Arizona Meeting Professionals install 2019-20 board of directors

Meeting Professionals International – Arizona Sunbelt Chapter (MPI AZ) recently installed its Board of Directors who will lead the association in 2019-20. Installed were:

The Executive Team: President Tiffany Higgins, The Tiffany Event, President-Elect Melanie Volkers, CHSE, CHDM, The Hermosa Inn, Vice President of Finance Penny Allphin, CHME, Hassayampa Inn/Aris Hospitality, Vice President of Education Maria Mwangi, Live Nation, Vice President of Membership Donna Robinson, CMP, A4LE, Vice President of Communications Terri Crain, Karma Event Lighting, and Executive Director Joanne Winter.

The Directors: Bill Babin, Big Zephyr Music, MaryLynne Christman, CMP, CMM, Collaborative Event Management, Sukki Jahnke, CMP, Tempe Chamber of Commerce, Heather Luvisi, Lucky Strike Entertainment, Kerri O’Brien Rose, CMP, Independent Planner, and Becky Stengel, JSAV.

“Each new board brings a new personality, a new level of experience, new connections, and a diverse and impressive set of skills.  And this year is a testimony to that, as these business leaders are incredibly talented, skilled, and experienced. Together our objective is to meet our chapter goals and exceed them,” said 2019-20 MPI AZ President Tiffany Higgins.

Cresa adds John Salazar as global alliance director in Phoenix

Cresa, the world’s largest occupier-centric commercial real estate firm, today announced the addition of Cathrine Cotman, John Salazar, and Theresa Hopkins-Johnson to its Global Portfolio Solutions team. Cotman and Salazar will serve as Global Alliance Directors, tasked with growing the company’s Global Portfolio Solutions services and providing clients with customized real estate offerings that align with overall business objectives. Hopkins-Johnson will serve as the group’s Global Finance Director, providing financial strategy and streamlining accounting processes for Cresa’s portfolio accounts.

Salazar will lead Cresa’s newly acquired work with Silicon Valley Bank, counselling on global real estate strategy. He brings over 25 years of experience in the real estate and financial industries to Cresa, specializing in strategic planning, operational excellence and risk mitigation. Prior to Cresa, Salazar served as the Global Head of Financial Management at Cushman & Wakefield, and before that, he was a Senior Vice President at Bank of America.

“Our clients manage real estate portfolios across the globe, presenting them with opportunities and challenges,” said Salazar. “It’s important that throughout this process, we act as a trusted partner that can help them identify and resolve business challenges while implementing a real estate strategy that aligns with long-term business goals.”

Vitalant brings Cliff Numark on board

Vitalant, a national nonprofit leader in transfusion medicine, welcomes Cliff Numark to its team as chief of marketing. Numark was most recently with the American Red Cross Biomedical Services division where he served as senior vice president.

Numark brings years of transformational and creative leadership to Vitalant, with a proven track record in marketing, recruitment, operations and public affairs. He steps into his role at a time when new generations of donors are needed to ensure a healthy and robust blood supply to meet everyday patient needs as well as to prepare for catastrophic events. Numark’s mission-driven leadership has helped drive innovation over the course of his extensive career.

“Vitalant is poised to be the most significant transfusion medicine organization in the nation,” commented Numark. “Vitalant excels at transformational research, innovation and creating moments of impact for the lives it touches. I’m excited to step into this role to accelerate changes to achieve the organization’s mission and purpose.”

Accelerate Diagnostics names Jack Phillips COO

Accelerate Diagnostics, Inc. (NASDAQ: AXDX) today announced that Jack Phillips has been appointed Chief Operating Officer.  Mr. Phillips joins Accelerate from Roche Diagnostics, the world’s leading diagnostics company.

Lawrence Mehren, President and Chief Executive Officer of Accelerate Diagnostics, commented, “We are thrilled to have an accomplished commercial leader of Jack’s caliber join our team. This is an exciting time for Accelerate as we approach an inflection point in our commercial growth. Jack’s experience and operational acumen are second to none, and we believe his leadership will enable us to more effectively leverage our momentum and take our growth to the next level.”

“I am very excited to join the talented team at Accelerate Diagnostics. The Accelerate Pheno technology addresses a significant unmet medical need in antibiotic resistance and hospital-acquired infections, and I am thrilled with the opportunity to help advance this critically important mission. I look forward to working closely with the team to deliver sustainable top- and bottom-line improvements while making this life-saving technology accessible to as many patients as possible,” said Mr. Phillips.