Giving Back
1. A group of Achen-Gardner Construction employee-owners participated in the Run For World Water 5K on Feb. 24. This event is hosted annually by the Water for People Arizona Committee with support from the AZ Water Commission. Registrations contributed to the Water for People nonprofit organization to support access to clean water in developing countries. Achen-Gardner won the Corporate Challenge Champions award for registering the most participants, and nine people from the company’s team placed in the top three of their respective age groups.
Awards & Accolades
2. Kitchell Contractors, Inc. has been listed in Associated Builders and Contractors’, “ABC’s Top Performers 2024.” ABC ranked Kitchell at #75 of the Top 250 Performers and #38 (of 150) Top General Contractors.
3. Mike Greenawalt, CEO of Rosendin, was selected for Grand Canyon University’s Colangelo Servant Leadership Award for providing alternative career pathways for high school graduates. He developed the Pre-Apprenticeship Program for Electricians to be taught at GCU.
4. Mary Estes of Norris Design was honored as a “Master of the Southwest” by Phoenix Home & Garden Magazine. She has more than 35 years in landscape architectural practice, designing high-quality, regionally sensitive and sustainable landscapes across the U.S.
5. Arizona Masonry Council celebrated 30 years of its apprenticeship program with 12 graduates for the Class of 2023. The graduates were: Michael Anderson, Richard Bedoya, Gilberto Davila, John Haynes, Jeromy Phillips, Daniel Ross, Ruben Rodriguez, Franco Sanchez, Nestor Sanchez, George Shmakov, Richard Venegas and Merlin Weber.
6. Three Arizona brokers have been included as part of this year’s crop of 15 recipients of the NAIOP and Prologis Inclusion in CRE Scholarship for Women and Underrepresented Professionals. The program is designed to prepare a pipeline of diverse talent for development and operations positions in commercial real estate by connecting young professionals with mentors and advancing their industry knowledge. The Arizona winners are:
- Kelly Royle, VP, JLL;
- Rob Hernandez, Senior Associate, Trammell Crow Company, and
- Jennifer Villalobos, Associate, Cushman & Wakefield.
Company News
7. Nate Lowrie, former CEO of Valleywise Health Foundation, along with a group of investors, have become the majority owners of Bjerk Builders Inc. The company, located in Gilbert, has 88 employees and has completed more than $750M in projects since its founding in 1986. The other investors that joined Lowrie are Tim Louis, Steve Schramm, Lee Benson, Keith Galbut and Brett Ellen.
8. Achen-Gardner Construction commemorated its 35th year in business in February. It also marks the fifth year of the firm’s status as an employee-owned company and member of the Emery Sapp & Sons family of companies.
Promotions
9. Ryan Companies US, Inc. has promoted Colleen Kucera to Senior VP – National Marketing Leader.
New Hires
10. Mike Koester was hired as CEO at EPS Group, Inc. Koester has held various leadership and operational roles in the oil and gas, chemicals, and manufacturing industries. He most recently served as Senior VP of Western Operations at Tetra Tech, Inc.
11. SDB Contracting Services has hired David Gray as Project Director of its Tempe office operations.
12. W.E. O’Neil Construction hired Kyle Friedman as Project Superintendent.