WOMEN TO WaTCH 2013 michelle rider
Virginia nelSon First senior vice president – Arizona personal banking, business express, commercial and treasury management, MidFirst Bank midfirst.com Her background: Leads the bank’s Arizona retail Banking network of 24 branches, in addition to overseeing the Arizona and Oklahoma Small Business Lending teams and the Commercial Product and treasury Management groups. She serves as chair of Arizona Women’s Education and Employment (AWEE) Board of Directors. Fun fact: A fifth-generation Arizona native, Nelson’s great-great grandfather, William Hawkins, was a member of the 1869 Powell Expedition exploring the Colorado river through the Grand Canyon. Her goals for 2013: “Cherish family, lead by example, commit to excellence at work, serve the community, better leverage technology, and run my first half-marathon in January.”
President and CEO, WEStMArC westmarc.org Her background: rider is an Arizona native and graduated from NAU in 1996. After interning for U.S. Senator Jon Kyl in college, she worked for political nonprofit organizations in Washington, D.C. She moved back to Arizona in 2002 and worked for the Greater Phoenix Economic Council before becoming president and CEO of WEStMArC in July of 2011.WEStMArC works to promote and enhance the economy and quality of life in the West Valley. Fun fact: “People have been surprised that my best friend is a pit bull named Lolo.” Her goal for 2013: “Correct misperceptions about the West Valley by promoting what it really is: the best region in the state for business opportunities, wonderful communities and special leaders.”
Patricia Soldano Chairman – Western region, GenSpring Family Offices genspring.com Her background: For more than 25 years, Soldano has been managing family offices, providing full-service, integrated family office services to wealthy families and clients around the world. Soldano developed Cymric Family Office Services into a multi-family office in 1996, and in January 2009, Cymric became part of GenSpring Family Offices. Fun fact: “I like to dress-up for Halloween and I throw a pretty mean Halloween party for friends and family.” Her goal for 2013: “Continue to serve my highly-valued client families with personalized, individually-tailored service; serve as a leader in the industry and continue to inspire and mentor young people looking to come into it.”
kara Sundeen Vice president of development, Fox restaurant Concepts foxrc.com Her background: You know that really beautiful patio at Olive & Ivy? How about the super industrial and masculine feel at The Arrogant Butcher? Or those cool herb boxes lining the entry at true Food Kitchen? All those unique touches that make dining at a Fox restaurant Concept memorable — from real estate selection to restaurant design and construction — are all handled by Sundeen, who has been with Fox restaurant Concepts for nearly a decade. Fun fact: “I earned a master’s degree in sports management at the University of Denver and planned to be a sports agent ... until Sam Fox came calling.” Her goal for 2013: “to put the foundation in place to support the growth of Fox restaurant Concepts in 2013 and 2014 while maintaining the boutique feel that makes the individual restaurants special.”
30 AB | January-February 2013
Sandra watSon CEO, Arizona Commerce Authority azcommerce.com Her background: As President and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority, Watson brings more than 20 years of economic development leadership to Arizona. She has helped attract hundreds of companies that have invested billions of dollars in capital and created more than 65,000 quality jobs. Under her leadership, the ACA will pursue an aggressive, five-year goal of facilitating the creation of 75,000 jobs. Fun fact: She is also a two-time recipient of the Arizona technology Council Chairman’s Award, 2004 and 2010. Her goal for 2013: “Strengthen Arizona’s economy by facilitating the creation of quality jobs through business creation (start up or innovation), expansion and attraction efforts in targeted, high-value base sectors throughout the state.”