Advertising/Public Relations
Sitrick and Co. has announced the addition of David Farmer and Steve Hawkins to the staff of the strategic communications firm. Farmer is a former New York and Los Angeles bureau chief for Cable News Network and most recently was the Los Angeles bureau chief for Fox News Channel. Hawkins was vice president and director of public relations for Great Western Financial Corp. prior to joining Sitrick.
Banking & Finance
SunAmerica Inc. has appointed Don Spetner vice president of corporate communications with responsibility for media relations, issues management, public and community affairs and employee communications. Prior to joining SunAmerica, Spetner was vice president of corporate communications for Nissan North America.
Consulting
Arthur Andersen has named Robert C. Becker Jr. a partner in its Los Angeles office and appointed him to lead its new corporate finance and advisory services practice. Becker was with Bear, Stearns and Co. and Morgan Stanley and Co. in Los Angeles and New York prior to joining Arthur Andersen.
Engineering
Pasadena-based Parsons Infrastructure & Technology Group Inc. has promoted the following employees to senior vice president: Melvyn R. Brown, infrastructure division; Roy M. Goodwin, federal division and Charles L. Harrington, industrial-manufacturing/electrical division. Additionally, the following were promoted to vice president: W. Dean Nottingham, business development manager, federal division; Jesse Yoder, program manager, Southern Nevada water authority and Doug J. Quade, sector manager, commercial sector.
Entertainment
Entertainment Data Inc. has named David Penner senior vice president and chief financial officer. He will be responsible for all financial and administrative functions of EDI’s worldwide operations. Penner served as vice president of finance for Marvel Characters Inc. before joining EDI.
The Los Angeles Kings has made several appointments within the marketing and promotion departments, including: Kurt Schwartzkopf to director of marketing and promotions; Mike Altieri to director of media relations; Steve Bogoyevac to director of fan development; Jeff Moeller to media relations and team services coordinator and Michael Jund to media relations assistant.
Robert W. Johnson has been promoted to senior vice president of human resources and labor relations at Walt Disney Pictures and Television. Previously Johnson served as senior vice president of labor relations and was responsible for formulation of labor policy, negotiation and administration of collective bargaining agreements and oversight of dispute resolution.
Michelle M. Katz has been appointed vice president of business and legal affairs for Universal Studios New Media Group. Previously, she served as vice president of business and legal affiars for Universal Studios Consumer Products Group. Prior to joining Universal, Katz worked in consumer products and anti-piracy for Paramount Pictures, served as associate counsel to Writers Guild of America, West and handled litigation for Cooper, Epstein and Hurewitz.
Creative Domain has named Steve Miller vice president and executive producer. Miller previously served as vice president of creative advertising at MGM/United Artists Motion Pictures.
Columbia TriStar has appointed Robert Tercek vice president of online programming and Steven Katz vice president of technology and production. Tercek will oversee planning and implementation of Columbia TriStar’s online programming strategy, focusing on extending branded entertainment franchises to the World Wide Web. Katz’s responsibilities include the development of the technical infrastructure for Sony Pictures Entertainment’s shows on the Internet.
Health Care
UniHealth has appointed Katherine M. McNallen senior vice president and chief financial officer. Previously, she served as UniHealth’s assistant treasurer. Prior to joining UniHealth, McNallen was affiliated with Bank of America/Security Pacific National Bank where she held the position of vice president.
Interior Design
Shirley Litman has been promoted from project manager and account executive to vice president of project management at TSL Design. As project manager, she oversaw projects including the MGM Starlane in Las Vegas, MYCAL Pachinko shops in Japan and the SpaceQuest Casino at the Las Vegas Hilton. TSL has also promoted Gerald Goldberg from project manager and account executive to vice president of production. He previously was with Chaix & Johnson as a project executive before joining TSL.
Legal
Ken Ikari has joined the law firm of Irell & Manella LLP as partner in the corporate securities work group. Ikari specializes in securities transactions, mergers and acquisitions, project finance and commercial transactions. David I. Gindler has joined the firm as a partner. He specializes in employment and labor litigation.
Gregg P. Goldman has been appointed counsel in the law department of Sony Music Entertainment. Prior to joining Sony, Goldman was an associate with the law firm of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher in Los Angeles.
Personnel
Jeff Reinstein has been named president and chief operating officer of Barrister Executive Suites. He will be responsible for overseeing all company operations. Reinstein was vice president of Weyerhaeuser Financial Investments Inc. prior to joining Barrister.
Publishing
Petersen Publishing’s Circle Track magazine has appointed Steve Zepezauer editor. He had served as managing editor of Circle Track and Hot Rod prior to being named editor. Previously, Zepezauer was editor for Petersen’s COG Publishing Group, which publishes business, engineering and medical magazines.
Real Estate
Swinerton & Walberg has named Leo Bandini manager of business development for its Southern California region. His responsibilities include involvement with national accounts and corporate projects in the entertainment industry. Bandini served as operations manager for the construction firm prior to the promotion.
Tourism
Kaylee Kiecker has been named corporate sales manager of Hotel Nikko. She will oversee group and transient accounts including publishing, technology, law and manufacturing companies. She was an account executive for Izaty’s Golf & Yacht Club and national account manager of the Embassy Suites Hotel in Minnesota before joining Hotel Nikko.
