Prudential Carolina Real Estate announced several new agents. Katie Hume, Will Hodges and Sandra Weathers joined the Long Point Road office, Mount Pleasant; Donna Greenley, Joe Christie and Marc Hehn joined the Main Street office, Summerville; Sam Broadway joined the Mount Pleasant North office, Mount Pleasant; Kyle Wilson and Jim LeBrun joined the Orleans Road office, West Ashley; Bill Golde and Dick Sapp joined the Ashley River Road office, West Ashley; Ruth Castro joined the Trolley Road office, Summerville; Anna Lusk joined the Clements Ferry Road office; Doug Holmes joined the Wappoo Road office, James Island; Christopher Thomas and Pat Hogan joined the Folly Road office, James Island; Brantlee deBrux joined the Coleman Boulevard office, Mount Pleasant; and Susan Richburg joined the Metro North office, Goose Creek.

Bowen Asserson and Molly Parnes have joined Disher, Hamrick & Myers. Asserson, who will work in the downtown office, previously spent seven years in a management position with Cutco. Parnes, who will work in the Seabrook Island office, was formerly an assistant to a real estate attorney.

Weichert, Realtors—Dean-Kelby added four new employees. Geraldine Sands and Fontaine R. Boissoneault have joined the Mount Pleasant office as sales associates. Sands previously worked in property management and as a communications technician. Boissoneault holds an associate degree in retail management. Ivy Ascue and Joann R. Knight have also joined the team as residential sales specialists. Ascue previously worked as an educator with the Charleston County School District. Knight’s background includes work in construction site development.

The Advanced Technology Institute promoted Ron Glover to vice president, advanced maritime technology; Natalie Corella to senior vice president, contracts and procurement; and Mike Gwyn to vice president, metals technology. Glover, who joined ATI in 1998, has served as program manager, technical director and director of ongoing research and development programs. Corella was previously a contracting officer for the Naval Supply Center, Charleston. Gwyn was previously the president and chief operating officer of Pelton Casteel Inc. in Milwaukee, Wis.

Automated Trading Desk LLC hired Dan Keegan as executive vice president of institutional equities. He will be responsible for building and managing ATD’s institutional equities product offering. Keegan previously worked for JP Morgan.

Kim Bennett has joined Buist, Byars, Pearce & Taylor LLC as a real estate paralegal. She prepares and coordinates real estate closings in the firm’s Bluffton office. Bennett previously worked for Bethea, Jordan & Griffin, a division of the McNair Law Firm PA.

Pratt-Thomas, Epting & Walker announced that Thomas Hayden Hesse has rejoined the firm as a shareholder. His practice will focus on litigation with an emphasis on insurance coverage, insurance defense and personal injury. Hesse is a certified mediator and arbitrator, and has served as a special judge for summary jury trials in state court.

Dwayne A. Watts joined Nexsen Pruet’s Charleston office as special counsel and will work in the firm’s corporate practice group. He has also held corporate positions with Vivendi and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

McAngus, Goudelock & Courie LLC added John H. Tiencken to the firm’s Charleston office. Tiencken previously served as general counsel and president of the South Carolina Public Service Authority (Santee Cooper). His practice areas include utilities, regulatory, corporate and environmental law.

Motley Rice LLC promoted three of its associate attorneys, Kevin R. Dean, Michael E. Elsner and Fidelma L. Fitzpatrick, to members of the firm. With more than 13 years of litigation experience, Dean joined Motley Rice in 2004 where he is active in the field of vehicle defects and medical malpractice. Elsner has been an associate at Motley Rice since 2003 and is a key member of the 9/11 and anti-terrorism practice group. Fitzpatrick has been with the firm for nine years and spearheads the firm’s involvement in litigation against the lead pigment industry, representing state and local government entities.

Sean Houseal has become a principal of Buist Moore Smythe McGee PA. A former criminal prosecutor specializing in environmental and white collar crime, Houseal joined Buist Moore as a litigation associate in 2001 and has concentrated his practice in the areas of admiralty and maritime matters, and environmental law.

Robert Duff and Mario Jones have joined Glasspro as auto glass technicians. Duff previously worked as an auto glass technician in North Carolina. Jones will be responsible for handling customer vehicle pre-inspections and auto glass repairs and replacements. Cheri Ramsey has joined Glasspro Inc. as a customer service representative in the customer call center. Her responsibilities include order processing and scheduling, insurance claim processing, invoicing and customer follow-up.

Michael Costanzo is the new local representative for the Marine Corps’ Marine for Life program. The transition assistance program helps Marines rotate back into civilian life with local jobs.

John Murray Compton III was elected vice president and general manager of aquamate coolers. He becomes an equity partner responsible for the day-to-day management of two primary markets: bottle-LESS water coolers and Office Coffee Service.

Catherine Cranford Elliott and Delta G. Amrhein joined Margaret Donaldson Interiors. Elliott is an associate designer who previously worked as a freelance interior designer. Amrhein is the office assistant and has more than 15 years of experience in retail management.

Coastal Classics added three employees, Charlene Roberts Heaston, Amanda Jagels and Jonathan Spencer. Heaston, as store manager, will oversee sales, customer and vendor relations, and facility management, as well as buying and accounting. She previously owned a variety of retail and service-related businesses. Jagels will be the assistant manager and previously worked as manager of Copper Penny in Mount Pleasant. She will be responsible for sales, customer relations, inventory control, visual merchandising and design boards. Spencer, as operations manager, will manage the store’s operations along with technology, media services, marketing and advertising.

Patrick O’Brien has been hired as a financial services representative for Carolina Capital Management on Daniel Island. O’Brien has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Charter Oak State College.

First National Bank promoted John Bickley and hired Peter Seitz, Teresa Rodgers, Carmi Walden, Jason Moyer and Paulette Eldreth. Bickley, as a senior vice president, will oversee the small business lending division of the bank, which makes loans throughout the Carolinas and Georgia. Seitz, as a senior vice president, is responsible for overseeing the loan and deposit function of the bank, along with human resources and risk management. He previously worked with Union Bancshares in Virginia. Rodgers has joined the bank as lead teller of the Reidville Road office. She was most recently employed with The Palmetto Bank. Walden is the new branch operations courier. She was previously employed with All Creatures Great & Small Animal Hospital in Greenville. Moyer is a new mortgage lender at the Daniel Island loan production office. He was formerly employed with CommonPoint Financial Services in Charleston. Eldreth has joined as office manager. She has more than 10 years of experience and was recently employed with Simpson & Dong firm in Columbia.

Scott Garcia and Mike Hambrick joined Tidelands Bank. Garcia joins the Mount Pleasant office as vice president/commercial loan officer. He has more than 10 years of banking experience in the Charleston market and is a graduate of the South Carolina Banker School of USC. Hambrick is a senior vice president of funding and investments with more than 25 years of banking experience. He was most recently senior vice president of correspondent sales for Nexity Bank.

New South Mortgage hired Jason Fralix as branch manager for the company’s downtown office. Fralix previously worked as a mortgage banker with American Home Mortgage. The company also hired Jarrett Carter and Ronald LeClair II. Carter will be joining the downtown office and will serve as loan officer. LeClair will be working as a mortgage specialist out of the Mount Pleasant office. Carter previously served as the in-house mortgage representative with Sibcy Cline Realtors in Dayton, Ohio. LeClair previously worked as senior mortgage specialist with Ameriquest Mortgage Co. in West Ashley.

Community FirstBank promoted Richard Pierce to commercial loan officer in the West Ashley office, Mary Garcia to senior vice president, senior commercial lender and commercial team leader, and Bobby Warrick to senior vice president with retail responsibility for the Charleston area branches. The bank also hired Jill Ackerman as a mortgage loan originator in the Mount Pleasant office and Carol K. Austin as a banking officer in retail banking and assistant manager of the West Ashley office.

Ben Newton has been promoted to supervisor with Gamble Givens and Moody LLC. His responsibilities include planning, supervising and reviewing accounting, auditing engagements, the preparation of and review of business and personal income tax returns, and assisting with consulting engagements and training staff.

Lifeworks LLC, a multi-disciplinary outpatient practice facility, opened at 250 Mathis Ferry Road in Mount Pleasant. The business is a group of independent practitioners of psychology and allied health professions.

East of Maui Kayaks & Hawaiian Store LLC, owned by Mike and Denise Primel, expanded to a second location at 9 Princess St. in downtown Charleston.

Peter DeStefano has formed Commercial Investment Group, a full-service real estate brokerage firm specializing in commercial real estate investment, development and real estate related securities. DeStefano, principal and broker-in-charge, has been active in the Charleston commercial real estate market for the past five years as an agent and broker associate.

Norfolk Wire & Electronics, a wholesale distributor specializing in data communications cabling, fiber optics, security and automation products, announced the opening of a new showroom and warehouse at 4275 Acro Lane, North Charleston. Ron Joye has been named the location manager. Joye has nine years of sales experience. Trenton Elvis will handle operations and customer service/sales.

Rebecca Suarez has started a new Web site, www.doghouseproperties.com, to showcase pet-friendly housing and vacation rentals. The site provides real estate listings as well as links to resources for pet owners.

Seabreeze Professional Offices has opened at 50 Immigration St. and is now accepting tenants. The eight executive-style offices have a full-service receptionist, high speed Internet, a conference room and an Internet café.

Annie Byrd started her own communications firm in Charleston, ByrdHouse Public Relations LLC. The company offers comprehensive public relations and marketing services, including media relations, community relations, special event coordination and promotions. Byrd was formerly public relations manager at Home Team Communications.

Carolina Sun GMAC Real Estate has opened an office at 1440 Ben Sawyer Blvd., Mount Pleasant. Thomas J. Hample and Sean Leighton are the brokers/owners of the firm and bring a combined total of 30 years of experience to the business.

Todd Thomas has been promoted to vice president of sales with William M. Bird and Co. Inc. His responsibilities include the management of all residential and commercial sales divisions, including sales initiatives, promotions and customer relations. Thomas was previously director of sales/West Region with William M. Bird in Nashville, Tenn.

The Charleston Reservations Center of InterContinental Hotels Group has appointed Jenefer Bishop as brand operations manager. Bishop was previously the company’s director of reservations. She will be responsible for helping drive revenue to IHG-brand hotels and will be responsible for overseeing a team of approximately 400 agents.

Crew Carolina LLC has named Gavin Mills sous chef of Carolina’s. His responsibilities include assisting the executive chef with the daily operation and management of the kitchen. Mills will also help with creating daily specials, introducing new menu items and administer training and education to the culinary staff. He previously served as chef at Peninsula Grill.

Robert’s of Charleston has added chef MariElena Raya and manager Joe Raya to its permanent staff. MariElena Raya graduated from the Culinary Institute of America and has won several cooking awards, including first place at the Art Institute of Atlanta’s 2000 Culinary Recipe Competition. Joe Raya previously managed restaurants for the Four Season’s Restaurants in Palm Beach, Fla.

Dana M. Hall has been named Trident Technical College’s director of alumni and donor relations. Hall will oversee all alumni programs, communication and activities to promote member recruitment, and an ongoing relationship with TTC alumni. She is responsible for the organization’s meetings, budget, finances, donor records and assets. Hall also secures larger donations and support from alumni and others to be used for funding opportunities and scholarships for current students.

Mike Haskins has been named the vice president for marketing at the College of Charleston. Haskins will oversee and coordinate the college’s marketing, branding and communications efforts, and will direct the staffs of media relations, publications and marketing communications. He previously worked as the senior director of publications and marketing communications at the University of San Diego.

Fred Rappaport has been named chief operating officer of the GGM Academy. Rappaport is responsible for the implementation and effective execution of the academy’s business plan and for all regional operations. He has more than 20 years of experience in management improvement, sales development, information systems, financial modeling, cost-benefit analysis, organizational analysis and development of team building, accountability and procedures.

LifeManagement Center is relocating from its downtown location to 628 St. Andrews Blvd. to accommodate growth.

Ryland Homes hired six employees to its Charleston staff. Tim Cole previously worked as a building superintendent for First Dimension Homes Inc. in Norcross, Ga. As a building superintendent, he is responsible for overseeing the building of several homes in the Pembroke neighborhood in Park West. Robert Perrill was previously employed by DR Horton as a field manager. As a building superintendent, he oversees construction of homes in the Reserve, a neighborhood in Hanahan. John Napolitano most recently worked with the Richard Brandon Co. in Miami as senior superintendent. Allen Biggers has joined the staff as a warranty technician/builder superintendent and will work directly with new homeowners and handle all warrantable issues that arise after the completion of a home. He previously worked in estimating/purchasing with DR Horton. Jennifer Bell, who will work as an accounts payable administrator, previously worked as an operations specialist for Wachovia Insurance in Charlotte, N.C. Michael Derrenbacher has been hired as a warranty technician. He was previously employed by Terry Environmental Services in Summerville as a project manager.

To submit a “People in the News” item, send information to the Charleston Regional Business Journal by e-mail to editorial@charlestonbusiness.com. Electronic photos should be jpg or tif files, measure 5” x 3” and at least 200 dpi.

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