EX-TOPGOLF CEO TAKES REINS AT URBAN AIR ADVENTURE PARK

Former Topgolf CEO Ken May will lead the U.S. operations and strategic growth of Dallas-based Urban Air Adventure Park as its new executive chairman.

Urban Air is a full-service family entertainment center company with 209 parks open under construction in the U.S.

Ken May

Urban Air Adventure Park locations include the exclusive Urban Warrior Course, Warrior Battle Beam, The TUBES Indoor Playground, Indoor Ropes Course, Climbing Walls, Urban Air Pro Zone Performance, and the Sky Rider Indoor Coaster.

“This company is growing exponentially. They are at an important inflection point in its growth,” May said in a release. “I hope to be able to bring the skills I learned at Topgolf, Krispy Kreme, and FedEx to help enhance the innovation and operational excellence that will be needed for a company on the move like Urban Air Adventure Park.”

Urban Air said it is averaging five new franchisee signings each month and expects some 23 million guests to visit its parks by the end of the year.

VARIDESK NAMES JEFF LAMB AS NEW COO

Jeff Lamb

Jeff Lamb has been hired by Coppell-based Varidesk as its new chief operating officer, bringing with him a background in operations, facilities, and human resources, the company announced this week. 

“Varidesk is growing rapidly. Bringing Jeff in as our COO is a testament to that,” co-founder and CEO Jason McCann said in a release. “Jeff brings with him years of industry knowledge and experience scaling businessess — and most importantly, a passion for helping people reach their highest potential.”

Lamb previously worked at Southwest Airlines, Mesa Petroleum, Belo, and with Roger Staubach.

KIMBERLY-CLARK NAMES BUONFANTINO AS CMO

Irving-based Kimberly-Clark Corp. has named company veteran executive Giuseppina “Giusy” Buonfantino as chief marketing officer.

Most recently, she served as president of the company’s baby and child-care business in North America, where she was in charge of innovation, manufacturing, and marketing of such brands as Huggies, Pull-Ups, and GoodNites.

Buonfantino joined Kimberly-Clark in 2011 as vice president of global audit and feminine care brands. In her new role, she will report to Tony Palmer, president of global brands and innovation.

“Giusy has a tremendous track record in brand building, product innovation, and customer development, and her insight on consumers has helped us build our trusted brands across multiple categories,” Palmer said in a release.

MCCARRY TO LEAD MURPHY CENTER FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP & INNOVATION

Jon McCarry has been named as senior director for the Murphy Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of North Texas, charged with leading an initiative to grow a sustainable business accelerator platform.

Jon McCarry [Ahna Hubnik/ UNT]

McCarry, a UNT alumnus, has extensive experience in private equity. 

He will lead the center’s efforts to boost entrepreneurial creativity on campus and in surrounding communities, according to the university. The center is housed in UNT’s College of Business.

“I’d like to see the Murphy Center become a leading resource for the North Texas region — partnering with a range of ventures, from innovative ideas to early stage growth companies, while also building bridges with the investor community at the large,” McCarry said in a statement.

McCarry plans to make the center a go-to resource in the North Texas region.

“The North Texas region offers so much for industry, and as a Tier One research university, UNT is best positioned to be a resource where great ideas can find a partner ready to co-navigate a path toward success,” Business Dean Marilyn Wiley said in a release. “Jon McCarry’s expertise is exactly what our region needs.”

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