Ed Muna

Downtown commercial real estate veteran Ed Muna has been tapped by Rob Lankford to serve as senior v.p. and g.m. for Broadway 655, Lankford’s $140-million office tower under construction on the southeast corner of Kettner and Broadway. Muna has been involved in Downtown commercial for 15 years, including the past 10 with Southwest Value Partners where he oversaw in-house management and leasing of a portfolio that included Emerald Plaza, the Comerica building and Golden Eagle Plaza. He previously was a v.p. with Jones Lang LaSalle and started his career as a leasing agent with Tokyu Corp.

***

Edgar Arvizu was elected president of the Business Alumni chapter at SDSU. On the board with him are Jeanette Huntley, president-elect; Brigand Kline, Jerry Dunaway, Michael Conboy and Dave Cox.

***

Jason Armison

Jason Armison, a development manager with Barratt American since 2001, was promoted to v.p. of development and operations at Barratt American’s Urban Development Division.

***

Four Luce Forward Hamilton & Scripps attorneys have been elected partners of the firm to work in the San Diego office. They are Lynn A. Borkenhagen, a member of the real estate and construction law groups; John D. Edson, insurance litigation group; Katherine M. Hoffman, in the business/corporate and technology law/intellectual property groups; and Steven E. Otto, real estate practice group.

***

Cooley Godward elected Koji Fukumura to join the firm’s partnership. He is a litigation attorney in the San Diego office.

***

Chris d’Eon, a pioneer in San Diego’s e-commerce and direct marketing industry, was named v.p.-marketing for San Diego-based RealAge Inc. As founder of Deon Direct Inc., he has built marketing plans for national e-commerce and media firms, including Proflowers.com, Straight UPI Information Services and Intuit’s Turbo Tax. Thomas O’Hara, a financial executive with more than 25 years of experience with small to mid-sized firms, was appointed CFO for RealAge. Most recently O’Hara was CFO for Orincon Corp. International.

***

KPMG LLP, an audit, tax and advisory firm, admitted to its partnership Elizabeth A. Altman, who joined KPMG in 1993, and Denise Thompson, with the firm since 1986.

***

CEO Edith Hughes retired after 54 years with the National City Chamber of Commerce. She recently received the Golden Lifetime Achievement Award from the South County Economic Development Council.

***

USD retained Duane Morris to serve as outside general legal counsel for the next five years.

***

Carrie Telitz has joined Jimsair Charter & Management as manager of sales and marketing. Telitz was formerly with American Express Corporate Travel.

***

Deanna Martin Mackey of Del Cerro, associate general manager for marketing, education and new media at KPBS radio and television, has joined the board of Girl Scouts San Diego-Imperial Council.

***

Littler Mendelson hired associate Maureen Arnn in its San Diego office where she represents and counsels management on federal and state labor law and employment laws. She formerly was a judicial clerk in the U.S. District Court, Southern District of California.

***

Stephen P. Cushman, president of Cush Automotive Group, was named to the SDSU College of Business Administration board. A fourth generation San Diegan, Cushman has served on more than 50 boards and commissions.

***

Aspect Medical Systems Inc. appointed Dr. David W. Feigal Jr. to its board. He has more than 20 years of experience in health policy, medical education, and health care regulation, and he spent 12 years with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. He is now with NDA Partners.

***

The Whittier Institute for Diabetes named Dr. Athena Philis-Tsimikas executive director. The Institute is a subsidiary of Scripps Health based in La Jolla. Tsimikas has been with Scripps for a decade, the past eight years at the Whittier Institute.

***

Integrated marketing communications agency Matthews/Evans/ Albertazzi promoted Damir Seferovic to advertising account supervisor and Lindsy Haslam to assistant account executive. Seferovic has been with the company since 2000, Haslam since May of 2004.

***

Founder and president of her own public relations agency Julia Simms was elected president of BIA Cares for Kids, the charitable arm of the Building Industry Association of San Diego. She has overseen the organization’s public relations and held several offices for the past five years.

***

Carl Wallace joined the construction management group at Pountney Psomas. His 20 years of private and public agency consulting includes 11 years with Metropolitan Transit Development Board.

***

Marvin Velastegui joined the San Diego office of Stutz Artiano Shinoff & Holtz law firm. He specializes in education law.

***

National University provost and v.p. of academic affairs Cathleen Greiner was named vice chair of the 2005 Commission for Accelerated Programs, an independent entity representing institutions of higher learning throughout the country.

***

Carrie Carlander was named CFO and Brian M. Culley v.p. of business development by ADVENTRX Pharmaceuticals. Most recently, Carlander was a consultant CFO and was v.p. of finance at V-Enable Inc. in San Diego. Culley has 12 years of experience in the biotech industry.

***

Red Door Interactive, which works with the San Diego Convention Center and other local clients, hired Marcus LaTour as director of new business development. He was a regional sales manager for Redherring.com and Stockmaster.com.

***

William Sharon was promoted to v.p. at Smith Consulting Architects. He joined the firm in 1996 as director of retail design. Before that he was with Don Edson Architects in San Diego.

***

Sherman Gillums Jr. was named a national service officer for the Paralyzed Veterans of America. He will be based in San Diego serving as an advocate for other veterans who have experienced catastrophic disability. Formerly he was the Cal-Diego PVA newsletter editor.

***

Grubb & Ellis BRE Commercial was joined by real estate broker Frank Wright in its office properties division. Wright was previously first v.p. of office properties at CB Richard Ellis in San Diego. He will operate from the company’s UTC-area office.

***

Cheryl Wilson, CEO of St. Paul’s Senior Homes & Services, was appointed to the Senior Affairs advisory board of San Diego. She is one of seven members who are permanent.

***

Michael Bevis was appointed branch manager of San Diego National Bank’s newest branch in Vista. Bevis has more than 14 years of experience in banking. He formerly managed American River HealthPro Credit Union in Rancho Cordova.

***

The Metabasis Therapeutics Inc. board was joined by William R. Rohn, COO of Biogen IDEC Inc. He has more than 30 years of experience in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.

***

Jan M. Schroeder joined IDEA Health & Fitness Association as the director of event programming. She has more than 15 years of experience in health and fitness and is co-owner of Pacific Coast Training and is an assistant professor at California State University, Long Beach.

***

Ted D. Tapfer was named senior v.p., acquisitions and development for Legacy Partners Commercial Inc. With 16 years of experience, he will concentrate on company expansion in both San Diego and Orange County markets.

***

Julie King was promoted to associate and Patricia Trauth, director of planning and landscape architecture, was promoted to senior associate with Robbins Jorgensen Christopher architecture firm. King has been with the firm since 1999 as business manager of both San Diego and Newport Beach offices. Trauth has 20 years of architectural experience.

***

Jane Wan and Jessica Bonilla joined the San Diego-based CPA firm Lavine, Lofgren, Morris & Engelberg. Wan is working with media/advertising and real estate/construction clients. Bonilla will work with international clients.

***

Karin Gerstin joined Foley & Lardiner as a patent agent in the Intellectual Property Department. She is a member of the biotechnology and pharmaceutical practice group. She formerly was a patent writer for Incyte Corp. in Palo Alto.

***

Equus Realty Advisors added Thad L. Meyer as CFO to its La Jolla corporate office. He has been in commercial real estate for more than 19 years.

***

William T. Ostrem, president and CEO of the EastLake Co., was appointed to Chula Vista’s Urban Core Specific Plan Advisory Committee.

***

Jennifer Jones and Elizabeth Doozan joined the account team at Woodenship Advertising & Public Affairs. Jones was formerly director of development for a nonprofit in Washington, D.C., and Doozan was with a San Diego-based consulting company.

***

Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton appointed W. David Osborne to the firm’s San Diego office as a member of the labor and employment practice group. Most recently he was v.p., general counsel and assistant secretary with Moose Restaurant Group in San Diego.

***

UCSD professor Julie H. Sullivan will become provost and v.p. of academic affairs at USD. She is on the faculties of both the Rady School of Management and the Graduate School of International Relations and Pacific Studies at UCSD. She will succeed interim provost Anne Donnellan.

***

Marketing expert Jay Hopkins and former chair and CEO of OneTouch Systems Dennis Bertken joined Singlefin, a message management and protection company. Bertken has 20 years of high-tech experience. Hopkins most recently was in the wine business.

***

Guy Asaro was named senior v.p. of land acquisition and planning for McMillin Land Development. Asaro is a 24-year veteran of development and has been with McMillin for five years.

***

The Centre for Health Care in Rancho Bernardo named David Hutchinson as CFO. His 20 years of financial management experience include most recently serving as CFO for Sharp Health Plan in San Diego.

***

Sandra Gumeson was named by Ryland Homes-San Diego as controller. She joined the firm in 2000 in Denver as a financial analyst and assistant controller. She lives in Carlsbad now.

***

Barnhart Inc. named Robert Bush to a newly created corporate position as v.p. of program services. He has 25 years of related experience and is involved in program management for the San Joaquin Delta College and College of the Desert.

***

Hart Semrau was named senior v.p. and regional manager of First Pacific Bank of California’s Oceanside branch. His 25 years of banking experiences includes serving as regional manager of First Centennial Bank of Escondido.

***

Yvonne Murchison Finocchiaro will direct Leadership North County, a nine-month Cal State San Marcos Extended Studies program that connects professionals, decision-makers and industry leaders. Previously she was president and CEO of LEAD San Diego.

***

Newland Communities selected Robert Bernstein as v.p. and chief information officer. Most recently he was a senior manager for Deloitte in Los Angeles.

***

Bill Richard, whose career as a pastor led to a zeal for home sales, joined the Carlsbad office of Keller Williams Realty. Previously he was with Coldwell Banker.

***

David Umstot was named deputy chief facilities officer by the San Diego City Schools board. He will support the chief officer implementing Proposition MM, the bond measure that is funding modernization of city schools. Umstot has 20 years of experience in project management.

***

Changes in team members on the Citizen Diplomacy Council of San Diego, formerly the International Visitors Council, are Jennifer Varsak, promoted to executive director; Tanya Chongchit, operations associate; and William Colestock, program associate.

***

Karen Courtney was named director of executive and specialized programs for SDSU’s College of Business Administration. She replaces Candice Williams, who retired. She was director of recruiting, admissions and financial aid for the Graduate School of International Relations and Pacific Studies at UCSD.