NEWSMAKERS
Accounting
Nick Pyzow has been hired as business development manager for the Los Angeles office of Jefferson Wells, a global accounting firm. Pyzow most recently served as director of client services at Century Resources, an accounting firm.
Gursey Schneider & Co. LLP, a Century City-based accounting and financial advisors firm, has hired Emily A. Sobolewski as marketing manager and promoted Stephan H. Wasserman to managing partner. Sobolewski was previously marketing coordinator for Moss Adams, a national accounting firm. Wasserman was most recently a partner in the firm’s family law department.
Architecture
Brian A. Perkins has been named vice president and director of design in the Los Angeles office of HKS Architects Inc., an architectural firm based in Dallas. Perkins was previously design principal at Leo Daly, an international architectural firm.
Banking & Finance
Premier Business Bank, a state chartered commercial bank headquartered in downtown Los Angeles, has named William B. Im as chief operations officer. Im was most recently president and chief executive of Uniti Bank of Buena Park.
Education
Pepperdine University’s Graziadio School of Business and Management has appointed Kim McCleary La France to its board of visitors. McCleary La France serves as vice president of public affairs for the Los Angeles Times.
Entertainment
Robert Juster has been promoted to vice president of new media and interactive at G4, Comcast Entertainment Group’s network offering information on gaming, technology, animation, interactivity and Internet culture. Juster was most recently executive producer of interactive for the network.
Sulake Corp., an online entertainment company based in Helsinki, Finland, with North American headquarters in Santa Monica, has appointed Peter Levin to its board. Levin is president and cofounder of Bellrock Media, a producer and distributor of online and mobile content in the United States and Japan.
Hospitality
Frank Tognotti has been hired as general manager at Amaranta Cocina Mexicana, a new Mexican restaurant in Woodland Hills. Tognotti was most recently cofounder of Skewers Roadside Grill in North Beach, San Francisco.
Law
Michael J. Heyman has joined the Los Angeles office of Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Preston Gates Ellis LLP, a national law firm, as associate. Heyman was previously an associate with Hennigan Bennett & Dorman LLP.
Manufacturing
Jakks Pacific Inc., a children’s toy manufacturer, has named Stuart Cohen director of international sales and Michael Rinzler as vice president of marketing. Cohen was most recently international sales manager at Imperial Toy and Creativity Inc., an arts and craft company. Rinzler was vice president of marketing for the boys division at Playmates Toys.
Media
Bruce Dennler has joined the Los Angeles office of Neilson Entertainment, a provider of market intelligence to the entertainment industry. Dennler was previously president and chief operating officer of Palisades MediaGroup, an entertainment-based media services company in Los Angeles.
Pharmaceuticals
Stephen J. DiPalma has joined RXi Pharmaceuticals Corp., a biopharmaceutical research and development company, as chief financial officer. DiPalma was previously cofounder, president and chief executive of Catalyst Oncology Inc., a company providing personalized medicine solutions to the oncology market.
Real Estate
Keith Herren has joined the Los Angeles office of Hanover Co., a real estate company headquartered in Houston, Texas, as director of site acquisition of Western United States. Harren was most formerly vice president of residential and commercial development for Newhall Land and Farming Co
Staubach Co., a global real estate advisory firm, has named Michael Fowler vice president and Dean Hawthorne and Chris Jicha senior associates at the firm’s Los Angeles office. Fowler was most recently a director at the Los Angeles office of Newmark Knight Frank, a commercial leasing and management company. Hawthorne was previously territory manager for Cardiodynamics, a San Diego-based manufacturer of non-invasive hemodynamic equipment for hospital and outpatient use. Jicha most recently served as economic development manager for the County of San Bernardino.
Technology
PeopleJam, a Los Angeles-based online social networking and video company, has named Bruce Ettinger vice president of operations and strategy, Larry Martine vice president of marketing and Jonathan Schreiber vice president of business development. Ettinger was previously chief executive and founder of Save.com. Martine was senior vice president of online marketing at Countrywide Home Loans. Schreiber was formerly president and chief executive of Xingtone, a mobile software provider for the independent content market.
KUDOS
The Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce has announced the 2007 Business Excellence Award winners. The business award for innovative practices went to Beverly Wilshire, a Four Seasons Hotel. Sprinkles Cupcakes was given the entrepreneur award. Il Fornaio received the customer service award, and Brooks Brothers was honored with the community contribution award.
DONATIONS
The Ralphs/Food 4 Less Foundation donated $10,000 to Grand Performances, a Southern California non-profit arts institution, in support of the organization’s 2007 summer concert season programming.
Yoo Mi Chin
