Giving Back
1. Habitat for Humanity has opened enrollment for their 16-week Construction in Training Program Fall semester, which helps produce the next generation of highly skilled craft construction leaders by bringing people together to build homes, communities, and hope. Registration can be found here.
Awards & Accolades
2. ENR Southwest recently issued their 2021 Top Contractors list. The full list can be viewed here. The top 12 are:
- Kiewit Corporation
- McCarthy Building Cos. Inc.
- Hensel Phelps
- Layton Construction
- Sundt Construction
- AECOM Hunt
- Martin-Harris Construction
- Holder Construction
- Kitchell Corp
- CORE Construction Group
- Okland Construction
- Mortenson
3. Arizona Capitol Times, Best Companies Group and Best Companies in AZ have announced the 2021 Top Companies to Work for in Arizona. The A/E/C and CRE winners are:
Small Employer Category (15-99 U.S. Employees)
- Arizona Stone Brick Pavers
- Clear Title Agency of Arizona
- eBacon
- MFRG-ICON Construction
- Optima, Inc.
- Rose Law Group
- Starwood Custom Homes
- ZELUS
Medium Employer Category (100-999 U.S. Employees)
- Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Arizona Properties
- Corbins Electric
- Fennemore
- GCON Inc.
- HomeSmart International
- Midstate Energy & Urban Energy Solutions, Veregy Companies
- Switch Electric, Inc.
Large Employer Category (1,000 or More U.S. Employees)
- Burns & McDonnell
- Camden Property Trust
- DPR Construction
- Lovitt & TouchÈ, A Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC Company
- PCL Construction
Boards & Commissions
4. Melissa Johnson has joined the Arizona Association for Economic Development (AAED) as its Director of Development and member engagement. Johnson will be responsible for facilitating the growth of AAED through membership, events and community building. Johnson had been an active volunteer member of AAED, most recently serving as chair of AAED’s PR and communications committee where she helped organize the 2021 Basic Economic Development Course and facilitated the 2021 Marketing Symposium.
5. Members of the Arizona Chapter of American Public Works Association (APWA) have elected their 2021-2022 Board Members. Serving on the Executive Board are President Donna Sullivan-Hancock (City of Tempe), President Elect Amanda McGennis (Arizona Chapter Associated General Contractors), Secretary Sandy Niebel (WOODPATEL), Treasurer Angel Cobb (City of Phoenix), and Past President Kristin Tytler (City of Surprise). Additional Board members for this Fiscal year include: Briiana Velez (City of Phoenix), Kristina Lock (Coe & Van Loo), Andy Goh (City of Chandler), Casey Ambrose (Town of Gilbert), Stew Waller (Rinker Materials), and Corey Steele (Strand Associates). Wendy Springborn (City of Tempe) is the Chapters’ Delegate and Al Field (Al Field & Associates) is Alternate Delegate.
Company News
6. Walton Global Holdings USA and Phoenix-based SVN | SFR Capital Management have formed a joint venture to build and operate build-to-rent communities within Walton Global Holdings’ existing master-planned communities throughout the country. The joint venture’s first project in Arizona would not come until after 2022.
7. Menlo Group Commercial Real Estate announced that the full-service brokerage has purchased Page Commercial Realty Services, a property management company located in Mesa. The acquisition will enable Menlo Group to expand its commercial property management services.
Promotions
8. Adam Copeland was selected as the Deputy Director of Planning for the City of Buckeye. Copeland has worked for Buckeye since 2012 and was the Principal Planner where he supervised various functions of the city’s Planning Division.
9. Mortenson announced Brian Fitzpatrick’s promotion to Vice President of Operations. Throughout Fitzpatrick’s 14-year career with Mortenson, he has played a vital role in building some of the firm’s most iconic projects across the nation, including notable sports, higher education, and data center projects for the firm’s $300M business in Arizona. In his current role, Fitzpatrick is focused on developing diverse, high-performing teams focused on safety, quality, and inclusivity.
10. Lee & Associates announced the promotion of Brian Payne to Principal. Payne is an industrial agent who specializes in warehouse and manufacturing buildings, contractor yards, and flex properties. He joined Lee & Associates in 2016 as a runner, under the guidance of Chris McClurg and Ken McQueen, both successful veteran Principals in the firm’s Industrial Division.
11. Betsy Lynch, AIA, LEED AP, has been promoted to Associate Principal at Gould Evans. Lynch confidently leads projects at all scales—ranging from large multi-phase new buildings to small tenant improvements for long-term clients—and fosters an inclusive design process that spans disciplines and tenure.
New Hires
12. Cawley Architects announced the addition of Project Director Robert (Bob) Erickson, AIA, to its growing team of talented industry professionals, bringing more than 30 years of architecture experience to the firm. Erickson will lead Cawley’s architectural project managers through the design, procurement approval, construction documents and construction administration process for clients in the commercial and retail market sector.
13. Brian Craig was chosen as the new Development Services Director for the City of Buckeye. Craig has more than 14 years of development and planning experience, most recently with the City of Avondale. Throughout his career, Craig was responsible for overseeing the planning, permitting, zoning and engineering activities for both commercial and residential projects. Other accomplishments include leading the development process from pre-application to construction.
14. Ulises Arvayo joins Burns & McDonnell as a senior electrical engineer in the mining group. He brings with him over 10 years of experience. Arvayo has worked at nine mining sites in both the US and South America, including mines run by Asarco, Oceana Gold, and Grupo Mexico. His experience as an engineer/field superintendent and bilingual proficiency in Spanish will bring a skillset that will help Burns & McDonnell mining operations expand into other regions.
15. Dan Richards joins Burns & McDonnell as a project manager in the mining group. He brings with him 15 years of experience from a leading global mining company. He has worked at Tier 1 mines in the U.S. and Central America, serving as superintendent of tailings storage construction. In his new role, he focuses on project and program management for mining clients of Burns & McDonnell.
16. R.O.I. Properties announced the hiring of Jake Vice, Commercial Associate. Vice joins the Commercial Team in servicing client listings and buyer/tenant requirements for commercial properties.