Final answer:
Titles are capitalized when they precede a person's name, but not when they follow it and are separated by commas. The titles 'vice president' and 'executive director' in the given sentences should not be capitalized as they come after the names 'Mary Kozalak' and 'Baron Canty Jr.' respectively.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question addresses the rules of capitalization related to titles and their usage with names in written English. According to standard English grammar and style conventions, titles should be capitalized when they precede a person's name without commas. For example, you would write 'Dr. Atul Gawande' or 'Senator Tammy Baldwin' with capitalization because the title comes directly before the name.
However, if the title comes after the name and is set off by commas, it is not capitalized, such as in 'Atul Gawande, a doctor' or 'Tammy Baldwin, a senator'. Additionally, when writing addresses, dates or lists in correspondence or formal settings, proper punctuation and capitalization are equally important to maintain clarity and professionalism.
Applying these rules to the sentences provided:
- Our records to the vice president, Mary Kozalak, were lost.
- We heard from our executive director, Baron Canty Jr., at the regional meeting.
In these instances, 'vice president' and 'executive director' are not capitalized because they follow the individual's name and are separated by commas. Capitalization in such context denotes importance and readability, especially in formal writing such as business letters and academic papers following MLA style.