BRIEFLY IN BUSINESS

Sapphire Laguna names top manager

Gary Murray, an experienced restaurateur and hotelier, has been named general manager of Sapphire Laguna restaurant, which recently opened on the site of the Old Pottery Place.

A 20-year industry veteran, Murray was most recently director of banquets at The Little Nell, a Mobil Five-Star hotel in Aspen, Colo., and prior to that, food and beverage manager of the Hotel Jerome, also in Aspen.

He was tapped by Sapphire Laguna’s owner and chef, Azmin Ghahreman, to help oversee staff, employee training and day-to-day operations for the new restaurant and its adjacent gourmet shop, Sapphire Pantry.

Murray also worked as director of food and beverage for Laguna Beach’s Surf & Sand Resort; as a restaurant general manager for St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort & Spa; and as restaurant general manager for the Ritz-Carlton Chicago.

Murray got his start in the industry as a restaurant manager and sommelier in Switzerland and worked as a management trainee at the prestigious Sas Kuwait International Hotel in Kuwait.

A native of Scotland, Murray earned a bachelor’s degree in hotel catering and institutional management at Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh Scotland. He lives in Laguna Beach.

Located at 1200 South Coast Highway, Sapphire Laguna is open from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and until 11 p.m. on weekends. Brunch is served from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Sapphire Pantry, the adjacent gourmet shop, is open daily from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

For reservations and more information, call (949) 715-9888 or visit www.sapphirelaguna.com.

Small-business nominations sought

The nomination deadline for the Orange County’s Small Business of the Year Award has been extended to May 15.

Nominations can be made by owners, employees, vendors or customers.

The Small Business of the Year Award is presented to a small business owner who engages in outstanding ethical business practices in Orange County.

Criteria includes providing a product or service that benefits the community, exceptional customer service and the use of innovative ideas or methods in business.

The winner will be announced at the 8th Annual Orange County Small-Business Conference that will be held June 6 at Orange Coast College.

Nomination forms are available by calling the Orange Coast College Foundation office at (714) 432-5126 or from the Small-Business Conference website at https://expo.orange coastcollege.edu.

Ear, nose, throat doc joins hospital

Dr. Robert Pettis, a specialist in head and neck surgery, recently opened an office on campus at South Coast Medical Center in Laguna Beach, hospital officials announced.

Pettis offers medical and surgical treatment to the ears, nose, throat, and related structures of the head and neck, which includes common conditions, such as reflux laryngitis — also called gastro-esophageal reflux disease.

Another common condition, especially in children and teens, is recurring sore throat, or tonsillitis, which can be treated with a new surgical method using high-frequency sound waves to remove the tonsils. Pro- blems with the ears include infection (such as swimmer’s ear), hearing loss, balance problems and tinnitus (ringing in the ear).

Nose problems involve allergies and hay fever, acute or chronic sinusitis, and problems breathing through the nose, snoring and frequent bloody nose. Head and neck trauma is also included the doctor’s realm of expertise.

Pettis received his medical degree and did his residency at UCLA. He currently teaches part-time at the medical school. He welcomes new patients.

To make an appointment, call (949) 715-0500.