Newsmakers—Keeping Airport PR on the Right Course

0

Making planes take off and land on time, traffic flow more easily, luggage arrive on the right flight. Those might seem to be the greatest challenges for an airport executive.

But for Paul Haney, the newly appointed deputy executive director of public and community relations for Los Angeles World Airports, there are other and in many ways more pressing challenges.

Among them will be handling communications regarding the controversial proposed expansion of LAX, a project that many, including L.A. Mayor-elect James Hahn, have opposed. “It’s a critical time and communications, as in everything, plays a critical role in the process,” Haney said.

In his new role, he will oversee media, public and community relations for Los Angeles International, Ontario International, Palmdale Regional and Van Nuys airports.

Though still working on a general communications strategy, Haney said he will focus on issues such as safety, security, traffic and crowding at LAX. He also plans to emphasize the need for expansion at LAX and the importance of using the region’s other airports.

LAX will be able to handle only 20 percent of the projected growth in air travel that will hit the area over the next 15 years, Haney said. The remaining 80 percent will have to go the other three airports, he said. “I don’t think that message has really gotten through yet,” Haney said.

A former journalist, Haney has worked for American Airlines and was most recently vice president for business development at Lockheed Martin Finance Corp.

Claudia Peschiutta


Accounting & Consulting

Yunna Barats has been added as a manager in the real estate taxation department of RBZ LLP, an accounting and strategic management consulting firm in Los Angeles. Barats will focus on tax planning, research and compliance in the area of real estate. She was most recently a tax manager at a local firm, Engel, Kalvin, McMillan & Kipper.


Advertising & P.R.

Jane Galbraith has been promoted to vice president/director of media relations in the Los Angeles office of Stoorza Communications Inc., a public relations firm. Galbraith joined the company in 1997 and most recently served as an account supervisor.

Robert Howell has been named director at H Design Inc., a marketing communications, branding and design company in Los Angeles. He will be responsible for creative and conceptual design, working to develop visual design solutions for broadcast, film and interactive projects. Howell has been working with interactive media on a freelance basis for the company since 1999.

Mitchell Rubinstein has been appointed executive vice president, interactive and new media at Creative Domain, an entertainment marketing company in Los Angeles. He will be responsible for managing the growth and development of the company in DVD menu design, Web site design and programming, Internet branding, interactive marketing, information design, multimedia programming and interface design. He was most recently president and executive producer of Cimarron Group Interactive.


Architecture

E. Fay Rippon and Vincent Yu have both been promoted to vice president at Pickard Architects in Whittier. Rippon currently manages the retail and commercial division of the company and has been a firm principal since 1998. Yu leads the firm’s public and civic projects practice, with special emphasis on animal care and control facilities. He joined the firm in 1994 after practicing as a solo architect for several years.


Education

Risa Munitz-Gruberger has been named Dean of the Fingerhut School of Education at the University of Judaism in Los Angeles. She is currently the director of the Whizin Institute for Jewish Family Life at the University.


Entertainment

Rick Lee has been appointed senior account executive of sales and marketing of Picture PipeLine LLC, a broadband video solutions and data transfer technology provider in Los Angeles. Working out of the company’s West Los Angeles office, his primary responsibility will be to generate sales in the television production community. Prior to joining Picture PipeLine, Lee was senior account executive at Hollywood Digital.

Laura Rooney has been appointed director of operations for the American Film Market, an industry trade show operated by the American Film Marketing Association. She will oversee all operational aspects of the AFM as well as will be the primary contact with the Loews Hotel, which will host the eight-day trade show, and Santa Monica business community. Rooney was most recently director of ShoWest.

Kathi Sharpe-Ross has joined DIC Entertainment in Burbank as senior vice president of marketing, public relations and promotions. She will be responsible for assessing and defining the significant properties and assets of the company, which controls more than 1,500 hours of children’s programming, in addition to establishing corporate partners. Sharpe-Ross operated her own public relations firm, Sharpe Public Relations & Marketing, for 14 years.

Ilyse Zeman has been named executive in charge of production for Gurin Co., a full-service production company in Studio City. She is based in the company’s headquarters and is in charge of the firm’s current projects, including the upcoming Fox Television series “Only Joking,” as well as new projects at USA Networks and Comedy Central. Prior to joining the company, Zeman was a production manager at ZM Productions.


Health Care

Judith A. Fix has been named chief nursing officer and senior vice president at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center and Miller Children’s Hospital. Previously, she was a principal at Healthcare Management Consultants in San Diego.


Insurance

Arthur Singer has been named managing director of employee benefits for Dodge, Warren & Peters Insurance Services Inc. In this position, his primary goal will be to help accelerate the growth of DW & P;’s group benefits and life insurance business as well as to continue to manage his book of business. Singer has been with the company for 10 years and is a principal stockholder of the firm.


Law

Irwin Barnet has been appointed managing partner of the Century City office of Crosby, Heafey, Roach & May. Barnet’s practice focuses on corporate and securities law. His transactional practice involves mergers and acquisitions, venture capital financings, public and private debt and equity financings, federal and state securities law matters and general representation of corporate clients in all aspects of their day-to-day business. Barnet joined the firm in September when Crosby Heafey acquired the Century City firm Sanders, Barnet, Goldman, Simons and Mosk.

Gregory A. Bray will join the Los Angeles office of Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP as a partner in the firm’s financial restructuring group. His practice areas include commercial lending transactions, corporate reorganizations, troubled loan workouts and creditors rights. Bray joins the firm from Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP, where he was also a financial restructuring partner.

Warren C. Jacob has joined the Los Angeles law firm Riley & Reiner. As head of the firm’s real estate and corporate transactions practice, Jacob will focus on finance, purchase and sales and leasing. He was most recently of counsel with the business transactions group in the Los Angeles office of Andrews & Kurth.


Non-Profits

Rick McIntosh has been appointed managing director of the Inland Empire Regional Center for the Gardena-based California Manufacturing Technology Center, a non-profit corporation that provides consulting services to small and mid-size manufacturers. He is responsible for the administration of the center and will lead a team of consultants in providing contracted services. McIntosh served as director of professional services for Irvine-based Sysinct Inc. prior to his appointment.


Professional Services

Frank A. Evers has joined the West Los Angeles office of Heidrick & Struggles International Inc., a Chicago-based executive search firm, as a principal. As a member of the firm’s media, entertainment and interactive content practice, Evers will focus on expanding activities in those respective arenas. He was most recently the vice president, production and product development for Disney Interactive.

Jack Schlosser has been appointed co-head of the health care services practice at Spencer Stuart, a Los Angeles-based consulting firm specializing in senior-level executive search and board director appointments. He will focus on health systems, physician practice management, non-institutional healthcare services, hospitals and managed care. Schlosser was previously with Heidrick & Struggles International Inc.


Real Estate

Michael Pulley has been hired as a senior project manager at MBK Real Estate Ltd., a real estate development company in Los Angeles. He is headquartered in Lancaster and serves as the day-to-day representative at the company’s Antelope Valley Courthouse project, presently under construction for the County of Los Angeles. Prior to joining MBK, Pulley served as senior construction manager for KPRS Construction Inc.


Retail

Tony Palma has been appointed as the chief executive of Easton Sports Inc., a designer, manufacturer and distributor of sports equipment in Van Nuys. He will be responsible for providing leadership in all functional roles of the company’s operations including sales, marketing, research & development, manufacturing, finance and administration. Palma was most recently the company’s president.


Tourism

Gregg Michael has become president of Crystal Cruises, a luxury cruise line in Los Angeles. He has been with the company since it was formed in 1988 and most recently served as Crystal’s vice president, finance and administration.

No posts to display