BUZZ • NEWS By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
Cave Creek schools name new administrators The Cave Creek Unified School District named its administrators for the forthcoming school year. “We welcome these well-qualified leaders as they join our CCUSD team,” says Dr. Debbi Burdick, superintendent. Dr. Patty Jensen is the Lone Mountain Elementary School principal. Jensen has served as an elementary school principal for the past Doug King is the Cave Creek seven years. She Unified School District’s new earned a Ph.D. director of transportation. (Photo courtesy Cave Creek in educational Unified School District) administration and foundations in 2011 from Illinois State University. Her research focuses on how to implement successful two-way dual language programs at the elementary school level. She has received a number of awards throughout her career, including a six-star distinction for her school by the state of Texas in 2017-2018. Staci Wiese will serve as principal for Desert Willow Elementary School. She joined the team from Kent School District in Kent, Washington. Wiese graduated from Saint Martin’s College and the American College of Education. An educator for 16 years, Wiese has worked as an elementary principal, assistant principal and instructional facilitator/coach. Director of Transportation Doug King has more than 30 years’ experience in transportation and logistics; the past 14 years in the Peoria Unified School District. An Arizona native, King attended Thunderbird High School and Glendale Community College. He has served for 28 years as an AIA and NCAA game official for football, basketball and volleyball.
Thirsty Lion to be 10th Desert Ridge restaurant Desert Ridge Marketplace will welcome Thirsty Lion Gastropub & Grill later this year. Focused on providing an eclectic variety of cuisine, Thirsty Lion will be located on the southwest side of The District. This will be the 10th restaurant to join Desert Ridge Marketplace since the shopping center completed a $22 million transformation in 2017. “Desert Ridge Marketplace continues to establish itself as the place to be in the North Valley, evidence of how we chose where to open the fourth Arizona location,” says John Plew, Thirsty Lion owner. “We know our bold flavors and creative cocktail program will resonate with the Desert Ridge community, and we look forward to showing them what Thirsty Lion offers.” The 6,500-square-foot restaurant will boast a spacious dining room, plus a large outdoor bar with a fire pit and ample seating. Thirsty Lion serves a signature menu comprised of eclectic cuisines, with
Thirsty Lion Gastropub & Grill will offer beer flights at its new Desert Ridge Marketplace location. (Photo courtesy Thirsty Lion Gastropub & Grill)
an emphasis on local ingredients and bold flavors. The gastropub also features craft cocktails that utilize combinations of fresh fruit purees, juices and premium liquors, as well as at least 20 wines by the glass. Info: thirstyliongastropub.com.
Jennifer Villalobos named movers’ vice president The North Valley’s Muscular Moving Men & Storage has hired Jennifer Villalobos as vice president of residential and commercial business development. The company recently signed on as the first moving business partnered with Nike and BSN Sports. A University of Arizona graduate, Villalobos earned a bachelor’s degree in Spanish translation and interpretation and a master’s degree in business administration. Her professional background includes business development and operations roles at Nothing but NET, Target.com and CyraCom International Inc. Villalobos also serves as a board member at several Valley nonprofits, including Prospanica, which empowers Hispanic business professional to achieve their full
educational, economic and social potential; Three Precious Miracles, supporting Native American foster children in their quest to find identity, culture and pride; and Latinos Contra el Cáncer, which works to improve the lives of Latinos living with cancer. She is also an ambassador at Arizona Technology Council. “We are honored to call Jennifer our new vice president of residential and commercial business development,” says Justin Hodge, president of Muscular Moving Men & Storage. “Her background is impeccable, and we expect nothing but good things to come from her joining our team. We are thrilled to see how our business evolves as Jennifer’s expertise helps guide it.” Info: muscularmovingmen.com.
Ocean Prime reopens at High Street Ocean Prime, located on North Phoenix’s High Street, reopened on July 18 after pipes were repaired underneath the building. During the repairs, the interior dining room design was refreshed, and seats were added. Info: ocean-prime.com. NORTHVALLEYMAGAZINE.COM AUGUST 2019 | SEPTEMBER 2019
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