New project executives join UEB Builders

UEB Builders, an Arizona based general contractor firm, announce the addition of Alexis Carver and Blake Keinanen as project executives to its growing office in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Founded in 2005 by Tom Keilty and Mike Hurst, UEB has grown from a three-person company to one with more than 180 employees. From offices in Scottsdale, Dallas and Seattle, UEB serves a multi-state market specializing in multifamily, office, hospitality and commercial projects.

Notable local projects under construction are The Stewart, Link PHX, and Kenect Phoenix, all high-rise apartment buildings/towers downtown. Other projects under construction include the Helios Education Foundation in Central Phoenix and the Cambria Hotel downtown.

A registered architect and recently recognized as a Top 20 Under 40 award winner by Engineering News-Record Southwest, Alexis Carver is already a leader in the building industry and focused on improving construction processes and developing best practices. With 12 years of industry experience, Carver leads collaborative project efforts between owners, design professionals an contractors on a variety of project types including healthcare and multifamily. Carver received her State of Arizona registered architect license in 2014, DBIA certification in 2018, and is an advocate for professional practice as a board member with the AIA Arizona.

Keinanen obtained his Bachelor of Science in construction management from Nottingham Trent University in the UK. His dissertation, based on Arizona’s renewable energy, placed third in the country for his academic year. Keinanen’s systematic approach and adaptability has provided notable success in a variety of sectors, including hospitality, gaming, manufacturing, energy, wastewater, cultural and mixed-use. Keinanen is a member of the CMAA Arizona Chapter, where he has served as a board member in previous years.

Phat Golf welcomes Erik Dorr

Phat Scooters welcomed Erik Dorr as Vice President of Corporate Sales. Erik joins Phat Scooters with over 20 years of experience in business development in the hospitality and technology industry. As Vice President of Corporate Sales, Erik will be responsible for developing new business opportunities and partnerships for Phat Scooters with resorts and golf courses locally and nationally.

Erik has an extensive background in building business relationships, most recently serving as former President of Hospitality Sales and Marketing International Arizona Chapter. Most of his career was spent providing technology and software solutions for some of the best resorts around the globe.

“Phat Scooters is the next chapter of providing electric transportation that the hospitality industry desperately needs and wants,” says Erik. “The innovation that Phat Scooters has made to golf transportation will be talked about for years to come.”

Glendale announced new interim assistant city manager

Glendale City Manager Kevin Phelps has selected Rob Sweeney as interim assistant city manager. Sweeney will serve alongside Glendale’s other assistant city manager, Chris Anaradian. 

“I’m excited to have Rob join the team because he brings almost three decades of public sector executive leadership experience and a high level of expertise in finance and information technology,” says Glendale City Manager Kevin Phelps. “It is budget season for us, so we’re fortunate that he is here at the exact time we’re conducting meetings to plan for the next fiscal year.”

As assistant city manager, Sweeney will lead and provide strategic direction for five major city departments. These departments include: Community Services, Human Resources, Innovation and Technology, Budget and Finance and Public Facilities, Recreation and Special Events. He will oversee 270 full-time employees.

Jared Gilbert hired to build OUAZ swimming program

Ottawa University Arizona will begin sponsoring men’s and women’s swimming & diving starting in 2019-20. OUAZ Director of Athletics Kevin Steele announced that Jared Gilbert has been hired to build the program as head coach.

“It is a great pleasure to welcome Jared to the OUAZ Athletics coaching family,” Steele said. “Jared’s tremendous success as a coach at his previous stops and his intimate knowledge of the California swim and dive world make him an excellent choice to start our programs here. Jared was a part of a start-up program as a collegiate athlete, so he understands the unique dynamic involved when starting a program. More importantly, Jared’s love for the Lord and his ability to intertwine his faith and his coaching to lead young people make him a perfect fit for us. I look forward to these new programs and the leadership that Jared will bring to the institution.”

Gilbert will join the Spirit after spending the past two seasons as an assistant coach for the swimming and diving program at Fresno Pacific University. In his time with the Sunbirds, the FPU men and women each finished in the top eight at the NCAA Division II National Championships and each are ranked this season.

Water Polo coming to OUAZ with Austen Ramer

Ottawa University Arizona Director of Athletics Kevin Steele announced the school will begin sponsoring men’s and women’s water polo in 2019-20. Along with announcing the new programs, Steele has hired Austen Ramer to build the two programs as head coach.

“Austen is a passionate young coach who brings innovation and enthusiasm for the sport of water polo. These traits are only surpassed by his love for the Lord,” Steele answered when asked about choosing Ramer to start the water polo programs at OUAZ. “It is a pleasure to have such an accomplished young man to lead these new programs. Austen was a phenomenal player and has excellent credentials as a coach as well. His knowledge of the Southern California polo world along with his international ties will give him a great advantage in recruiting as he builds our programs from the ground up.  I am excited to see Austen bring his competitive spirit, his enthusiasm for the sport and his love for the Lord to his programs as he develops the culture desired in OUAZ Athletics.”

Ramer will join the Spirit after leading the Murrieta Valley High School (Calif.) boys and girls programs the past season. Prior to taking over as head coach this season, Ramer was the assistant coach at the school when they boys’ team won the Southwestern League and advanced to the quarterfinals of the C.I.F. last season.

Scottsdale real estate brokerage signs 30 new agents in 6 months

Platinum Living Realty, an independent luxury real estate brokerage with four offices across Arizona, announced that they have brought on 30 new real estate agents to the firm since launching six months ago. Platinum Living Realty now has over 100 dedicated real estate agents helping home buyers and sellers navigate Arizona’s real estate market.

Jay and Michelle Macklin, the co-owners of Platinum Living Realty, began their careers in real estate in 2003 and opened their first brokerage in 2010. In July 2018, they made the decision to take their growing brokerage firm independent and to separate from the national brand they had been working with for a number of years.

“Michelle and I founded Platinum Living Realty as an alternative to the classic real estate model,” said Jay Macklin, co-owner of Platinum Living Realty. “As an independent brokerage, we are able to offer our agents a plethora of new opportunities as well as an enhanced level of support to help them achieve their greatest possible levels of success.”

Platinum Living Realty takes a different approach than traditional real estate brokerages by providing agents with a customized package of over 20 marketing tools to help effectively target and grow their businesses; consistent and individualized coaching to work through challenges and problems that arise; abundant opportunities for generating new leads and clients; plus other tools and policies that focus on the agent’s success.

“What we offer at Platinum Living Realty is a way for our agents to grow a predictive and sustainable business rather than being reactive or focusing on mundane tasks that won’t help close a sale,” said Macklin. “Our unique approach to quality marketing and building leads is ushering in a new and more efficient way way to do business as a real estate agent.”

“The support, coaching and investment we have received from Jay and Michelle at Platinum Living Realty has been exceptional and unlike any support we had received before,” said Donna Hunter, a 25-year real estate industry veteran and co-founder with Candy Jenkins of The Hunter Jenkins Realty Group at Platinum Living Realty.

“Platinum Living Realty has helped our real estate business grow in ways we had never imagined,” said Candy Jenkins, a 12-year real estate industry veteran and co-founder with Donna Hunter of The Hunter Jenkins Realty Group at Platinum Living Realty. “I wish we had made the switch long ago.”

The list of new Platinum Living Realty agents includes: Shawn Krill, Scott Semer, Nadine Stoner, Candy Jenkins, Donna Hunter, Amy Gough, Emily Setlock, Lisa Tessler, Tara Guljas, Kimberly MacDonald, Alyssa Jones, Kristen Spayd, AJ Durand, Jamie Jachowski, Shelli Duncan, Bernadette Barba, Nikki Park, Kathleen Ticknor, Kellie Therklesen, Darryl Thompson, Gretchen Slaughter, Georgia Schaeffer, Dawn Zimbelman, Spero Pagos, Jheri South, Michelle Parker, Brandi Parker, Christina Ramirez, Elysia Porter, and Sarah Lossing.