REDW promotes Lorin Saavedra

REDW LLC, recognized among INSIDE Public Accounting’s Top 200 Accounting Firms and with offices in Phoenix, Albuquerque and Oklahoma City, is announcing today that Lorin Saavedra, CVGA, has been promoted to Director of Client Advisory & Accounting Services (CAAS) Practice Operations.

Lorin Saavedra

In this newly created role, Saavedra, who previously served as REDW’s Outsourced Chief Financial Officer, will oversee CAAS business functions and practices on a day-to-day basis and implement strategies to help the CAAS team maintain responsible growth. Traveling across the firm’s Albuquerque, Phoenix, and Oklahoma City offices, she will also help oversee all recruiting, professional development, and hiring activities as they relate to the firm’s practice.

“As part of the firm’s larger strategic growth initiatives, Lorin has been pivotal in helping REDW’s CAAS practice to streamline our client experience,” says Thomas L. Friend, CPA, REDW Principal and CAAS Practice Leader. “The processes she’s been developing have already made more business sense for our clients and a night-and-day difference for our team. Lorin’s professional background and skills make her uniquely qualified for this national leadership role and to help take our practice to new heights.”

“When I joined REDW in 2021, after more than 15 years in finance and accounting in the banking, hospitality and manufacturing industries,” says Saavedra, “I did so to provide a fresh and bold perspective to the way we provide second-to-none expertise and state-of-the-art technology to help our clients best run and scale their organizations. As I dug into my role, I made the development of programs and team processes a priority, supporting our team in professional growth efforts and providing exceptional results to clients. This new role allows me the ability to work with the CAAS Principals to take these programs and processes to the next level, providing an even higher level of support to our team and, by extension, our clients.”

Liz Shabaker named a ‘Titan CEO 100’

Titan CEO announced that Elizabeth Shabaker, CFP, CDC, chief executive officer at Versant Capital Management, Inc. has been selected as a 2022 Phoenix Titan 100. The Titan 100 program recognizes Phoenix’s Top 100 CEOs & C-level executives. According to Titan CEO, the honorees “are considered the area’s most accomplished business leaders in their industry using criteria that include demonstrating exceptional leadership, vision, and passion.”

Collectively the 2022 Phoenix Titan 100 and their companies employ upwards of 90,000 individuals and generate over $32 billion dollars in annual revenues.

Liz Shabaker is the CEO of Versant Capital Management, an independent wealth management and registered investment advisory (RIA) in Phoenix, Arizona. She has helped Versant become one of the largest independent RIAs in Arizona. As CEO, Liz manages the firm’s strategic direction, delivering Versant’s mission of helping people reach their life and financial goals and cultivating talent for future growth. Through Liz’s stewardship, Versant Capital Management is a fiduciary that acts in the best interests of the people it serves.

West Valley Arts Council appoints new executive director

West Valley Arts Council (WVAC)  announced that Michael Denson has been named Executive Director of West Valley Arts Council. Michael is a community-minded leader and artist, with extensive creative and consulting experience within the arts and culture sector, bringing new life to the role. He will be transitioning from his previously held interim Executive Director role into full time placement, effective this month.

“The Board of Directors is excited that Michael Denson will be leading the West Valley Arts Council,” said Jonathan Robles, Board President for WVAC. “Michael has demonstrated great leadership in his interim role and we are confident that he will continue to build a strong foundation for the WVAC. Michael appreciates the rich history of the WVAC and is passionate about growing the arts in the West Valley.”Michael joined WVAC in 2020 as the Gallery Director of the Arts HQ Gallery, quickly transforming the space into a sought out destination for diverse, innovative, and meaningful experiences in art. He was appointed Interim Executive Director in March of 2022 where he brought much needed visionary thinking and strategic planning to the role. His leadership and oversight ushered in a new, collaborative movement within WVAC, which has already led to the finalization of the organization’s exciting new 5 year strategic plan.

Cuningham appoints Nathan Harris as CFO

Cuningham, a national design firm, is pleased to announce the appointment of Nathan Harris as the firm’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

Harris will oversee the planning and direction of Cuningham’s fiscal functions and performance as well as provide strategic leadership around the firm’s financial affairs.

“We are thrilled to have Nathan join the Cuningham team,” says Cuningham CEO Jacqueline Dompe, who came on board this summer. “He has a proven track record of delivering results and providing value. His financial expertise and leadership qualities align with our values and he’ll be an invaluable addition to the team.”

Harris, a seasoned financial professional within the architecture/engineering/construction industry, joins Cuningham from HDR where, since 2015, he served as Vice President & Regional Accounting Director for the company’s Southwest Region.

P.B. Bell welcomes 3 new leadership team members

P.B. Bell, a leader in Arizona multifamily housing development and management, recently added three new members to the company’s leadership team. The executive team recently rehired Angela Hood to serve as vice president of development and promoted Jodi Silva and Georgia Eatherton to portfolio director.

In her new role, Hood is responsible for managing all P.B. Bell development projects from entitlements through issuance of building permits. This includes due diligence, underwriting, design, budgets, city submittals and utility coordination. Hood rejoins P.B. Bell with nearly 30 years of experience in development and construction. Most recently, she served as a project manager for M.T. Builders. Previous to M.T. Builders, Hood was vice president of development services at P.B. Bell, served as vice president of asset management at Acacia Capital, and managed new development planning for Centex Homes, Weststone Communities and Meritage Homes. 

As portfolio director, Silva will now oversee a diverse portfolio throughout metro Phoenix and is responsible for managing operations, financials, marketing and staff at each community. She began her career in multifamily with P.B. Bell in 2004 as a leasing agent. A year after she joined, the community sold and Jodi remained at the property as community manager for RK Properties. In 2010, Jodi returned to P.B. Bell as a community manager and was recently promoted to portfolio director. Jodi is a licensed Arizona Real Estate agent and holds a Certified Apartment Manager (CAM) and Certified Apartment Leasing Professional (CALP) designation from the National Apartment Association. 

Eatherton started in property management in 1999 as an assistant manager in Nebraska working with tax credit communities, single family homes and multifamily communities as well as her own investment property. She moved to Arizona in 2007 and returned to property management with P.B. Bell in 2013 as an assistant manager. She was quickly promoted to community manager in 2014 and has managed complete renovation projects, stabilized and lease-up communities. Eatherton graduated from Grand Canyon University and is a licensed Arizona Real Estate agent and holds a Certified Apartment Manager (CAM) designation.

“We’re thrilled to have Angela rejoin our team. We love to see top employees return to the company and thrive in their careers,” said Justin Steltenpohl, chief operating officer at P.B. Bell.

“Jodi and Georgia have earned this well-deserved promotion,” said Debbie Willis, president of property services. “It’s been a joy watching them grow over the years and we’re thrilled to promote both of them to portfolio director.”

P.B. Bell has been serving Arizona for more than 45 years as one of the state’s leading multifamily housing development and property management companies and is hiring for open positions. For career opportunities, visit https://pbbell.com/careers/.

For more information about P.B. Bell, please visit www.pbbell.com.

 

AZ Big Spotlight is sponsored by PNC Bank. Do you have an item about an Arizona business or business leader you’d like to see featured? Email it to michael.gossie@azbigmedia.com for consideration.