Friday October 13, 2023
Registration 11am | Lunch 11:30pm - 1:30pm
Sheraton Grand Downtown
Unity Agent Sponsor:


Center Stage Sponsors:





Floodlight Sponsors:






Searchlight Sponsors:







Friday October 13, 2023
Registration 11am | Lunch 11:30pm - 1:30pm
Sheraton Grand Downtown
Unity Agent Sponsor:
Center Stage Sponsors:
Floodlight Sponsors:
Searchlight Sponsors:
PetSmart proudly celebrates ONE Community and the 13th Annual Spotlight on Success, Local Heroes Awards. We share the vision of creating a state that celebrates, respects, and protects all Arizonans. That’s a vision we can all be proud of.
Welcome to the Thirteenth Annual Spotlight on Success Local Heroes Awards! We are incredibly proud of this year’s courageous, passionate and inspiring ONE Community Spotlight on Success Local Heroes who have made an amazing impact in our community. We are also honored to recognize our first inaugural Common Good recipient Sen. Kyrsten Sinema for her efforts to pass the bipartisan Respect for Marriage Act. We can’t wait to share their stories with you today.
Since our inception in 2008, ONE Community has evolved into the coalition of socially responsible businesses, organizations and individuals who are moving diversity, inclusion, equity and equality forward for all Arizonans.
We are empowered by YOU - our LGBTQ+ and allied business and community members – through your engagement, connectivity, your commitment to community and for believing that Arizona should truly be welcoming and Open for Business to Everyone no matter who you are or who you love..
We are thankful for our talented and dedicated ONE Community team and our coalition partners. Together we are educating and guiding our LGBTQ+ inclusive business, faith and community leaders as we work together to create an inclusive, equitable, and equal Arizona and nation.
We are grateful to our sponsors, for your investment in ONE Community, the LGBTQ+ community and for truly supporting our commitment to a state that celebrates, respects and protects us all.
We are Better Together. We are ONE Community!
In Unity,
~Angela and the team at ONE Community
Welcome
Carey Pena
National Anthem
Andrew Nate Ruggieri
Reverend David Felten
Nelda Majors Tribute
Community Engagement Director, ONE Community, Janine Skinner
Ten Years of the UNITY Pledge
Mesa Mayor John Giles & Chief Advocacy Officer, ONE Community, Michael Soto
Common Good Award
U.S. Senator Kyrsten Sinema
Lunch
Local Hero Presentation
Sarah Krahenbuhl and Terri Kimble
With Sheraton Downtown, ONEAZ Credit Union, Glendale Chamber of Commerce & Fry’s Food Stores
Local Hero Presentation
Jennie Patel and Paul Rockower
With JPM Chase, Hensley, Cox Communications & AZ Big Media
Local Hero Presentation
Gabe Hagen and Jesse Shank
With Full Swing Studios, Waymo & Arizona Lodging & Tourism Association
David Redfield, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, PetSmart UNITY Agent Award
Lynette Braddock
2019 UNITY Agent, CEO KEO Marketing, Sheila Kloefkorn
Co-founder and President, ONE Community, Angela Hughey
Please join us after the awards ceremony for cocktails and networking.
Our work helps educate the general public, business leaders, faith leaders and elected officials on why it is so important to update our policies for both LGBTQ+ people and our state’s economic future.
Beatitudes Campus
Brick Road Coffee
Chandler Chamber of Commerce
City of Mesa
City of Peoria
City of Scottsdale
City of Tempe Police
Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Phoenix
Kellenberger + Tollefson Center For LGBTQ Philanthropy
Oracle Strategies
Phoenix Suns and Mercury
Department & Diversity Office
Clear Channel Outdoor
Experience Scottsdale
Global Medical Response
Goodmans Interiors
Greater Phoenix Economic Council
Public Radio Phoenix Snell & Wilmer
Super Bowl Host Committee
The Brokery - Brad York
The Episcopal Diocese of Arizona
VH Included Visit Mesa
Barb Harris, Partner, teamworks communication
Bettina Nava, President, OH Strategic Communications
Blair Moses, Community Member
Chad Wolver, Chief Financial Officer, Adobe Care & Wellness
Charles Cobbs, Police Community Affairs Liaison, Mesa Police Department
Corri Rankins, Vice President; Operations Project Consultant, Bank of America
Dan Packard, Institutional Trust Officer, PNC Financial Services
Devney Marhle, President & CEO, Downtown Phoenix Inc.
Dr. Sheila Harris, President, Shelia D. Harris Consulting Services
James Christian, Director of External & Legislative Affairs, AT&T
Jeff Rahm, Digital Media Supervisor at OH Partners
Katee Van Horn, Founder, VH Included
Kerwin Brown, Executive Director, Tanner Community Development Corporation
Lauren Witte, Content Director, Conan & Company
Liza Buchanan, VP Marketing Operations OneAZ Credit Union
Robert Heidt, President & CEO Glendale Chamber of Commerce
Sophia Lovasz, Dir. of Retail Entrepreneurship at Local First Arizona
Steve Castle, Broker, Castle Real Estate Group
Meredith Plaxco, Vice President, Loss Prevention & Safety, PetSmart
Tammy Perkins, Community Member
Thomas Barr, Vice President, Local First Arizona
Vince Kozar, President, Phoenix Mercury
Carey Peña is an Emmy award–winning journalist, television personality, speaker, podcast host, and the Founder & CEO of a rapidly growing production company, Inspired Media 360. She is also Co-Founder of The Center for Positive Media, a collaborative workspace and home to her second studio.
A storyteller at heart, Carey’s mission is to provide solutiondriven media, helping national and local nonprofits and businesses create content to successfully share their stories with a worldwide audience.
Carey’s newest YouTube show, Good Morning Sunshine – Better Days Ahead, focuses on the mental health crisis in America.
Now in its second season, Good Morning Sunshine educates viewers about today’s mental and behavioral health issues, featuring guests and experts who share stories of inspiration and transformation.
She is also producing and hosting shows and content for several large healthcare companies as well as working on the production of feature documentaries.
With an expansive social media following, Carey feels it’s more than just numbers – it’s about making authentic connections with her audience and community and sharing meaningful content that can help improve lives.
Arizona Broadway Theatre’s production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is thrilled to have Andrew Natale Ruggieri return to the mainstage as Joseph. Andrew brings a wealth of experience, showcased in his notable credits. He has been part of the National Tour for Chicago and A Chorus Line (as Mike), and regionally starred in Ghost (as Sam), Miss Saigon (as Chris), The Boy from Oz (as Peter Allen), An American in Paris (as Jerry Mulligan), and Gypsy (as Tulsa).
Rev. David M. Felten is a full-time pastor at The Fountains, a United Methodist Church in Fountain Hills, Arizona. David and fellow United Methodist Pastor, Jeff Procter-Murphy, are the creators of the DVD-and-web-based discussion series for Progressive Christians, “Living the Questions” and authors of Living the Questions: The Wisdom of Progressive Christianity. A co-founder of Catalyst Arizona and also a founding member of No Longer Silent: Clergy for Justice, David is an outspoken voice for LGBTQ rights both in the church and in the community at large. David is active in the Desert Southwest Conference of the United Methodist Church, blogs at progressingspirit.com, and, staying connected to his roots as a musician, you’ll find him playing saxophones in a variety of settings. David is the proud father of three reliably remarkable human beings. Visit his website at davidfelten.com
At the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown we have revolutionized style and comfort, both for work and relaxation, and created so much more than just a hotel It’s a destination that brings innovative spaces, unmatched event expertise and personalized meeting programming together, allowing guests to connect, minds to expand and attendees to harness the power of the collective.
Our 110,000-square-feet of bright and energetic meeting and event space is thoughtfully designed over two levels, bringing you a seamless event experience. While our food and beverage experiences raise the bar with purposeful and sustainable culinary program ming in our restaurants and meeting spaces alike.
Design your event at the epicenter of a blossoming arts and culture scene home to a bevy of nightlife and entertainments options and blocks from the Light Rail. There has never been a more perfect time to gather in Downtown Phoenix
For more information or to book your event, contact Blaise Kline, Senior Catering Sales Executive at 602.817.5315 or blaise.klein@sheraton.com.
Arizona’s current non-discrimination laws are not inclusive of sexual orientation and gender identity, meaning it is still not illegal to re someone, deny them housing, or refuse them service simply for who they are or who they love. Sign
Janine Skinner is the Community Engagement Director for ONE Community, an organization dedicated to LGBTQ+ advocacy and education across Arizona. After raising three children in Arizona, two of whom are LGBTQ+, Janine became fiercely passionate about making her home state an inclusive and affirming place for all. She started volunteering for ONE Community and fell in love with their mission to create an Arizona where everyone is treated equally. She was thrilled to join the team in 2018. For 10 years prior to this Janine worked for Feed My Starving Children and was integral in helping to bring the non-profit to Arizona and to grow their Mesa packing facility to the largest in the nation. She brings her years of fundraising and partnership building experience along with her passion for equality to the ONE Community team.
D i v e r s i t y , E q u i t y , a n d I n c l u s i o n C o m m i t t e e
( D E & I ) , a g r o u p f o c u s e d o n a s s i s t i n g e m p l o y e r s g r o w t h e i r t a l e n t p o o l t h r o u g h t h e i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f D i v e r s i t y a n d I n c l u s i o n b e s t p r a c t i c e s i n t h e w o r k p l a c e T h e D E & I
C o m m i t t e e a l s o w o r k s o n e d u c a t i n g e m p l o y e r s , b u s i n e s s e s , a n d l o c a l c o m m u n i t y l e a d e r s o n t h e b e n e f i t s o f D i v e r s i t y , E q u i t y , a n d I n c l u s i o n a n d a s s i s t s t h e m i n i m p l e m e n t i n g p o l i c i e s a n d p r a c t i c e s t o a t t r a c t , m a i n t a i n , a n d i n c r e a s e b u s i n e s s , t a l e n t , a n d p a r t n e r s h i p s
A s a C h a m b e r o f C o m m e r c e t h a t s t r o n g l y b e l i e v e s i n d i v e r s i t y a n d i n c l u s i o n , i t w a s o u r
a b s o l u t e p l e a s u r e t o a n n o u n c e t h a t w e w e r e t h e m o s t s u c c e s s f u l o r g a n i z a t i o n i n r e c r u i t i n g b u s i n e s s e s t o c o m p l e t e t h e U n i t y
P l e d g e i n 2 0 2 3 W e w a n t t o t h a n k o u r f e l l o w c o m p e t i t i o n f o r j o i n i n g u s i n t h i s i n c r e d i b l e o p p o r t u n i t y t o e d u c a t i o n o u r c o m m u n i t y m e m b e r s o n t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f d i v e r s i t y a n d u l t i m a t e l y h a v e t h e m t a k e t h e U n i t y P l e d g e
John Giles is the 40th mayor of Mesa, Arizona. He was first elected in 2014 and re-elected in 2016 and 2020.
Mayor Giles oversees a growing economy that has added tens of thousands of new jobs, over $8 billion in new capital investment. Under his leadership, the city adopted a nondiscrimination ordinance, demonstrating that Mesa is an inclusive city committed to equality.
His attention to Mesa’s downtown resulted in Arizona State University’s Media, Immersion and eXperience Center (MIX Center) with cuttingedge programs and an emerging creative economy with new businesses, restaurants, housing and entertainment options.
Mayor Giles spearheads the Mesa College Promise which provides qualified high school graduates with a free community college education.
His advocacy for a sustainable future for Mesa led to the adoption of a Climate Action Plan, which includes achieving carbon neutrality, using 100% renewable energy and diverting 90% of waste from the landfill by 2050.
Mayor Giles is Chair of the Immigration Task Force for the U.S. Conference of Mayors and serves on the Board of Trustees. He is the Co-Chair of Mayors and CEOs for U.S. Housing Investment, Chair of the Mayor’s Alliance to End Childhood Hunger, and serves on the Accelerator for America Advisory Council.
Born and raised in Mesa, Mayor Giles earned degrees from Brigham Young University in Political Science and Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law where he is now an Adjunct Professor. He practiced law in Mesa for nearly 30 years before working full-time as Mayor. Mayor Giles has completed two full Ironman competitions, 20 marathons and four Boston Marathons. He is the creator and host of the It’s Always Cool in Mesa podcast, which shares the city’s most beloved history, people and stories. Mayor Giles and his wife Dawn have been married for more than 40 years. They have five children and eight grandchildren.
Local Bank. Strong Relationships. For the moments that matter.
Like the people we serve, the members of our team come from every walk of life. This rich variety of personalities, traits and abilities helps us relate to our customers and communities while also helping us be a leader for equality at work and beyond. Supporting ONE Community is aligned with our commitment to embrace diversity and help build inclusive communities where diverse people and viewpoints can thrive.
We’re celebrating 20 years of serving Arizona.
We strive to offer unique financial solutions that cater to the needs of individuals and businesses alike.
By building strong, long-lasting relationships with the people and organizations of Arizona, we are dedicated to creating a brighter future for generations to come.
Our vision is helping you realize yours.
Kyrsten knows firsthand the challenges everyday Arizonans face. Born in Tucson, Kyrsten went through some tough times growing up. Her family struggled to make ends meet, and for a while they were even homeless. But they got by thanks to family, church, and hard work. Kyrsten’s childhood experience showed her the power of hard work and the importance of helping others.
Education was Kyrsten’s ticket to a better life. With the help of student loans, academic scholarships, and financial aid, she went to BYU and then ASU, where she now teaches as a proud Sun Devil.
After graduating, she worked with students and families in Arizona who faced some of the same challenges she did. Kyrsten’s commitment to service led her to the Arizona Legislature, where she passed a law to help veterans get in–state tuition at all Arizona public universities, cracked down on sex trafficking, and advocated for children’s health care and education.
Now as Arizona’s senior Senator, Kyrsten works every day to deliver for Arizona families – helping veterans get the benefits they’ve earned, creating good–paying jobs for Arizonans, and keeping Americans safe at home and abroad.
Kyrsten feels a duty to serve and give back to the communities and country that gave her so much. She got her shot at the American dream, and she’ll keep working to make sure all Arizonans get theirs too.
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As Executive Director of Phoenix Suns Charities, Sarah Krahenbuhl works to raise and grant more than $1.5 million annually to Arizona organizations that support children in need. In addition, Sarah serves as the Vice President, Social Responsibility, overseeing all Phoenix Suns community outreach initiatives.
Soon after joining Phoenix Suns Charities in 2012, Sarah created and implemented the founding Suns Charities 88 program. Since conception, Suns Charities 88 has contributed more than $1.5M to the Arizona community.
Prior to joining Phoenix Suns Charities, Sarah spent ten seasons with the Arizona Coyotes, serving as Executive Director of Coyotes Charities and Director of Community Relations and Grassroots Marketing, working to enhance the quality of life throughout Arizona communities by supporting non-profit organizations benefitting children.
In addition to her professional career, Sarah has devoted her personal time to serving numerous Arizona organizations through a variety of roles including, Luncheon Chair for Valley Leadership’s 64th Man & Woman of the Year Awards, Gabriel’s Angels Helping Hand, and Girls for a Change co-coach and mentor. Sarah has served on the Board of Directors of Arizona State University Alumni Association, Valley Youth Theatre, Beads of Courage, Southwest Human Development, Jobs for Arizona Graduates and Melonhead Foundation. Sarah has also served on the First Things First Phoenix North Regional Council, Board of National Ambassadors for Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE), Grand Canyon University Sports Business Advisory Board, Treasurer for Educare, and Chair of the Valley Leadership Board. Currently, Sarah is a board director for the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park and is a member of the ASU Lodestar Center Leadership Council.
For her philanthropic contributions, Sarah was given the 2011 Crohn’s and Colitis Woman of Distinction Award and was named one of the Phoenix Business Journal’s 2012 “Forty Under 40.” Most recently, Sarah was recognized as a Phoenix Business Journal 2021 Most Admired Leader.
An Arizona native, Sarah graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication and Journalism. Sarah currently lives in Phoenix with her husband, Peter, son Bodhi, and daughter Jemma.
Terri Kimble has been in the Chamber field for over 33 years, working for a number of chambers of commerce in Michigan before coming to the Phoenix area. In Michigan, she served as President and CEO of several chambers and served on the executive board of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce Executives. After moving to the valley, she became the President/ CEO of the Ahwatukee Foothills Chamber of Commerce and in 2011, took the helm of the Chandler Chamber of Commerce.
The Chandler Chamber of Commerce is the second largest Chamber in the State of Arizona representing over 175,000 employees.
Terri has been recognized by Phoenix Business Journal Outstanding Women in Business, Arizona Capitol Times Leader of the Year and most recently 2023 Local Hero Award by One Community for her advocacy work. She has also been recognized as an Ambassador for Peace from Universal Peace Organization, Woman of Chandler Award from Chandler Lifestyles Magazine, as well as seeing the Chandler Chamber inducted into the City of Chandler’s Celebration Plaza under her leadership.
She serves on the numerous boards and commissions throughout Arizona from ASU, Chandler Gilbert Community College, Intel, East Valley Chamber of Commerce Alliance, and City of Chandler Economic Development Advisory Board, just to name a few.
Terri holds a degree in Communications from Oakland University and is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame, U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for Organizational Management.
Terri lives in Chandler with her husband, George. Together they have four children and ten grandchildren.
Jennie Patel is an experienced leader in event management and social responsibility. Drawing on years of working with professional sports, sports philanthropy, and community organizations, Jennie takes pride in creating a strong and empowering culture within her teams. Jennie is currently leading the Social Responsibility & Volunteers team for the NCAA 2024 Men’s Final Four; prior to that, Jennie led more than 7,500 volunteers, all sustainability initiatives, and awarded a record-breaking $2.1 million in grants to Arizona nonprofits through the Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee for the recordbreaking Super Bowl LVII in Arizona.
Jennie is active on numerous volunteer boards and enjoys hiking the beautiful Arizona mountains. Originally from Chester, England, “real football” is in her blood and Jennie was a member of the women’s soccer team at Colorado State University in Southern Colorado.
JPMorgan Chase works to advance equity and inclusion for the LGBTQ+ community globally through philanthropic engagements, public stances and actions on relevant policy issues, and local community support.
We proudly support ONE Community and applaud all of the 2023 honorees on their well-desrved recognition.
Paul Rockower is the Executive Director of the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of Greater Phoenix. The JCRC conducts advocacy, interfaith outreach and community bridgebuilding on behalf of the Jewish community. It further conducts the crisis communications, rapid response and conflict management for the Jewish community, and other vulnerable communities, across Arizona. The JCRC serves on the Board of the Arizona Faith Network.
Rockower is formerly the Executive Director of Levantine Public Diplomacy, an independent public diplomacy organization. He previously managed State Department public diplomacy programs in dozens of countries around the world, including many countries in conflict.bHe has partnered with numerous U.S. diplomatic posts to run public diplomacy programs–in countries ranging from Algeria to Iraq to Venezuela to Zimbabwe. Rockower has worked with multiple Foreign Ministries, including Israel and India, and was an International Visiting Fellow at a think tank in Taiwan.
Common Good Award
Unity Agent Award
and all of the award winning local heroes
Thank you for all the work you do to promote equality for all Arizonans.
Waymo is a proud partner of One Community.
Waymo is on a mission to make it safe and easy for people and things to get where they’re going. We believe our autonomous driving technology can save lives and improve mobility options for communities.
Learn more about how we serve our communities at WAYM O.COM /COMMUN IT Y
Gabe Hagen, co-founder of Brick Road Coffee, brings a wealth of experience from the financial services industry, specializing in regulatory compliance. His journey from a seasoned professional to an entrepreneur reflects his commitment to creating a queer-inclusive, community-centric coffee haven in Tempe, Arizona.
Gabe’s academic achievements include bachelor’s degrees in philosophy and political science from Arizona State University and a Master’s in the Studies of Law from the University of Southern California’s Gould School of Law. These credentials have deeply influenced his professional endeavors and community contributions.
Originally from Iowa, Gabe’s influence has been profound since relocating to the West Coast and ultimately settling in Tempe. His active community roles include serving on the Tempe Tourism Board of Directors, the Greater Phoenix Equality Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, and the Tempe Leadership Council. He also holds the position of Vice Chair for the City of Tempe Neighborhood Advisory Commission. Gabe’s life is a harmonious blend of community service, entrepreneurship, and advocacy. He cherishes life in Tempe with his husband and their two dogs.
Jesse Shank, co-founder of Brick Road Coffee, boasts an impressive background spanning over 14 years in the Financial Service industry. His most notable role was as the Vice President of Treasury Management for Wells Fargo Bank, where he led the ACH Received Services team. Jesse’s proficiency is evident through his professional certifications, including APRP, AAP from NACHA, and CTP from AFP.
Parallel to his financial journey, Jesse has a rich history in the food and beverage sector. His roles have ranged from bartender to operations manager, with a significant stint managing an LGBTQ+ nightclub in San Diego. This experience has endowed him with invaluable insights into customer service and operations.
On the academic front, Jesse graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution from UCSD. He also holds certificates in Business Administration from San Diego City College and Computer Information Science and Business Management from Mesa College. His diverse background, combined with his passion for creating an inclusive community space, positions him as a pivotal asset to Brick Road Coffee.
Nothing moves an audience more than a heartfelt story. Whether you are sharing your mission, celebrating your partners or educating your customers, it’s all about how you tell your story. And that’s where we come in. Let Full Swing Studios maximize your impact by creating content that will captivate and persuade your audience.
What do you get when we tell your story?
• Onboarding Consultation
• 1 Hour Collaborative Editing Session
• Up to 3 Revisions
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We are proud to partner with ONE Community and Local First Arizona. All of their business members receive a 10% discount. info@fullswingstudios.com www.FullSwingStudios.com (480) 691-2469
David Redfield Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, PetSmartDavid Redfield is the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for PetSmart –headquartered right here in Phoenix. David is responsible for leading the operations of more than 1660 PetSmart stores and seven distribution centers throughout the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico. David and his team inspire and appreciate the more than 50,000 associates who help deliver on the “Anything for Pets” promise, each day. David also recently became the Executive Sponsor of PetSmart’s Pride at Work Associate Resource Group, which has been instrumental in shaping PetSmart’s culture of Belonging over the last ten years.
is a core value at AT&T, and we have been a proud ally of the LGBTQ+ community since 1975.
AT&T is proud to support One Community‘s Spotlight on Success, Local Heroes and Award Ceremony
Lynette Braddock is Arizona mom who has advocated tirelessly on behalf of her daughter Chloe, who is an incredible transgender young woman in her final year of law school. Braddock spoke and testified at the Arizona State Legislature and the Chandler City Council last year on behalf of her daughter and others in the community seeking fair and equitable laws. She also traveled to Washington D.C. twice during the summer with the Equality and Fairness Campaign to advocate for a comprehensive update to federal non-discrimination law. Without statewide non-discrimination protections, Braddock worries about her daughter being discriminated against in employment, housing and public accommodations once she graduates law school in 2024, even though she ranks in the top 10% of her law school cohort at NYU. Braddock has and continues to work collaboratively and advocate for full inclusion through policy measures alongside ONE Community to protect her daughter and so many others in our community.
Sheila Kloefkorn is CEO/President of KEO Marketing, a business-to-business, full-service marketing agency in Phoenix, Arizona. She leads a talented team of marketers in creating and executing award-winning marketing campaigns across the US and more than 100 countries around the world.
In addition to her business leadership, Sheila is committed to building a more equitable world. She co-chaired the Why Marriage Matters Coalition to bring Marriage to Arizona, and co-founded Competitive Arizona working to secure non-discrimination protections for all LGBT Arizonans. She served on the National Boards of Directors of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and volunteered for the local Steering Committee for over a decade. Sheila served on the ONE Community Multicultural Advisory Board and the Equality Arizona Board, and she chaired the Arizona Community Foundation’s LGBTQ Center. She has raised millions of dollars in support of equality causes nationally and locally.
Angela Hughey is the co-founder and President of ONE Community and ONE Community Foundation. Founded in 2008, ONE Community is the coalition of socially responsible businesses and organizations moving diversity, inclusion, and equality for all Arizonans forward.
In 2013, Angela and the ONE Community team launched the UNITY Pledge, a concerted effort by Arizona businesses and individuals to advance workplace equality and equal treatment in housing and public accommodations for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBTQ) individuals and their allies. Angela is also credited with the Multicultural Conversation with the Candidates, Spotlight on Success Local Heroes Awards, the UNITY Summit, the Point of Pride Summit, the ONE Community Institute and The State of LGBTQ Arizona collaborative report.
Angela is also credited with leading bipartisan coalitions of business, faith, and everyday Arizonans in support of successful LGBTQ+ inclusive ordinances. Her leadership has also led to the introduction and historic hearing of Arizona’s first bipartisan bill in support of updating our state’s law to include LGBTQ+ individuals in employment, housing and public accommodations.
Angela and ONE Community led the open for business to everyone coalition in response to SB1062, which led to an educational campaign of the same name, which focuses on diversity, inclusion, and equality for all Arizonans to ensure the economic sustainability of the state. Echo Magazine named Angela their 2014 Woman of the Year. In 2015, Angela became the founding Chair of Valley Leadership’s Leadership Advance Program for high potential leaders, overseeing the program for two years. Angela was the 2016 recipient of the Anti-Defamation League’s Al Brook’s Community Leadership Award. Angela was a member of the Arizona Community Foundation’s LGBTQ+ Philanthropy committee from 2016 through 2018. In 2021, the Phoenix Business Journal named Angela one of its Most Admired Leaders. Angela was recently named Valley Leadership’s 2023 Woman of the Year.
Cox celebrates our friends and neighbors who embrace the strength of our diverse communities. Cox knows a connected community is a stronger community.
WE PROUDLY SUPPORT THE ONE Community Spotlight on Success Awards Ceremony