Shane Gillaspie promoted to president of FirstService Residential Arizona
FirstService Residential, North America’s leading HOA management company, announced Shane Gillaspie has been promoted to president of its Arizona market effective July 1, 2023. FirstService Residential Arizona’s 350 associates serve 150 community associations consisting of 90,000 homes from four office locations throughout the state.
“Service is in our DNA and I look forward to working with our dedicated team members to expand on the success we have seen throughout Arizona in recent years,” said Shane Gillaspie, president, FirstService Residential Arizona. “Growth as an organization is a direct result of investing in and developing team members, cultivating a strong culture, and focusing on delivering what we promise to clients day in and day out.” Gillaspie continued, “I have experienced this firsthand as an associate and leader within FirstService Residential and will bring this same mindset to Arizona.”
Gillaspie has been with FirstService Residential since 2017 overseeing its Northern California operations as executive vice president. Under his leadership, the growth metrics in northern California are the highest in the west region, which is currently comprised of Arizona, California, and Nevada during that time span.
“Shane has been, and continues to be, a significant contributor to the overall growth and health
of the company,” said Bob Cardoza, President West Region. “During his tenure, his leadership and operational results in our Northern California markets are unparalleled and stand out as a model of consistency that our customers and associates appreciate and value.” Cardoza continued, “I am appreciative of Shane’s efforts and dedication, excited to see him take this next step in his career, and I know that Shane will have an enormous impact on our Arizona market as well as the west region.”
Google selects Botco.ai for Startups Latino Founders Fund
Botco.ai, the GenAI Chat Cloud company, announced today it has been selected by Google as a recipient of $150,000 in cash as part of Google’s Latino Founder Fund, which aims to support Latino entrepreneurs in the United States. Originally from Costa Rica, Botco.ai CEO Rebecca Clyde co-founded the company in 2018 and has overseen its tremendous growth within the intelligent chat industry.
“I am incredibly honored to have been selected as the proud recipient of the prestigious Google Latino Founders Fund,” said Rebecca Clyde. “This recognition is a testament to our advanced innovation and the immense potential of the Botco.ai GenAI Chat Cloud. With the support and resources offered by this award, Botco.ai will forge ahead in our mission to revolutionize customer engagement and transform the way businesses connect with their audiences.”
The Google for Startups Latino Founders Fund provides $150,000 cash awards — without giving up equity in return — and hands-on support to help Latino entrepreneurs build and grow their businesses in the US. In addition to non-dilutive capital and up to $100,000 in Google Cloud credits, recipients also receive hands-on mentorship from Googlers, along with other resources such as sales training, investor prep, mental health therapy, and community offerings at no cost.
“We are extremely proud to be supporting the work done by Botco.ai with the 2023 Google for Startups Latino Founders Fund,” said Google for Startups Marketing Lead Daniel Navarro. “Botco.ai’s mission to empower businesses with people through helpful, relevant, and personalized AI conversations stood out amongst applicants and we are looking forward to helping them continue making an impact in the CRM and software industry.”
Adrienne Andrews joins JLL’s Phoenix office
JLL announced today that Adrienne (Kautzman) Andrews has joined the firm’s Phoenix Capital Markets office as a Managing Director in its Hotels & Hospitality division. Andrews will focus on debt advisory transactions in the Western U.S. with a particular emphasis on growing the group’s select-service presence in the region.
Andrews brings fourteen years of hotels and capital markets experience to the role. She has been involved in over $1 billion in hotel loans over her tenure in commercial real estate. Prior to joining JLL, Andrews served as Senior Vice President at CBRE in Phoenix, where she specialized in placement of debt and equity for individual and portfolios of hospitality properties throughout the U.S.
“We are thrilled to welcome Adrienne to the JLL team. She brings outstanding experience, along with exceptional client relationships and we look forward to her growing our hotel financing business in the western US.” said Hotels & Hospitality group Americas CEO Kevin Davis.
Andrews was a consistent top performer at her prior firm and has established herself as a respected industry executive. She has been honored as one of GlobeSt.’s 2020 Women of Influence and recognized as an honoree with Connect Women in Real Estate in 2020.
“Adrienne’s ability to consistently drive results in a dynamic environment sets her apart from others in the field. Her interpersonal skills and leadership mentality will help her go far at JLL. The Phoenix office is lucky to have her join our team,” said Phoenix office co-head and Senior Managing Director Brad Miner.
JLL’s Hotels & Hospitality Group has completed more transactions than any other hotels and hospitality real estate advisor over the last five years, totalling $83 billion worldwide. The group’s 370-strong global team in over 20 countries also closed more than 7,350 advisory, valuation and asset management assignments. Our hotel valuation, brokerage, asset management and consultancy services have helped more hotel investors, owners and operators achieve high returns on their assets than any other real estate advisor in the world.
Kin Insurance enters Arizona
Kin, the direct-to-consumer home insurance company built for every new normal, today announced its expansion into Arizona. The Grand Canyon State marks Kin’s first move into the U.S. Southwest, and it builds upon Kin’s growth and success in coastal, catastrophe-prone states like Florida, Louisiana, South Carolina, Mississippi, and Alabama.
Arizona is experiencing rapid population growth and surging property values, but its extreme heat is also dialing up the frequency and severity of natural hazards like wildfires. And it’s not just temperatures playing a role – Arizona’s nearly three-decade-long drought is exacerbating the problem and putting more homes at risk.
“Climate change is increasing the number of dry days we see in the desert, and it’s creating a pressing need for improved home insurance options for the state’s longer wildfire seasons,” said Sean Harper, CEO of Kin. “Every home is different and carries its own risk, so the cost of Arizona home insurance can vary greatly. That’s why we look at granular insurance data, like the home’s location, age, and construction type, to assess its actual risk, rather than the general risk for the area, and provide comprehensive coverage with accurate prices.”
Arizona residents can learn more and receive a quote by visiting www.kin.com/home-insurance/arizona.
Az Business Leaders: The AZ Big Spotlight is sponsored by AZ Business Leaders, an annual business-to-business publication that combines the who’s who of Arizona business community with their valuable leadership advice and knowledge. The magazine is published by AZ Big Media. To learn more about Az Business Leaders, contact Sheri Brown, director of sales.
