VALLEY NEWSMAKERS

Finance: Giraldo joins Burbank staff. After an extensive nationwide search, Cindy Giraldo has been selected as the new director of financial services for the City of Burbank. Giraldo has served as vice president of finance, contract management for Ticketmaster in Los Angeles since 1996. She will begin her duties for Burbank in August. “The big picture goal for me will be to apply my almost 20 years of experience to a very well-managed city,” said Giraldo. Giraldo’s priority will be monitoring Burbank’s budget, which was recently awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting and the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award by the Government Finance Officers Association. With a bachelor of science degree in business from California State University, Northridge, Giraldo is familiar with managing budgets. She is well aware of the California budget crisis and plans to help the city through difficult times. “I think as we see the impact of the state budget, we need to provide a positive perspective to guide the city through changes,” said Giraldo. “Burbank is a very strong city and I hope to be a part of a team that continues to improve.” After earning her degree at CSUN, Giraldo worked with a diverse group of clients at KPMG as a Certified Public Accountant. She was a member of the audit team for multiple businesses in Los Angeles, including Nestle and Trader Joe’s. – Aubrey Weber Aerospace Northrop Grumman Corporation’s board of directors has elected Sid Ashworth corporate vice president of Government Relations, effective August 16, 2010. In her new role Ashworth will be responsible for maintaining effective relations between the company and the U.S. government. She will report to Wes Bush, the company’s chief executive officer and president, and become a member of the company’s Corporate Policy Council. She joins Northrop Grumman from GE Aviation, where she is vice president of its Washington Operations. Prior to joining GE Aviation, she was principal of the Ashworth Group. Aviation The Van Nuys Airport Association elected four new officers to its board of directors to oversee strategic efforts to promote aviation, foster economic development and build community partnerships. The new officers are Curt Castagna, president, CEO and president of Aerolease Associates; Elliot Sanders, first vice president, owner of Planned Approach Benefits; Tim Wray, second vice president, chief operating officer of Maguire Aviation; and Jeanne Fenimore, treasurer and secretary, owner of Aircraft Sparkplug Service. Banking California United Bank named Stephanie Juneau vice president, relationship manager-Orange County Region. Juneau will join the Encino- based bank’s recently opened office in Orange County from Commerce West Bank, where she was the Regional Vice President of the Orange County Division. Prior to that, she was a Regional Vice President at California National Bank and a Vice President-Senior Relationship Manager at US Bank. She began her career in the Commercial Banking Division of Wells Fargo. Construction/ Real Estate Heery International, a design and construction management firm, has promoted Joseph (Joe) Varda to associate. He retains his title of senior construction manager/ administrator. Varda has over 35 years of experience in the industry and has focused the past 15 years on the management of design/build projects. He is a member of the American Institute of Architects. Rodeo Realty hired Jason Katzman as office manager for the company’s Woodland Hills branch. A 23-year real estate veteran, Katzman once managed the company’s Woodland Hills and Calabasas offices. He then worked with RE/MAX in Calabasas and Prudential California Realty in Calabasas prior to returning to Rodeo. Demetra Kalivas, former manager for Woodland Hills, is now branch manager for Rodeo Realty’s Simi Valley office. A San Fernando Valley native, Kalivas has been in the real estate business since 1993. She has held management positions at Rodeo’s Porter Ranch, Simi, Encino and Woodland Hills offices. Integra Realty Resources, Inc., one of the largest independent commercial real estate valuation and consulting firms in the U.S. has made recent strategic hires to accommodate increasing demand for its services. Beth Finestone became a principal in the firm; David Williams joined the firm as a senior analyst and Adam Dembowitz came on board as an analyst. Williams joins from CB Richard Ellis. He specializes in the valuation of investment-grade commercial properties, specifically Class A trophy office, industrial and retail developments. Dembowitz is a recent transfer from Philadelphia, where his real estate career included property development and the appraisal of a wide variety of major commercial holdings. Education Two interim administrators at Glendale Community College have now been made permanent. Mary Mirch was approved as the permanent Vice President of Instructional Services and Ron Nakasone was approved as permanent Vice President of Administrative Services. Mirch began her career at GCC as a member of the nursing faculty in 1985. She served as Associate Dean, Health Services from 1995 to 2009 before taking the role of Acting Vice President, Instructional Services. Nakasone has worked at GCC for 14 years. He came to Glendale College in 19 Controller and continued in that position until 2009 when he became Interim Vice President, Administrative Services. Government Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has appointed Matt Epstein, to the City’s South Valley Area Planning Commission. Epstein is the Founder of Team 2000, a real estate company for which he personally brokered 335 real property transactions. Epstein also co-founded 800 Direct, a full service telemarketing and fulfillment company that specialized in handling inbound c and shipping products for national catalog companies. He currently serves as vice president of the Sherman Oaks Homeowner’s Association. Healthcare Valencia-based U.S. HealthWorks hired Kevin Coyle as the company’s general counsel. Coyle brings more than 20 years experience of high-level corporate and transactional legal experience to the company, which operates occupational health centers throughout the nation. Coyle was a partner since 1999 at DLA Piper LLP and its predecessor firms, Graham & James, and Gray Cary Ware & Freidenrich in Sacramento. Manufacturing PPG Aerospace, a global producer and distributor of aerospace coatings, sealants, and packaging and application systems with offices in Sylmar, has appointed Brian Roberson global platform director for coatings. Roberson joined PPG Aerospace in 1999 as Southwest region sales and market development representative, based at the Dallas Application Support Center. He held marketing and sales positions with increasing responsibility for PPG Aerospace until 2005, when he became Mountain West regional sales manager for PPG’s automotive refinish business, based in Denver. He moved to Toronto in 2007 as director in Canada for the automotive refinish business, and he subsequently returned to PPG Aerospace and assumed his current position. Internet ISWest, a full-service internet company, has announced the recent hiring of Michelle Evdokimov as territory manager for the Burbank, Ventura and northern Los Angeles areas. She joins ISWest after 12 years with twtelecom, where her achievements included Account Executive of the Year for 3 consecutive years. Founded in 1996, ISWest provides controlled environment facilities for computer equipment, high-speed internet connectivity, and data and voice communications to local businesses. Non-Profit Organizations The Board of Directors of The Wellness Community Valley/Ventura elected Michael Savin as a new member. Savin will help advance the non profit’s mission of helping cancer patients and their families. Through Savin Consulting, Savin provides leadership team effectiveness consulting to corporate and nonprofit clients. He is also Managing Partner of Savin Holdings, an “angel” and real estate investment partnership. Prior, Savin spent 17 years at Amgen where he held leadership positions in Sales and Marketing Operations and Planning, e-Business and European and US Marketing. New Horizons, a North Hills non-profit serving adults with developmental disabilities, installed Stanley Bryant as Board Chairman for a second term. Bryant is the owner and retired president of NIA Insurance Group. New members to the Board of Directors include: Lisa Hughes, human resources director of Jons Markets; Sondi Scheck, executive assistant to Headmaster of Oakwood School; and publicist Patricia Schultz-Mascolo. Technology Digital technology company DTS, Inc. announced the promotion of Brian Towne to Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Towne, who previously held the position of Executive Vice President and General Manager at DTS, will continue to oversee all licensing, marketing and product management efforts on a day-to-day basis at DTS. In his new role, Towne will focus on further strengthening the company’s organization and team capabilities by refining its strategy and go-to-market execution.