Biz News: Westin names director of Sales and Marketing
Hotel sales and marketing professional Trine Ackelman has been named director of Sales and Marketing at The Westin South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa.
She comes to The Westin after serving as the director of Sales and Marketing at the St. Regis New York. Her other hotel leadership roles include serving as the director of Sales and Marketing for the Omni Berkshire Place, New York; the complex director of Group Sales for W Hotels of New York; and the director of sales for the Palace Hotel, Luxury Collection, San Francisco.
Among her professional accolades, she was named Sales Leader of the Year and a member of the Sales Team of the Year by Starwood for 2007, and PR Newcomer of the Year and Sales Leader of the Year for Omni Hotels and Resorts in 2011.
Les Roches Hotel Management School in Switzerland awarded Ackelman a diploma with silver honors in hotel management, the release states. Born in Denmark, she is fluent in Swedish, English, Danish and German.
“We are delighted to welcome Trine aboard and know she will be a great asset to our hotel team,” said Mike Hall, general manager of The Westin. “Her experience will be invaluable to us in re-launching the Westin South Coast Plaza following our major renovation.”
The Westin South Coast Plaza is at 686 Anton Boulevard in Costa Mesa. For more information, call (714) 540-2500 or visit https://www.westinsouthcoastplaza.com.
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Environmental law firm celebrates opening
Bick Law Group, a new environmental law firm in Newport Beach founded by environmental attorney Kimberly L. Bick, celebrated its grand opening on Tuesday with nearly 50 community leaders, clients and friends of the firm.
Bick Law Group unites global legal talent — Gabriel Padilla, formerly with Bingham McCutchen; James Sabovich, formerly with Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher; and Bick, formerly with Umberg Zipser LLP and Irell & Manella — to provide clients with high-level environmental counsel at affordable prices, according to a news release.
Newport Beach Mayor Edward D. Selich presented the firm with a certificate of recognition during the event.
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Area entrepreneurs recognized for innovation
Business leaders from Irvine, Costa Mesa and Newport Beach have been named as finalists in Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year awards program.
The group was chosen by a 15-member independent judging panel. Winners will be announced June 11 at the St. Regis Monarch Beach resort in Dana Point.
The finalists include Jim Conroy, CEO of Irvine-based Boot Barn; Michael Mussallem, chairman and CEO of Edwards Lifesciences in Irvine; Steve Sather, CEO and president of Costa Mesa-based El Pollo Loco; Dan Rodrigues, founder and CEO of Irvine-based Kareo; Amir Neshat, founder, CEO and president of Liberty Dental Plan in Irvine; Brian Meshkin, CEO and president of Irvine-based Proove Biosciences, Inc.; and Joe Duran, CEO of United Capital in Newport Beach.
Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year Awards recognize “leaders who are driving successful, innovative businesses,” according to the firm’s website.
— From staff reports