Sundt promotes Nicole Calamaio
Sundt Construction, Inc. has promoted Nicole Calamaio to Vice President of Talent Management. In her new role, Calamaio is responsible for providing leadership in the areas of human resources, total rewards and administrative workforce development.
“Nicole has earned this promotion because she is passionate about helping Sundt achieve our mission,” said Dan Haag, Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer. “Nicole is very customer-service oriented; she ensures our employee-owners have a great experience, and she develops strong relationships throughout the organization.”
Calamaio joined Sundt in 2014 as corporate director of total rewards and was promoted to corporate director of human resources three years later. Since joining Sundt, she has redesigned the compensation program to ensure it is competitive, high quality and user-friendly, and improved the employee benefits program, which is among the best in the industry. Additionally, Calamaio successfully implemented a talent management tool to advance Sundt’s talent capabilities and to enhance the employee experience.
Jones, Skelton & Hochuli welcomes Katharine Myers
Jones, Skelton & Hochuli, PLC announced that Kate Myers has joined the firm’s General Liability and Auto Defense Trial Group.
Kate Myers focuses her practice in the areas of general civil litigation, insurance defense, premises liability and automobile liability defense. Before joining JSH, she worked as a law clerk for the Hon. James P. Beene, James B. Morse, Jr., Maria Elena Cruz, and Donn Kessler at the Arizona Court of Appeals, Division 1. Kate earned her law degree at ASU’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, and served as a Student Ambassador for the Law and Global Affairs Center. Kate also volunteered as a 3L Representative for the International Law Students Association, was a member of the Sandra Day O’Connor Inn of Court, volunteered for the Graduate and Professional Student Association Grant Review and Awards Review Committees, and was a member of the Women’s Law Student Association. She was also a member of ASU’s Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot Court team and competed in Vienna, Austria two years in a row.
Michael Mejia promoted at Colling Media
Colling Media Advertising Agency announced today the promotion of Michael Mejia to Sales Manager, effective immediately. In his new role, Mejia will oversee all agency sales efforts. Mejia will continue to report to Colling Media General Manager Leo Rondeau.
In his previous role as National Accounts Manager, Mejia was responsible for maximizing return on advertising budgets and directing advertising strategy for key Colling Media clients. Under Mejia’s time in account management, he successfully delivered advertising results and the highest quality customer service to agency clients. Mejia’s focus on establishing deep relationships with Colling Media clients, make him a perfect fit for this new role.
“Michael has done a great job using our core values as a catalyst for quickly building client trust,” said Colling Media CEO Brian Colling. “He is committed to finding new advertising partners and leading our sales team to new heights. Michael has a long track record of sales leadership, and I’m looking forward to working with him in his new role.”
New GM for The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain
Award-winning hotel executive Steven Szenasi has been named General Manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain, the Forbes Five Star/AAA Five Diamond destination resort located just north of Tucson, Arizona. Szenasi will oversee all aspects of the 253-room, 850-acre property, which has been a favorite among family and adventure travelers, spa enthusiasts, golfers, wedding couples and meeting visitors alike since it opened in late 2009.
Szenasi has advanced to the General Manager role from the position of Director of Operations, a title which he has held at The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain since 2016. Under his operational leadership, the property debuted an extensive 2018 renovation touching all aspects of the guest experience, and it was also named by Forbes Travel Guide as one of the eight most luxurious hotel and spa offerings in the world. Only three hotels in the United States made this prestigious list, which was announced in October 2018.
Szenasi brings a rich and deeply relevant background to the general manager position, having provided leadership and innovation not only in hotel operations, but also in catering and conference services and hotel event sales and marketing. He has been successful in broadening the Community Footprints profile of The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain as well, sharing property resources, energies and assistance with many Tucson-area non-profits and local at-risk groups. His passion has always been to consistently enhance the luxury guest experience while also serving and mentoring hotel talent and supporting key local causes.
Troon Country Club’s Mark Pachtner earns Lessons For Life Award
Troon Country Club’s Director of Racquet Sports Mark Pachtner has been selected to receive the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) Lessons for Life Award at the upcoming Southwest USPTA Conference Awards Luncheon on Friday, May 17 at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix.
The USPTA Lessons for Life Award annually recognizes USPTA members who have done the most to raise money for charities through tennis events. While the award spotlights individuals who have raised large amounts of money, it also honors those hosting the most creative, original or unique tennis event to raise money for charities. Pachtner was nominated by his peers and the Southwest USPTA Board of Directors selected the winner. As a Southwest USPTA award winner, Pachtner will now be a finalist for the USPTA National Lessons for Life Award, to be presented at the 2019 USPTA World Conference in September in Las Vegas, Nev.
Greater Phoenix Association of Health Underwriters installs board
The Greater Phoenix Association of Health Underwriters (GPAHU), an organization of health insurance agents, brokers and professionals, installed its 2019-2020 board.
Jessica Cheney was installed as the GPAHU president. Cheney joined the health insurance industry in 1993 working for BlueCross & BlueShield of Arizona, followed by Black, Gould & Associates, and now is the VP of Benefits for Arcwood Consulting. Cheney has been a NAHU member for 6 years and previously held the Awards Chair Position before being elected President. Cheney is an Arizona native, and lives in the town of Gilbert with her two sons.
“Local agents and brokers serve as a source of truth about healthcare coverage that links the needs of citizens, business and policymakers to create a healthy, more fiscally responsible American healthcare system,” Cheney said.
The 2019-2020 Board:
• Jessica Cheney, President, Arcwood Consulting
• Charlene Hogeland, President-Elect, Black, Gould & Associates
• David Slepak, Past President, Redriect Health
• Katie Brock, Secretary, Rogers Benefits
• Jeff Wilkinson, Co-Treasurer, Total Dental Administrators
• Maria Carter, Co-Treasurer, Total Dental Administrators
• Andrea Bailey, Legislative, Black, Gould & Associates
• Linda Atencio, Awards, Arcwood Consulting
• Rowland Harris, Membership Retention, Heartland Payment Systems
• Chandler Chavez, Membership Recruitment, Principal Financial Group
• Jay White, Public Service, MBA Sales Leadership & Technology
• Jessica Hanson, Communications, Benefit Mall
• Denise Haney, Programs, TASC
• Tony Joiner, Professional Development, Total Dental Administrators
• David Garcia, Media Relations, Cigna
• Alana Mayer, NAHU Education Fund, Black, Gould & Associates
• Danielle Biers, Vanguard, Black, Gould & Associates
The National Association of Health Underwriters represents more than 100,000 professional health insurance agents and brokers who provide insurance for millions of Americans. NAHU is headquartered in Washington, DC. For more information, visit our web site at www.nahu.org.
