Executive Spotlight: Amy Butterfield
The Grand Del Mar has named Amy Butterfield its national sales manager. In this position, she will handle the West Coast market with an emphasis on banking, law, pharmaceutical and biotechnology. Butterfield has 20 years of catering and sales experience, including 15 years as director of catering and convention services for the Hyatt Regency La Jolla. Active in the community, she is a member of the Red Rose Society of the American Red Cross and of Les Dames d’Escoffier.
Banking and Finance
William Lamison has been promoted to senior vice president and commercial lending officer for San Diego Trust Bank. He will be responsible for the underwriting and management of the bank’s loan portfolio. Lamison joined the bank within its first year of operation and has more than 26 years of banking experience.
Construction and Design
Mark Williams has been named senior project manager at TSA Contracting. He will be responsible for overseeing the construction of Spectrum Terrace and several other projects that are in the pre-construction stage. Williams has 28 years’ experience in the construction industry. Pardee Homes has promoted Gary Probert to senior vice president of sales. He will be responsible for sales, options and closing services. Before joining the company in 1995 as vice president of sales, he was with Kaufman and Broad, now KB Home. Roel Construction has hired Dustin Purdy as project engineer. Most recently, Purdy was with Sundt Construction Co. Wade Mains has joined Wermers Properties as director of acquisitions. In this position, he will assist with acquiring both existing multifamily projects and entitled land for multifamily developments.
Health Care and Biotech
Ocera Therapeutics Inc. has added Mike Powell, managing director of Sofinnova Ventures, to its board of directors. Powell has been involved in the development of more than 20 clinical products and served on a number of boards. Anadys Pharmaceuticals Inc. has appointed James Freddo as chief medical officer. He will be responsible for leading clinical operations for the company’s clinical programs and will serve as a member of the Anadys-Novartis Joint Steering Committee. Most recently, Freddo served as vice president of clinical site head and development site head for Pfizer Global Research and Development.
High-Tech and Manufacturing
Continuous Computing Corp. has appointed Ron Pyles to executive vice president of sales and marketing, and Garrett Choi to executive vice president of engineering and operations. In addition to leading the global sales team, Pyles will now lead product management, customer program management, business development and marketing communications. Pyles joined the company in 2003 as vice president of worldwide sales. Before that, he was vice president for business sales for AT & T.; Choi will be responsible for overseeing hardware and software engineering, operations, manufacturing and internal program management. Choi joined the company in 2004 as general manager for the trillium business unit. Choi has more than 15 years of engineering, system integration and new business experience. Testing Engineers San Diego Inc. has added Greg Copley to its project management team as a senior project manager. Copley has 26 years’ experience in the construction materials testing industry and most recently was with Consolidated Engineering Labs, holding numerous management positions.
Restaurants and Hotels
Andreas Nieto has been named the executive chef for the US Grant’s Grant Grill restaurant and lounge. Nieto will be responsible for the complete culinary operation of the hotel, including menu development for banquets and in-room dining. Nieto has 20 years of food experience in hotels and restaurants, including serving as executive chef for the Bel Age and Beverly Hills hotels. Heather Meyer has been named corporate sales manager at the Best Western Hacienda Hotel. Meyer has 12 years of experience in the hospitality industry and was formerly the general manager at the Mission Valley Resort. Paradise Point Resort & Spa has appointed Amy DiBiase as the new chef de cuisine of its restaurant, Baleensandiego. Most recently, DiBiase was chef de cuisine at Laurel, where she was involved with all culinary and stewarding operations.
Media and Marketing
Nuffer, Smith, Tucker has added Diana Kot as account supervisor and Bryan Spevak as an account executive. Kot has more than 15 years of marketing, sales and public relations experience and most recently served as vice president of marketing for a San Diego credit union. Most recently, Spevak worked three years as the public relations and marketing manager for the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego.
Government and Nonprofit
Lori Butler has been hired as the director of development for the Vista Boys & Girls Club. She succeeds Teri Halliday, who has been promoted to regional director for the Boys & Girls Club of America. She will be responsible for fund raising, planning events and increasing awareness. Butler has more than 22 years of experience in the nonprofit sector and the advertising and public relations industry. The YWCA of San Diego’s board of directors has elected Roberta Spoon as president, Deborah Ragione as treasurer and Diane Pearson as secretary. Mayor Jerry Sanders has nominated Janice Brown, founder of Brown Law Group, and Teddy Cruz, principal architect at Estudio, for appointment to the Centre City Development Corp.’s board of directors. Both nominations are subject to confirmation by the City Council.
Law
Paul Johnson has joined Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP as senior counsel on the firm’s business and technology team. His practice focuses on securities offerings and compliance, startup companies, venture capital investments, mergers and acquisitions and public offerings. Most recently, Johnson was a partner, practicing corporate securities law, with DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary. Joseph Sanchez has joined Best Best & Krieger LLP as an associate in the firm’s labor and employment practice group. Sanchez’s practice focuses on employee discipline and termination, family medical leave laws, wage and hours issues, disability leaves and issues related to the collective bargaining process. Most recently, Sanchez was a deputy city attorney for the city of San Diego. Boris Zelkind, a lawyer with Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear, has been elected as secretary of the San Diego Intellectual Property Law Association board for the 2006-2007 term.
Miscellaneous
The Meeting Manager has hired Suzanne Nieto as account executive. She will be responsible for working with corporate clients and developing programs and concepts for events. Most recently, Nieto worked at a local production company, both as an account manager and sales manager.
, Compiled by Stacey Bengtson
