NEWSMAKERS
New Parsons Vice President to Focus on Safety Concerns
Andrew Peters has the guilty pleasure of saving lives while saving his company millions. Recently named corporate vice president of safety at Parsons Corp., Peters will manage worksite safety strategy for the infrastructure construction, design and engineering giant, whose projects include the Metro Gold Line and the Alameda Corridor.
One of the principal issues Peters will grapple with is premiums for property and casualty insurance that have soared by as much as 50 percent since the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. His solution is to implement a safety policy that far exceeds legal requirements on a given project, enabling the builder to take a higher level of risk and drastically reduce insurance premiums. “It’s like taking a higher deductible on your car insurance,” Peters said.
“Obviously the key goal is to have everyone go home safely at the end of the day,” Peters said. “But financially, at one company I worked for, we saved about $20 million in five years corporation wide by having a proactive approach, and that’s all dollars that can flow back to the bottom line.”
Peters got into the business of occupational safety working as a foreman in one of the most dangerous industries, mining.
After receiving a master’s in personnel administration and labor relations from St. Francis University in Loretto, Pa., he worked in human resources in Pittsburgh for Dick Corp. from 1987 to 2000 and Maxim Crane Works until 2003.
Peters, a 49-year-old native of Garden City, N.Y., lives with his wife and three children in Pasadena and enjoys golfing, jogging, exercise and traveling. The latter will come in handy as he hits the road to visit Parsons’ numerous project sites across the country.
Matt Myerhoff
Accounting
RBZ LLP has appointed Lynell Chun manager. Chun, a consultant specializing in tax planning, has been with the firm since 1995.
Advertising
Cole Hartman has joined Carat Affiliates, a division of Carat North America, as vice president and director of the company’s newly expanded West Coast operations. He was previously at Woo Agency, where he was director of marketing, working on new business and client strategy.
AMC Networks Ad Sales, a division of Rainbow Advertising Sales Corp., announced the promotion of Kim Woods to vice president, Western region ad sales. Woods joined AMC Networks as director of Western region ad sales.
SportsLink L.A., a division of Adlink, hired Keith Green and Dave Matthews as directors of national accounts. Prior to joining Adlink, Green was an account manager for Landmark Communications. Matthews was vice president of sales for WorldLink.
Arts
The Pacific Asia Museum named Joan Marshall executive director. Marshall previously served as the development director at the Autry Museum of Western Heritage.
Banking
Stephan Robinson has joined City National Bank as senior vice president and Community Reinvestment Act manager. Robinson was most recently the president and chief executive of Pasadena Development Corp.
Construction
Keith H. Ruesch joined Pacific Properties as senior vice president of construction. Ruesch previously served as regional construction manager for Camden Property Trust.
Consulting
Sara Philippi has been named vice president of business development for M2 Inc.’s Southern California office. Prior to joining the company, Philippi was the West Coast regional vice president for ACSYS Inc.
Education
Gov. Gray Davis has nominated Dan Weinstein to the Board of Trustees of the California State University system. Weinstein has been a managing partner of Wetherly Capital Group since 1999 and was previously senior advisor for former State Treasurer Kathleen Brown.
David M. Rosen was named vice president for academic affairs at Woodbury University. Rosen was previously interim president at University of Maine at Machias.
Tony Sinay has been appointed director of the health care administration program at California State University, Long Beach. Sinay comes to the university from the health management program at Des Moines University Osteopathic Medical Center, where he was an associate director and health professor.
Entertainment
DMX Music, a subsidiary of Liberty Media Corp., named Mark Rozells president and chief executive. Previously, Rozells worked at Liberty Digital, also a subsidiary of Liberty Media, where he served as executive vice president and chief financial officer.
Finance
Brian Haskin has joined Analytic Investors Inc. as managing director of marketing and client service. He previously held senior business development and management positions at Barclays Global Investors.
Government
Robin Paule has been appointed to the Taxation Law Advisory Commission of the State Bar of California. She is a partner at Holthouse Carlin & Van Trigt LLP.
Nicholas Tonsich and Elwood Lui were reelected as president and vice president, respectively, of the Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners. Tonsich is a partner at Glaser Tonsich & Brajevich and Lui is a partner at Jones Day Reavis & Pogue.
Commissioner Valerie Lynne Shaw was reelected to a third term as president of the Board of Public Works for the city of Los Angeles. Shaw was a member of the Los Angeles Civil Service Commission prior to being appointed to the board in 1996.
Health
Gregory Probert has been named chief operating officer of Herbalife International Inc. Prior to joining Herbalife, Probert was president and chief executive of DMX Music.
Hospitality
Robert Trebing Jr. has been hired as chief financial officer for El Torito/Acapulco restaurants. Trebing worked with Prandium Inc. where he most recently was executive vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer.
IAWS Group Plc has appointed John Yamin chief executive of of its La Brea Bakery unit. Yamin joined the firm in 2002 as senior vice president of brand development.
Insurance
Lynda Hill joined Dodge Warren & Peters Insurance Services Inc. as an employee benefits account manager. She had held the same position with Andreini & Co.
Marketing
The Phelps Group hired Maryanne Coury as vice president, team leader. Previously, Coury served as vice president and account director for Time & Space Media.
Media
The American Film Marketing Association named Michael Ryan as its next chairman. Ryan, a British film executive who produced “The English Patient” among other films, will be the first AFMA chairman from outside the United States.
Non-Profit
Edward Casey became president of the Los Angeles Headquarters Association. The managing partner of Weston Benshoof Rochefort Rubalcava & MacCuish LLP, Casey was previously the association’s vice president.
Public Relations
Cerrell Associates Inc. has hired John Howard as senior account executive at its public affairs team. Prior to joining the firm, Howland was the legislative director for former Los Angeles City Councilwoman Ruth Galanter.
Real Estate
Tony Azzi has been named vice president of investments at Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Brokerage Co. Azzi was a director of the firm’s national multi housing group.
Diversified Title and Escrow Services Co. hired Frank Fese as sales manager for Los Angeles County. Rick Fese was named director of corporate sales training. Adrienne S. Lamm was appointed corporate communications and public relations manager.
Chicago-based Fifield Cos. hired David Robbins as executive vice president of its Southern California operations. Robbins, also named a principal of the firm, previously served as division vice president of BRE Properties Inc.
Technology
Youbet.com Inc., an online wagering company, elected chief executive Charles Champion to the additional role of chairman.
Tekelec named Lori Craven executive vice president for global sales and marketing. She previously led the network signaling division. Monty Johnson, Tekelec’s vice president of product management and strategy for the network signaling division, was named president and general manager of the division, assuming Craven’s responsibilities.
Ixia Co., appointed Alan Amrod vice president of marketing. He most recently served as vice president of marketing at Alcatel Co.
