NEWSMAKERS
Architecture
Dana Smith has joined Johnson Fain, a Los Angeles-based architectural firm, as director of development. Smith was previously assistant to the dean at USC’s School of Architecture.
Automotive
The Los Angeles Auto Show has promoted Scott Webb to assistant general manager. Previously, Webb served as director of marketing and operations with the auto show.
Banking & Finance
The Los Angeles office of De La Rosa & Co., a California-based investment banking firm, has named Raul Amezcua head of investment banking. Amezcua continues to hold his previous position as principal with the firm.
James P. Moore has been appointed senior vice president and regional private banking manager for Wells Fargo Private Bank in Pasadena. Moore was previously a commercial real estate finance senior vice president and sales manager for Citibank covering the southwestern region.
Construction
Horizon Construction and Property Management, a Los Angeles-based company that acquires, constructs and manages apartment buildings and single-family homes, has named Susan Zolla chief executive. Zolla is owner and operator of Channel Road Inn in Santa Monica and the Inn at Playa del Rey.
Entertainment
Michael L. Fink has joined the Hollywood facility of Frantic Films VFX, a company that provides visual effects for film and television, as president of visual effects worldwide. Fink was previously senior effects supervisor on movie “The Golden Compass.”
Trailer Park, a Hollywood-based entertainment marketing agency, has hired Seth Hendrix as producer in its video games division. Hendrix was previously a writer and producer for the video games division of the Ant Farm, an advertising firm in Hollywood.
Government
Rob Rader has been appointed vice chairman of the Malibu Public Facilities Authority, a joint powers authority of the city of Malibu and Santa Monica College. Rader serves as of-counsel at law firm Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP.
Kay Kyung-Sook Song has been named senior adviser in the office of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Song was previously associate vice president of USC civic and community relations.
Health Care
Little Co. of Mary Hospital, a Torrance-based hospital, has hired Trevor Wright as assistant administrator to its chief executive. Wright previously served as a coach with Studer Group, a global health care consulting firm.
Human Resources
McDermott & Bull, a Southern California-based executive search firm, has hired Scott Jacobson and Alan Somers as principal consultants in its West Los Angeles office. Previously, Jacobson was corporate vice president with SunChemical, a global company that manufactures printing inks. Somers was a personal manager and producer with his personal management company Pure Arts.
Law
Lee A. Dresie has been appointed head of the litigation practice at Greenberg Glusker, a Los Angeles-based law firm. Previously, Dresie served as litigation and real estate partner with the firm.
The Los Angeles office of Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP has named Daniel B. Leon partner in its corporate and business transactions and real estate groups. Leon was previously director of land acquisitions for Standard Pacific Homes and director of legal affairs and land acquisitions at KB Homes.
Roger W. Rosendahl has joined the Los Angeles office of Kaye Scholer LLP as partner in its corporate and finance department. Rosendahl was previously a partner in the firm’s New York office.
Marketing
Avenue A/Razorfish, an interactive marketing and technology company, has promoted Sam Haskin to client partner in its Los Angeles office. Previously, Haskin was director of business development with the company.
Media
Ripple, an El Segundo-based company that provides news and advertising on a network of screens located in retail outlets, has named John McMenamin chief executive. McMenamin was previously executive vice president of sales and strategy with the company.
Non-Profit
Alan L. Kaye has been elected to the national board of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Foundation, a non-profit organization helping people with lupus, with headquarters in New York and offices in Los Angeles. Kaye is president of Beverly Hills-based Alan Kaye Insurance Agency and vice president of the Los Angeles office of insurance firm Barry Kaye Associates.
Real Estate
Nicole Monlon has joined SCI Capital Group, an affiliate of Los Angeles-based SCI Real Estate Investments LLC, as vice president of national accounts. Monlon was previously vice president of equity sales for Griffin Capital, a real estate investment company headquartered in El Segundo.
Madison Partners, a Los Angeles-based commercial real estate firm, has named Bob Pearson executive director in its Century City office. Pearson was previously senior vice president of Transwestern, a commercial real estate company.
KUDOS
Lisa Gilford, partner at Weston Benshoof Rochefort Rubalcava and MacCuish LLP, a Los Angeles-based law firm, has been named this year’s J. Michael Brown Award recipient for promoting diversity in her profession. The award was presented by the DuPont Minority Counsel Conference of Dupont, the Wilmington, Del.-based chemical company.
Yoo Mi Chin
