Advertising & P.R.

Deborah Lafky has been appointed to the newly created position of digital media manager at Palos Verdes Peninsula-based Sparkman Advertising Inc. Lafky previously was manager of technical media at International Rectifier, a semiconductor manufacturer.

Holmes H. Stoner has been appointed director of operations of Trillium Marketing’s new Marina del Rey office. He will oversee the sports marketing and entertainment marketing divisions. Stoner formerly was vice president and partner of Artesa Marketing Group.

Architecture

John H. Baker has been promoted to managing principal of regional office operations at MCG Architects, a retail architectural firm. Baker has been with MCG for 29 years. He joined the firm in 1969 as a project architect and designer. In his new role, Baker will oversee the firm’s nine regional offices. He also serves as corporate secretary on the board and will be involved with strategic planning, budgeting control and profitability.

Automotive

Michael J. Slagter has been promoted to corporate marketing manager for Lexus, the luxury division of Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc. Slagter will be responsible for Lexus marketing, as well as management of advertising, merchandising, direct mail, vehicle and accessory pricing. He also will coordinate long-range strategic market planning. Slagter formerly served as western area manager, national marketing operations manager, and assistant southern area manager.

John Dinkel has been named group manager for the Los Angeles-based publishing arm of the Automobile Club of Southern California. Dinkel will be responsible for integrating the organization’s magazines, maps and travel publications. He previously was a principal of his own automotive consulting and publishing firm.

Banking

John C. Stipanov has been promoted to vice president and loan team manager for the commercial banking division of Tokai Bank in Los Angeles. He will head team efforts in commercial lending to middle-market businesses throughout Southern California to develop lending relationships for businesses with annual revenues between $10 and $50 million. His past experience was focused on leveraged buyouts, equipment, and owner/user real estate loans. Tokai Bank of California is headquartered in Los Angeles with offices worldwide.

Consulting

Jill Govan Bauman has been named vice president of the Southern California region of M Squared Inc. She will manage the company’s new Los Angeles office. She joins M Squared from Ernst & Young LLP/Management Consulting, where she served as senior manager in creating and launching the company’s national data warehousing servicing line.

Education

Don Adams has been appointed to the newly created position of executive director of information technology for the Carson campus at California State University, Dominguez Hills. Adams will be responsible for planning and coordinating computing and telecommunications services throughout the institution. Adams previously served as director of technology at the Seattle University School of Law.

Entertainment

Greg Boone has been promoted to executive vice president and associate general counsel for Sony Pictures Entertainment’s television businesses. He will remain based at SPE’s Culver City headquarters. He will be responsible for managing legal transactions, overseeing contractual matters and other legal issues related to SPE’s Columbia TriStar Television, Columbia TriStar Television Distribution, Game Show Network, Columbia TriStar Interactive and children’s programming divisions. Boone most recently served as senior vice president in charge of legal affairs for SPE’s television operations.

Jim Coane has been named president of Culver City-based Unapix Productions, a new network and cable programming production unit of New York-based Unapix Entertainment. Coane was most recently based at Columbia TriStar Television. In addition, Mike Fleiss has been named executive vice president of Unapix Productions. He has created and produced network specials with Nash Entertainment during the last five years.

Susan McMurray has joined Santa Monica-based MGM Consumer Products as vice president of international sales. She will be responsible for business operations in all territories outside the United States and will manage MGM’s network of international agents. McMurray previously served as vice president of licensing at Strottman International Inc.

Giulio Proietto has been named vice president of business affairs for the Windham Hill Group. Based in Beverly Hills, Proietto will negotiate all contracts pertaining to the Windham Hill Group and its associated labels, as well as oversee the copyright department and A & R; administration. Proietto previously headed up the finance and business affairs departments for Private Music.

Health Care

Lawrence D. Piro has been named chief executive of Salick Health Care Inc. He replaces Michael O’Brien, who has been appointed chief operating officer of Zeneca Pharmaceuticals. Piro joined SHC from Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation in 1996. He has served as executive vice president of medical affairs and managed care for SHC, leading the development of the company’s proprietary disease-management system. Salick Health Care is a provider of diagnostic and treatment services to patients with cancer and kidney failure.

High Tech

James L. Jonassen, founder and chairman of Hermosa Beach-based PeopleMover Inc., has been appointed to the additional position of chief executive. Founded in 1997, PeopleMover Inc. is a provider of application software and information systems to the domestic and international staffing, consulting, and outsourcing industries.

Don Jue has been named senior location executive for IBM in Los Angeles County. Jue will represent IBM to the Los Angeles area. He previously was vice president of server consolidation for the North America marketing group.

Insurance

Louis J. Rampino has been appointed president and chief executive of Fremont Compensation Insurance Group Inc., Fremont General Corp.’s wholly owned property and casualty insurance subsidiary. Rampino, who will be based in Santa Monica, will continue to act as president and chief operating officer of Fremont General Corp.

Law

Kenneth W. Babcock has been named Public Counsel Law Center’s new director of litigation and advocacy. Kathleen A. Michon has been named to fill Babcock’s former position as the organization’s directing attorney of the Consumer Law Project. Babcock’s new responsibilities include overseeing Public Counsel’s staff attorneys and the roster of cases and clients, as well as leading the organization’s efforts to contribute to state and national policy discussion and debate. In her new position, Michon will supervise a staff of two attorneys, two paralegals and an administrative assistant as well as volunteers.

Manufacturing

John A. Pickering has joined Astoria Metal Corp. as general manager of its Long Beach affiliate. Astoria Metal Corp. seeks a lease to operate a commercial facility at the shipyard, which was closed by the military in 1997. Pickering, the former commanding officer of the Long Beach Naval Shipyard, joined Astoria Metal Corp. in early 1998.

Media

Virginia Hunt has been named director of finance for KCAL-TV Channel 9. She joins KCAL after a 20-year tenure at KTLA-TV Channel 5, where she held a variety of financial positions, including director of program planning and acquisitions and director of finance and administration. In her new capacity, Hunt will be responsible for day-to-day finance, accounting, programming, contract negotiations, operations and development and broadcast standards.

Real Estate

David A. Herbst has joined the Playa Vista project as vice president of corporate affairs. Lisa Weil has taken on the new title of environmental affairs director. Herbst is joining Playa Vista from Mercury Air Group where he was director of corporate relations. His responsibilities will include the creation and implementation of Playa Vista’s ongoing public affairs efforts. Weil will coordinate environmental issues on a full-time basis. Prior to coming to Playa Vista in 1996, Weil was the policy director for American Oceans Campaign, consultant to the Natural Resources Defense Council, district chief of staff/environmental assistant to former Congressman Mel Levine, and an attorney in private practice.

Utilities

Daniel C. Howell has been named director of Dominguez Services Corp.’s South Bay strategic business unit. He will be responsible for managing the corporation’s largest subsidiary, Dominguez Water Co. Howell formerly established and managed a western regional electric power commodity marketing and trading organization for Cynergy Inc.