Gallagher & Kennedy’s newest board member and shareholders

The law firm of Gallagher & Kennedy announced that Jennifer Cranston has become the firm’s newest member of the Board of Directors, effective October 16, 2018.   

Since joining the firm in 2000, Jennifer has focused her practice in the areas of condemnation, insurance, and public utility law. She has successfully represented clients at every stage, including settlement negotiations, rule-making proceedings, hearings, arbitrations, trials, and appeals.

Jennifer is very active within Gallagher & Kennedy and in the community professionally and philanthropically. She chairs the firm’s Professional Women’s Group; is active with the Valley of The Sun United Way (Women’s Leadership Council Past Chair); is Past President of the Maricopa County Bar Association; is the President-Elect of AZCREW; is Vice President and one of the founding board members of the Maricopa County Justice Museum & Learning Center Foundation; and, was recently honored as a 2018 Most Influential Women in Commercial Real Estate and Top 100 Lawyers in Arizona in 2017 and 2018.

Gallagher & Kennedy also announced that Matthew Engle and Peter Moolenaar have become the firm’s newest shareholders. Their new positions become effective January 1, 2019.

Since joining the firm in 2016, Matt has continued to help entrepreneurs and established companies in the areas of business formation, corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, commercial transactions, and securities law. Matt was a member of the Limited Liability Company Act Subcommittee of the Arizona State Bar, which drafted the 2018 revisions to the Arizona Limited Liability Company Act, and has served on the Executive Council of the Business Section of the State Bar since 2013. Matt is also a supporter of the arts, as a founder and past president of the Phoenix Symphony Young Professionals and serving as a commissioner on the City of Phoenix Arts and Culture Commission.

Peter Moolenaar’s focus is on protecting business clients and securing their future through risk management, litigation, and dispute resolution. Peter also represents clients in aviation and product liability litigation.  He joined the firm in 2016 and as an Arizona native, Peter has a deep connection to this state and its entrepreneurial spirit.

Vantage West promotes Don Wren

Vantage West Credit Union, southern Arizona’s largest credit union, announced today the promotion of Don C. Wren from Business Relationship Manager II to Business Relationship Manager III. This aligns with the credit union’s direction to strengthen its Business Banking team and foster collaborative relationships with the local business community.

As Business Relationship Manager III, Don supports Vantage West’s existing business Members, develops new relationships with local businesses, and helps them achieve growth and success as their financial partner. This involves understanding how their businesses operate through financial analysis and listening to their needs. He helps bridge the gap by providing access to business checking and savings accounts; loans to purchase inventory, equipment, or commercial real estate (owner-occupied and investor); operational lines of credit and credit cards to assist with short-term capital requirement; external funding sources such as the Small Business Administration; and more.

Ryan Bailey joins Tower Capital

Tower Capital, a commercial real estate structured finance firm, announced that Ryan Bailey has joined the firm’s Phoenix office as Vice President. In his new position, Mr. Bailey will be working with commercial real estate owners, operators, and investors to secure the best source of financing for their properties, including multifamily, hospitality, office, retail, land, and specialty use. 

Prior to joining Tower Capital, Ryan held a position at a commercial real estate advisory and commercial mortgage banking company based in Scottsdale, Arizona. There, he structured variance types of debt financing including acquisition and refinances, permanent and bridge loans, and construction.

Sean Myer joins Johnson Financial Group

Brian McKay, VP, Mortgage Regional Production Manager, announced that Sean Myer has joined Johnson Financial Group as Mortgage Loan Officer. Myer will report to Chris Northrop, VP, Mortgage Sales Manager.

Myer has fulfilled certification as a licensed Mortgage Loan Officer. With a background in Accounting and Finance, Myer specializes in new purchases, refinances and construction. He will be based at Johnson Financial Group’s Gainey Center Drive location in Scottsdale.