Joe Head has been named president of...

Joe Head has been named president of Watt Industries/Oakland Inc., the Northern California home building subsidiary of Santa Monica-based Watt Industries Inc. Head comes to Watt from the Donald L. Bren Co. where he served as president of the firm’s Northern California operations.

Dale R. Switzer has been named vice president and principal architect of HOPE Architects & Engineers, San Diego. Switzer will continue as director of CAD, the firm’s computer-aided design department. He is currently lead architect on the Orange County Jail project.

Katherine Wentworth Rinne, a research consultant for William Pereira, Los Angeles, specializing in environmental analysis, programming and report communications, has been promoted to director of research for the firm. Rinne has also researched and written about 1950s architecture for the Los Angeles Conservancy.

Mike Kidder, administrative manager for McMillin Realty, San Diego, has been promoted to senior vice president for personnel and administration for the firm. Kidder joined the firm’s Bonita office in 1986 and achieved top-level Diamond Club status within a year.

Elizabeth Rutherford has been named director of finance for Hutton Development Co. Inc., Santa Ana.

Ronald R. Alfonzo has been appointed marketing director for Pacific Corporate Center, San Diego.

Bentall Development Co., Orange, has announced the appointment of Ashley J. Powell to real estate development manager.

Don O. Mellon will head the San Diego regional office of Scher-Voit Commercial Brokerage Co. as senior vice president and managing partner.

Steven D. Zimmer has been named vice president, project manager of the Baldwin Co., San Diego.

Richard E. Grace has been appointed vice president and Southern California zone administrative manager for Ticor Title Insurance Co. of California headquartered in the Rosemead office.

Oliver McMillan, Inc., San Diego, has established a new public relations department and has named Rebecca Rader director of communications.

John D. Schneider has been promoted to vice president of Cushman Realty Corp., Los Angeles.

McCarthy/Pacific, Irvine, announced the promotion of Dianna Wright to marketing coordinator.

Joel K. Kurtz has been appointed a first vice president of Coldwell Banker Commerical Real Estate Services.

Ravi Varma has been promoted to vice president at Richardson Nagy Martin Architecture/Planning, Newport Beach.

Corporate Property Management Inc., Long Beach, has announced the following promotions: Susan Bridges, controller; Joy King, director of condominium management.

Gary L. Frazier has been named general manager for the Prudential Property Co. at Citicorp Place, Los Angeles.

Christine Welcker has been appointed vice president of World Title Co., Orange.

Daniel A. Mackenzie has been named director of business development for Pozzo Construction Co., Los Angeles.

Pardee Construction Co., Los Angeles, has announced the promotion of Hal Struck to senior vice president/sales and marketing.