Awards, honors, and recognitions

The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy recognized Laurence H. Hurley, a pharmacy educator from The University of Arizona, for his contributions to contemporary teaching and scholarship in biotechnology. Hurley will receive the Paul R. Dawson Biotechnology Award during the 2008 AACP and Association of Faculties of Pharmacy of Canada Annual Meeting and Seminars in Chicago, Ill., July 19-23. Hurley is the Howard J. Schaeffer Chair in pharmaceutical sciences at the UA College of Pharmacy.

Eleven drivers based in Tucson, Ariz., are among 259 FedEx Freight drivers who have worked at least 20 years without a preventable accident. The drivers are: Paul Willoughby, John Thomas, Barry Hornby, Clifton Buerger, Michael Saldivar, Mike Parrish, Frederick Webb, Michael Fadness, Mohammad Khan, Jeffrey Bernier and Terry Tale. In addition to a celebration in their honor and a special incentive, the drivers with 25 or more accident-free years, Willoughby, Thomas and Hornby, will receive a brand-new tractor with upgraded seating, sound system and trim – and a decal with his name on the door.

Michele F. Johnson, President of Artemis Consulting Group, Inc., was selected as one of 14 national Women-Owned Business Stars of 2008 by the Women’s Business Enterprise Council (WBENC). Business Stars are selected based on their leadership in the local business community, their inspiration to other women business owners, and their active roles at the helm of all successful certified women-owned businesses.

Michael J. Hanson, NCH-Transwest Properties, Inc. president, will behonored at the 13th Annual Top of the Town fundraising dinner held to support the high school graduation of Tucson’s homeless teens by Youth On Their Own.

Elections

Greater Tucson Leadership elected its 2008 board or directors and executive team. Elected executive committee board members are: Maricela Solis de Kester, president; Wes Wiggins, president-elect; Kate Breck Calhoun, secretary and Jon Bruflat, treasurer. Those elected to the board of directors are: Mitch Basefsky, Joanie Baquet, Les Caid, Randy Accetta, Suzette Colley, Michael DiMaria, Britton Dornquast, Kim Fernandez, Jean Gage, Monique Martin, Kelle Maslyn, Suzanne McFarlin, Jean McKnight Guymon, Frank McCune, Lisa Reed, Patty Richardson, Carol Somers, Roger Watson and Anthony Wright.

Michael Crawford, an attorney with Mesch, Clark & Rothschild, was elected chair of the Tucson Convention Center Commission. Crawford serves on the boards and committees of a number of community organizations including the Downtown Tucson Partnership, the Rio Nuevo Citizens Advisory Committee and the Lohse Downtown YMCA.

New Hires

Polly Dithmer is the new director of interior design for ABA Architects. She has more than 25 years of experience in the fields of architectural and interior design. She is a former associate of the architectural firm of Benjamin Thompson and Associates, and was Director of Interior Design at Moshe Safdie and Associates and Alan Goldberg/Eliot Noyes Associates.

Lisa Zak has joined the Principal Financial Group(R) and Vetrano Financial Services as a new associate. Zak has been in banking for the past 21years, most recently as a vice president of Chase Bank.

Angie Dix joined Santana Realtors Residential Sales Division. Angie offers both buyers and sellers assistance with buying and selling retail homes as well as custom homes.

Regier Carr & Monroe LLP hired Anna Fritz and Ying Tang as staff accountants. Fritz majored in accounting and earned a bachelor of science degree in business administration from The University of Arizona. She is an active volunteer in Special Olympics programs. Tang is originally from China and earned a master of science degree in accounting from San Diego State University.

Promotions

Anne C. Hoff is now a partner at Kleinhans, Lashbrook, Butler & Hoff PLLC. Hoff specializes in tax planning and compliance for individual, small business, and fiduciary clients. She has additional expertise in alternative dispute resolution and divorce taxation.

Appointments

Phoenix attorney and former Majority Leader of the Arizona House of Representatives Stephen Tully was appointed to serve a two-year term on the SCF Premier Insurance Company’s Board of Directors.