Neighbors

After working with Outback Steakhouse Inc. in 1998, when he co-founded

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar in Newport Beach, Bill Allen

expanded his position within the company last month. Allen was appointed

chief executive of premium concepts for the company and will now serve as

president of Roy’s, a restaurant founded in Hawaii by chef Roy Yamaguchi.

With his extensive knowledge in building restaurant companies, Outback

Steakhouse Inc. believes Allen will take the premium side of the business

to the next level. . . . Joseph Converse, son of Daniel Converse of Costa

Mesa and Janet Converse of Piqua, Ohio, received one of Colgate

University’s annual awards during a convocation ceremony in April. The

ceremony included more than 150 students who received various

departmental prizes and awards. Converse, a member of the New York

university’s class of 2003, was awarded the Sisson Mathematics Prize. . .

. Katherine Edrie Rader, daughter of Belinda B. Rader of Newport Beach,

graduated from Mercersburg Academy in south central Pennsylvania last

month. The 435-student academy is a coeducational, independent, college

preparatory, boarding and day school that focuses on preparing students

for college life. Rader will attend the University of Tampa in the fall.

. . . Amy Buckley Brown of Newport Beach graduated with a master’s degree

from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Brown earned her

bachelor’s degree from Harvard University. She plans to live in New York

City so that she can pursue her interests in music composition, arranging

and production. . . . David A. Yonts of Costa Mesa graduated from Bethany

College in Kansas in May. Yonts, along with 94 other candidates, received

his degree in history and political science. . . . Navy Seaman Apprentice

Chris M. Aylward of Costa Mesa recently completed a six-month deployment

to the Western Pacific and Arabian Gulf. Aylward and fellow sailors

supported combat operations in Afghanistan during Operation Anaconda and

visited several ports of call, including Singapore, Bahrain, Thailand and

Australia. Aylward graduated from Costa Mesa High School in 2000 and

enlisted in the Navy the following December. . . . Katie Parsons of

Newport Coast won second place in the Women’s Championship Banana Split

Eating Contest in June during the Top Banana Classic Car show in Costa

Mesa. The contest was sponsored by HomeTown Buffet, and Parsons was

presented an award by their mascot, H. T. Bee.

* NEIGHBORS spotlights achievements in the community. Please direct

noteworthy information to Christine Carrillo via fax at (949) 646-4170,

or send e-mail to o7 christine.carrillo@latimes.comf7 .