BWS Architects promotes Sue Gray
BWS Architects announces the promotion of Sue Gray, AIA, LEED AP to the position of Principal with the firm.
BWS Architects is an Arizona based design firm that specializes in public projects which enrich the community and educational continuum.
Sue has 27 years of architectural experience in a wide range of clients in PreK-12 education, higher education, career and technical education, and civic sectors. She brings expertise in master planning, as well as a strong sense of design and looks for opportunities to make every project attractive as it is useful. Sue cares deeply about the success of her clients and is passionate about quality design and creating spaces that directly benefit the people for which they are built. Her leadership and communication make her an integral component to the success of her
projects such as the Sun Devil Hall Interplanetary Initiative Lab, Arroyo School, and Town of Gilbert Hearne Plaza redevelopment.
Arizona native Chanel Bragg named associate artistic director
Arizona native Chanel Bragg, an artist and passionate advocate for equity, diversity and inclusion, has been named Associate Artistic Director at Arizona Theatre Company (ATC, www.arizonatheatre.org).
A graduate of Northern Arizona University and Cortez High School, Bragg is a producer, director, teaching artist and performer whose mission is to open doors and shatter stereotypes for Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) and women in Arizona.
“My career, and life, was changed by the opportunity to be an Associate Artistic Director at a leading LORT theatre, so I have always wanted to provide that opportunity for someone else. For me that person is Chanel Bragg,” said ATC Artistic Director Sean Daniels. “Also, it’s time for theaters to start hiring and promoting the immense talent that lives in their own towns.”
Bragg, who holds a Master of Arts degree with an emphasis in Innovative Leadership from Western International University, has worked with a range of Arizona fine arts institutions and is a three-time AriZoni Theatre Awards of Excellence recipient. Among the organizations for which she has collaborated are ATC in The Music Man and Cabaret, Black Theatre Troupe, The Phoenix Symphony, Free Arts for Abused Children, Phoenix Theatre, Stray Cat Theatre, Childsplay, Arizona Broadway Theatre, TheaterWorks, Spotlight Youth Theatre and Desert Stages.
For more information about Arizona Theatre Company, visit www.arizonatheatre.org.
Kensington Vanguard opens Arizona office
Kensington Vanguard National Land Services, one of the largest independent, full-service title insurance agencies in the country, is expanding into Arizona and has hired Carol Rieger and Nicole Marucci, two of the Valley and state’s leading commercial title insurance executives.
The expansion in Arizona follows Kensington Vanguard’s entrance into the market with the acquisition of GRS Title earlier this year.
Over the course of her 25-year career in commercial real estate, Rieger has established herself as one of the most well-respected commercial escrow officers in the Arizona market. She has managed numerous offices with a focus on both business development and the servicing of complex commercial transactions. Rieger joins the firm as Vice President and Senior Commercial Escrow Officer and will co-manage the Phoenix branch.
After years of experience in business development and title insurance underwriting roles in Metro Washington, D.C., Marucci returned home to Phoenix last year. As Vice President of Business Development & Underwriting Counsel, Marucci will be managing client relationships and concentrating on growth initiatives within the market.
“Nicole and I are thrilled to be joining such a prestigious firm and are excited to offer expanded services through Kensington Vanguard’s national platform, relationships and presence,” Rieger said.
“Carol and Nicole will add significant depth and talent to our already strong local team and establish KV as one of the leaders in the Arizona commercial title insurance space. We’re committed to continued growth in this market,” said Brian Cooper, Co-CEO of Kensington Vanguard.
Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie attorney named IP STAR 2020
Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie LLP announced Jennifer Van Kirk has been named an IP STAR 2020 by Managing Intellectual Property, a guide to IP law firms and attorneys. The firm was also ranked in the “highly recommended” category for Intellectual Property in Arizona.
Jennifer Van Kirk, a partner in the firm’s Phoenix office, was recognized as a Trademark Star in Arizona. She advises clients on all aspects of trademark and brand protection, including trademark clearance, prosecution, licensing, portfolio management and litigation guidance. Van Kirk has cultivated a network of trusted firms in nearly 200 countries to help clients protect their brands internationally. With over 20 years’ experience, she advises clients on which global registrations to pursue, filing strategies to maximize coverage, and cost-containment options. She has overseen hundreds of cases before U.S. and foreign tribunals to protect her clients’ IP interests.
The Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie Intellectual Property practice is a dynamic group of attorneys assembled to handle its clients’ IP needs across a wide variety of industries. The firm boasts intellectual property attorneys who are technical specialists in a variety of arenas, and has a talented team of Ph.Ds. to provide clients the most highly technical understanding and guidance. The group is adept at handling the unique needs of clients whether they are a start-up company protecting their IP assets, or a multi-national Fortune 500 company with complex IP issues.
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