Ex-Fedco Chief Joins PTA Merchandising

Roy L. Olofson has joined PIA Merchandising Services Inc. in Irvine as executive vice president and chief financial officer. He succeeds Robert Polentz, who is leaving the company. Olofson was formerly chief executive officer of Fedco Inc. During his 14 years with Fedco, Olofson also served as chief operating officer and chief financial officer. Before that, he spent 12 years as vice president of finance for Carter Hawley Hale Stores Inc.

* Michael R. Lawler Jr., an attorney, has opened an office in Newport Beach, focusing on estate planning, probate and related litigation. He had been a vice president at Northern Trust Bank for the past few years.

* Lana Perry has joined the Schraff Group in Costa Mesa as public relations account manager. She had been director of public relations for J2 Marketing in Brea, and before that, public relations manager for Silicon Systems in Tustin.

* Jerry Piersall has been named director of business development for the Southern California operation of J. Ray Construction in Irvine. He was formerly business development manager at O’Connor Construction Management Inc., responsible for the firm’s offices in Irvine, San Diego and Las Vegas.

* Randi E. Pinckes has joined the Irvine law firm of Kasdan, Simonds, McIntyre, Epstein & Martin. She will work in the firm’s construction defect litigation department.

* Terry E. Van Gorder has been appointed to the board of directors of Iwerks Entertainment Inc., a Burbank producer of ride simulations, 2-D and 3-D giant-screen theaters, video dance clubs and other attractions. Van Gorder is president and chief executive of Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park.

* Scott Richards has been selected executive vice president-general merchandise manager for HomeBase, an Irvine chain of home improvement warehouses. He was previously vice president, merchandising for HomeBase, and before that, merchandise manager in charge of hardware, tools, paint and decor.

* Thomas R. Miller has been appointed vice president of planning and development for Select University Technologies Inc., a Newport Beach organization that takes university technologies to market. Miller was previously business and technology counselor of Accelerate Technology in Irvine.

* Pamela Kay Smith has joined Ingram Micro Inc., a Santa Ana wholesale distributor of microcomputer products, as director of strategic marketing and value-added services. She had been director of corporate marketing at Starbase Corp. in Irvine for two years and before that was director of corporate marketing and communications for WordPerfect Corp.

* Raymond H. Hermanson has been named senior manager of audit and accounting services for the Newport Beach accounting firm of Squar, Milner & Reehl Inc. His previous experience includes controller and director of operations for Bally Fitness Products in Irvine and several years of auditing experience with KPMG Peat Marwick.

* Jerry Green has been appointed computer telephony integration product manager for Toshiba America Information Systems Inc., telecommunications systems division. Green has been a senior product support specialist for the company since last September.

* Nicholas M. Testa Jr. has been appointed vice president and business unit manager for Business Systems Specialties Inc., a Newport Beach consulting firm. Before joining the company, he held various executive and management positions with Newport Electronics, Edwards Laboratories, Becton Dickinson’s Endevco division, Xerox Corp. and Rockwell International.

* Dennis L. Osborne has joined Smyth Asset Management of Irvine as principal. He was previously president and owner of Osborne Properties of Newport Beach.

* Janette C. DeRanek, formerly a manager with Deloitte & Touche LLP, has joined Skorheim & Associates, an Irvine accounting firm.

* Bret Young has been named executive chef of Luciana’s restaurant in Dana Point. Before joining Luciana’s, he was responsible for the day-to-day operations of several restaurants owned and operated by Spectrum Foods.

* Mary Ann Jones has been appointed to the board of trustees of Columbia Huntington Beach Hospital. She is vice president and manager of Sanwa Bank California, responsible for all business development and sales functions of the Sanwa commercial office in Huntington Beach.