Giving Back
1. The Sundt Foundation awarded $25K in grants to 10 Tucson-area nonprofits during its current giving round. Those nonprofits receiving grants include:
- Angel Heart Pajama Project,
- Arizona Dental Foundation,
- Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation of Southern Arizona,
- Our Family Services,
- Pima Foundation ARC Resource Center,
- Project Insight,
- Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern Arizona,
- Sahuarita Food Bank,
- Southern Arizona Adaptive Sports, and
- Child Language Center – Wings on Words Preschool.
2. The Sundt Foundation donated over $70K to Valley charities during its current giving cycle.
Maggie’s Place received a $7,500 grant for its emergency shelter program.
The Foundation awarded an additional $64K in grants to 15 Phoenix-area nonprofits during its current giving round. Those include:
- About Care,
- Arizonans for Children,
- Assistance League of East Valley,
- Central Arizona Shelter Services,
- Dignity House, Duet: Partners in Health & Aging,
- Foster Arizona,
- Gene Lewis Boxing Club and Youth Center,
- Homeless Youth Connection,
- ICAN: Positive Programs for Youth,
- Matthew’s Crossing Food Bank,
- Neighbors Who Care,
- Operation Pay it Forward,
- Sojourner Center, and
- The Tempe Community Action Agency.
3. Twelve employees from K2 Electric volunteered to help build a home for a family in Puerto Peñasco, Mexico. In November, these K2 Electric employees joined forces with 1Mission to complete the first phase of a home build. The K2 Electric team achieved its goal of completing Phase 1 of a home build during the three-day trip, where they were able to use their building knowledge and talent.
4. Brycon employees gathered to participate in the 2021/2022 Hot Chocolate 15k/5k. This event supports the mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in efforts to help end childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases
Boards & Commissions
5. A record of 25 protégés were honored as the Arizona Chapter of NAIOP’s Developing Leaders Young Professionals Group mentorship program hosted graduation for the 2021 class.
The 25 protégés, grouped into six teams, each pitched a development proposal to a potential equity partner. Judges were looking for the project that meets the highest and best use of the site as well as provides the most optimal economic returns (projected investment returns).
This year’s site was a roughly 2-acre parcel located within the Paradise Valley Mall redevelopment. Team 1’s Amara concept took home top honors. Team members included Gary Cornish, CBRE; Ryan Hankins, Clayco; Braden Blake, Ware Malcomb; and Zach Maki, Seefried Industrial Properties, Inc.
Jim Wentworth of Wentworth Property Company was the mentor of the winning team.
Additional mentors for this year’s class were John DiVall, Exeter Property Group; Sean Cummings, The Opus Group; Jenna Borcherding, VanTrust Real Estate, LLC; Derek Flottum, Irgens; Alex Boles, ViaWest Group.
Program chairs were Josh Tracy, Ryan Companies US, Inc.; and Chris Beall, JLL.
The rest of the protégés include:
- Team 2: Nik Vallens, Transwestern; Tanner Tremaine, Majestic Realty; Steven Callahan, Alliance Bank of Arizona; Chris Reese, Colliers International.
- Team 3: Ryan Hingst, Lee & Associates Arizona; Ryan Coleman, Hines; Eric Sterner, LAST Architects; Josh Schifferer, GO Industrial.
- Team 4: Kelly Royle, JLL; Mike Diamond, Gilbane Building Company; Jarett Brock, Cousins Properties; Jonathan Teeter, CBRE.
- Team 5: Hagen Hyatt, JLL; Aaron Velasco, Prologis; Kristina Cutillo, Cushman & Wakefield; Braxton Smith, ASU University Realty LLC; Jim MacWilliam, Willmeng.
- Team 6: Luke Krison, CBRE; Samantha Spadaro, SmithGroup; Tino Hernandez, Willmeng; Charl Potgieter, Trammell Crow Company.
6. First Place® AZ has elected Juan Salgado to its board of directors. Salgado, who has more than three decades of experience in community development, public financing and affordable housing, is the chief executive officer of the Phoenix IDA and the Phoenix Community Development & Investment Corporation.
Company News
7. Cuhaci & Peterson is planning an expansion in the Southwest with the opening of a new Phoenix office downtown in the Luhrs Tower at the SEC of First Avenue and Jefferson Street.
8. TDIndustries is celebrating 75 years servant leadership and trusted partnerships as the premier mechanical construction and facility services contractor. Over the last 
75 years, the brand has grown and expanded across three states with more than 2,500 partners.
Promotions
9. The Avondale City Council voted in a special meeting to appoint Assistant City Manager Cherlene Penilla as acting city manager.
New Hires
10. The Phoenix Kidder Mathews healthcare real estate team has added Perry A. Gabuzzi as a senior VP. The team represents clients in the leasing, acquisition, and disposition of healthcare real estate.
11. Store Capital announced Tawn Kelley will succeed Christopher Volk as Executive Chairman. Kelley is an executive VP at Taylor Morrison Home Corp. and has served as a director of Store Capital since 2020.
12. Marlene Lara has been hired as Somerton’s economic development director. She has been sharing the role with outgoing Director Héctor Tapia, who departs on January 6th.