New Hires

Bashas’ Family of Stores hired Gregg Tucek as vice president of legal affairs for human resources. Tucek, an attorney with an extensive legal background in labor, employment and human resources training, serves as in-house legal counsel for the company. Tucek joins the company from Sherman & Howard L.L.C., and practices exclusively in the area of traditional labor and employment.

Appointments

Cricket Communications Inc, appointed Randall McCutchan as district director for Tucson. He will oversee Cricket’s operations in Tucson, including 4 retail stores and 39 dealer locations. McCutchan has 14 years of management experience in the telecommunications industry.

Meredith Hay has been appointed to be the University of Arizona’s next executive vice president and provost. Her appointment is subject to approval by the Arizona Board of Regents at their March meeting. Hay is currently the vice president for research for the University of Iowa. As provost, Hay will become the chief academic officer of the University, overseeing all academic programs and units, and serve as the UA’s chief operating officer.

Maura Grogan is the new director of administration for the BIO5 Institute at The University of Arizona. Grogan comes to BIO5 from the Critical Path Institute where she was Director of Finance and Administration. Before C-Path, Grogan owned a consulting firm that provided strategic planning and financial management expertise to a variety of for-profit and non-profit organizations nationally.

Promotions

ABC Supply Co. Inc. promoted Kris Kieffer to branch manager of its store at 535 E. 16th St. Kieffer served as a driver and dispatcher at the company’s Roseville, Calif. branch and, most recently, was assistant branch manager of the company’s Sacramento store. Before joining ABC Supply, Kieffer worked for Redmond’s Concrete Solutions in Sacramento as operations manager and project manager.

M&I Bank, Arizona Region, has announced the following promotions: Grant Derrick was promoted to business banker. Derrick is located at M&I’s branch office at 4380 N Campbell Avenue in Tucson. Derrick previously served as branch manager of M&I’s Oro Valley location. Judi Butcher has been named branch manager of M&I’s Oro Valley branch. Butcher previously served as branch manager of M&I’s Campbell Avenue location. Lydia Hilling has been named branch manager of M&I’s Campbell Avenue location. Hilling previously served as branch manager of M&I’s Houghton location.

CB Richard Ellis promoted Ben Becker, Michael Chapman and Jerry Hawkins to the position of first vice president. Becker specializes in land sales, assisting home builders, developers and investors in their acquisition and disposition of parcels. Becker joined CB Richard Ellis in 2001, after seven years as a top producer at Tucson Realty & Trust Co. Chapman is the company’s longest tenured employee in Tucson, starting with the firm in 1978 as a multi-family and investment specialist. Hawkins has more than 30 years of experience in his field. His current business focus includes consulting, development and brokerage with special emphasis on master-planned communities and special-use projects.

Juan R. García was promoted to serve as vice president for instruction and dean of the University College at the University of Arizona. Originally appointed to the faculty in 1981, García currently serves as vice provost for faculty affairs at the UA.

Awards, honors, and recognitions

The National Association of Women Business Owners named five finalists for Business Woman of the Year. The five women are: Deborah Munoz-Chacon, Sonoran Oasis Landscaping; Elsie MacMillan, Sierra Toyota; Marion Hook, Adobe Rose Inn LLC; Jayne Henninger, Remedy Intelligent Staffing and Dana Rambow, Aristocare Home Health Services.