Leadership changes at Corporate Interior Systems
Corporate Interior Systems has named Stephanie Bourland the Chief Operating Officer and Kara Johnson the Director of Sales.
Lisa K. Johnson, the founder of CIS, has continued to modernize the 34-year-old company by adding a new C level position, Chief Operating Officer. Stephanie Bourland, the former Vice President of Sales, has earned this title which will allow her to focus on the operations within the company as she improves efficiencies of the processes to strengthen each key component of the business. She will also work on special projects and brings a cohesiveness to all the departments within CIS. As Stephanie transitions from her former position, Kara Johnson will be stepping into her place as the Director of Sales. Kara will manage the sales team, goals and process, while also acting as project executive on many high-profile projects.
Lisa K. Johnson, who will remain the President and CEO of CIS, says “I am truly honored to elevate these 2 dynamic women who will guide CIS into the future alongside me. I look forward to seeing their talents used to take CIS to the next level as a Furniture and DIRTT Dealership.”
Stephanie has been at CIS for 27 years. She began her career there as the receptionist and quickly moved onto to be a top salesperson and eventually Director and then Vice President of Sales. She brings unmatched energy and enthusiasm to every project she tackles and is an effective and inspiring leader. She has guided the sales team through exponential growth and will soon be applying that skill set to the entire company.
Kara has spent 8 years working at CIS and has a total of 16 years of experience working in the commercial furniture business. She has seen this industry from every angle, as a manufacturer’s representative to a sales representative at other dealerships across the country. There is a wealth of knowledge and a fresh perspective that she brings to her new position that will help to guide and hone the skills of the entire sales team.
Sonora Quest Laboratories announces new COO
Sonora Quest Laboratories, Arizona’s leading provider of diagnostic information services, welcomed Sonya Engle as Chief Operating Officer. An executive with extensive experience leading laboratory testing, program expansion and strategic relationship management initiatives, Engle will head Sonora Quest’s laboratory and technical operations.
As COO, Engle will combine operations and talent development, while focusing on motivating and leading a high-performance team to accommodate the rapid growth, services, and innovation at Sonora Quest. Her goal is to implement business operations and increase the effectiveness of all internal and external processes to continue to foster a customer-oriented, quality focused environment within the company.
Engle will be taking the reins from Joyce Santis, who is retiring this June after serving for more than 40 years in the industry. Santis’ career began at the Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, where she worked in the lab for 12 years. In 1996, she moved to Arizona and, after spending a year as the lab director at Tempe St. Luke’s Hospital, Santis joined Sonora Quest.
Now, after more than 20 years of leading Sonora Quest’s operations and playing an integral role in the growth and success of the organization, she is pleased to dive into the world of retirement with aspirations to travel and spend more time with her granddaughters.
“It has been a wonderful career and my time at Sonora Quest has certainly been the highlight,” said Santis. “I will miss the people and opportunity to develop talent but know that Sonya will continue to do an exceptional job.”
LGE Design Build positions 2 new project executives
LGE Design Build has positioned two new project executives to its management team – Andrew Greybar and Blake Wells. Both Wells and Greybar have been an integral part of the projects coming in the door since joining the team in 2017. Their roles are now formalized as consistent and reliable leaders to clients throughout the entire design and construction process. As LGE continues to grow, Wells and Greybar take the lead on each new project, driving schedules, budgets and quality through excellent communication with the client and LGE’s in-house design, estimating and construction teams.
Andrew Greybar grew up on jobsites in Chicago through his family’s construction business, later translating the experience into a passion for design. After attending the University of Notre Dame for architecture, he worked in Minneapolis designing high-rise office and multifamily projects in the Midwest. Andrew relocated to Phoenix as a part of an expanding design-build firm, later joining LGE in 2017 as lead designer. Exhibiting a talent for management and execution on projects beyond architecture, he quickly moved through the ranks to his new position as project executive. Greybar uses his background to weave together design and construction, exhibiting the accountability for the entire process that makes LGE Design-Build an incomparable choice for its clients.
Blake Wells has seemingly orbited his new position acquiring a tailored set of skills that make him incredibly effective as a project executive. Prior to joining LGE, Wells worked for a sub-contractor as a leader in business development, data analytics and estimating while attending Ottawa University for a degree in finance. Wells has employed his knowledge base at LGE to drive incredible innovation in construction cost intelligence, sales analytics and both company and project strategy. Wells is straight-forward, consistent and an outstanding guide for LGE’s clients through the complexities of design and construction.
Blythe Grace welcomes Erika M. Weiler
Blythe Grace, PLLC, announced that the firm’s legal clerk, Erika M. Weiler, has joined the firm as a Summer Associate.
“Erika has been an incredible asset to our team, and I am excited to have her continue building her legal practice at our firm,” said Robert S. Reder, Managing Partner. “Her knowledge and expertise will be valuable to us and our clients.”
Weiler was born and raised in Arizona and is currently attending the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University. She graduated from ASU summa cum laude with both her Bachelor and Master of Science in judicial studies. Prior to joining Blythe Grace, Weiler worked as a judicial intern for Judge Patricia A. Starr at the Maricopa County Superior Court, and as an extern with the Prosecutor’s Office with the City of Phoenix.
“I am honored to have the opportunity to develop my legal knowledge and professional skills while learning from the attorneys at Blythe Grace, I am already attending depositions, drafting motions, conducting research, and working to make sure I am practice ready when I graduate. We have such a special group that I am proud to be a part of.” said Weiler.
Arizona Association for Economic Development announces officers
The Arizona Association for Economic Development (AAED) has announced its new officers for 2019.
Nicole Snyder, director of business strategies and client solutions for Johnson Carlier, is AAED’s new president. Mignonne Hollis, AZED Pro, executive director of the Arizona Regional Economic Development Foundation, is the organization’s president-elect. Lori Collins, deputy economic development director for the city of Phoenix is now serving as vice president. Wendy Bridges, AZED Pro, economic development coordinator for the city of Prescott, assumes the duties of secretary/treasurer, while Richard Wilkie, CEcD, AZED Pro, economic development director for the city of Casa Grande, is immediate past-president.
The officers were approved at AAED’s general membership meeting held in conjunction with the organization’s spring conference in Tucson.
AAED, founded in 1974, has a mission to serve as Arizona’s unified voice advocating for responsible economic development through an effective program of professional education, public policy, and collaboration.
For more information on AAED, visit www.aaed.com or call (602) 240-2233.
