Awards & Accolades
1. Karen Benoit, senior vice president of corporate marketing at Kidder Mathews, has been selected nationally as a top Influencer in Commercial Real Estate Marketing and Communications by the editors of GlobeSt. Real Estate Forum.
2. Taylor Morrison has netted its second Glassdoor Employees’ Choice Award, recognizing the Best Places to Work for 2020. The Employees’ Choice Awards, now in its 12th year, relies solely on the anonymous input of employees, who elect to provide feedback on their jobs, work environments and companies via Glassdoor.
Boards & Commissions
3. Total Building Commissioning (TBCx)’s Todd Watson has been elected to a three-year term for the board of the Southwest Chapter of the Building Commissioning Association (BCxA). Watson has 24 years of experience in the commissioning, construction and design industry and is a hands-on commissioning authority with insight into the constructability of designs from a contractor’s perspective.
4. Valley Partnership Board of Directors unanimously approved its Board Officers for 2020 and its Board of Director Nominees for their terms as voting and ex-officio members:
Board Officers for 2020:
- Tim Brislin, Harvard Investments – Chair
- Jim Kenny, El Dorado Holdings, Inc. – Vice Chair
- Brandon Dillingham, Hines – Treasurer
- Laura Ortiz, Evergreen DevCo– Secretary
First 3-year term beginning January 2020:
- Ben Butler – Fidelity National Title Agency
- Chuck Carefoot – Ryan Companies
- Nic Fischer – Merit Partners
- Doug Klocke – Lincoln Property Company
- Carl Perrone – Brookfield Residential Properties
- Chuck Podolak – Salt River Project/SRP
Second 3-year term beginning January 2020:
- Rob Bassett – Pederson Group
- Brandon Dillingham – Hines
- Garrett Newland – Macerich
- Michele Pino – Land Advisors
1-year Ex-Officio term beginning January 2020:
- Chris Anaradian – City of Glendale
- Lisa Atkins – Arizona State Land Department
- John Creer – Arizona State University/ASU
- Mari Flynn – Ashton Woods
- Ron Hilgart – HILGARTWILSON
- Jay Kramer – Fennemore Craig
- Rusty Mitchell – Luke Air Force Base
- Carolyn Oberholtzer – Bergin, Frakes, Smalley & Oberholtzer
- Jim Rounds – Rounds Consulting
- Alan Stephenson – City of Phoenix
- Cathy Teeter – CBRE
- Bradley Wright – Squire Patton Boggs
Company News
5. Kidder Mathews’ West Coast acquired the assets of Wessex Service Company, a Scottsdale property management firm. Wessex has a portfolio of 535KSF of commercial space and 14 owner associations. Mike DiDomenico, formerly owner and principal of Wessex Service Company, has joined Kidder Mathews as senior vice president and market leader for property management operations in the firm’s Phoenix regional office.
Promotions
6. Sundt Construction, Inc. has promoted Nicole Calamaio to senior vice president and chief human resources officer. In this role, Calamaio will be responsible for talent acquisition, administrative talent development, craft workforce development, human resources and total rewards.
New Hires
7. GLHN Architects & Engineers, Inc. announced the addition of Joshua Riddle, PE to their Phoenix office. Josh is a mechanical engineer and specializes in HVAC design solutions for human comfort, building performance, and LEED requirements.
8. J. Banicki Construction has recently hired Sara Martin as proposal writer and marketing coordinator. Sara will play a key role in the Company’s pursuit of business in Arizona and Texas. Sara comes to Banicki with several years of experience as Senior Marketing Coordinator, Graphic Designer and Marketing Manager.
9. Withey Morris brought on planner Hannah Bleam, AICP from the City of Phoenix. Hannah is a planner specializing in land use, site development, community outreach and entitlements.
10. Stewart Bell has recently joined TEPCON Construction, Inc. as senior project manager.
11. John Heck, PE joined the structural engineering team of Schaefer’s Phoenix office, where he will focus on delivering smart, innovative designs for structures in diverse markets.
12. Landmark Title has hired Frieda Jimenez as Commercial Escrow Officer at Landmark Title, and DeAnn Newhouse-Gilleland as Vice President of Escrow Operation at Landmark Title.
13. City of Buckeye has named Alisha Solano director of the Water Resources Department. Solano has worked for the City of Mesa’s Water Department for eight years and for the City of Phoenix for four years before coming to Buckeye.
14. The City of Avondale hired Kevin Murphy as its new Director of Development and Engineering Services (DES). Murphy joins the city on Jan. 6, filling a vacancy left by former DES Director, Tracy Stevens, who was recently promoted to Deputy City Manager.
In Memory
Rick Hurula, Director of Construction Services at HILGARTWILSON, passed away unexpectedly on December 6, 2019. Rick was an expert in the development and construction of residential communities, and a mentor to many. He was a friend to many in the industry and will be dearly missed. A Celebration of Life service will be held on January 12th at 11am at Gainey Ranch Golf Club (main ballroom), 7600 E. Gainey Club Drive, Scottsdale, AZ 85258