People in the News

Gonzalez Promoted to Knowledge Post

Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld L.L.P. has named Sally Gonzalez as the firm's first chief knowledge officer.

She previously served as the firm's chief information officer, and as a consultant for PriceWater-houseCoopers.

In her new capacity, Gonzalez will formulate a knowledge management strategy for the firm, and sponsor and oversee the implementation of business processes and technologies that promote knowledge management, knowledge sharing, collaboration and e-learning.

Terry O'Brien has joined the staff of Elite.com Inc. as vice president of new business development. In his new post, O'Brien will be responsible for creating new opportunities and finding new users for Elite.com services, such as Timesolv and Knowledge Clusters. O'Brien previously spent 17 years at LEXIS-NEXIS, most recently as director of technology alliances.

C.C.H. Inc.. has appointed John Roth as vice president of technology. Roth, who will work at the headquarters in River-woods, Ill., was previously manager of CCH's electronic product development group in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

CCH also named Tom Blazek to succeed Roth as manager of the electronic product development group. Blazek previously held the position of product development team leader.

Heidi Izzard has been named business development manager for Elite Information Systems for the U.K. and Europe. Izzard, who is a barrister, served previously as I.T. manager for Southhampton firm, Lamport Bassitt.

Robert Peahl has joined Hildebrandt International as a consultant, in the company's Somerset, N.J. office. He previously served as vice president of Risk Enterprise Management Ltd.

Michael Colemere has joined Mediconnect.net as chair and chief executive officer. Previously, she worked for VERITAS Software, Cheyenne Software, and Novell Inc.

Jon Groetzinger Jr., senior vice president, general counsel and secretary of Cleveland-based American Greetings, has been named chair of the Council of Chief Legal Officers of The Conference Board.

The council is a forum for general counsels of major North American companies to share and discuss relevant ideas and experiences among themselves and with experts. .

Bradford Farkas, co-founder and managing principal of I-Hatch Ventures, has joined the Astata Corp. board of directors.

Astata is a wireless application serviceprovider.

Connex Inc.. has appointed Donald Purkey as vice president of sales. He will be based at the company's San Jose, Calif., office.

Applied Discovery Inc., a developer of Internet-based electronic document management for the legal industry, has appointed Regina Chepalis as vice president for sales and marketing.

Corpedia L.L.C. has added three members to its advisory board:

Frank Kittredge is president of the National Foreign Trade Council. Additionally, he is vice chairman of U.S.A. Engage, a coalition of 675 businesses, trade associations and agriculture group.

Stephen Hardis is chair and C.E.O. of Eaton Corp., a manufacturer of vehicle, industrial, construction, commercial and aerospace products, the company reports.

B. Charles Ames is a senior operating partner at Clayton, Dubilier & Rice. Ames also is chair of Kinko's and Riverwood International, and sits on the boards of Lexmark and Progressive.