Promotions and Appointments
Lake Forest-based Del Taco today announced that 27-year company veteran Shirlene Lopez has been named president of the 41-year-old Mexican quick serve chain, according to Sid Feltenstein, Chairman, Sagittarius Brands, Inc., Del Taco’s parent company. As President, Del Taco’s leadership team will report directly to Lopez including facilities, legal, franchise operations, store operations, human resources, purchasing/quality control, training, and marketing. Lopez joined Del Taco one day after her fourteenth birthday and started her career mopping floors and wiping tables, the only job she was legally allowed to do as a 14-year-old. Within four years she was a restaurant general manager, and by age 20, she was a training manager and part of the new store opening team.
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The Ryland Group Inc. (NYSE: RYL), one of the nation’s largest homebuilders, today announced Kipling “Kip” Scott as its Chief Operating Officer. In this newly created position, Mr. Scott will oversee Ryland’s homebuilding, marketing, purchasing and safety operations under the direction of Chairman, President and CEO Chad Dreier.
Scott is a 25-year veteran of the real estate industry. He most recently served as president of Ryland Homes’ North Central region, where he was responsible for nine homebuilding divisions in the Mid-Atlantic, Midwest and Texas. During his 13-year career with Ryland, Scott led the North Central region to record growth and profit and was a key player in the company’s entrance into the Chicago and Twin Cities markets.
Peter Skelly, formerly Ryland Homes’ Chicago division president, has been named president of Ryland Homes’ North region, where he will oversee division operations in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic. Skelly is an 18-year veteran of Ryland. Ken Trainer, formerly Ryland Homes’ Austin/San Antonio division president, will now lead the newly formed Texas region as president. Trainer has held a number of management positions during his 17 years with Ryland.
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Los Gatos-based FreeHand Systems, Inc., wholly owned subsidiary of FreeHand Systems International, Inc. (OTC:FSYI), announced today that it has retained Charles Koppelman as a consultant to the CEO and that he will be joining the company’s Board of Directors in the near future. Koppelman will advise the CEO on all aspects of the company’s efforts to acquire IP and print rights for sheet music. In addition, he will provide his expertise as the company expands its efforts internationally. FreeHand Systems is the elite digital music company whose revolutionary technology is shaping the future of the distribution and performance of sheet music. Charles Koppelman is Chairman of the Board of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. (NYSE:MSO) and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of CAK Entertainment, Inc., a music and entertainment business.
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San Clemente-based Metagenics, Inc., a privately held company focused on developing and manufacturing science-based nutraceuticals and medical foods, announced that Nobel laureate Louis J. Ignarro, PhD has joined the company’s scientific advisory board. Ignarro is one of the recipients of the 1998 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for demonstrating the cardiovascular signaling properties of nitric oxide.
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Brad Korzen, CEO and founder of the Los Angeles-based hotel, real estate development and management firm The Kor Group, announced the appointment of Pat Priest as the new Chief Financial Officer . In her capacity as CFO, Priest will manage Kor’s continued growth through strategic financial planning and controls.
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Claremont-based Glencrest Investment Advisors announced it has hired Vice President and Financial Advisor Clint Camua to support its expansion into the upper valley. Camua has 12 years of investment management and planning experience. Prior to arriving at Glencrest, Camua served as a Vice President and Financial Advisor in the Private Client Division of Los Angeles-based RNC Genter Capital Management. He also spent more than five years at Schwab.
