REGIONAL PEOPLE
* Phillip E. Huff has been promoted to senior vice president of finance at Amwest Insurance Group in Calabasas. His role is to return the company to profitability by improving the performance of the surety, property and casualty divisions.
Amwest is an insurance holding company underwriting casualty property and surety insurance through Amwest Surety Insurance Co., Far West Insurance Co. and Condor Insurance Co.
* Michael Tasooji has been promoted to senior vice president and chief information officer of Walt Disney Co. in Burbank. He assumes all responsibility for Disney’s information systems and technology resources worldwide. In addition, he will play a major role in building and maintaining Disney’s information technology infrastructure and E-business capabilities.
* Dr. Robert K. Ross has been appointed president and chief executive of California Endowment. He will administer $200 million in grants to expand access to affordable health care for underserved communities and individuals and to improve the health status of all Californians.
The California Endowment is a philanthropic health foundation serving California.
* Larry Zahm has joined Temecula Valley Bank’s new Encino Small Business Administration loan office as vice president and SBA business development officer. Zahm will serve as manager.
Temecula Valley Bank has lending authority in the SBA districts of Los Angeles, San Diego and Santa Ana.
* DCH Technology Inc. announced a management reorganization at its annual shareholders meeting this month. David A. Walker has been named chief operating officer and executive vice president, and Hans Friedericy assumes the job of president and chief executive. David P. Haberman will continue as executive vice president of technology, business development and planning, and as chairman of the board.
DCH Technology develops and manufactures patented and proprietary gas sensor and gas safety technologies.
