Moving up

The changing face of Tucson business

Splendido retirement care names 2 new hires

Kay Warren has joined Splendido at Rancho Vistoso as executive director for the new continuing care retirement community scheduled to open this fall in Oro Valley. She has 18 years of experience in health care and senior living. Before joining Splendido, Warren was general manager at The Forum at Tucson for nine years.

Also at Splendido, Tom Rios was named director of accounting. He has more than 10 years of experience in accounting and will be responsible for managing and preparing reports and statistics detailing financial results. Rios has a bachelor's in accounting from the University of Arizona and is a certified public accountant.

Financial adviser honored by peers

Patricia F. Raskob of Raskob Kambourian Financial Advisors LTD was named to "The Best of the U.S." in the financial advisers and brokers category. Previously, Raskob was selected as one of the top 250 best advisers in the United States, and was named by Medical Economics as one of the 100 best advisers working with doctors.

New Pueblo Medicine starts audiology clinic

Dr. Christine Maré has joined New Pueblo Medicine and will provide audiology services for the internal medicine practice. She will direct the new audiology clinic, which provides hearing tests and a full line of digital hearing aid devices and services. Maré is joined by Bonnie Smith, an audiology technician who has worked for New Pueblo Medicine for more than nine years.

Arizona Car Care picks Golf Links manager

Kyle Sewell was appointed manager of Arizona Car Care Centers' Golf Links location. He has been in the automotive industry for more than nine years. Sewell previously worked for Fletcher's Automotive.

Public Relations Society honors John Patterson

John Patterson, chapter member of the Public Relations Society of Southern Arizona, earned a Bronze Anvil Commendation award from the National Public Relations Society of America. He is a senior communications specialist for Raytheon Missile Systems. Patterson won the award for a safety video he entered in the internal video programs corporate/organization feature category.

Tucson Realtors choose public policy director

Anne Mehochko was named public policy director for the Tucson Association of Realtors. Previously she served as senior assistant vice president for government affairs for the Home Builders Association of Greater St. Louis.

Desert Energy Credit Union leader honored

Linda Dhaemers, president/CEO of Desert Energy Credit Union, was given the Very Outstanding Credit Union Person award during the 73rd Arizona Credit Union System Annual Convention and Business Meeting. Dhaemers has served on the board of the Arizona Credit Union League since 1997 and was recently elected chairwoman. She also serves on the Arizona Credit Union Foundation Board as secretary.

Insurance professionals elect new officers

The Tucson Association of Insurance Professionals has elected officers for 2006-2007. Yolanda Yanez Duarte is president, Jody Hayden is vice president, Elizabeth Chamberlain is secretary-treasurer, and Norma Banzhaf and Carolita Strickland are board members.

What are people saying about mortgages today:

Rates on 30-year mortgages edged down last week to a seven-month low. Mortgage-giant Freddie Mac reported Thursday that 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages fell to 6.3 percent, down slightly from 6.31 percent two weeks ago. It put rates at the lowest level since they were at 6.24 percent the first week of March.

Bank of Hawaii, Central Pacific Bank, Territorial Savings Bank and Wells Fargo Home Mortgages all cut their 30-year mortgage rates to 5.75 percent this week.

Most people think of a mortgage as a means to an end. After all, you buy a house, not a home loan. But a mortgage is much more than the path to homeownership. It is a financial instrument that must be managed, just like any other financial investment.