1. The 2015-2016 NAIOP Arizona Developing Leaders Mentor Program protégés have been announced. Each protégé was selected to participate in the year-long program in which they will attend educational seminars and complete a full scale development project by the end of their year. The new class includes:Billy Cundiff, an Arizona State University MRED student; David Dickson, Wentworth Property Company; Greg Barrett, Colliers International; Kate Perrin, Beal Derkenne Construction; Leo Sanchez, Fidelity National Title; Martina Stephan, EPS Group; Michael Marsh, Lee & Associates; Sam Dul, Willmeng Construction; Samuel Doncaster, Rose Law Group; Thomas Maynard, GPEC; Tim Colquhoun, National Bank of Arizona; andJason Ploszaj, RSP Architects. This year’s mentors include Tony Lydon, JLL; Cathy Thuringer, Trammell Crow Company; Larry Pobuda, Opus Group; James Murphy, Willmeng; Jim Wentworth Jr., Wentworth Property Company; Mike Burke, DMB Associates; Scott Maxwell, Cresa; Alisa Timm, Lincoln Property Company; Barry Gabel and Pat Feeney, CBRE; Megan Creecy-Herman, Liberty Property Trust; andFred Messner, Phoenix Design One.

2. The Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA) has presented Juan Salgado, executive director of the Phoenix IDA, with its Excellence Award for Leadership. Salgado has more than three decades of experience in community development, public finance and affordable housing.

Boards & Commissions

3. Jennifer Cranston of law firm ofGallagher & Kennedy has been appointed secretary and director of governance for the board of directors of AZCREW, one of the founding chapters of the Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) Network. She will serve a one-year term beginning Jan. 2016. Jennifer joined AZCREW in 2014 and became co-chair of the Sponsorship Committee in 2015.

Promotions

4. The Weitz Company appointed Chris Harrison as Executive Vice President and General Manager of their Phoenix office. With over 28 years of Weitz experience, Chris has a proven record of developing high-performing construction teams and has an intense focus on customer advocacy. Mike Bontrager was promoted to Executive Vice President; with his three decades of experience in Phoenix he shifts to a full-time focus on business development to help capitalize on the Phoenix market growth opportunity.

Transitions

5. CBRE hired Mari Lederman in the firm’s Phoenix office, where she will partner with Kate Morris, Vince Femiano and Katie Kelley as part of the Phoenix Healthcare Services team. Mari will focus her attention on the needs of the team’s larger physician group clients, ambulatory care providers and specialized users like surgical centers.

6. The City of Glendale has selected Kevin Phelps as its new City Manager, pending confirmation. Selected from a field of six semifinalists, Kevin is the assistant county executive – the equivalent of an assistant county manager – for Pierce County, Washington.

7. Caretaker Landscape & Tree Management hired Kent Miller as President. Kent is a long time veteran of the commercial landscape contracting market. He will be providing leadership and direction to both Maintenance and Construction operations while leveraging the company’s strengths to accelerate growth.

8. Richard Hubbard has resigned as president and CEO of Westmarc, the West Valley economic and business group. Richard previously served as president and CEO of the Valley Partnership commercial real estate group, having held that post from July 2006 to December 2014. Westmarc’s two staffers, Darah Mann and Ashley Scott, are also leaving the business promotion and attraction group.