July 16–Hotel Paso del Norte GM was at London NYC
James Perricone has been hired as general manager of Downtown El Paso's Hotel Paso del Norte, which is now undergoing a $70 million renovation. Perricone previously was general manager of The London NYC, a 562-room luxury hotel in midtown Manhattan. It had been managed until October 2017 by Interstate Hotels and Resorts, a Washington D.C.-area based hotel management company, of which Perricone also was corporate task force general manager. Perricone has been general manager and food and beverage director at various hotels in the United States, including in Albuquerque, according to a hotel news release. He helped open six new Marriott hotels as a Marriott hotel general manager. He also helped with former President Barack Obama's 2009 inauguration ball when Perricone was corporate program director of food and beverage for the U.S. Army and U.S. Department of Defense.
Hotel Paso del Norte, located at 101 S. El Paso St., will be part of Marriott's Autograph Collection Hotel brand, which includes 135 luxury, iconic landmark hotels in 30 countries and territories, according to a Marriott news release. It's scheduled to open late this year.
Texas Tech nursing school gets new dean
Stephanie Woods is new dean of the Gayle Greve Hunt School of Nursing at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso. She previously was associate dean of nursing at Texas Woman's University's Dallas campus. She has more than 35 years of experience in nursing, and has been on the faculties of the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, and at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio.
Tech president new chairman of FDA panel
Dr. Richard Lange, president of Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso and dean of the Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, has been appointed chairman of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Circulatory Systems Devices Panel, of which he has been a member since 2010. The panel reviews and evaluates data about the safety and effectiveness of medical devices for use in the circulatory and vascular systems. It then makes recommendations to the FDA commissioner. Lange, a practicing cardiologist, will be panel chairman for four years.
UTEP names two Distinguished Alumni
The University of Texas at El Paso is honoring two of its graduates with its annual Distinguished Alumni awards. Crystal Long is chief executive officer of GECU, El Paso's largest credit union, where she started working in 1979 as entry-level file clerk. She received a master of business administration degree in 2014.
Karla Martinez is co-host of the Univision Spanish-language TV network's national morning show, "Despierta America." The Mexico native received a degree in electronic media and communications in 1998. They will be recognized during UTEP's 2018 homecoming week Sept. 30 through Oct. 6.
Farmers agent named to Presidents Council
Yvonne Ruiz, a Farmers Insurance agent in El Paso, has been named to the company's Presidents Council, which means she is in the top 1 percent of the company's agents and district managers.
To get on the council, an agent has to meet several criteria, including being a consistently top-ranked performer in sales, providing excellent customer service and showing a commitment to furthering Farmers' goals and ideals. Ruiz operates a Farmers agency at 725 S. Mesa Hills Drive in West El Paso.
El Paso USL team expands staff
The El Paso United Soccer League team, which begins playing next year, has added five people to its staff and promoted one staff member. Becky Lee is the new director of corporate partnerships. She previously was director of corporate partnerships for the El Paso Chihuahuas minor league baseball team, owned by MountainStar Sports, which also owns the soccer team.
Bob Bigney is director of soccer operations. He previously was technical director for the New Mexico Youth Soccer Association. He has about 30 years of experience in youth, collegiate and professional soccer, including 10 years as a college coach. He will be responsible for branding the team in in the El Paso-area youth soccer community.
Sam Olson and Michael Flores are salesmen. Olson was an intern at the University of Minnesota's athletic department, and Flores was a graduate assistant at the University of Texas at El Paso's athletic department. Also, Sarah Nollner was promoted from manager of business operations to director of marketing and communications. She previously worked at Major League Soccer/Soccer United Marketing in New York City.
Art museum board adds two members
Judy Robison and Dana Frank have been added to the El Paso Museum of Art Foundation board of directors. Both women are involved in philanthropy and volunteer work in El Paso. Robison is the wife of Kirk Robison, who operates El Paso's Peter Piper Pizza franchises. Frank is the wife of Adam Frank, president of River Oaks Properties, an El Paso shopping center developer. The foundation supports the El Paso Museum of Art and its exhibitions, programming and outreach by raising funds for its permanent endowment.
Former Army doctor joins El Paso urology group
Dr. Daniel Morilla, a urologist for 11 years, in August is joining Rio Grande Urology, a large El Paso urologic medical group. He previously was an Army doctor at William Beaumont Army Medical Center. The New York native received his medical degree from New York Medical College. His specialties include general urology, adult and pediatric urology. He is skilled in endoscopic surgeries, vasectomies, and minimally invasive surgeries, including robotics.
Mithoff Burton promotes media buyer
Dana Guerra has been promoted to vice president of client services at Mithoff Burton Partners, an El Paso marketing agency. In her new role, she will oversee quality and timeliness of the agency's production projects. She's worked at the agency five years, and previously was media buyer and planner.
