VALLEY PEOPLE

A.N.N. Automation Inc., Agoura Hills, announced a new management team headed by Bill Lowe, Dave Griffith, Don Vale and Ham Soper.

Lowe is the new president of A.N.N. Systems Holding Inc. Griffith becomes president of A.N.N. Automation Inc. Vale will be responsible for the new Internet division as vice president, Internet development. Soper will be in charge of sales and marketing.

A.N.N. Automation Inc. is the new broadcast newsroom automation company comprised of Nexus Infomatics, Munich, Germany, and Newsmaker Systems, Los Angeles.

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James Everingham has been appointed chief operating officer of OAN Services Inc., Northridge. He had served as the company’s vice president of corporate development since 1998.

The company provides specialized billing, collection and related services for the telecommunications industry.

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David Singh has been promoted to vice president, creative film services for Buena Vista Pictures Marketing. Singh will continue to oversee all creative aspects of theatrical trailer, TV and radio advertising productions for Buena Vista Pictures.

Buena Vista is part of the Walt Disney Co.

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Jim Darin and Sima Kelly have joined Westcord Commercial Real Estate Services, Westlake Village. Darin had been in automotive equipment sales. Kelly comes to the firm from Westoaks Realty in the Conejo Valley.

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Westcord ia a commercial real estate company with additional offices in Van Nuys and another soon to open in Valencia.

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Gregory D. Bearce has been promoted to senior vice president of operations and chief operating officer, and Benjamin J. Beckler III, vice president of project development for Southern California Presbyterian Homes, Glendale. Bearce has been with the company since 1987 and had served as vice president of operations and chief operating officer since 1992. Beckler joined the company in 1991 as director of project development.

Southern California Presbyterian Homes provides housing and health care services for seniors. The company serves more than 2,500 residents in retirement communities and affordable housing developments.

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Sohail Shayfer MD. has joined Orthopedic Consultants Medical Group Inc., Encino. Shayfer is a specialist in hand and general orthopedic surgery. He holds a medical degree from the UCLA School of Medicine. He completed his residency at Tufts Affiliated Hospitals, Boston, and a fellowship at the University of Southern California School of Medicine.

Orthopedic Consultants Medical Group maintains specialists in a variety of disciplines including orthopedic surgery, sports medicine, geriatric medicine and pediatric orthopedics.

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Mark Bell has been hired as vice president of sales by Net Effect, North Hollywood, the company announced. Bell comes to Net Effect from CSE Systems, a software provider.

Net Effect delivers Web-based services to the e-commerce market, enabling real time text-based conversations between e-businesses and customers.

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Ron Bension has been named president and chief executive officer of Sega GameWorks, Universal City, the company announced. Bension had worked with GameWorks founder Steven Spielberg on projects at MCA/Universal where he was president and CEO. Bension will be responsible for creating entertainment destinations offering games, restaurants and bars in a dramatic setting.

Sega GameWorks is a joint venture formed by Spielberg and DreamWorks SKG, Universal Studios and Sega enterprises, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sega Enterprises, DreamWorks SKG and Universal Studios. Universal is a unit of the Seagram Co. Ltd.

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Mae Joyce has been promoted to vice president of national publicity for Buena Vista Marketing, the company announced. Joyce will be responsible for all aspects of national publicity for films released by Walt Disney Pictures, Touchstone Pictures and Hollywood Pictures. Joyce came to Disney in 1996 from Warner Bros.

Buena Vista Pictures Marketing is part of the Walt Disney Co.

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Scott Harvey has been appointed senior vice president of business development for Rightstart.com, Westlake Village, the company announced. Harvey had been senior vice president at Tickets.com, an online ticketing company.

Rightstart.com is a subsidiary of Right Start Inc., a retailer of high-end products for infants and young children.