TUCSON JCC PROMOTIONS AND NEW HIRES
The Tucson Jewish Community Center recently announced several promotions and new hires.
Amy Dowe was promoted to fitness director, having served most recently as health and wellness coordinator. Over the past several years, in addition to teaching classes at The J, Amy volunteered as a trainer for several youth fitness programs including Girls on the Run, an intramural track team at her children’s elementary school and her daughter’s Girl Scouts troop for a kid’s triathlon.
Matt Meyer joined The J as director of sports and recreation. Matt has been involved in the athletic and recreation field for more than 15 years. He enjoys working with people of all ages and is committed to helping them develop a sense of health and wellness through physical activity.
Brandon Rannebarger is the new aquatic director and head swim coach. Brandon’s goal at The J is to build a “learn to swim” program and looks forward to contributing to the successful Tucson J Stingrays USA Swimming Club.
Tanya Rich was hired as arts and culture coordinator. She also works as youth program director and exhibitions curator at The Drawing Studio and is an independent art curator for local businesses Coffee Cartel Labs, The Parish and Thunder Canyon Brewery.
Martha Millan joined as rentals and events coordinator. She has worked to plan and execute events from 10 to 1,000 people and loves working at The J to make clients’ events run smoothly.
520-299-3000 | tucsonjcc.org
TUCSON J’S JULIE ZORN COMPLETES LEAP
Julie Zorn, the Tucson Jewish Community Center’s Jewish living and learning specialist has completed LEAP (Leadership Enrichment and Advancement Program), a continental leadership program for JCC staff. Julie was one of only 22 selected across North America from nine JCCs participating in the Jewish Community Center Association’s Talent Management pilot program.
“LEAP has been a profound and meaningful platform that I see as a jumping off point for my career. … LEAP has taught me how to take the lead on a strategic project and has even propelled me into action to not only be a leader at the Tucson J but to also be a mentor to the staff I encounter every day. LEAP has helped me to realize that real leadership comes from an authentic place of each individual’s own talents and encourages honing in on a team of shared talents to create a well-rounded pursuit of interests and problem solving,” says Julie.
520-299-3000 | tucsonjcc.org
JEWISH TUITION ORGANIZATION WELCOMES CYNDI KLEIN SUTTLE
The Jewish Tuition Organization hired Cyndi Klein Suttle as director of marketing. Cyndi joins Executive Director Linda Zell as the JTO team expands. Cyndi previously worked in operations for Medicx Media Solutions, a firm that supports programmatic and direct marketing initiatives for the pharmaceutical, health and well-being industries. Cyndi has also been involved with many arts organizations in the Valley since her arrival in 1997. She was chief marketing officer at K.H. ARTS, vice president of community relations at the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, general manager at Arizona State University Kerr Cultural Center and director of marketing for both the Scottsdale Cultural Council/Center for the Performing Arts and the Phoenix Symphony.
480-634-4926 | jtophoenix.org
SHARON MEGDAL WINS 2016 WOMEN OF INFLUENCE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Sharon Megdal, Ph.D., was awarded the 2016 Women of Influence Lifetime Achievement Award from Tucson Local Media and Inside Tucson Business. The award recognizes Sharon for her efforts in Arizona and throughout the world to resolve public policy issues, as exemplified by her water projects and programs. Since 2004, Sharon has served as director of the Water Resources Research Center at the University of Arizona and is the C.W.and Modene Neely Endowed Professor at the UA. Sharon is well connected to Israel, where she is an invited speaker at high-level water conferences, for her efforts to improve understanding of best practices in water management. Sharon is also a water manager; she was re-elected in 2014 to represent Pima County for a six-year term on the board of the Central Arizona Project. A resident of Tucson since 1978, Sharon holds a doctorate in economics from Princeton University. She and her husband, Ron, have one daughter, Bryce, who is studying to be a cantor. Sharon’s past statewide service to Arizona includes Corporation Commission, State Transportation Board and Arizona Medical Board membership.
EFFIE LOFFMAN NEW ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF PHOENIX JSU
The Jewish Student Union hired Effie Loffman as assistant director of Phoenix JSU, to help with expansion efforts to three new high school campuses, with plans to reach a total of more than 450 teens in Arizona. JSU clubs provide Jewish teens with programs that strengthen their Jewish identity and connection to Israel.
Effie will run the clubs at Sunnyslope High School, Pinnacle High School and Brophy College Preparatory. “For the past several months, I have had the privilege of working together with Shmuli [Josephson, Arizona director of JSU] to enrich the lives of Jewish teens throughout the Valley. It has been an amazing and uplifting experience to have fun and learn together with the awesome clubs at Sunnyslope, Pinnacle and Brophy. They really are a unique group of Jewish teens and I feel privileged to be a part of their growth into future Jewish leaders!” says Effie.
DARKAYNU PRESCHOOL HIRES JENNIFER MCDOWELL
Darkaynu, Tucson’s Jewish Montessori preschool, has hired Jennifer McDowell as lead teacher for the 2016-2017 school year. Jennifer attended Iowa State University where she received her bachelor’s degree in family and consumer sciences in 1999. After a number of years working with children in a variety of settings, Jennifer took a hiatus from the workforce to raise her family. A recent graduate of the Khalsa Montessori Teacher Training Program in Tucson, Jennifer is certified by the American Montessori Society. Originally from Iowa, Jennifer and her family have made Tucson home over the last six years.
520-591-7680 | darkaynutucson.com
DUFF & PHELPS OPENS NEW OFFICE IN MEXICO CITY
Duff & Phelps, LLC, a global valuation and corporate finance advisor, marked the opening of its Mexico City office on May 5. Duff & Phelps has expertise in complex valuation, dispute and legal management consulting, M&A, restructuring, and compliance and regulatory consulting. The firm’s more than 2,000 employees serve a diverse range of clients from 70 offices around the world. The office in Mexico City focuses on valuation and related consulting in connection with commercial real estate, fixed assets and businesses. For more information, contact Bruce Greenberg, managing director and Mexico country leader, at +52-556-206-6920 or Ben Greenberg, managing director, at +52-556 820-6910.
MIRACLE MILE DELI HONORED WITH ITS OWN DAY
The city of Phoenix declared May 10, Miracle Mile Deli Day by order of proclamation from Mayor Greg Stanton in honor of its nearly 67 years in business. To celebrate, a portion of the proceeds from the day’s sales went to Feeding Matters, a local non-profit dedicated to raising awareness of pediatric feeding struggles.
The Miracle Mile story began in 1949, when founder, Jack Grodzinsky, along with his wife and children, arrived in Tucson from Brooklyn, NY. Jack took a bus ride to Phoenix looking for a business he could purchase to help support his family. He decided on a restaurant and took over an existing space on McDowell Road and 16th Street. This mile-long strip of land where the restaurant was established came to be known as the “Miracle Mile.”
The locally-owned restaurant recently moved to its new venue at 4433 N 16th Street in Phoenix. Miracle Mile Deli has been family owned and operated for three generations.
602-776-0992 | miraclemiledeli.com
RENOVATED CHANDLER PROPERTY AWARDED
At the Arizona Multihousing Association’s Tribute Awards on May 13, Oregon Pacific Investment and Development’s “Mira Santi” in Chandler won Renovated Community of the Year. Julie Saltzman Leuvrey, co-president of Oregon Pacific Capital Management Corporation and vice president of Oregon Pacific Investment Development Company, assembled and oversaw the design and construction team. Purchased in 2014, the 252-unit property’s community amenities underwent extensive remodeling and the apartments are being upgraded as they turn over.
