VENTURA COUNTY PEOPLE

* Robert Pinkerton has joined the sales staff of Fresh Directions International in Ventura, a distributor of fresh produce. He will fill the newly created position of national category manager for avocados.

Pinkerton came to Fresh Directions from Limoneira Co., where he was assistant sales manager.

* The Alzheimer’s Assn. has named Martin Citron, a microbiologist at Amgen in Thousand Oaks, as medical honoree at the Chicago Rita Hayworth Gala. He will be recognized for his role in identifying an enzyme that may be involved in the development of Alzheimer’s disease.

Citron, 36, received his doctorate in biochemistry in his native Germany.

* Nancine Hayden, Ventura representative for the financial services firm Edward Jones, was recently selected to attend an advanced training program at the company. The program is designed to increase participants’ business management skills and expand their knowledge of more complex investments.

Hayden’s office is at 3875B Telegraph Road.