October 1, 2007
PEOPLE
Hirings, promotions and other moves at local businesses
Compiled by Kelly Ryan
ACCOUNTING
Irvine-based Haskell & White LLP hired Paul Ata as manager in its audit and business advisory services department. He has more than six years of experience working at the Big Four firms, among others. Ata is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the California Society of Certified Public Accountants.
AGRICULTURE
Jose Luis Obregon was named managing director of the Hass Avocado Board. Obregon most recently was first managing director of information technology for the group. He now will manage strategic direction, operation as well as information technology and marketing programs.
ARTS
South Coast Repertory named Susan Reeder director of development. She previously was assistant director of development and associate director of advancement at South Coast Repertory from 1988-94. Reeder most recently was director of development at Buffalo’s Albright-Knox Art Gallery.
ASSOCIATIONS
Priscilla Lopez was hired as president and chief executive of the Orange County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. She has experience in all phases of business process and economic development. Lopez most recently was director of the Long Beach Center for International Trade & Development.
AUTOMOTIVE
Scott Ruhlen was hired as director of business development at Cummins Cal Pacific, a distributor of alternative fuel engines. Ruhlen has more than 10 years experience with alternative fuel vehicles at Ford Motor Co. and NGV Ecotrans Group.
EDUCATION
Vernon L. Smith, David Porter, Bart Wilson and Stephen Rassenti joined the faculty of Chapman University. They previously were a team in the economics department at George Mason University. They work in the new Economic Science Institute at Chapman.
Sarah Song was promoted to director of budget operations in administration and finance at California State University, Fullerton. She most recently was acting director of budget operations.
EMPLOYMENT
Roni Ellis joined M. E. Weaver & Associates, an information technology staffing company in Newport Beach, as an account manager. Ellis has worked for the Los Angeles Unified School District and Ocean View School District in Huntington Beach. She will manage client and consultant relations in Southern California.
INSURANCE
USRisk Brokers, a unit of U.S. Risk Insurance Group, added Chris Pope and Mike Ravelo to its Irvine office. Pope joined as a broker and specializes in commercial and residential construction accounts. Ravelo is a senior underwriter and broker.
LAW
Stacey L. Herter joined Bryan Cave LLP as counsel in the firm’s Irvine office. Herter joined Bryan Cave’s commercial litigation group.
NONPROFIT
Laguna Canyon Foundation named Meg Jones executive director. Most recently Jones was education director at Pacific Marine Mammal Center. She will administer programs and fundraisers to preserve and enhance the South Coast Wilderness parks.
REAL ESTATE
Western National Group promoted Kenneth Hodges to vice president of information technology. Hodges will manage the strategic direction of the firm’s technology initiatives and oversee systems development.
The Athens Group in Laguna Beach added Greg Vail as director of forward planning and sustainable development. Vail will manage planning and entitlement responsibilities for the Aliso Creek Area Redevelopment Plan. He previously has served on the Laguna Beach Planning Commission.
RESTAURANTS
Barry Johnson became owner of Barry’s Frozen Custard in Lake Forest. Johnson has a master’s of international management from Thunderbird-American Graduate School of International Management. He spent more than seven years at Ford Motor Co. in the marketing, sales and service department.
TRAVEL
Margaret Hagstrom joined Travcoa as director of marketing. Previously, Hagstrom developed marketing strategies as director of specialty marketing for United Healthcare, part of Minnesota’s United Health Group Inc. She has 20 years of marketing experience.
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