Davis Miles McGuire Gardner names Gardner partner of firm
Davis Miles McGuire Gardner, the largest law firm in the Phoenix East Valley and the sixth-largest law firm in Arizona, has promoted attorney Preston Gardner to partner.
Since joining the firm in 2011, Gardner has focused his expertise and practice on bankruptcy debtor and creditor services as well as civil litigation. He also advises clients in every phase of liquidation and reorganization cases, from pre-filing planning through confirmation and consummation of plans to reorganization.
“Preston epitomizes how we strive to practice law,” said Pernell McGuire, managing partner and bankruptcy specialist of Davis Miles McGuire Gardner. “He has gained an impressive amount of experience at the firm and will be a true asset in assisting our clients.”
He graduated from the J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University. Prior to attending law school, Gardner lived in Sao Paulo, Brazil for two years and learned to speak Portuguese. He later returned to Sao Paulo for a six-week internship during law school.
Sundt’s McDowell, Ollanik take community leadership roles
Sundt’s Vice President and Tucson Regional Director Ian McDowell and Project Director Dave Ollanik have been selected to head two different Tucson organizations. McDowell will serve as the Vice Chairman for the Tucson Metro Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors in 2020, moving to the position of Chairman in 2021. Ollanik has been appointed chairman of the Metropolitan Pima Alliance Board.
McDowell has served as a member of the Tucson Metro Chamber’s Board of Directors for the past four years. A 25-year veteran of the construction industry, he has volunteered his time in various industry and community leadership roles across Southern Arizona, including Board of Director roles with Sun Corridor, Inc., the Arizona Bowl, and the January 8th Foundation. He is also an active volunteer with the civil engineering department at the University of Arizona and is a member of various committees within the Southern Arizona Leadership Council (SALC). McDowell oversees building operations in Southern Arizona for Sundt. In his tenure with the company, he has been involved in hundreds of projects in Southern Arizona, including Sundt’s award-winning renovation of Old Main on the University of Arizona campus, the new Pima Animal Care Center and the construction of the Tucson Mining Center for Caterpillar. McDowell earned his undergraduate degree in civil engineering from New Mexico State University and his MBA from the Eller College of Management at the University of Arizona.
Entering his eighth year as a member of the Metropolitan Pima Alliance Board, Ollanik has served in many different leadership roles in the region, including past chair of Triangle Y Ranch Camp Branch, Real Estate and Allied Professionals, and American Cancer Society. As project director at Sundt, one of the projects he manages is the construction of the University of Arizona Student Success District, Sundt’s 58th project with the university. A 32-year industry veteran, he holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Arizona.
Sundt has over 90 years of experience in Arizona, with offices in Tempe, Tucson and Phoenix. Ranked the third largest contractor in the Southwest by industry-leading publication ENR, Sundt is currently working on the University of Arizona Student Success District and is nearing completion on Oro Valley’s All Seasons Senior Living facility.
911 dispatcher becomes real estate agent
Platinum Living Realty, an independent luxury real estate brokerage with five offices across Arizona, announced that Jill Bullock has joined the brokerage. Most recently, Bullock spent 11 years as a 911 Dispatcher and Supervisor, where she assisted well over 100,000 callers. However, Bullock has always had a deep fascination with the home buying process and decided to pursue a career in real estate. She chose Platinum Living Realty for the tools and resources that they offer agents to help them succeed.
“Jill brings knowledge, experience and a determination to find the best solution in every transaction,” said Jay Macklin, co-owner of Platinum Living Realty. “Her unique background will be an excellent resource for fellow agents and the clients she serves.”
As a former 911 dispatcher who is married to a police detective, Bullock knows firsthand the long hours and difficult work that public safety professionals deal with daily. This knowledge is why she gives up to 25% of her commission toward closing costs for first responders, veterans, and dispatchers.
“My time as a 911 dispatcher provided me with the unique skill of remaining calm under pressure, a talent for negotiating and of course multi-tasking, all skills that have translated well to real estate,” said Bullock. “I’m excited to establish my new career and give back to those who help our community so much.”
Bullock was born and raised in Goodyear, Arizona, and has watched the West Valley grow tremendously over her lifetime. In turn, this has provided her a profound knowledge about the cities and surrounding areas as well as a true love of her hometown. Bullock also thrives in her role as the mother of three daughters.
Jill Cesky joins Platinum Living Realty
Platinum Living Realty, an independent luxury real estate brokerage with five offices across Arizona, announced that Jill Cesky has joined the brokerage. Based out of Platinum Living Realty’s DC Ranch office in Scottsdale, Cesky brings 8 years of experience to assist those looking to buy or sell a home.
“Cesky is a highly effective realtor, and we’re pleased to welcome her to Platinum Living Realty,” said Michelle Macklin, co-owner of Platinum Living Realty. “Both buyers and sellers love Cesky’s negotiation skills, she is incredibly successful at helping her clients achieve their goals.”
As an Arizona native with family in the real estate business since the 1980s, Cesky says she has a keen eye for real estate. Before becoming a real estate agent, Cesky graduated with her dual master’s degree, including an MBA, from Walden University and worked as a Producer for Insurance. Cesky has leveraged her expert negotiating skills to save home buying clients more money and help sell homes for more.
“My thorough marketing plans get homes sold, usually within 7 days of being on the market,” said Cesky. “I know Platinum Living Realty will help me continue to grow my real estate business and skills to further help my clients.”
Platinum Living Realty takes a different approach than traditional real estate brokerages by providing agents with customized coaching program highlighting 5 unique systems as well as a proprietary marketing package for their real estate agents that contains over 20 marketing tools to help effectively target and grow their businesses. They also offer consistent and individualized coaching to work through challenges and problems that arise as well as abundant opportunities for generating new leads and clients.
Platinum Living Realty now has over 160 dedicated real estate agents helping home buyers and sellers navigate Arizona’s real estate market. For more information and a list of available agents, visit platinumlivingrealty.com.
About AZ Business Leaders
AZ Business Leaders is an annual business-to-business publication that combines the who’s who of Arizona business community with their valuable leadership advice and knowledge. The magazine is published by AZ Big Media. To learn more about Az Business Leaders, contact Sheri Brown, director of sales.