Executive Spotlight: Michael Ventura
Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group has announced that Michael Ventura has joined the optometry department at the Otay Ranch location.
Ventura served as a captain in the U.S. Army from 2001 to 2006. He spent three years as the chief of optometry for the Army Health Clinic in Mannheim, Germany. In 2005, he was deployed to the Baghdad area of Iraq for one year. As the only eye care provider for more than 15,000 people, Ventura treated U.S. soldiers and Iraqi civilians.
The physician’s medical interests include primary eye care, ocular disease, geriatrics, pediatrics and contact lenses.
Banking and Finance
CBIZ Inc. has announced that Mike Silvio has joined the San Diego office as a tax director. Silvio will lead the firm’s research and development tax credit services group in San Diego and Orange counties. Silvio has 17 years of experience in public accounting and tax and has served businesses in the manufacturing, construction, professional service and nonprofit sectors.
Tricia Moore has joined the private mortgage banking division of Wells Fargo Home Mortgage. Moore has 10 years of experience in the mortgage origination and real estate industry.
Tammy Gamboa has joined BancForce Financial Staffing as an account manager to further develop business with banks and other financial institutions. Gamboa has 10 years of marketing and sales experience. Previously, she worked for Sierra Pacific Mortgage, Wells Fargo Mortgage and Chase Manhattan.
Construction and Design
Gary Robertson and Jose Alicea have joined NTD Architecture’s San Diego office as mechanical project designers. They will be contributing to mechanical system designs for health care and education projects throughout the Southwest.
Health Care and Biotech
SpineMark Corp., a medical management company, has announced the appointments of Alan Donald to president of SpineMark CRO Management Inc. and Alan Iftiniuk to interim chief operating officer of SpineMark Corp. Donald and Iftiniuk bring a combined 50 years of experience to SpineMark.
Hospitality
La Costa Resort and Spa has named Sean Firtel its chef de cuisine of Legends Bistro, which is set to reopen this month with a new menu. Firtel will oversee all operations of the restaurant. Firtel comes to La Costa from Carlsbad’s Red Dahlia restaurant. He has 15 years of culinary experience.
Loews Coronado Bay Resort & Spa has announced the appointment of Brigette Folse to associate director of sales. In her new role, Folse will oversee the Southwest regions and manage daily operations of the resort’s sales managers. Before joining Loews Coronado, Folse worked at the Loews New Orleans Hotel.
Blue Coral Seafood & Spirits at the Aventine Center in La Jolla has named Denise Jones its private dining director. Jones will tailor private dining events for guests. Previously, Jones served as event coordinator and manager of Palais de Saigon and as banquet manager of Prego.
Law
Foley & Lardner LLP has appointed Aaron Muranaka to associate in its San Diego office. A member of the firm’s general commercial litigation practice group, Muranaka will focus on corporate and commercial litigation. Previously, Muranaka served as a law clerk with the University of Utah Office of General Counsel.
Media and Marketing
Western Marketing & Media, a Washington-based advertising agency, opened a San Diego division in October, located in Ocean Beach. Justin Olsen, an Ocean Beach resident, is founder of the division.
Southwest Strategies has promoted Stephanie Guthrie to senior account executive. Guthrie has been with the company for three years as an account executive and has been involved with client projects such as promoting media events, creating client newsletters and managing publicity programs.
Miscellaneous
Corporate Psychological Management, an executive coaching and organizational improvement consultancy, has moved its headquarters from Denver to San Diego. Marshall Colt, managing principal, leads the firm.
Roy Irwin has joined Schubach Aviation as general manager. Irwin will be responsible for day-to-day management and business development. With 30 years of aviation experience in sales, marketing, management and piloting, Irwin served for two years as general manager of Orange County-based West Coast Charters, and six years as director of sales and marketing at JetCorp in St. Louis.
DHR International, an executive search solution provider, has announced that Mark James has joined the firm’s San Diego office as executive vice president in its life sciences technology and advanced technology practice groups. Before joining DHR, James was the president of Hire Consulting Services LLC since 1999.
Real Estate
Coldwell Banker Commercial Almar Group has announced that office broker James Karlovsky has been appointed to sales associate in its Carlsbad office.
Retail
Terramar Retail Centers has announced that Alexander Liftis has been named senior vice president of development for the shopping center development company. Liftis, a former vice president of development at Caruso Affiliated, assumes responsibilities for all aspects of Terramar’s development activities.
Flippin’ Pizza, New York Style, has promoted three staff members to management positions for its locations in Carlsbad, Oceanside and Vista. Trevor Ewing will manage the Vista location, Tommy O’Leary will serve as the general manager of the Carlsbad store, and Andres Deleon will manage the Oceanside location.
Technology and Manufacturing
Accelrys Inc. has announced the appointment of Rohit Shyam to vice president of corporate development and strategy. Most recently, Shyam served as partner, senior strategy expert and solution director for Computer Sciences Corp. in the global health solutions sector. Before joining Computer Sciences, Shyam was a principal at IBM, where he helped launch its life sciences practice.
PacketVideo Corp., a subsidiary of NextWave Wireless Inc., has added two mobile industry professionals to its management team. Neil Sharma joined PV as a senior vice president of mobile operator strategy, and Jeff Wright will serve as vice president of finance. Wright has 25 years of financial experience, including 22 years with Motorola/Freescale, where he oversaw finance, strategy and operations.
, Compiled by Liz Wiedemann
