Neighbors

McCarthy Building Companies Inc. recently hired Jim Mynott to serve as

director of business development for its Southern California Division

based in Newport Beach. Mynott has more than 13 years experience in the

construction industry and will be responsible for generating new and

repeat business and identifying potential markets. He has previously

worked as principal construction manager for Walt Disney Imagineering and

has been instrumental in the success of many projects including Disney’s

California Adventure theme park, Knott’s Berry Farm Fiesta Coaster,

Oakwood School, Universal Studios and the Anaheim Police Station

renovation and expansion. Mynott is a Seal Beach resident and is a

licensed general contractor in the state of California. McCarthy is the

nation’s oldest privately held construction firm and one of California’s

largest commercial builders. It offers general contracting, design/build

services and construction management for retail, health care,

educational, retail, office buildings, multifamily residential, bridges

and highways.... Newport Beach-based advertising agency Lawrence & Ponder

Ideaworks has hired Marvie Blair as its senior graphic designer and head

of the agency’s in-house studio. Blair will be responsible for the

three-person studio team in charge of broadcast support, print and

package design, interactive, presentations and all collateral design.

Blair’s hiring signals the expansion of its Idea Magic division, which

encompasses the company’s strategic planning, creative, media and

production department. Prior to joining Ideaworks, Blair was the art

director at several Orange County and Los Angeles agencies such as Hunter

Barth Advertising, McMullen Argus Publishing, Profile Communications and

Advanstar Communications. He has client expertise with Conexant, Gateway

Computers, GMC, PacifiCare and Pioneer Electronics. Blair lives in Long

Beach and graduated from Illinois State University with a bachelor’s

degree in art....Lauren Birchfield, Carlin Schneider, Lauren Kerwin and

Brett Robinson of Newport Harbor High School were among the 11 young

Orange County leaders recently selected to be on the junior board of

directors, the first of its kind, of the American Cancer Society Orange

County Region. The goal of the junior board is to heighten awareness of

cancer, early detection and prevention, particularly among children and

teens. The group will meet bimonthly to discuss and plan strategies for

cancer fund-raising, educational and advocacy activities. The board

members will be involved in promoting the society’s events such as

“Spring Into Health!” nutrition campaign, Relay For Life team events and

the “Teens Kick Ash!” youth tobacco awareness campaign. The Orange County

Region is part of the American Cancer Society, the nationwide

community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating

cancer as a major health problem.

* NEIGHBORS spotlights achievements in the community. Please direct

noteworthy information to Bryce Alderton via fax at (949) 646-4170, or

send e-mail too7 [email protected] .