Architecture
Heery International, an architecture and construction management company, has hired Karen Nixon as senior project manager and Debbie Varon as director of business development for its Long Beach office. Nixon was an associate for Shlemmer+
Algaze+Associates in Newport Beach; Varon was director of business development with IA Interior Architects.
Banking & Finance
Century Park Capital Partners, a private equity firm based in Los Angeles, has hired Jeff Kovick as an associate. Kovick was formerly an analyst at Houlihan Lokey Howard & Zukin.
Construction
PCL Construction Services has hired Tracy Jones as loss prevention and safety manager at its Glendale office. Jones had served as site project safety manager at Turner Construction Co.
Government
Aaron B. Wheeler was appointed as city commissioner of Pasadena for District 3. Wheeler is chief executive of Sunny Mountain Media Group.
Health Care
Joseph Capizzi has joined Cigna Healthcare of Southern California as vice president of sales. Capizzi was previously vice president for national accounts at American International Group in San Francisco.
The Multi Service Senior Program State Association, a professional organization of California health and social services, has appointed James A. Cook as president. Cook is currently chief operating officer of Partners in Care Foundation.
Law
Liz Smagala has joined Jeffer Mangels Butler & Marmaro LLP as associate. Smagala was an associate at Reed & Davidson LLP in Los Angeles.
Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton has hired Dina Appleton as special counsel in the entertainment, media and communications group in its Century City office. Appleton was previously head of business and legal affairs and general counsel at Writers and Artist Agency.
Marketing
SGI Marketing has named Brien Scott casting director and executive vice president. Scott was previously creative director at Kent & Spiegel Direct Inc. in Culver City.
Media
First Look Studios has named Stuart Ford president of First Look International and Ken DuBow president of First Look Television. Ford was the former co-head of Miramax International; DuBow was president and chief executive of Modern Entertainment.
Endless Noise, a Santa Monica-based music and sound design production company, has named Dayna Turcotte executive producer. Turcotte had served as head of production with Elias Arts.
Aaron Buchanan has joined Encino-based AvatarLabs, a motion graphics and editorial design studio, as flash developer. Buchanan was recently lead flash developer at Tribal DDB Worldwide.
Non-Profit
Marlen Bello has been appointed project director of the Valley Economic Development Center’s SBA Women’s Business Center, a provider of services to women-owned businesses in the San Fernando, Santa Clarita and Antelope Valleys. Bello was previously program manager for the VEDC’s Pacoima Workforce Development Initiative.
Real Estate
Amcal Multi-Housing, a developer of affordable housing, has promoted Maurice Ramirez to vice president of operation. He was previously director of development and finance. The company has also hired James Cullinane, senior construction manager; Pam Jollota, construction administrator; Aleta Legget-Lesh, project accountant; Lisa Moeder, assistant to the asset manager; Nicole Norori, project manager in finance; Randy Slabbers, finance associate; and Paul Winley, senior construction manager. Previously, Cullinane was project manager at Bulmer Development; Jollota was assistant to the president at Mike Rovner Construction; Legget-Lesh was accounts receivable specialist at Mike Rovner Construction; Moeder was assistant general manager at HQ Global Workplaces; Norori was senior project manager at Hollywood Community Housing Corp.; Slabbers was sales associate with Bulldog Realty; and Winley was director of operations at Coury Enterprises Contractors. Dawn Zusman was promoted to marketing assistant. She was an administrative assistant.
Heitman LLC, a real estate investment management firm, has appointed Marc Venegas as vice president of acquisitions in its private equity group in its Los Angeles office. Venegas was previously vice president of fund investment management at J.E. Robert Cos.
Jones Lang LaSalle, a real estate money management and services firm, has promoted Cheri Pierce to vice president of the capital markets group in its Century City office. Pierce was an associate.
Retail
Jim Lee has been appointed president and chief operating officer of Colton-based Stater Bros. Markets. Lee was recently executive vice president of retail operations and administration with the company.
Technology
Xero Mobile, a Los Angeles-based wireless phone and advertising company, has named Roger Davis chief executive. Davis retains his title as president of the company.
RampRate Inc., a Santa Monica-based information technology outsourcing company, has named Curt Hessler to its board. Hessler is currently an adjunct professor at UCLA Law School.
365 Main Inc., a developer and operator of data centers, has hired Mike McLaughlin as general manager of its El Segundo facility. McLaughlin was recently business manager for AT & T; data centers in Irvine and Dallas.
Utilities
The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California has named Linda Waade deputy general manager of external affairs. Waade was formerly principal of government and community affairs and client service management for CH2M Hill Inc. in Los Angeles.
Susan Kane, associate director of the Beckman Research Institute at City of Hope, a cancer and diabetes research center, has been selected by the Legislature to receive this year’s “Woman in Science and Technology” award. Kane has been recognized for her contribution to the advancement of women in science. She co-founded the City of Hope’s task force on women in science, which studies gender equity among scientists at the institution. She also organizes Girls’ Day in Science, an annual event that teams middle-school girls with college science instructors for a day of hands-on, science workshops.
