Neighbors

Alicia Ponder has been named research services coordinator at

Lawrence, Mayo & Ponder, an advertising agency in Newport Beach. She will

coordinate branding, innovation and research and focus group services.

The Huntington Beach resident attended Emporia State University in

Kansas... The Orange County Fair & Exposition Center raked in 28 industry

awards in the Western Fairs Assn.’s 2000 Achievement Awards program. Many

of the honors were given for projects related to the Orange County Fair

2000 theme, “Hot, Hot, Hot -- We’re Spicin’ It Up!” which saluted the

pepper industry. First place awards were for Most User Friendly Exhibitor

Guidebook, two photo series including Acts & Attractions and Carnival

Photos, special event or activity for “Give It Your Best Shot,” a theme

program, a sponsorship program and signs for Ideas for Sharing... Navy

Ensign Dennis K. Tran, son of Diane D. Tran of Costa Mesa, was recently

commissioned to his present rank after completing Officer Candidate

School in Yorktown, Va. Tran is a 1995 graduate of Newport Harbor High

School in Newport Beach... Sixteen Costa Mesa attorneys were included in

a listing of the nation’s top lawyers by “The Best Lawyers in America,” a

preeminent legal referral guide. The publication bases its rankings on a

year-long survey where attorneys recommend and rate top practitioners in

their fields. Costa Mesa’s list-makers were: Robert E. Currie, Gregory P.

Lindstrom, Donald L. Morrow, Alan Pettis, Jack M. Earley, Paul S. Meyer,

Kirk F. Maldonado, Eleanor A. Stegmeier, Howard C. Hay, Michael Hood,

David C. Larsen, H. Gilbert Jones, John C. Garrett, John R. Simon, Bruce

Alan Tester and Paul F. Marx... Strategies, a strategic brand

communications agency in Costa Mesa, was recently honored with a Crystal

Award of Distinction in the Communicator Awards 2000 Video Competition

for a video produced for Printable.com. The Communicator Awards is a

national awards program that recognizes outstanding work in the

communications field... About 850 Orange Coast College students were

named to the Honors List for the fall semester of 2000. The list

recognizes part-time students who complete 6-11.5 units and maintain a

grade point average of 3.75-4.0. Many of the honored work in full-time

jobs and take evening classes... PriVest Bank recently announced the

appointment of Joseph A. Lobe as vice president & private banking

officer. Lobe was formerly vice president and bank manager for California

Federal Bank’s Newport Center Office in Newport Beach. He has a

bachelor’s degree in public law from UCLA... Orange Coast College’s

Foundation raised almost $3 million in cash and in-kind donations last

year. The total -- $2,903,044 -- showed an increase of 43% over the 1999

amount and a 9% increase from the previous OCC record of $2,664,241, set

in 1996.