Bob Loritz, certified public accountant and partner in assurance services at Weaver, recently received Texas Christian University’s Neeley School of Business 2015 Distinguished Accounting Alumnus award.
“We are very proud of Bob and his many accomplishments both as a leader and as an individual,” said John Mackel, Weaver’s managing partner and CEO. “Being named TCU’s 2015 Distinguished Accounting Alumnus demonstrates his contribution to our profession, support of his alma mater and successful and extensive career with Weaver.”
Loritz has more than 21 years of experience in public accounting, with extensive experience providing services to public companies and the financial services, oil and gas, and municipal industries. His experience includes working with investment companies, financial institutions, insurance companies and student loan organizations, among others.
Upon graduating magna cum laude from TCU with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance, he began his career with Weaver as an associate. Loritz was named a partner in Weaver’s assurance practice in 2005 and currently is on the Weaver executive committee.
Loritz is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants Fort Worth chapter, Texas Hedge Fund Association and the Texas Mortgage Banking Association. He is an active member of the Independent Petroleum Association of America and the Petroleum Accounting Society of Fort Worth, and he also serves on the TCU Neeley School of Business Accounting Advisory Board.
“Bob Loritz has been a true friend and supporter of the TCU accounting department for many years,” said Mary Stanford, chairman of the Neeley School of Business accounting department. “We are delighted to recognize his generosity and support with this award. His success is a great example for our students.”
Advertising, Marketing & Public Relations
GCG Marketing hired Brenton Greubel and Megan Lucero as account executives and Leigh Ghesquiere as art director. Greubel previously was settlements supervisor at Weitz & Luxenberg PC in New York. He also worked in marketing for MusicDish in New York and for the Texas Music Office in Austin. Lucero joins GCG from Schaefer Advertising Co., where she coordinated advertising campaigns, media plans and the agency internship program as an account manager. Her clients included the Fort Worth Zoo, TTI Inc. and Fort Worth South Inc. Previously Lucero was a marketing executive at European Skincare Institute. Ghesquiere previously worked at Pavlov Advertising as art director, delivering advertising and design solutions for clients including Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, Konami Gaming and Texas Christian University Athletics. Before joining Pavlov, Ghesquiere was senior designer at Reinhardt Creative in Dallas.
J.O. added Lara Uselding as the new public relations director and Joncee Blake as the associate creative director. Since 2002, Uselding has worked as a spokesperson for two federal agencies managing crisis communications across the nation in nuclear energy, national security and aviation. She worked for a boutique Los Angeles firm that made inroads into the Hispanic markets and also has overseas experience managing bilingual marketing and advertising for a company in Latin America.
Prior to joining J.O., Blake was the creative executive for Mystic, Texas. She has more than 13 years of experience as a graphic designer doing website and advertising design, branding, marketing, sales and magazine layout planning. Blake was responsible for magazine layout, design, photo-shoot planning and execution for American Airlines’ Celebrated Living Magazine.
Engineering & Construction
Stephen H. Lucy has been named chief executive officer of JQ, succeeding the firm’s founding partner and principal, Gary Jaster, who is retiring. Jaster will continue in an advisory capacity during the leadership transition. Lucy joined JQ in 1994 as co-founder of the firm’s Dallas office. His projects have been honored by Texas ACEC (American Council of Engineering Companies), International Concrete Repair Institute, American Institute of Steel Construction and Building Design + Construction. Named a Distinguished Graduate of the Zachry Department of Civil Engineering at Texas A& M University, he has served as chairman of the Advisory Council for the Civil Engineering Department and currently serves on the Advisory Council for the Dwight Look College of Engineering at A&M. He is a Professional Fellow and past advisory member for the Center for Heritage Conservation in the A&M College of Architecture. He is an honorary member of both the Texas Society of Architects and the Dallas Chapter of the American Institute of Architects for his long-standing support of the architectural profession. JQ has offices in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston and Lubbock.
SEDALCO hired GPaul Holliman as executive vice president and chief financial officer. Holliman, a 33-year veteran of the construction industry, has served in the same capacity with a major mechanical contracting firm in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Prior to joining SEDALCO, Holliman was owner/president of Holliman Consulting Group PC, providing financial and risk management guidelines, services and recommendations to construction firms. He has been chairman and board member of many industry-related associations, including the DFW Chapter of the Construction Financial Management Association, Associated Builders and Contractors of North Texas and TEXO Association (the local Associated General Contractors of America). He currently is a member of ABC National representing the TEXO Chapter and is an active member of TEXO’s Government Affairs Committee.
Health Care
Randy Sachs, most recently the media relations manager for Children’s Health and Children’s Medical Center Dallas, is the new director of public relations and community outreach for North Hills Hospital in North Richland Hills. He is responsible for internal and external communications and community engagement, including sponsorships, speakers and event planning. Sachs has more than 20 years of experience in hospital and physician group PR and communications. Previously, Sachs handled communications and marketing for Cook Children’s Medical Center, the University of North Texas Health Science Center’s physician group and Urology Associates of North Texas. He is a member of the American Society of Healthcare Marketing and Public Relations of the American Hospital Association.
Honors & Awards
Gen. Mark A. Welsh III will receive the 2015 Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl Great American Patriot Award. Given by Armed Forces Insurance, the award will be presented to Welsh during the halftime of the annual bowl game in Fort Worth on Dec. 29.
Welsh is chief of staff of the U.S Air Force in Washington, D.C., where he is responsible for organizing, training and equipping the more than 660,000 airmen serving around the globe. The senior uniformed officer of the Air Force, Welsh also is a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, where he and other service chiefs serve as military advisers to the secretary of Defense, National Security Council and the president.
Welsh previously was commander of the U.S. Air Forces in Europe and commander of NATO’s Allied Air Command. He also served as the associate director of military affairs and the associate director of military support for the Central Intelligence Agency.
Welsh received a bachelor’s degree from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1976 and is a graduate of multiple other military and professional education programs, including the National War College and security studies and management programs from Harvard University, Syracuse University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
“Gen. Welsh is exactly the type of individual we envisioned when we created the Great American Patriot Award 10 years ago,” said Brant Ringler, executive director of the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl. “We couldn’t be more proud to add his name alongside our previous recipients as he has proven his leadership and dedication to our country countless times throughout his career.”
Law
John Smithee Jr. joined Underwood Law Firm in the Fort Worth office. Smithee served as an intern for U.S. Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Clarendon), clerk for U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and extern for Judge Richard Schell, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas.
Real Estate
Marcus & Millichap named seven agents to the position of first vice president investments, including John Barker, a multifamily specialist in Fort Worth; Philip Levy, a retail and net-lease specialist in Fort Worth; and Nick Fluellen, a multifamily specialist in Dallas. All were previously vice presidents of investments.
Send newsmakers to Betty Dillard at bdillard@bizpress.net