PEOPLE

Orange County Business Journal, Jun 18-Jun 24, 2007 by Ryan, Kelly

Hirings, promotions and other moves at local businesses

ARCHITECTURE

KKE Architects Inc. hired Gregory A. James as senior project director at its Irvine office. James recently was project director and director of operations for MCG Architecture Inc. in Irvine. He now oversees retail projects through all phases including preparation of project budgets, design, contract documents and construction administration.

Carl Willmann was named design director at the Newport Beach office of M. Arthur Gensler Jr. & Associates Inc. Willmann will work as liaison to Gensler's national design steering committee. Before joining Gensler, he was senior project designer and interior design manager with Irvine-based Ware Malcomb.

ASSOCIATIONS

Janet English was named to the board of the National EducationalTelecommunications Association Education Center. English currently is vice chairman of the California Teacher Advisory Council and is a member of the California Teachers Association. She also is director of educational services for KOCE-TV.

BANKING

Wells Fargo Bank promoted Cassidy Nguyen to district manager for the Irvine Valley district of Wells Fargo. Before her appointment, she was manager at the Newland Center branch in Huntington Beach. She joined Wells Fargo in 1997 and has held several retail bank positions.

CONSTRUCTION

Irvine-based R. D. Olson Development, part of R. D. Olson Construction, named Anthony Wrzosek director of planning and development. Wrzosek is a licensed architect with experience in hospitality and multifamily development. His experience includes concept and design development, securing governmental approvals and construction cost control.

CONSULTING

Jerry Packer joined Droz Group LLC as vice president of client services. Before Droz Group, Packer spent 15 years as co-owner of Exhibitcorp, where he designed and manufactured trade show displays. Packer managed sales, operations and logistics for the company.

EDUCATION

Daniele Struppa was named chancellor for Chapman's Orange campus, Gary Brahm became chancellor of University College and Saskia Knight was appointed vice chancellor for enrollment and student affairs at University College. Struppa became university provost last July and helped establish the school's College of Performing Arts. Brahm currently is executive vice president and chief operating officer of Chapman. Knight is Chapman's vice president and dean of enrollment services.

GOVERNMENT

The city of Irvine added two new members to its leadership team. Louie A. Gonzalez is public communications manager in charge of public information operations. Emma Green became multicultural affairs coordinator. Gonzalez previously worked as director of government and public affairs for Safeway Inc. and was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. Green worked for the city and county of San Francisco.

Sara Anderson was appointed to the California Board of Accountancy, a group that oversees the accounting industry. Anderson has worked with Ernst & Young LLP for 23 years and is managing partner of the Irvine office. Prior to joining Ernst & Young, she was an accountant with KPMG LLP. She currently is a member of the California Society of Certified Public Accountants and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

HEALTHCARE

Orange-based Word & Brown Cos. promoted Curtis Kramer to vice president and controller. Kramer joined Word & Brown in 2001 and recently was director of accounting. Before Word & Brown, he spent 12 years in management positions in service and manufacturing industries.

LAW

Carolyn A. Favorito joined the Irvine office of Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP as an associate. Recently, Favorito worked as an associate at Morrison & Foerster LLP, as well as Smith, Gambrell & Russell LLP.

Alan Greenberg joined Greenberg Traurig LLP's litigation department in Costa Mesa. Greenberg has 18 years of experience in business law and complex litigation. He is a director and past president of the Cornell Alumni Association of Orange County.

REAL ESTATE

Kathleen Lipps joined Icon Residential Capital LLC in Newport Beach as national production manager. Lipps focuses on launching and expanding the company's wholesale mortgage business- loans brought to the company by brokers. She has 16 years of experience in the mortgage industry.

TECHNOLOGY

Local.com Corp. in Irvine hired Kim LaFleur as vice president of product management. LaFleur has more than 10 years of product management and software development experience. Most recently, she was senior director of product management for Digital River Inc.'s GlobalTech Inc.

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