HMC Architects names new healthcare principal

HMC Architects announced that Tara Brown has joined the firm’s healthcare practice to bolster its growth and expertise in the southwestern region of the U.S.

For HMC clients, the move indicates considerable support towards the firm’s Phoenix office by bringing in a proven leader to boost the quality of its deliverables and project approach. Serving as principal-in-charge, Brown brings a wealth of industry-leading experience and a skillset rooted in strategic planning, leading big room project teams, and genuine knowledge of healthcare clients’ key drivers and business challenges.

This coming on the heels of a several large projects in Arizona, a DBIA National Award of Excellence in Healthcare Facilities category for the new Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital Patient Tower in Valencia, Calif., and the release of our Cancer Care Research Study.

Gust Rosenfeld adds Joseph Estes

Gust Rosenfeld, P.L.C., announced that Joseph D. Estes has joined the firm’s Public Law Group.

Joe’s government and municipal law practice includes administrative law, election law, code enforcement and compliance, public records, procurement law, open meeting law, real estate, land use and zoning, development, conflict of interest, 1983 actions, and civil litigation.

“The firm has a long-standing reputation for our work in public and municipal law. Joe adds to our ability to serve the legal needs of municipalities throughout Arizona,” said Andrew McGuire, Chair of the firm’s Public Law Group.

Joe’s experience includes serving as Assistant City Attorney for the City of Yuma from 2017 to 2020 and the City Attorney for the City of Page from 2014 to 2016. Joe has served as a Judge Pro Tem for various Justice Courts and Maricopa County Superior Court. He also was an Assistant Attorney General at the Arizona Attorney General’s Office.

Joe also served on the City of Maricopa’s first Planning and Zoning Commission and then was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Maricopa City Council, for which he won re-election the following year, serving from 2005 to 2010. Joe’s service on the City Council provided him with unique insights and experience that has allowed him to bring practical and innovative solutions to his municipal clients.

McCarthy Building Companies promotes Travis Nestor

McCarthy Building Companies Inc., one of the nation’s oldest and largest privately held construction firms, has promoted Travis Nestor to Southwest regional safety director. In his new role, he will oversee regional and company-wide safety initiatives as he continues to provide high-level service in training, communication, case management, policy and procedure improvements and promotes McCarthy’s genuine safety culture throughout operations in Arizona, Colorado and Nevada.

Since joining McCarthy as a safety manager in 2012, Nestor has capably led and developed a safety-focused team and brought strategic thinking and a collaborative approach to his many impactful projects. Nestor has been instrumental in improving safety performance and in shepherding McCarthy’s comprehensive safety-driven culture. He has worked on numerous landmark projects and markets throughout the region including a focus on commercial, transportation and K-12 education construction throughout Arizona, the OdySea Aquarium in Scottsdale, and Colorado Springs utilities in Colorado. Nestor was also dedicated to Allegiant Stadium, the new home of the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders. In this capacity, he led a team of joint venture and trade partner safety professionals and worked hand in hand with jobsite leadership to provide a safe workplace on one of McCarthy’s most challenging and high-profile projects.

“Travis’ endless focus on safety is invaluable and permeates any project or personnel he comes in contact with,” said Justin Kelton, president of the Southwest region at McCarthy Building Companies. “He takes the safety of his team members personally, making him an excellent leader in the field and has a demonstrated track record of success in collaborating with clients, trade partners and industry experts to implement a customized approach to safety planning each and every day.”

McCarthy’s Water Group promotes 3

McCarthy Building Companies announced the promotion of three key personnel within the firm’s Water Group, including Jake Stones, Pat Payne and Sagrado Sparks. With combined water treatment construction expertise and experience spanning three decades, these promotions further enhance McCarthy’s Water Group abilities to provide clean water to communities throughout the Western United States.

McCarthy has a rich history of success in understanding wastewater and water treatment plant construction requirements and in building solutions that meet the needs of the community. Over the past decade, McCarthy Water has completed or is currently constructing more than

$1.4 billion of collaborative delivery water and wastewater projects by partnering with municipal, governmental and private clients to help them process wastewater, address plant upgrades, and deliver cost-effective clean water to meet the needs of the communities they serve.

Jake Stones is promoted to vice president project executive: Stones joined McCarthy nearly a decade ago as a project manager dedicated to the group’s water business in Texas. His impressive track record includes 16 years of experience building water and transportation infrastructure projects throughout the Western United States. As a licensed wastewater operator, he brings a unique and valuable perspective to McCarthy’s collaborative water delivery teams. In addition to leading large and logistically challenging projects, Stones is committed to educating the next generation of water and infrastructure builders by teaching graduate level project management courses as an adjunct professor through Boise State University. In his new role, Stones will be a leader in growing McCarthy’s water/wastewater construction expertise.

Pat Payne is promoted to project director: Since joining McCarthy’s Water Group in 2008, Payne has led some of the most complex water and wastewater projects, collaborating with multiple owners and developing innovative solutions that achieve each municipality’s goals cost-effectively. Having recently directed his team to substantial completion on the Greenfield Water Reclamation Plant in Gilbert, Ariz., Payne will continue in his new role by building high-performing teams on projects across the region. He brings great attention to detail and ability to execute on highly technical projects large and small. Payne has a bachelor’s degree in construction management from Northern Arizona University and is a member of the Arizona Water Association and Water Environment Federation.

Sagrado Sparks is promoted to project director: Sparks joined McCarthy’s Water Group in 2013 and has led water and wastewater construction projects across the country totaling over 720 MGD. In his new role, Sparks will lead large team collaborations and apply his technical expertise in conventional and advanced water treatment processes to maximize cost savings, while focusing on maintaining project schedules. He is currently leading McCarthy’s team on the $248 million Northeast Water Purification Plant – Central Plant expansion in Humble, Texas. Sparks has a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Alaska and is Professional Engineer licensed in Arizona, Nevada and Texas.

“Each of these key individuals has in-depth expertise in water and wastewater treatment projects that has helped our Water Group develop its reputation for excellence and technical skills on large and small complex water projects,” said Joe Brunsman, business unit leader for McCarthy’s Water Group. “They are innovators, problem solvers and critical thinkers who excel at working collaboratively to deliver water and wastewater treatment projects that bring clean water to communities across the country.”

Snell & Wilmer attorney Ed Hermes elected to school governing board

Snell & Wilmer announced that Phoenix associate Ed Hermes has been elected to the Osborn School District Governing Board.

Osborn School District serves schools in the downtown and midtown Phoenix area and has a long history with its first school’s doors opening in 1887. The district has five elected members who play a critical role in the formulation and approval of policies that guide the operation of the district. Each member of the Governing Board is elected to serve a four-year term. Its vision is to become a community of learners focused on quality in teaching, learning and leading within a safe environment characterized by encouragement, cooperation, challenge and respect for diversity. Hermes has been involved in the Osborn School District for many years, having previously served as the Treasurer and Chair of the District bond and override campaigns in 2017 and 2018.

Hermes is a commercial litigator whose practice is focused on complex commercial, tax, property, and construction disputes. His experience includes litigation regarding breach of contract and tort claims, commercial and residential construction disputes, property disputes, tax disputes and appeals, and disputes involving Federal Indian Law. Hermes regularly appears on behalf of his clients in state, federal, and tribal courts and administrative tribunals throughout the Southwest. Having previously lived and worked in Indian Country, Hermes also advises companies and economic development entities in conducting business and creating job opportunities in Indian Country.

We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort introduces new culinary team

The We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort is proud to introduce its new roster of talented chefs that are creating delicious, inventive cuisine at Ember steakhouse, Ahnala Mesquite Room, WKP Sports & Entertainment sports bar, The Buffet, The Market and other outlets throughout the brand new state-of-the-art casino and adjoining AAA Four Diamond hotel.

Graham Quayle – Executive Chef

Born and raised in Liverpool, England, Chef Quayle has 25+ years culinary management experience at AAA Five Diamond-rated restaurants and resorts along with three years as an instructor at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Boston, Los Angeles and Scottsdale. After receiving a degree in Culinary Arts from the British Columbia Institute of Technology and completing an apprenticeship at The William Tell Restaurant in Vancouver, Quayle joined Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, where he held Executive Chef positions at six different first-class properties in the US and Canada over a 19-year period. After that, he served as Executive Sous Chef at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino and Executive Chef at The Mirage in Las Vegas.  A gold, silver and bronze medalist in the Hot & Cold competition, Quayle was awarded a Certified Executive Chef certification with the American Culinary Federation in 2013.

Alex Robinson – Executive Sous Chef

A graduate of Le Cordon Bleu Scottsdale with an associate degree in Culinary Arts, Chef Robinson has held positions at luxury hotel brands throughout the country during his 20+-year culinary career.  Most recently the Executive Chef at Royal Palms Resort and Spa, Robinson also served as Executive Sous Chef of the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel, where he oversaw multiple outlets and serviced 80,000 square feet of meeting space.  Robinson also previously led culinary teams at Four Seasons properties in Troon North, Jackson Hole, Denver and Boston, and worked at The Ritz-Carlton in Chicago.

Richard Pelz – Chef de Cuisine – Ember

After graduating from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY, Chef Pelz began his culinary career in New York City at the four-star La Grenouille, followed by positions as Sous Chef at La Caravelle and Pastry Chef at AZ.  He then worked at Restaurante Martin Berasategui in Spain and with Dimitri Roedoe in Amsterdam before returning to the US to serve as Executive Chef at Citrine (West Hollywood) and open Tintol (New York City).  After launching his own restaurant, Goblin Market, with a partner in New York City, Pelz later worked at Bottega and Redd (Napa Valley), Alinea (Chicago), and Augusta Modern, Cuistot and Wally’s Desert Turtle (Palm Springs area).

Roy Pell – Pastry Chef

Named one of the top 10 pastry chefs in America by Dessert Professional Magazine in 2010, Chef Pell represented the USA as a member of the 2004 Pastry team at the Culinary Olympics and was also a member of Team USA for the 2009 Coupe du Monde.  Over the past 35 years, Pell has worked at Ritz-Carlton properties in San Francisco, St. Louis and Phoenix, as well as at Harveys restaurant and The Savoy (London), Amway Grand Plaza (Michigan) and Peter Island Resort and Spa (British Virgin Islands).  Most recently, he was Executive Pastry Chef at The Phoenician in Scottsdale.

Dennis Payne – Sommelier

An Advanced Certified Sommelier with more than 30 years’ experience at many of the world’s premier vineyards and restaurants, Dennis Payne has a strong passion for wine, fine dining and hospitality.  He is a Certified Wine Educator (CWE) and a Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW), and has overseen the wine and beverage programs for award-winning restaurants including Ruth’s Hospitality Group (Ruth’s Chris Steak House), Hilton Hotels, Fox Restaurant Concepts, The Iconic Collection (PARC, 220 Merrill, The Fountain Detroit), Different Point of View Restaurant, and Mancuso’s.  A graduate of Arizona State University, Dennis also represents eight highly regarded wineries from Argentina and the United States.

“When we first envisioned our upscale new casino resort, we knew we’d need top-tier professionals to open and manage our fine and casual dining restaurants,” explained Zachary Gallo, Executive Director of food and beverage for the We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort. “I’m thrilled to lead a department with a culinary team that embodies the talent, creativity, attention to detail and craftsmanship to deliver a delicious, first-class dining experience for local guests as well as visitors to the area.”

For more information, visit www.wekopacasinoresort.com.