United aims to quadruple the size of its fleet of training aircraft
United Aviate Academy in Goodyear announced that it aims to potentially quadruple the size of its fleet of training aircraft, in response to the surge of applications to the country’s only flight school owned by a major airline. The Academy will add 25 new, state-of-the art Cirrus TRAC SR20 training aircraft to its current fleet of 25, with the option to purchase up to 50 more.
United Aviate Academy has already received more than 12,000 applications since announcing the school in April 2021. The school officially opened in January and welcomed a historic inaugural class of future pilots, part of the airline’s effort to train at least 5,000 new pilots at the school by 2030, with the goal of at least half women or people of color.
United Aviate Academy also recently purchased seven state-of-the-art FRASCA simulators, including some with 220-degree wraparound displays, with the first of these brand-new flight simulators arriving in April. These high-quality flight simulators feature hardware and software that operates exactly like the aircraft, for maximum effectiveness for students.
“We’re investing in flight education as we train the next generation of United Airlines pilots, who are the future of our airline,” said Bryan Quigley, United’s Senior Vice President for Flight Operations for United Airlines. “These student pilots are receiving world-class flight training at United Aviate Academy and I’m looking forward to the day when they join our current United pilots on the flight deck.”
Dawn Gabel joins Dickinson Wright Phoenix office as a member
Dickinson Wright PLLC announced that Dawn Gabel has joined the firm’s Phoenix office as a Member.
Dawn focuses her practice on State and Local Tax law, including sales and use tax, property tax valuation, classification, planning and exemption issues, multistate compliance and voluntary disclosure programs, multistate nexus issues for both sale taxes and income taxes, income tax apportionment issues, and luxury and excise taxes. She represents clients across a broad range of industries, including energy, solar, computer data centers, construction contracting and development, retail, manufacturing, low-income housing, and golf courses and resort development. She provides counsel to her clients in transactional and compliance matters as well as representing them in audit and refund disputes from administrative tribunals through the appellate courts,
Dawn is a member of the Institute for Professionals in Taxation, and is a Subcommittee Co-Chair of the American Bar Association’s SALT subcommittee. She is also a member and former president of the Arizona Women Lawyers Association’s Maricopa Chapter. She is recognized as a leader in her field by Best Lawyers in America, Legal 500 United States, and Martindale-Hubbell and was recently named Best Lawyers 2022 Phoenix Tax Lawyer of the Year. Dawn received her B.A. from Arizona State University and her J.D. from University of Arizona College of Law.
Sundt Construction promotes 6 in transportation group
Sundt Construction promoted Chris Elison, Janene Thomas, Zack Hoover, Greg Gottron, Daniel Kalfayan and Jose Gamez in its Transportation Group.
“All of these promotions are extremely well deserved,” said Travis McCarthy, Sundt’s Southwest Regional Manager for its Transportation Group. “These employee-owners have done excellent work so far, many of them starting their careers at Sundt as interns, and I am excited for them to step into these larger roles.”
Elison, promoted to senior project manager, has been with Sundt for 15 years. He served as the project manager for the award-winning Gilbert Light Rail Extension in Mesa, Ariz., and is currently leading the construction of one of the City of Phoenix’s drought pipeline projects along 32nd Street from Shea Boulevard to Bell Road.
With 16 years of experience, Thomas was promoted to a senior project manager role. Her notable projects include the Union Pacific Strauss Fueling facility in New Mexico and various other projects within Arizona.
Hoover, who worked with Ellison on the Gilbert Road Light Rail Extension as well as other projects in both Texas and Arizona, has been promoted to project manager. Gottron, promoted to project superintendent, has nearly 30 years of industry experience, including nearly 20 years at Sundt.
Kalfayan has been promoted from project engineer to field superintendent. He has 18 years of industry experience, and one of his most notable projects is the award-winning Sellwood Bridge in Portland, Ore. Gamez has four years of experience at Sundt and has been promoted to project engineer. He has worked on the new Banner University Medical Center tower in Tucson, Ariz., and is currently working with Elison on the City of Phoenix’s drought pipeline project.
Sundt has been building critical infrastructure across Arizona for more than 90 years. Headquartered in Tempe, the company continually ranks in the top five of ENR Southwest’s Top Contractors. Sundt’s current work in the Valley includes expansions for the Royal Oaks Community. Recently, the company completed Gila River Hotels & Casinos – Wild Horse Pass, the Canopy by Hilton Tempe and the award-winning Gilbert Road Light Rail Extension.
Sundt Construction adds Emilie Bell to legal team
Sundt Construction added Emilie Bell as assistant general counsel within its legal department. She will be responsible for providing legal support to the company’s Building Group.
“We are excited to have Emilie join our legal team,” said Ron Stuff, Sundt’s Senior Vice President and General Counsel. “She brings excellent and relevant experience and will provide the kind of solution-oriented, practical legal advice essential for Sundt’s continued growth and success.”
Bell practiced law for two firms in the Chicago area before moving to Phoenix in 2004. Since then, she has focused her practice on construction and corporate law, where, in addition to contractors, she also regularly represented surety companies in construction-related matters.
“I am delighted to join and work for such a well-respected company,” said Bell. “Sundt has such a great reputation, and I am looking forward to working with our many different teams throughout the western United States.”
Bell received her J.D. from DePaul University in 2000. She earned her bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Missouri – Columbia. Bell is a member of the State Bar of Arizona and the State Bar of Illinois.
RE/MAX Fine Properties expands to White Mountains
RE/MAX Fine Properties is growing its footprint across the State. Local Show Low real estate agent, Tamie Aguilera, will be the Branch Manager of The Aguilera Team, the first and only RE/MAX Fine Properties office in the White Mountains.
“I am excited to be part of the RE/MAX Fine Properties office,” said Aguilera. “Although our home base is in the White Mountains, The Aguilera Team is proud to be able to offer service statewide. The vision for this team is to bring together agents with a common goal to provide the best possible client experience. We are currently recruiting marketing savvy, motivated and inspired agents to The Aguilera Team throughout Arizona.”
Voted a Top Three Realtor in the White Mountains, Aguilera brings a level of expertise and understanding to the rapidly changing residential real estate market. As an actively practicing agent for the last two years, she has made a substantial impact in the White Mountains real estate community. Last year alone, Aguilera closed $12 million in volume.
The new RE/MAX branch is located at 1141 E. Cooley Street, Suite E in Show Low. The new location will include two agents and expand over the coming months. For more information about Tamie Aguilera or this office, visit theaguilerateamaz.com, or call (928) 600-8708.
Gina McKinley recognized for performance in luxury real estate
Gina McKinley with RE/MAX Fine Properties in Scottsdale, AZ earned The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing’s Million Dollar GUILD™ recognition for experience, knowledge, and expertise in million-dollar and above residential properties. McKinley is a Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist™ (CLHMS), part of an exclusive group of real estate professionals who have completed The Institute’s training and have a proven performance in the upper-tier market.
“Agents who have earned the GUILD™ recognition are performing at the highest level in their community,” said Diane Hartley, president of The Institute. “It takes a superior level of service to be successful and consistently close sales at or above one million dollars. We want to recognize this performance and give these elite professionals the earned distinction that they are the agent of choice for affluent buyers and sellers.”
The specialized training and ongoing membership with The Institute affords McKinley the knowledge and tools to better serve affluent clients. The GUILD™ recognition provides evidence of the successful commitment to service at the highest level. “Serving my client’s needs and negotiating for their best interests is my highest priority,” said McKinley. “I firmly believe that education is one of the ways I can better advise my clients by staying on top of the market and industry trends. Having the performance to back up that education is just one way I can be a trusted advisor for all my clients.”
Gina McKinley has been in real estate since 1996 and specializes in the Scottsdale and East Valley areas of the Phoenix market. She has consistently ranked in the top 1% of all real estate agents in Arizona and has achieved multiple professional designations including Special Real Estate Commissioner and Certified Residential Specialist.
For more information about the luxury market in Scottsdale and the greater East Valley, visit AZFineLiving.net or contact Gina McKinley with RE/MAX Fine Properties at 480-355-8645 or Gina@LocateArizonaHomes.com.
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