SmithGroup elevates 3 to principal at Phoenix office

SmithGroup, one of the nation’s leading integrated design firms, has promoted Chris Ledwith, Stephanie Mitrovic and Michelle Ray to principal at its Phoenix office.

An architect and project manager in the Phoenix office, Chris Ledwith, AIA, LEED AP BD+C specializes in the real estate development process and provides comprehensive, value-added planning solutions to multiple developer clients throughout the U.S. Notable projects for Ledwith include the historic ‘Psycho’ Jefferson Hotel, a high-rise condominium development project in downtown Phoenix; and a 120,000-square-foot campus expansion to the Grace Lake Corporate Center located in the Van Buren Township, Michigan. One of his most unique projects to date was a multi-use classroom building for the Foundation for Blind Children in Phoenix, which is now the nation’s largest school specifically designed for blind children. Ledwith is a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and United States Green Building Council. He earned a Bachelor of Architecture from The University of Arizona and now resides in Chandler, Arizona.

Stephanie Mitrovic, AIA, NCARB, NCIDQ is the Science & Technology studio leader at the Phoenix office. In her role, she is working to diversify and expand the firm’s national Science & Technology Practice through her experience in academic research, federal, forensic and corporate R&D facilities. Notable work includes the new Water Building for Colorado State University at the National Western Center in Denver. Mitrovic was recently named by AZRE Business Magazine as one of 2018’s Most Influential Women in Arizona Business. She is active in her community as a member of AIA and United Way’s Women United Steering Committee. She is also a Translational Genomics Research Institute Foundation Ambassador. Mitrovic received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in interior design from Virginia Commonwealth University followed by a Master of Architecture from Arizona State University. A native of Williamsburg, Virginia, she now resides in Phoenix.

Michelle Ray, AIA, LEED AP BD+C joined SmithGroup in 2018 as a mixed-use specialist in the Phoenix office. With more than 25 years of experience, she has been involved in numerous large retail, office, multifamily and hospitality projects. In her position, Ray is co-leading the firm’s Mixed-Use Convergence team, weaving together a network of SmithGroup professionals with diverse knowledge and experience to create long lasting and impactful solutions for multi-purpose environments. She has a passion for promoting women in architecture and is a founding member of the Women’s Leadership Group for AIA Arizona. Ray also co-founded Arizona Kids Build, an award-winning program aimed to teach young students how the built environment affects both their well-being and the world around us. Ray received a Bachelor of Environmental Design from the University of Colorado, Boulder. She is a resident of Phoenix.

McCarthy Building Companies promotes Kristine Newman

McCarthy Building Companies Inc. (www.mccarthy.com) recently promoted Kristine Newman to senior vice president, finance with McCarthy Holdings Inc. She is responsible for creating strategies to deploy and diversify capital for the benefit of the employee-owners of the national builder. 

In her new role, Newman reports directly to McCarthy Holdings Inc. Chief Financial Officer Doug Audiffred. She is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and holds the Certified Construction Industry Financial Professional designation.

Newman joined McCarthy almost 14 years ago and previously served as vice president of finance and controller for the builder’s Southwest region. She began her career with Arthur Andersen LLP, working on audit and consulting engagements in the firm’s Chicago and Phoenix offices, prior to joining McCarthy.

“I am thrilled that Kris is stepping into this new national role on behalf of our employee-owners,” commented Audiffred. “She has done great work in McCarthy’s Southwest region and is well-positioned to lead this focus area for our company.”   

3 Jones, Skelton & Hochuli attorneys promoted to partner

Jones, Skelton & Hochuli, PLC announced that three of the firm’s associates, Diana Elston, Chelsey Golightly, and Patrick Gorman, have joined the firm’s partnership.

Diana Elston represents client in the areas of general civil litigation and insurance defense, personal injury, premises liability, homeowners association defense, and tribal law. She is admitted to five Tribal Courts in Arizona and handles a wide variety of issues for Indian tribes throughout the Southwest. Her tribal defense practice includes representing tribes and their enterprises (including casinos) in premises liability, conservatorships, and wrongful death and personal injury claims. Before joining the firm, Diana practiced for three years at a Flagstaff law firm, focusing in the areas of general civil litigation and bankruptcy. A Valley native, Diana was raised in Tempe and taught elementary music in the area for two years before earning her J.D., summa cum laude, at Thomas Jefferson School of Law. 

Chelsey Golightly began her legal career at JSH in 2012. She practices in the areas of general civil litigation and insurance defense, focusing on defending clients in cases involving wrongful death and catastrophic personal injury, premises liability, products liability, and social host liability.  She has represented clients in complex litigation cases and has successfully taken cases to trial.  She has also negotiated complicated settlements and obtained dismissals for many of her clients through motion practice. Chelsey is one of the firm’s hiring partners and oversees the summer associate program.  She is also a member of the firm’s diversity and investment committees. Chelsey earned her J.D. from ASU’s College of Law.

Patrick Gorman began his legal career at JSH in 2011. He concentrates his practice in the areas of bad faith and extra-contractual liability, insurance coverage, professional liability and other general civil litigation matters. He represents large insurers in bad faith and breach of contract claims, often with allegations of punitive damages, through all phases of litigation in state and federal court. Patrick also represents attorneys, insurance brokers, and accountants in professional malpractice claims. Prior to joining the firm, Patrick served as a law clerk for a United States Senator on the Judiciary Committee, legal extern for the Honorable Paul G. Rosenblatt at the United States District Court for the District of Arizona, and law clerk for the Goodhue County Attorney’s Office in Red Wing, Minnesota. Patrick earned his J.D., cum laude, from ASU’s College of Law.

MacQueen & Gottlieb adds paralegal

MacQueen & Gottlieb, the top-ranked real estate law firm in Arizona, today announced another addition to its staff with the hiring of certified paralegal Marsha Gallegos. Gallegos, a paralegal since 2005, comes to MacQueen & Gottlieb from the Breyer Law Offices, where she served as a certified paralegal for the past four years.

Prior to Breyer, she was a paralegal for American Family Insurance for more than six years and served as a legal secretary at Gust Rosenfeld for more than two years at the beginning of her career.  She is originally from Nogales and speaks fluent Spanish.

She earned her Associate Degree in Paralegal Studies from Phoenix College and is a member of the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA); and is currently the Vice President of the Maricopa County Association of Paralegals (MCAP).  She plans to further her certification by signing up for the Advanced Certified Paralegal exam later this year.