Newsmakers

Sfv newsmakers/december 7/LK1st/dt2nd Architecture Thomas Donnelly[pic la12-14] has been promoted to senior vice president at Calabasas-based Valley Crest Tree Co. He will take on a greater administrative role, supervising divisional activities for all Valley Crest operations throughout the nation. Donnelly has been with the firm since 1980. In addition, Tadd Russikoff[pic la 12-14] has been promoted to vice president of Valley Crest. He will focus on strategic and long-range planning, and will continue to serve the division as branch manager, a position he has held since 1995. Banking & Finance Daniel M. Williams[piclanewsmkrs12-7] has been appointed director of lender operations of First American Title Co. of Los Angeles. He will be responsible for servicing commercial and high-volume refinance accounts of national and regional lenders. Williams will be based in the firm’s Glendale headquarters and will handle accounts throughout L.A. County. Consulting Howard Cooper has joined the Sherman Oaks office of Management Action Programs as an executive consultant. He will be responsible for providing consulting services, specializing in marketing, finance and operations. Prior to joining, Cooper served as president/CEO, chairman and founder of Trimedyne Inc. Edward Fraga has been promoted to partner in the information technology practice at The Warner Group. He will be responsible for the firm’s strategic information technology direction as the firm’s chief information officer, in addition to serving the company’s technology clients. Previously, Fraga served as the MIS director for the city of Beverly Hills. Education Russell Paquette has joined California State University, Northridge’s College of Extended Learning as director of marketing services and advertising. He will develop new markets and promote university extension courses throughout the San Fernando Valley and Los Angeles area. Most recently, Paquette served as director of publications at Loyola Marymount University. Entertainment Scott Brown has been promoted to general manager for Club Disney Thousand Oaks. He will be leading a management team and working with the day-to-day operations of the site. Brown has been with Disney for over 12 years, most recently as assistant general manager for Club Disney West Covina. Marilyn Franck[piclanewsmakers12-7] has been named senior vice president of strategic insights for the Universal Studios Recreation Group. She will be responsible for developing and leading the implementation of a wide range of market research projects worldwide and the management of the division’s database. Prior to Universal, Franck spent 17 years with the Seagram and Tropicana organizations. Health Care Chad Therapeutics has announced a management shuffle. Former President and COO Frank Fleming is now senior vice president. He will be focusing on sales and marketing. Thomas E. Jones, chief executive officer, will take the additional title of president. Earl Yager, chief financial officer, has been named executive vice president. Nels Johnson has been appointed vice president of strategic sales for Merck-Medco Managed Care. He will be based in Thousand Oaks and will be responsible for development of strategic market segments, including managed care and physician-sponsored organizations and the sale of pharmacy benefits management programs and health management services. Formerly, Johnson was vice president of sales and marketing for CareAmerica Health Plans in Woodland Hills. Sam Ocampo [picla12-14]has been promoted to administrative director of marketing and business development for Glendale Adventist Medical Center. His responsibilities include strategic planning and development, physician relations and development, marketing and communications, and Adventist Health Advantage, the hospital’s senior program. Most recently, Ocampo was manager of strategic planning for Adventist Health/Southern California. Manufacturing Fabio Gomez has been named director of the California Manufacturing Technology Center’s Burbank regional center. He will direct the operations of the Burbank center, which serves the area’s smaller manufacturers. Prior to joining, Gomez was facilities engineering supervisor for HR Textron in Valencia. Scott Rubenstein has joined the sales and marketing team at Uncle Milton Industries Inc. as national sales manager, specialty markets. He will handle the company’s independent specialty toy, gift, pet and educational market accounts in addition to overseeing the company’s specialty sales force. Media Rick Kaspar has been promoted to finance director and controller for the Los Angeles Newspaper Group. He will oversee all the financial aspects of the group. Previously, Kaspar was the finance director for the Daily News. Also, Dawn Jordan has joined as marketing research and development manager for the group. She will work on developing advertising and circulation sales strategies and presentations and short and long-range planning for the group. Prior to joining, Jordan was the research manager for the Bakersfield Californian. Personnel Michelle Fletcher has been appointed vice president of client relations at Lee Hecht Harrison’s Woodland Hills office. She will be responsible for enhancing relationships with current and prospective clients based in the Valley and surrounding areas. Fletcher has had more than 15 years experience in communication and sales. Also, Herman Cenci has been appointed as senior consultant. He will be working closely with senior executives in the office’s executive coaching, outplacement and career management programs. Most recently, Cenci serced and president and CEO of H.R. Cenci Laboratories/Cenci Powder Products.