newsmakers/41.5/dp1st/mark2nd

Advertising & Marketing

Phillip Evans has been named senior designer for Taffetdesign Inc. in Santa Monica. He will be responsible for creating and supervising broadcast and new-media projects. Evans was previously senior designer of ABC’s on-air promotions department.

Aerospace

Randy Brinkley has been named senior vice president of programs for Hughes Space and Communications Co. in El Segundo. He will be responsible for work involving national security, digital processing and satellite service. Brinkley was most recently a senior executive at NASA.

Associations

Oscar Arslanian has been elected president of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. He is president of Arslanian & Associates Inc., a public relations firm in Hollywood. Mary Lou Dudas was previous president of the chamber.

Banking & Finance

Silvia Marjoram has joined American Business Bank as vice president and senior relationship manager in Los Angeles. She will be in charge of business development and underwriting. Marjoram was most recently a vice president with Mellon 1st Business Bank in Century City.

Farhad Motia has been appointed vice president and division manager of growth finance for Finova Capital Corp. in Los Angeles. He will be responsible for the nationwide operation of the division. Motia was previously president, chief executive and director of Preferred Business Credit.

Construction

Tom Verti has been promoted to president of Pankow Operating Inc. and general partner of Charles Pankow Builders Ltd. in Los Angeles. Verti was previously vice president and area manager for the company.

Consulting

Walter Odening has been appointed regional manager of Dean Ryan’s Southern California environmental programs group in Los Angeles. His responsibilities will include operations, business development and client coordination. Odening has previously managed projects for the Air Force, Navy and the Department of Energy.

Entertainment

Marti Boone has been named vice president of large-format theater sales and development for Iwerks Entertainment Inc. in Burbank. Boone was previously director of marketing communications for the theaters and attractions-affiliate division of Imax. Also, Marianne Cheyne has been named vice president of entertainment and retail sales. She will be responsible for increasing the presence in new and emerging markets. Cheyne was previously vice president of marketing and sales for Spectra Entertainment.

Greg Brannan has been promoted to executive vice president of programming and content with E! Networks in Los Angeles. He was previously vice president of program planning. Also, Marta Tracy has been promoted to creative executive and senior vice president of programming for E! Style. She was most recently vice president of programming and development. In addition, John Rieber has been promoted to senior vice president of original programming for the network. He was previously vice president of special projects.

Joel Gantcher has joined Viacom Consumer Products as director of international business development in Hollywood. He will oversee international licensing for brands and products while handling new opportunities overseas. Gantcher was previously manager of business planning for Walt Disney Co.’s Latin American consumer products division.

Rick Mischel has been named president and chief operating officer of Harvey Entertainment Co. in Century City. His responsibilities include bringing in new projects and expanding company activities throughout theatrical, television, video and Internet media. Mischel was formerly senior vice president of production and acquisitions for Live Entertainment.

Holly Stein has been appointed vice president of consumer products for HIT Entertainment in Beverly Hills. She will establish a new U.S. licensing and merchandising division. Stein was most recently a vice president of sales and marketing for King World Productions.

Bruce Wilson has been named chief information officer of Universal Studios in Universal City. He will be responsible for development, implementation and support of information technology systems. Wilson was previously vice president and chief information officer for ConAgra Grocery Products Cos.

Health Care

Harvey Fein has been promoted to associate vice president of finance for Molina Medical Centers in Long Beach. He will oversee financial operations, including treasury, budgeting and financial analysis. Fein was most recently chief financial officer for the center.

Ross Henderson has been appointed senior vice president and chief medical officer of Foundation Health Systems Inc. in Woodland Hills. He will oversee medical affairs and policies for the health plans. Henderson was most recently vice president of medical affairs for Intergroup of Arizona.

John Walpole has been appointed vice president of the consulting division of Keenan HealthCare in Pasadena. He will be responsible for developing and implementing comprehensive programming in areas including safety management and medical equipment management. Walpole was previously a health care management program consultant.

Hospitality

Gina Aurio has been named corporate sales manager of the Wyndham Checkers Hotel in Los Angeles. She will focus on the market involving East Coast business travelers. Aurio was most recently a sales presenter of the National Notary Association.

Insurance

Mark Sioma has been named vice president of Frontier Insurance Group Inc. He will also serve as president of the company’s Frontier Pacific Insurance Co. subsidiary. Sioma was previously a division vice president for American International Group.

Law

Edwin Green has joined Allen, Matkins, Leck, Gamble & Mallory LLP as partner in Los Angeles. His practice will focus on product liability, professional liability and commercial litigation. Green was a partner with Bronson, Bronson & McKinnon LLP for 37 years.

Manufacturing

David Black has been named executive vice president of marketing in the sales division of Clarion Corp. in Gardena. He will oversee day-to-day operations of sales, including marketing and product development. Black was formerly senior vice president of marketing for the division.

Media

Ira Gabriel has been named publisher of MAXSpeed magazine, a unit of Petersen Publishing in Los Angeles. Gabriel was most recently regional manager for the company’s Automotive Performance Group.

Personnel

John Simonelli has been named chief financial officer of PeopleMover Inc. in Manhattan Beach. He will oversee finance, accounting administration and operations. Simonelli was previously vice president of corporate finance with Walt Disney Co.

Real Estate

Wayne Brandt has been named partner in charge of Southern California operations for Menlo Equities in Los Angeles. He will oversee the expansion of investments and operations in the Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego markets. Brandt was formerly managing director of Capital Co. of America.

Daniel LuVisi has joined Venture West Funding Inc. as president. He will direct all residential, commercial and mortgage banking operations. LuVisi was formerly vice chairman and president of CUB Funding.

Richard Marquis has been named associate director of consulting services for Insignia/ESG in Los Angeles. He will lead the firm’s consulting group in the Western region. Marquis was formerly vice president in the asset management group of Citicorp Real Estate Inc.

Vincent Pellerito has been promoted to vice president at Cushman Realty Corp. in Los Angeles. His responsibilities will include providing tenant representation services to clients. Pellerito was most recently senior broker for the firm.

Telecommunications

Len Eisenstein has joined Trillium Digital Systems Inc. as worldwide sales director in Los Angeles. He will direct communications software sales activities and expand the sales force. Eisenstein was most recently vice president of sales at Hayes Corp. in Georgia.