Veeya adds key executives to accelerate growth 

Veeya, a new kind of services provider focused on simplifying business for schools, churches and adult care providers through right-sized cloud, network and security services, announces strategic hires after steady growth. Currently in its tenth year, Veeya has retained its startup culture and is making an impact on communities through smart technology implementation and services. The company welcomes two seasoned executives to help lead the next stages of growth. Ward Huseth joins the company as Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Scott Harris was brought on board as Vice President Customer Success.  

“Our company has a heart for the people who power our communities,” says Frank Gartland, CEO of Veeya. “Schools educate our kids, churches nurture our souls and adult care centers help seniors find dignity and grace. These organizations are vital to communities. Unfortunately, traditional ‘IT’ companies don’t understand how different these organizations are from corporate environments. We do. It’s clear there’s a real need for what we provide–and how we provide it. As we start 2020 and consider plans for a new decade, we’re humbled that two powerhouse executives like Ward and Scott are joining our mission. Finding two people so focused on helping change lives and transform communities is a blessing we didn’t expect. This year is going to be a blast.” 

Huseth has over 20 years of financial and operational expertise that aligns directly with the people Veeya serves. He comes to Veeya from National Education Partners and previously served as the CFO of Great Hearts Academies and the Charter School Growth Fund after executive roles at Knowledge Learning Corp and eCollege. Huseth has an established track-record of scaling education organizations, developing teams that leverage technology to deliver a superior customer experience for multi-site, geographically dispersed enterprises. His business acumen and knowledge of K-12 and Higher Education are invaluable to Veeya and its customers. 

“I’m inspired by the opportunity to serve others who are having such a positive impact on the communities they serve,” says Huseth. “Most of my career has been centered around growing organizations to provide more access to quality education. From those experiences, I know how critical a role technology and security play. What excites me about Veeya is that I can help even more organizations pursue their noble missions without having to worry about scaling their technology solutions. Veeya’s purpose is special and necessary – and I couldn’t be more excited.”

BeachFleischman names Kim Paskal COO of tax

BeachFleischman announces that Kim D. Paskal, CPA, MBA, has been appointed the firm’s chief operating officer of tax, effective January 1, 2020. Paskal will succeed Peter Beahan CPA, ABV, who served in the role since 2016. The board appointed Paskal as part of the firm’s succession and strategic plans. She joined BeachFleischman in 1996 and has also served as the industry segment leader for the firm’s financial and professional services practice since 2010 and the cost segregation practice since 2019. She will transition her industry segment leadership role to focus on her new responsibilities as the tax department leader. Beahan has been elected executive vice president of the firm effective January 1, 2020. He will continue to serve firm clients, with an emphasis on the healthcare practice, provide mentoring to staff, and remain a member of the firm’s management committee.

Paskal’s specialties as a tax practitioner include tax-planning, consulting, and compliance for entrepreneurial businesses as well as high net worth individuals. She also has a depth of experience with cost segregation, tax-deferred exchanges, and other tax savings vehicles.

Paskal attended Furman University, where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Accounting. She is also a graduate of Arizona State University, where she received a Master of Business Administration. She is involved in several professional and community organizations including the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Arizona Society of Certified Public Accountants, the Tucson Tax Study Group and a member of Next 20, a professional peer group of elite tax advisors throughout the U.S. Paskal also serves on the Board of Trustees and is the Treasurer for the Women’s Foundation of Southern Arizona.

Graycor adds industry expert Todd Peters

In response to ongoing demand, Graycor Construction Company has hired 27-year industry expert Todd Peters as Project Executive. Based in Graycor’s Southwest Regional Headquarters in Phoenix, Peters will support local project activity and the company’s continued growth in the national industrial buildings market. 

“Todd’s broad understanding of the development process makes him a great fit for this role, which includes not only growing the Graycor industrial footprint across the U.S. but also supporting existing clients and prospects in metro Phoenix,” said Todd Ostransky, Graycor Construction Company Vice President of the Southwest Division. “In both instances, Todd knows how to translate a client’s vision into an accurate and workable budget, then complete the due diligence needed to move that vision from conception into active construction.” 

Prior to Graycor, Peters served in positions ranging from senior manager, chief estimator, project manager and operation manager for well-known and well-respected construction and real estate groups in the Pacific Northwest. While in these positions he completed projects within the industrial, office, residential, retail and public works sectors, including assignments for Nike, Dollar Tree, St. Vincent Hospital, Amazon and UPS.

On Media acquires WHERE Traveler Brands for Arizona

ON Media named Michelle Schneider as Publisher of its newly acquired WHERE Traveler Arizona brand. As the official publisher for Arizona’s most prestigious luxury brands and visitor guides for visual arts and cultural venues, including the Phoenix Art Museum, the Desert Botanical Garden and the Heard Museum, ON Media has acquired the license to publish WHERE Traveler Magazine and WHERE GuestBook for both Phoenix + Scottsdale and Tucson.

“All of us at ON Media are thrilled by the addition of the WHERE Traveler to our portfolio of products,” said Linda “Mac” Perlich, Publisher and CEO of ON Media. “The focus of ON Media,  a 40+ year old locally owned company, has always been on the very best there is to offer in the arts, sports, philanthropy and the wonderful aspects of living in Arizona. The acquisition of the Red Book in 2016 built upon this commitment. With the acquisition of the WHERE publications, we now we have the ability to bring that same information to those individuals visiting our state.  We feel this is a perfect fit for ON Media, our advertisers and our readers.”

Schneider’s 20-year career with WHERE Arizona is a testament to both her initiative and ingenuity, as she not only launched the Phoenix + Scottsdale edition, but later acquired and sold the franchise, then continued to manage the Arizona market in addition to managing five other markets.

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