NEWSMAKERS
Architecture
Melendrez Design Partners has named Robert Larlee managing principal. He will be responsible for operations, business and resource management. Prior to Joining MDP, Larlee had managed NBBJ, Frank O. Gehry & Assoc. and Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer Assoc.
Alex Anamos has joined Kirkpatrick Associates Architects as studio director in Los Angeles where he will oversee teams working on commercial and residential projects. He was formerly the project architect for Telecom Center San Francisco and Telecom Center Los Angeles.
Banking & Finance
Royce A. Stutzman has been elected to the board of PFF Bancorp Inc., holding company for PFF Bank & Trust. Stutzman is past managing partner and current chairman of Vicenti Lloyd & Stutzman LLP, an accounting firm.
Peter C.K. Judar has joined Wells Fargo Private Client Services as a vice president and senior private banker in its Los Angeles office where he will manage high-net-worth accounts. He was formerly a senior representative for private banks Bank von Ernst and Bank Julius Baer.
Linda Burt has been named district sales manager for the ABC Companies’ new Los Angeles County sales territory headquartered in Tustin. She will be responsible for expanding the collection company’s client services in the area. She has held several positions in sales and client relations with ABC since 1997.
Entertainment
Patrick Kennedy has been promoted to executive vice president of Sony Pictures Digital, with overall responsibility for the Digital Networks division. He had previously been senior vice president at the group, and will oversee its day-to-day operations and develop its online promotional arm, Sony Pictures Integrated Network, as well as the Screenblast and SoapCity brands.
Law
I. Donald Weissman has joined Wasserman Comden Casselman & Pearson LLP as an associate. He had previously operated his own firm, Weissman & Associates, which was merged into Wasserman Comden.
Ronald H. Malin has been named of counsel to Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP in its corporate and real estate practice in Los Angeles. He was a founder and managing partner with Troy, Malin & Pottinger (now Troy & Gould) and a partner in charge of the California real estate department at Reavis & McGrath (now Fulbright & Jaworski).
Marketing
Jayson Whitmore has been named lead motion graphics artist at Troika Design Group, a design and production company. Before joining Troika, Whitmore was with Pittard Sullivan. He earned his first feature film on-screen credit for the animation of the main title work for “Punch Drunk Love.”
El Monte RV has hired Jeff Gibson as director of sales. Gibson worked for El Monte RV from 1997 until 2001 as fleet sales manager. Prior to returning to El Monte RV, Gibson was district sales manager for Fleetwood.
Audrey Beck has joined Extraordinary Events as vice president of planning and development. Before joining the firm, she had had positions with Walt Disney Co., Universal Studios and Warner Bros., among others.
Manufacturing
Ancora Capital LLC, a mail presorting firm, has announced the promotion of Michael Dulion to chief operating officer. He was previously its West Division, Presort Partners, and will be replaced by Paul Faherty. Prior to joining Ancora, Faherty served as an executive for AG Water Technologies Inc.
Christian K. Bement, president and chief executive of Earl Scheib Inc, has been named interim chairman. He replaces Stuart D. Buchalter, who stepped down in December.
Media
J. Scott Crystal has been named publisher of TV Guide, a unit of Pasadena-based Gemstar-TV Guide International Inc. Crystal was president and chief executive of the business magazine unit of Bertelsmann AG’s Gruner & Jahr USA Publishing unit. The magazine has not had a publisher since November 2001
Technology
CHAD Therapeutics Inc., a producer and distributor of oxygen conserving devices and systems, announced that Earl Yager, its chief operating officer and chief financial officer, would assume the additional title of president. Yager has been CFO since 1983, a director since 1988, and COO since 2000.
Kurt DeWitt has joined GNP, a system and solutions provider for the communications marketplace, as Southeast regional sales manager, a newly created position. DeWitt recently was director of business development for Aable Technologies Corp.
