BRIEFLY IN BUSINESS

Airport passenger traffic bumps up in February

John Wayne Airport reported a 6.4% increase in passenger traffic in February compared with the same period last year.

Just more than 733,000 passengers flew in or out of the airport last month. Commercial flights increased by almost 8%. Air taxi operations decreased by more than 27% in February compared with February 2006.

Newport law firm hires two new attorneys

Newport Beach-based business and real estate firm Newmeyer and Dillon LLP announced last week that it added two new attorneys to the Newport office. Shawn Ratcliffe was hired to join the law firm’s litigation group. He specializes in business, construction and real estate law. Ratcliffe went to Columbia Law School.

Diana Chen will join the firm’s transactional practice where she’ll focus on real estate and corporate law. Chen attended University of California Hastings College of the Law and served as a judicial extern for a judge in the Northern District of California.

Fletcher Jones sales set record for high-end car

Fletcher Jones Motorcars announced Wednesday it was the top seller of the Maybach.

The Maybach is one of the most luxurious cars Mercedes sells, with a starting price of about $375,000.

Fletcher Jones general manager Garth Blumenthal said only 146 of the cars were sold in this country last year, 18 of which were sold in Newport Beach, according to a news release from the company.

Perhaps stemming from its Maybach sales record, Fletcher Jones also announced it made $637 million in sales last year, up 11% from 2005.

Clippers’ center to appear

at South Coast Plaza

South Coast Plaza will host Los Angeles Clipper Chris Kaman and the Clipper Spirit Dance Team from 2 to 3 p.m. April 14 at the Pioneer Store in the shopping center’s main area.

The day will serve to promote the store’s array of high-definition televisions. For more information, go to www.pioneerusa.com.

First Bank hires

new vice president

First Bank’s Commercial Banking Division in Newport Beach announced last week that Mark Nowak was named vice president.

Nowak will be in charge of business development, underwriting and portfolio management. Nowak belongs to the Chartered Financial Analyst Institute and earned a master’s degree in business from the University of Denver.

Coldwell Banker to sponsor Corona del Mar 5K

Coldwell Banker Previews International announced this month it will be the presenting sponsor of the Corona del Mar Chamber of Commerce’s 26th annual Corona del Mar scenic 5K race.

The race will be held June 2 in Corona del Mar with semi-professional and amateur runners, as well as community members and families expected to participate.

The Corona del Mar scenic 5K benefits youth and community programs in Newport Beach.