LAW
Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP has hired three associates in the Fort Worth office. Janese H. Dudash joins the firm as an associate in the litigation practice group. Dudash graduated from Texas A&M University School of Law, where she served as editor-in-chief of the Texas A&M Law Review. She received her bachelor’s degree in communications at Hiram College.
David E. Miles joins as an associate in the litigation practice group. Miles graduated from Texas Tech School of Law magna cum laude and was an articles editor of the Texas Tech Law Review. He received his bachelor’s degree in finance at the University of Oklahoma.
Gregory Roper is a new associate in the real estate practice group. Roper graduated from The University of Texas School of Law and was a member of the Texas Federalist Society. He was a staff editor of the Texas International Law Journal and Texas Journal of Oil, Gas, and Energy Law. He received his bachelor’s degree magna cum laude in Russian and Eurasian studies at George Mason University.
Kevin C. Smith has joined Brackett & Ellis PC as an associate. Smith attended Texas Tech School of Law, where he was a comment editor for the Law Review and served as a contract tutor and legal practice teaching fellow. Smith’s practice primarily consists of commercial litigation, appellate, and school law.
Downtown Arlington names Fritz new CEO
The Downtown Arlington Management Corporation (DAMC) announced its new president and CEO Aldo Fritz at the organization’s 2017 annual meeting and luncheon.
Fritz succeeds Tony Rutigliano, who is leaving after six years in the positions to establish a wine and coffee bar in downtown Arlington.
Fritz, an Arlington resident, said he is excited to bring his urban planning experience to downtown.
“I’m honored to have the opportunity to work with our board and lead the only organization focused on making downtown Arlington the premier place to live, work, dine and shop,” Fritz said.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in communications and a master’s degree in urban and regional planning from Florida Atlantic University. He also has a master’s in real estate development from the University of Texas at Arlington and is a certified planner by the American Institute of Certified Planners.
His work in urban planning included chief planner for the City of Dallas. After years of municipal work, Fritz switched gears and worked as the home office real estate manager for J.C. Penney Inc., where he contributed to the sale of the company headquarters in Plano.
Fritz said he is passionate about creating positive change and economic growth in downtown Arlington by embracing an innovative and collaborative approach toward urban and regional planning.
“Our board chose Aldo Fritz after an exhaustive search that yielded numerous outstanding candidates,” said the new chairman of the board, Valerie Landry. “He brings extensive experience in planning and development and a track record of consensus building.”
Coalition for youth with cancer
names first executive director
The Fort Worth Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology Coalition (FWAYAOC) has officially named Cortney Gumbleton as its first executive director.
The coalition is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit made up of health care organizations, oncology providers, foundations and community members.
Dr. Karen Albritton is president and says that the coalition was founded on the principle that if multiple community partners come together and share their strengths and resources that the outcomes for young adults and adolescents with cancer will improve.
According to the coalition, its mission is to enable the health care community to provide the highest standard of care, meets the unique needs and create community awareness for the reality of teens and young adults with cancer.
“As our programs grow, we are fortunate to have Cortney’s energy and skills lead us strategically in maximizing and enhancing the reach to benefit this underserved population,” Albritton said in a news release
Gumbleton has completed two tours in the U.S. Navy and holds a bachelor’s degree from Texas Christian University and a master’s in social work from the University of Texas at Arlington.
She most recently was the executive director of the Jordan Elizabeth Harris Foundation, which was named Fort Worth Texas Magazine’s Best Nonprofit Organization for 2017.
“I am incredibly honored to serve as the first executive director of the FWAYAOC, and to continue to build on the important and impactful work FWAYAOC has already accomplished by systematically creating increased community and health care professional awareness, increasing program services and utilization and providing therapeutic support for AYA patients and survivors,” Gumbleton said.
ENERGY
The Texas Alliance of Energy Producers has announced that Alex Mills will retire effective Dec. 31 as president and chief of staff. Mills became president of the alliance in 2000, following the merger of the North Texas Oil & Gas Association and the West Central Texas Oil & Gas Association.
FOOD SERVICE
A longtime sales executive is retiring from Ben E. Keith Foods, while two other executives are being promoted to new leadership positions in strategic planning and sales.
Ron Boyd, senior vice president of sales and marketing, is retiring Feb. 1 after 36 years with the company. An Army veteran who served in Germany and Vietnam, Boyd worked in numerous capacities upon joining the company in 1981. He was general manager of the Dallas and Fort Worth divisions, director of groceries, and vice president of division management.
“For nearly four decades, Ron has exemplified the ‘Special Spirit’ we have at Ben E. Keith,” said Mike Sweet, president of Ben E. Keith Foods.
David Werner, currently vice president of marketing, has been promoted to replace Boyd in the new position of vice president of independent sales and marketing. A 29-year company veteran, Werner will oversee sales for the company’s 500-plus district sales representatives in 14 states. He will draw on his significant in-field sales experience to lead the company’s district sales representatives in serving the needs of both independent and regional operators.
Werner has a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of Central Oklahoma and completed the IFDA Executive Development Program at the University of Virginia.
Brian Lynch, currently vice president of sales development and training, has been promoted to the new position of vice president of corporate strategy. He will lead the company’s strategic planning process, explore new revenue sources, and coordinate key initiatives such as partnership integrations and IT implementations.
Lynch joined Ben E. Keith in 2002 and has held leadership positions in sales, sales analytics, sales management and purchasing. He has a bachelor’s degree in applied learning and development from the University of Texas and completed the IFDA Executive Development Program at the University of Virginia.
HONORS & AWARDS
AyuVis Research, a Tech Fort Worth client focusing on a new class of antibiotics to counteract severe infections, was selected as a 2017 Defense TechConnect Innovation awardee during the Defense Innovation Summit in Tampa, Florida.
“We are very proud to announce our selection,” said Dr. Suchismita Acharya, the founder and CEO. “Only 15 percent of all innovations submitted to the Defense Innovation Summit were selected.”
The summit brings together innovators, businesses and national defense leaders to accelerate state-of-the-art technology solutions in support of national security and military personnel in the areas of energy, cyber, medical, systems and space. According to summit executive director Jennifer Rocha, rankings are based on the potential positive impact that the submitted technology will have for the military and national security.
Infections that are resistant to current antibiotics are the leading cause of death of patients in hospital intensive care units. AyuVis is focusing on a new drug to treat complicated abdominal infections. Acharya expects to progress to the initial phase of clinical trials by 2019.
NONPROFIT
Goodwill Industries of Fort Worth Inc. announced the promotion of Marc Thompson to director of compliance and job resource centers and the new hire of Karmen Rubin as director of employment programs.
Send newsmakers to Robert Francis at rfrancis@bizpress.net.