VENTURA COUNTY PEOPLE
* David B. Shea, an associate with Myers, Widders, Gibson & Long L.L.P. in Ventura, has been certified by the State Bar of California as a legal specialist in estate planning, trust and probate law. Shea has a background in business and tax accounting, and he frequently serves as a court receiver and special master in Superior Court.
He is a board member of the Ventura County Bar Assn.
* Derek Storey of Lifetime Benefits in Ventura was named one of the top 100 agent producers for 1998 by Blue Cross of California. The top agents averaged 1,300 individual and small group contracts, with an average annualized premium of $2.7 million.
Storey becomes a member of the company’s “Partners for the Future,” a program designed to provide broader recognition of agent sales efforts.
* Ravi V. Patel has been appointed vice president of operations and chief financial officer for Uncle Milton Industries in Westlake Village. He has more than 20 years of senior management and financial experience in both large, publicly traded and small, private companies.
Uncle Milton Industries, which introduced the Ant Farm in 1956, develops educational toys about science and nature.
* California Central Coast chapter 102 of the Institute of Real Estate Management has elected Danette Wolf as president for 1999. Other officers include Dawn Pentoney, president elect; Ron Lopez, vice president for programs and education; Jack Stafford, vice president for public relations; Robert Ramirez, secretary; and Ellie Goodman, treasurer.
The chapter is one of 89 nationwide devoted to the development of professionalism in real estate management.
In addition, the chapter has bestowed the minority outreach scholarship to Jacques Ortiz of Ventura.
* E / W Electronics, a wholesale electronics component import and distribution company based in Chatsworth, has announced the expansion of its management team beyond the immediate Friedman family.
Michael S. Friedman of Oak Park has been promoted from executive vice president and chief financial officer to president. His brother, Richard M. Friedman of Simi Valley, after serving as regional sales manager, moves to vice president of sales. Operations manager Ferdie Alviz assumes the job of vice president of operations. Rick Shaw from Tekelec Inc. joins E / W as purchasing manager and E / W sales executive Mike Spradlin becomes marketing manager.
E / W Electronics was founded by Larry Friedman, chairman of the board and CEO, in 1975. It provides ISO 9000-compliant electronic components predominantly to manufacturers in California and Arizona.
