BIZ BITES

Car dealerships employees donates $277,000 to charity

Employees at the Wilson Automotive Group, which oversees Newport Lexus in Newport Beach and South Coast Toyota in Costa Mesa, donated $277,000 to a number of charities this holiday season.

At the company’s Christmas party Dec. 9, the staff presented President David Wilson with a check representing the money they had contributed to charities throughout the area. Among the recipients were the Orangewood Children’s Foundation, the American Cancer Society, United Cerebral Palsy and Olive Crest.

Vikki Murphy, the vice president of the Wilson Automotive Group, said in a release that she and her colleagues were inspired by Wilson’s history of philanthropy, which includes an endowment fund for Orangewood.

“David has taught us by example,” Murphy said. “He has always believed in giving back to the communities that have made him successful.”

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Newport Beach Realtors appoint new leaders

The Newport Beach Assn. of Realtors, a group comprising real estate professionals in Newport Beach and surrounding cities, has appointed Jim Schmiesing of Anchor Properties as its president for 2008.

In addition to Schmiesing, who served as secretary this year, the association named Rob Norquist as vice president, Reuben Gulledge as treasurer and Barbara Amstadter as secretary. Schmiesing is the 68th person to serve as president of the association, which launched in 1929.

This year’s president, Carrie Allen, was named as a board member for 2008, along with Tony Bartos, Mickey Hartling, Gary Legrand, Bob Milliken, Tom Sutro and Cari Young.

— Michael Miller