REGIONAL PEOPLE

* Thomas E. Klett, a consultant specializing in health and disabilities practices with the international consulting firm Towers Perrin, will head a new office for VPA Inc. in White Plains, N.Y.

Klett, who has served as an advisor to such industry leaders as PepsiCo and Ford, will work with large self-funded employers on the East Coast and in the Northeast, looking into such issues as workers’ compensation, disability and paid time off.

Calabasas-based VPA, one of the largest disability claims management companies in the U.S., provides services to major corporations including Hewlett-Packard, TRW and Lockheed Martin.

* Jeff Edelstein, owner of SOS Survival Products in Van Nuys, was recently awarded a certificate of appreciation from the Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Services for his support of earthquake preparedness and survival programs.

The company, which sells more than 2,000 emergency preparedness products, often sponsors free earthquake seminars.