ABI Multifamily adds 2 new brokers

ABI Multifamily, the leading multifamily brokerage and advisory services firm in the Western U.S., has added two talented brokers to the Phoenix team. Trevor Hardy and John Fernbach joined the Phoenix office of ABI earlier this month.

“The multifamily brokerage market is on fire,” says ABI Senior Managing Partner, John Kobierowski. “When we moved into our headquarters building less than two years ago, I wasn’t sure we’d ever fill the space. Now things are getting cozy, as we continue to add to our team to meet the growing demand in this hot market. We’ve already sold 22 apartment buildings in 2020, and we’re only two months in!” 

Fernbach comes to ABI with nine years of experience in business management and multifamily brokerage, and a passion for providing superior customer service. John enjoys travel, food, and all things outdoors. His most memorable personal achievements include completing a full distance Ironman and biking across the United States. Fernbach has a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Miami University. 

Hardy brings seven years of experience in the multifamily industry, specializing in sub 100-unit apartment communities in the Phoenix metropolitan area. Trevor brings a high level of expertise to the private capital sector of the market. He prides himself on taking a hands-on approach and gaining in-depth understanding of each deal to best serve the needs of his clients. He also has personal experience in property ownership, development, and management. Hardy holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from University of Utah.

Transcend Security names Darwyn Harp EVP

Transcend Security, one of the nation’s largest and fastest-growing private security companies, is pleased to announce that industry veteran Darwyn Harp has joined the firm as its Executive Vice President-Operations and Principal.

Harp will be responsible for all aspects of operational and management strategies of Transcend Security’s Class A High-Rise and Commercial Division. He will report directly to Chris Vetter, Co-Founder and CEO Transcend Security.

“I am pleased to welcome Darwyn, who brings extensive leadership experience in the high-rise and commercial property vertical market to Transcend Security,” Vetter said. “Darwyn’s skill set, strong financial expertise and impressive accomplishments will further strengthen our management team as we continue to execute against our strategic growth initiatives and long-term vision for the business.”

Prior to joining Transcend Security, Harp enjoyed a 23-year career with Hines, a worldwide leader in global real estate investment, development and management. He most recently served as General Property Manager with responsibility for the American Airlines relationship. Prior to Hines, Harp served as an Investment Analyst for private placement debt and equity firm, Rice Capital, as well as Assistant Vice President for NationsBank.

Act One names West Valley resident as executive director

Act One, founded in 2011 by Mac and Russ Perlich to bring students from Title 1 schools on arts field trips, announced today that the Act One Board is pleased to welcome Bernadette Carroll as the new executive director of Act One. A seasoned arts administrator, Carroll has been the executive director at the West Valley Arts Council for the past seven years. Carroll will start in her new role at Act One on March 2.

“We’re delighted to have Bernadette join the Act One team,” said Act One Board President Mistie Weishaar. “She brings a wealth of arts education and organizational management experience to Act One and is well-prepared to lead the organization into the next phase of its development.”

“I am thrilled to join Act One and work with its amazing team and board of directors,” commented Carroll. “I look forward to contributing to this growing organization. Act One’s services and community focus align perfectly with my experience and passion for arts education.”

While at West Valley Arts Council, Carroll worked with the City of Surprise to create the Arts HQ Gallery, a regional arts venue for exhibits, concerts and classes that also serves at the West Valley Council’s home office; partnered with the City of Goodyear and Estrella by Newland Communities to turn a longstanding classical music festival into a major music event with national headline acts; worked with local schools on arts education programs and growing a professional development program for arts and music teachers; and built a strong artist community in the West Valley, providing them venues to exhibit and perform, and hone their craft.

Prior to becoming the executive director of the West Valley Arts Council, Carroll was the executive director at the Scottsdale Artists’ School for nearly two years. She also worked for the West Valley Arts Council for seven years as general manager and at Burlington City Arts in Burlington, Vermont, as the director of education.

Phoenix-based recruitment search firm, Duffy Group, assisted Act One with its executive search process.

Greenberg Traurig adds Insurance Litigation Group

Global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP has expanded its Insurance and Litigation practices with the addition of Shareholder Jon T. Neumann and Of Counsel Aaron J. Lockwood in Phoenix, and Of Counsel Lisa M. Petrovsky in Los Angeles.

Lori G. Cohen and Jeff E. Scott, co-chairs of Greenberg Traurig’s Global Litigation Practice, noted, “We are very focused on building our Litigation Practice to meet increasing client demand. Hiring these three skilled litigators, with extensive experience in the insurance market, reflects our ability to identify and recruit talented practitioners as we position ourselves to address the needs of clients.” Scott is also co-managing shareholder of Greenberg Traurig’s Los Angeles office.

“This group’s depth of experience in complex insurance industry disputes and sophisticated commercial litigation make them outstanding additions for our clients,” said Nicole Goodwin, managing shareholder of the firm’s Phoenix office.  “We are proud to welcome them to Greenberg Traurig and to continue to grow our office.” 

“Greenberg Traurig’s strong reputation not only in insurance and litigation but also a full range of practices critical to our clients was an important factor in our decision to join the firm. We look forward to contributing to this very successful platform and collaborating with our new colleagues across the firm,” noted Neumann, Lockwood, and Petrovsky in a joint statement. 

 Neumann is an experienced litigator representing insurers and other clients in complex disputes in federal and state courts, as well as in varied domestic and international arbitral forums.  Neumann represents health insurers in health-benefits litigation and other high-stakes disputes with health care providers. He guides insurers through the legal aspects of complex coverage disputes, including class actions involving institutional bad faith claims, national insurance claim-handling programs, and computerized evaluation tools. He provides coordinating counsel services for the national defense of institutional claim-handling programs and offers counseling services to help insurers avoid litigation and minimize bad-faith exposure. Neumann also advises on the efficient and fair management of claim-handling operations. 

Lockwood represents insurers in disputes arising from insurance coverage, claim handling, and alleged insurer bad faith, as well as other complex business disputes. He regularly represents insurance companies against contractual, extra-contractual, and punitive damages claims involving a range of insurance products. Lockwood represents health insurers in virtually all aspects of benefits litigation, as well as in high-stakes disputes with providers. He also advises corporate clients in a variety of complex litigation matters in state and federal courts and in arbitral forums around the country. 

Petrovsky focuses her practice on the representation of insurance companies in complex arbitrations and litigation before federal and state courts. She advises on a wide range of coverage disputes, including products liability and toxic tort matters, issues involving property damage, and health insurance payor/provider matters. Petrovsky has deep experience in general commercial litigation and defends corporate clients in environmental and products liability cases. 

The three are joining from the Phoenix office of Steptoe. During the past five years (since Jan. 1, 2015) Greenberg Traurig has added more than 75 attorneys to its Los Angeles and Phoenix offices collectively, including more than 25 in Litigation, more than 15 in Corporate, and 15 in Real Estate alone, all among key areas of practice for the firm’s clients.

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