Labor & Employment

BitPay, a payment service provider (PSP) specializing in e-commerce, B2B and enterprise solutions for the bitcoin digital currency, has expanded its San Francisco office with several new hires.

The company has named Sonny Singh as its chief commercial officer to oversee all sales operations. With more than 15 years of experience in helping to grow tech companies, Singh will be responsible for increasing BitPay’s customer base of more than 40,000 merchants.
 

Etna, Ohio -- Ascena Retail Group Inc. has opened its new 880,000-sq.-ft. shared services office complex and national distribution center in Pataskala, Ohio.
 

Former Ahold and CVS executive Paula Price is the newest member of the Dollar General board of directors.

She joins the board of the 11,500 store retailer at a pivotal time. Dollar General is in the midst of a search for a top executive to succeed Rick Dreiling who has indicated he will step down next year and two of the company’s arch rivals, Dollar Tree and Family Dollar, have announced plans to merge.

Hudson, Ohio – Travis Smith has resigned as president and CEO of Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores. Until a replacement has been identified, Jim Kerr, executive VP and CFO, will serve as Interim CEO of the company, while continuing in his current role as CFO.

The board of directors is undertaking a comprehensive search to identify a replacement. In his role as interim CEO, Kerr will partner with Riddi Kline, executive VP of marketing and merchandising, and Tom Williams, executive VP of operations and HR, to manage the business.

New York — Retail brokerage firm Cohen Real Estate has added two new members to its brokerage team, augmenting the firm’s presence in New York City.

Guy Saban joins Cohen as investment sales broker, and will provide real estate advisory and investment services to buyers and sellers who are seeking to expand, optimize, and/or diversify their real estate portfolios.

Max Garelick joins as real estate associate, and will work alongside Cohen VP Michael Cleeman to market retail, mixed-use and multi-family properties in Manhattan.

Charlotte, N.C. -- Southern department store chain Belk has promoted Jan Clevenger from chair of the company’s Western Division in Birmingham, Alabama, to the position of executive VP and general merchandise manager over Men’s, Home and Kids.

David Luoma has been promoted to succeed Clevenger in the Western Division chair position.

Columbus, Ohio — Glimcher Realty Trust announced that Scott Barrett has been appointed to the role of VP development – anchor leasing. In this role, Barrett will lead the development, leasing and design activity associated with anchor, big-box and peripheral land deals across the portfolio.

Tampa, Fla. -- Burger 21, founded by the owners of The Melting Pot Restaurants, has executed its first franchise agreement in Michigan, under which a debut restaurant in Ann Arbor will open summer 2015.

Additionally, the company signed two franchise agreements for single units in Ocala, Florida, and Raleigh, North Carolina. The new deals are part of the fast-casual concept's growth strategy to expand its presence in new and existing markets nationwide.

To date, Burger 21 has 13 open locations and 25 franchised restaurants in development.