On the move at Versant, Small Giants, Realty Executives, Boulders

Versant Capital Management CEO Liz Shabaker announced that Erin Itkow, senior wealth counselor at the firm, will take the role of director of client experience.

In this role, Itkoe’s efforts will be centered around delivering an exceptional client experience. She will manage, oversee and coordinate the activities of the firm’s financial advisory staff, and will work to ensure that the advisory functions comply with all internal processes and procedures.

“Erin has always been driven to provide exceptional service to Versant’s clients,” says Liz Shabaker. “As Director of Client Experience, she will clarify a common approach and process for driving the work across the firm so that clients have a consistent and positive experience no matter who serves them.”

The Director of Client Experience position ensures operational accountability across all advisory functions and instills the discipline of process change and change management into the firm, as well as facilitating the ability of advisors to work together across areas of expertise.

Small Giants expands with marketing manager hire

Small Giants, LLC, a rapidly growing creative marketing agency in Phoenix and Denver, has hired Alison Wright as marketing manager to serve commercial real estate, architecture, construction and engineering clients. As marketing manager, Alison will be working with clients to understand their goals, direction and messaging, and will employ strategic leadership and vision to oversee marketing projects. 

“Alison’s approach to marketing strategy and project management will help propel the marketing team into the next phase of growth. She will implement new structure internally by overseeing our marketing team workload,” said Danielle Feroleto, founder and president of Small Giants.

With experience as the former director of philanthropy for Eversight in Ann Arbor, Mich., Alison brings more than ten years of public relations and professional development experience to the Small Giants team. 

“With Small Giant’s rapid growth in terms of staff size, clients and projects in recent years,” Wright said, “I see a tremendous opportunity to combine my experience with the storied success of the Small Giants marketing team to keep up with the firm’s continued growth by appropriately allocating resources and efforts to best serve our clients.”

Realty Executives International appoints new president

Realty Executives International, a leading real estate brand and one of the largest and most established global real estate franchises, named Patrick van den Bossche as it’s new president. This appointment rounds out the global real estate firm’s leadership team focused on aggressive network growth and expansion.

“It is an honor to lead an organization with the powerful combination of a strong, 50+ year legacy and forward-leaning vision,” states van den Bossche. “Realty Executives has its roots in market disruption, which is what attracted many of our top performing brokers and agents to the company. I am excited to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with these incredible leaders and professionals to move the brand forward into its next stage of growth.”

Van den Bossche was born in Rotterdam, Netherlands, immigrating as a teenager to the United States with his parents who were immigrants from Indonesia. He brings with him 30 years of experience as a C-suite executive managing fast growth, start-up and next-growth companies. His track record of success leading companies across multiple industries includes Barrett-Jackson Auction Company, Echo Automotive Inc., SPI Holdings Inc., and Modtech Holdings Inc.  He is also an industry insider, getting his real estate license in 2005 and leveraging it throughout his business dealings.

Boulders Resort announces new GM

The Boulders Resort & Spa announces the appointment of Sally Shaffer as general manager. In her new role, Shaffer will oversee all operations at this premier resort destination that has earned a reputation as one of America’s top golf resorts and one of the world’s most celebrated hideaways. 

“Sally is a seasoned hospitality leader with extensive operational and management capabilities.  We are confident that her leadership and professionalism will provide the highest level of guest experiences,” said Hakan Saracoglu, regional vice president-Columbia Sussex Corporation.

With 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Shaffer joins the Boulders Resort from the Hilton Phoenix Airport where she served as general manager. Previously, she held the general manager position at the Hilton Sonoma Wine Country Hotel.  She was also the President of the Santa Rosa Convention & Visitors Board and served as an Executive Board Member for the Sonoma County Tourism Authority. 

Earlier, she held the position of area general manager at the Hilton Garden Inn Scottsdale and the Mesa Marriott Residence Inn for nine years.  There she was recognized as “General Manager of the Year” for demonstrating outstanding leadership, professionalism and memorable contributions to the community and the hospitality industry.” Prior to that, she was the director of rooms operations at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa and the JW Marriott Camelback Inn Resort & Spa, in Phoenix, for five years.