Giving Back
1. The Arizona Association for Economic Development announced its second mentorship program participants, following a successful inaugural launch in 2021. The program pairs young professionals with experienced practitioners from around the state.
This year’s mentees are:
- Jaime Lyn Gonzales, Business Development Manager, City of Avondale;
- Desirae Mayo, Economic Development Specialist, City of Scottsdale;
- Bianca Hernandez, Sales Manager, Phoenix Convention Center, and
- Ashley Mazariegos, Economic Development Analyst, City of Buckeye.
Mentors for 2022 are:
- Ken Chapa, Economic Development and Tourism Director, City of Avondale;
- Richard Wilkie, Economic Development Director, City of Casa Grande;
- Mike Czechowski, Economic Initiatives Project Manager, City of Tucson, and
- Thomas Doyle, Economic Development Manager, City of El Mirage.
The Young Professionals Affinity Group is chaired by David Zynda with the Pima Association of Governments, and the mentorship program is led by Heath Vescovi-Chiordi, Economic Development Director, Pima County.
Awards & Accolades
2. Craig Krumwiede, president and CEO of Harvard Investments, will be inducted into the ASU W. P. Carey Alumni Hall of Fame at a reception scheduled for Nov. 17. Krumwiede has been President of Harvard Investments since 1994 and holds or has held leadership positions in a wide variety of industry, educational and social service organizations.
3. Suzanne Kinney, a 20-year veteran of Arizona public policy, has been named a recipient of the Arizona Capitol Times Women Achievers of Arizona award in the category of Public Service. Kinney has served as President and CEO of NAIOP Arizona for the past five years. During her tenure, the Arizona Chapter has increased membership by around 30% to nearly 1,000 individuals and has won several national awards.
4. The Arizona Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects had their awards gala recently and provided numerous professional awards to local firms and professionals. The Special Awards recipients were:
- ASLA Fellows: Galen Drake, J2 Environmental Engineering & Design;
- Trailblazer Award: Zach Temple, Lloyd Sports & Engineering;
- Landscape Architect of the Year Award: Roger Socha, Trueform Landscape Architecture;
- Sage of the Year Award: Jeff Engelmann, J2 Engineering & Environmental Design;
- Emerging Professional Award: Maria Mauer, J2 Engineering & Environmental Design;
- Volunteer of the Year Award: Lora Martens, City of Phoenix;
- Contractor of the Year Award: SiteWorks;
- Office of the Year Award: The Green Room Collaborative;
- Award of Gratitude: Bob Schottke, Hunter Irrigation;
- President’s Award: Arcadia Neighborhood Learning Center.
5. Corina Burton, Co-owner and CMO of CPR Construction Cleaning, has been named by Franchise Dictionary Magazine as a 2022 “Woman of Wonder.” Burton co-founded CPR Construction Cleaning in 2019. CPR began franchising in July 2022 and is currently operating 11 franchise units with plans to open in four additional markets by end of 2022.
Company News
6. Developer Concord Hospitality and private equity firm Whitman Peterson have announced they intend to build 15 Extended Stay America Premier Suites hotels in the western U.S., including projects in Phoenix. The project will increase the country’s total number of hotels under that particular flag by more than 50%.
7. Edge Realty Partners is celebrating the one-year mark since opening for business. Edge’s leadership team of Principals Nick Ault and Daniel Ortega, along with Senior VP LeDonna Spongberg, has a combined 55 years of experience.
Promotions
8. Civil engineering firm EPS Group announced the promotion of Principal Greg Froehlich to Public Works Department Manager.
New Hires
9. Spectra Electrical Services, Inc. recently announced two new hires. Lonnie Litzner has joined as a Senior Project Manager and Jonathan Solano has come on board as an Assistant Project Manager.
10. K2 Electric has added two new staff members. Chad Steichen has come on as a Service Project Manager and Peter Grijalva has joined as a Project Manager.