Jameson appointed director of admissions for Desert Willow

Nancy Jameson has been named director of admissions for Desert Willow, the new assisted living center under construction to open this fall at Sagewood, a resort-style senior living community in northeast Phoenix.

Jameson has been with Sagewood for nearly six years, previously serving as a residency sales counselor where she worked directly with prospective residents in the independent living sales process, from inquiry to residency. Her past experience also includes managing an assisted living facility.

In her new role, Jameson will be responsible for the admissions program to Desert Willow at Sagewood and informing prospective residents and their families of its offerings.

Desert Willow assisted living will be available to residents living at Sagewood as well as direct admissions of non-Sagewood residents. Designed with a distinct Southwestern architecture and elegantly-appointed residential-centered interiors for individuals to feel at home, Desert Willow will provide care to maintain the highest level of independence. Private suites with a kitchenette, living room and separate bedroom will be offered, along with a central neighborhood living room and kitchen area which will serve as a gathering place to socialize and make friends.

JE Dunn hires diversity and inclusion leader

JE Dunn Construction has hired Mel Jones as a senior diversity & inclusion manager. Based out of the company’s Portland office, Jones will lead initiatives for JE Dunn throughout the western United States. With over 25 years of experience in construction, including diversity and inclusion, Jones will support a collaborative and innovative culture throughout the firm. He will be responsible for fostering an open and inclusive environment that will enhance project outcomes. 

Most recently, Jones was responsible for supporting talent management, ensuring compliance, and driving community engagement as the national director of diversity and inclusion for one of the largest construction companies in the United States. Jones has led new strategies and implemented quality processes to achieve success with diversity at all levels of the design and construction process. Jones dedicates his time to community organizations, including past appointments as advisory board chair for Oregon Association of Minority Entrepreneurs (OAME) and as president of the Black Citizens Coalition of Portland Neighborhoods (BCCOPN).

“As a firm, we believe in what the power of diversity can do for us across all regions, from our project approach to community outreach, talent management and employee engagement,” says Pete Burney, director of diversity, inclusion & compliance. “I am proud to have a highly qualified and passionate professional like Mel join our team.”

Although Jones will be responsible for strategies and plans supporting all offices in the West region, he will also be instrumental in developing and executing company-wide diversity and inclusion strategies.

Cary Lackey joins Farhang & Medcoff

Farhang & Medcoff announced the addition of Cary Lackey as the firm’s of counsel criminal defense attorney.

In more than two decades as an attorney, Lackey’s practice has focused on criminal defense in both public and private practice. He began his legal career as a Maricopa County public defender and later was an associate attorney in the white-collar crime unit of the Phoenix branch office of Quarles & Brady.

He was deputy county attorney in Maricopa County’s civil division and he worked as a staff attorney with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit in San Francisco.

“Cary’s experience in the public and private sector will be a huge benefit for our firm and our clients as we establish ourselves in this practice area,” said F&M Co-founder Ali Farhang. “We’re happy to have an attorney with Cary’s breadth of experience to lead us in this area.”

Lackey grew up in Phoenix and earned his law degree at the Arizona State University College of Law. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics/Business Administration from Drake University.

UA names senior VP for health sciences

Dr. Michael D. Dake, an internationally recognized physician-scientist, health educator and innovative medical researcher, has been appointed senior vice president for health sciences at the University of Arizona.

Dake, who also will hold an appointment as a professor of radiology, will assume his new duties on June 4.

“I am excited about the appointment of Dr. Dake to this important leadership position at the University of Arizona,” said UA President Robert C. Robbins. “Mike is a pioneer, recognized internationally in the field of interventional radiology, with whom I was privileged to work for over two decades at Stanford University. Mike’s visionary leadership style will facilitate our partnership with Banner Health and prepare the Health Sciences Center to be a global leader in improving the health of humanity.” 

Dake currently serves as Stanford University’s Thelma and Henry Doelger Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery. He made medical history in 1992 with the implantation of the world’s first thoracic stent-graft at Stanford, the first aortic stent-graft done in the U.S. 

As the UA senior vice president for health sciences, Dake will lead the integration of undergraduate and graduate education, research and clinical activities among the UA health colleges and their clinical partners. The UA Health Sciences include the College of Medicine – Tucson; College of Medicine – Phoenix; College of Pharmacy; College of Nursing; and the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, and the UA Cancer Center. Dake will be part of the senior executive team for the University and will report directly to Robbins.