Douglas Wilson Cos. Names New President

Attorney and banker Robert Richley has been named president of Douglas Wilson Cos., a San Diego-based real estate, problem resolution and specialized business services company. In addition to his new position, Richley will continue as chief operating officer and general counsel.

Company founder, Douglas P. Wilson, who founded the firm in 1989, remains chief executive officer.

"Bob's well-deserved promotion to president comes in light of the vast contributions he has made to the company," Wilson said. "His presidency will allow him to move the business forward with great leadership."

Douglas Wilson Cos. has been appointed as a receiver in over 450 matters with an aggregate asset value in excess of $4 billion and has more than 2,000 residential units currently in the works throughout Southern California.

Richley, a veteran banking and management executive, joined Douglas Wilson Cos. in 2001 as senior vice president for client services. He previously had been with the San Diego law firm of Duckor Spradling & Metzger, and served as president and chief executive officer on two occasions for San Diego-based First National Bank. Other positions held include president and chief operating officer for First City Bancorporation of Houston, executive vice president of Occidental Petroleum, department head of First Chicago Corp., and executive vice president for private capital banking of Crocker National Bank.

In addition to San Diego, Douglas Wilson Cos. has offices in Atlanta, Denver and San Francisco. The company is now developing The Mark, a $155-million, 33-story condominium tower in San Diego.

Christopherson Promotes Sweeney

Santa Rosa-based Christopherson Homes has promoted Robert V. Sweeney to president of its Roseville office.

Sweeney joined Christopherson in 1999 and has served as vice president/operations and vice president/construction for the North Bay region.

McKenery Named VP at Sun Power

Sun Power & Geothermal Energy Co., a San Rafael-based solar PV systems firm, has named Stephen McKenery vice president of strategic development.

He founded AMD Energy in 2003 in order to offer energy solutions and consulting services to commercial and industrial clients in the public and private sectors.

McKenery previously held senior management positions at Bechtel Power Corp., SCE, Solar Utility Co., Friendly Energy, PowerLight Corp. and Edison International.

Studios Elevates Duffy, Pfenninger

San Francisco-based Studios Architecture has promoted 11-year veterans Melissa Duffy, AIA, and, Marc Pfenninger, AIA, to associates.

Duffy has been at Studios since 1998. She was project manager for the new Evergreen Library in San Jose and is project manager for the new offices of Barclays Global Investments in San Francisco. Duffy has a master of architecture degree from The Ohio State University.

Pfenninger joined Studios in 1999 and is the project architect for the seismic retrofit and renovation of California Memorial Stadium at UC Berkeley.

HDR'S Dehoney Promoted to Area Manager

Betty Dehoney, an HDR vice president, has been named area manager for the firm's environmental and resource management practice in Southern California. She will be based in San Diego.

Dehoney previously was an area manager for the environmental sciences business class in the E&RM group in Southern California.

Dehoney is a certified environmental professional and the legislative chair for the Association of Environmental Professionals.