Opus Group announces appointment of Clare Lydon

The Opus Group (Opus) announced that Clare Lydon joined Opus Development Company, L.L.C. as real estate representative. Lydon will work with Opus’ development team on the office’s current projects and will also work with local stakeholders to continue to grow Opus’ footprint in the Phoenix area with future development projects. 

“We are delighted to have Clare on our team,” said Larry Pobuda, senior vice president and general manager, Opus Development Company, L.L.C. “Clare brings a complementary skill set to our team, and we are confident that she will bring great value to our clients in the Phoenix market.”

In her new role, Lydon will work on Union Tempe, a mixed-use development in the heart of Tempe, Longbow Gateway One in Mesa and Goodyear Crossing in Goodyear, both of which are industrial developments. Lydon will also work with the commercial real estate brokerage community, city officials and land owners to secure new sites for future development projects.

Humana hires Kellogg to lead Arizona

Humana Inc., one of the nation’s leading health and well-being companies, announced it has hired Paul Kellogg as Regional Vice President, Provider Experience for the Central West Region.  

Kellogg will be responsible for oversight of Humana’s Commercial and Medicare provider networks in Humana’s Central West Region, which encompasses Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico. In this role, he will be responsible for building relationships with health care leaders and executives to further Humana’s Integrated Care Delivery strategy. This strategy focuses on improving health outcomes and creating a better health care experience.

Kellogg comes to Humana with more than 19 years of multi-state network, contracting and business development experience. He also brings long-term executive experience working on the delivery system side of health care with large and small medical groups and multi-hospital systems. 

Prior to joining Humana, Kellogg worked for Banner Health for nearly 20 years, most recently serving as the Vice President of Banner Network Colorado and Western Region Business Development.

Vantage West names new VP-marketing and communications

Vantage West Credit Union, southern Arizona’s largest credit union, has named Andrew Downin as its new Vice President,  Marketing and Communications.  In his new position, Downin takes a lead  role in providing strategic direction  as well as managing marketing campaigns, public relations activities, community initiatives, and other business development ventures  that benefit the membership and the communities served by the credit union.

Downin’s career in the credit union movement spans over 20 years.  Prior to joining Vantage West, he was Managing Director of Research at Filene Research Institute, the U.S. credit union industry’s think tank. Previously, he led product development at SchoolsFirst FCU and was Vice President of Marketing at Partners FCU.

His perspectives on credit unions and consumer finance have been featured in publications including The New York Times, Credit Union Magazine, and Credit Union Times. He is on the faculty of Southwest CUNA Management School and has been a regular speaker at events across North America and Europe. Downin received his undergraduate degree in accounting from the University of Arizona and his MBA from Pepperdine University where he graduated first in his class. He is also a certified public accountant.

Landmark Title opens office in Kierland

Landmark Title recently hired industry veteran, Noreen Konieczny to fill the position of Unit Manager at its Kierland office. Konieczny is a senior escrow officer with more than 26 years of experience. Kocieczny will work directly with residential clients and manage the growing team at Landmark Title’s new Kierland office.

The new office is conveniently located in North Scottsdale in Kierland Commons at 7047 E. Greenway Parkway, Suite 100. While construction on the approximately 1,000 square foot space is underway, the Kierland office team will operate out of suite 250.

Konieczny spent much of her career with Old Republic Title, where she previously held the position of Senior Escrow Officer. She brings an in-depth knowledge of the industry and understanding of the complex and technical aspects of escrow to the team.  

Fellowship Square Surprise Appoints Executive Director

Fellowship Square Surprise, located at 16477 W. Bell Road, has appointed Kathy Loscheider to the role of Executive Director of the latest campus, which is set to open its doors this spring.

A not-for-profit assisted living senior community, Fellowship Square operates three other campuses in the greater Phoenix area, with a fourth in Tucson. Loscheider comes to the Surprise location from Fellowship Square Phoenix, bringing with her more than 30 years of experience in the senior housing field. As a graduate of Grand Canyon University, Loscheider holds a Masters in Business Administration with an emphasis in Health Systems Management. She is also a state-licensed skilled nursing administrator, assisted living manager and a certified HUD assisted housing manager.

Of her new role, Loscheider says, “I am thrilled to be among the leadership of Fellowship Square’s latest and greatest facility. The responsibility of ensuring our residents receive the utmost in quality senior care, safety and accommodations is not one I take lightly, and I look forward to meeting and exceeding this charge every day at our Surprise community.”

Upon opening, Fellowship Square Surprise’s 15-acre campus will feature 313 apartment units with independent living, assisted living and memory support services in distinct buildings throughout the campus. The gated community will feature amenity-rich packages and spacious common areas among inviting grounds designed to help residents feel at home in a comfortable and lush environment that they can enjoy with family and friends. For more, visit www.fellowshipsquareseniorliving.org.

USTA Southwest Section honors Kelly Ferris

The United States Tennis Association (USTA) Southwest Section has honored Kelly Ferris, from USTA Central Arizona, as the Local League Coordinator of the Year at its awards and hall of fame ceremony held earlier this month in Scottsdale, Ariz. The mission of the United States Tennis Association (USTA) Southwest Section is to promote and develop tennis in the Southwest by servicing the needs of the playing public and encouraging the growth of tennis by administering programming, support and guidance and serving as a source for comprehensive information on tennis.

Each year the USTA Southwest Section holds its annual awards and hall of fame ceremony, and new this year is the award to honor a local league coordinator that fulfills the mission of the USTA Southwest Section. According to the leadership of the organization, Ferris has gone above and beyond in meeting these requirements.

“Kelly has been with USTA Central Arizona since July 2016 and was directly responsible for the single largest increase in participation in our local tennis leagues in USTA Central Arizona history.  It was the 4th largest increase in the country out of nearly 320 local leagues,” said Matt Gleason, executive director of USTA Central Arizona. “Her passion for tennis and growing the game of tennis have proven to be a winning combination for USTA Central Arizona.”