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Friday, Mar 29, 2024

Newsmakers

SFV Newsmakers/11-16/mark2nd Entertainment Bahman Naraghi has been appointed chief financial officer for Universal Pictures. He will be responsible for all finance activities, strategic planning, performance monitoring and centralized accounting and reporting for the filmed entertainment group. Most recently, Naraghi served as senior vice president, planning and operations at Universal. Also, Allison Brecker has been promoted to executive vice president of production for Universal Pictures. She will be responsible for developing and supervising the production of feature film projects. Prior to joining, Brecker was vice president of development and production at Walt Disney Pictures. And Romy Kaufman has been promoted to vice president of Universal’s story department. She will work closely with the creative group in reading and evaluating feature film material. Previously, Kaufman was story editor at TriStar Pictures. George H. Garfield has been appointed senior vice president of global real estate and facilities at Universal Studios. He will be responsible for strategic development, expansion, lease negotiations, acquisitions and cost-effective use of Universal’s real estate. Most recently, Garfield was vice president of real estate for Walt Disney Imagineering. Ken Goldstein has been named senior vice president and general manager of Disney Online. He will oversee Disney Online’s operations including content development, production, technology and marketing. Prior to joining, Goldstein was vice president and general manager of Broderbund Software’s Red Orb Entertainment division. Lawrence Kieves has been appointed president of Calabasas-based K-Tel International Inc. He will be heavily involved in marketing the company through multiple channels, including K-Tel’s Internet operation. Kieves has held positions as CEO and COO with several public companies in the entertainment industry. Lanny Raimondo has been appointed divisional director of the wholly owned Technicolor group of companies. He will be chief executive for all of Technicolor’s businesses including videocassette and optical disc manufacturing, theatrical film production and distribution. Raimondo joined the company in 1994 as president of the video services division. Robbie Robertson has joined DreamWorks Records as creative plenipotentiary. He will be involved in both artistic and executive activities in the company, and will participate in projects set in motion by parent company DreamWorks SKG. Robertson is a singer, songwriter, guitarist, producer and film composer, and is best known as a member of the rock group The Band. Health Care Ivan Jeffrey Kamil (picnewsmakers11-16)has been promoted to vice president of quality management at the Woodland Hills office of Blue Cross of California. He will be responsible for leading the company’s quality initiatives, as well as developing and improving quality management programs. Prior to joining, Kamil held various positions with Prudential HealthCare and Maxicare Health Plan. Also, Brian Sassi (pic newsmakers 11-16) has been named general manager for the company’s large-group key accounts. His primary responsibility will be for all California employers with 51-250 employees. Previously, Sassi has held management positions with Provident Life Insurance Co. Landscape Design Richard A. Sperber has been named executive vice president at Environmental Industries Inc., the parent company of Valley Crest, where Sperber is president and chief operating officer. He will be taking on an expanded role in the corporation’s overall strategic planning. Sperber is also president and chief operating officer of Environmental Golf. Eric Bescoby has been appointed director of golf maintenance for Environmental Golf. He will manage the business unit dedicated to golf course maintenance at the firm’s contracted courses. Prior to joining, Bescoby was director of the golf course division of Rain Bird Sprinkler Manufacturing Corp. Also, Steve Chase has been appointed director of sales and marketing. Previously, Chase was vice president of sales at California Sports. In addition, John McNair has been named director of golf management. He will oversee golf course operations in addition to developing new management services. Previously, McNair was general manager of Cherokee Run Golf Club. Media Ron L. Wood has been appointed publisher of the San Gabriel Valley Newspaper Group. The group’s publications include the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, the Pasadena Star News and the Whittier Daily News. Wood was most recently vice president of circulation for the Los Angeles Newspaper Group. Real Estate Matthew L. Herrill has joined PacTen Partners as project director in charge of construction. His specific responsibilities will be for Valencia Corporate Point, a 700,000-square-foot office development that breaks ground Nov. 17. Most recently, Herrill was project manager in charge of design and development for Universal Studios. Restaurants Marc Carter has been named controller of Dick Clark Restaurants Inc. His responsibilities will include overseeing all aspects of the financial operations and reporting of the restaurant division. Most recently, Carter was controller/director of strategic planning at California Pizza Kitchen Inc.

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