AAED hires executive director
The Arizona Association for Economic Development (AAED) announced today that Carrie Kelly has been hired as executive director. In her new role, Kelly will oversee AAED’s mission to serve as Arizona’s unified voice advocating for responsible economic development. In addition, Kelly will implement programs of professional education, public policy and collaboration.
Kelly has been working with nonprofits and government entities for more than 15 years. In her previous role, she served as executive director of Downtown Santa Barbara, (Calif.), where she successfully lobbied for public policies and partnerships advance economic development in the city. Prior to that, she served as executive director of the Mohave Community College Foundation in Kingman, Ariz.
“It’s great to be back in Arizona,” said Kelly, “I’m thrilled to continue fighting for policies that positively impact economic development in both rural and urban communities.”
Kelly holds a master’s degree in public affairs from Indiana University. She has volunteered at the Community Environmental Council and Indiana Debate Commission. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, 4-year-old daughter and their shelter hound, Charlie.
Nicole Snyder, AAED board president, said Kelly is the right choice to lead AAED, “Carrie has a demonstrated history of leading strategic initiatives and passion for economic development, and we look forward to the energy and enthusiasm she will bring to the organization.”
Sojourner Center hires executive director
Sojourner Center announced that Cindy Quenneville has joined the team as executive director. As a subsidiary organization of Jewish Family & Children’s Service (JFCS), the Sojourner Center is a safe haven for children and adults experiencing domestic violence. With a crisis shelter, community outreach programs and transitional apartments, Sojourner Center serves over 1,000 individuals per year.
Quenneville has 25 years of management/executive experience working in the nonprofit sector. In her new position, she will be responsible for fundraising and fiscal oversight, reporting to the Board of Directors and creating partnerships to aid the mission of Sojourner Center.
Prior to her new role, Quenneville was the chief program officer for A New Leaf where she was responsible for outpatient counseling centers, program budgets and marketing. Quenneville has experience managing budgets upwards of $500 million, coordinated volunteer programs and acted as the organization’s spokesperson.
“We are thrilled to welcome Cindy to Sojourner Center,” said JFCS president and CEO Dr. Lorrie Henderson. “She is a proven servant leader and with her expertise in the nonprofit sector of healthcare, she will be invaluable asset to the growth of our mission.”
Alliance Bank adds finance executive
Western Alliance Bank, Member FDIC, one of the country’s top-performing banking companies, has added finance executive Lance Waller to its commercial banking team within the Equipment Finance Group. As Vice President, Commercial Banking, Waller will serve as a relationship manager where he will oversee client service while managing large-scale transactions.
Waller has been an instrumental asset to equipment finance operations at several leading national banks in the U.S. Based in Nashville, he is a specialist across industries and has directed a significant number of high-profile transactions throughout many Southern states over the course of his career. His unique understanding of equipment finance and nuances within various industries will be an asset to Western Alliance Bank’s Equipment Finance Group.
“Lance brings 20 plus years of equipment finance experience and expands our reach to geographies in the East and South US. His approach to understanding the industry from both the banking side and a service perspective will benefit our clients,” said Jon L Brown, Commercial Sales Leader of the Equipment Finance Group. “Adding Lance to our team gives us critical experience to better serve the direct origination market.
Western Alliance Bank’s Equipment Finance Group works to deliver capital equipment financing solutions for companies nationwide as part of the $1 trillion equipment financing sector. The group is built on customizing capital markets experience by taking a holistic approach to clients’ needs and working with other divisions within Western Alliance Bank to bring new financing solutions to the table.
The Equipment Finance Group, which funded more than 400 transactions across a wide range of industries, including healthcare, technology, transportation, manufacturing and others during a banner 2019, is further developing its direct origination channel.
“Western Alliance Bank has an unrivaled reputation in the business banking sector for its ability to deliver highly effective financing solutions to a wide range of clients,” said Waller. “In joining the Equipment Finance Group, I’m eager to build upon their successes by continuing to deliver on the entrepreneurial and relationship-based approach for which they are known in the industry.”
The Related Group adds dynamic real estate duo
The Related Group, an international developer known for its sophisticated metropolitan ‘for-sale’ condominiums, rental and mixed-use projects, welcomes local real estate development and construction executives, Michael D’Andrea and Ed Ledger, to lead the company’s Phoenix metro area expansion.
D’Andrea will lead the office and serve as the Southwest Regional Vice President overseeing all development activities and Ledger will assume the role of Vice President of Construction. The migration of The Related Group to Arizona has opened the door to creating additional opportunities for those seeking a different level of luxury urban living.
Educated as an architect, D ’Andrea’s background in providing comprehensive development and construction services for complex, large scale, mixed-use, luxury multi-housing, and resort-style hospitality projects throughout Arizona, has earned him both local and national recognition. His experience in site selection, financing, zoning, development, construction management and asset disposition are well documented. In his previous positions D’Andrea has been able to develop landmark projects and maintain positive and effective relationships with local brokers, lenders, equity partners, contractors and tenants in Arizona and throughout the Southwest. He also served as a 2-term Chairman of the Planning Commission for the City of Scottsdale, a member of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation Board of Stewards and most recently has been selected to the Board of Directors for the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy.
Ledger has been in the construction and real estate industry in Arizona for more than 25 years, with projects throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico. He has led multi-faceted development and construction efforts on a wide range of projects from master planned communities and hotel resorts to golf course communities and sports venues. Ledger is a licensed General Contractor in Arizona and is responsible for the overall leadership and management of The Related Group’s construction operations in the Southwestern United States multi-family markets.
“My working relationship and dear friendship with Ed goes back 20 years,” said D’Andrea. “Arizona’s incredible economic vitality, including consistent and substantial population and employment growth, has fueled The Related Group’s interest into entering the local market and has given us both a renewed sense of excitement for what’s to come.”
With the addition of D’Andrea and Ledger, The Related Group also announces the first of three projects in Arizona, The Manor Scottsdale, set to break ground August 2020.
The Manor Scottsdale will be located at the corner of Scottsdale Road and Joan de Arc Avenue. Conveniently situated between Scottsdale Quarter and Kierland, the property provides walkability to the area’s many shops and restaurants and proximity to the Scottsdale Airport. Once completed, The Manor Scottsdale will feature 286 multifamily residential apartment homes with more than 15 floor plans from which to choose. The architecture design will include Old-world Mediterranean style detailing with highly amenitized open-air spaces and world class recreational venues located on property. The first residential units will be available in late 2021 with the grand opening of The Manor Scottsdale slated for Summer of 2022.
Ledger said, “The level of quality and innovative design is something that will inspire the people and families that choose to make The Manor Scottsdale their home.” He added, “The fact that I get to work with Mike, again, is a bonus. We both have the same passion for developing and building high quality projects here in the Valley.”
Looking ahead, the Related Group will be launching two additional multifamily projects; one in Phoenix-Deer Valley scheduled to open in 2022; and another in Chandler scheduled for 2023.
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