People on the Move

Skateboard champion Tony Hawk will serve as Community Grand Marshall in the 24th Annual Palm Springs Festival of Lights Parade, scheduled for Dec. 5. More than 100,000 people are expected to line the parade route along Palm Canyon Drive and Ramon Road to view the city’s major holiday event, according …

Luke Watson has been named Temecula’s community development director. Watson, who began his new position last month, has held a variety of positions with the city during the past 10 years, was selected after a four-month search, according to a city release. The community development director position opened up when …

Moises Lopez has been named Riverside’s Intergovernmental Relations Officer. Lopez, who has spent 10 years working in the city’s community development office and as a senior management analyst, began his new job last month, according to a city statement. Lopez, who was appointed by City Manager John A. Russo, will …

Steven W. Friedrichsen, dean of the College of Dental Medicine at Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, has been named the school’s interim provost. Friedrichsen, who will maintain his duties as head of the dental college, will serve as provost on a part-time basis, according to a report in …

Chris Thornberg has been named director of the Center for Economic Forecasting and Development at UC Riverside’s School of Business Administration. Thornberg, a founding partner with Beacon Economics in Los Angeles, will also be an adjunct professor at the business school, according to a report in The Press-Enterprise. The center …

Rancho Cucamonga Mayor Dennis Michael was part of a delegation that met at the White House Wednesday with First Lady Michelle Obama. Michael, representing the National League of Cities, traveled to Washington, D.C., for an event honoring cities that are participating in the “Let’s Move! City’s, Towns and Counties” program, …