Achievements

Guy Willis, Jeff Merrill and Nick Barayuga were the top three producing loan officers of 2011 for Guarantee Home Loans.

Trankie Tiscareno was the top producing loan officer of 2011 for Greatland Mortgage.

Tonisha Pacheco is loan officer of the year for 2011 for U.S. Mortgage Home Loan Center.

Jerry Sheldon, of Michael Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche of Fresno, has achieved Porsche certified brand ambassador status from Porsche Cars North America.

Announcements

Fresno West Coalition for Economic Development received a check for $25,000 from Bank of America before Christmas to help entrepreneurs in west Fresno start or expand a business. The funds will help FWCED provide assistance in developing business plans, preparing and submitting a loan application, and one-on-one consultation.

Exceptional Parents Unlimited, Camp Sunshine Dreams and Spirit of Women have been selected to receive a $25,000 donation from the Central Valley Cycling Charitable Association.

David E. Harris announced the merger of his office with Bean Hunt & Co. Inc., which will become Bean Hunt Harris & Co. Dennis D. Bean will continue his work in IRS and FTB audits, collection matters, litigation support and bankruptcy. Thomas L. Hunt will be the partner in charge of the audit and valuation department. Harris will be the partner in charge of the tax compliance, planning and consulting department.

Bruce Kalajian, a senior vice-president/financial adviser in RBC Wealth Management's Fresno office, recently was selected to be a member of the firm's consulting group. This is an exclusive group of advisers recognized for their success in building consultative, fee-based businesses.

Mario Gonzales was appointed director of student success & EOPS for Reedley College.

Hinds Hospice, a nonprofit hospice serving the Central Valley since 1981, announced its new board of directors for 2012. They are Susan Ryan, board president; JD Northway, immediate past president; Michael Russler, secretary; Rod Thornton, treasurer; Sylvester Bryan, Reba Cunningham, Allan Hall, Joe Marchini, Jim Martin, Eric McCormick, Tim Rolen and Amy Tobin, board members.

Awards

Thomas Kaschak, a podiatrist at Kaiser Permanente Fresno, is being honored with the 2011 David Lawrence Community Service Award for providing leg, foot and ankle surgeries in Da Nang, Vietnam. He is one of 15 Kaiser Permanente employees throughout the United States selected to receive the award.

New Faces

Rachel Audino has joined the Office of Community and Economic Development at California State University, Fresno, as its government affairs/work group coordinator. She holds a bachelor's degree in English and French literature from the University of California at San Diego and a master's in public administration from Fresno State.

Kathy Rainey is a new account executive for CORE Business Interiors. She brings with her more than 10 years of outside sales and business development experience.

London Properties Ltd. has hired the following for residential sales: Reenu Dang in the Clovis office; Denise Marvin-Lewis and Ken Stonier, Fresno office; Fran Lee and Bill Wilhite, Hanford office; Jeannie Frantz, Kingsburg office; Kyle Allen, Merced office; and Alonzo Garcia, Sanger office.