Banner MD Anderson names new director
Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center recently named Rogerio Lilenbaum, MD, as its new director. He’ll begin the new role on Feb. 3, providing leadership, vision, direction and development of all Banner MD Anderson clinical programs and its enterprise-wide efforts.
He joins Banner from Yale New Haven Health and Yale School of Medicine, where he most recently served as chief medical integration officer for ambulatory services. Between 2013 and 2018, Lilenbaum served as the first chief medical officer for the Yale Cancer Center and Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale-New Haven. There he oversaw clinical programs, clinical operations, as well as quality, safety and network development for the cancer program.
“Our relationship with Banner MD Anderson is strengthened with Dr. Lilenbaum joining the team,” said Michael Kupferman, MD, senior vice president, Clinical and Academic Network Development for MD Anderson Cancer Network. “He’s an experienced, forward-thinking health care leader, and the team in Houston looks forward to working with him.”
Prior to 2013, Lilenbaum was chairman of the Cancer Institute at the Cleveland Clinic in Florida.
Glendale names new budget and finance director
Lisette Camacho has been selected to be the new budget and finance director for the city of Glendale. Camacho has over 13 years of experience in governmental accounting, fiscal management and reporting, budget preparation and the management of complex financial data. She has been serving as the interim director of the Budget and Finance Department since May of this year.
“During the competitive recruitment process, it was clear that Lisette had the technical skills, the ethics and integrity as well as the leadership acumen required to oversee critical financial areas for Glendale,” said Glendale City Manager Kevin Phelps. “She has been an integral part of our finance team at every level and helped lead the efforts to refinance debt, which saved the city millions of dollars over the past several years.”
Ms. Camacho joined the city of Glendale in May 2013. She has served as the city’s Accounting Manager, Controller, Assistant Budget and Finance Director and Interim Budget and Finance Director.
“Lisette is a leader who works hard and brings a lot of energy to what she does,” said Assistant City Manager Vicki Rios. “As the project manager for the recent Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) project, she played a key role with getting our new financial system implemented and she has many good ideas for how we can do things better going forward.”
Chris Briggs named permanent Glendale Police chief
Glendale City Manager Kevin Phelps announced this afternoon that Chris Briggs, interim chief of police, will now serve in his law enforcement leadership role permanently. Briggs served as the assistant chief of police from February 2016 to August 2019 before being appointed to the interim chief of police position.
“Chris Briggs is a proven leader, a man who embodies the vision and values of our city and an example of dedication to and growth within the organization,” said Glendale City Manager Kevin Phelps. “We’re fortunate that we have an amazing police leadership team, now led by Briggs, who are fully focused on accountability, diversity, transparency and keeping our community safe.”
Briggs joined the Glendale Police Department in 1992 and has served in many capacities throughout his tenure including, Patrol, Criminal Investigations, the Professional Standards Unit, Special Operations, and the assistant chief overseeing the Investigations and Administrative Bureau where he was responsible for criminal investigations, undercover operations, training, personnel management, planning and research, grants and the department budget. Briggs has also planned special events and contingency responses for events including NFL and NHL games, Super Bowls, city events and Luke Air Force Base air shows.
World-famous organist joins Organ Stop Pizza
Organ Stop Pizza, home to the Mighty Wurlitzer Organ in Mesa announced that effective January 1, 2020, organist Brett Valiant will be relocating from Wichita, Kansas to the Valley of the Sun and take on a larger role in a regular playing schedule.
Brett Valliant realized his love of music at an early age, and began piano studies at age 4, continuing through organ instruction at Wichita State University. Brett’s professional career began at age 11, and by the age of 15, he was playing concerts around the United States. Since then he has appeared in Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Additionally, in the U.S. Brett has performed for the American Film Institute, as well as conventions of the American Theatre Organ Society (ATOS) and the American Guild of Organists (AGO).
“Brett has been a key substitute here for more than a decade and is known as a top talent in the theater organ world,” said Brad Bishop, co-owner. “We are very confident Brett will continue the tradition of excellence in entertainment that our customers have come to expect at Organ Stop.”
Because of the complexities to master the uniqueness of the Mighty Wurlitzer, there are only a small group of organists qualified to play the instrument. Brett will perform on a regular schedule along with organist Lew Williams. The complete organist schedule can be found on organstoppizza.com.
Platinum Living Realty appoints COO
Platinum Living Realty (PLR), an independent luxury real estate brokerage with four offices across Arizona, announced that Brittnie Douglas has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer (COO) at the growing brokerage. As COO, Brittnie will oversee the day-to-day operations of the company as well as continue to act as Managing Broker and Lead Transaction Coordinator.
“Brittnie has been instrumental in the success and growth of Platinum Living Realty and was a key part of our rebranding effort after going independent more than a year ago,” said Michelle Macklin, co-owner of Platinum Living Realty. “Through her constant hard work, dedication, leadership and creativity, Brittnie has created an inviting and warm culture at PLR by always going above and beyond for our agents, staff, and clients.”
In the summer of 2018, Platinum Living Realty owners and husband-and-wife team Jay and Michelle Macklin made the decision to take their growing brokerage firm independent and to separate from the national brand they had been working with for a number of years. Douglas helped strategize and roll out the rebrand and support agents through the transition. Now, Platinum Living Realty has established itself as a leader in the Valley’s real estate scene.
“We expect another year of expansion in 2020, making now the perfect time to elevate Brittnie to the role of COO to help us manage and maintain our growth,” said Jay Macklin, Co-owner of Platinum Living Realty. “Brittnie is highly respected throughout our organization for her knowledge, work ethic, strategic mindset, and management skills; we’re lucky to have her part of our leadership team.”
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