Industry Professionals 07-11-23

Giving Back

1. The Sundt Foundation recently awarded $37,610 in grants to eight Tucson charities.

The recipients are:

• St. Luke’s Home in the Desert; $10K,
• Marshall Home for Men; $6,610,
• Youth on Their Own; $5K,
• Wheels for Kids; $5K,
• Gabriel’s Angels; $3.5K,
• Inside Out Network; $2.5K,
• BICAS; $2.5K
• Tu Nidito Children and Family Services; $2.5K.

Awards & Accolades

2. AZRE Magazine has published its list of the Most Influential Women in Commercial Real Estate for 2023:

• Dawn Bishop; Prologis,
• Jamie Blakeman; Lokahi Engineering,
• Jenna Borcherding; VanTrust Real Estate,
• Lynette Dreitz; Cawley Architects,
• Amy Fricke; LGE Design Build,
• Bonnie Halley; Colliers,
• Stephanie Handley; Clayco,
• Leigh-Anne Harrison; CHASSE Building Team,
• Angela Hood; P.B. Bell,
• Abelina Madrigal; Butler Design Group,
• Grenee Martacho; Concord General Contracting,
• Heather Personne; Evolve Ventures,
• Danielle Puente; DP Electric,
• Michelle Rutkowski; MOR Studio, and
• Andi St. John; CBRE.

Boards & Commissions

3. Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego was elected as Chair of the Maricopa Association of Governments Regional Council. Chandler Mayor Kevin Hartke was elected to serve as MAG Vice Chair, and El Mirage Mayor Alexis Hermosillo as treasurer. Those selected to serve as at-large members are Buckeye Mayor Eric Orsborn, Gilbert Mayor Brigette Peterson, and Mesa Mayor John Giles. Avondale Mayor Kenneth Weise will move into the position of past chair. The MAG Regional Council is a 32-member board that serves as the governing and policy-making body for MAG.

Company News

4. Tucson-based electrical subcontractor Gilbert Electric has merged with Phoenix-based Cannon & Wendt. Gilbert Electric’s 94 employees join the 651 employees at Cannon & Wendt to expand both firms’ expertise and capabilities across Arizona markets.

5. Dallas-based design firm Huitt-Zollars, Inc. has announced the continued expansion of its public works practice with the addition of Gavan & Barker, a Phoenix-based design group with expertise in civil engineering and landscape architecture.

6. Multifamily developer, builder and manager NRP Group recently announced it is expanding its operations to develop mixed-income and affordable housing communities in both Phoenix and Las Vegas.

7. Bechtel has opened an office at 3133 W. Frye Road in Chandler. The 8KSF space in the Chandler Viridian office development was chosen for its proximity to companies in the electric vehicle and semiconductor markets, as well as to Arizona State University.

8. Luxury residential real estate firm Launch Powered by Compass has opened a 20-agent office at Pinnacle Peak and Pima roads. The firm has room to expand to up to 100 agents.

9. STG Design has expanded its operations to Phoenix and chosen Alexandra Ayres to serve as the office’s principal and director of interiors. The branch works out of the Industrious co-working space at 2801 E. Camelback Road and currently has a staff of two, with two more employees expected to join in the near future.

Promotions

10. The Tempe City Council has appointed Interim City Manager Rosa Inchausti as the permanent City Manager. She is the first female City Manager in Tempe’s history. Inchausti had been named Interim City Manager earlier this year.

11. Longtime Trellis executive Brenda Lopez has been appointed as interim CEO at homeownership assistance group Trellis following the ouster of former President and CEO Mike Trailor and CFO Jeff Feight earlier this month for undisclosed reasons.

New Hires

12. Former Mesa Deputy Economic Development Director Lori Collins has been hired to serve as Director of Business and Economic Development at the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport Authority.

13. Clark Princell has been selected to serve as Valley Partnership’s new President and CEO following a statewide search. Among other experiences, Princell had previously served as Chief of Staff to Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego.

14. Brian Kearney has been hired as Chief Operating Officer at private affordable housing developer Greenlight Communities. Current COO, Senior Partner and Co-founder Pat Watts will transition to the CEO role.

15. Landmark Title Assurance Agency recently hired Keith Mady to fill the Commercial and Residential Business Development Manager position.