James Kozel Joins Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage

James Kozel has joined Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Mission Viejo as vice president for settlement services. He will oversee all settlement services for Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, the division of Coldwell Banker Corp. that manages more than 340 company-owned offices. He will also direct Coldwell Banker Escrow and Guardian Title. Kozel had been senior operating officer for the western region of Commonwealth Land Title Insurance Co. in San Francisco since 1991.

* Dennis Cox has been appointed vice president for Americas marketing at AST Research Inc., an Irvine computer company. He will oversee advertising, promotions, sales training and marketing services activities. Cox was formerly director of marketing for consumer products. Bill Rice has been appointed vice president for U.S. field operations. He joined the company from Pick Systems, a database software company, where he was vice president for worldwide sales. In addition, Anthony DeCristofaro was appointed vice president for AST Canada, after having served as general manager. Gary Mullinix was named vice president of original equipment manufacturing operations and retail sales. He had previously been director and had served in various sales capacities since joining the company in 1988.

* Rhonda Heacock has joined Akins, an Irvine residential real estate company, as vice president of project development. She will oversee its community development projects in Southern California. Heacock was previously a vice president for Greystone Homes.