The Ballpark adds a new creative hire, plus other interactive industry hires, partnerships, launches and announcements.

BGT Partners has hired David Vano and Arad Usha as business strategists in its Miami office.

Collective Media hired two seasoned media and sales professionals for its national sales team. Jeffrey Dillman has been named regional sales director for the Chicago market, while David Terski joins as account executive responsible for Detroit. The company also announced the launch of the Collective Video Network.

ContextWeb announced that Chip Meakem has joined the company's advisory board.

Gorilla Nation announced that it has been selected as exclusive worldwide rep for Zeeks.com, a kids' gaming site owned by Kaboose Inc.

Guidester Inc. announced its re-launch as Searchandise Commerce, shifting the company's focus from navigational tools to search-based merchandising services.

Marchex, a local search and advertising company, announced that it has launched Marchex Connect 2.0, its next-generation local advertising platform. Marchex Connect 2.0 integrates three important advertising products: online advertising, call-based advertising and business profile pages, which are fully trackable branded web pages that give advertisers an immediate local online presence. 

MIVA Direct, the toolbar, homepage and content division of digital media company MIVA Inc., announced the further expansion of its ALOT toolbar brand following the signing of a co-branded toolbar agreement with general interest publisher Reader's Digest.

PopularMedia launched SocialNotes, a free web-based widget that enables site owners to add social interactivity to any page on their website.

Quova Inc. announced that it has acquired Verifia, a geo-locating software technology company and provider of NetGeo, an IP-based internet intelligence solution.

READY366, a brand innovation agency, announced the addition of Kurt Kretten to its creative team.

space150, an independent digital creative agency based in Minneapolis with offices in New York and Los Angeles, announced the appointment of Marcus Fischer to the position of VP of account planning. 

The Ballpark, a Santa Monica, Calif.-based full-service creative agency, announced Erik Penn as its new digital director. Penn brings more than 12 years of interactive and technology experience to the agency.

TRAFFIQ, an ad exchange, announced the appointment of Scott Portugal as SVP of global business development. Portugal will report to TRAFFIQ COO Dan Ballister.

Editor's note: We list the companies and people alphabetically according to what company hires what person or another company. Our bi-monthly column is always looking for announcements, so please email them to mediamotions@imediaconnection.com.

Michael Estrin is deputy editor, iMediaConnection.