cheVy humPhrey President and CEO, Arizona Science Center azscience.org Her background: She oversees the $8 million operation of Arizona Science Center’s 185,000-square-foot facilities with more than 400 employees and volunteers. She is in line to become the next president of the Association of Science-technology Centers, an international organization representing science centers and museums with more than 600 members in more than 40 countries worldwide. She currently serves as its secretary-treasurer. Fun fact: Humphrey secured the largest gift in the Center’s history – $3.5 million. Her goal for 2013: “Maintain excellence as Arizona’s largest provider of informal science education while providing educators with professional development and resources supporting the new common core education standards.”
ruth carter Owner, Carter Law Firm carterlawaz.com Her background: After graduating from ASU Law School in 2011, she opened her own law firm in January 2012 and focused her practice on social media law, intellectual property, business formation and contracts, and flash mob law. She will deliver a talk entitled “Protecting Your Copyrights in Digital Media” at the South By Southwest Interactive (SXSW) in March 2013. She also wrote the book “The Legal Side of Blogging: How Not to get Sued, Fired, Arrested, or Killed.” Fun fact: She was selected as an American Bar Association Legal rebel in September 2012. Her goal for 2013: to help entrepreneurs, writers and artists turn their ideas into reality, to help them push the limits of what’s possible without crossing the line.
mary juetten
michelle de blaSi Shareholder, Greenberg traurig gtlaw.com Her background: De Blasi focuses her practice on environmental law, with an emphasis on natural resources matters. She advises local and multi-national clients on energy and environmental sustainability, including the development of traditional and renewable energy power plants, climate change and greenhouse gas emissions. She is a leader in many community organizations, including serving as the co-chair of the Arizona Energy Consortium, which has recently released the Arizona Energy roadmap to further develop the state’s energy industry. Fun fact: “I wanted to be an environmental attorney since junior high. Working for six years at NOAA starting in law school was an amazing way to begin my career.” Her goal for 2013: “Continue to assist my clients’ growth and expansion, including improving the regulatory and business atmosphere in the areas where they are located.”
Founder and CEO, traklight.com traklight.com Her background: While earning her J.D. at ASU, Juetten combined her new knowledge of the law with accounting designations and 25 years of management, business and financial consulting experience to create traklight.com in 2010. traklight is an online software and service company that helps inventors, creators, start-up or small companies identify, secure and manage their intellectual property to reduce the risk of infringement and IP loss, all without any prior knowledge of IP. Fun fact: She played ice hockey in Canada and Phoenix. Her goal for 2013: “I plan to spend more time outside with my husband: golfing and hiking. traklight will build upon our October launch and expand nationally in 2013.”
maryann guerra CEO, BioAccel bioaccel.org Her background: BioAccel was named the most promising initiative among the six winners of SStI’s 2012 Excellence in tBED (technology-based economic development) awards. In three years, BioAccel — whose mission is to transform high-risk technologies into new businesses and high-wage jobs — has supported 11 companies in Arizona, investing more than $4 million directly as well as helping get an additional $15.5 million in downstream funding. Fun fact: “I love camping outdoors in tents. After gathering wood from the forest, I build the campfire, cook, then relax under the moonlight — with wine if possible.” Her goal for 2013: “Personally: spend more time with my husband. Professionally: expand BioAccel’s overall capacity, validate BioInspire as a model and help launch the BioAccel Accelerator Fund.” AB | January-February 2013 39