Executive Spotlight: Raymond Huggenberger
McDermott & Bull Executive Search has named Raymond Huggenberger as principal consultant in the firm’s San Diego office. Huggenberger will focus on further building McDermott & Bull’s medical technology, global business, and manufacturing practices, as well as continuing to expand the firm’s client base throughout Southern California, especially the San Diego marketplace. “Ray is an outstanding addition to the McDermott & Bull team, at a time when the firm is experiencing tremendous growth from clients with international manufacturing operations, as well as in the medical technologies field,” said Rod McDermott, the firm’s managing director. “Having moved up through the ranks of a $600 million multinational medical manufacturer, starting in sales in Germany and ending as the president and COO, Ray is uniquely experienced in the executive search industry, making him the perfect ally to company leaders facing the same challenges he’s faced in his career.” Before joining McDermott & Bull, Huggenberger served as president and chief operating officer of Sunrise Medical. During his tenure at Sunrise, Huggenberger took part in the management and private equity leveraged buyout of the company, taking Sunrise from a public to a private company.
Awards and Recognition
The San Diego chapter of the Building Industry Association recently presented Centre City Development Corp. President Peter Hall with the Lee Hubbard Award, honoring Hall for his commitment to San Diego’s construction industry. Hall recently announced his retirement from CCDC after 10 years as president. The award was created by the San Diego Building Contractors Association to recognize an individual who passionately serves their community and industry. The county of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency announced that Alfredo Aguirre, mental health director, has been named Social Worker of the Year by the National Association of Social Workers. Lead San Diego’s 2005 Visionary Award Winners have been selected for the annual Visionary Awards. Winners include: Regional Stewardship, Michael Beck, San Diego director of the Endangered Habitats League; Diversity, Delores Jacobs, the chief executive officer of the San Diego Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Community Center; Quality of Life, Azim Khamisa, the chairman and founder for the Tariq Khamisa Foundation; Economic Opportunity, Fahari Jeffers, secretary, treasurer and general counsel of United Domestic Workers of America; Community Collaboration, Millicent “Penny” Abell, the 2-1-1 San Diego Coalition chairwoman; the Nathanson Award for Cross-Border Region Building, Mark Salo, the president/CEO of Planned Parenthood of San Diego and Riverside counties; Graduate of the Year, Gordon Boerner, senior vice president of San Diego National Bank; and the Morgan Award, Bruce N. Moore, retired executive partner for Barney and Barney, LLC. Re/Max Associates’ Marci Quarisa has earned the Re/Max Chairman’s Club award for 2004, the second consecutive time Quarisa has won the honor. The award is based on sales performance in a calendar year and is the highest annual award in the Re/Max network.
Banking and Finance
William Schairer has rejoined Lavine, Lofgren, Morris & Engelberg, LLP as a tax manager, having previously served with LLME for three and a half years. Schairer focuses on high net worth industries and closely held businesses. Martha Abarca has been named a loan officer with Accion San Diego, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing small-business loans and technical assistance for micro-entrepreneurs. Abarca will be responsible for generating new loans, loan servicing, marketing and community outreach.
Construction and Design
KMA Architecture & Engineering recently hired Monica B. Fejer as a project architect. Fejer brings 18 years of national and international design experience to KMA, including numerous projects in San Diego. Bilbro Construction Co. has hired Steven Heredia as superintendent. Heredia is responsible for managing construction site operations, including scheduling, monitoring day-to-day progress, and implementing quality control and safety procedures. Dennis Walters has joined Gafcon as director of operations. Walters will be responsible for directing overall company operations, contracts, personnel, billing and policies, as well as project management. Carrier Johnson has hired Gwen Osgood as director of interior design. Osgood will provide guidance and direction for the firm’s interior design studio, as well as assist in the development of new business opportunities. Osgood will oversee the firm’s expanding interior design practice in San Diego, Costa Mesa, Sacramento and Oakland. Robert T. Quarles has joined Environmental Business Solutions as a project engineer. In his new role, Quarles is responsible for project management, remediation engineering, construction services and management, brownfield redevelopment, and solid-waste engineering. Jules Van Gelder has joined Di Zinno Thompson as a senior art director. In her new role, Van Gelder will be responsible for campaign development and execution.
Government
The city of Oceanside has chosen Jerome Lance to serve as interim chief for the Oceanside Police Department, pending a search for a full-time police chief. Lance recently retired as the chief of police for the city of Long Beach and spent 38 years in Long Beach’s police force before retiring in 2002.
Biotech and Health Care
Biocom recently announced its new board officers, as well as the addition of five new members to its board. Jack Lief of Arena Pharmaceuticals Inc. will become the new chairman of Biocom’s board. M. Wainwright Fishburn Jr., a partner at Cooley Godward, LLP, will serve as vice chair, while Greg Lucier, the chairman, president and CEO of Invitrogen Corp., will be the board’s vice president for industry. Stephen Ferruolo, a shareholder with Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe, LLP, will serve as the board’s vice president and general counsel, while Susan Atkins, president and CEO of Atkins + Associates, will serve as vice president and secretary. Biocom’s new board members are Dana Di Ferdinando of Science Applications International Corp., Larry Fitch of the San Diego Workforce Partnership, Mary Lyons of the University of San Diego, Randall Woods of NovaCardia Inc., and Kleanthis G. Xanthopoulos of Anadys Pharmaceuticals, Inc. J. Wesley Burgar has joined Life Solutions Natural Products as vice president of sales and marketing. Burgar has two decades of experience in new product development and strategic planning and will oversee the national market introduction of Life Solutions’ new line of liquid nutritional supplements. Burgar is also responsible for assisting with advertising, promotions, sales and new product development.
High-Tech
Colizer, Inc. has hired Keith McCann as executive vice president and chief financial officer and Leslie B. Overman as general counsel and corporate secretary. McCann has held CFO roles with software and Internet companies for more than 10 years and specializes in venture capital funding companies. Overman will oversee legal activities for Colizer, including patent applications filed for its proprietary software and marketing systems.
Law
Michael P. Wallock has joined the San Diego office of Allen Matkins Leck Gamble & Mallory LLP as an associate in the firm’s employment group. Wallock is an employment litigator, defending public and private employers in all manner of labor and employment disputes. John Hankins, intellectual property partner with McDermott Will & Emery, has relocated to the firm’s San Diego office, where he will serve as partner in charge. Hankins has been with McDermott since 1998 and focuses his practice on infringement and validity matters, the preparation and prosecution of patent applications and due diligence studies.
Insurance
CSA Travel Protection has promoted David Craychee to director of sales and customer service. Formerly director of sales and direct marketing, Craychee has served with CSA since 1999. In addition, Scott Turner was hired by CSA to serve as sales division manager, reporting to Craychee. Turner has seven years of experience in sales and customer support, most recently serving with Newgen Results Corp.
Media and Marketing
Lindsey Ashjian has been promoted to account executive at Julia Simms Public Relations. Ashjian served as an account coordinator at JSPR since joining the company a year ago. In her new role, Ashjian is responsible for managing public relations activities for the company’s clients in the homebuilding and real estate industries. Anderson Direct Marketing hired Matthew J. Downey as vice president of business development. In his new role, Downey will be generating new business for the company, as well as overseeing key client accounts. NYCA recently announced eight new hires encompassing all areas of the agency. The newest members of NYCA’s team are Mike Frey, senior art director; Travis Graham, senior copywriter; Amy Larson, media planner; Kelly Jochec, assistant media planner; Damir Seferovic, account supervisor; Melissa Ziegler, account executive; Sandy Marquez, staff accountant; and Jackie Hylen, executive assistant. NYCA also announced the promotions of Norb Seufert to management supervisor; Michael Catanzaro to account supervisor; Gia Cruz to senior media planner; Jamie Apodaca to associate production manager; Tim Ott to senior production artist; and Jeff Wilson to assistant controller.
Resorts and Hotels
James Gross has been hired as the general manager for the Hilton San Diego Gaslamp Quarter. Gross brings more than 20 years of management and leadership experience to the hotel.
Miscellaneous
Linda Bloms has joined the Eastridge Group of Staffing Cos. as a business development representative. Bloms has more than 12 years of staffing industry experience and will be responsible for business development and client relations in the San Diego area. Bloms specializes in administrative, light industrial and accounting staffing on a temporary, temporary to hire and direct hire basis. Administaff, Inc. has promoted Ross Astramecki to regional manager for the firm’s sales offices in San Diego and San Francisco. Astramecki, who has served with Administaff for 11 years, will be based out of the firm’s San Diego office. Mikki Royce has been named the new executive director of the Carlsbad Village Business Association. Royce previously served as president of Garnet Communications and has an extensive background in public relations, promotion, advertising and broadcast production. Laverne Richards has joined Judy Thompson & Associates, Financial Executive Search, as a senior associate. Richards will be handling accounting and financial searches in San Diego County.
Real Estate
Chris Heller of Keller Williams Realty received an award at the Keller Williams Realty international conference for being ranked seventh out of more than 38,000 employees nationwide. Heller has more than 17 years of industry experience and has worked in the San Diego office since 2004.
, Compiled by Sharon Gunderson
