Joye Blount has joined U.S. Bank’s Private Client Reserve in San Diego as a wealth management adviser. Previously, she worked at Bank of America where she was responsible for finding and developing new business for its private bank in San Diego as the senior vice president. She is green belt certified from Design for Six Sigma, and possesses a FINRA series 7 and series 66 certification. Blount has received several national business awards, including the YWCA TWIN Award, a Women Who Mean Business Award and Women Who Move the City Award. She is also a current member on the boards of The San Diego Symphony, The San Diego Futures Foundation, Point Loma Nazarene University President’s Advisory Board, Point Loma Nazarene University School of Business Advisory Board and The Salk Institute Community Advisory Board.
EDUCATION
Lauren Benz has joined the University of San Diego’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry in a professorship funded by the Clare Boothe Luce Program. Her research focuses on the development of new energy sources through the formation of novel “nanoporous” materials. She will also research the removal of sulfur and other toxins from petroleum supplies.
The College of Business Administration at San Diego State University has named Luis M. Cruz to its board of directors. He currently serves as region president, Southern California for Verizon Wireless. Cruz is an SDSU alumnus, earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration, with a concentration in finance, in 1988, and graduated cum laude.
Pacific Ridge School has named three new community leaders to its board of trustees. Gary Burdick brings finance and economics experience to the board, which includes serving as adviser to the Czech Ministry of Privatization, vice president of corporate finance for Lehman Bros. and Goldman Sachs, and as founder and president of ACC Consumer Finance Corp. Jay B. Lichter, Ph.D., is a business executive in the fields of biotechnology and pharmaceutical, and possesses 20 years of management, scientific research and business development experience. Currently, Lichter is the managing director at Avalon Ventures. Walz Properties founder Roberto Walz supports numerous organizations and efforts, including Kids Corps, the Rancho Santa Fe Community Center, school endowments, SWAT and police community meetings.
GOVERNMENT AND NONPROFIT
The Printing Industries Association of San Diego has announced its 2009-10 sales club officers: Colleen Ruis Jackson, president, of SOS Printing; Bryan Bordeaux, vice president, of Bordeaux; and Angela Breakfield-Jones, secretary/treasurer, of Unisource Worldwide. The 2009-10 board members are Rebecca Aguilera, of Diego & Son Printing; Dennis Carroll, RR Donnelley; Herb Prechtl, Allan Co.; Chris Johnson, Partner Press; Gabe Gamboa, Spicers Paper; Mark Rivaldi, Graphic Business Solutions; and George Hood, Konica Minolta Business Solutions.
HOSPITALITY
Rubio’s Restaurants has promoted Marc S. Simon to COO. He has served as the company’s senior vice president of operations since 2007. Previously, Simon served as CEO of America’s Incredible Pizza and worked in a variety of roles for Chipotle.
LAW
The Daily Journal has recognized Ned Israelsen as one of the Top 100 Lawyers in California for 2009. Israelsen is a managing partner at the San Diego office of Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear. Specifically, he was recognized as one of the top intellectual property lawyers in the state. He has played a role in several high-profile transactions, including InterMune’s $470 million license of ITM-191 and in recent financings of several pharmaceutical companies.
San Diego trial attorney David S. Casey Jr. has received the Pursuit of Justice award from the American Bar Association. He has also received the Consumer Watchdog’s Lifetime Legal Achievement award. Casey has 30 years of litigation experience, specifically having focused on serious personal injury and wrongful death. The ABA’s Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section honored Casey on Oct. 8 at the Hotel del Coronado.
Richard D. Barton has joined Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch as a partner in its San Diego office. For 25 years, Barton has represented health care systems, hospitals and physicians as both litigation counsel and as a consultant. He currently serves as medical staff counsel for various hospitals and physician groups. He is admitted to the Southern District of the U.S. Federal Court and the U.S. Supreme Court, and is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America.
