Ruby Names Block Accounting Director

Michael Block has been appointed director of accounting for the Ruby Restaurant Group in Newport Beach, where he will oversee finance, information services and accounting for partnerships and company-owned restaurants. Block has more than 11 years’ experience in the restaurant-services industry.

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Laurie Whalen-Martinez has been named marketing director for the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach and will oversee marketing, public relations, sales and sponsorship activities. She joined the Aquarium in 1997 after spending five years as marketing manager and coordinator for Del Taco Inc.

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Jay Ross has been named vice president, employee benefits, for United Agricultural Benefit Trust in Irvine, an association health care plan for the agricultural industry. Ross joined the association in 1996 and has served in a number of capacities, including regional sales manager.

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Steve Kabel has been named regional president for California for John Laing Homes in Irvine. He also serves as Inland Empire division president. Kabel has more than 17 years’ experience in the home-building industry; he has managed operations in Nevada and California.

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Jim Reams has been named director of national operations for Odetics ITS in Anaheim, a subsidiary of Odetics Inc. He was business manager for the company. Reams had been business manager for Rockwell’s Transportation Systems division before its acquisition by Odetics in 1997. Peter Strom has joined Gyyr Inc., a subsidiary of Odetics, as vice president of sales. He was vice president of international sales at Mosler.

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Evan D. Smiley has been elected a partner in the Costa Mesa law firm of Albert Weiland & Golden LLP. Before joining the firm as an associate, he was with Buchalter, Nemer, Fields & Younger.

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Jack Higgins has been appointed vice president and director of business development for Interim Career Consulting in Newport Beach. He was most recently a consultant and trainer specializing in recruitment and interviewing issues. Higgins has also been general manager for the outplacement firm of Lee Hecht Harrison and vice president of human resources for an aerospace firm.

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George Livermore has been named president of First American Real Estate Solutions in Anaheim Hills. He has been with the company more than 15 years, most recently as senior vice president.

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Stephanie Ayres has joined the Newport Beach office of the Concord Group, a real estate advisory firm, as a senior associate. She was senior consultant at the Meyers Group and at Alfred Gobar Associates.

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Janet Price has been named vice president and chief financial officer of Professional Community Management Inc. in Lake Forest. Price had been financial services director for Leisure World in Laguna Woods, which is managed by PCM, before being appointed to her new position.