Crafco’s Lisa Zentner honored by Women of Asphalt

Crafco’s Lisa Zentner will be featured in the “I am a Woman of Asphalt: 100 Days until World of Asphalt 2019” countdown sponsored by Women of Asphalt (WofA). The distinction is being bestowed on 100 females across the globe with noted accomplishments in the asphalt industry. Zentner will be highlighted on February 6, 2019, on WofA’s website (womenofasphalt.org) and social media page (facebook.com/womenofasphaltcouncil).

In its second year, WofA is a national coalition supported by the Asphalt Pavement Alliance that provides career growth, mentorship, and educational opportunities to women across the industry. The countdown feature was highly competitive, with numerous nominations received.   

Zentner has a 30+ year history in asphalt and is known for her acumen in material formulation and application, along with her customer advisory expertise. As Crafco’s Technical Product Manager, Specialty Materials, she provides critical consultative and product guidance on polymer-modified asphalt used in commercial roofing (tab, laminate, and impact-resistant adhesives and coatings) and pavement waterproofing applications.

Veteran education executive Bill Bressler joins Waltz Construction

Bill Bressler has joined Waltz Construction as an educational consultant who brings a proven skillset and expertise to lead innovative planning, start-up, and implementation for K-12 clients. He has more than 20 years of experience in Arizona K-12 charter and public education as a school counselor, teacher, assistant principal, principal, assistant superintendent, superintendent, and chief academic officer.

“We are very excited to have Bill on board,” said Matt Waltz, LEED AP, president. “Bill is not only a successful charter school executive, but he is also a scholar-practitioner who understands educational trends and best practices to plan and deliver new facilities and expansions. He provides unparalleled value for our clients.”

Bressler served as the Chief Academic Officer for Legacy Traditional Schools network for eight years, where he developed and executed a strategic plan to maintain high performance. He formulated policies and provided overall technical direction for the organization’s 17, PK-8 campuses within regulatory and statutory guidelines set by the governing body.  He also opened 13 new schools in multiple states.

NexMetro announces new CEO

NexMetro Communities, pioneer of Avilla luxury leased-home neighborhoods, announced that Josh Hartmann has been named the company’s chief executive officer. Hartmann assumes the role from the original NexMetro CEO, Ken Abrahams, who will remain on the NexMetro board of directors as executive chairman.

“This is an ideal time for Josh to transition into NexMetro’s chief executive officer role, as we are poised in 2019 to deliver 5,000 Avilla Homes and deploy $1 billion dollars of capital into this innovative product. Under his leadership, the company will continue to strategically and rapidly grow its innovative single family rental offerings in multiple markets,” Abrahams said. “Josh is unique in his ability to translate vision and strategy into world-class execution, bringing together teams and business partners to drive results.”

Abrahams, a long-time real estate veteran and entrepreneur, was one of the original founders of the innovative Avilla single family rental concept. He formed NexMetro in 2012 in Phoenix after building prototype projects in Tucson. Hartmann was the company’s first hire, and brought more than 20 years of real estate management and development experience to NexMetro, having worked with both private regional developers and large public national homebuilders. Hartmann is an industry veteran who has also spearheaded efforts to build a great company culture, provide inspired leadership to the executive team, establish a great working relationship with the board of directors, and set a course for company strategy that has guided its exponential growth.

Wells Fargo makes three moves

Wells Fargo has promoted Derek Allsup to district manager for the Central Tucson district of community banking. Allsup is responsible for 115 team members and eight banking branches. He previously served as a branch manager, beginning his career with Wells Fargo in 2001 as a teller. Allsup resides in Tucson with his wife Pam and their three children. 

Hector Estrella has been promoted to district manager for the Downtown Tucson district of community banking for Wells Fargo. In his new role, Estrella will be responsible for 79 team members and seven banking branches. Estrella previously served as a branch manager and began his career with Wells Fargo in 2008 as a teller. Estrella currently resides in Tucson with his fiancée Leanne and their two children.

Wells Fargo has named Jason Gowan as district manager for the Greater Tucson district of community banking for Wells Fargo. Gowan previously served as a district manager for Wells Fargo in Tallahassee, Fla. In his new role, Gowan will be responsible for 167 team members and nine banking branches. He began his career with Wells Fargo in 2006 as a teller in Salt Lake City. Gowan now lives in Tucson with his wife and two daughters.

Dr. Felicia Goodrum named Fellow

University of Arizona Associate Professor of Immunobiology Felicia Goodrum, PhD, has been elected a fellow of the prestigious American Academy of Microbiology (AAM). 

She is one of only 109 scientists nationwide to receive this distinction for 2019. The academy will name no additional fellows this year. 

Part of the American Society for Microbiology, the academy elects fellows annually through a highly selective peer-review process. Fellows are chosen based on their scientific achievement and original contributions that have advanced the field of microbiology.

“I am honored to be elected into this prestigious academy,” Dr. Goodrum said. “The company of the other 108 fellows is spectacular and I am honored to be among them.

Dr. Goodrum joined the Department of Immunobiology at University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson in 2006. She is also a member of the UA BIO5 Institute.