orange office. Midencey will be responsible for clients including the South Coast Air Quality Management District, Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo and Alaskan Brewing Co.
REAL ESTATE
Ido Dotan has been named vice president, associate general counsel of Thompson National Properties LLC in Irvine. Dotan previously was as an associate at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP in Los Angeles and is a member of the California State Bar.
Greg Sullivan has joined land broker Whittlesey Doyle in Irvine as senior land adviser. Sullivan previously cofounded Urban Infill Properties Inc., a boutique real estate brokerage focused on infill redevelopment opportunities in Costa Mesa. He has more than 25 years of real estate experience.
UGL Equis has promoted Justin Hodgdon to a senior vice president in its Costa Mesa office. Hodgdon previously served as a vice president. He is a member of the Los Angeles Children’s Hospital Men’s Guild and also supports Children’s Hospital of Orange County.
RESTAURANTS
Steve Brake has been named chief financial officer at Del Taco LLC in Lake Forest. Brake has been with the company for seven years and previously served as vice president, treasurer and controller.
SERVICES
Spectrum Group International Inc. in Irvine has named Paul Soth chief financial officer and executive vice president. Soth previously served as director of income tax processes and systems for Harrah’s Entertainment Inc. Spectrum Group is a gold trading and auction company.
TECHNOLOGY
Jeffrey Cole has joined the board of Ubiquity Broadcasting Corp. in San Juan Capistrano. Cole serves as director of the center for the digital future and research professor at the University of Southern California Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism.
