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By: North County Times - SAN MARCOS - Tony DeSalvo has joined Discovery Bank as executive vice president/chief credit officer. He is responsible for overall loan administration, production, compliance and regulatory procedures, internal policy development, portfolio quality and loan officer training. | Saturday, December 8, 2007 7:35 PM PST ∞

Farmers inducts reps into Topper Club

ENCINITAS - The following local Farmers Insurance representatives have been inducted into the Farmers' "Topper Club" of Farmers' top sales producers: Daniel Inskeep, San DeLegge, Thomas Krynicki, Michael Davis, Kraig Heiland, Doug Kyle, Craig Davis, Keith Roby, Steven Sellin, Kim Chance, Pierre Tardif, Hal Wilson, Marie Milliman, Gerry Butler, Douglas Dixon and Daniel Wallace.

Holland opens Holland Business Services Inc.

CARLSBAD - Dr. Michael Holland, former vice president and general manager of SPARTA Composites, has left the company to start a new business, Holland Business Services, Inc., which specializes in business development, brokerage, merger and acquisition services for small to medium size composites and aerospace companies. Go to http://www.HollandBSI.com.

Monzet elected to ad board

RANCHO BERNARDO - Sean Monzet of Rancho Bernardo, digital account manager with NBC 7/39, has been elected to serve on the San Diego Advertising Club's board of directors for the 2007-08 term. Monzet will assist the club in expanding membership with digital and interactive media companies.

Siaca joins California Community Bank

ESCONDIDO - Terry Siaca has joined California Community Bank as vice president for commercial lending at its Escondido main office. Siaca is a veteran business lender in the North County marketplace and has a strong background in lending and relationship management.

Forrester appointed president/CEO at LEAD

SAN DIEGO - LEAD San Diego has announced the official appointment of Judy Forrester to the position of permanent president and CEO. Forrester joined LEAD San Diego in July 2006 as a consultant serving as interim CEO.

ABD adds three to team

CARLSBAD - ABD Insurance and Financial Services has added three professionals to its property and casualty risk management team. James C. Peasley has been named vice president and broker/producer in the risk management/major accounts practice; Dena Williams is senior vice president and broker/producer; and Lynn L. Dalman is vice president/account executive in the risk management and major accounts practice.

McCartney joins Johnny Rockets

LAKE FOREST - Johnny Rockets, franchisor of the retro-themed restaurant brand with 217 restaurants operating in 29 states and seven countries, has announced the appointment of Valerie McCartney as director of franchise sales. She will be responsible for overseeing the franchise development efforts of the reemerging brand in the western region of the United States.

Thieme named for online articles

Jennifer A. Thieme recently earned three No. 1 slots at Ezinearticles.com, which tracks the most viewed and most published articles for all submissions. Articles statistics are tallied for the most recent 90 days. Thieme's articles climbed to the top in the Accounting-Payroll, Taxes and Software categories.

Listing special offered

TEMECULA - Temecula V.I.P. Real Estate & Mortgage is running a special called "The $500 Listing Special" to help homeowners who need to sell their homes but who cannot afford the high cost of the average commission most agents charge. Information: (951) 201-6449.

Mercurio promoted to executive vice president

SAN DIEGO - The San Diego Association of REALTORS has promoted Michael T. Mercurio to executive vice president. Mercurio will oversee accounting, communications, education, government affairs, human resources, information technology, membership, retail operations and risk management. He also will serve as a liaison for the California Association of REALTORS and the National Association of REALTORS.

BRIDGE awards scholarships

SAN MARCOS - BRIDGE Housing, the state's leading nonprofit developer of affordable homes, has awarded scholarships to Melodee Celise and Kimberly McArthur, both of San Marcos. Celise is a single mother pursuing a degree in Montessori education. McArthur is studying biology and hopes to attend medical school.

Grand Del Mar adds two to culinary team

SAN DIEGO - The Grand Del Mar has added Jason McLeond as ececutive chef and Thierry Delourneaux as executive pastry chef to its growing culinary team. McLeod was most recently executive chef of the Four SEasons Resort in Great Exuma, Bahamas. Delourneaux was most recently executive pastry chef at The Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles.

Travature Inc. releases beta site

SAN DIEGO - Travature Inc., a startup internet travel company based in San Diego, publicly released its beta site Travature.com, recently. The site includes many free services such as flexible airfare searching, open and editable "wiki-style" travel guides, a travel deal of the day, community-driven restaurant reviews, both domestic and international, as well as city "mash-ups" and a combination of all of their features on one simple page.

Lia sophia names two top achievers

RAMONA - Anne Mazzola of Ramona and Kelli Wiltbank of San Diego recently have won top honors in lia sophia's Excellent Beginnings Program Achievers for their outstanding sales accomplishments and professionalism. Lia sophia is direct-sale jewelry company offering personalized in-home demonstrations.

Murphy joins San Diego National Bank

POWAY - John Murphy has joined the San Diego National Bank as vice president and manager of the Residential Mortgage Division. His responsibilities will include the development of the residential lending sales staff and product line to help SDNB meet the needs of the bank's homeowner/buyer clients and prospects in its Poway office.

Bronte joins McRae Agency

SAN DIEGO - Vanessa Bronte has joined the McRae Agency as its newest account associate. Her responsibilities include writing news releases, creative brainstorming, story development, media pitching, client research and maintaining client relationships.

Wells Fargo names three managers

SOLANA BEACH - Wells Fargo & Co. has named John Hamot and Aaron Marsaw community banking district managers in North County. Hamot will oversee banking operations for the North Coastal Market along the I-5 corricor from Solana Beach to Encinitas. Marsaw will manage the El Camnino market, which includes seven stores in Carlsbad and Oceanside along El Camino Real.

Jeff Reed has been named executive vice president and manager of Wells Fargo's Real Estate Group, Southwest Division and will oversee offices in San Diego, Phoenix and Las Vegas.

Graham named senior VP of Jack in the Box

SAN DIEGO - Terri Funk Graham has been named senior vice president and chief marketing officer of Jack in the Box Inc. She will assume oversight of the company's research and development group, which includes a team of culinary experts and project managers who are responsible for menu development.

Chamber names Top 10

SAN DIEGO - The San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce has named its "Top 10 Lifetime San Diegans." They include developer and philanthropist Malin Burnham; San Diego County Supervisors Greg Cos and Dianne Jacob; hotelier Ann Evans; local politico Kirs Michele; restaurant mogul Ralph Rubio; football great Junior Seau; American Indian gaming leader Daniel Tucker; former Port Commissioner Frank Urtasun and Congressman Brian Bilbray.

Spyke named dean at USD

SAN DIEGO - David F. Pyke has been named incoming dean of the University of San Diego's School of Business Administration, effective Aug. 1, 2008. Pyke is currently the associate dean of the MBA Program at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College and the Benjamin Ames Kimball Professor of the Science of Administration.

Breining named to Top 25

SAN DIEGO - MeetingNews has named Concepts Worlwide CEO and founder Terri Breining one of "The 25 Most Influential People in the Meetings Industry." Breining was previously named to the list in 1004.

Heiserman joins CPA firm

ESCONDIDO - Nic Heiserman has joined the firm CPA firm of Dunlap, Dunlap & Peck as a staff associate and has entered the firm's two-year track to obtain his CPA designation. Heisman received a bachelor's degree in business administration with an emphasis in accounting from Cal State San Marcos.

Stepka joins CEA, LLP

CARLSBAD - Mark Stepka has joined CEA, LLP, a full-service accounting firm, as a partner. He is responsible for overall management of all aspects of client engagement including audits, reviews and compilations of annual financial statements, tax return preparation and tax advisory services, financial forecasts and budgeting.

San Diego honors Doyle

SAN DIEGO - Mayor Jerry Sanders, right, declared Sept. 18 as Stephen P. Doyle Day in the city of San Diego. Sanders and the San Diego City Council honored Doyle "for his many leadership positions and numerous contributions that have resulted in the longterm advancement of homebuilding in California." Doyle is president of the San Diego/Riverside division of Brookfield Homes.

English joins Concepts Worldwide

CARLSBAD - Lisa English has joined Concepts Worlwide ad director of operations and Gregory Spire has joined as national account executive. Concepts Worldwide specializes in strategic meeting management around the world.

Jazzercise founder earns award

CARLSBAD - Judi Sheppard Missett, founder and CEO of Jazzercise Inc. was the 2007 recipient of the Empowered Woman Award presented by the Columbus, Ohio chapter of the Women's Presidents' Organization. The annual honor is reserved for WPO members who have achieved remarkable accomplishments with an entrepreneurial endeavor, given back to other men and women in business as a mentor and role model, and are dedicated to their community.

Lorenz joins real estate sales team

SAN MARCOS - Carl Roy Lorenz has joined the real estate sales team at Web Pacific Realty and Web Pacific Commercial. He has more than 30 years of sales and management experience in property/homeowner association management and real estate sales.

Two tie for top sales honor

Ming Marcum and Michael Rossi tied for top sales honors for the month of September at Mercedes-Benz of Escondido. This is the first time in the dealership's 19-year history that a first-place tie has occurred.

Aaron named executive director

The Moonlight Cultural Foundation has appointed Diana Slaughter Aaron as executive director. In her new role, Aaron will be responsible for promoting philanthropy for Moonlight Stage Productions while representing the foundation in Vista and North County.

Muranaka joins Foley & Larnder LLP

Aaron Muranaka has joined Foley & Lardner LLP as a new associate in its San Diego office. A member of the firm's General Commercial Litigation Practice Group, Muranaka's practice will focus on a variety of areas in corporate and commercial litigation.

Bryan elected 2008 chapter president

Graham Bryan, principal in the San Diego office of Lee & Associates, has been elected the 2008 president of the local San Diego chapter of Certified Commercial Investment member. A CCIM is a recognized expert in the disciplines of commercial and investment real estate.