Advertising
MGH, an Owings Mills-based marketing communications agency, hired Stephen Baxter as an interactive Web developer, Kara DePaola as a public relations account executive and Ryan Goff as an account services account executive.
Banking and finance
MECU, the Municipal Employees Credit Union of Baltimore, promoted Andy Pataki to senior vice president and chief operating officer. The Perry Hall resident will manage operations and branch administration.
WMS Partners LLC selected Pace Kessenich as a financial adviser at the Towson-based wealth management firm's family office practice. A Naval Academy graduate, he earned an MBA at Columbia University.
Grotech Capital Group announced that Don Rainey joined the Timonium-based venture capital firm as a general partner. He was formerly with Intersouth Partners.
Health care
Clinical Site Services of Severna Park hired Greg Jones as vice president of site management services. A graduate of Mary Washington College, he is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and the Association of Clinical Research Professionals.
Legal and insurance
Ober/Kaler said Vickie J. Gray joined the Baltimore-based law firm as its chief marketing officer. She will manage the firm's marketing, communications, business development and strategic planning.
Gallagher, Evelius & Jones hired Anne B. Fox, formerly with Lerch, Early & Brewer, as an associate who will work primarily in employment law and Steven G. Metzger as an associate in its litigation group.
Media
Discovery Communications named Joshua Freeman as executive vice president for digital media at the Silver Spring-based media company. A former America On Line senior vice president, he earned an MBA and Master of Public Administration from Harvard University.
Mining
Foundation Coal Holdings Inc. retained Todd Allen as vice president of investor and media relations for the Linthicum Heights-based mine operating company.
Professional services
Frederick Ward Associates named Bess Laporte to the staff of the Bel Air-based design firm as a civil design engineer. A graduate of Mississippi State University, she was formerly with Professional Service Industries of Nashville, Tenn.