Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Arizona gets new CFO

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (BCBSAZ) has named Mark El-Tawil as chief financial officer (CFO). In this role, El-Tawil will provide direction and accountability for all financial planning and management functions, as well as support the organization’s strategy and goals. 

“Mark’s role is essential to the success of our long-term growth strategy, future investments, and financial management and oversight,” said Pam Kehaly, president and CEO, BCBSAZ. “His financial and business expertise in healthcare, along with his positive and charismatic leadership, will complement and inspire the entire organization.”

El-Tawil joins BCBSAZ from P3 Health Group, where he served as CFO. He previously served as West Division Leader for Humana, where he worked for nearly 10 years. With more than 25 years of experience, El-Tawil has spent his career leading operations for health insurers and physician networks. He has lived in Arizona for more than 30 years and is dedicated to the community, having served on the boards of charitable and civic organizations, including Make-A-Wish® Arizona and John C. Lincoln Health Foundation.

Washington Federal hires Tucson branch manager

Washington Federal’s Grant and Craycroft branch, located at 5520 E. Grant Road in Tucson, has hired Theresa Mudd to serve as its branch manager. In her role, Mudd will be responsible for mortgage lending, business development and team leadership.

Mudd brings more than 13 years of experience to her role, including several years as the vice president and treasury management sales officer for Centier Bank as well as the vice president and community market director for First Merchants Bank. 

Mudd was awarded a Top 20 under 40 Award by The Times of Northwest Indiana for her active involvement in both her career and her community. Additionally, Mudd has been awarded Up & Coming Woman in Finance by the NWI Influential Women Awards, Rotarian of the Year from the Rotary Club of Munster, Ind., and a Gold Shield Award recipient for community involvement from First Merchants Banks. Mudd prides herself on municipal relationship, development and management, and is a Predictive Index Certified Analyst.

The Planning Center acquires Jacobson McLeod Landscape Architects

The Planning Center, a leading multi-disciplinary planning and landscape architecture firm, after two successful years in Tempe, led by Principal Jessica Sarkissian, AICP, has moved its offices to the Alma School Corporate Center in Mesa, AZ allowing immediate expansion and continued growth. 

“We are honored to join forces with such a reputable and professional organization,” said John P. Jacobson, RLA, Principal of Jacobson McLeod Landscape Architects. John will join The Planning Center’s Mesa office as a Principal.

The Planning Center has successfully operated in southern Arizona for over 30 years with a reputation for excellence in land planning, community visioning, and urban design.The Planning Center is a consulting firm that provides planning, landscape architecture, public involvement, and graphic communications services to both the public and private sectors.The company is a certified Small and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (SBE/DBE).

The new office is located at 1811 South Alma School Road, Suite #250, Mesa, AZ 85210.For more information, please call 480.750.7300 or visit www.azplanningcenter.com.

Offerpad hires Gint Grabauskas as CTO

Within three short years, on-demand homebuyer Offerpad, has seen 3x growth year-over-year, and is on pace to achieve $2.5 billion in annual real estate transactions. The company’s solution of providing certainty and ease when buying and selling a home was built on the backbone of decades of real estate experience and led by real estate agent innovator, Brian Bair. “We understand every pain point that occurs for the consumer during this process, and we are constantly striving to develop new solutions that will eliminate stress when purchasing a home. Our real estate background gives us this perspective, and our technology allows us to do it even more successfully,” said Bair.

Ongoing efforts to enhance the customer’s experience through data-driven technology solutions, includes an announcement of Gint Grabauskas’ as Offerpad’s chief technology officer. Grabauskas will oversee the company’s engineering and IT teams, and be responsible for quality assurance, system development and technology- powered product enhancements, including Offerpad’s Instant Access mobile app. He brings 20+ years of technology leadership with him, most recently as chief technology

officer at Arizona-based Vixxo. Grabauskas also served as vice president of engineering with GoDaddy, where he led the hosting business unit. Under his leadership the unit experienced significant growth which contributed to GoDaddy’s IPO in 2015.

“I am really excited to be part of the Offerpad team. Our technology stack is well-positioned to enable significant growth in the business,” said Grabauskas. “My goal will be to amplify this growth by focusing on a friction-less customer experience, and a world-class, scalable platform.”