• Janette Sonnenberg of Salt Lake City recently was elected as the president of the Alliance of the American Dental Association. The organization supports the ADA through dental health education, legislative advocacy and the "well-being of the dental family." Sonnenberg is the second president from Utah (Iola Smith served in 1966) and has been an alliance member for 25 years. Her education includes a degree from Brigham Young University.

• Brad Cardon and Richard Green have joined the law firm of Thorpe North & Western LLP. Cardon, whose education includes degrees from the University of Utah and Brigham Young University, has a technical practice that focuses on the mechanical, electro-mechanical and optical arts. He worked for several years with a pair of companies in a variety of engineering roles prior to entering law school. Green has experience in drafting and prosecuting patent applications in the fields of pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, microfabrication and applied chemistry. His education includes a degree from the University of Utah.

• Richard K. Gardner has joined the VanCott law firm as an associate with the Tax, Benefit and Estate Planning Group. His education includes degrees from Brigham Young University.

• Chiharu Howell has joined XanGo LLC as director of marketing for XanGo Japan. A native of Japan, Howell will implement a market cultivation strategy to advance the XanGo brand in Japan and help drive revenue growth. Prior to joining XanGo, Howell served as a consultant and employee for the Japanese operations of major multinational corporations.

• Colvin Engineering Associates Inc. has announced several promotions and additions. Cordell Post has been promoted to project manager. A graduate of the University of Utah, Post has been with the firm since 2004. Jonathan Burrows has been promoted to project manager. He graduated from Utah State University and has been with the firm since 2006. Omar Saleb, a graduate of the University of Utah, has joined the firm as a mechanical engineer. Thomas Riemondy has joined the firm as a mechanical engineer.

• Brian Logie, Linda Smith and Heather Barlow have joined Big-D Construction. Logie was hired as a project engineer in the company's Lindon office. He has four years of construction experience through several positions held with companies in Arizona. His education includes a degree from Brigham Young University. Smith joins Big-D as project assistant in the Lindon office. Smith brings more than 20 years of experience in the construction industry, serving as an executive assistant, office manager and secretary for several companies in the Utah area. Barlow is marketing assistant in the Fastrack division of the Salt Lake City office. Prior to joining Big-D, Barlow worked as a graphic designer. She has a degree from Eagle Gate College.