Justin Newman joins hardison/downey
Building industry veteran Justin Newman has joined hardison/downey construction (h/dc) as Vice President and COO, assuming a leadership position as the company expands its footprint as part of the Kitchell family of companies.
“Justin will be a great addition as we leverage his deep experience to grow our market share,” said h/dc President Pat Downey.
Newman comes to Kitchell from McCarthy, where he grown his career for the past 17 years after graduating from Northern Arizona University, eventually assuming the role of Operations Director. His broad experience ranges from alternative energy and public works to criminal justice and high-end residential projects, located throughout the country. He also brings tremendous industry knowledge and insights to h/dc, as well as marketing, sales, construction and operational experience.
Newman serves on the NAU Student Advisory Board, the Executive Board of the Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters and is involved with the Arizona Chamber of Commerce as a Federal Affairs Committee Member. He is a graduate of the Arizona Builders Alliance Advanced Leadership Development Program.
h/dc became part of Kitchell in 2010, and while maintaining its commercial shell and tenant improvement project work, has also expanded its student housing, multifamily and senior living portfolio. The company’s Phoenix location is just up the street from Kitchell’s Phoenix headquarters, where it is home to 75 employees. Kitchell’s other affiliated companies are Kitchell Development Company, Kitchell Contractors Inc., Sacramento-based Kitchell CEM and American Refrigeration Services.
Versant Capital Management appoints CEO
Versant Capital Management President and Chief Investment Officer Thomas Connelly, CFA®, CFP®, announced that Liz Shabaker, CFP® – previously the firm’s chief operating officer and a principal – has been named CEO. Shabaker assumed the new role on January 1, the start of Versant’s fiscal year.
Versant Capital Management, Inc. is an independent, fee-only Registered Investment Advisory (RIA) and wealth management firm with more than $900 million in assets under management (AUM). Located in Phoenix, Arizona, the firm provides customized wealth management services for high-net-worth individuals and families.
During Shabaker’s eight-year tenure, the firm has experienced consistent growth, helping Versant Capital Management become one of the largest RIAs in Arizona. In 2017, Liz was appointed to the national Schwab Advisor Services Advisory Board to participate in meetings and discussions of Schwab’s services for independent advisory firms and their clients.
Polsinelli expands its Bankruptcy and Restructuring Practice
Am Law 100 firm Polsinelli has expanded its national Bankruptcy and Financial Restructuring practice with the addition of four new shareholders, Todd Burgess, John Clemency, Janel Glynn, and Lindsi Weber. News of the group’s move comes on the heels of an earlier announcement that five nationally-recognized IP litigators joined the firm’s Silicon Valley office, bolstering Polsinelli’s continued expansion in the West.
“The Phoenix bankruptcy group’s reputation for excellence in navigating clients through the complexities of distressed financial situations will deepen our national capabilities and further invigorate our Arizona presence,” said Chris Ward, chair of Polsinelli’s Bankruptcy and Financial Restructuring practice. “The addition of a team of this caliber is aligned with our commitment to provide superior client service to clients in all of our strategic geographical locations.”
Drawing on two decades of experience, Burgess guides clients through all aspects of bankruptcy litigation. He skillfully helps business clients find solutions to resolve distressed financial situations, thoughtfully evaluating potential claims and causes of action when developing a cost-effective plan of action. Distressed
businesses, manufacturing companies, secured lenders, asset purchasers, franchisees, and private equity funds rely on Burgess to help them make informed decisions and devise effective strategies that address their financial challenges and business goals.
“Joining Polsinelli is an exciting opportunity for our clients and our team,” Burgess said. “The firm’s top 10 BTI ranking for excellence in client relationships combined with its strategic geographical footprint provide a terrific platform on which to build and expand the services we provide to clients in Arizona and across the country.”
Clemency, a shareholder with more than thirty years of experience and certified by the Arizona State Bar as a Certified Commercial Bankruptcy Specialist, has a deep understanding of distressed companies and troubled loans. Clemency has filed more than 50 Chapter 11 cases for businesses in the commercial real estate, retail, health care, technology, finance, media, hospitality and agriculture sectors, working closely with clients to find solutions that are both practical and cost-effective. As a litigator in both federal and state court, Clemency also handles receivership, guarantor, deficiency and fraud litigation matters.
Recognized for her substantial experience in corporate bankruptcy and commercial litigation, Glynn counsels clients in a practical, cost-effective way to find unique and innovative solutions to their complex business challenges. Whether working with a secured lender or Chapter 11 debtor in bankruptcy, or managing an out-of-court restructuring, Glynn relies on her ability to keenly understand her clients’ businesses, developing solutions that achieve strategic financial and business objectives.
Weber, an experienced bankruptcy and commercial litigator, guides clients through the complexities of bankruptcy litigation utilizing a practical, hands-on approach to help resolve bankruptcy and financial restructuring issues whether on behalf of a Chapter 11 debtor, an official committee of unsecured creditors, or a party to bankruptcy litigation. Active in the bankruptcy community, Weber is a past board member of the Maricopa County Bar Association Bankruptcy Section and past president of the NextGen Emerging Leaders Board of the Turnaround Management Association Arizona Chapter.
Polsinelli recently announced the addition of Trey Monsour, an accomplished member of the bankruptcy bar, who joined the firm’s Bankruptcy and Financial Restructuring practice in Texas. The firm continues to build on significant momentum of the past year, with the expansion of its core practice areas and West Coast presence, continuous rise in key legal industry rankings, and election of Real Estate Practice Chair F. Chase Simmons as the firm’s next Chairman, beginning in 2019.
Baird appoints John Taft vice chairman
Baird, an international, employee-owned wealth management, capital markets, private equity and asset management firm, announced today that it has named John Taft Vice Chairman and a member of its Executive Committee. Taft, who has more than 35 years of industry experience, will pursue strategic business opportunities across Baird’s platform, focusing his attention initially on collaborating with Baird’s Private Wealth Management leadership team to advance key priorities.
Taft served as CEO of RBC Wealth Management, a full-service brokerage firm with nearly 2,000 financial advisors and over $280 billion in assets, for more than 10 years (2005-2016). He is a past chairman of the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA), where he advocated for responsible financial reform. Most recently, he served in a consulting capacity for Deloitte & Touche.
“John is very highly regarded for his industry knowledge and leadership, his tremendous record of success and his ability to make the deep personal connections that are so important in this business,” said Steve Booth, Baird President and Chief Executive Officer. “He will be a wonderful addition to Baird’s senior leadership team and we could not be more proud that he has chosen to continue his exemplary career at Baird.”
