Unisys Storage Marketing Director Named to Professional Board

* Roger J. Klein, director of storage marketing for Unisys Corp.’s Storage Systems division in Mission Viejo, has been elected to the board of directors of the Fibre Channel Assn. The association represents developers of products featuring fiber channel transport technologies.

* Melanie Wiegner has been appointed regional manager for California governmental affairs for Ford Motor Co. in Anaheim. Wiegner was previously a legislative advocate for the Rose & Kindel firm in Sacramento, representing clients such as AT&T; and the Los Angeles Convention & Visitors Bureau. Before that, she was director and counsel for the California Chamber of Commerce, handling labor and employment issues. In addition, Steve Blankenship was named governmental affairs manager for the western region of the United States, covering a 10-state area. He has been with Ford’s governmental affairs since 1989.

* Craig Morris has been appointed team leader in risk management services and will lead the property practice for the Costa Mesa branch of insurance broker Johnson & Higgins. Morris, who has been with the firm more than two years, was previously an account executive at Industrial Risk Insurance for six years.

* Bill Camp has been appointed to the newly created position of director, planning for Kia Motors America in Irvine. Camp joined Kia in 1994. Succeeding him as manager, finance is Keith Jun, who had been controller. Jun, who has been with Kia since 1993, will be responsible for daily operations and strategic decisions for the finance department.

* William Carroll has been appointed president of the Performing Arts Business Alliance of the Orange County Performing Arts Center for a second year. Carroll is regional vice president of MetroBank in Newport Beach.

* Robyn Beck has been named call center manager for TMW Marketing in Fullerton. She had been contract administrator.

* Bob McKinnon has been appointed president and general manager for Century 21 Real Estate Corp.’s 13-state West division, one of four divisional presidents. He will be based in Santa Ana. McKinnon was previously president and general manager of the South Central States division in Dallas. Before that, he was vice president of the performance division for Century 21 International.

* Diana Roberts has been named division manager for the new Accounting Connection division of Abigail Abbott Staffing Services Inc. in Tustin. Roberts joined Abigail Abbott in 1989 as a permanent placement consultant.

* Donald R. Howren Jr. has been appointed vice president of marketing for Platinum Software Corp., a financial software company in Irvine. He was most recently director of strategic alliances. In addition, Thomas E. Patton was named vice president of product development. He had been director of product development for the Platinum for Windows product line.

* Dwight A. Steffensen has resigned from the board of directors of Bergen Brunswig Corp., a pharmaceutical wholesaler in Orange. Steffensen, a director since 1985, resigned as president and chief operating officer of the company last October to pursue other interests. He continues as a consultant.

* Robert K. Cole has been named chairman and chief executive of New Century Financial Corp., a newly formed company in Newport Beach that offers flexible financing to borrowers. Cole previously was co-president and director of Plaza Home Mortgage Corp. Brad A. Morrice was appointed president and general counsel, and chairman and chief executive of the mortgage subsidiary, New Century Mortgage Corp. He was formerly co-president and director of Plaza. Steve Holder is chief operating officer for production/operations of the parent company, and president of the mortgage subsidiary. He previously was executive vice president of Long Beach Mortgage. Edward F. Gotschall was named chief operating officer for finance/administration of New Century Financial Corp., and chief financial officer of the mortgage subsidiary. He was formerly chief financial officer of Plaza.

* Kyle B. Wescoat has been appointed vice president and chief financial officer of Vans Inc., an Orange footwear manufacturer. He succeeds Mervyn J. McCulloch, who is leaving the company to become executive vice president and chief operating officer of a privately held group of high-technology companies. Wescoat was previously chief financial officer of an accessory company and chief financial officer of Mobex Corp. and ICN Biomedicals Inc.

* Alan R. Palmieri has been named president and chief executive of Boston West L.L.C., an Anaheim-based franchisee of Boston Chicken Inc. in Southern California and Sacramento. He succeeds Kerry Coin, who will be a consultant to the board of directors. Palmieri was formerly senior vice president of operations for Boston Chicken Inc. in Golden, Colo. He joined Boston Chicken in 1992 after serving as president of Bay Street Restaurants Inc.

* Bryon de Arakal has been appointed vice president of the Lawson Marketing Group, a Newport Beach marketing, advertising and public relations firm. He was previously a media relations and advertising consultant for five years. De Arakal was also executive editor of Orange Coast magazine for four years.

* Roger Sherwood has been named president of EnviroQuest Technologies Ltd., a subsidiary of Irvine-based Watson General Corp., which was acquired in January. Sherwood was with Amoco Oil Co. for 30 years, most recently as regional manager in Kansas City, Mo., managing and directing a five-state marketing and distribution operation.

* Donna Szmurlo and Kay Cooper have been selected to staff National Bank of Southern California’s new escrow department in the Lake Forest branch. Szmurlo has nearly 10 years of escrow experience, most recently with Coldwell Banker Escrow. Cooper was previously a real estate broker and co-owner of a Coldwell Banker affiliate office.

* Melinda Morgan has been appointed to the board of directors of the American Institute of Wine and Food, Orange County chapter. She is president of Morgan Marketing and Public Relations in Irvine.

* Ronald J. Stone has been named managing director, U.K. business for Edison Mission Energy in Irvine. Stone joined the company in 1992 as director, operations.

* Dick Ward has been appointed director of marketing for William & Scott Brewing Co. in Huntington Beach. He will have brand marketing responsibilities for Rhino Chasers beer. Ward’s previous experience includes nine years as principal of his own advertising and public relations agency.

* Martin Loth has been named area president of the Irvine office of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Insurance Brokers of California. He joined the company in November as executive vice president in charge of property/casualty insurance operations. Before that, Loth was president and chief executive of Jardine Insurance Co.’s Orange County operations.

* Martha McKinley has been appointed vice president of Porter/Novelli in Irvine, a public relations firm. McKinley, who had been management supervisor, currently manages the Kia Motors America account.