Multi-Housing Executives on The Move

By Anuradha Kher, Online News EditorTony Wootton Becomes SVP at YapStoneSan Francisco–Tony Wootton (pictured first from top) has joined YapStone Inc. as senior vice president of business development. Prior to joining Yapstone, Wootton served as vice president and general manager of payment solutions at the Green Dot Corp., the leading provider of financial services to the issuer of reloadable prepaid debit cards. Wootton has been added to the YapStone management team to drive their payment processing platforms into new markets.Prior to Green Dot, Wootton served as senior director of business development for InfoSpace Mobile, a premier provider of downloadable mobile media, following the purchase of Moviso, where he was also a member of the acquired management team. Wootton has also held management level positions with NASCAR and FOX Sports, focusing on business development and sales.Keaton Merrell to Originate Debt, Equity as SVP of Johnson CapitalPhoenix–Johnson Capital has promoted Keaton Merrell (pictured second from top) to senior vice president. In his new position, Merrell will be responsible for originating debt and equity for a wide range of real estate properties including multifamily, office, industrial, retail, hospitality and mobile home parks.Merrell joined Johnson Capital in April of 2000 as a loan analyst. Over his last three years with the company, Merrell has participated in the origination of over $340 million in debt and equity capital for many of the region’s most active real estate groups.  In addition to his duties at Johnson Capital, Merrell is involved with a number of philanthropic and civic endeavors in the Phoenix area. Over the years, he has held senior leadership positions in several organizations including the Scottsdale Active 20-30 Club, the Sun Angel Foundation and the Boys and Girls Club of Metropolitan Phoenix. Merrell also sits on the Board of Directors of the NAIOP Arizona Chapter. “Keaton has played a crucial role in expanding Johnson Capital’s business in the Phoenix area,” says Guy Johnson, president of Johnson Capital. “His years of experience in real estate finance along with his involvement within the Phoenix real estate community have made him an integral part of the Johnson Capital team.”ECORE Appoints New CFO and General Sales ManagerLancaster, Pa.–Peter N. Saitis has been appointed the chief financial officer of ECORE International, a company that manufactures and markets innovative, environmentally sustainable products and solutions.Saitis will direct all fiscal operations including the accounting, reporting, auditing and business planning functions. In addition, he will have oversight for the company’s information technology area. Saitis will also play a key role in strategic planning for new business opportunities, joint ventures, alliances and new product development.Most recently, Saitis served as vice president, finance for the Hoeganaes Corp., an international organization that specializes in powder metallurgy for applications in numerous industries.“Interest in sustainable materials is so great right now and ECORE is perfectly positioned to take advantage of that interest through its well developed portfolio of business and brands,” says Saitis. “It’s a very exciting time to be part of the team that will lead the organization through global expansion and continued product development.” Ecore has also recently appointed Robert F. Dougherty as general sales manager. He will be in charge of increasing the corporation’s network of sales representatives and distributors worldwide to support revenue growth for the company’s largest business units in commercial and sports surfacing.“Beyond having worked with ECORE as a customer for 15 years, the opportunity to be a part of a company poised to enter the 21st century as a leader in ‘green’ products in a number of marketplaces is very exciting,” says Dougherty.