Rosary A. Hernandez joins Burch & Cracchiolo as partner
The law firm of Burch & Cracchiolo, P.A., announced Rosary A. Hernandez has joined the Firm as partner.
In practice for 29 years, she focuses on commercial and business litigation, professional liability defense, construction law, and tort defense including tortious interference and related claims.
Hernandez is a first-generation Cuban-American and has spent her career representing clients in litigation and arbitrations across the Southwest. She has expertise in managing complex matters ranging from professional malpractice claims to large commercial and construction-related disputes. For the last several years, her practice has focused on construction-related matters, assisting developers, builders and contractors manage their risks through appropriate insurance and contractual risk transfer.
She earned her J.D. from the University of Notre Dame Law School in 1993 and her B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin in 1990. In addition, Hernandez attended the Concannon Programme of International Law in London, England. She is admitted to practice in Arizona, New Mexico, California and Texas.
Associate Katelyn E. Towe joins Burch & Cracchiolo
The law firm of Burch & Cracchiolo, P.A., announced Katelyn “Katie” E. Towe has joined the Firm as an associate. Her practice primarily focuses on construction law and construction defect litigation.
Katie graduated from Arizona State University Sandra Day O’Connor School of Law in 2020. She was a Willard H. Pedrick Scholar; an O’Connor Merit Scholar; and received the Dean’s Recruitment Award. In addition, she was honored with the 2020 State Bar of Arizona Tax Law Section Scholarship.
In 2017, Katie graduated from Mercer University, cum laude, in Macon, GA with a B.A. in political science and a minor in chemistry and was on the Dean’s List.
Prior to joining Burch & Cracchiolo, Katie worked at a local Phoenix law firm where her practice focused on construction law and construction defect litigation. Katie also has prior experience with insurance defense and contractual disputes.
Ryan Abbott joins Clayco
To support its continued expansion in the Southwest, national design-build and construction company Clayco has hired Ryan Abbott as Executive Vice President, Southwest Region. Ryan will work across all Clayco business units, as well as subsidiaries Concrete Strategies, Lamar Johnson Collaborative, and Clayco Design and Engineering to accelerate Clayco’s growth in Arizona and the Southwest region.
“We are incredibly proud to have Ryan join our team,” said Anthony Johnson, Clayco Shareholder. “His industry experience, local knowledge and innovative perspective will enable him to provide valuable expertise across all of our business units and meaningful insights to our subsidiaries in their regional expansions.”
Established in 2021, Clayco’s Phoenix office has been awarded over $1 billion of local projects, including industrial distribution and manufacturing projects in Glendale and Mesa, as well as several mixed-use residential high-rises in downtown Phoenix. Most recently, Clayco celebrated the groundbreaking of 28-story PALMtower residences in downtown Phoenix and announced its upcoming office relocation to The Grove.
Steve Lowe Joins Colliers in Arizona
Steve Lowe has joined Colliers in Arizona as a senior vice president. He will specialize in industrial investment sales for the company, expanding its extensive team of industrial professionals.
Lowe is specifically building a team which focuses on private client investors and sale leaseback transactions.
“Steve brings a strong background in investment real estate acquired in a variety of markets across the country,” says Bob Mulhern, senior managing director of Colliers in Arizona. “His expertise in investment sales, as well as construction and development, will be a great asset to our Colliers clients.”
Prior to joining Colliers, Lowe was vice president with Matthews Real Estate Investment Services in Scottsdale. In that position he mentored a team of five associates and was a Top 20 broker nationally for the company, as well as a recipient of the firm’s Chairman Award. In addition, Lowe served as an investment associate with Marcus & Millichap in Encino, CA, specializing in office and industrial investment properties.
Lowe also owned and operated a successful construction and development company in Chicago, completing hundreds of rehab and adaptive re-use projects.
Sundt Construction adds Alex Billesbach
Sundt Construction recently added Alex Billesbach to its Building Group in Phoenix. As a field superintendent, Billesbach will join the expansion on the Royal Oaks campus in Sun City, Ariz.
“Alex brings a wide arrange of experience to our team,” said Shawn Blubaum, Sundt’s senior project manager for the Building Group. “He shows a real passion and drive for his work, and we are excited to bring him on.”
Billesbach has advanced through the ranks during his nine years in the construction industry. He started as a concrete layout crew member on numerous military jobs and worked in various trades on many hospitality projects across the United States, most recently becoming an assistant superintendent.
Sundt Construction promotes Lou Mantrom
Sundt Construction recently promoted Lou Mantrom to manager of craft talent acquisition. He will oversee a team of talent acquisition specialists for specialized skilled trades in his new role.
“Lou is very deserving of his promotion,” said Sean Ray, Sundt’s vice president of craft workforce development. “He has excelled in his previous role, and we are looking forward to his leadership in managing our craft recruiting team.”
Mantrom has over 35 years of recruiting and staffing experience in the construction industry. For the past five years, Mantrom has been responsible for placing hundreds of skilled tradespeople on Sundt’s projects across the country. His career began in the United States Army, where he received several leadership awards. Since completing his service to the country and before joining Sundt, he has spent time as a regional hiring coordinator in the construction industry.
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.
