New hires, promotions and awards:

Team Ashworth member wins

CARLSBAD —— Ashworth Inc., a designer of golf-inspired lifestyle sportswear and golf apparel, says that Team Ashworth member Stuart Appleby shot a 21-under-par 241 on the Plantation Course at Kapalua Resort in Hawaii for a one-shot, $1.06 million victory over Jonathan Kaye in the recent Mercedes Championship.

S3 executives head to China

TEMECULA —— S3 Investment Co. Inc. says that Chief Executive Officer Chris Bickel and Executive Vice President Brad Smith are on a three-week trip to China to work with the company's SINO UJE and Redwood Capital subsidiaries. SINO UJE is a distributor of medical and industrial high tech instrumentation; Redwood Capital is involved in investment banking work with private Chinese companies.

Law firm partner on board

SAN DIEGO —— Concerto Networks, a national franchise company that provides business technology solutions for small- and medium-sized businesses, has appointed William Eigner, partner and member of the business and technology team at Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP in San Diego, to a position on its board of directors.

Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch also has an office in Carlsbad.

Carlsbad chamber notes volunteers

CARLSBAD —— The Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce presented awards to some of its volunteers at its Volunteer Recognition Breakfast on Dec. 3. Among the recipients: Gina McBride, Ongoing Committee Chair of the Year, Government Affairs Committee; Connie Stevenson, Special Events Committee Chair of the Year, Golf and Tennis Tournament Committee; and Michael Shelby, Rookie of the Year.

Also, each chamber committee awarded one volunteer with the Committee Member of the Year award. These included: Martha Greenlaw, Airport Task Force; Will Anderson, Ambassador Committee; Lee Sterling, Business Resource Committee; Pamela Ellis, Business Expo Committee; Julie Baker, Carlsbad Business Environment Committee; Pat Shubert Robertson, Dinner Dance Committee; Chris Ross, Education Committee; Cathy Loe, Golf and Tennis Tournament Committee; Don Parent, Government Affairs Committee; David Herr, Membership Development Committee; and Theresa Bockes, Technology Committee.

Financial Profiles hires a VP

CARLSBAD —— Financial Profiles Inc., a provider of financial advice solutions, says it has hired Susan Papanek as its new vice president of engineering.

Rubio's chooses executive

CARLSBAD —— Rubio's Restaurants Inc. has named Carl Arena as vice president-development.

Man joins another board

SAN DIEGO —— Aegis Therapeutics Inc. says that Cam L. Garner has joined the company's board of directors.

Garner also serves on the boards of directors of CancerVax Corp. and SkinMedica Inc. in Carlsbad, and Somaxon in Carmel Valley.

The Outdoor Channel adds on

TEMECULA —— The Outdoor Channel, a wholly owned subsidiary of Outdoor Channel Holdings Inc., has named Glenn Dolce as vice president, advertising sales-Eastern region in charge of its new New York advertising sales office.

SpaceDev chief executive lauded

Jim Benson, founder and chief executive officer of Poway-based SpaceDev, a maker of small, inexpensive satellites and spacecraft components, will receive the Business Leadership in Science and Technology award at the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce's annual dinner on Jan. 18.

Sales rep appointed for Forest Glen

Ray Porter of Oceanside has been appointed sales representative at Forest Glen, a 176-unit condominium community in Oceanside.

New agent for The Willis Allen Co.

RANCHO SANTA FE —— Real estate agent Terry Holladay has joined The Willis Allen Co.'s Rancho Santa Fe office.

Law firm gains attorneys

Law firm Fish & Richardson P.C., which has an office in Carmel Valley, says patent litigation attorneys Alan Albright and Barry Shelton will join the firm as principals at its new office in Austin, Texas.

Bank expands lending team

Security Business Bank, which has a regional office in Carmel Valley, says it has expanded its commercial lending team by hiring Brian Smith as vice president and commercial loan officer.

Local GIA staff noted

Staff members from the Gemological Institute of America were initiated into the institute's "25-Year Club" during a ceremony Dec. 2. The Carlsbad members included: Gaston Lopez, Ruth Patchick, John Koivula, Carl Chilstrom, Alan DeGhionno, Jesse Gallegos, Irene Armendariz, Bruce Lanzi, Bill Boyajian, Dino DeGhionno, Sheryl Cashmore, Shane McClure, Betsy Winans, Sue Johnson, Gwen Travis, Gary Hill and Michael Clary.

One joins ERA Alliance

CARLSBAD —— ERA Alliance Realty of Carlsbad says Steven Burbidge has been added to its team of real estate professionals.

B&B under new ownership

FALLBROOK —— Patricia King has purchased Oak Creek Manor Bed & Breakfast, 4735 Olive Hill Road, Call (760) 451-2468.

RE/MAX agents are noted

• Carrington Kingsley, an office administrator at RE/MAX Distinctive Properties in Del Mar, has started a yearlong effort to collect and give away thousands of teddy bears and other stuffed animals to orphanages, homeless shelters, local hospitals and various relief organizations and charities that assist children.

• Rancho Bernardo resident Don Pelletier, a RE/MAX Associates real estate sales agent, says his sales team closed 88 transactions in 2004, representing property valued at more than $46 million.

• Patty Keck of Olivenhain, a real estate sales agent in Encinitas' RE/MAX Associates office, is currently ranked as San Diego County's top-producing RE/MAX agent for year-to-date sales volume through October 2004. She is ranked 33rd in the state.

• Carmel Mountain Ranch resident Sam Rasoul, with RE/MAX Associates' Poway office, says he closed 45 transactions in 2004, representing property valued at more than $24 million.

• Diane Conaway of Valley Center, a real estate sales agent with RE/MAX United's Escondido office, was recently presented with a 2004 Realtor of the Year award by the North San Diego County Association of Realtors. Conaway won the award for District 7, which comprises the Valley Center and Pauma Valley areas.