Biz Buzz: Nine-year Tribune employee named director of advertising

Terrie Banish is The Tribune’s new director of advertising.

Banish, who stepped into the role in December, had been the advertising sales manager before the newspaper reorganized its advertising division in November, eliminating the vice president of advertising position held by Cheryl Cuming.

As part of The Tribune’s restructuring effort, the functions that had been part of the vice president of advertising position were consolidated.

Online sales and two full-time employees shifted to the online division, now managed by VP/Online and Marketing Sergio Holguin. Devon Goetz, VP/Human Resources, has taken on some advertising operations responsibilities in addition to her regular duties.

In her new position, Banish has retained her former responsibilities managing most retail advertising and overseeing major national accounts. In addition, she has added classified and real estate advertising to her portfolio.

“I care deeply about the paper and its future,’’ Banish said, “and I am excited to play an expanded role in The Tribune’s success. My immediate priorities include meeting these new advertisers and, together with our sales team, helping them to meet their marketing goals through our print and online products.”

A graduate of San Diego State University, Banish 45, has worked for The Tribune for nine years in a variety of roles. She has been retail advertising manager, major and national accounts manager and North County bureau manager.

Before moving to San Miguel in 1999, she was a sales manager for Six Flags Theme Parks in the Los Angeles area and also spent several years working for Palace Entertainment, based in Irvine. Banish also worked in California for AIM Technologies, a sports rewards company based in Texas.

Banish and her husband, Tom, operate boutique winery Black Hand Cellars in Paso Robles. The couple has a 7-year-old daughter, Cassidie.

— Julie Lynem

Poly students lead career conference

Students from Cal Poly’s Orfalea College of Business will host the 15th International Career Conference on Saturday at the Embassy Suites Hotel in San Luis Obispo.

Professionals from fields such as wine, marketing, finance and technology will lead workshop sessions. Firms such as Rabobank, Clever Ducks, Ernie Ball, Northrop-Grumman, Target and others will participate.

The conference runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and registration is $4 for students and $5 for others.

The keynote speaker for the event will be Amith Nagarajan, co-founder of Aptify software company and a Cal Poly graduate with a degree in business administration.

Before founding Aptify Corporation, Nagarajan worked in the research and development laboratories at Hewlett-Packard in Palo Alto. For details, visit www.icc.calpoly.edu.

— Nick Wilson