DI People: Evoque Data Center Solutions, HilltopSecurities, Tandy Leather 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.

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City of Dallas hires a new CIO

Bill Zielinski

The City of Dallas has a new chief information officer who spent the last three decades working for the federal government.

Bill Zielinski has replaced Gloria Lopez Carter, as reported by GovTech. Carter was serving as interim CIO after Hugh Miller announced he was leaving the position back in January.

Zielinski was formerly the assistant commissioner of the Information Technology Category for the General Services Administration’s Federal Acquisition Service. He worked in federal service for 30 years. But Federal News Network reported in April that Zielinski sent an email to colleagues saying he had “taken a job as a CIO of a large city out west.”

Evoque Data Center Solutions gets a new CEO

Andy Stewart

Dallas-based Evoque Data Center Solutions, a global colocation services company, has appointed Andy Stewart as its new chief executive officer effective June 15.

The transition came after Tim Caulfield, who served as CEO for 18 months, stepped down.

Stewart joins the company, which owns and operates 31 data centers across four continents, with more than 15 years of senior management experience. Previously, he was chief strategy officer at TierPoint, an executive advisor at Thompson Street Capital Partners, and board member at BCM One.

During his time at TierPoint, Stewart was responsible for leading product development, technology strategy, and mergers and acquisitions.

“I’m incredibly excited for the opportunity to be joining Evoque as CEO,” Stewart said in statement. “With a foundation of rock-solid data centers, a great set of enterprise clients, and Brookfield’s continued commitment, we will move aggressively to take advantage of the global opportunity for colocation and other IT services.”

Evoque Data Center Solutions is a portfolio company of Brookfield Infrastructure Partners.

Tandy Leather appoints a new CFO

Tandy Leather Factory, also known as the “Company” has made Steve Swank its new chief financial officer effective July 6.

Swank brings more than two decades of relevant financial and retail experience to the company. He was most recently VP, CFO, and Treasurer at Sears Hometown Stores, and also spent time at Fossil Group and CompUSA.

The move is full circle, as Swank began his career at Tandy Corporation in buying and merchandising, according to the company.

Tandy Leather Factory is Fort Worth-headquartered specialty retailer of leather, leatherworking tools, buckles and adornments for belts, leather dyes and finishes, and more.

“[Swank’s] broad range of finance roles and deep retail experience, combined with his proven team-building and strategic thinking skills, make him an excellent and unique fit for our team,” CEO Janet Carr said in a statement.

HilltopSecurities’ public finance division adds a Head of Underwriting

Bill Evans

William Evans has joined the public finance division of Dallas-based HilltopSecurities as the managing director and head of underwriting.

HilltopSecurities, a full-service municipal investment bank and registered investment adviser, welcomes Evans, who has around two decades of experience in underwriting and institutional sales. He previously was senior vice president, underwriter at Loop Capital Markets.

In his new role, HilltopSecurities said Evans will lead the “negotiated and competitive underwriting efforts, working with the firm’s public finance bankers and fixed income capital markets sales and trading desk to assist in the pricing, structuring, timing and distribution of municipal securities for clients across all sectors.”

“It’s no secret that price discovery has been a challenge during the pandemic,” David Medanich, vice chairman and head of public finance, said in a statement. “Bill’s experience pricing deals and his long-held relationships with institutional investors play an integral part in helping our clients secure advantageous borrowing costs to meet their funding needs.”

Enterprise sales executive joins Apptricity

Jason Nance

Irving-based Apptricity announced that Jason Nance, former EVP of Sales at Flexential, is joining the company as chief revenue officer.

In his new position, Apptricity said Nance will help empower the company on its significant growth journey. He has experience building and leading high performing teams, creating value in operational efficiencies, and adding greater shareholder value.

Apptricity is a global provider of real-time personnel and asset management and tracking.

“Knowing some of the category dominating new products that are about to launch, as well as the expertise of the growing team, makes me even more confident that we will make Apptricity the leader in the asset tracking and management category,” Nance said in a statement “Apptricity’s industry leading cloud-based Control Console, as well as patented, proprietary IoT devices that put that actionable data at our customers’ fingertips, puts us in a strong position to win and take greater market share from our competitors.”

UNT is welcoming a new AVP for enrollment and admissions on July 1

Michael Sanders

The University of North Texas is adding Michael Sanders to its team as associate vice president for enrollment and university admissions on July 1.

UNT said Sanders will serve as a strategic partner to administrators in furthering enrollment and recruitment initiatives. In his position, he will lead the admissions team in enrollment objectives and employ tools to improve recruiting and processing.

Sanders comes to Denton with more than 14 years of experience in recruitment and higher education. He previously served as dean of admissions at Missouri Southern State University, and is the current chair of the recruiting and marketing committee of the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers.

“I look forward to the creativity, energy and insights Michael will bring to our admissions team, and believe everyone will enjoy working with him,” Shannon Goodman, UNT’s vice president for enrollment, said in a statement.

Cantey Hanger paralegal wins the state’s Pro Bono Award

Julie Sherman

Julie K. Sherman, a board certified paralegal at full-service firm Cantey Hanger L.L.P. has been named the sole recipient of the 2020 Pro Bono Support Staff Award.

Presented by the State Bar of Texas and its Legal Services to the Poor in Civil Matters Committee, the award recognizes the outstanding and exemplary contributions of non-attorney volunteers who work on pro bono projects.

An individual must provide legal assistance without compensation in a non-mandatory program in order to qualify. To get the award, each candidate must use their legal skills, knowledge, or training under the supervision of a licensed attorney or qualified organization.

“I am very honored,” Sherman said in a statement. “I would like to thank my family and my firm, Cantey Hanger, for all of their support. Pro bono work has always been a very important part of our community, but right now it is essential. Please consider volunteering; Tarrant Volunteer Attorney Services, Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans and Legal Aid of Northwest Texas are all in need of volunteers.”

Sherman has been a paralegal since 1985 and in the litigation section at Fort Worth-based Cantey Hanger since 1996.

Frontier Waste Solutions appoints a new lead to its finance team

Alek Orloff

Plano’s Frontier Waste Solutions, a solid waste and recycling collection company, has hired Alek Orloff as its chief financial officer.

Orloff brings more than two decades of relevant experience to the company. He previously held the same position at Denver, Colorado-based Alpine Waste & Recycling and most recently was the VP of Strategic Development at GFL Environmental.

The announcement comes at a time when Frontier Waste Solutions is working to expand its management depth and further its growth.

“Alek brings an accomplished track-record in the solid waste industry and an entrepreneurial approach to Frontier,” John Gustafson, Frontier’s president and CEO, said in a statement. “I look forward to working alongside Alek to serve our customers and execute on our various growth initiatives.”

Dallas firm gets a new U.S. Supreme Court and Appellate Attorney

Daniel L. Geyser

Appellate firm Alexander Dubose & Jefferson LLP has announced that one of the top Supreme Court and appellate lawyers in the country, Daniel L. Geyser, has joined its Dallas office.

Geyser has an 18-year legal career that includes numerous regards for his high-profile wins before the U.S. Supreme Court. According to Alexander Dubose & Jefferson LLP, that includes: being one of the few lawyers in private practice to argue eight merits cases in the U.S. Supreme Court’s past three terms, having three certiorari petitions granted in a 12-month period, and handling more than 5 percent of the Court’s merits docket for the October Term 2018.

Per a news release, Geyser has argued more cases in the U.S. Supreme Court in private practice than any other active lawyer in the state of Texas.

In his new role, Geyser will focus on complex and high-stakes appellate litigation, serving as chair of the firm’s U.S. Supreme Court and Federal Appellate practice

“We feel incredibly fortunate that Dan has chosen Alexander Dubose & Jefferson to enhance his practice and expand his footprint,” ADJ’s Managing Partner Marcy Hogan Greer said in a statement. “This will take our federal appellate practice to the next level. Dan’s experience and deep appellate knowledge have made him a recognized authority in the U.S. Supreme Court and federal courts throughout the country.”

KS2 Technologies appoints a director of professional services

Mike Morgan

Grapevine-based KS2 Technologies announced that Mike Morgan has joined the company as director of professional services.

KS2, which provides hybrid cloud transformation and modernization, said that Morgan brings vast experience in the IT consulting industry. He has served in a variety of leadership roles over the past 25 years, including as CEO of two separate consulting organizations.

Morgan will help the professional services arm of KS2 grow while at the same time improving the company’s quality of service.

“Mike and I have competed for some the same customers over the years, and I have gained respect for his dedication to excellence and innovative approaches he brings to solve complex hybrid cloud issues,” Dan Shinedling Jr., co-founder and CEO of KS2, said in a statement.

Fort Worth City Councilmember named Regional Transportation Council secretary

Ann Zadeh

Ann Zadeh, a Fort Worth City Councilmember, has been named secretary of the Regional Transportation Council (RTC), per the City of Fort Worth.

Zadeh, who was appointed to the RTC in 2017, joins a group of newly elected officers to serve the 44-member transportation policymaking body for the next year.

Johnson County Judge Roger Harmon was elected chair and Dallas County Commissioner Theresa Daniel is the new vice chair. The City of Fort Worth said it’s a pivotal time for the group, especially in the months to come after the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Transportation funding is likely to be a focus of the next session as governments grapple with the changes in travel patterns and economic challenges brought on by the coronavirus pandemic and determine how to continue to meet the needs of residents no matter how they choose to travel,” the city said. The RTC is the transportation policymaking body for the 12-county Dallas-Fort Worth area.

LaMonte Thomas is stepping down at Cigna

Lamonte Thomas

LaMonte Thomas, who has been with Cigna since 1997, is stepping down from his role on July 11. Eight years ago, he took over as market leader in North Texas and Oklahoma.

Per our sister publication D CEO, Thomas has been reflecting on his career for the last several months, and has decided the timing is right. He formerly held roles at Cigna in human resources, sales operations and sales management, and sales manager in Richmond, Virginia.

“This was not an easy decision. Cigna has been a great company to work for and it has given me enormous opportunities for personal and professional growth over 23 years of service… it will not be easy to say goodbye,” he wrote in an email to Will Maddox. “I am energized by the prospect of taking on new and exciting challenges that will enable me to serve the community, which is where my heart lies.”

Bradley adds to its bankruptcy practice in Dallas

Dallas-based Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP announced that George Barber has joined the firm’s Dallas office in its Bankruptcy and Creditors’ Rights Practice Group.

Barber has a variety of experience in the sector. That includes: representing lenders and other secured creditors, unsecured creditors, lessors and lessees, CMBS special servicers, landlords, borrowers, committees, trustees, and examiners in debtor-creditor matters.

“Assisting clients with bankruptcy and creditors’ rights issues has long been a strength of our firm,” Bradley Chairman of the Board and Managing Partner Jonathan M. Skeeters said in a statement. “Adding George to our team in Dallas further extends the depth and expertise of our bankruptcy practice across our platform.”

Bradley has doubled its Dallas office in size since opening in January 2019.

Omnitracs names a chief legal officer

Paul Kirkpatrick

Dallas-based Omnitracs LLC, a provider of management solutions to transportation and logistics companies, has appointed Paul Kirkpatrick as its new chief legal officer.

Kirkpatrick was formerly vice president, general counsel, and corporate secretary for Commercial Metals Company. There, he was responsible for leading all global legal functions and advising senior management and the board.

In his new role, Kirkpatrick will lead Omnitracs’ legal organization, give advice to the executive leadership team, and oversee a variety of initiatives, including mergers and acquisitions, securities and compliance, intellectual property, and more.

“Paul’s deep legal and corporate governance experience will make him an invaluable asset in helping to drive Omnitracs’ growth strategy and continued expansion,” John Hofmann, Omnitracs’ chief financial officer, said in a statement. “Paul’s strong commercial orientation, deep M&A experience and diverse business experiences position him well to both lead our legal function but also be a true business partner to the Omnitracs team during this exciting time in our company’s development.”

Revint gets a new CEO

Lee Rivas

Plano-based Revint, a provider of tech-enabled solutions for healthcare providers, has appointed Lee Rivas as its chief executive officer.

Most recently, Rivas was working at RELX, a global provider of information analytics solutions. There, he was CEO of all healthcare and public sector businesses across the LexisNexis Risk Solutions and Elsevier Divisions, where he was tasked with driving healthcare market expansion, ramping up analytics offerings, and improving tech automation.

Revint said the announcement comes at a pivotal time for the company. The team has plans to continue the company’s rapid growth trajectory, which has been bolstered by its recent investments in technology and product innovation.

“He is a dedicated leader who knows what it takes to lead a healthcare business focused on high quality customer service, technology, and scale,” Roger Davis, who Rivas succeeds as CEO, said in a statement. “Revint has many exciting developments underway, and I look forward to seeing Lee lead the company’s next chapter.”