Real estate. (Newsmakers).

Secured Capital Corp. in Los Angeles has hired G. Ryan Smith, Stephen M. Somer and Stuart J. Turner. Formerly of Cushman and Wakefield, Smith and Somer were named vice presidents and will be involved with investment property sales. Turner, previously with Hilton Hotels, was named associate in the hotel division.

Kent S. Handleman has been hired as managing director of leasing at Thomas Properties Group, where he will handle the leasing at Arco Plaza. Handleman comes from Insignia/ESG.

Grubb & Ellis Co. has promoted Jim Kruse to executive vice president and area manager of the Western region, where he will be responsible for the West Los Angeles, Los Angeles North, South Bay and downtown Los Angeles offices. Before joining Grubb & Ellis in 1997, Kruse was a partner with Schneider Commercial Real Estate.

Rick Jones has been promoted to senior vice president of asset management for McCarthy Cook & Co., where he will oversee the management teams for all McCarthy properties. Previously, Jones was vice president of operations, Southern California/Arizona, for PM Realty Group.

Homestore Inc. has announced that Paul Unruh has been appointed to its board of directors, increasing the number of independent directors to six and total members to eight. Unruh has became a member of the audit committee. Unruh retired in 2002 as vice chairman of Bechtel Group Inc.

Sonnenblick-Eichner Co. has announced that Mike Garrido has joined the firm as an Associate Director. Based in its Los Angeles office, Garrido will work in debt origination and equity transactions on behalf single tenant, triple net leased properties. He was previously a founding partner of Blue Ridge Properties, an advisory firm specializing in single tenant transactions.