The Jacksonville Port Authority - known popularly as JAXPORT - ups Meredith Fordham to Manager of Creative Design from her previous role of Graphics Coordinator. An award winning designer and eight year veteran at JAXPORT, Fordham now leads the Port’s visual communications initiatives.

Siegel+Gale appoints David Keefe as Global Director, Media & Entertainment. Keefe has been playing an integral role with the New York branding firm’s client accounts such as Comcast, Sprint HD Radio, Time Warner Cable and more. In his new position, he will work across offices worldwide to continue to increase visibility and reach of the firm’s offerings. Keefe is a graduate of Duke with a business degree from University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School.

Planet Propaganda, Madison WI, adds Corinne Schmutz as an Interactive Coordinator responsible for overseeing intermal coordination of projects for several clients, including the Center for Independent Media, Trek Bicycle Corporation, and Burton Snowboards. She previously worked in California as an independent web designer and developer. Schmutz often bikes or walks to the office (like many Planet staffers), enjoys organic gardening and is passionate about sustainable agriculture in the Midwest.

Global brand strategy and design consultancy Lippincott has announced the appointments of Partners John J. Kennedy and Vincent Parisse to the firm’s New York and Paris offices, respectively. Kennedy joins Lippincott in the business development group. He specializes in developing and creating new opportunities, creating new revenue streams, and building strategic alliance. Parisse is a brand strategy partner.

Thorsten Kober is Interactive Developer at AvatarLabs, Sherman Oaks CA. In his new position, Kober’s main focus involves the building of interactive websites, Flash banners, as well as rich media applications for the web and desktop using Adobe Air, on behalf of several major Hollywood motion picture studios.

CTI Paper USA, Sun Prairie WI, names Timothy C. Rhodes as Sales and Promotion Manager, Northeast Region. Rhodes operates out of East Greenwich RI. Rhodes brings 20 years of experience in the paper industry to his new position, including sales management posts at Georgia-Pacific and at Wausau Paper.

Russ Gazzara joins Warkulwiz Design Associates as President. Founder Bob Warkulwiz assumes the title of CEO. With more than two decades of experience, Gazzara was a founding partner at Paragraph Design Communications. Warkulwiz formed Warkulwiz Design Associates in 1985 after positions at Carlyle & Warkulwiz and Baseline Studio, and is a former AIGA Philadelphia President. Says Warkulwiz: “We are revitalizing this well-established design office by addressing the needs of our combined clientele while seeking new heights of communications success...”

An award-winning designer with over 35 years of experience, Paul D. Miller has been appointed Senior Designer-In-Residence of LaGuardia Community College’s NY Designs. NY Designs is an innovative business center for emerging designers, and Miller is expected to play a pivotal role as mentor. He has had experience on all sides of the desk: as a design and marketing consultant, in corporate management, manufacturing, research and development, and with not-for-profits. “Having Paul Miller on the board of NY Designs lends incredible value in both inside and outside influence,” says director Jane Tabachnick.

Frank Baseman, principal of Baseman Design Associates, and Associate Professor at Philadelphia University, has received the 2008 AIGA Philadelphia Fellow Award. Baseman has been working in the graphic design industry for more than twenty years. A native of Philadelphia, he earned a BA in Graphic Design from Penn State and an MFA from the Tyler School of Art. He has been an important leader in the AIGA at the local and national levels. Commented Kelly Holohan, President, AIGA Philadelphia, “Frank has dedicated himself to our profession, his students and the community.”

HartungKemp, Minneapolis MN, welcomes Katie Von Roedler as their newest designer. Von Roedler graduated from the College of St. Catherine where she studied graphic design. She comes to the firm with four years experience in design and art direction.

Chicago-based AbelsonTaylor is one of the largest independent advertising agencies specializing in healthcare field. The agency expands its creative and interactive services with a new hire at Senior Art Director. Dana Sickles comes to AbelsonTaylor with a diverse collection of work experiences including stints at Rivet Global, where she was a Creative Director, and at Finelight, where she worked on several pharmaceutical industry accounts.

Paula Savage Hansen has been named the 2008 AIGA Houston Fellow. Hansen, who founded Savage Design Group over 35 years ago, was an early pioneer in interactive media and website design, and led her branding firm to be among the most prestigious in the nation. She is a past AIGA Texas President, and most recently served on the national board for the Association of Professional Design Firms.

Tom Neston comes to motion graphics design studio Fish Eggs (headed by Chris Roe) after almost five years as lead designer and animator at Fox Sports. Neston has been appointed Senior Designer at Large. He brings to the Venice CA firm a wide range of design disciplines and production. Prior to Fox Sports, he was lead interactive designer for Schematic, working on campaigns for the likes of AOL, New Line Cinema, Paul Mitchell and TBS.

The Wichita American Marketing Associated names Sonia Greteman Marketer of the Year - the first-ever recipient of the award. Greteman is president of the branding agency Greteman Group based in Wichita KS. The Marketer of the Year award was created to celebrate top professionals in the marketing industry as well as to build awareness of the industry’s contribution to the economy.

Lindsey Madsen joins ideapark as Project Manager. Ideapark, Minneapolis MN, specializes in the wellness, outdoor, and family arenas, all with a focus on clients who help people lead happier, healthier lives. Madsen, who moves from Carmichael Lynch, is responsible for the execution of creative and technical development of email and web development projects.

Dever Designs has invited Brett Meliti to its Laurel MD headquarters. A graduate of Southern Advent University’s School of Visual Art and Design, Meliti brings strengths in illustration and typography to his position as Design/ Project Manager. Early projects have included branding efforts on behalf of DC Bar and textbook cover designs for Glencoe/McGraw-Hill.

Wausau Paper’s Printing & Writing segment welcomes Tom Dieckman as Vice President of Sales and Marketing. He brings 25-plus years experience to the task. Previously, he held several Vice President-level posts at UPM-Kymmene Group, and has also served at Blandin Paper, Boise Cascade and 3M.