Awards & Accolades
1. As part of the design-build team for Arizona University’s Lantana Hall, Shepley Bulfinch along with CORE Construction and Capstone Development Partners was awarded the 2021 Student Housing Business Innovator Award for Best Use of Green & Sustainable Construction/Design. Completed in the summer of 2020, the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum certified student housing project, and the only one on any of ASU’s campuses, is an example of how a public-private partnership and integrated design-build team can come together to create an important, sustainable piece of campus fabric.
Company News
2. ORION Investment Real Estate expands their healthcare division with the formation of M|T Healthcare Partners, founded by Marina Hammersmith, CCIM and Tyrel Williams, CPM®. M|T Healthcare Partners is a full-service healthcare real estate practice specializing in tenant/ buyer representation, medical practice expansion strategy, landlord leasing/sales representation, and property repositioning for medical use.
3. Cavco Industries Inc. will spend $153M to buy The Commodore Corp., a manufactured and modular homebuilder in Indiana. The Commodore acquisition will bring total employment to 6,116.
4. Shareholders of Kimco Realty Corp. and Weingarten Realty Investors approved the previously announced merger of the two shopping center REITs. The deal, which closed on Tuesday, creates a company with a pro forma equity market capitalization of approximately $12B and a total enterprise value of approximately $20.5B.
5. Shifted Energy, which installs devices on electric water heaters to create virtual power plants, is taking its grid demand response talents to Arizona. The Honolulu-headquartered company will work with Tucson Electric Power through October to install intelligent load control switches on residential water heaters.
Promotions
6. The Weitz Company announced the promotion of Andrew Klem and Boe Evanson to Senior Project Manager. This promotion firmly solidifies their leadership roles within the Arizona office, allowing them to provide direction to project teams ensuring the highest level of supervision and execution of the WeitzWay processes and procedures. Both are 15+ year Weitz employees whose leadership on large, complex projects have contributed to the success of the Arizona office.
7. W.E. O’Neil Construction announced the promotion of Diane Withee to Senior Project Manager. Withee started working for W.E. O’Neil Construction in 2005 and since then, has been an integral part of their team. Diane, with more than 26 years of experience in the construction industry, has worked on over 30+ W.E. O’Neil projects. Her portfolio includes projects in the healthcare, hospitality, municipal, office, and retail market sectors.
8. DFDG Architecture recently elevated two staff members to Associate. The new Associates include Greg Biallas, RA; and Mike Gibson RA. Each has been influential in the advancement of DFDG’s principles and core values.
9. RSP Architects promoted Alissa Franconi NCIDQ to Principal in their Phoenix office. Franconi is an award-winning designer who specializes in creating dynamic, efficient workplaces. Her experience includes work with companies that range from global corporations to start-ups, all with a vision of creating environments that enhance employee well-being and productivity with economically viable, operationally efficient solutions.
New Hires
10. Haydon Building Corp announced it has hired municipal market expert Geoff Shumway as a senior leader on its business development team. Shumway will be focused on driving Haydon’s market strategy and key relationship management within the public sector across state, county and local entities and private sector corporate clients. Shumway joins Haydon after spending more than 8 years with the Arizona Commerce Authority where he served as Executive Vice President of Business Development.
11. NAI Horizon hired Deborah Sarjeant as a Senior Property Manager. Sarjeant, a licensed real estate broker with more than 25 years of industry experience will manage a portfolio of retail, office, and industrial properties for NAI’s third-party property management clients. Sarjeant brings valuable experience to the team including asset and property management, financial management, leasing, tenant improvements and construction management.
12. Wenaha Group announced that Buddy Rocha will be joining the firm as a Senior Project Manager in the Phoenix office. Rocha will be vital in growing Wenaha Group’s presence in the Southwest United States. Rocha’s depth of experience in Native American gaming compliance and regulatory expertise, paired with his keen understanding and personal investment in tribal economic development in the southwestern United States, makes him an exceptional resource to Wenaha Group and clients alike.
Transitions
13. Rob Gochee and Jaime Jacobs have officially moved from Katerra to the GANEM Companies. They have partnered with GANEM to spearhead the Equitable Housing Division.