Industry Professionals 04-28-20

Giving Back 
1. Sierra Signs has created a unique way to inspire others to support the United Food Bank with an, “Arizona Strong” fund-raising program. The program involves providing “Arizona Strong” support decals that people can purchase and proudly display with proceeds going to the United Food Bank. The decals sell for $5 each to cover production costs with a donation of $3 going to the United Food Bank. 
2. Holualoa Companies wants to assist local and national charities in their response to the COVID-19 crisis, but in a self-proclaimed innovative twist, it’s helping its employees make their own decisions about who to support. Holualoa is allocating each of its 30 employees $2K to personally donate to the COVID-19 charities of their choice. 
3. The Arizona Department of Transportation has developed activities and information to feed the interests of kids who dig diggers – or who just like neat videos and coloring stuff. ADOT Kids, available at azdot.gov/ADOTKids and the ADOT Blog at azdot.gov/blog, has connected children with facts and videos about snowplows, including a coloring activity and the opportunity to have their questions answered by an ADOT engineer. Zoom virtual backgrounds feature heavy equipment, big bridges and more. 
Awards & Accolades 
4. For the third consecutive year, Burns & McDonnell has been named one of the Best Workplaces in Consulting and Professional Services by Great Place to Work. The 100 percent employee-owned design and construction firm earned the No. 14 spot on the list. 
5. Jenette Bennett, CCIM, first vice president and shareholder in Kidder Mathews’ Phoenix office, has been honored as a national 1st Place winner of CCIM’s President’s Cup award for the Central Arizona Chapter, where Bennett served as chapter president in 2019. 
Boards & Commissions 
6. The Gilbert Town Council appointed transportation engineer Yung Koprowski, founder and head of Y2K Engineering, to fill the vacant seat left by Jordan Ray, who resigned on April 6th to run for justice of the peace. 
Company News 
7. The National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) announced plans to host a nationwide Safety Stand Down for COVID-19 on April 29th. Electrical contractors across the country will invite employees, subcontractors, owners, architects and engineers to join the event to review company protocols and jobsite conditions, and ask questions, bringing focus to health and safety guidance offered by the Centers for Disease Control, World Health Organization and the Occupational Safety & Health Administration.  
Promotions 
8. Sam Jones has been named as an associate at Colliers International in Arizona, specializing in landlord and tenant representation for the leasing and sale of industrial and office properties. Jones is the first Arizona graduate of Colliers’ unique “Wheel Program,” which comprehensively trains future brokerage professionals. 
New Hires 
9. Willmeng Construction, Inc. announced that James Crean has joined the team as their senior client relations manager. In this new role, Crean will continue to retain and foster healthy client relationships across Willmeng’s various market sectors.  
10. Brad Carr AICP, LEED-AP recently started a new position as planning & development manager for the City of Scottsdale. 
11. David McLane joins Burns & McDonnell in Phoenix to lead a wide range of mining design and construction projects. With nearly a decade of experience in project management, mining engineering and construction, McLane has successfully managed multimillion-dollar underground and surface mine projects worldwide. 
12. Crown West Land Group recently announced that James Gaulin joined the company as director of land, bringing with him expertise and experience in managing land development. 
13. Harsch Investment Properties recently hired Batoun Herrington as a property manager for its Arizona portfolio. Herrington will manage approximately 700KSF of office, flex and industrial space in the Phoenix and Tucson markets. 
In Memory 
14. Ray “Gumbi” Salazar, a member of the Chicanos Por La Causa governing board since 1988, serving as past chairman of the Executive Board, recently passed away. Salazar was a man of many talents: a beloved musician, a corrections officer, a community leader, a civil rights pioneer. Ever the optimistic, he believed that people could be moved to change, and, as result, times could change so he spent his lifetime making both aspirations come true.