Biz News: Pretend City shuffles board
Pretend City has shifted some board members around and appointed a new officer, according to a news release.
Jill Bertea, the board secretary since 2012, is now the chairwoman of the board that oversees the child-sized city in Irvine that encourages hands-on learning. Bertea, who brings 10 years of experience with First American Financial Corp. and Fidelity National Financial, said she is set to steer the board to develop cost-effective ways to expand Pretend City’s reach and bring in more donors.
Travis N. Boyd, a commercial real estate broker serving as executive vice president at CBRE, has joined the board.
Jonathan S. Kaufman has been appointed chief development officer. He will work with Sandra Bolton, the executive director, to develop relationships with donors. He previously served as the chief development officer at the Jewish Federation & Family Services.
Pretend City Children’s Museum is at 29 Hubble, Irvine.
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No end for The Omega Society
A business started by a Corona del Mar man in response to the high costs of burying his father celebrates its 40th anniversary this year.
When Jeremiah de Michaelis spent thousands to bury his father in 1974, he was struck by the pressure to do what was always done without consideration of alternatives, according to a news release.
He launched The Omega Society, which was first located in a small office in Irvine before moving to Santa Ana and then to an expanded facility in Orange. He strove to educate customers on the benefits of early arrangements so survivors wouldn’t feel pressured to overspend later, the release states.
His business — still family owned and now operated by his daughter Janet and grandson William, both of Corona del Mar — is now one of the largest providers of cremation in Southern California.
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New leaders appointed
Merrill Lynch Wealth Management has made two appointments locally.
Carole Wentz was named director for the greater Orange County complex, overseeing offices in Costa Mesa, Irvine, Laguna Niguel and Brea.
Elias Dau was named director for the Newport Beach complex.
Wentz has 20 years of experience, including several leadership roles within the firm in Atlanta, Memphis and St. Louis.
Dau most recently was resident director of the Fort Lee, N.J., office.
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