Strategic communications firm Kearns & West reports having hired Lisa Marie Alley as a vice president. Alley, who starts the new job February 4, will be based in Sacramento and will be responsible for expanding Northern California business for the firm that has other offices in Los Angeles, Portland, Riverside, San Diego, San Francisco and Washington DC. For the past seven years Alley has worked for the California High-Speed Rail Authority, departing as its press secretary and chief of communications. She has also previously worked as a communications director at Blanning & Baker Associates and was an assignment manager at KCRA-TV in Sacramento. Contact: Alley, lalley@kearnswest.com.