For the Record

NJBIZ, Nov 10, 2008

Who's News

Communications

Lynn M. Nowak has joined Porzio Governmental Affairs LLC as executive vice president, after her firm, Nancy H. Becker Associates, merged with the company. Earlier in her career, Nowak was the legislative liaison for the New Jersey Department of Commerce and Economic Development. She also acted as an adviser to the commissioner on political and public affairs matters. She earned her bachelor's degree in political science from the State University of New York at Oswego, and did graduate work in urban planning at Rutgers University.

Wayne Catan has been appointed vice president, media specialist at Coyne Public Relations, where he will lead work for clients including Hard Rock International, Disney, Toys "R" Us, Casio, Mary Kay and Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. Catan earlier ran a one-person public relations firm where he handled accounts including Pets.com, United Media and Klutz Books. He was awarded PR Week's "Solo Practitioner of the Year" award in 2001. Catan started his career at Manning Selvage & Lee in New York, and has written book and music reviews for The New York Times and Cover magazine, among others. He secured his degree in communications from Syracuse University.

Engineering

Engineering and survey services firm Taylor,Wiseman & Taylor has named Aimee C. Lala as its director of marketing. She will continue to build strategic relationships for the firm while directing the firm's participation in trade shows and professional organizations, creation of collateral materials and coordination of proposals. Lala was previously business development manager at the firm's West Chester, Pa., offices.

Financial Services

Christopher Claps has been promoted from vice president of quantitative analysis to senior vice president of quantitative analysis at Contemporary Healthcare Capital LLC, a provider of senior mortgage, mezzanine debt and equity to health care service companies. He will be responsible for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of all investment requests. He graduated from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, and earned an M.B.A. from New York University's Leonard N. Stern School of Business.

Contemporary Healthcare Capital LLC has also promoted Tanya Mollova from assistant vice president of underwriting to vice president of underwriting. She will be responsible for structuring, underwriting, performing due diligence analysis, closing and funding of new loans and equity investments. Mollova holds a B.A. in economics.

Hospitality

Cathy Robinson Lanza has been appointed corporate sales manager at the Wyndham Garden Hotel in Mount Olive, which is owned by the North Star Hotel Group. She was most recently with the Skylands in Randolph, overseeing sales. Lanza is active in community work, and is president of the Booster Club at the Mount Olive High School boys soccer team.

Law

Michael Anthony Fazio has joined Riker, Danzig, Scherer,Hyland & Perretti LLP's commercial litigation group. He earned his law degree from Seton Hall University School of Law, and his graduate degree from Indiana University. He previously was a law clerk to Katharine S. Hayden of the U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey. He is admitted to practice in New Jersey and New York.

Diana Katz Gerstel has joined the law firm Riker, Danzig, Scherer,Hyland & Perretti LLP in its family law group. She earned her law degree from Yeshiva University's Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, and her graduate degree from Columbia University. Prior to accepting the position at Riker Danzig, Gerstel was law clerk to Robert J. Brennan in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Morris County, Family Part. Gerstel is admitted to practice law in both New Jersey and New York.

Peter Girgis has joined Riker, Danzig, Scherer, Hyland & Perretti LLP's insurance group. He was previously a judicial law clerk to Craig L. Wellerson, Superior Court judge in Mount Holly. He is admitted to practice law in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. He earned his law degree from Rutgers University School of Law-Camden.

Brian B.McEvoy has joined Riker, Danzig, Scherer, Hyland & Perretti LLP's bankruptcy group. He earned his law degree from Rutgers University School of Law-Newark.

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