Habitat for Humanity Central Arizona announces new hires
Habitat for Humanity Central Arizona (Habitat) announced the addition of two new amazing staff members to their team in Phoenix. First, introducing Kirby Milner, the new Director of Advocacy and Community Relations at Habitat. With a background in Social Work and Public Administration, she is dedicated to tackling the housing crisis in Arizona. Kirby holds a BSW from Arizona State University and a dual master’s in social work and public administration from Binghamton University, State University of New York.
Kirby recognizes the complexity of the housing crisis in Phoenix and firmly believes in secure and affordable housing for all. She has successfully managed programs focusing on homelessness, affordable housing, and housing stability, resulting in tangible improvements for individuals and families facing housing insecurity. Her collaborative leadership style fosters partnerships, driving change collectively.
Her dedication to serving underserved populations, especially veterans, families, and those experiencing homelessness, drives Kirby’s advocacy for prioritized support and resources to secure stable housing. She will be instrumental in combating the housing crisis, inspiring change and delivering accessible housing solutions for our greater Phoenix community.
In addition, seasoned retail expert Peter Agnos has joined Habitat for Humanity to drive success at the Habitat ReStores. With two decades of experience in retail sales, operations, and corporate development, Peter brings a wealth of knowledge to the table.
Peter’s journey began in 2005 at Leslie’s Poolmart, where he climbed the ranks from Sales Associate to multi-unit District Manager. In his final role as enterprise Director of Retail Operations for Leslie’s, Inc., Peter oversaw a vast network of almost 1,000 locations across 38 states. Coordinating a team of over 5,000, his strategic planning and collaborative execution of chain-wide initiatives have yielded impressive results, earning him numerous awards for sales growth, profitability and spearheading the establishment of over 90 new stores.
Armed with an Economics degree from the University of Nevada Las Vegas and having made Arizona his home for the past nine years, Peter joins Habitat for Humanity with his wife, Sarah, and their two children. With a focus on family-oriented values, Peter aims to unlock and empower individuals through education, coaching, and talent development. By streamlining processes and eliminating obstacles, he creates an environment where teams can flourish. As he steps into his new role, Peter looks forward to leveraging the expertise of the talented individuals at Habitat for Humanity to continue and amplify the success of Habitat ReStores.
Communications veteran Tom Evans joins Lumen Strategies
Valley communications and marketing veteran Tom Evans is joining the fast-growing firm Lumen Strategies, a Phoenix-based team of public affairs, public relations, government relations and campaign experts.
Evans, who has almost three decades of experience in the Arizona marketplace in public relations, marketing and communications, will expand the firm’s base of corporate and nonprofit clients as well as bolstering its creative and design capabilities in advance of the 2024 election cycle.
Lumen Strategies is a Phoenix-based firm that represents many of the state’s best corporations, causes, companies, and people crazy enough to run for office. Lumen specializes in PR, crisis communications, campaign management, public affairs, lobbying, creative product development – and above all, really great guidance.
Evans previously served as Partner-Public Relations and Event Strategies for ON Advertising in Phoenix before leaving the firm earlier this month. He was the co-founder and co-owner of Evans Communications, a boutique public relations, marketing and event planning firm that was acquired by ON Advertising in 2020.
Evans and Lumen Strategies co-founder Stacy Pearson have been friends and colleagues for almost two decades, and Evans said he is excited about the opportunity to work with Pearson and her team moving forward.
“Stacy and the team are experiencing tremendous growth and well-earned recognition as one of Arizona’s premier firms,” he said. “I’m proud to join the roster.”
Phoenix Children’s expands pediatric orthopedic surgery team
As Phoenix Children’s continues to prioritize clinical excellence and translational research with the hope of advancing new treatments for devastating childhood illnesses, the health system has added another internationally renowned surgeon-scientist to its medical staff. Maegen Wallace, MD, MBA, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon and expert in osteogenesis imperfecta, or brittle bone disease, joined the Herbert J. Louis Center for Orthopedics and Sports Medicine at Phoenix Children’s last month.
“Dr. Wallace brings a level of clinical skill in osteogenesis imperfecta to Phoenix Children’s that doesn’t exist anywhere else in the Southwest.,” said Matthew Halanski, MD, division chief of orthopedics and sports medicine and Herbert J. Louis Endowed Chair in Orthopedics. “I have worked with Dr. Wallace for many years and have witnessed her incredible dedication to treating children facing debilitating diseases and I know she will be a strong addition to our team of talented clinicians and researchers.”
Dr. Wallace comes to Phoenix Children’s from Children’s Hospital and Medical Center in Omaha, where she served as the Dr. Paul and Bernadette Esposito Endowed Chair in Pediatric Bone Disorders and held other clinical and academic leadership roles. At the Herbert J. Louis Center for Orthopedics and Sports Medicine at Phoenix Children’s, Dr. Wallace will focus on lower-extremity issues, osteogenesis imperfecta and other rare skeletal diseases. On the research front, she will continue her work to define best clinical practices for patients with brittle bone disease and uncover new treatment options.
“Phoenix Children’s emphasis on research and the chance to work once again with Dr. Halanski are what drew me to Phoenix Children’s,” said Dr. Wallace. “I’m deeply committed to filling gaps in care for kids with osteogenesis imperfecta and am excited to expand on the excellent clinical foundation that Dr. Pam Smith from Phoenix Children’s endocrinology team has established. At the same time, I’m thrilled to have Phoenix Children’s support in continuing my research to improve quality of life for children everywhere.”
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