RAYTHEON NAMES NEW PRESIDENT AT DIVISION IN MCKINNEY
Roy Azevedo
Roy Azevedo has been named president of the McKinney-based Space and Airborne Systems division of Raytheon effective Sept. 1, the company announced.
“We have entered a period of significant change and opportunity in the space and airborne systems area, fueled by global demand and exponential advancements in technology,” Thomas A. Kennedy, chairman and CEO of Raytheon, said in a release. “Over the course of his nearly 30-year career at SAS, Roy has developed a deep understanding of our SAS portfolio and customers. This, combined with his extensive experience in leading new and emerging strategic technologies in the company, will serve us well as we grow this mission area globally.”
Azevedo succeeds Richard Yuse, who will retire from Raytheon at the end of the year.
The Space and Airborne Systems unit at Raytheon is a provider of radar and sensor systems on airborne and space-based platforms.
It also provides communications, electronic warfare, high-energy laser solutions, and special mission aircrafts for the “network-centric battlefield,” Raytheon said. The unit’s research advancements range from linguistics to quantum computing.
UNITED WAY TAPS STENESEN AS CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
Katherine Stenesen has been named as the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas’ new chief development officer, bringing with her extensive fundraising experience.
Katherine Stenesen
“Katherine is a strong leader and consummate professional—committed to our donors, our mission, and our community—and she achieves results,” Jennifer Sampson, McDermott-Templeton president and CEO, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, said in a release.
Stenesen’s appointment follows her service as interim chief development officer for the past three months, during which United Way of Metropolitan Dallas announced the results of a record-breaking $61 million annual campaign under the leadership of Troy Aikman.
Stenesen replaces Kit Sawers, who left United Way in May to become the president of Klyde Warren Park.
OMNITRACS PICKS HOFMANN AS NEW CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Dallas-based Omnitracs LLC has named John Hofmann as chief financial officer of the global provider of fleet management solutions.
John Hofmann
Hofmann will oversee the company’s financial, mergers and acquisitions, and legal operations, the company said in a release. He will also work to identify new revenue opportunities and expansion into new markets.
“Omnitracs would not have achieved this level of success without the hard work of our entire team and the leadership of our dedicated management team,” Omnitracs CEO Ray Greer said in a release. “As we continue to grow, John’s extensive background and proven track record will lead the company to even greater success.”
Omnitracs, which has more than 1,000 employees, provides software-as-a-service-based solutions to over 12,000 customers and manages nearly 1.1 million assets in more than 70 countries.
STEWARD NAMES OLSON HEAD OF COMMUNICATIONS
Corporate communications veteran Jim Olson has been named chief communications officer for Steward Health Care, the nation’s largest private, for-profit, physician-led health care network.
Jim Olson
Steward Health moved its headquarters recently from Boston to the 1900 Pearl building in Dallas.
Included in Olson’s 25 years of strategic communications experience is work with well-known consumer brands, such as United Airlines, Starbucks, US Airways, and Nissan. His appointment is effective Sept. 1.
“Jim’s forward-thinking mindset, global perspective, and winning attitude will make him an impactful addition to our team,” Steward Health Care Chief Marketing Officer Brian Carty said in a release.
Olson will be Steward’s chief spokesperson and will be responsible for leading the company’s public image, global communications strategy, employee engagement, and digital storytelling.
SMITHGROUP HIRES HARRISON TO EXPAND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
Kristen Harrison
Kristen Harrison has been hired at SmithGroup to lead the Dallas office’s business development efforts in the mixed-use and workplace markets.
SmithGroup is an integrated design firm with 1,300 employees and 13 offices in the United States and China.
The company said that Harrison will lead efforts to expand the firm’s market share in mixed-use and workplace developments in the Texas region. The firm’s clients include Advisory Board Co., General Motors, Google, Independent Bank, Mercedes Benz Financial Services, Microsoft, MHT Partners, RMR Group, and more.
“Kristen is well-known in the Dallas community and is passionate about connecting clients with workplace solutions that meet their needs,” Jay Rambo, director of SmithGroup’s Dallas office, said in a release.
KINGSISLE ENTERTAINMENT NAMES 2 EXECS
Craig Beers
David Rosen
KingsIsle Entertainment, which has offices in Dallas and Austin, announced that Dave Rosen has been named vice president of marketing and Craig Beers will take on the role of vice president of management.
“They are a perfect fit for our company culture, which encourages creative innovation and mentorship,” KingsIsle Entertainment CEO Elie Akilian said in a release. “As we enter a period of strategic mobile growth, I’m confident they will bring us to a new level of success.”
Established in 2005, KingsIsle is a maker of MMO—online video games that can be played simultaneously by a very large number of people—like its latest game for kids, Animal Cove. The company’s award-winning Wizard101 is in its 10th year of play by roughly 50 million people worldwide.
UNT PICKS HEERE TO LEAD SPORT MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS
Bob Heere
The University of North Texas has named Bob Heere as the new director of sports management, where he will direct both the MBA Sport, Entertainment, and Event Management program and the BBA sport management track in Business Integrated Studies.
The university said that both programs are offered at UNT’s Frisco location across the street from The Star, the headquarters of the university’s higher education partner, Dallas Cowboys NFL football club.
A native of the Netherlands, Heere is president-elect of the North American Society for Sport Management, and is a visiting professor in the International Sport Management Program at the Hague University of Applied Sciences.
DICKEY’S NAMES BUTLER TO HEAD R&D
Phil Butler
Phil Butler has been named the new research and development chief at Dallas-based Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, the nation’s largest barbecue chain.
Butler has worked in the restaurant industry since the age of 13, Dickey’s said in a release.
“With his years of experience, we look forward to the new and innovative ideas he has to take the Dickey’s brand to an even higher standard than we have today,” Laura Rea Dickey, CEO of Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants Inc., said in a release.
VERICLAVE NAMES GRAY AS CHIEF REVENUE OFFICER
Chris Gray
Chris Gray has been named as chief revenue officer of cybersecurity technology and managed services provider Vericlave. The company previously was called Entegra Technologies.
“Chris’ proven ability to execute growth strategies in the cybersecurity industry will help ensure Vericlave’s continued success,” President and CEO Joel Bagnal said in a release.
Gray’s focus is on all revenue generation operations at Vericlave, including innovating and integrating marketing, sales, and delivery solutions. Vericlave said it focuses on national security-grade solutions that conceal networks and prevent cyberattacks before they happen by using a risk management approach to cybersecurity.
READ FORT WORTH NAMES NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Anel Mercado
Anel Mercado has been named the next executive director of Read Fort Worth, effective Sept. 5.
Mercado, the former director of programs at the Arizona Center for Youth Services, replaces founding executive director Kristin Sullivan.
The partnership was established in 2016 by Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price, Fort Worth ISD Superintendent Kent P. Scribner, and business, philanthropic, and civic leaders in support of the district’s 100x25FWTX Initiative and the shared goal that 100 percent of the district’s third-graders will be reading on their grade level by 2025.
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