NEWSMAKERS
New Chief Calls Tune at Music Center
He played the clarinet in high school, but that skill wasn’t a factor in Stephen D. Rountree’s appointment as president of the Music Center, L.A.’s world-renowned performing arts institution.
“I’m passionate about music and theater, but my background is actually in leadership and management within the non-profit arts sphere,” said Rountree, a Los Angeles native.
After two decades at the J. Paul Getty Trust, where he served as executive vice president and chief operating officer since 1998, Rountree takes over the Music Center at a crucial stage in its 38-year history. The institution, which drew 1.3 million visitors in 2001, is preparing to launch its new Walt Disney Concert Hall next fall, part of the downtown revitalization plan, as it wrestles to solicit donations during difficult economic times.
“I have to do more, do it better, but do it for less money,” he said.
Besides fundraising and managing the annual operating budget of $50 million derived from county funds and private donations Rountree will oversee the day-to-day business of planning, publicizing and putting on Music Center performances in his full-time, paid position as president.
The Music Center is one of the nation’s largest performing arts centers, housing four resident performance companies the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Center Theater Group, Los Angeles Opera and Los Angeles Master Chorale. The downtown venue is home to the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, the Ahmanson Theater and the Mark Taper Forum.
“We also reach out to schools in the area,” Rountree said, referring to the Music Center’s fine arts program that educates more than a million students each year.
His goals as president include providing more diverse and engaging performances while creating enough momentum to draw an audience from around the world.
Rountree lives in Manhattan Beach with his wife Carol. They have two adult daughters, and a six-week old grandson.
Koula Gianulias
Accounting
Stuart Siegel has joined Rothstein Kass & Co. as director of information technology for its national real estate group. Siegel will be based in Beverly Hills and provide various services, including software implementation and system evaluations. He previously was chief information officer for the Fortress Group.
Construction
Steve Dubin has joined Turner Construction Co.’s Los Angeles office as business development manager for its special projects division. He previously was vice president of design firm Cole Martinez Curtis and Associates. Dubin will focus on interior work and building renovation and historic preservation.
Consulting
Richard Corgel has joined Navigant Consulting Inc., an independent consulting firm, as managing director in its Los Angeles office. Corgel was previously a partner with Arthur Andersen LLP where he provided similar services.
Frederick Held has joined Tatum CIO Partners LLP, a national firm of chief information officers, as a partner in the Los Angeles area.
Education
UCLA Extension has announced three executive appointments. Maida Hastings has been named to the newly created position of associate dean for academic affairs. Karim Cherif has been appointed director of the business and management department, and Jane Kagon will serve as director of the entertainment studies and the performing arts department.
Entertainment
Dan Harary has been named president of Asbury Event Productions, which will focus on large-scale events for the entertainment industry and other businesses. Harary will remain president of Hollywood-based Asbury Communications, an entertainment marketing, public relations and communications agency.
Joy Tashjian will assume the newly created position of vice president, worldwide sales and marketing for Mainframe Entertainment, producer of computer animation for television and film. She will be based in the Los Angeles office. Mainframe also promoted Alisha Serold to vice president, domestic sales and creative development.
Doug Gellerman has been named vice president of West Coast sales for Regal CineMedia, a subsidiary of Regal Entertainment Group, the movie circuit operator. Gellerman most recently was vice president, west coast sales, for the sports division at Turner Broadcasting.
Finance
Saybrook Capital LLC announced the appointment of Cary Stanford as managing director in the firm’s restructuring advisory services practice. Todd Rosen joined Saybrook as an associate, and Brandon Gregorio has been named senior financial analyst.
Geoff Bland has joined Mercury Partners, a private equity firm that invests in lower to middle market companies, as managing director. Bland previously worked at E-Capital Corp., where he was both the executive vice president and managing director.
Health Care
Dr. Judith Connell has been appointed to the newly created position of director of research and development at the Institute for Healthcare Advancement. Connell will be responsible for seeking new grants to fund the expansion of the non-profit’s health care programs.
The National Association of Geriatric Care Managers has elected Steve Barlam president. Barlam is chief professional officer of LivHOME Inc., a Los Angeles-based provider of at-home assisted living services.
Hospitality
Desi Szonntagh has been named executive chef of C & #233;zanne Restaurant at the Le Merigot Beach Hotel and Spa in Santa Monica. He will be responsible for overseeing all kitchen operations and implementing a new menu. Noemi Garih also joined Le Merigot as spa manager. She will oversee its spa facility and staff.
Law
Cherie Raidy has joined Lord Bissell & Brook as a partner. Her practice will focus on commercial lending, finance, real estate and business transactions. A board member of the Real Estate Executive Committee and the American Bankers Association, Raidy previously was with Coudert Brothers LLP.
Media
Jeff Apodaca is the new vice president of integrated sales and marketing for Univision. Prior to joining Univision, Apodaca was vice president of sales and operations Southwest/West Coast for the Excite Network.
Non-Profit
United Way of Greater Los Angeles announced that Elise Buik has been named chief operating officer in charge of overseeing workplace campaigns, gift processing and community investment departments. She had been senior vice president of community investment and marketing communications. Keith Green was promoted from vice president of human resources to senior vice president of administration.
Cynthia McClain-Hill, managing partner of McClain-Hill, has been named president-elect of the Los Angeles Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners, an organization devoted to women entrepreneurs. Her term begins next fall.
Alan Rothenberg, chairman of the 1994 World Cup Organizing Committee and former member of the NBA’s Board of Governors, was elected chairman of the Los Angeles Sports Council. Rothenberg is replacing John Argue, who died in August.
Real Estate
The Los Angeles office of Julien J. Studley announced the promotion of Craig McKenna and Jonathan Wechsler to managing director and assistant director, respectively.
Joe Briganti has been appointed vice president of ARCS Commercial’s affordable housing division. Prior to joining ARCS, Briganti was senior acquisitions director of GE Capital Real Estate’s affordable housing group.
Charles Dunn Co. has named Wayne Saldana senior vice president and regional manager. He will be responsible for expanding the firm’s commercial real estate group and managing the San Fernando Valley office. Saldana previously was an executive vice president with Newmark & Co.
Charles Schetter has been named to the newly created position of senior vice president of business development at KB Home. He will focus on new-market expansion and acquisitions for the company. Schetter was most recently a senior director at McKinsey & Co.
Steve Olsen has been appointed managing director of the global net lease partners group at CB Richard Ellis Investors LLC. The group was created to take advantage of sale-leaseback investment opportunities in the U.S. He was formerly a partner with Galway Financial Group, a U.K.-based sale-leaseback venture, and Wolverine Equities, an investment partnership.
Sports
The Los Angeles Dodgers announced scouting staff changes. Rene Francisco has been named director of international scouting. He joined the Dodgers after 10 years with the Atlanta Braves. Al LaMacchia joined the Dodgers as Major League scout. He previously served as a Major League scout with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
Technology
Nomadix, a Westlake Village developer of mobile technology, announced that Anthony Gioeli has been named senior vice president of worldwide sales. Gioeli was previously president of AirPrime Inc., a provider of high-speed, wireless data and voice products.
Semtech Corp., a supplier of semiconductors to the communication, computer, and industrial equipment industries, announced that Jason Carlson has been named president and had taken the newly created position of chief operating officer. Carlson was most recently vice president and general manager of the crystal product division at Cirrus Logic Inc.
