Announcements
▪ Eagle Mountain Casino donated $163,000 in sponsorships, charitable contributions and in-kind gifts to charities, businesses and nonprofits within Tulare and Kern counties in 2017.
▪ The Fresno Chamber of Commerce has installed its 2018 board of directors. Morel Bagunu is chair of the board and the following are board members: Robert Arendt, Bill Avakian, Wendy Batti, Keri Bennitt, Greg Bethke, Richard Braden, Anna Brooks, Rich Caglia, Cary Catalano, Joe Denham, Brian Domingos, Lee Ann Eager, Patty Hixson, Angela Hiyama, David Hoffman, Matthew Hoffman, Debbie Hunsaker, Scott Miller, Kris Porter, Mark Riley, Al Solis, Haley Wagner, Ian Wieland, Jennette Williams and Lydia Zabrycki.
▪ Fresno’s oldest residential real estate company, Century 21 C. Watson Real Estate, established in 1959 by Charles Watson, announces a passing of the torch. John Carey Sr., owner and broker of the company since the mid 1970s, passed the corporate president’s gavel to his son, John Carey Jr.
Awards
▪ Ten honorees will be recognized for their work to support the community at Fresno Compact’s Business-Education Partnership Awards luncheon to be held March 7 at Tornino’s. They are Fresno Elks Lodge, Geekwise Academy, Yribarren Family Vineyards, McClarty Family, NutriAg USA, JR Sports, Mike Schwaa of RSD Total Control, Donna Meeker Designs, Island Photography and PR Farms Inc.
▪ Dr. Larissa Mercado-Lopez, associate professor in the Women’s Studies program at Fresno State, was selected as a 2018 Emerging Scholar and is featured in the January edition of “Diverse: Issues in Higher Education” magazine.
New Faces
▪ Fortune Associates Commercial Real Estate Brokerage announced James Bitter joined the office and industrial teams specializing in buying, selling and leasing. He is a graduate of Fresno State where he earned his degree in business marketing.
▪ Family HealthCare Network announced the addition of Carol Reeves, certified nurse midwife, to its team. She earned her nurse-midwife certificate from the University of California, San Diego and is now offering women’s health services including prenatal care in Hanford.
▪ James M. Ford, president and chief executive officer of Central Valley Community Bank, announced the addition of Gary Litzsinger, senior vice president, senior risk manager. He has over 25 years of financial compliance, risk, audit and risk management experience in addition to a background in accounting.
▪ Newmark Grubb Pearson Commercial announced the addition of Ashley Hustedde Missel to its Fresno office as a sales associate where she will specialize in selling and leasing office properties.
▪ Family HealthCare Network announced the addition of Jessica Chiles, OD, as the new director of optometry. She is responsible for the oversight of optometry services and has served at Family HealthCare Network for the past year at the Visalia School Health Center.
New Places
▪ Dress for Success Fresno will hold a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony Feb. 1 at its new boutique, located at 1315 Van Ness Ave., Suite 102. The nonprofit helps local low-income women prepare to enter the workforce by providing professional clothing.
Promotions
▪ Main Street Hanford announced Michelle Brown has been chosen as its new executive director. She was hired as office manager in 2016 and since December 2017 has been interim executive director.
▪ Teter LLP, the largest architectural and engineering firm headquartered in the San Joaquin Valley, announced the promotion of four staff to associate status: Dana Stahl, Stuart Hendricks, Eric Bailey and Lee Avila.
▪ Dr. Monique Meyer, board certified and fellowship trained neuroradiologist, is now the medical director of California Imaging Institute and Advanced Medical Imaging.