Movin' Up

Hires, promotions and honors

ZAPATA-VAUGHN NEW VDS CHAIR

Veronica Zapata-Vaughn, Senior manager of community affairs and special markets with the Arizona Diamondbacks, is the new chairwoman of Valle del Sol’s board of directors. Zapata-Vaughn formerly served as board treasurer and chairwoman of the VDS finance committee, and has served on the board since 2000. Valle del Sol, a nonprofit in the greater Phoenix area, provides a wide array of behavioral health, social services, and leadership development programs. Joining Zapata-Vaughn in the VDS executive committee are David R. Vera, Phoenix deputy fire chief, as vice chair; Lydia Lee, Bank One vice president and senior philanthropy manager, as secretary; and Lisa Daniel Flores, attorney, as treasurer.

AHCC ADDS 3

The Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (AZHCC) has named three additional members to its board of directors. The members were elected by the existing board. The newly elected board members are Jessica Pacheco, franchise manager, Arizona Public Service; Ricardo Torres, CEO/Publisher of Latino Perspectives Magazine; and Roberto Franco, director, community and economic development department, City of Phoenix .

 “We have added three members whose passion and experience will add greatly to the dynamics of our existing board,” said Harry Garewal, president and CEO of the AZHCC.

Last month, the membership had elected Max Gonzales, Hispanic segment manager, marketing and strategic planning for SRP; Diana Bejarano-Medina, director of communications and public affairs, Bashas’ Inc.; and Isauro “Izzy” Gonzalez, vice president, multicultural marketing sales manager, Arizona/Nevada, U.S. Bank. All board members will begin serving a three-year term beginning January 1, 2006.

WALKER JOINS TAZA

Jeffrey Garza Walker has joined Café Taza, a Latino coffeehouse, as an equity partner and will serve as general manager. He will oversee café operations, starting with the Café Taza location at 7602 S. Central Ave. Walker is also the chair of the South Mountain/Laveen Chamber of Commerce. (602) 323-9277.

SERNA APPOINTED TO BOARD

Isaac Serna has been appointed by Maricopa County School Superintendent Sandra Dowling to the Laveen School Board.  He will be filling the term of Randy Schiller who moved out of the district.  His term will run until the next general election in 2008.  Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox, District 5, says, “Mr. Serna is well qualified to serve the residents of the Laveen school district and will add to the diversity of the make-up of the school board.” Serna commented, “I am honored to be selected to serve the residents of the Laveen area.”

BRICE-HEAMES TO HARVARD

Teresa Brice-Heames, a founder of Housing for Mesa, has become a Loeb Fellow at the Harvard Graduate School of Design for the 2005-2006 academic year. She is the first fellow from the Phoenix area.

GRAY-DAVIS JOINS PERINI

Lorrinda Gray-Davis was recently hired as director of diversity development for the Perini Building Company in Phoenix and Las Vegas.  (602) 256-6777; email ldavis@periniwest.com.

HERNANDEZ JOINS U.S. BANK

Roderika Hernandez

Chakris Kussalanant

Ana Ortiz

Bertha Salas

Augustin “Gus” Hernandez was inducted into the Arizona Business Hall of Fame by Junior Achievement of Arizona, Inc.

, vice president of community relations for Chicanos Por La Causa, Inc., has announced her retirement after 30 years of dedicated service.  In her most recent position as vice president of administration and community relations, Salas directed the day-to-day administration of CPLC.  She also orchestrated and managed major community, civic and fundraising events for the organization, among them were the “Angeles Del Barrio” Children’s Holiday Celebration, and the Anniversary Dinner Celebration. Bertha began her career at CPLC as a receptionist.  “It’s been an experience, I’ll tell you!” Bertha commented when asked about her tenure with CPLC.  “And lots of hair dye for those ‘premature’ gray hairs,” she added.  Bertha plans to make the most of her retirement and will continue involvement within the community, albeit, as she stated, “in a less strenuous capacity.”

HERNANDEZ INTO HALL OF FAME from south Phoenix has started her new job as a Fire Protection Engineer for Muñiz Engineering Inc. Technologies in Houston, Texas. She is the daughter of Luis and Leonor Ortiz. Ana graduated from South Mountain High School and earned  her bachelor’s degree in engineering technology at Oklahoma State University.

SALAS RETIRES has been hired as community information coordinator for the Community Development division of the Office of Public Affairs at Arizona State University. Kussalanant will work closely with Paul Berumen, who joined the university as director of community outreach in April. In addition, he will be responsible for the creation of a new, bilingual community newsletter, Panorama. (480) 965-5377.

ORTIZ JOINS HOUSTON FIRM has been hired as small business sales manager for U.S. Bank in Arizona’s regional headquarters in Phoenix.

ASU EXPANDS TEAM