Movers & Shakers

Lincoln Financial Distributors Inc., the wholesaling distribution organization of Lincoln Financial Group, appointed Diane M. McCarthy chief financial officer and chief administrative officer. Her predecessor, Michael S. Smith, was named chief financial officer and chief risk officer of The Lincoln National Life Insurance Co.

McCarthy oversees the operations of Lincoln Financial Distributors’ finance, information technology, compensation and compliance functions. Previously, as director of financial reporting, she was responsible for monthly and quarterly financial reporting, financial analysis, Sarbanes-Oxley compliance and financial planning and forecasting.

Prior to joining Lincoln in January 2004, McCarthy served as CFO for Storecast Merchandising Corp., where she had oversight of all financial functions of the organization. She has also held various financial management positions with CoreStates Financial Corp., including CFO of the Philadelphia National Bank, the wholesale division of CoreStates, and senior vice president and general auditor of the corporation. McCarthy started her career auditing with Ernst & Young.

She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in accounting from LaSalle University and holds a CPA designation. She served on the board of directors of the Center for Autistic Children and is a member of several board committees of the Holy Child Academy.

THE KLEIN CO.

The Klein Co. promoted Alon Barzilay to vice president of development and partner.

Barzilay launched The Klein Co.’s Orlando division by developing Cobblestone Crossing, a 294-unit luxury garden community in Lake Mary. He also expanded the company’s scope to include a mid-rise 78-unit loft condominium project and a 220-unit mid-rise luxury rental building in Maitland, Fla., and is spearheading a zoning petition for a 200-unit, three-story garden apartment project in Oviedo, Fla.

In the Philadelphia metropolitan area, Barzilay led the acquisition and entitlement process of a 13-acre parcel in Cherry Hill, N.J., and will be developing a two- and three-story, 233-unit luxury garden apartment project.

Over the past 10 years, Barzilay developed class “A” multifamily projects throughout the Mid-Atlantic. He received a master’s degree in housing and real estate development from Harvard University and holds a bachelor’s degree from Cornell University.

THE GREATER PHILADELPHIA VENTURE GROUP

The Greater Philadelphia Venture Group appointed as co-chairmen of the 2005 Mid-Atlantic Venture Conference Barry M. Abelson, chairman of Pepper Hamilton LLP’s Executive Committee, and Jeffrey P. Libson, chairman of Pepper’s Life Sciences Practice.

Abelson is chairman of Pepper Hamilton’s 90-lawyer Corporate and Securities Practice Group, which provides emerging and mature businesses with clear, imaginative and practical advice in connection with all types of transactions and corporate matters.

Libson leads a 50-lawyer group that counsels life science and biotech companies on business transactions, intellectual property matters, commercial and products liability litigation, risk management and regulatory matters.

The Greater Philadelphia Venture Group also appointed Christopher S. Miller, a partner in the Corporate and Securities practice at Pepper Hamilton, as vice-chairman.

The Mid-Atlantic Venture Conference, the Greater Philadelphia Venture Group’s pre-eminent event, fosters connections between leading investors and pioneering entrepreneurs that empower growth companies to become the nation’s business leaders.

HJ FINANCIAL GROUP

CPA Andrew Taylor joined HJ Financial Group’s PHA Finance Solution consulting division.

Taylor comes to HJ Financial Group with 11 years of experience in consulting and business advisory, most recently as director at Comcast Cable Communications, where he developed an e-commerce platform that generated more than $90 million in sales revenue. Prior to joining Comcast, he was a senior associate in the Audit and Business Advisory Services Division at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

Taylor joined the U.S. Army as an Airborne Ranger before earning a bachelor of science degree in accountancy from Penn State University.

FIRST FINANCIAL BANK

First Financial Bank promoted Sharon Willover to branch manager of its Devon office.

Willover earned a B.A. degree in organizational dynamics and human performance management from Immaculata University in 2003. Past positions with the bank include teller supervisor, branch trainer, financial relationship manager and branch team leader.

First Financial Bank is a subsidiary of Chester Valley Bancorp Inc., which provides financial services for the Greater Philadelphia market.

TMX COMMUNICATIONS

TMX Communications, a leading digital communications agency, named Jeffrey C. Foster executive vice president.

Foster joined the company in 2002 as vice president of strategy and planning and led the team that developed trailblazing interactive communications for TMX clients such as Genentech, GlaxoSmithKline, Schering-Plough, Northwestern Mutual, SAP and EMC Corp.

His new responsibilities expand upon his successes in one of the company’s major areas of growth, health care and life sciences. He continues to work closely with top accounts while championing TMX’s integration of Six Sigma process methodologies throughout the organization. Foster also made significant contributions to TMX programs that won 24 major industry awards in 2004.

Prior to joining TMX, Foster held senior-level marketing and management positions with Interpublic Group’s Philadelphia office, JDS Uniphase, Miller Brewing Co., SCM Corp. and Savin Corp. He holds a bachelor of science degree from Syracuse University and an MBA from New York’s Iona College.