DI People: Charter and Go, Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center, Powerhouse Make Moves

Across North Texas, companies are promoting and hiring people to take on leadership positions within their organizations.

Dallas Innovates covers prominent personnel moves in Dallas-Fort Worth businesses and nonprofits—from the newest startups to well-established companies. Here are the people moves tied to innovation and technology in the region.

Don’t miss a move: Get Dallas Innovates Every Day. Have a move? Let us know.

Charter and Go names new COO

Ben Vinod

Keller-based Charter and Go, a newly launched travel tech startup that wants to make traveling by charter plane better for both the operators and the customers, has named Ben Vinod as its new chief operating officer.

In his new role, Vinod will lead Charter and Go’s effort to create the next wave of innovation in the charter industry. The team—comprised of computer scientists, operations researchers, and machine learning experts—has developed two platforms help the aircraft charter industry and its customers reach maximum potential, each intended to meet a future demand of private air charters.

Vinod brings more than three decades of experience in the tech and travel industries, most recently serving as SVP and chief scientist at Sabre. He’s also an author, with a recent book called The Evolution of Yield Management in the Airline Industry: Origins to the Last Frontier set to publish in 2021.

Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center chooses its next CEO

Lynn Davis

The Board of the Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center has elected Irish Burch as its new president and CEO, replacing Lynn M. Davis, who served in the role for nearly 16 years.

Burch will begin in mid-January when Davis retires. Under Davis’ leadership, DCAC has grown from serving 998 people a year to 8,000. He has helped the organization accelerate tremendously, increasing its breadth of its services, number of employees, and expert training.

Burch’s hiring is the result of a nationwide search. For around three decades, she has advocated on behalf of child abuse victims in Dallas County and throughout Texas, previously working with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, Children’s Advocacy Centers of Texas in Austin, and Alliance For Children.

Irish Burch

Burch first joined DCAC in 2003 as a forensic interviewer, and within a few years was given oversight of the forensic interview program before eventually transitioning to chief partner relations officer. During that time, she built strong, positive, and collaborative relationships with agencies throughout Dallas County.

“It is a dream come true to return to DCAC as the president and CEO,” Burch said in a statement. “I remain committed to ensuring that every child and family in need of our services receives them. To accomplish this, we will continue to work collaboratively with our partners and community members while providing national leadership and training on child abuse matters.”

Powerhouse appoints CFO

Dianna MacDonald

Crowley-based Powerhouse, a provider of construction, facilities maintenance, and rollout services, has named Dianna MacDonald as its new chief financial officer.

MacDonald most recently led global authentication and information services at Authentix. She has more than 25 years of experience in private equity, previously serving in leadership roles at Brazos Partners and Hudson Advisors.

In her new role, MacDonald will lead the company’s financial operations, focusing on efforts to establish and deploy advanced forecasting, asset protection, and reporting processes.

“Powerhouse has been experiencing a 40 percent year-over-year organic growth rate for a decade and a half,” Michael Wroughton, a principal at Powerhouse, said in a statement. “That rate of expansion, along with our recently adopted acquisition strategy, calls for a different type of leadership proficiency that adapts our financial foundation so that it effectively supports our future success.”

Owner and CEO of Martin UAV elected chairman of Mercy Ships

Ruben Martin

Ruben Martin, the owner and chief executive officer of Plano-based Martin UAV, has been elected chairman of the Board of Directors of Mercy Ships International, effective Jan. 1.

Mercy Ships is a global healthcare charity that provides free medical and healthcare services through its fleet of first-class hospital ships. Martin is succeeding Myron E. Ullman, who announced his retirement after serving in the role for around 20 years.

Martin, who has been serving as MSI’s director for the past decade, has also been the chairman of Mercy Ships Operations, MSI’s global operations subsidiary. He will continue to lead Martin UAV, a privately held advanced technology company that provides VTOL Unmanned Aircraft Systems to defense, government, and commercial markets.

Infolob adds a cloud practice leader

Brent Seaman

Irving-based Infolob Solutions, an Oracle partner that enables public and private sector organizations to use Oracle products to the maximum, has added Brent Seaman to its team as a cloud practices leader.

Seaman has more than three decades of experience in engineering and IT. He is credited with creating ROI-driven solutions for diverse industries, including manufacturing, higher education, finance, healthcare, and more. He has previously worked at Mythics and EDS, and is the founder of Frontline Logic.

“I have known Brent for several years now as we both are a part of the Oracle community,” Infolob CEO Vijay Cherukuri said in a statement. “Though this is our first opportunity to work together, I am well aware of his unparalleled knowledge of Oracle technology stack, team-building smartness, and unflinching ethics to deliver admirable solutions to customers. Infolob is lucky to have him.”

BPS Oil & Gas gets a new president

Daniel Rey

Argyle-based BPS Oil & Gas, which oversees R&D of chemical formulas that integrate its NRGMax technology, has hired energy industry veteran Daniel Rey as its new president.

In his new role, Rey will oversee strategic growth initiatives for NRGMax, a supramolecular host chemistry that enhances chemicals used in the oil and gas sector. He brings more than 20 years of petrochemical experience to BPS Oil & Gas, a division of BPS Technology, most recently serving at Nalco Champion.

“NRGMax is really unlike anything I’ve encountered during my career, and I’m energized by the technology’s ability to not only enhance efficiency and performance, but to help petrochemical providers reduce costs and develop products that are more environmentally friendly,” Rey said in a statement. “The company culture at BPS is a great fit, and I see a lot of opportunity to create quick wins as well as long-term impact.”

Bowman brings on a principal in Dallas

Bowman Consulting Group, a multi-discipline consulting firm, has hired Ryan Safford as a principal in the Dallas market.

Safford will be tasked with creating a larger footprint for the firm in Dallas. He brings extensive senior leadership experience to the role, most recently working at Kimley-Horn for 15 years. In total, he has more than 18 years of project management experience, which includes entitlements, zoning, special use permitting, construction administration and design of grading, drainage, and more.

“Ryan gives us the ‘juice.’ He’s got the ‘it factor,” Jesse Goldfarb, Bowman’s executive vice president, said in a statement. “We are excited for him to join the team as he is extremely likeable and has a loyal client following. We are confident in his ability to build meaningful relationships with clients to ensure their happiness and make them feel secure in our work.”

Westmount Realty Capital hires a senior director

Scott Ferguson

Dallas-based Westmount Realty Capital, a Dallas-based privately held commercial real estate company, is bringing on Scott Ferguson as its senior director of Multifamily Acquisitions.

Ferguson has extensive experience in the industry, specifically more than 20 years in multifamily acquisitions, dispositions, and asset management. In his new role, he will lead the firm’s multifamily acquisition efforts across Texas. Most recently, Ferguson was the VP of Aquisitions and Asset Management at GFI Capital Resources Group.

“Scott’s depth of knowledge and experience in the Texas multifamily market make him a valuable addition to our growing team,” Brant Brown, CFO and COO of Westmount, said in a statement. “His highly skilled background will complement and further develop Westmount’s expanded multifamily presence in our home state.”