On the move at El Conquistador, Camelback Inn, UA, Lewis Roca, OpenWorks

Otton A. Suarez has been promoted to the General Manager of El Conquistador Tucson, a Hilton Resort in Oro Valley, a 428-room AAA Four- Diamond resort property managed by Prism Hotels & Resorts.

Suarez brings more than 36 years’ experience in the hospitality industry in various capacities, including the past several at El Conquistador Resort as its Hotel Manager, overseeing all resort operations and guest interactions. He was actively engaged in the multi-million dollar total resort renovation, completed in 2017.

Prior to that, Suarez held management positions at Tucson’s Westward Look Wyndham Grand Resort & Spa and Loews Ventana Canyon Resort – plus a multitude of other luxury brands nationwide. He currently serves on the boards of the Children’s Museum Tucson | Oro Valley and the Greater Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce.

JW Marriott Camelback Inn Resort & Spa appoints GM

Paige Lund has been appointed general manager of the legendary JW Marriott Camelback Inn Resort & Spa.  Steve Hart, general manager of JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa and area general manager, made the announcement. 

“It’s with great pleasure to congratulate Paige on this milestone appointment,” said Hart.  “Having served at some of Arizona’s finest hotels and luxury resorts, and in her seven year tenure with Marriott, Paige’s extensive experience, combined with her passion, vision and operational acumen, made her the perfect choice to lead the team for the company’s flagship resort.” 

Built in 1936, Camelback Inn became the treasured vacation spot for Bill Marriott Sr., and his family, until it was purchased by the Marriott Corporation in 1967, becoming the company’s first resort.  To this day, the resort still remains as the favorite vacation respite for Bill Marriott Jr., and his extended family, and is considered the flagship of all properties across the company’s expansive portfolio of 7,000 resorts & hotels. 

Prior to her appointment at JW Marriott Camelback Inn Resort & Spa, Lund was the general manager of the Renaissance Phoenix Downtown Hotel, a member of the Marriott group, a post she has held since 2012.  As a result of Lund’s successful leadership, the Renaissance Phoenix earned several awards during her tenure that included Breakthrough Leadership Training Excellence, Guest Experience, Talent Leadership and Hotel of the Year twice for the Western Region.  In 2017, while in that role, Lund was promoted to Area General Manager where she oversaw and supported the Sheraton Grand Phoenix and Westin Phoenix, two notable downtown Phoenix properties.

Dr. Michael M.I. Abecassis appointed dean of UA College of Medicine – Tucson

Following an extensive national search, Michael M.I. Abecassis, MD, MBA, has been appointed dean of the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson. His appointment begins early November 2019, as he becomes the ninth dean of the college since its founding in 1967. 

Dr. Abecassis is the J. Roscoe Miller Distinguished Professor of Surgery and Microbiology-Immunology at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University. He also is chief of the Division of Organ Transplantation and founding director of the Comprehensive Transplant Center. 

“The appointment of Dr. Abecassis, a nationally recognized leader in medicine, speaks volumes about the incredible impact that the UA College of Medicine – Tucson is making in education, biomedical research and patient care, as well as the many exciting opportunities ahead for the college to address the global health care challenges of the 21^st century,” said UA President Robert C. Robbins.

In addition to pioneering several innovative surgical procedures and approaches to the care of transplant patients, Dr. Abecassis has received continuous funding from the National Institutes of Health for the past 23 years, serving as principal investigator of research grants that span from studies of the molecular mechanisms of cytomegalovirus latency and reactivation, to translational and clinical studies in pursuit of a molecular biomarker strategy for both kidney and liver transplant recipients.

Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie attorney appointed to College of Labor & Employment Lawyers

Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie LLP labor and employment attorney, Mary Ellen Simonson, has been selected as a Fellow of the College of Labor & Employment Lawyers. Members of the College are distinguished lawyers in the practice of labor and employment who set the standards of professionalism and civility, sharing their experience and knowledge through academia, the government, the judiciary and the community at large.

Simonson has over 30 years of experience in representing management in both the public and private sector in all aspects of employment relations. She routinely handles a wide variety of counseling and litigation matters, including litigation avoidance, employee discipline and terminations, defending/enforcing confidentiality, non-solicitation and non-competition agreements, trade secret disputes, workforce reductions, Title VII discrimination, retaliation and sexual harassment issues, internal investigations, executive employment agreements and severance agreements.

Simonson has served as outside general employment counsel for several national multi-million dollar companies and represents a variety of industries including manufacturing, equipment rental, financial, mortgage, health care and the arts. She has successfully been lead counsel in hundreds of significant state and federal court matters, including cases of statewide importance before the Arizona Supreme Court to clarify the state’s notice of claim statute and public records law, obtained complete dismissal of complex restrictive covenant and discrimination lawsuits, and was lead trial and appellate counsel in the first case in the nation to uphold the constitutionality of a mandatory public school uniform policy.

OpenWorks announces Liz Caracciolo as New COO

OpenWorks, a leading national facility services and commercial cleaning franchise operator, has appointed Liz Caracciolo as its Chief Operating Officer. Caracciolo joins a dynamic leadership team at one of the fastest-growing franchise operators in the United States.

With a focus on strategic development, Caracciolo will oversee business operations for OpenWorks, streamlining systems and improving processes for the company as it continues an upward trajectory of growth and expansion. Caracciolo brings more than two decades of experience to her new role, having worked in various industries, from packaged goods and aerospace to finance and technology. Her expertise is in improving business operations and leading corporate growth and development.

“Liz is a purpose-driven, transformational leader whose proven track record of maximizing operational strategies will play a significant role for OpenWorks as we plan for additional expansion,” said Eric Roudi, Founder and CEO of OpenWorks. “Her business acumen will allow us to continue to grow, expand and fine-tune our entire franchise operation.”