SAN DIEGO -- Technology business organization Connect has named Lisa West as manager of marketing and membership development.

Tontodonato selected as coordinator

RANCHO PENASQUITOS -- Joe Tontodonato of Rancho Penasquitos has been named chapter programs coordinator at the National Multiple Sclerosis Society's San Diego-based Pacific South Coast chapter.

Osborne with Vista Eye Associates

VISTA -- Dr. Douglas M. Osborne of Vista has joined Vista Eye Associates. He maintains a practice in Carlsbad.

Heller tops in nation at Keller Williams

ENCINITAS -- Chris Heller was recognized as Keller Williams Realty's No. 1 agent in the country in the fourth quarter of 2006. Also, Heller's real estate team was named one of the Top 25 Power Teams to Watch by RISMedia. Heller is based in Encinitas.

City of Carlsbad makes some changes

CARLSBAD -- Opinder S. Bawa has been chosen as the city of Carlsbad's director of information technology. Also, the city has appointed Conrad "Skip" Hammann to special projects director, a newly created position.

PrimeCo Painting elevates Tovilla

OCEANSIDE -- Rigoberto Tovilla Jr. has been promoted to project manager with PrimeCo Painting.

Diversity chair for Fish & Richardson

SAN DIEGO -- Fish & Richardson says that Nancy L. Stagg, a principal in its San Diego office, has been named the national chairwoman of the firm's Diversity Initiative.

The firm has an office in Carmel Valley.

Motakef moves up at Melles Griot

CARLSBAD -- Melles Griot, which supplies photonics products, says that Sherie Motakef has been promoted to marketing manager for its distribution group. Motakef will remain based in Carlsbad.

Perry to manage The Crossings

CARLSBAD -- KemperSports, manager of the 18-hole The Crossings at Carlsbad, has named Jeff Perry as general manager of the city of Carlsbad's golf course.

Curtis part of Sharp Rees-Stealy

RANCHO BERNARDO -- Matthew Curtis has joined the Ophthalmology Department at Sharp Rees-Stealy Rancho Bernardo.

Sharp Rees-Stealy is a multispecialty medical group.

Thompson takes chairman's role

CARLSBAD -- Paul Thompson has taken over as chairman of the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce's board of directors.

Thompson is principal and senior partner of Global Community Solutions Inc., a Carlsbad-based strategic social investment firm.

DBA has two new board members

ESCONDIDO -- The Downtown Business Association of Escondido has two new board members: Janathan L. Allen, a partner in Allen Barron Inc.; and Lisa Gulliver, owner of Architectural Relics.

Casey elected as association president

The Industrial Environmental Association has elected Doug Casey as president for 2007. Casey is senior director of environmental and safety engineering for Callaway Golf in Carlsbad.

Other newly elected offices are Harvey Porter of Northrop Grumman/NewportNews/Continental Maritime, vice president; Tom Gardner of Allied Waste, secretary; Mark Loukides of Johnson & Johnson, treasurer; and Jackie McHugh of Sempra, past president.

Gilbert reaches Silver status

CARLSBAD -- Marjarie Gilbert of Carlsbad, an independent associate for Univera LifeSciences, was recently promoted to the Silver level.

PPH chief, physician honored

SAN DIEGO -- The American College of Healthcare

Executives has honored Palomar Pomerado Health President and Chief Executive Officer Michael H. Covert with the Senior-Level Healthcare Executive Regents Award.

Also, Palomar Pomerado physician Nick Yphantides was honored with the Early-Career Healthcare Executive Regent's Award.

Bar association announces secretary

VISTA -- Cardiff resident Thomas D. Penfield, a partner with law firm Casey Gerry Schenk Francavilla Blatt & Penfield LLP, has been named secretary of the North County Bar Association.

Local residents join landscape group

NORTH COUNTY -- David Silver, president of AAA Landscape Specialists Inc.; Don Allen, president of Allen Bros. Construction; and Assif Taki, president of Ameriscape Inc., have become California Landscape Contractors Association-San Diego chapter members.

They are all San Marcos residents.

Also, Ramona resident Ron Parks, president of San Diego Landcare Systems, and Vista resident Myron Baker, owner of CalScape, have joined the association.

Rezinas to oversee Patrion staff

Mari M. Rezinas has been named president of Patrion Insurance, a subsidiary of Altura Credit Union, and will oversee a 35-person staff.

Altura Credit Union serves San Diego and Riverside counties.

Cancer center selects vice president

SAN DIEGO -- The Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, a nonprofit research institution in La Jolla, recently hired Del Mar Heights resident Ann Siemens as its vice president for institutional advancement.

Arnold hired at HMC Architects

SAN DIEGO -- HMC Architects, which has planned and designed projects throughout North County and Southwest Riverside County, says that Tre Arnold has joined its San Diego office as a senior project manager for the firm's health care practice.

Silva coming to local GEICO office

POWAY -- GEICO's board of directors recently named Franklin Silva as assistant vice president at the company's San Diego regional office in Poway. He currently serves as sales process coordinator at GEICO's headquarters in Chevy Chase, Md.

New executive VP at Lender Support

POWAY -- Lender Support Systems Inc., a provider of lending and service technology solutions, has added Michael V. Blair as its newest executive vice president.

Mitchell becomes a regional manager

VISTA -- Lender E-Source, which provides loan guidelines and automated loan pricing to mortgage professionals, has appointed Bill Mitchell to regional manager.

Jones Day hires two

CARMEL VALLEY -- Law firm Jones Day's Carmel Valley office has made two hires: Nicola Pisano, partner, and Lin Yu, patent agent.

Kaufman sets up consultancy

RANCHO BERNARDO -- Nathan Kaufman, who until recently was senior vice president for health care strategy at ACS Healthcare Solutions, has launched Kaufman Strategic Advisors, a national consultancy that provides expert advice on a wide range of health care issues. Go to www.kaufmansa.com or call (858) 487-9771.