AzBusiness Leaders 2018

LEADERS 2 018

VISION | INFLUENCE | POWER

Buffalo Collection A STATE OF MIND & A WAY OF LIFE

A M E R IC A N BU F FA LO L E AT H E R F U R N I T U R E

Experience the ultimate in luxury, comfort & design with furniture from Buffalo Collection. Our furniture is hand-made in America using the finest materials & methods of old world craftsmanship. Let us enrich your lifestyle by creating timeless custom furnishings of the highest quality for your home.

Specializing in Custom Orders

F U R N I T U R E • A R T • A C C E S S O R I E S • TA B L E S • L I G H T I N G • H A N D B A G S 7 0 4 4 E . 5 TH AV E N U E , S C O T T S D A L E , A Z

4 8 0.9 4 6. 39 03

WORLDWIDE SHIPPING • MADE IN THE USA

BuffaloCollection.com

Four Reasons To Take A New Look At Bank of Arizona Banking services have largely become a commodity. The Bank of Arizona difference is the ability to work face-to-face with experienced bankers who are also leaders in our community. A thriving Arizona economy is important to all of us. Like you, we work every day to make a meaningful contribution. With the backing of our $33 billion parent company, BOK Financial, we have the products and services to help you take your company to the next level with personal service and local decision making. But don’t just take our word for it, see what others have to say:

BOK FINANCIAL IS ON AMERICAN BANKER’S LIST OF MOST RESPECTED BANKS An annual survey of bank clients by American Banker Magazine and the Reputation Institute places BOK Financial as the one of the most respected banks in the country.1

A+

A+ RATED TREASURY CUSTOMER SERVICE BOK Financial’s Treasury Service Customers have ranked our service “A+” in the most recent Phoenix-Hecht Survey.

See for yourself what “A+” rated service is all about. With clients from coast to coast, state of the art technology and customized solutions, we can help you improve cash flow, prevent fraud and streamline your business operations.2

BEST IN CLASS RETIREMENT PLAN SERVICES BOK Financial was awarded with 14 “Best in Class” awards and two service commendations in 22 categories for services provided to plan participants and plan sponsors in PLANSPONSOR magazine’s 2016 Defined Contribution Survey.3

TOP PERFORMING MORTGAGE SERVICER BOK Financial was recognized in 2016 by Fannie Mae as a Servicer Total Achievement and RewardsTM (STARTM) Performer for General Servicing. Fannie Mae’s STARTM program recognizes top performing servicers in one or more STARTM Performer categories: General Servicing, Solution Delivery and Timeline Management.4

Experience the Bank of Arizona difference firsthand.

Call us today to see how we can help you meet your business objectives.

Dave Ralston l CEO, Bank of Arizona l 602-808-5333

© 2017 Bank of Arizona, a division of BOKF, NA, Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.

1 American Banker Magazine - https://www.americanbanker.com/news/bok-financials-talent-refinery.

2 Results are from the 2017 Phoenix-Hecht Treasury Management Monitor, which surveys both public and private U.S. corporations with sales of $20 million and greater. These are middle market results for companies with sales of $20 million - $500 million. It ranks corporations in three performance categories: product performance, bank perception and relationship management. 3 In the PLANSPONSOR magazine’s 2016 Defined Contribution Survey, providers won Best in Class awards by either (1) scoring as one of the top 3 in a given category OR (2) by scoring higher than the benchmark for that asset range, which is 60% for the $5-$25 million market category. 4 Fannie Mae’s STARTM program recognizes top performing servicers in one or more STARTM Performer categories: General Servicing, Solution Delivery and Timeline Management.

Get the recognition you deserve!

Single plaque

Double plaque

Stand-off wall plaque

Desktop plaque

ONLINE STORE Az BIG Media owns the exclusive rights to AzBusiness Leaders and is the only provider of official plaques.

azBIGmedia.com | 602.277.6045 Many more styles and sizes available online

Insurance and Corporate Benefits Got You Down?

Let NFP pick you back up.

NFP HAS ARIZONA COVERED. • Glendale • Bullhead City • Kingman • Douglas • Lake Havasu City • Flagstaff

• Mesa • Nogales • Prescott

• Prescott Valley • Scottsdale • Tucson

NFP is a leading insurance broker and consultant that provides employee benefits, property & casualty, retirement, and individual insurance and wealth management solutions through our licensed subsidiaries and affiliates. We’re personally committed to each client’s goals and to the Arizona community.

Contact us at 480-947-3556 or visit NFP.com.

Congratulations to Terry Scali, CEO of NFP Property and Casualty, for being named a top 5 Arizona insurance leader by AZ Business Leaders.

Insurance services provided through NFP Property & Casualty Services, Inc., a subsidiary of NFP Corp. (NFP).

(PC-19384-16) Copyright © 2016 NFP. All rights reserved.

Hot off the Hot press off the press

azBIGmedia.com azBIGmedia.com • Digital • Digital • Events • Events PrintPrint

Recognized as one of Arizona’s Most Admired Companies by Az Business Magazine

Local Roots, National Reach VEREIT, one of the largest single-tenant REITs in the country, has a national reach of more than 4,000 commercial real estate assets, of which 76 properties are located in Arizona, including the headquarters for PetSmart, Inc. Our people bring expertise, leadership, philanthropy and innovation to the commercial real estate industry and our local community.

Based in Phoenix, VEREIT is a full-service real estate operating company with investment management capability. Discipline. Transparency. Consistency. www.VEREIT.com

VEREITÂŽ is not affiliated or associated with, is not endorsed by, does not endorse, and is not sponsored by or a sponsor of the tenants or of their products or services pictured or mentioned.

The names, logos and all related product and service names, design marks and slogans are the trademarks or service marks of their respective companies.

Find out why Buckeye is the 7th fastest growing City in the U.S.!

LARGEST CITY IN AZ

by land area, 600 sq. miles

WORKFORCE OF OVER 251,000

ONE DAY TURNAROUND Southern California ports via I-10

46% INCREASE

Single family home permits

buckeye is the Western Gateway to Greater Phoenix FOREIGN TRADE ZONE SITES RAIL-SERVED MEGASITES STATE & LOCAL INCENTIVES AVAILABLE

CONGRATULATIONS

MAYOR JACKIE MECK

AZ BUSINESS LEADERS

WHO’S WHO GOVERNMENT - MAYORS

For more information about the opportunities in the city of Buckeye contact:

David Roderique, CEcD

Economic Development Director 623.349.6971 droderique@buckeyeaz.gov

Tennille Hiller

Management Assistant 623.349.6973 thiller@buckeyeaz.gov

www.growbuckeye.com

✓ ✓

Magazines rank No. 1 at influencing consumers to start a search online – higher than all media options.

Magazine buyers rank among retail’s best customers.

They tend to be more affluent with more discretionary income, shop more and are less price-sensitive.

✓ ✓

Print is the number one driver of purchase intent with more than half of all readers acting on magazine ads.

In addition to targeting a specific audience, print advertising boosts web traffic and spurs online purchasing with 83 percent saying that what they liked about print was that it could be kept for future reference.

Sources: Simultaneous Media Usage Study, WSL Strategic Retail Survey, Affinity Research Study

{ FROM THE EDITOR }

How can we define a great leader?

T

he dictionary — that heavy thing we used before we could Google things — defines leader as “the person who leads or commands a group, organization, or country.” But the definition and expectations of a leader can change from moment to moment and from circumstance to circumstance.

The truth of the matter is that the best leaders seem to possess an elusive mix of talents, traits and qualities that cannot be easily defined. If those traits could be defined and duplicated, we wouldn’t have the special women and men who rise to the tops of their industries. That said, an analysis of 200 CEOs from around the world

by Russell Reynolds Associates and Hogan Assessment Systems reveal three major indicators of successful leaders: • They have a strong sense of purpose, passion and urgency.

• They know how to shift through information and find the most important parts.

• They are humble, always learning and are master collaborators.

In the pages on Az Business Leaders, you will read about men and women who possess all those traits — and more. The men and women profiled in these pages have created industries, transformed industries, saved lives and made the lives of those in the communities they serve.

The leaders you will see profiled in the pages of this magazine were selected from a pool of more than 5,000 of the most innovative entrepreneurs and the best and brightest Arizona business leaders in healthcare, real estate, construction, education, banking, financial services, manufacturing, technology and law. Over the course of more than two dozen meetings, that list of 5,000 leaders under consideration was paired down to about 500 names, which the selection panel considered to be the most influential leaders in their industries. Then, they were divided up into the categories you will find inside this book.

The drivers of Arizona’s economy who are profiled inside the pages of this magazine have counseled presidents. They have survived plane crashes and kidnappings.

They play in rock ’n’ roll bands. They were Olympians. They reflect a wide spectrum of ethnicities, age and gender. But they share one thing in common: they are catalysts for Arizona’s economy. They are leaders. They are innovators. They have influence. And when they speak, they make things happen. And together, they are guiding Arizona toward greatness.

Enjoy this edition of Az Business Leaders. And if you have someone who you think should be considered for next year, nominate them at azbigmedia.com.

President and CEO: Michael Atkinson Publisher: Cheryl Green Vice president of operations: Audrey Webb EDITORIAL Editor in chief: Michael Gossie Associate editor: David McGlothlin | Jesse A. Millard ART Art director: Mike Mertes Graphic designer: Bruce Andersen MARKETING/EVENTS Marketing & events manager: Cristal Rodriguez OFFICE Special projects manager: Sara Fregapane Executive assistant: Mayra Rivera Database solutions manager: Amanda Bruno AZ BUSINESS LEADERS Director of sales: Sheri Brown AZ BUSINESS MAGAZINE Senior account manager: David Harken Account managers: April Rice | Cindy Kurtze AZRE | ARIZONA COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE Director of sales: Ann McSherry RANKING ARIZONA Director of sales: Sheri King EXPERIENCE ARIZONA | PLAY BALL Director of sales: Jayne Hayden CREATIVE DESIGNER Director of sales: Joe Freedman AZ BUSINESS ANGELS Director of sales: Brit Kezar

Michael Gossie Editor in chief michael.gossie@azbigmedia.com

16 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

AZ BUSINESS LEADERS is published annually by AZ BIG Media, 3101 N. Central Ave. Suite 1070, Phoenix, Arizona 85012, (602) 277-6045.

The publisher accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or artwork. Submissions will not be returned unless accompanied by a SASE. Single copy price $20.00. Bulk rates available.

Copyright 2017 by AZ BIG Media. All rights reserved. No part of this publication can be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from AZ BIG Media.

WE BELIEVE

THE CLIENT GIVES EVERY INVESTMENT PURPOSE. EVERY PROPERTY A SOUL. EVERY TRANSACTION A PULSE. 2017 marks the 100-year anniversary of Cushman & Wakefield. 100 years of working with some of the largest and most interesting clients in the world. 100 years of taking our clients’ ideas and putting them into action. Across industries. Within budgets.

And without fail. What can we do for you? cushwakecentennial.com

2555 E Camelback Rd, Suite 400 | Phoenix, AZ 85016 | +1 602 954 9000

IDEAS INTO ACTION

Banking locally is banking better.

Banking close to home has its advantages.

12 MONTH CD 0.70% APY

For 10 years we’ve been doing what no other community bank in Arizona has done, and it’s getting noticed by being voted No. 1 Community Bank, a Top 200 Healthiest Bank, and a 5-Star Superior Rated Bank.

18 MONTH CD 0.85% APY

Banking locally with Pinnacle is about more than keeping your money close to home. We make the process easier and more enjoyable. Our local ownership provides highly personalized service and quicker decision making.

And when you’re on the go, our 24/7 mobile and online banking is always there for you.

24-60 MONTH CD 1.00% APY

Creating an exceptional experience!

Scottsdale 480.609.0055

|

Phoenix 602.995.6565

NMLS# 322012 | Member FDIC | Equal Housing Lender. Copyright © 2017 Pinnacle Bank, All rights reserved

|

pinnaclebankaz.com

{ TABLE OF CONTENTS } BANKING & FINANCE Banking....................................................... 38, 40 Credit Unions...................................................... 42 Financial Services............................................... 44 Mortgage Lenders.............................................. 46 SBA Lenders...................................................... 48 Specialty Lenders............................................... 50 Wealth Management..................................... 52, 54

HEALTHCARE Healthcare Administrators................................... 60 Hospital Administrators....................................... 62 Specialty Hospital Administration......................... 64 Bioscience.......................................................... 66 Cancer Treatment............................................... 68 Cosmetic Surgery............................................... 70 Dentistry............................................................ 72 Dermatology....................................................... 74 Health Insurance Providers.................................. 76 Healthcare Education.......................................... 78 Healthcare Innovators......................................... 80 Health & Beauty.................................................. 82 Healthcare Game Changers................................. 84 Pain Management............................................... 86 Vision................................................................. 88

LAW Alternative Dispute Resolution............................. 94 Banking............................................................. 96 Bankruptcy/Reorganization................................. 98 Business & Commercial Litigation...................... 100 Construction..................................................... 102 Employment & Labor Relations.......................... 104 Estate Planning & Probate................................. 106 Family Law....................................................... 108 Insurance..........................................................110

Auto Dealers.................................................... 130 Jewelers.......................................................... 132 Restauranteurs................................................. 134 Sports.............................................................. 136 Tourism............................................................ 138 Tourism: Hospitality.......................................... 140 Tourism: Special Events.................................... 142

Developers....................................................... 192 Engineers................................................. 196, 198 HOA’s............................................................... 200 REIT’s.............................................................. 202 Office Interiors.................................................. 204 Owner/Operator................................................ 206 Property Asset Management............................. 208 Subcontractors..........................................210, 212 Land Investors.................................................. 214 Residential Developers...................................... 216 Home Builders.................................................. 218 Custom Home Builders...................................... 220 Multifamily....................................................... 222 Realty Firms..................................................... 224 Residential Real Estate Services........................ 226 Title & Insurance............................................... 228

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

TECHNOLOGY & MANUFACTURING

Management.....................................................112 Mergers & Acquisitions......................................114 Personal Injury...................................................118 Real Estate....................................................... 120 Securities & Finance......................................... 122 Tax...................................................................124

LIFESTYLE

Accounting............................................... 148, 150 Advertising....................................................... 152 Business Brokers.............................................. 154 Business Insurance................................... 156, 158 Cyber Security.................................................. 160 Human Resource.............................................. 162 Media.............................................................. 164 Multicultural Marketing..................................... 166 Public Relations................................................ 168 Digital Marketing.............................................. 170 Workforce Placement........................................ 172

REAL ESTATE Architects......................................................... 180 Broker Managers...................................... 182, 184 Broker Industrial............................................... 186 Contractors.............................................. 188, 190

Aerospace & Defense........................................ 234 Communications............................................... 236 Energy............................................................. 238 Manufacturing.................................................. 240 Mining and Natural Resources........................... 242 Software.......................................................... 244

WHO’S WHO CEO’s............................................................... 248 CFO’s............................................................... 250 Economic Development..................................... 252 Education......................................................... 254 Family Owned Businesses................................. 256 Influential Women............................................. 258 Mayors............................................................. 260 Nonprofit: Foundations, Charity & Fundraising.... 262

-Hans Finzel 24 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

“ LIVELY.

GROUNDBREAKING. ESTABLISHED.

– Dan Henderson, Director of the Gilbert Office of Economic Development

LGE Design Build has been perfecting the conception and construction of the Valley's most iconic projects for more than 23 years. But don't take our word for it. Listen to how clients, influencers and officials define our work. And there's more to come as we plan out LGE's thrilling future.

Look to our next defining moment this winter.

{ INDEX OF LEADERS }

Abalos, Sandy....................................148 Adkerson, Richard..............................242 Admire, Anthony.................................. 70 Afinowich, Jim....................................154 Aiken, Shawn...................................... 94 Alcazar, Drew.....................................142 Alexander, Neil....................................104 Allazetta, Dave..................................... 76 Allford, R. Allan.................................... 76 Almanza, Benito................................... 38 Alston, Paul......................................... 52 Althouse, Alan..................................... 42 Amelio, William...................................248 Anand, Kishlay..................................... 84 Anderson, Ted....................................152 Arce, Mike..........................................170 Argue, Tom........................................ 220 Atkins, Lisa........................................214 Atkinson, Mike....................................164 Averitte Jr., Richard...............................74 Badolato, John.................................... 72 Bailey, Lauren.....................................134 Baird, Lisa........................................... 52 Barnes, Susan................................... 250 Barnier, Jerry......................................210 Barthelemy, Joel.................................. 84 Basha III, Edward............................... 256 Baskin, Alan.......................................122 Bateman, Deborah............................. 258 Bayans, Steve...................................... 44 Belfiore, Jim...................................... 226 Bell, Chapin....................................... 222 Bennett, Jack.....................................156 Berge, Brent.......................................130 Berger, Steven..................................... 98 Bergman, Lorraine..............................190 Berry, Charles.....................................114 Beverly, Bruce................................... 228 Bidwill, Michael...................................136 Bigham, Alex....................................... 86 Bill, Michael........................................156

26 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

Bittner, Guy........................................140 Bjerk, Daniel.......................................190 Boca, Paul..........................................172 Bohannon, Kyle.................................... 88 Bonsall, Mark.................................... 238 Bontrager, Mike..................................190 Bosco, Mark........................................ 96 Boswell, Susan.................................... 98 Bradshaw, Justin................................. 62 Brady, Chris........................................240 Brandt, Donald.................................. 238 Breinholt, Leroy..................................186 Brodeur, Carmen................................224 Brooks, Scott....................................... 86 Brophy III, James................................. 96 Brown, Drew.......................................248 Brown, Mike........................................ 38 Brown, Robert.................................... 113 Brown, Shad.......................................124 Buck, C. Adam...................................120 Buesing, Jerry....................................210 Buhlig, Gretchen................................ 262 Bull, Ed..............................................120 Burgess, Robin...................................118 Burnham, Rebecca.............................120 Butler, Ron.........................................148 Cabrera, Misael..................................242 Camacho, Chris................................. 252 Cannon, Sue...................................... 208 Cappelli, Gregory................................248 Carney, Bryon.....................................182 Carter, Ellis......................................... 113 Cartier, Casey.....................................190 Case, Darren......................................106 Casey, Danielle.................................. 252 Chacopulos, Theresa........................... 52 Cheatham, Dave.................................182 Clark, Bernie....................................... 44 Clarke, William....................................106 Clees, Joseph.....................................104 Cody, Matthew.................................. 220

Cole, D.J........................................... 200 Colling, Brian......................................170 Collins, Rick........................................192 Connelly, Thomas................................ 54 Cooke, Theodore................................242 Coover, Kathy...................................... 82 Crandall, Dennis.................................. 86 Crapo, Neal......................................... 38 Creaser, Gregg...................................196 Cregg, Roger......................................218 Crow, Michael.................................... 254 Cullum, Rod....................................... 220 Currie, Sean.......................................142 Daddona, Jaime.................................122 Dahlin, John...................................... 208 Daniels, Jenn..................................... 260 Danley, Walt.......................................224 Darche, Fred......................................182 Davids, Kimberly.................................190 Davis, Michael....................................180 De Blasi, Michelle.............................. 238 De Rito, Martin.................................. 206 Decker, Wyatt...................................... 64 Derdenger, Pat....................................124 Desautels, Deanne..............................172 Detmer, Mark.....................................186 Deutsch, Bernie..................................180 DeVito, Michele.................................... 70 Dewald, Scott..................................... 113 Dexter, David....................................... 66 Diaz, Eric............................................166 Dickinson, D. Deems...........................224 Dicks, Kent.......................................... 80 Dietrich, Adele................................... 262 Dinan, James.....................................210 Dollarhide, Jeff...................................156 Doran, John Alan................................104 Doss, David......................................... 42 Douglas, Paul...................................... 72 Drury, William.....................................100 Earnhardt, Tex....................................130

{ INDEX OF LEADERS }

Ebert, Michael....................................192 Eckstein, Paul.....................................100 Edwards, Patrick.................................196 Eisen, Ori...........................................160 Elsner, Krisanne..................................162 Endicott, Rich...................................... 48 Ewell-Doll, Bonnie...............................154 Fagan, David......................................210 Feather, Neill......................................160 Feeney, Pat........................................186 Feldman, Mark.................................... 52 Fine, Peter........................................... 60 Fisher, Darin...................................... 200 Fisher, Kaine.......................................108 Fleetham, Jeff................................... 226 Flint, Patti............................................ 70 Forese, Tom...................................... 238 Fouts, Clay.........................................224 Fox, Sam............................................134 Freed, Leah........................................ 112 Freeman, Susan.................................. 98 Friedlander, Richard............................. 94 Frutkin, Jonathan................................122 Fulton, Doug.......................................218 Gammage Jr., Grady........................... 112 Garner, Don......................................... 38 Gauthier, Scott....................................132 Geary, Rosemary..................................74 Geier, Andrew.....................................188 Genovese, David.................................182 Ghaster, Brad.................................... 256 Gillis, Gregory.....................................102 Gittler, Amy........................................104 Goeppinger, Kathleen........................... 78 Goldberg, Yale....................................124 Goodmiller, Chuck...............................148 Goodnow III, G. James........................118 Gorny, Tomas.................................... 236 Gottlieb, Stacey..................................100 Govig, Todd........................................172 Grado, Gordon..................................... 68

28 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

Graham, John.....................................192 Gray, Alisa..........................................106 Gregg, Gary........................................182 Grosso, Michael................................... 52 Guerra, MaryAnn................................. 66 Guttilla, Phillip.....................................114 Haenel, Michael..................................186 Haggerty, Gregory...............................196 Hallier, Angela....................................108 Halmi, Bill.............................................74 Halyard, Michele.................................. 78 Hamilton, Christina..............................108 Hammond, Larry.................................100 Hansen, Max......................................172 Harkins, Dan..................................... 256 Harmon-Vaughan, Beth...................... 204 Harper, Sharon...................................192 Harper-Marinick, Maria...................... 254 Harrington, Brandon............................. 50 Hart, Steve.........................................140 Hendeles, Zev.................................... 202 Henig, Craig.......................................184 Henkel, Wally......................................130 Herrington, Brent................................216 Herzog, Jeff........................................170 Hester, Mark.......................................156 Heuser, Richard................................... 80 Hibbert, Ryan.....................................134 Hiemenz, V. Jay................................. 222 Hilton, Steven.....................................218 Hines, Jackie..................................... 208 Hoffman, Michelle.............................. 250 Holden, Michael..................................102 Hollander, Cornelis..............................132 Hoover, G. Michael..............................188 Hoover, Steven....................................210 Hunnicutt, Margaret............................. 42 Hunt, Linda.......................................... 60 Hunter Wiest, Candace........................ 50 Jackson, Craig....................................142 Jackson, Keith....................................245

Jacobs, Andy......................................172 Jacofsky, David.................................... 80 Jahn, Gregory...................................... 62 James, Veronique...............................168 Jannenga, Heidi................................... 84 Johnson, Debbie.................................138 Johnson, Sharisse............................. 256 Johnston, Janice................................. 84 Jones, Dave.......................................212 Joyce, Patrick...................................... 50 Kaplan, Eliot.......................................124 Kaplan, Jennifer..................................168 Karber Jr., Merle.................................212 Keenen, Terry.....................................212 Kehaly, Pam........................................ 76 Kelton, Justin......................................188 Kemper, John.................................... 200 Kendrick, Ken.....................................136 Kettner, Rick...................................... 234 Kim, Edward........................................ 76 Kimmerle, David.................................130 King, Dylan........................................ 228 King, Tim............................................212 Kitnick, David.................................... 220 Klein, Eileen....................................... 254 Knott, Eric..........................................162 Koerber-Walker, Joan........................... 66 Kong, David........................................140 Kotoske, Thomas................................. 70 Kraft, Andrew...................................... 68 Krause, Brad..................................... 204 Krumwiede, Craig...............................216 La Loggia, Bob.................................. 244 LaBaer, Joshua.................................... 66 LaBlonde Jr., Thomas........................ 220 Lamneck, Kenneth..............................245 Lane, Beau.........................................152 Lane, W.J.......................................... 260 Lang, Linda....................................... 200 LaPorte, Todd...................................... 60 Laris, Lee.............................................74

Thanks, boss.

Dental is the third most requested benefit.

Small businesses need to stay competitive. Let us help. Delta Dental® has flexible, affordable dental plans for 2 to 24 employees. A leader in dental care, we have the largest network of dentists and we make doing business with us easy – with 99.9% of claims paid within 10 business days.

Here’s how dental helps you stay competitive: Attract the best talent Retain your best workers Healthy employees are more productive Your employees are asking for dental, and we can help you offer it.

Learn more and request a quote at deltadentalazsmallbiz.com.

Arizona Dental Insurance Service, Inc. dba Delta Dental of Arizona DDAZ-0300-0917

{ INDEX OF LEADERS }

Larrain, Michael................................... 82 Laufenberg, Perry...............................184 Lavidge, Bill........................................152 Lawrence, Taylor................................ 234 Lawton, Michael.................................. 62 Leibsohn, Hope...................................106 Lemke Jr., Robert...............................198 Leventhal, Doug..................................192 Levine, Marc...................................... 250 Lewis, John....................................... 252 Lieberman, Amy.................................. 94 Lieberman, Marc................................122 Linam, Shawn.................................... 234 Lind, K. Michelle................................ 226 Little, Linda........................................164 Lo Bianco, Laura................................. 113 Logue, Melanie.................................... 78 Long, Catherine................................. 250 Long, Dave.......................................... 54 Lough, D. Kim.....................................102 Lowe, Jeff........................................... 38 Lyon, Scott.........................................140 Macias, Steve.....................................240 Mackay, Christine.............................. 252 Magnacca, Joseph............................... 82 Magne, Theresa....................................74 Malin, Paul.......................................... 54 Mandelin, Teresa................................. 48 Mark, Jeff......................................... 222 Marshall, Edmund...............................132 Martin-Denning, Terry.........................184 Martinez, Jose................................... 204 Mask, Clate....................................... 244 Matos, Aaron...................................... 174 Matthews, Chuck................................160 McAllister, Francis..............................242 McClelland, Kent.................................248 McClure, Wes.....................................212 McConnell, Karen...............................114 McCormick, Jonas..............................148 McGinley, Patrick............................... 208

30 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

McGroder III, Patrick...........................118 McGuire, Matt..................................... 62 McJunkin, Tory.................................... 86 McKendry, Steve.................................186 McLane, Chuck..................................150 McMahon, Ken.................................. 236 McWaters, Kimberly........................... 258 Meck, Jackie..................................... 260 Megli, Steve.......................................240 Melroy, David......................................198 Merrifield, Kristen.............................. 262 Meshey, Jeff........................................ 42 Meyer, Robert...................................... 62 Miller, Jack.........................................140 Molenda, Gary..................................... 48 Molina, Alfredo...................................132 Molinaro, Frank.................................... 60 Moore, Steve......................................138 Moretsky, Sanford................................ 88 Morris, Jason.....................................102 Morris, Stan........................................ 46 Mueller, Brian.................................... 254 Mulhern, Bob......................................184 Munson, Ed........................................164 Murphy, Don.......................................218 Musa, Annette..................................... 40 Muscheid, Kendis............................... 113 Narine, Bernard................................... 50 Nathan, Nate......................................214 Nealy, Mike........................................142 Nelson, Alan........................................ 84 Nelson, Scott..................................... 206 Newlon, Keith.................................... 228 Norling, John...................................... 112 Nouis, Ryan........................................ 174 Novak, Edward................................... 112 Nussbaum, Randy................................ 98 Oakley, Thor....................................... 174 Olesiewez, Bridget............................... 44 Oliver, Justin........................................ 46 Olson, William.....................................216

Ortega, Diego.....................................242 Owens, Matthew.................................168 Parker, Brad........................................ 48 Parrish, Mi-Ai.....................................164 Patrick, Martha...................................124 Patterson, Bart.................................. 228 Patterson, Jim..................................... 40 Patterson, Steve.................................136 Paul, Clifford.......................................198 Pavone, Jeff.......................................154 Pearson, Todd..................................... 42 Pederson, James............................... 206 Pepin, Susan..................................... 258 Peters, Scott..................................... 202 Peterson, Clark.................................. 236 Phelps, Craig....................................... 78 Pidgeon, Steven..................................114 Plisky, Clarence................................... 72 Plitt, Steven........................................110 Pollack, Elliott.................................... 226 Pollack, Michael................................. 206 Porter, Nicolas..................................... 72 Poynter, Jane.................................... 234 Pratte, Danna...................................... 82 Preber, Bradley...................................150 Prenzno, John....................................150 Price, Charles.....................................100 Price, Ginger....................................... 72 Purves, Steve...................................... 60 Rago, Derek...................................... 244 Ralston, Dave...................................... 40 Ramos, Kenneth.................................. 78 Randolph, John................................... 96 Ray, Joe.............................................166 Reed, Curtis........................................ 46 Reinhart, Steve.................................... 48 Remis, Adam..................................... 250 Resnick, Mitchell................................102 Rhodes, Paul..................................... 206 Rich, Judy........................................... 64 Riester, Mirja......................................168

{ INDEX OF LEADERS }

Rishi, Girish....................................... 244 Robb, Craig......................................... 50 Robbins, Robert................................. 254 Rodis, Stephen...................................148 Rogers, Bill.......................................... 46 Romero Jr., Rosie.............................. 226 Roshka Jr., Paul..................................122 Rothschild, Jonathan.......................... 260 Rudnitsky, Alona.................................170 Rufrano, Glenn.................................. 202 Rush, Shawn......................................180 Russell, Mark.....................................134 Ryan, James......................................106 Ryan, Thomas....................................198 Rystad, Julie........................................ 96 Sabow, Kim........................................138 Sacco, Rachel.....................................138 Salcido Esparza, Silvana......................134 Salcido, Kevin.....................................162 Salomon, April................................... 258 Sanghi, Steve.....................................245 Sarantes, Paul................................... 204 Sarchett, Jody................................... 258 Sarver, Robert....................................136 Sassaman, Randy...............................110 Scali, Terrence....................................158 Schade, Brian...................................... 68 Schaffer, Rob....................................... 44 Schleier, Tod........................................ 94 Schmittlein, Marc................................158 Schneider, Hilary.................................160 Schoenberg, Brad...............................218 Schumacher, Werner...........................130 Schwartz, Jay...................................... 88 Schwartz, Michelle............................. 228 Schwarz, Steven................................ 202 Scott, Justin...................................... 200 Seleznow, Steven............................... 262 Sellers, David.....................................188 Sellers, Jennifer..................................162 Shapiro, Daniel.................................... 70 Shoen, Edward...................................248 Silverberg, Jay....................................180

32 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

Silverman, Matt..................................152 Siwek, Steven...................................... 86 Skelton, J. Russell..............................104 Skinner, David....................................198 Slankas, Tina......................................160 Slessman, George...............................245 Slife, Curtis........................................ 204 Sluga, Gena........................................110 Slyter, Mark......................................... 64 Smith, Allan........................................158 Smith, Barry........................................ 76 Smith, Chaz........................................214 Smith, Chris.......................................154 Smith, Jeremy................................... 256 Smith, Oliver.......................................132 Smith, Paul......................................... 174 Smith, Rick.........................................240 Snell, Joe.......................................... 252 Solheim, John.....................................240 Sorensen, Wendi................................118 Sperber, Bryan...................................136 Spiro, Ari............................................184 St. John, Andi.................................... 208 Stakkestad, Kjell................................ 234 Standring, John................................... 44 Stanton, Greg.................................... 260 Stanton, Nicole................................... 112 Stevens, Al.........................................168 Strickbine, Steve.................................164 Suarez, Mark......................................166 Sugich, Carlos....................................142 Suiter, Craig........................................ 88 Swanson, Jim.....................................188 Swick, Susan......................................108 Taddie, Stephen................................... 54 Talley, Sonja.......................................162 Tanko, Charles....................................154 Tarver, Mike....................................... 222 Taylor, Sally......................................... 54 Thames, Rob....................................... 64 Thorell, Michael................................... 40 Torres, Tania.......................................166 TouchĂˆ, Steven...................................158

Towbin, Richard................................... 80 Trachtenberg, Geoffrey........................118 Trent, Jeffrey....................................... 68 Tryhus, Gregg.....................................216 Tutera, CarolAnn.................................. 82 Urias, Lisa..........................................166 Van Winkle Jr., Kenneth......................120 Vandehei, Karen................................. 174 Venneri, Alexi......................................170 Verma, Kuldip.....................................214 Vogel, Greg........................................214 Volk, Christopher............................... 202 Von Hoff, Daniel................................... 80 Vynalek, C. Bradley.............................. 96 Wagner, Scott.................................... 236 Waschler, Merl................................... 262 Watts, Pat......................................... 222 Weber, Jeffrey..................................... 68 Weber, Mark.......................................150 Weed, Ryan........................................196 Weiser, Paul.......................................120 Weiss, Scott.......................................114 Wells, Kellie........................................108 Whalen, Ryan...................................... 46 White, Patty......................................... 64 Widdows, Matt...................................224 Widmar, Mark.................................... 238 Wilk, Lawrence.................................... 98 Wolfe, John....................................... 236 Wood, Darrel......................................196 Wood, Todd........................................216 Woodman, Brad..................................180 Woodruff, Dave.................................. 244 Worischeck, Mark...............................110 Yelton, Russ........................................ 66 Young, Mark........................................ 40 Zall, Bryan..........................................150 Zimmerman, Doug............................... 94 Zion, Aric...........................................152 Zitzer, Kurt.........................................110 Zmyslinski, Simon................................ 88 Zomok, Lorraine.................................138 Zylstra, Steven....................................245

{ INDUSTRY OUTLOOK }

BANKING ON GROWTH Financial leaders say cautious optimism and discipline will drive industry through 2018

M

By MICHAEL GOSSIE

ike Brown was once a competitive skier, so he’s used to ups and downs.

“But in the prerecession days, the banking industry was more like a rocket ship with our trajectory,” says Brown, Arizona regional president for Washington Federal, “and it came right back down just like a rocket ship does.”

While Brown loves the adrenaline that comes with the rapid descent that follows the rise in skiing, when it comes to banking … not so much.

“Right now, we are in that nice, stair-step growth that feels much better,” Brown says.

“It’s that nice, steady, slow growth that I personally love to see.”

Driving that steady growth for Washington Federal, Brown says, is commercial real estate and business banking, coupled with a tremendous amount of retail business thanks to the robust housing industry.

Ben Danner

“Arizona is having great growth,” Brown says, “So we are able to offer a lot of mortgages.”

One area Brown where Brown is not bullish is the retail sector.

“I would worry a little about banks associated with big retail or shopping centers,” Brown says. “Parking lots aren’t as full as they once were. If someone came to us today and wanted us to finance a big retail project, we’d probably say ‘no.’”

Despite his one concern, Brown is as optimistic as a banker who has been through

SPONSORED BY WASHINGTON FEDERAL 34 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

Lisa K. Davey

Doug Reynolds

the trenches can be headed into the new year.

“Everyone in Arizona is going to do just fine in 2018,” Brown says. “No one is swinging for the fences like a lot of people did in the past. It’s that steady-Eddie approach where everyone is taking a very measured look, which is great to see. If we could just get a little regulatory help and tax help from our friends in D.C., life would be a lot better.”

Here is what other experts from Washington Federal expect from their sectors in 2018:

MIKE BROWN: “Talk of electronic currency has started,” says the Arizona regional president for Washington Federal. “I would put it in the category of an alarm clock right now. The alarm clock is going off and traditional banke FinTech?’ Everyone is seeing the dawn of reality, coupled with, ‘I’d better get educated on this.’”

PHOTO BY MIKE MERTES, AZ BIG MEDIA

{ INDUSTRY OUTLOOK } Ben Danner, senior vice president and Arizona business banking manager Here is what to watch in 2018: • Market conditions will generally remain positive, with housing starts increasing and job growth. However, neighter are considered robust by historical standards.

• Arizona continues to present an attractive and competitive case for future growth. Affordable housing, improved transportation and labor make it an attractive market.

• Companies seem to be looking and operating more cautiously with respect to the future, accepting the “new normal” of lower growth rates compared with what has been previously experienced in Phoenix.

• The movement and speculation surrounding interest rates and the general fear of the unknown have also created uncertainty in the eyes of business owners.

• Capital spending appears to have been impacted by interest rates and uncertainty.

• Political climate with issues such as minimum wage, tax reform and healthcare have added to the unknown/uncertainty.

Lisa K. Davey, vice president, Northeast Arizona retail division manager

Real growth is moderate and home sales are constrained by the lack of inventory in Phoenix market. To find inventory, buyers are having to consider either higher prices or driving further away from job centers. It’s a tradeoff in quality of life by driving less or price/cost.

Typically when inventories are short, buyers jump to new construction. However, the construction industry has trouble meeting any demand because most new developments are farther out and land costs more. The easy-todevelop, most inexpensive land in the Phoenix area is all gone. Traditionally, the construction industry offered attractive jobs to young people wanting to learn a trade and there isn’t interest like there was in the past. There is a sizable lack of skilled construction labor, which means builders are taking longer to build, costs are higher and they can’t meet demand.

So builders are believing buyers are willing to make the tradeoff for quality, so they are repurposing and developing infill areas that a few years back weren’t desirable. These areas previously contained strip centers, were closer to light industrial areas, near neighborhoods in deep economic stress and are generally found closer to city centers.

Density, never a word in Phoenix, is being heard now as more buyers are opting for closeby services versus the typical suburban development with a strip center every two miles. The price of land and acquisition has risen more rapidly than the price of the structures built on the land.

Numbers that give Washington Federal pride:

• More than $500 million in local commercial real estate financing since 2014 • More than $342 million in local mortgages, which translates to home loans for more than 1,645 families across Arizona since 2014 • Financing for the construction, purchase or refinance of more than 235 local commercial properties since 2014 • Arizona being named the headquarters for Washington Federal’s Equipment Finance Division

SPONSORED BY WASHINGTON FEDERAL 36 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

Doug Reynolds, senior vice president and commercial real estate division manager

My outlook for the apartment sector heading into 2018 and beyond remains positive. Factors in the Valley such as a lagging supply, rising population, wage growth and fewer homes being built should more than offset the upward pressure on rents. Keep an eye out for the fairly new phenomena of rental home communities.

My outlook for the industrial, office and retail sectors heading into 2018 and beyond is positive, but less positive than the apartment and housing sectors. Factors such as lower vacancies and those impacting the apartment and housing sectors, such as a rising population, job creation and wage growth, will help. If I had to rate them on a scale from most to least positive, I’d go with industrial (e-retail and other multiple uses), then office (companies seem to be reducing work-at-home policies to get employees together), followed by retail (continued e-commerce pressures).

My outlook for the housing sector heading into 2018 and beyond remains positive as population growth is expected to continue and as job creation in the Valley continues to outpace the nation. These factors, in addition to the housing supply being low, should provide for some positive long-term benefits.

Overall, slow and steady is my bet.

Washington Federal deals of note:

• $10 million in financing to a Fixed Base Operator, which allowed them to add three airplane hangars, a fixed base operator facility and 18,000 square feet in office space at the Phoenix-Goodyear Airport over the past 18 months • $13 million in financing to a technology focused university, which allowed them to expand their campus and build dormitories on-site • $10 million in financing a family of local farms to help them finance regional operations • $9 million in financing to a national staffing company that allowed them to assist with medical staffing needs across several states • $15 million in financing to a local homebuilder for new home construction

HOW LONG IS YOUR LONGEST BANKING RELATIONSHIP? AT WAFD, IT’S 100 YEARS AND COUNTING.

Washington Federal is proud to celebrate our friend and colleague, Mike Brown, along with all of the 2018 Arizona Business Leader honorees for their successes in the business community. Congratulations Mike!

Mike Brown

Arizona Regional President

480-607-4833 mike.brown@wafd.com

washingtonfederal.com

BANKING & FINANCE

{ BANKING } MIKE BROWN

Arizona regional president Washington Federal washingtonfederal.com Brown is the first-ever Arizona regional president in Washington Federal’s 100year history. He also serves as president of the company’s Equipment Finance Division, headquartered in Phoenix. In 2017, Brown feted the bank’s centennial by building and opening a 10,000-square-foot Arizona regional headquarters office, located in Scottsdale. He currently oversees 31 branches across Arizona.

Business advice: “Surround yourself with good people. And define good by who they are – to their families, to the community and to colleague – not just how they perform on the job.”

BENITO ALMANZA

NEAL CRAPO

Arizona market president Bank of America bankofamerica.com

Almanza is a graduate of Stanford University and the University of Santa Clara. He has been with the bank for 34 years.

He currently chairs the Phoenix Aviation Advisory Board and is a member of Teach for America Arizona Board and Greater Phoenix Leadership.

Business advice: “Be flexible and stay current.

The industry is constantly changing, so learn to read your community’s tea leaves to take advantage of market opportunities.”

Surprising fact: “I enjoy hiking and The Grateful Dead. I’ve hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon seven times and twice to the top of Half Dome at Yosemite. During these long hikes, my iPod is playing Grateful Dead music, a group I’ve seen in concert 87 times.”

38 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

Southwest division manager Wells Fargo Middle Market Banking wellsfargo.com Crapo is senior vice president and Southwest division manager for Wells Fargo’s Middle Market Banking group.

He oversees Regional Middle Market Banking teams in Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, and El Paso, Texas. The teams focus on customers with more than $20 million in sales.

Trend to watch: “Technology will continue to result in significant changes to the financial services industry. Whether it comes from AI, Virtual Reality, payment technologies, mobile technology, etc., the face of how banks interact with customers continues to change. The customer expectations of banking products changes as technology provides new capabilities.”

DON GARNER

CEO Alliance Bank of Arizona AllianceBankofArizona.com A founding member of the organization’s original management team, Garner has nearly 30 years of experience in commercial and real estate lending in Arizona.

INDUSTRY OUTLOOK: “The economic environment is strong and banks will continue to support business growth during this cycle. There is much activity on the M&A front and I anticipate we will see further consolidation of the industry and fewer independent organizations in the coming years.

It’s evident that larger banks will continue to dedicate meaningful resources to corporate governance and risk management. Additionally, I anticipate technological innovations will lead to greater efficiencies and enhanced customer experiences. Our customers will continue to rely more on technology solutions in banking and overall.

However, Alliance Bank’s value proposition as a relationshipfocused business will be an important differentiator.”

JEFF LOWE

Arizona market president MidFirst Bank midfirst.com Lowe leads the Arizona efforts for MidFirst Bank, one of the largest privately owned banks in the United States, serving more than 625,000 customers. MidFirst Bank has 25 branches in Arizona. Lowe, a 30-year veteran of the banking industry, is a native Arizonan who graduated from Sunnyslope High School in 1982. Lowe leads a bank that has more than 310 employees in Arizona has deposits in excess of $1.25 billion in Arizona. MidFirst Bank is the official bank of Arizona State University and offers ASU debit and credit cards. Away from work, Lowe has volunteers for a number of organizations in an effort to help raise money for local nonprofits.

BANKING & FINANCE

{ BANKING } JIM PATTERSON CEO UMB Bank Arizona umb.com

ANNETTE MUSA Arizona market president Comerica Bank comerica.com

Musa is Comerica Bank’s Arizona market president and regional manager for its wealth management business. Musa leads Comerica’s Arizona Management Council and supports Comerica’s customer initiatives and overall business and community development efforts across its retail, business and wealth management lines of business. Musa has more than 30 years of wealth management experience, 25 of those in the Phoenix/ and Scottsdale area. In 2014, she was named “Woman of the Year” by the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

Business advice: “‘No’ is just the beginning of the negotiation process.”

40 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

Patterson is responsible for all commercial banking, private wealth management and retail operations for UMB Bank’s Arizona region. Prior to joining UMB, he worked at Bank of America and M&I Bank, now BMO/Harris. Patterson also serves as chairman emeritus of the board of trustees for the Phoenix Art Museum.

Business advice: “Be concise and articulate in your conversations and writing. Be a good listener and enjoy building relationships with people.”

Away from work: “I love to study cooking and wine. My wife and I are exploring a few cooking classes this year to continue our education and our ability to entertain friends and family.”

MICHAEL THORELL President and CEO Pinnacle Bank pinnaclebankaz.com

Thorell has been the president, CEO and director of Pinnacle Bank since November 2008. Thorell has worked in the banking industry in Arizona for more than 27 years. He is the past chairman of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale and served as the chairman of the Arizona Bankers Association through 2016.

Business advice: “In banking, treat the money with the respect as if it was your own.”

Source of pride: “I feel very honored to have had the opportunity to lead the Arizona Bankers Association the past two years. Considering I start my banking career in Arizona in 1989 as an entry level banking professional, I am humbled by the opportunity to have served our industry.”

MARK YOUNG

President and CEO National Bank of Arizona nbarizona.com In addition to his current role at National Bank of Arizona, Young is also an executive vice president of Zions Bancorporation and serves on the Bancorporation executive management committee.

Business advice: “It’s important to have a strong understanding of financial disciplines and be both a creative and strategic thinker.

Advocate for your community and develop three to five key personal and professional relationships.”

Trend to watch: “Artificial intelligence and its impact on decision making and modeling. This technology will disrupt how teams are staffed and the delivery of products and services.”

DAVE RALSTON CEO Bank of Arizona bankofarizona.com

With more than 30 years of professional experience in the banking industry, Ralston currently is the CEO of Bank of Arizona and has overall responsibility for market leadership in Arizona. He has spent the past 30 years with BOK Financial in various capacities.

INDUSTRY OUTLOOK: “Banks have recovered from the Great Recession and are on strong financial footing. Balance sheets are healthy, capital levels are higher and problem loans are back to pre-recession levels.

However, earnings are muted due to Dodd-Frank, imposed regulations and low interest rates With the new administration in Washington the industry is hopeful of regulatory relief, but significant changes are not likely. Tax reform could dramatically enhance bank earnings. As an industry, banks pay some of the highest taxes in corporate America. The biggest potential risk to financial institutions today is arguably cybersecurity. Banks are investing heavily in technology and human capital to prevent breaches.”

BANKING & FINANCE

{ CREDIT UNIONS } MARGARET HUNNICUTT President and CEO Landings Credit Union landingscu.org

DAVID DOSS

President and CEO OneAZ Credit Union oneazcu.com Doss has 35 years of executive leadership experience in financial services and became the third president and CEO of OneAZ Credit Union, formerly know as Arizona State Credit Union. Since joining the team in early 2005, he has overseen the growth of the credit union’s assets to more than $1.7 billion and the growth of membership to 135,000 members.

Business advice: “My advice is simple: Listen more than you speak, have an insatiable appetite to learn, don’t underestimate the importance of networking and always have an open mind. All of these tools are necessary to further your personal and professional development and will serve you well in any industry.”

42 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

Hunnicutt’s leadership helped Landings Credit Unionearn a spot as one of the 2015 Best Credit Unions to Work for Nationally. Every quarter, Hunnicutt holds an off-site breakfast meeting.

Approximately 10 non-management staff members are selected at random to attend each breakfast. Hunnicutt addresses any questions or concerns an employee may have and listens to any ideas or feedback.

For more than 60 years, Landings, based in Tempe, has served a wide range of members including students, faculty, staff and family for all schools in Maricopa County along with over 400 select employee groups. The current asset size is $138 million dollars with more than 14,000 members.

JEFF MESHEY

CEO Desert Schools Federal Credit Union desertschools.org Meshey assumed the chief executive role following the retirement of former CEO Susan Frank in January 2017.

Meshey has more than 22 years of experience with Desert Schools, and has acted as president since 2014.

He has worked to grow the organization’s service area from school employees to include the community.

Professional goal: “In this next year, I intend to focus on the message and mission of shared prosperity. When Desert Schools does well, our member-owners prosper, and as an organization, we have an increased opportunity and obligation to make sure that our community prospers, as well.”

TODD PEARSON

President and CEO Arizona Central Credit Union azcentralcu.org Pearson has been with Arizona Central Credit Union since 2002 and promoted into the role of president and CEO in 2009. He has enjoyed an 20-year history in the credit union industry.

Trend to watch: “The federal government mandates that we have exceptionally high levels of cybersecurity tools in place — which we all do. The ultimate problem is that the fraudsters have an unending desire to look for ways to hack these systems. So in the end, the amount of money that financial institutions will continue to need to spend on cybersecurity will continue to climb, which in turn hurts the return that we, as financial institutions, can provide to our customers.”

ALAN ALTHOUSE President and CEO TruWest Credit Union truwest.org

Althouse has been the CEO and president of TruWest Credit Union for two years.

He holds an MBA from Arizona State University and undergraduate degree in accounting from San Diego State University.

Away from work: “I just returned from a trip to Norway – my first time there. I knew little about the country, which is why I picked it. ”

INDUSTRY OUTLOOK: “The Great Recession left consumers very skeptical of big banks and has created a great opportunity for member-owned cooperatives, such as TruWest Credit Union, to gain market share. This trend will continue, as the American consumer really needs to stretch their dollar like never before, looking for the best possible deal when they get a loan, open a checking account or build their savings. Financial services are rapidly moving online and to mobile, creating far greater convenience and improved opportunities for the consumers to perform price comparisons.

This has created yet another impetus for the growth of the credit union industry.”

It’s more than banking, it’s personal From our humble start in 1952, TruWest® Credit Union has been proudly helping its members reach their financial goals.

It’s not just “business as usual” when you step into one of our branches, visit our website or speak to us over the phone.

As a local, trusted financial institution in Arizona, we want you to feel welcome and confident as we work together to help you achieve your financial goals. This concept is incorporated into everything we do.

Contact us to experience the difference.

TruWest Credit Union congratulates all of this year’s recognized Az Business Leaders, including TruWest President and CEO, Alan Althouse.

truwest.org 1 (855) 878-9378 Federally Insured by NCUA

BANKING & FINANCE

{ FINANCIAL SERVICES } BERNIE CLARK

Executive vice president and head of advisor services Charles Schwab schwab.com Clark is a member of Charles Schwab’s executive council and leads Advisor Services, which serves independent registered investment advisors across the United States.

Clark oversees custody, practice management and consulting services to 7,500 independent investment advisory firms with $1.4 trillion under management. An industry leader, Clark has been named by Investment Advisor magazine as one of the 25 most influential people in the industry.

Business advice: “It may sound cliché, but loving what you do is so important to success. I would encourage people to be authentic in all they do and surround themselves with people of diverse strengths and experiences.”

STEVE BAYANS Vice president, customer service and engagement Discover Financial Services discover.com

Bayans began his career with Discover as a parttime employee in 1987 while attending college in Phoenix. He has gained knowledge and experience in every function associated with Discover’s business and has led teams in all of Discover’s U.S.based operation centers.

Trend to watch: “The pace of change in how we communicate with customers is moving faster than ever and the demand for immediate insight and accurate, reliable information with minimal need for interaction is key.”

Away from work: “I enjoy getting outdoors in the great Arizona climate, spending much of my free time mountain biking, hiking, and trail running. These activities challenge me, mentally and physically.”

44 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

BRIDGET OLESIEWICZ Principal Vanguard vanguard.com

Olesiewicz oversees Vanguard’s flagship services group that serves the wealth management needs of high net worth investors throughout the West and Southern Regions. She is also a member of Vanguard’s senior executive team, providing oversight of Vanguard’s operations based in Scottsdale.

Business advice: “Find a firm that aligns with your values and say ‘yes’ to new opportunities that bring professional growth and learning. I quickly connected to Vanguard’s client-centric mission of helping others succeed in investing and rotating across a diverse range of assignments provided meaningful learning experiences that I didn’t expect.”

ROB SCHAFFER General manager USAA usaa.com

Schaffer is responsible for site performance, external community relations and support for USAA’s military affairs and government relations.

Business advice: “In an ever-more connected world, my advice is to spend time quietly reflecting. Reflect on your performance and behaviors to continuously improve yourself and your team and to build more trust.”

Toughest challenge: “My biggest business challenge was reversing a fiveyear performance slide within an operations area I had taken over. After 18 months, performance exceeded expectations and cost less. We achieved this through inclusive teamwork, focusing on achieving a clear outcome and factual communication with key business partners and the team.”

JOHN STANDRING Senior vice president and general manager American Express americanexpress.com

Standring is senior vice president and general manager for the Global Servicing Network organization at American Express. He manages the operations of Global Merchant Servicing, AMEX Assurance Company, personal savings and billing and card issuance. He also oversees the customer care centers in Phoenix, Salt Lake City and Toronto.

INDUSTRY OUTLOOK: “The industry is becoming more crowded with new entrants; more competitive with an increasing speed to market; and more nimble with payment providers and financial tech companies offering smarter, simplified products. Everyone in the industry is chasing the same customers with competitive offerings and new and emerging technologies. As a result, customer expectations continue to rise and customer loyalty is more critical than ever. As we look ahead, success will be defined by how we differentiate our products and services vis-a-vis others. It’s all about how we drive value and create customer loyalty – and the differentiator will be customer service.”

BANKING & FINANCE

{ MORTGAGE LENDERS }

BILL ROGERS

Founder and CEO Homeowners Financial Group USA, LLC homeownersfg.com As a native Arizonan and graduate from ASU, Rogers has more than 20 years of experience in the mortgage industry. He was instrumental in the development of

JUSTIN OLIVER

Vice president and loan originator Nova Home Loans oliverwhalenteam.com Oliver has been working in the financial world since 2001. His background includes mortgage brokering/banking, money management and financial advising. Oliver has personally been involved in thousands of residential real estate transactions.

He was named ‘Top 1% of Mortgage Originators in America’ the past 5 years and co-authored a book called “Mortgage Storm.”

Trend to watch: “Artificial intelligence. Just like every industry, more and more operations are being handed over to AI, resulting in less humans needed to do our type of work. Also, interest rates are heading up. We have had a 30-plus year bull market in rates and the tide is about to turn.”

46 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

HFG and its unique culture.

Trend to watch: “Consumers have confirmed that they are comfortable ordering a pizza or a car service using a smartphone without any human contact. It will be interesting to see if the biggest financial decision that consumers make (obtaining a mortgage) will follow suit. Or, will buyers want the value added service of someone helping them discuss loan options, explain the process, and personally help them make an informed decision?”

CURTIS REED

Region manager - Arizona JPMorgan Chase & Co. chase.com Reed has 20 years of experience in the banking industry, including 13 with JPMorgan Chase and predecessor organizations. Before taking on his current role in March 2014, Reed was leading a middle market division for Chase in Chicago.

Business advice: “Find out what it takes to get the job you’re seeking.

Talk to individuals in those jobs. Ask them how they got there. Take the classes you need, the internships you need and network with members in that industry. Get your foot in the door and once that happens, become invaluable.”

Trend to watch: “The economy requires a more skilled workforce and our youth needs the right education and skills to have a shot at getting these types of jobs.”

STAN MORRIS

President Peoples Mortgage Company peoplesmortgage.com With more than 43 years in the mortgage banking business, Morris has made his mark in this industry. Graduating from Arizona State University with a degree in finance, he chose to stay in the Valley and pursue real estate financing. In addition to his dedication to the mortgage industry, Morris has served on the boards of organizations such as the Tempe YMCA and the Tempe Community Council.

Business advice: “Spend time to learn your trade and be passionate about helping people.”

Source of pride: “Building a business from one employee to over 500 and also being able to give back to the community through my work with the Tempe Diablos.”

RYAN WHALEN

Vice president and branch manager Nova Home Loans oliverwhalenteam.com Whalen is a native of Arizona, where he stayed after graduating from ASU in 1998 with degree in finance. After attaining his bachelor’s degree, he completed his Series 7 and Series 66, leading him to become a financial advisor, assisting families with their retirement planning. Later discovering his passion for real estate, he made the switch in 2002 and became a mortgage advisor broker. He teaches continuing education classes for real estate agents.

Trend to watch: “Technology and online lenders. Many consumers do not value advice and believe the lowest rate is the best rate and it’s simply not true.

The best loan is the lowest cost of borrowing based upon the hold time of any given mortgage.”

BANKING & FINANCE

{ SBA LENDERS } GARY MOLENDA

President Business Development Finance Corporation bdfc.com

RICH ENDICOTT

President The Biltmore Bank of Arizona, a division of Grandpoint Bank biltmorebankaz.com Before leading Biltmore, Endicott served as market president and led the company’s sales and marketing efforts throughout Arizona. He also served as the president of the bank’s Scottsdale operations.

Toughest challenge: “In 2009, I was convinced that financing green energy and in particular solar PV projects was somewhat immune to the financial challenges of the great recession. Although I was convinced, it took me 18 months of work to finally convince the bank board that solar was a new product line for the bank.”

Childhood dream: “My father was a DJ and I listened to him at night speaking to the world over the radio. I went to school thinking of being in communications, but ended up a banker.”

48 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

Molenda currently manages an innovative Arizona nonprofit corporation focused on economic and community development.

Business advice: “In a team environment, the leader must give away the credit for success. Carefully consider the pace of change the organization can handle, then set a framework and clearly articulate the objectives. Satisfaction comes from executing a well-designed plan.”

Toughest challenge: “One of our greatest challenges after 2008 was finding ways to make good loans in a bad economy. We radically revised our risk analysis, focusing on business owners that could articulate a plan and show evidence they were executing their plan. We trusted our system, and we never stopped lending.”

BRAD PARKER Phoenix CEO BBVA Compass bbvacompass.com

As Phoenix CEO at BBVA Compass, Parker oversees the business development and leadership activities for the consumer and commercial bank.

He brings more than 21 years of banking experience in commercial, retail, credit and marketing. He serves on the boards of the Center for Entrepreneurship at ASU, GPEC and the Arizona Bankers Association.

Trend to watch: “The speed and ease of electronic payments provides a great customer experience, but accuracy and security will play a bigger role in the long-term success or each platform. Social media and the speed of news has the ability to severely damage the viability of a payment platform that violates the trust of the customer.”

STEVE REINHART Vice president of commercial banking Wells Fargo wellsfargo.com

Trained as a lawyer and certified public accountant with an MBA, Reinhart has more than 30 years of banking experience.

He joined Wells Fargo’s leadership team in 2009 after 16 years with JP Morgan Chase. Prior to his banking career, he worked as a CPA with Arthur Andersen. Reinhart is a board member of the Arizona Technology Council and co-chair of the Venture Capital Committee for the Arizona Technology Council.

Trend to watch: “Going into 2017, everyone seems to be a little more clear and optimistic about the future. Companies are starting to invest in capital expenditures they had put on hold.”

TERESA MANDELIN President and CEO Southwestern Business Financing Corporation swbfc.com

Mandelin has more than 30 years of banking experience, having specialized in SBA lending since 1992. A recipient of the esteemed Financial Services Champion award from the SBA, Mandelin is a wellrespected frontrunner in the industry.

Trend to watch: “Government regulations relating to small business — minimum wage, healthcare — are impacting profitability of small business.

This will slow the growth of Arizona small business and impact our borrowers’ ability to invest in capital assets. No need for loans when you are not growing/investing.”

INDUSTRY OUTLOOK: “Given the increasing interest rate environment and improving real estate values, demand for SBA 504 loans will increase. The ability and knowledge of the local bankers and lenders will be of the most importance as new, out-of-state providers could damage the SBA loan image. As the government continues to improve its technology, the approval process will be faster for SBA loans.”

Up to 90% Financing Available for Arizona Owner-User Commercial Properties

SBA 504 Commercial Real Estate Loans

3800 N. Central Ave., #720 Phoenix, AZ 85012

602.495.6495

BANKING & FINANCE

{ SPECIALTY LENDERS } BERNARD NARINE

Regional president and head of retail banking for Arizona and Florida BMO Harris Bank bmoharris.com Narine is accountable for driving growth in retail, small business and premier banking for BMO Harris Bank. Prior to his current role, Narine had been heading the U.S. Institute for Learning. With more than 25 years of banking experience, Narine has worked in seven states and the District of Columbia.

Business advice: “Starts with a passion for helping people succeed financially.

I would spend time learning about how each segment works and the connect points that brings it all together for the customer. It’s an industry that challenges your versatility and flexibility, so be prepared to be incredibly challenged and rewarded.”

PATRICK JOYCE Arizona commercial lending manager Bankers Trust bankerstrust.com

Joyce oversees the bank’s commercial lending functions for Phoenix and the West Coast. He and his team focus on new business development and general lending with an emphasis on commercial real estate. He has more than 25 years of experience in banking and commercial lending.

Trend to watch: “We’re paying close attention to changing demands for retail space and the outlook for malls. Online retailers, led by Amazon, are growing while mall and big box retail development is slowing. In banking, this means fewer retail projects to finance and more conservative underwriting for clients developing retail space.”

50 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

CRAIG ROBB

Managing director Zions Energy Link (National Bank of Arizona) nbarizona.com Robb is the managing director of Zions Energy Link, a division of Zions Bancorporation and its subsidiary National Bank of Arizona.

Under Robb’s leadership, NB|AZ has become a recognized leader of the sustainability finance sector, providing financing for Arizona’s most significant energy efficiency and renewable projects.

Business advice: “While it’s critically important to be able to deliver a masterfully developed product to your marketplace, it’s even more important to be adaptable.

The opportunities to provide sustainable solutions to our financing partners starts with a strong core concept with customizations to best suit our customers.”

CANDACE HUNTER WIEST President and CEO West Valley National Bank wvnb.net

Wiest is the founding CEO of WVNB and AZ Dental Bank and is celebrating her 30th year in banking.

INDUSTRY OUTLOOK: “The biggest driver of change that I think we will see in our industry will be centered around technological advances and the impact on consumers, compliance, and profitability. The primary drivers of that change will be getting ahead and staying ahead of cybersecurity threats and the increased speed of money transfers. I believe we will see biometrics become commonplace throughout the industry for identification and security purposes, whether it be the advancement of cardless ATMs or the enhancement of mobile banking integrating into all our transactions. To the speed of transfers, I believe we will get to a point of real time transactions as well as eliminated “business hours” from the idea of processing payments. All of this should work towards building efficiency and eliminating losses related to fraud, which should be expected to enhance bank profitability for the industry.”

BRANDON HARRINGTON Managing director - capital markets Walker & Dunlop walkerdunlop.com

With more than 14 years of experience in commercial real estate lending, Harrington delivers cutting-edge financing solutions to commercial real estate developers and owners located nationwide.

Beyond the company, Harrington is a member of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP) and the Arizona Multihousing Association (AMA).

Business advice: “Listen to the client. You should always be listening and then formulating a plan to solve their needs.

Then, execute on what you say.

I guarantee you’ll learn the real motivation of the client if just listen and ask the extra questions.”

BANKING & FINANCE

{ WEALTH MANAGEMENT } LISA BAIRD

Wealth advisor Wells Fargo Private Bank wellsfargo.com/the-private-bank/ Baird, a 31-year wealth management veteran, works exclusively with high-net-worth individuals and families. Baird provides a highly customized and personal level of service. She takes great pride in leading a dedicated team of specialists to provide comprehensive wealth solutions tailored to meet each of her client’s unique circumstance. Baird has been recognized over multiple years as a Barron’s top female advisor, nationally and locally.

Trend to watch: “Demographically, the U.S is facing an unprecedented shift of wealth. Advisors will need to adopt an integrated approach to planning for business owners who are grappling with how to set their family and businesses on the right path.”

PAUL ALSTON

Partner Ironwood Investment Counsel, LLC ironwoodic.com Alston has more than 29 years of experience in investment management.

He began his career at First Interstate Bank of Arizona as a portfolio manager and research analyst in the Trust Investment Department. In 1993, Alston joined Bank of America as a senior portfolio manager in the Employee Benefit Division of the Trust Department.

In 1998, he became chief investment officer of Bank of America Capital Management, Arizona.

In 2001, Alston left Bank of America to found Ironwood Investment Counsel. He is a member of CFA Institute and the Phoenix CFA Society, where he served on the board of directors.

52 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

MARK FELDMAN

CEO and managing partner MRA Associates mraassociates.com Recognized multiple years as a Barron’s top independent financial advisor,Feldman possesses extensive credentials in the wealth management industry with more than 30 years of experience.

His roles have included supervising a wide range of client relationships, including multigenerational family groups, high-networth individuals, corporate executives and institutions.

Trend to watch: “Persistent low returns in fixed income and potentially equities will force investors to adjust lifestyle and spending habits down or take more risk to meet their needs. We believe there are other ways to manage this impact by diversifying more broadly and communicating constantly about what clients should expect.”

THERESA CHACOPULOS

Private wealth advisor, senior vice president Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management morganstanleypwa.com Chacopulos works with ultra-high net worth families and individuals. A 30-year financial services veteran, she was ranked among the Financial Times’ Top 400 Financial Advisors for 2014 and Barron’s Top 1,000 Financial Advisors in 2013 (including No. 1 incArizona).

INDUSTRY OUTLOOK: “Building wealth from the ground up as the next generation of wealth is busy building startups or running projects for major corporations, they are also being confronted with new challenges. Besides navigating yourself out of debt, it can be tough to navigate relationship dynamics and commitments when you are new to wealth. It is understandable and admirable to want to give back to your family and community, but you will be of more service over time if you take care of your own financial health first by investing in yourself. These three suggestions — saving for retirement, budgeting and investing — can help you to feel more grounded in your financial future and also help to offset the stresses that come with new wealth.”

MICHAEL GROSSO

Advisor and shareholder TCI Wealth Advisors tciwealth.com Grosso brings almost 20 years of financial services experience to his role as an advisor and shareholder at TCI Wealth Advisors. He acts as a resource for high net worth individuals and families. After graduating from Arizona State University with degrees in finance and marketing, Grosso was a consultant at Charles Schwab to over 100 Independent Registered Investment Advisory firms throughout the Four Corners region. He was able to assist many small business owners in the financial services industry during his time at Schwab.

In 2008 he obtained his CFP certification and opened TCI’s Scottsdale office so he could help individuals and families achieve their financial goals.

BANKING & FINANCE

{ WEALTH MANAGEMENT } PAUL MALIN

Financial advisor, portfolio manager Morgan Stanley morganstanleyfa.com The first phase of Malin’s business life consisted of progressing roles in marketing and business development in medical companies, including Pfizer, Baxter and Allergan.

Business advice: “It’s probably best to find an position with a firm where you can learn. Sometimes, a team practice will take on a new associate and allow them to learn and work into the position they desire.

This is a winning situation for all.”

Trend to watch: “Two overarching areas are changing the industry. The role of technology is expanding and changing the way services are delivered. The other is the fiduciary standard, which has set a new level service in the industry.”

DAVE LONG

STEPHEN TADDIE

Principal Edward Jones edwardjones.com Long joined the Edward Jones headquarters in St. Louis in 1999 and relocated to Tempe in 2002. As part of the operations division, his areas are responsible for processing the mutual fund, life insurance and annuity activity generated by the firm’s 7 million clients.

Business advice: “Find a career you love, and you will never ‘work’ a day in your life. My interest in finance, technology and helping those around me has positioned me to do something I truly enjoy for an organization I admire and respect.”

Away from work: “I enjoy international travel with my family. We have been fortunate to be able to visit a different international destination annually for the last several years.”

54 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

Managing partner Stellar Capital Management stellarmgt.com Taddie co-founded Stellar Capital Management and is responsible for establishing the firm’s economic outlook, which drives asset allocation and sector weightings for client portfolios. He is a panelist for the NABE Outlook and the Western Blue Chip Economic Forecasts, and is a member of the Arizona Senate Finance Advisory Committee.

Trend to watch: “Finding quality, self-starting next-generation individuals that are fully engaged in their career. Balancing career and personal goals is important, but our industry is employed to improve the lives of its clients, not the other way around. Young professionals that understand that subtlety are hard to find.”

THOMAS CONNELLY

President and chief investment officer Versant Capital Management, Inc. versantcm.com Connelly entered the investment advisory business more than 30 years ago and founded Versant Capital Management, an independent, fee-only RIA providing wealth management and investment strategies for high-income individuals and multi-generational families.

INDUSTRY OUTLOOK: “The biggest investment trend over the next one to five years will be the outperformance of foreign equity markets, especially emerging markets, relative to our domestic market. Technology will continue to significantly impact our space. Increased automation and applied technology in financial services will allow more and younger people access to sophisticated advice and investment products. Paradoxically, at the upper end of the market, automation of routine tasks and reporting will allow financial advisors more time to focus on solving client problems and providing service. The explosion of investment choices faced by consumers will continue to be a source of confusion in the marketplace.”

SALLY TAYLOR CEO KeatsConnelly keatsconnelly.com

Taylor joined KeatsConnelly in 2007, bringing more than 15 years experience in the financial services industry, working in the offices of several families to support all aspects of their family and individual wealth. She was recently promoted to CEO after being the dIrector of financial planning for KeatsConnelly.

Source of pride: “What I am most proud of is my perseverance.

I worked through the ranks and faced numerous obstacles and never gave up on myself. I’ve helped build successful businesses, worked with exceptional people and achieved success for not only myself, but for my partners, co-workers, and my clients.”

HEALTHCARE

{ INDUSTRY OUTLOOK }

HEALTHY DIAGNOSIS Arizona’s educational institutions are doing a solid job training skilled workforce for healthcare industry

By JESSE A. MILLARD

H

ealthcare is in a very weird place right now, where the only thing that is certain is uncertainty, thanks to the in-fighting going on between Capitol Hill and the White House.

But still, healthcare leaders in Arizona still need to prepare for 2018 as they face physician shortages and an evolving industry.

Az Business Leader spoke with Andy Jacobs, vice president of the Phoenix-based healthcare staffing company Concentric, to see what the industry is looking like next year.

Az Business Leaders: What will be the greatest challenges for the healthcare industry in 2018?

Andy Jacobs: That’s a very complicated question right now. We’re faced with, what’re we going to do about Obamacare and how are we going to fund it if we’re going to keep

it? Those questions are yet to be answered.

And for our purposes here in Arizona, once those are answered, I think it will be easier for the hospitals and facilities around here to understand how they are going to be able to budget their hospitals and facilities and their employees. And that right there is the tell-tale sign of how we’re going to do in that fiscal year as well.

ABL: Where are the greatest opportunities for the healthcare industry in 2018?

AJ: Where the greatest needs are. The needs of the community are what we are going to go for and strategize and forecast for and attack.

When I say attack, it’s not in a mean way. It’s in a way where we will satisfy the needs of the community. With needs comes opportunity and we want to pay everyone a fair wage, we want to bill a fair amount of billing, we want to get paid for our work and we want to do good business and have win/wins everywhere.

SPONSORED BY CONCENTRIC 56 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

Andy Jacobs, vice president of Concentric

HEALTHCARE

{ INDUSTRY OUTLOOK }

Trends to watch

PwC’s Health Research Institute (HRI) annually projects the growth of medical costs in the employer insurance market for the coming year and identifies the leading factors expected to impact the trend.

• PwC projects 2018 medical costs will grow at a slightly faster rate than 2017. Future reductions in cost trend will require more focus on price.

ABL: We hear about a lack of talent across industries, low unemployment rates and a fight for talent amongst firms in many industries. Are we seeing these same issues in healthcare? And how can these firms attain and retain talented workers?

AJ: In the healthcare industry, low unemployment is only due to two factors: either a lack of talent, or the fact the person is not motivated to get a job. Those two factors are definitely something we look out for. But it really doesn’t affect us that often. Where we are affected is the talent. The fight for the talent, the fight for the good RN traveler, the fight for the good ICU nurse here in town. The way we do business is honest. We put in hard work for those folks, act very personable for them. We don’t pass them to five different people and expect that they’re going to stay on our team. We treat them like a teammate. We make sure they understand what we’re doing and what we’re paying and how honest that is.

That’s how we keep our people. Our integrity is unbeatable. Our competitiveness is unbeatable as well. We’re going to stop at nothing to make sure that our external employees are treated with the utmost respect and we’re going to pay them the best we can and make sure they’re taken care of.

We’re going to stop at nothing to make sure that our external employees are treated with the utmost respect and we’re going to pay them the best we can and make sure they’re taken care of.

ABL: What type of healthcare workers are you expecting to be in high demand in 2018?

AJ: The highest demand here in Arizona is usually in the occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech-language pathology world.

We just don’t have a lot of folks that do that type of work compared with our population.

We only have, maybe 4,000 in the state for (physical therapists). And then another 3,000 for (occupational therapy). That’s just not a lot of folks to provide physical therapy for the population density we have in Arizona, especially when the snowbirds come back.

Our state is really affected by the summer.

Our population drops in the summer, and in

SPONSORED BY CONCENTRIC 58 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

• Heading into 2018, the healthcare industry appears to be settling into a “new normal” marked by more moderate fluctuations in a single-digit medical cost trend.

• HRI projects 2018’s medical cost trend to be 6.5 percent — the first uptick in growth in three years.

• Price continues to be a major driver of healthcare costs.

• Businesses will have to tackle the price of services as well as the rate of utilization to reduce medical cost trend in the future.

the winter that population comes back and they’re in need of services. And sometimes we can’t provide those services because we can’t find enough folks that qualify to provide our clients with those high-level people we’re going after. So, that’s one of the largest challenges in Arizona — a shortage of talented, highlevel therapists, registered nurses, licenses professional counselors, certified nursing assistants and more — during the winter time in Arizona.

ABL: What can the community do to fill this need?

AJ: I think we’re doing the right thing. There are some very good schools here in Arizona that have very good programs, very good nursing programs. I know Grand Canyon University has a very good nursing program.

The University of Arizona and Arizona State University have very good nursing programs.

St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center is another really good developer of nurses here in Arizona. Those places are doing it right and have been doing it right for a number of years by attracting talent. They’re really pushing out folks that can take care of these people that need care. We just have to keep on doing what we’re doing.

Careers:

Working with Concentric will allow you to fully utilize your skills in today’s dynamic healthcare environment and capitalize on your career potential. We know that finding the right work environment and cultural fit is essential to fully realizing satisfaction and happiness within your career.

You will enjoy the flexibility that working with our healthcare registry affords. You will have the freedom to work where you want, when you want.

You will have the opportunity to maximize your earnings potential while being exposed to numerous healthcare facilities. Through Concentric, you will capitalize on the partnerships that we have built with numerous healthcare organizations.

Most important, all employees are insured and bonded through the company.

Our Services

Our clients stop searching when they find Concentric Healthcare Staffing because we provide solid,

480-444-7777

•

scalable solutions that make sense for the client.

With competitve rates and an experienced staff we offer a robust solution for all of your healthcare staffing requirements.

By conducting a rigorous screening process that includes, but is not limited to, criminal background, drug screens, motor vehicle reports, educational & employment checks, we ensure you are being provided with an employee whom will not only meet, but exceed the expectations you have set forth for facility. We further conduct behavioral interviews in which we look for a history & pattern of success, longevity, and consistency to ensure a good match.

We take our staffing partnerships seriously, & our customers notice the difference. We deliver the people you need; we’re a partner you can trust. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and we never utilize an answering service. You can rest assured that when you call us, a real Concentric employee will answer the phone and fill your staffing needs as quickly as possible.

nursing@chsaz.com

•

concentrichealthcare.com

HEALTHCARE

{ HEALTHCARE ADMINISTRATORS }

PETER FINE

in November 2000. Banner employs more than 38,000 people and has approximately $5 billion dollars in revenue and is Arizona’s second largest private employer.

Trend to watch: “Healthcare is going through a highly disruptive reinvention. When cost, quality and

President and CEO Banner Health bannerhealth.com Fine was appointed president and CEO of Phoenix-based Banner Health

service don’t meet the expectations of the customer, change will inevitably occur. That threshold has been reached, and as a result of massive technological advancements, reinvention will proceed at an enhanced pace. Those that embrace it will thrive and those that don’t will have a difficult future.”

TODD LAPORTE

FRANK MOLINARO

In April 2017, LaPorte became the 10th CEO in more than 150 years of HonorHealth history.With more than 30 years of diverse experience in healthcare, LaPorte leads an integrated health system with five acute-care hospitals, extensive outpatient services and community services. To advance HonorHealth’s mission to improve the health and well-being of the community, he creates an expectation for every team member – more than 17,000 clinical and support employees, volunteers and physicians – to make every decision based on what’s best for the patient, one patient at a time. He’s promoted innovative technologies and engaged employees and physicians to enhance the patient experience.

Molinaro serves as the market CEO of Abrazo Community Health Network, which includes Abrazo Arizona Heart Hospital, Abrazo Arrowhead Campus, Abrazo Central Campus, Abrazo Maryvale Campus, Abrazo Scottsdale Campus and Abrazo West Campus. He has served as CEO at Abrazo Arrowhead Campus since 2011 and was named CEO of Abrazo Arizona Heart Hospital in 2015.

Business advice: “Change is a constant in healthcare and recent graduates should expect to update their skills throughout their careers.

Professional opportunities in healthcare are growing quickly, with exciting career paths that did not exist a decade ago. Talented individuals who combine expertise in multiple fields will be in significant demand.”

Trend to watch: “As we move to population health management, the healthcare industry will need to rely on data and technology to both understand the health needs of the population, as well as to address them through a highly coordinated and compassionate care model.”

CEO HonorHealth honorhealth.com

LINDA HUNT

President and CEO Dignity Health dignityhealth.org Hunt oversees Dignity’s Arizona service area, which is anchored

by St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, Chandler Regional Medical Center, Mercy Gilbert Medical Center, St. Joseph’s Westgate Medical Center and Arizona General Hospital.

Business advice: “Set your sights on what is it that you really want to do and then put goals in place each year and begin to mentor other people and then seek out mentors — both women and men — who can help you understand what it is to be a leader. Meet new people and don’t be afraid to try new things. I think it’s trying new things that gives you the ability to be flexible and to get out and understand where your gifts will work for you to be a leader.”

60 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

Market CEO Abrazo Community Health Network abrazohealth.com

STEVE PURVES

President and CEO Maricopa Integrated Health System mihs.org Purves became president and CEO of MIHS in September 2013. MIHS is our community’s public teaching hospital and safety net healthcare system.

MIHS includes the Maricopa Medical Center, the Arizona Burn Center, the Arizona Children’s Center, a Level I Trauma Center, two behavioral health centers and a network of 11 neighborhood clinics that serve the entire county.

Business advice: “Healthcare is a calling, so I would counsel those pursuing healthcare careers to be sure that they have a true passion for wanting to be a servant leader, focused on the mission of serving the sick, the suffering and those most vulnerable in our society.”

Only one heart.

Only one you.

Individualized heart care, devoted to you.

No two hearts are exactly the same. That’s why the cardiovascular specialists of Abrazo Community Health Network embrace an individualized care plan for every single heart we encounter. From preventative care to treating heart conditions, every element is designed to take care of our first priority: you.

To find out more about your heart health, take a Heart Risk Assessment at AbrazoHealth.com/YourHeart, or call 888-845-6229 to find a doctor near you.

Abrazo Arizona Heart Hospital | Abrazo Arrowhead Campus | Abrazo Central Campus Abrazo Maryvale Campus | Abrazo Scottsdale Campus | Abrazo West Campus

HEALTHCARE

{ SPECIALTY HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATORS }

JUSTIN BRADSHAW

CEO Cardon Children’s Medical Center bannerhealth.com Bradshaw is the CEO at Cardon Children’s Medical Center in Mesa. Prior to joining Banner Health, Bradshaw

worked at Children’s Hospital & Medical Center in Omaha, where he served as the vice president of Clinical and Ancillary Services. Bradshaw has also worked in leadership roles at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, Standford Health Care and Intermountain Healthcare.

Business advice: “Spend time observing/shadowing several

healthcare executives to get an accurate representation of the industry and type of work you are considering.

During your college years, find a job in the setting — hospital, clinic, surgery center, health insurance plan, etc. — you are considering and get actual work experience.”

MATT MCGUIRE

ROBERT MEYER

President and CEO Cancer Treatment Centers of America cancercenter.com

GREGORY JAHN

CEO St. Luke’s Behavioral Health Center stlukesbehavioralhealth.com Jahn’s career started as a registered nurse when he joined St. Luke’s Behavioral Health Center in 1973 splitting time between medical intensive care and chemical dependency. The passion he has for behavioral health took a grasp quickly and soon it became his full time endeavor. He has remained primarily with St. Luke’s for more than 30 years, serving as CEO for the past 12 years.

Source of pride: “Having St. Luke’s Behavioral Health ranked No. 1 by a consumer census means a great deal to me. It’s so rewarding as it indicates that we are truly helping the people of the community with our services.”

McGuire oversees hospital operations and facility initiatives.

He has more than 15 years’ experience in leadership and development. McGuire serves on the boards of the GPEC, Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Mountain States Employment Council. He is a member of Greater Phoenix Leadership, West Valley Mavericks, Young Presidents Organization and an honorary commander at Luke Air Force Base.

Trend to watch: “The economics of healthcare will continue to impact decisionmaking for payers, providers and patients alike. With the potential of a repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act, we can only speculate as to its impact of the overall health care industry as we currently know it.”

62 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

President and CEO Phoenix Children’s Hospital phoenixchildrens.org

MICHAEL LAWTON, MD President and CEO Barrow Neurological Institute thebarrow.org In 2016, Lawton succeeded Robert Spetzler, MD, under whose leadership the Institute has grown into one of the leading neurological medical centers in the world. Barrow performs more neurosurgeries annually than any hospital in the United States and is routinely listed by U.S. News & World Report as among the best hospitals in the nation for neurology. Patients who have previously been told their conditions are untreatable come to Barrow to undergo successful brain surgery.

On succeeding Spetzler: “I share his commitment to technical excellence, surgical innovation, teaching the next generation of neurosurgeons and making the very best neurosurgery available to patients from around the world.”

As the chief executive of Arizona’s only freestanding pediatric hospital since 2003, Meyer is responsible for planning, directing and managing the current operations, future growth and program development for Phoenix Children’s.

Business advice: “Never stop having compassion for the people you serve.”

Source of pride: “The incredible facilities that we’ve built at Phoenix Children’s – from our Level I Pediatric Trauma Center and Emergency Department to the new Cancer Center – instill pride in me each day. Awards and ranking are wonderful, but the physical places where our people work and patients receive care provide tangible evidence of the difference we’re making.”

Trend to watch: “National healthcare reform and the potential for Medicaid cuts will make a huge impact on our industry. Medicaid provides more than 50 percent of Phoenix Children’s funding.

Drastic cuts threaten critically important healthcare services for our most vulnerable populations.”

HEALTHCARE

{ HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATORS }

WYATT DECKER. MD

Vice president and CEO in Arizona Mayo Clinic mayoclinic.org Decker is responsible for Mayo operations in Arizona, which includes Mayo Medical School Arizona;

constructing a state-of-the-art NCI designated cancer center with proton beam therapy; pioneering the use of telemedicine technologies to provide healthcare expertise to affiliated practices nationwide; and providing healthcare for 100,000 patients each year at Mayo’s four locations in greater Phoenix. During this tenure, Mayo

Clinic Hospital in Arizona was ranked

by Consumer Reports as the best hospital in Arizona by U.S. News & World Report.

Surprising fact: “Prior to my medical career, I worked as a mountaineering guide in the Western United States for the National Outdoor Leadership School.”

ROB THAMES

JUDY RICH

Thames is president and CEO of Northern Arizona Healthcare, the largest healthcare provider in Northern Arizona. NAH is recognized as a top performing healthcare system by Truven Analytics. In addition to operating health systems, Thames has consulted across the country and presented at national conferences. He earned a bachelor’s in business, and a master’s of health administration and a master’s of business administration from the University of Minnesota.

Business advice: “Know and be true to your ‘why.’”

Trend to watch: “Telemedicine and the digitalization and consumerization of healthcare.”

Rich has had a varied healthcare career since she received an undergraduate degree in nursing from New York’s Roberts Wesleyan College and a graduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania. She has held roles spanning from staff nurse to CEO. Upon returning to Tucson Medical Center in June 2007, Rich led the team in a financial turnaround as president and CEO of the 650-bed nonprofit hospital.

Business advice: “Say ‘yes’ to opportunity.

Expect to work hard and give of your heart and mind, and know you are making a difference in people’s lives.”

Trend to watch: “Technology continues to shape the way our healthcare is delivered. I suspect we are just beginning to see a picture of what is possible. The impact on the industry could be lowered costs, changing settings in which healthcare is provided and expanded access.”

Surprising fact: “I am afraid of flying, which is ironic considering how much time I spend in the air.”

President and CEO Northern Arizona Healthcare nahealth.com

MARK SLYTER

President and CEO Mercy Gilbert and Chandler Regional Medical Centers dignityhealth.org Prior to his current role, Slyter served as president and CEO for General Health System in Baton Rouge, La., a three-hospital system with 686 beds, two regional-referral and academicmedical-center campuses, a rehabilitation facility, and clinics. During his tenure, Baton Rouge General Mid-City Hospital transformed into a post-acute specialty campus, improved operating margins, reduced costs, and achieved high patient-satisfaction and employee-engagement scores.

Prior to joining General Health System, Slyter was president and CEO at Mississippi Baptist Health Systems, in Jackson, Miss., where he enhanced operating margins and efficiencies while dramatically increasing patient satisfaction.

64 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

President and CEO TMC Healthcare tmcaz.com

PATTY WHITE

President and CEO St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center stjosephs-phx.org White leads a team of almost 5,000 physicians, clinical staff and volunteers dedicated to providing excellent patient care. She began her career as a cardiovascular nurse 30 years ago.

Business advice: “One of my role models, Linda Hunt, who formerly served in my position and is now president and CEO for our parent company, Dignity Health Arizona, taught me that it’s not necessary to be pushy in the healthcare business. Remain strong without having to become defensive or aggressive.”

Toughest challenge: “The adoption of healthcare reform, the economic downturn and state budget cuts have required a need for innovation and optimism to maintain our goal of providing the best medical care possible.”

HEALTHCARE

{ BIOSCIENCE }

MARYANN GUERRA

commercialization of technology from the lab into new business opportunities.

Since the launch of BioAccel in April 2009, 15 companies have been successfully launched with products already commercially available in the US, Europe and Mexico.

Business advice: “Be open to new ideas always. Don’t get caught up in,

Chairman of the board and co-founder BioAccel bioaccel.org

Guerra is known for creating novel programs to accelerate the

‘thats not what we do in this industry.’

Coming from a scientific based career to aesthetics, I approach the company from a new perspective. I’ve realized that while my experience is different, it adds value to what we are doing, forcing us to look at things from a fresh perspective.”

JOSHUA LABAER

JOAN KOERBERWALKER President and CEO Arizona BioIndustry Association (AZBio) azbio.org

Koerber-Walker works with and on behalf of Arizona’s leading research institutions, universities and life science companies to provide the connections, resources and leadership needed to keep the industry growing at an ever increasing rate. She also chairs the Opportunity Through Entrepreneurship Foundation, which together with AZBio, launched D3Bio in 2014 to further support life science innovation. In 2016, KoerberWalker co-founded White Hat Health Ventures to address the investment needs of Arizona’s healthcare innovators.

Business advice: “Our industry’s core purpose is to make life better for others. If this guides your decisions and actions, success will follow.”

DAVID DEXTER

Executive director Biodesign Institute at ASU biodesign.asu.edu

President and CEO Sonora Quest Laboratories sonoraquest.com

LaBaer is a leading researcher in cancer and personalized medicine. He is the interim executive director of the Biodesign Institute at ASU and continues to lead a scientific team at Biodesign that works to discover and validate unique molecular fingerprints of disease that can provide early warning for those at risk of major illnesses, including cancer and diabetes.

Business advice: “Hire good people, help them to grow and never lose sight of the biology.”

Source of pride: “There is nothing like watching students acquire critical thinking skills and develop the ability to execute excellent science on their own.”

Dexter leads Sonora Quest, a joint venture between Banner Health and Quest Diagnostics Inc. He is also president and CEO for Laboratory Sciences of Arizona, which provides oversight and direction for 16 hospital and laboratories supporting 20 Banner Health hospitals, academic medical centers and cancer centers.

66 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

RUSS YELTON

CEO Pinnacle Transplant Technologies pinnacletransplant.com Yelton is CEO of Pinnacle Transplant Technologies, a rapidly expanding tissue bank and medical device company. Pinnacle Transplant Technologies is a multi-service tissue bank dedicated to ethical participation in the donate life process. He also serves as chairman of the Arizona Bioindustry Association and chair of the Flinn Foundation Bioscience Entrepreneurship Program Review Committee.

Trend to watch: “The workforce will have the largest impact on our industry. We have to make the necessary investment in education to ensure we have workers for today but not only tomorrow. If we do not get this right, nothing else really matters.”

INDUSTRY OUTLOOK: “Healthcare is transitioning from volume and fee for service to value and bundled payment; this is transformational and disruptive change that will impact the delivery of healthcare in profound ways. All healthcare stakeholders will be required to reassess their value proposition to survive and thrive. Laboratory data analytics will be developed to support population health, chronic disease management, and coordinated care. Consumers will become much more engaged in collaboratively managing their healthcare with their physician and health insurer, including ordering relevant lab tests, to improve patient outcomes. A focus will also be on preventative care and wellness.”

HEALTHCARE

{ CANCER TREATMENT }

GORDON GRADO, MD

Medical director Southwest Oncology Centers swoncology.net While chairman of radiation oncology at Mayo Clinic, Grado developed the first interactive prostate brachytherapy program utilizing biplane ultrasound

and fluoroscopy and programs worldwide. Has held academic appointments, delivered hundreds of presentations and authored peerreviewed manuscripts.

Trend to watch: “Support for new technology and training required in radiation oncology. Many in medicine fail to recognize the cognitive and

procedural aspects of radiation therapy in the development of a complex treatment program. Optimizing radiation delivery requires expensive computers, software and technology balanced by time, effort and training to be successful.”

BRIAN SCHADE, MHA

JEFFREY WEBER, MD

With more than 20 years of experience, Schade brings a strategic vision in developing and executing effective business strategies that helps Arizona Oncology remain a leader in providing cancer care. Schade’s leadership style has played an important role in growing one of the state’s largest community oncology groups.

Business advice: “Embrace change, build strong relationships and stay mission-focused on the patient experience. When it comes to healthcare, every day is a new challenge with a new set of rules and regulations, all of which makes an impact on your organization. Being open to change will allow you to make your organization more successful at doing what it does best.”

Weber has participated in numerous research studies throughout his career. He is a member of the American Gastroenterology Association, the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, the American College of Gastroenterology, the Maricopa County Medical Society and the Sarcoma Foundation of America.

Source of pride: “My life and commitment to gastroenterology has proffered rewards in so many areas, but the accomplishment I most cherish is the prevention of the devastation of cancer in countless lives over my career through the performance and advocacy for colon cancer prevention and the promotion of screening colonoscopy.”

Trend to watch: “Healthcare reform and government involvement have evolved throughout my 40-year career. We are now at a crossroads where current decisions will determine whether we move toward increased governmental control and regulation or whether healthcare decisions will be returned to the hands of physicians and patients.”

Executive director Arizona Oncology arizonaoncology.com

ANDREW KRAFT, MD Director The University of Arizona Cancer Center uacc.arizona.edu

An accomplished prostate cancer researcher and developer of novel cancer drugs, Dr. Kraft is the principal investigator for numerous clinical trials aimed at finding new treatments and cures for cancer. His research has continuously been funded since 1990 by the National Cancer Institute, the U.S. Department of Defense and the Prostate Cancer Research Foundation.

Business advice: “I think the best advice is to recruit the brightest individuals who are most committed to finding a cure for cancer, irrespective of the actual disease focus they might have.

This means competing with other organizations for these individuals by providing an environment that will allow them to develop their careers.”

68 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

Chief of medicine Cancer Treatment Centers of America cancercenter.com

DR. JEFFREY TRENT, PH.D.

President and research director Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) tgen.org Dr. Trent’s research has provided important insights into the genetic basis of cancer. He is the author of more than 300 manuscripts in the scientific literature, numerous book chapters, invited reviews and has given hundreds of invited lectures. He specializes in developing and integrating novel “omic” technologies, supporting studies of molecular changes related to cancer risk and progression.

Toughest challenge: “Cancer, because it operates on many biological levels. No one has overcome this challenge and no ‘one’ ever will. Cancer and a host of other diseases and disorders cry out for our working in a collaborative and not competitive fashion to help our patients.”

HEALTHCARE

{ COSMETIC SURGERY }

ANTHONY ADMIRE, MD Founder Admire Plastic Surgery admireplasticsurgery.com

Dr. Admire is an award-winning plastic surgeon in Scottsdale, specializing in

aesthetic and reconstructive surgery of the breast, body, and face. Dr. Admire is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. The native Arizonan grew up in Tucson, and studied at the University of Arizona. He did a combined five-year general surgery and plastic surgery residency in St. Louis

and returned to Tucson after completing his residency and took a position with the University of Arizona, University of Arizona College of Medicine and University Physicians Healthcare as an assistant professor of surgery and acting chief of plastic surgery.

PATTI FLINT, MD

THOMAS KOTOSKE, MD

Dr. Flint is a board certified plastic surgeon who has practiced in Scottsdale since 1996. She specializes in aesthetic surgery of the face, breast, and body and also performs Botox and filler injections in her Scottsdale and Mesa offices.

Her practice is one of only three SkinCeuticals Advanced Clinical Spas in the country.

Source of pride: “During 2015, I developed and built Scottsdale McCormick Ranch Surgicenter to serve the greater Scottsdale area with a unique surgical experience surrounding women’s healthcare. The concept of the center is ‘by women for women and their families’ and several top female surgeons in various specialties will be performing surgeries there on their patients.”

Dr. Kotoske is a triple board-certified specialist in plastic surgery of the face and total body. He was awarded the prestigious American’s Top Physician by the Consumers Research Councils of America, as well as “Top Doc” by Phoenix magazine. He is a nationally recognized lecturer to facial plastic and cosmetic surgeons from across the country and has been a featured expert for CBS, NBC, FOX and ABC television affiliates on cosmetic and plastic surgery topics. He was chairman of the department of surgery at John C. Lincoln Deer Valley Hospital for more than 10 years.

Business advice: “Always push yourself to be the best practitioner you can. Keep abreast of the latest in surgical advances and technology. Treat patients with respect, confidentiality and as you would like to be treated.”

Source of pride: “Being able to provide a life changing cosmetic or reconstructive procedure is most rewarding, especially for people who have been challenged with these issues their whole lives.”

Founder Patti Flint, MD pattiflintmd.com

MICHELE DEVITO, MD

Plastic surgeon DeVito Plastic Surgery Center devitomd.com Dr. DeVito is a board-certified Scottsdale plastic surgeon, specializing in cosmetic surgery of the face and body.

She is a member of both the prestigious American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and has been listed as one of America’s top surgeons. Dr. DeVito is a fellow of both the American and International College of Surgeons. She also serves on the advisory board of the nonprofit organization Junior Fulfillment.

Business advice: “Follow your heart to find your true passion in life. Everything else will fall into place and even the greatest challenges will be worth the struggle.”

70 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

Founder Cosmetic Surgery Institute - Body By Kotoske bodybykotoske.com

DANIEL SHAPIRO, MD

Founder Shapiro Aesthetic Plastic Surgery & Shapiro Skin Klinic shapiroplasticsurgery.com Dr. Shapiro is a renowned Scottsdale cosmetic surgeon who is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and has been practicing cosmetic surgery in the Scottsdale and Paradise Valley Arizona area for more than 23 years. As one of the busiest cosmetic surgeons in the Phoenix metropolitan area, he brings a wealth of experience to his practice, having meticulously performed thousands of aesthetic surgical procedures. His aesthetic vision and surgical expertise has made him one of the most sought after Scottsdale cosmetic surgeons, constantly improving and evolving techniques introduced to him during his plastic surgical residency at New York Hospital/ Cornell Medical Center.

HEALTHCARE

{ DENTRISTRY }

DR. JOHN BADOLATO Owner Studio B Smiles studiobsmiles.com

Dr. Badolato is the team dentist for the Phoenix Suns and official dentist for ABC’s show, “Extreme Makeover.” Dr.

Badolato is proud to work closely with the Albert Pujols Family Foundation, providing dental services to those in need in the Dominican Republic.

Business advice: “Dentistry is a great profession to be a part of. The future holds so many great opportunities for advancement of knowledge and care.

Always be a student and learn to become better each day and provide the best care possible to your patients.”

Trend to watch: “3-D printing will have a major impact and improve restorations fabrication and surgical planning.”

NICOLAS PORTER, DDS

PAUL DOUGLAS, DDS

Dr. Porter founded Risas Dental and Braces in 2011 and grew it into a hugely successful business by disrupting the dental industry and putting the customer first. As president of Nicolas Global, he utilizes the same principles that have made his previous companies successful, and is currently disrupting the commerce industry as founder and visionary of Trunited.

Personal strengths: “I’m motivated by helping people.

Business isn’t currently set up to help the average person.

There are many areas in how we participate in commerce that need renovation and innovation, and I have been working tirelessly to make things better for that average person.”

Dr. Douglas, an Arizona native, is a graduate of USC and has made it a cornerstone of his career to give back to the community. From founding the Scottsdale Boys and Girls Club Dental Outreach and participating in the Crown Council/Smiles for Life Program to supporting Gabriel’s Dream-The Lost Boys of Sudan, Dr. Douglas’ dedication has changed numerous lives for the better.

Business advice: “If you have made a decision to help people change their lives, then a career in dentistry should be your decision. Don’t second guess it. Go for it. Dentistry today saves lives.”

Source of pride: “Our charitable work with Boys & Girls Club, Lost Boys of Sudan & Smiles for Life gives us such a fulfilled feeling when we help change a person’s smile giving them self-confidence and a better life.”

Trend to watch: “Corporate dentistry doing away with doctor-patient relationships.”

Founder Risas Dental and Braces risasdental.com

CLARENCE PLISKY, DDS

Owner Biltmore Dental Group biltmoredentalgroupphx.com Dr. Plisky is a California native and moved to the Midwest at a young age. Growing up in a small town in Ohio shaped his work ethic and caring nature.

He attended Indiana University Bloomington where he excelled in sciences and developed an interest in dentistry. Dr. Plisky started at Biltmore Dental Group as an associate in 2000 and became a partner in 2002. In 2005, he completed the buyout of the office and surrounded himself with competent, caring and fun-loving staff. Dr. Plisky strives to educate patients on their specific dental needs. Each mouth is unique from tooth position and gum health to bacterial make-up and chewing patterns, so each treatment is unique in need and sequence.

72 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

Owner Douglas Family Dentistry douglasfamilydentistry.com

GINGER PRICE, DDS Owner Ginger Price Dentistry gingerpricedds.com

Dr. Price has been creating beautiful smiles right here in the Valley for almost 35 years. She is an artist as well as a dentist, bringing her artistic skill set to every custom smile she designs.

She and her team are known for being very warm, friendly and — most importantly — gentle.

Trend to watch: “Digital dentistry is here to stay, including advanced technology such as Invisalign, CAD/ CAM usage for designing and fabricating porcelain restorations, as well as implant planning and placement.

Scientists are also working on growing new teeth from stem cells derived from shark and snake teeth genetics. This could revolutionize the entire way we think about restoring and replacing teeth.”

Hats Off t o Beautifu l Smiles!

We would love to see your smile at Douglas Family Dentistry!

Please call us today at (480) 948-3680 | douglasfamilydentistry.com

HEALTHCARE

{ DERMATOLOGY }

RICHARD AVERITTE JR., MD Founding physician and CEO Affiliated Dermatology affderm.com

Dr. Averitte is founding physician of Affiliated Dermatology. He is a Mohs micrographic surgeon. Mohs surgery

is the most effective and advanced treatment for skin cancer today. He is also the founder and CEO of Affiliated Laboratories, the largest private dermatopathology lab in Arizona. He also founded the Arizona Skin Cancer Foundation, a nonprofit that helps skin cancer patients.

Childhood dreams: “I wanted to be an engineer, but I also wanted to help people. I became an engineer in corporate America for years prior to attending medical school. It helped me to be able to better understand and attack problems from a logical, rather than emotional level.”

BILL HALMI, MD

LEE LARIS, DO

Dr. Halmi, former assistant professor of dermatology at Thomas Jefferson University, came to the Valley in 1994.

He has been the head of dermatology at St. Joseph’s Hospital for past the 10 years. He has given numerous presentations at local, national and international dermatology conferences. He has been an active participant in the Phoenix Dermatologic Society, serving terms as both president and vice president. Dr. Halmi has worked for more than 20 years with more than 20 different types of lasers. Over the past two decades, he has trained physicians in the safe use of lasers. He is recognized as a laser expert among his peers.

Practicing in the Valley since 1992, Dr. Laris is highly trained in all areas of medical, surgical and cosmetic dermatology and has built a reputation as a facial rejuvenation specialist. Dr. Laris and his team of board certified providers specialize in the latest technologies and the most effective treatments in the field.

Business advice: “Being a great physician is not enough. Medicine today is as much a service industry as it is a healthcare industry. You must create an environment that reflects that, as well as provide exemplary care, or patients will choose your competitors.”

Trend to watch: “There are many new fillers that are coming in the next few years that are specific to different areas of the face. This will allow physicians to make the aging face more youthful in a very natural way.”

Surprising fact: “I’ve never missed a scheduled day of work from the first day of my internship in 1987 until today, with the exception of a few days when I got Dengue fever after a trip to Central America.”

Arizona Advanced Dermatology arizonaadvanceddermatology.com

ROSEMARY GEARY, MD

Owner and physician East Valley Dermatology Center evderm.com Dr. Geary’s expertise includes medical dermatology, with an emphasis in diagnosing and treating skin cancer. She has been awarded Phoenix Magazine’s “Top Doc” award in 2005, 2011-2016. In addition to her daily practice Dr. Geary is also an active member with both the American Academy of Dermatology and Phoenix Dermatologic Society. Dr. Geary demonstrates a true passion for delivering excellent patient care and shows great compassion to her patients. Her goal is to help educate patients and families about skin cancer prevention and to provide thorough skin cancer examinations.

Business advice: “Have a passion for skin care and show true compassion to your patients.”

74 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

Medical director and chief cosmetic surgeon Phoenix Skin Dermatology phxskin.com

THERESA MAGNE, MD North Valley Dermatology northvalleydermatology.com

Dr. Magne joined North Valley Dermatology in 1995 after completing her medical residency in dermatology at Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center in Chicago. She attended medical school at the University of Illinois College of Medicine and served an internship in internal medicine at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, Illinois.

Source of pride: I am a fair-skinned redhead, so I was acquainted with the dermatologist from a very young age. It was after a lecture in dermatology, however, that I discovered my passion for the field. As the largest and most visible organ of the body, it is gratifying to witness directly the positive changes of our medical and cosmetic treatments.“

HEALTHCARE

{ HEALTH INSURANCE }

DAVE ALLAZETTA

President and CEO UnitedHealthcare of Arizona uhc.com Allazetta was previously vice president of sales and marketing for UnitedHealthcare’s Nevada operations, which includes Health Plan of Nevada,

the state’s largest HMO. Previously, Allazetta was the western regional sales director for the Secure Horizons markets in Utah, Washington, Nevada, and Idaho.

Business advice: “At UnitedHealthcare, our mission is to help people live their healthiest lives.

So, we recognize that we must listen to

the voice of our customers. Their needs must be the focus on which our strategy is built.”

Source of pride: “Whenever my team collectively takes on a challenge and creates a winning strategy to overcome that challenge, I feel great pride in our accomplishment.”

PAM KEHALY

EDWARD KIM

President and CEO Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona azblue.com

President and general manager Cigna Medical Group cignamedicalgroup.com

R. ALLAN ALLFORD President and CEO Delta Dental of Arizona deltadentalaz.com

Allford leads Delta Dental of Arizona, the leading dental benefits insurance company in the state, and is also president of the Delta Dental of Arizona Foundation, which provides access to dental services for Arizonans in need. In addition, Allford serves on several boards and professional associations within Metro Phoenix.

Trend to watch: “One issue — repealing and replacing the ACA — and two trends — consumer choice and a focus on wellness initiatives — will continue to have significant impact on health and dental insurers.

We will be challenged to think more creatively about plan design and sales channels while improving communications with consumers and appealing to their value drivers.”

Kim joined Cigna in 2011 and has 30 years of experience in the healthcare industry, including accountable care management, physician practice management and healthcare consulting. Kim graduated with a master’s of health science from Johns Hopkins (Bloomberg) School of Public Health and earned a bachelor’s from the University of California Berkeley. He serves on the board of directors for Boys and Girls Club Metro Phoenix and Partners in Care Foundation.

Business advice: “I believe that collaboration is essential to win, particularly in business cycles that are volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous.”

Childhood dreams: “I wanted to be a rocket scientist.

Healthcare is more complex.”

76 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

BARRY SMITH

Chairman and CEO Magellan Health magellanhealth.com Smith is chairman and CEO of Magellan Health, a leader in managing the fastest growing, most complex areas of health, including special populations, complete pharmacy benefits and other specialty areas of healthcare.

Business advice: “Always act with the highest personal and professional integrity in doing the right things for the right reasons. Healthcare is central to living a healthy and vibrant life.

Always take that responsibility seriously.”

Source of pride: “Transitioning Magellan to high-quality, nextgeneration integrated physical and behavioral health care.

In doing so, we’re helping millions of people receive the care they need.”

In October, BCBSAZ, the state’s largest locallyowned healthcare insurer, named Kehaly president and CEO. Kehaly has been serving as president of Anthem, Inc.’s West Region, which includes Anthem’s affiliated Blue Cross and/or Blue Shield health plans in eight states and the company’s Specialty business. Kehaly filled the position after the July 2017 retirement of former president and CEO Richard L. Boals, after 45 years at the company.

Trend to watch: “It is critical that all parties work together to find a solution that benefits the people of Arizona and the nation as a whole. I want to make sure Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona is involved in that dialog and that we’re part of the solution. We stand ready to make that contribution.”

Business mission: “I am deeply committed to continuing the legacy that BCBSAZ has established in the community and collaborating with all stakeholders to make Arizona one of the healthiest states in the nation.”

HEALTHCARE

{ HEALTH EDUCATION }

MICHELE HALYARD, MD

Clinic School of Medicine and dean of the Arizona campus. She is a past chair of the Radiation Oncology and past member of the Mayo Clinic Board of Governors and Board of Trustees.

Best move: “The smartest decision was choosing do to my fellowship training at Mayo Clinic. Throughout

Dean of the Arizona campus Mayo Clinic School of Medicine mayo.edu Dr. Halyard is the Suzanne Hanson Poole Vice Dean of the national Mayo

my 30 years at Mayo, I have had tremendous opportunities to not only practice medicine in the number one healthcare institution in the world, but to participate in innovative research, educational endeavors, and challenging administrative roles.”

CRAIG PHELPS

KATHLEEN H. GOEPPINGER, PH.D.

President A.T. Still University of Health Sciences atsu.edu

MELANIE LOGUE

Associate dean of nursing research Grand Canyon University gcu.edu Dr. Logue worked as a family nurse practitioner in her native state of Arizona. She earned her PhD/DNP and has a passion for educating the next generation of nurses. Logue was inducted as Fellow of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. She was appointed to the Arizona State Board of Nursing in 2015.

Business advice: “The best business advice I could offer to others in my industry is to learn how to give and receive feedback in a health way. What we think about feedback and how we receive it and deliver it tells us a lot about ourselves.”

Phelps is the 12th president of ATSU. Previously, he served as ATSU’s executive vice president for strategic initiatives and provost of ATSU’s Mesa campus for 12 years. Phelps is a fellowship-trained primary care sports medicine physician and is board certified in family medicine. He also served as team physician for the Phoenix Suns, Phoenix Mercury, Grand Canyon University and Ballet Arizona.

Business advice: “Seek out a mentor and be prepared to devote the time necessary to succeed.”

Trend to watch: “Competency based education. Allowing students to learn and demonstrate proficiency in ways other than traditional educational settings.”

78 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

President and CEO Midwestern University midwestern.edu

KENNETH RAMOS

Interim dean University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix phoenixmed.arizona.edu Dr. Ramos is an accomplished physician and transformational leader with designations in the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Medicine.

Business advice: “My advice is to combine passion with intellect in order to enjoy the journey of life, while making a positive difference in the lives of others.

A key element of the journey is to cultivate mentors and networks that nurture you along the way.”

Trend to watch: “Precision healthcare is now recognized as one of the biggest game changers in medicine today.

This platform will further personalize healthcare, improve diagnostic accuracy, develop targeted and more effective therapies and optimize public health interventions”

Goeppinger is president and CEO of Midwestern University, Arizona’s largest graduate-degree granting health sciences university. Established under her leadership, the Glendale campus continues to grow and is the home of the College of Veterinary Medicine, the state’s only school to offer the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree.

INDUSTRY OUTLOOK: “As healthcare continues to evolve and improve with changes in technology, advances in new therapies, and scientific discoveries that impact the future of patient care, our healthcare education must keep pace while maintaining the core philosophy and teachings that place the patient first. Midwestern University prepares all of our healthcare professionals to embrace change, be open to a lifetime of learning, and adhere to the basic premises that patients come first and their wishes, overall health, and well-being must never be compromised. Teaching students to embrace change will continue to expand as we see many wonderful transformations in healthcare.”

Making a Difference

[in the Community.]

We Are Your Healthcare Team.

Midwestern University Colleges Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine College of Pharmacy–Glendale College of Health Sciences College of Dental Medicine–Arizona Arizona College of Optometry College of Veterinary Medicine Midwestern University Clinics Multispecialty Clinic | Dental Institute | Eye Institute Companion Animal Clinic | Equine and Bovine Center Midwestern University Tomorrow’s Healthcare Team

19555 North 59th Avenue | Glendale, Arizona 85308 623.572.3200 | www.midwestern.edu www.mwuclinics.com | www.mwuanimalhealth.com

HEALTHCARE

{ HEALTHCARE INNOVATORS }

DAVID JACOFSKY, MD Chairman and CEO The CORE Institute thecoreinstitute.com

Dr. Jacofsky is a fellowship trained, orthopedic surgeon who co-founded The CORE Institute. The CORE Institute

has been voted the No. 1 orthopedic group by Ranking Arizona and was named a Most Admired Company by Arizona Business Magazine. He has authored more than 70 peer-eviewed publications, 30 patents and three orthopedic textbooks.

Business advice: “Healthcare is

changing rapidly and no longer can a physician hope to be successful based on clinical acumen alone. I would suggest coupling the requisite clinical skills with strong business education. This likely will require some proactive work, as few traditional courses are able to keep up with the pace of industry change.”

RICHARD TOWBIN, MD

RICHARD R. HEUSER, MD

Division chief of radiology Phoenix Children’s Hospital phoenixchildrens.org

KENT DICKS

CEO and founder Life365 life365inc.com With his previous company, MedApps, and now Life365, Dicks is a recognized thought leader and innovator in the digital health space. Dicks is leading the development of a new “digital health as a service” platform that integrates a range health devices, data systems and services to scale the benefits of remote chronic care management to more people in a cost-effective manner.

Business advice: “Be disruptive, think outside of the box. People want to consume life and healthcare differently and on their own terms. Think about bringing healthcare to an individual, wherever they are located, instead of them having to go to a doctor’s office.”

Trend to watch: “The change in general consumerism and the evolving autonomous society.

People want it when they want it and where they want it, and this includes healthcare. ‘Just in time’ consumerism. This opens up a wide array of opportunities in Healthcare.”

Dr. Towbin is an internationally renowned pediatric radiologist and Phoenix Children’s division chief of radiology. Dr. Towbin is an expert in pediatric interventional radiology, an avid researcher, has published more than 200 papers, has patented four medical devices and served as president and chairman of the board of the Society for Pediatric Radiology and treasurer of the Society of Interventional Radiology. Dr. Towbin has served at some of the country’s most renowned children’s hospitals, including Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Children’s Hospital of Michigan and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.

80 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

Chief of cardiology Phoenix Heart Center at St. Luke’s Medical Center phoenixheartcenter.com

DANIEL VON HOFF

Director of translational research Translational Genomics Research Institute tgen.org For more than 30 years, Von Hoff has dedicated his time and experience to the study of cancer and treatment methods.

He is a medical oncologist and oncology drug developer who has conducted national clinical trials with more than 200 new antineoplastic and biologic agents. Von Hoff’s major interest is in the development of new anticancer agents. Von Hoff and his colleagues have conducted early clinical investigations of most of the new agents that have been approved for cancer treatment in the United States in the last two decades, including gemcitabine, docetaxel, paclitaxel, topotecan, irinotecan, fludarabine, mitoxantrone, dexrazoxane, nab-paclitaxel and multiple others.

Dr. Heuser is one of the early pioneers of coronary and peripheral angioplasty in the United States and is an internationally recognized opinion leader in cardiovascular care. He has nearly 30 patents granted or pending for different catheters, stents and other medical devices.

Business advice: “Strive to train at the best hospital and university possible. Follow your dreams, even if they are far-reaching. It’s the commitment that I made to not only myself, but to my patients early on that has driven me to make an indelible mark on the lives of hundreds of thousands of patients who have found themselves at cardiac crossroads, needing life-saving procedures and devices.”

HEALTHCARE

{ HEALTH & BEAUTY }

KATHY COOVER

Owner and executive vice president Isagenix International isagenix.com Just 15 years ago, Coover, her husband Jim and co-founder John Anderson started Isagenix International in

Arizona. Today, Isagenix operates in 12 countries with nearly $1 billion in annual sales and an overall economic impact on Arizona of more than $800 million annually. Coover oversees all sales and marketing efforts at Isagenix and provides executive leadership to more than 1,000 employees.

Trend to watch: “Obesity is truly an epidemic. I believe that nothing else matters without good health.

Throughout the world, people are looking for a better way to improve their health and care for their families. Isagenix provides a tremendous way to do both.

The ‘YouEconomy’ is real and thriving.”

JOSEPH MAGNACCA

DANNA PRATTE

With an extensive background and passion for retail, Magnacca is ushering Massage Envy into a new era of strategic growth by building the brand into a global health and wellness leader. The Massage Envy franchise system has grown to more than 1,100 locations in the United States, and recently surpassed the milestone of delivering more than 100 million massages and facials.

Business advice: “My advice is to listen carefully to key stakeholders, be decisive in forming your position while passionately supporting it and executing it flawlessly.”

Source of pride: “I take the most pride in my ability to create a team that thinks strategically and is supportive and passionate about what they do.”

Pratte has been involved in the nutrition and nutraceutical industry for more than 15 years, working in various capacities. In 2014, she became CEO of Nutritional Brands and Its subsidiaries, whose operations include formulary and development, manufacturing and domestic and international sales and distribution.

CEO Massage Envy massageenvy.com

MICHAEL LARRAIN CEO PCA Skin pcaskin.com

Larrain joined PCA Skin as CEO in 2015. He came from L’Oreal, where he turned three brands into lucrative entities and led a skin care brand through a complete turnaround in 18 months. Previously, Larrain was vice president of sales for Dermalogica and International Dermal Institute.

Trend to watch: “Digital progression is changing all aspects of our lives and beauty is no different. Skin care brands need to evolve with this forward movement and if they don’t, they will be left in the dust. It is so exciting when I look around the countless technology platforms and work with our teams to identify what our piece of the puzzle is and how we capitalize on this for our customers and their consumers.”

82 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

CEO Nutritional Brands nbpure.com

CAROLANN TUTERA President SottoPelle Therapy sottopelletherapy.com

Tutera is the president of SottoPelle, an international medical company with numerous affiliated physicians/medical practices across the globe. Her vision and dedication continue to propel SottoPelle to success.

Business advice: “Someone seeking a career in the medical world knows the joys and benefits of helping others.

Follow your passion coupled with the true desire to help others and you will find the medical world enjoyable.”

Trend to watch: “Healthcare, as I see it, is moving into the technology space more and more. People are currently being treated without seeing a physician face to face, which could lessen the need for a brickand-mortar medical office space in the near future.”

INDUSTRY OUTLOOK: “The outlook for the nutritional supplement industry is continued robust growth, as opportunity and innovation continue to expand. In the short term, specific demographics, such as the aging population, will continue to drive sales in for condition specific categories. As more people worldwide have access to education and information about health and nutrition, they choosing a more preventative approach to their wellness through natural health care solutions, like supplements. In the long term, we will continue to see the shift of large health and food conglomerates moving into the natural space, driving sales, but also more regulation and consumer protection measures.”

Your leader in Natural Health Care For over 30 years...

High Quality Products and Supplements for Your Wellness Journey.

Connect With Us NBPURE.COM

@NBPURE

Proudly Based in Phoenix, Arizona - Distributing Worldwide

HEALTHCARE

{ HEALTHCARE GAME-CHANGERS }

JOEL BARTHELEMY

health. He has spent 15 of his 30 years in the technology industry focused on the development of connected health systems. GlobalMed has improved the delivery of healthcare in more than 55 countries and has designed the system that helped to deliver more than 2.1 million consults to U.S. veterans in 2016.

CEO and founder GlobalMed globalmed.com

As founder and CEO of GlobalMed, Barthelemy has a vision of quality, timely care for all through connected

Business advice: “As a young U.S. Marine learning to ‘adapt and overcome’ was paramount in all situations. Business, too, can present many different challenges. Being able to find your way ethically through those difficult times can be very rewarding and is really the only way.”

KISHLAY ANAND, MD

JANICE JOHNSTON, MD

Akos co-founder Akos MD akosmd.com

Co-founder and medical director Redirect Health redirecthealth.com

HEIDI JANNENGA

President and co-Founder WebPT webpt.com Jannenga is the co-founder and president of WebPT, the country’s leading rehab therapy EMR platform for enhancing patient care and fueling business growth.

Since the company’s launch in 2008, Jannenga has guided WebPT through exponential growth. Today, it’s the fastestgrowing EMR in the country, employing more than 300 people and serving more than 70,000 therapy professionals at just shy of 10,000 clinics.

Trend to watch: “The healthcare industry is evolving tremendously. Providers are becoming increasingly responsible for demonstrating the value of their care — via patient outcomes data — in order to receive payment and market their services. As such, data collection—and collaboration between providers — is becoming crucial for coordinating patient care, achieving optimal outcomes and, thus, remaining in business.”

Dr. Johnston is co-founder and medical director of Redirect Health, which provides businesses nationwide with high quality, affordable healthcare plans using a cutting-edge care delivery platform. She oversees all medical operations as well as the patient experience, spearheading efforts to enhance quality care while improving administrative efficiencies.

Business advice: “You should only pursue a career in healthcare if you are truly in it to make a positive difference. The industry is currently bound in complexity and confusion, and more people are needed to push outside of unreasonable boundaries to improve patients’ experiences, outlooks and livelihoods.”

84 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

ALAN NELSON

Founder, CEO and chairman VisionGate, Inc. visiongate3d.com Nelson is a biophysicist and serial entrepreneur with a PhD from UC Berkeley. He held professorships in nuclear engineering, bioengineering and physics at MIT, Harvard, and ASU, with tenure. He founded four successful companies.

VisionGate has developed the world’s first automated test for lung cancer to impact millions of lives globally and recently acquired a drug to reverse dysplasia, for chemoprevention of lung cancer.

Trend to watch: “There is an emerging understanding and hope that lung cancer can be cured through early detection, or better yet, prevented using a new generation of immunotherapy drugs such as Iloprost.”

Dr. Anand is a board-certified cardiologist, electrophysiologist and Akos co-founder. Prior to Akos, he garnered extensive experience serving as chairman of InstantMed Health Center, an innovative healthcare delivery system with urgent and primary care. Dr. Anand is a regular contributor to numerous publications and regularly speaks at conferences across the country.

Business advice: “Remember to do your homework and make sure you’re a good candidate before seeking out employment. Joining professional groups, researching industry-related web sites and signing up for a prospective employers newsletters are great ways to stay on top of the latest news and keep a pulse on the industry.”

HEALTHCARE

{ PAIN MANAGEMENT }

ALEX BIGHAM, DC

CEO Novocur Pain Management Clinics novocur.com Dr. Bigham is CEO of Novocur Pain Management Clinics. He has more than 18 years of healthcare experience

in private practice and ambulatory surgical center settings. Dr. Bigham’s goal, when he opened the first Novocur Pain Management Clinic in 2005, was to offer the most advanced treatment options in a concierge type practice without the concierge price tag. Dr. Bigham appears frequently on local TV and radio programs to discuss the latest

in pain management.

Personal mission: “Provide fastacting and long-lasting pain relief to our patients. We know our patients are suffering and it’s our mission to knock your pain out as quickly as possible so you can get back to the important stuff in life.”

DENNIS CRANDALL, MD

STEVEN SIWEK, MD

Founder and president The Pain Center of Arizona thepaincenter.com

Medical director Sonoran Spine sonoranspine.com

SCOTT BROOKS

President and CEO Regenisis Biomedical regenesisbio.com Brooks is president, CEO and on the board of directors for Regenesis Biomedical, an Arizona-based medical device company dedicated to improving human welfare through the research, design, manufacture, and sale of energy-based medical products and services that alleviate pain, restore health, and improve quality of life. Brooks joined Regenesis in January 2012 as the chief operating officer. He has held senior executive positions in four major healthcare organizations. Brooks has extensive experience in sales, marketing, and operations.

Prior to Regenesis, he held the position of president in the U.S. and Canada for BSN Medical. At BSN, Brooks was instrumental in developing sales, expanding clinical education programs and enhancing management development.

Crandall is a board-certified orthopedic spine surgeon specializing in adult and pediatric spinal deformity and complex spine surgery.

He founded the Sonoran Spine Research and Education Foundation, a nonprofit corporation which funds college scholarships for students with spinal deformities and spinal research projects.

Trend to watch: “Healthcare reform will continue to drive national focus toward providing care that can be demonstrated as effective, at value pricing. In order to control costs, decision making will follow data-driven algorithms, the doctor-patient relationship will change, and access to specialty care and choices will become more limited for many people (but not all people).”

86 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

TORY MCJUNKIN, MD Co-founder Arizona Pain Specialists arizonapain.com

Dr. McJunkin is a double boardcertified interventional pain medicine physician. He was trained by the top experts in the field of pain medicine and teaches and lectures nationally to other pain physicians.

Dr. McJunkin is a two-time winner of the Patient’s Choice Award and has been selected as a Top Doctor in Scottsdale.

Aside from the acclaim, he is a compassionate physician who works daily to help his patients regain their lives and get back to doing the activities they love.

Dr. McJunkin completed his pain management fellowship at the prestigious Texas Tech University, one of the highestrated pain programs in the country.

Dr. Siwek is one of the Valley’s leading pain management specialists. A Mayo Clinic trained anesthesiologist and pain management physician, Dr. Siwek’s dedication to the chronic pain patient resulted in partnerships specifically created to find new solutions to relieve pain. Dr. Siwek founded The Pain Center of Arizona in 2002 which provides patients with the latest in chronic pain management at more than 15 locations and stateof-the-art ambulatory surgery centers.

Business advice: “If you plan to work in healthcare, be sure you have a sincere sense of desire to help other people.”

Source of pride: “I am very fortunate in being able to combine all the things I love most.”

HEALTHCARE

{ VISION }

SANFORD MORETSKY, DO Founder and managing partner Moretsky Cassidy Lasik arizonalasik.com

Dr. Moretsky has been in practice in Arizona since 1978 and is an expert eye surgeon. As a refractive surgeon, Dr.

Moretsky performs iLASIK, KAMRA and implantable contact lenses. Dr. Moretsky is also an expert laser cataract surgeon, performing Toric, ReSTOR, Tecnis MF and Crystalens intraocular lens implantation. He is founder of Valley Eye Specialists and is a past president of the Phoenix

Ophthalmologic Society and also served in a leadership position on the board of trustees of the Arizona Osteopathic Medical Association. Dr. Moretsky received the President’s Award by the Arizona Osteopathic Medical Association. He is an active member of the Arizona Ophthalmologic Society.

CRAIG SUITER, MD

KYLE BOHANNON

Dr. Suiter is a boardcertified comprehensive ophthalmologist, devoting most of his time to cataract surgery, treatment of glaucoma and surgical removal of pterygiums. Dr. Suiter is the current president of Arizona Eye Specialists. He also served as president of the Phoenix Ophthalmological Society from 2009-2010 and as medical director of Arizona Ophthalmic Outpatient Surgery Center from 1999-2007. He is on the medical staff of seven valley hospitals. Dr. Suiter was raised in Phoenix, graduated summa cum laude from the University of Arizona with a degree in biology and continued with the University of Arizona to earn his medical degree as a member of Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society.

Bohannon is American Vision Partners’ president and CEO and a member of the board of directors.

He has held numerous leadership positions in the healthcare and private equity sectors, with responsibilities including operations, finance, marketing, mergers and acquisitions and strategic partnerships.

President Arizona Eye Specialists arizonaeyes.net

DR. JAY SCHWARTZ

Owner and surgeon Schwartz Laser Eye Center teameyedoc.com Dr, Schwartz has been practicing in the Valley since 1997, when he moved here from Chicago.

He performs Lasik surgery, cataract surgery and corneal inlay procedures to improve reading vision, as well general ophthalmology consultations.

He is the team eye doctor for the Phoenix Suns, Arizona Diamondbacks, Phoenix Mercury and team Lasik surgeon for the Arizona Coyotes.

Business advice: “The key to success is to genuinely care about the patients you are treating.

Do a good job for a fair price.

The most important thing is to truly listen when patients talk.

Listening is a skill that needs to be refined. Too many doctors talk without listening.”

88 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

President and CEO American Vision Partners americanvisionpartners.com

SIMON ZMYSLINSKI, DO Founder Zmyslinski Eye & Contact Lens Center drzeyes.com

Over the past 10 years, Zmyslinski has developed the Zmyslinski Eye & Contact Lens Center into one of the premier optometric practices in North Phoenix. He provides clinical care for issues like glaucoma, macular degeneration, conjunctivitis and diabetes.

Career inspiration: “When I was 10 years old, I was diagnosed as being nearsighted and started out wearing glasses in junior high school. This was not a pleasant experience because I was already a pretty gangly, goofy kid and when glasses were added to the mix it made me outright awkward. Once I started high school, my parents allowed me to get contact lenses and my world changed.”

INDUSTRY OUTLOOK: “Technology will drive the vision care industry over the next five years. In addition to technology, financial and strategic investors continue to demonstrate a high level of interest in the ophthalmology sector. As we have experienced in other multisite healthcare verticals, including dental practice management, dermatology and surgery centers, fragmented markets evolve through consolidation. The result is fewer larger practices offering improved patient service. An influx of investment capital into an industry most often drives additional benefits to patients, including more efficient processes and better overall patient experiences.”

{ INDUSTRY OUTLOOK }

WHAT’S THE VERDICT? Elder law, immigration, marijuana and changing labor laws are just some of the legal topics that will define 2018

M

By ERIN THORBURN

any leaders in the local legal arena turn their attention toward the Oval Office to anticipate, prepare and brace themselves for the regulatory changes in government and the ongoing influx and uncertainty in healthcare reform (among other uncertainties). While presidential vicissitude continues to persist, what other trends, headlines and initiatives will govern local and national legal tides in 2018? According to a roundtable of experts assembled by Az Business Leaders, it’s a mixed bag: elder law, as baby boomers continue to dominate the retirement generation; employment law, with changing labor laws and alterations to immigration statutes; new legalization of medical and recreational marijuana use and various broad-spectrum tax issues, are a highlight of what’s to come in a new year of law.

Here are the roundtable participants who weighed in: • Nonnie L. Shivers, shareholder, Olgetree Deakins • Alisa Gray, shareholder, Tiffany & Bosco • Ed Novak, shareholder, Polsinelli • Joshua Becker, shareholder, Gallagher & Kennedy • Jonathan Frutkin, attorney, Radix Law

90 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

Question: What is the biggest issue or trend that will impact the legal profession in 2018?

Nonnie L. Shivers: Employers and employment lawyers almost universally agree that the biggest employment issue of 2018 is the anticipated ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court on the contentious issue of class action waivers. Since the National Labor Relation Board’s (NLRB) January 2012 ruling in D.R. Horton, 357 NLRB No. 184 (2012), in which the NLRB held that employers cannot use class action waivers in arbitration agreements with employees covered by the National Labor Relations Act, most federal courts have disagreed with the NLRB’s decision and a split in the circuit courts of appeal has emerged. The Supreme Court’s decision is expected around January 2018 and is highly anticipated because of the turmoil and uncertainty created by courts regularly enforcing arbitration agreements with class action waivers while the NLRB routinely files unfair labor practice charges against employers that maintain such agreements. This is untenable for employers and much-needed clarity will hopefully be forthcoming in this vital decision.

Alisa Gray: I see two significant trends in the legal world. On a macro level, there is

a movement to improve to improve the all over well-being within the legal profession.

The American Bar recently published a story that surmised, “To be a good lawyer, one has to be a healthy lawyer. Our profession has fallen short.” This is huge. Our practice has emphasized statutes; no one is discounting this. Since 2016 I’ve been presenting yoga and mindfulness to my collogues. The AZ Bar has been so accommodating and forward thinking in allowing and encouraging these type of practices. The trend is already in full swing, law schools are offering mindfulness trainings to students now, but this study conducted by the Bar will be jumping off point for more interest.

In my specific area of elder law and probate, we will continue to see a marginal transfer of wealth in the next few years. Baby boomers are inheriting from parents, while older baby boomers will transfer wealth to the next generation (Gen-X, Millennials). This will require diligence and more preparation in how we help clients prepare and pay for care for parents, themselves as well as considering insurance situations and overall planning.

Ed Novak: There has been a significant drop in the available unskilled labor force as a result of increased immigration enforcement. If the need for migrant laborers and unskilled laborers is not met with some form of

immigration reform, the impact will ripple throughout the Valley’s economy.

Joshua Becker: The biggest issue will be regulatory uncertainty and changes between two very different administrations. President Obama’s administration enacted and employed numerous rules and regulations that the new administration is likely to undo. Since the inauguration, the new administration has withdrawn 469 regulations and set aside or reevaluated another 391 regulations that were enacted and/or employed by the previous administration. One significant change for my clients is the U.S. Labor Department’s decision to rescind the previous administration’s standards for determining when companies are joint employers – a change that will dramatically impact franchising because it reduces the risk that a franchisor may be deemed a joint employer of its franchisee’s employees. Regulatory uncertainty is bad for business because companies are reluctant to grow if they believe the rules will change.

With additional changes likely coming from the new administration, lawyers will need to be prepared to assist their clients in modifying internal and external policies to comply with and take advantage of a regulatory framework that is likely to become less cumbersome in 2018.

Jonathan Frutkin: The economy itself always drives the legal profession. As we see continued growth in the economy, we will see more capital raising and mergers and acquisition activity. Arizona is again bustling with activity in the real estate market. On the other hand, a weakened economy results in more bankruptcies and litigation. So the economy itself is something that we always keep our eye on.

Question: Which practice area do you anticipate seeing the most growth?

NS: More and more states are grappling with medical and recreational marijuana laws and initiatives. Courts are issuing decisions that are the first of their kind regarding the protections applicable to medical and recreational marijuana users, including in the workplace. Case in point, one of the most groundbreaking employment law cases decided so far in 2017 is the Massachusetts’ Supreme Judicial Court’s decision allowing a medical marijuana user to assert a state law disability discrimination claim. Corporate compliance with marijuana laws, including safety programs and safety-sensitive positions/industries, while balancing protections for individuals with disabilities, is a potential minefield of legal compliance and

liability risk of which employers need to be acutely aware, even as the law continues to evolve.

AG: Elder law is vast and with changes that affect Medicaid/Medicare that continue to be influx with respect to changes in healthcare systems, advising clients will be of utmost importance. This is true of general estate planning, trust, power of attorney as well as disputes among misappropriation or misuse of parental funds. On the other side will be the handling matters after there’s been a death. This is especially true of Arizona, with a significant retirement community population.

I predict growth in alternative dispute resolution. Because legal services are inaccessible for people with modest income, I think as a profession, we need to figure out how to resolve a dispute, besides simply getting a lawyer. I’d like to see more pre-litigation dispute resolution. Get stakeholders together before lawsuits are filed.

EN: Corporate, including data security; and real estate will be the big gainers over the next five years as the Valley continues to expand and organizations like GPEC continue to bring new business to the area. This will also continue the need for housing, both apartment and singlefamily residences.

{ INDUSTRY OUTLOOK }

Joshua Becker

Jonathan Frutkin

JB: We are likely to continue to seek active mergers and acquisition activity in the next five years. Consolidation in key industries will continue. In some respects, the growth of entrepreneurship and technology and consolidation are related. Entrepreneurs are developing ideas or products with the express hope that a bigger fish will come along and swallow their startup into a bigger, broader business JF: We see a continued expansion in the growth in the real estate market, in Arizona specifically. Nationally and internationally, our clients are grappling with the increased regulation by various governments. We expect to see more complex financing arrangements, including the emergence of cryptocurrencies in international transactions.

Question: What issue or trend do you think will have more business leaders seeking legal advice in 2018?

NS: By far the biggest broad-brush trend is what I refer to as the “localization” of law, in particular employment law. States, counties and municipalities are increasingly enacting laws, regulations and ordinances imposing new and different obligations on

92 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

Alisa Gray

Ed Novak

employers. Sometimes these changes are the result of voter initiatives (like the passage of Proposition 206 giving Arizona employee’s paid sick leave) and sometimes they are legislative enactments in the face of inaction by the federal government (or even to respond to action by the federal government, such as approximately 225 cities and counties passing laws protecting gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation due to lack of action to amend Title VII and inconsistent interpretations of Title VII, even as those cases wind themselves through the legal pipeline as we speak). The challenge posed to employers who do business in multiple states is immense since staying aware of the current state of the law and complying with the patchwork of differing legal obligations is an incredibly onerous and time-consuming challenge.

AG: It will be risk management opposed to reacting to problems after they arise. Business leaders could seek counsel for review of personnel issues and various types of exposure before it becomes a problem. People are reluctant to pay for legal advice beforehand.

If certain protections are put in place it costs significantly more than had they preemptively handled the issue.

Nonnie L. Shivers EN: Finding creative and affordable financing for new projects or business expansion is (and will continue to be) a significant challenge.

JB: I think the national movement to legalize medical marijuana (and in some cases recreational use of marijuana) and the impact that will have on other industries and businesses is likely to create significant legal work in 2018. It’s a new industry with unique regulations that I believe entrepreneurs will be interested in joining. Given the recent legalization of medical (and recreational) marijuana in several states across the country and the ongoing relaxing of state laws on the subject, I believe business leaders will be looking for guidance on how to comply with and enter this growing new industry.

JF: We have seen more and more business leaders asking about employment issues recently. Because there is such a complex web of national, state and local regulations relating to employees, it creates a lot of confusion. And because more and more of these regulations depend on the number of employees in a business (and that number is always changing), we will continue to field questions requiring this advice.

LAW

{ ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION }

TOD SCHLEIER

SHAWN AIKEN

Co-founder Schleier Law Offices, PC schleierlaw.com

Attorney Aiken Schenk Hawkins & Ricciardi P.C. ashrlaw.com

Schleier was active in forming the Arizona Employment Lawyers Association, which consists of lawyers from the Phoenix area who represent employees. He regularly lectures throughout the state on various employment issues, including wrongful termination and sexual harassment. Schleier has also served on the State Bar of Arizona subcommittee for Employment Law Jury Instructions. Schleier has been continually listed in The Best Lawyers in America since 1989 and has been “AV” rated in Martindale Hubbell since the late 1880s. He was also recently selected by Super Lawyers as one of the Top 50 lawyers in Arizona.

Aiken is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and the College of Commercial Arbitrators. Super Lawyers has ranked Aiken among the “Top 50 Arizona Lawyers” for eight straight years. Since 2007, he has been listed in Best Lawyers (commercial litigation) and was Phoenix Lawyer of the Year (mediation) for 2012 and 2015.

Source of pride: “My representation of the same-sex couples who successfully sued the State of Arizona for the right to marry gives me great satisfaction.”

Trend to watch: “The need to solve our clients’ problems most effectively and cost-effectively will drive our profession.”

AMY LIEBERMAN RICHARD FRIEDLANDER

Member Dickinson Wright, PLLC dickinsonwright.com Friedlander is a member in Dickinson Wright’s Phoenix office.

Friedlander is listed in Best Lawyers in America and Southwest Super Lawyers for his ADR work, has mediated and arbitrated hundreds of disputes involving construction, real property, contracts, bankruptcy, insurance, lending and other complex commercial civil matters.

Business advice: “An attorney’s reputation for honesty and integrity is of paramount importance for a lawyer to be a successful business generator. A substantial commitment of time to community endeavors will also lead to a successful and more satisfying legal practice.”

Executive director Insight Mediation insightmediation.com

Lieberman has successfully mediated and resolved more than 1,500 workplace conflicts and business disputes, and has been recognized in Best Lawyers of America and Southwest Super Lawyers for more than 10 years’ running, as well as ranked among the Top 25 Arizona female lawyers.

Lieberman is the author of “Mediation Success: Get it Out, Get it Over, Get Back to Business,” and champions resolution of conflict through ADR in the business world.

Source of pride: “Publishing ‘Mediation Success,’ bringing peace to people in conflict and speaking to audiences around the world about the secrets to successful conflict resolution.”

INDUSTRY OUTLOOK “Mediation is fast on its way to becoming the primary way to resolve business disputes. It will no longer be an “alternative” form of dispute resolution, but instead will become the most reliable and trusted method in terms of both efficiency, cost-effectiveness and satisfaction, of reaching resolution.”

94 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

DOUG ZIMMERMAN

Partner Davis Miles McGuire Gardner davismiles.com Zimmerman is a litigator and transactional attorney whose practice focuses in the areas of eminent domain, real estate, commercial litigation and general business matters. He is a certified mediator by The Institute for Conflict Management, LLC and completed the Advanced Negotiation Skills Program at the Harvard Law School Negotiation Insight Initiative. Zimmerman has extensive trial experience in representing property owners and condemning agencies in direct and inverse condemnation litigation involving acquisitions of property for major governmental facilities, rights-of-way and urban redevelopment projects.”

LAW

{ BANKING }

JAMES BROPHY, III

JULIE RYSTAD Shareholder Gallagher & Kennedy gknet.com

Managing shareholder Ryley Carlock & Applewhite, P.C. rcalaw.com Brophy represents public and private companies in the areas of employee benefits, securities, and business and financing transactions, including acquisitions, sales and legal compliance matters. Brophy provides counsel on the formation, licensure, and regulation of banks, insurance and reinsurance companies.

Business advice: “Be the best you can be at what you do. Clients need and are willing to pay you for excellence. Excellence is enhanced if you understand your client’s business and can provide practical legal help.”

Surprising fact: “I was a trial attorney early in my career and I also enjoy photography.”

JOHN RANDOLPH

Member Sherman & Howard L.L.C. shermanhoward. com Randolph is a member of Sherman & Howard’s business and real estate and commercial litigation groups. He has more than 40 years of experience representing clients in banking and financial transactions. His practice includes all aspects of commercial finance, from loan origination and documentation to workouts, restructures, prejudgment strategy, collections, remedies and enforcement.

Trend to watch: “I believe that increased economic opportunities will have a tremendous impact over the next few years, both locally and nationwide. Even with rising interest rates, there will be strong financing demand for new development.”

96 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

MARK BOSCO

Shareholder Tiffany & Bosco P.A. tblaw.com Bosco has grown his financial services practice to be one of the largest, most qualified, and respected in the nation.

He serves the banking and real estate industries by providing exemplary service and quick response to meet his client’s needs.

INDUSTRY OUTLOOK: “I expect the legal industry to become more competitive, and for the buyer of legal services to become even more sophisticated. Technology will continue to change the practice of law with more efficiencies and accessibility. Over time, the industry will see a major decline in billing by the hour. Our firm has already made great strides in that area and we are prepared to embrace changes in technology to continue to meet clients’ expectations. However, even with all the advancements in technology, the lawyers who are accessible, responsive, and provide exceptional personal service at competitive rates will still be the top industry performers.

Rystad is a commercial finance and creditor’s rights lawyer who represents lenders and borrowers in a wide variety of financing transactions from origination to termination, including workouts, restructuring, collection and foreclosure. In addition to assisting clients in structuring, negotiating and documenting their finance transactions, she advises clients in workouts and restructurings of financial transactions and distressed loans.

Business advice: “Common sense counts, and be brave enough to help your clients make decisions, not just identify risks.”

Surprising fact: “I am an environmentalist.”

C. BRADLEY VYNALEK Partner Quarles & Brady LLP quarles.com

Vynalek is both a partner in the firm’s Litigation & Dispute Resolution Practice Group and an elected member of its national management committee. He serves on the regional advisory board for Teach for America, board of directors for the Greater Phoenix Economic Council and is pastchair of Make-A-Wish of Arizona and the University of Arizona Law College Association, respectively.

Trend to watch: “Continued innovation and AI requires the legal profession to be more inventive and ahead of the curve than ever before. It is an exciting time to be leading innovation. We need to do all of this and remember that customer service matters more than ever.”

LAW

{ BANKRUPTCY/REORGANIZATION }

RANDY NUSSBAUM

SUSAN BOSWELL

Attorney Sacks Tierney sackstierney.com

Partner Quarles & Brady LLP quarles.com

Boswell has established a national practice representing debtors, creditors and others in complex business reorganizations, Chapter 11 cases and related commercial litigation. She has represented these parties in various types of matters involving a wide variety of industries and businesses.

Boswell has also developed an expertise representing nonprofit religious organizations in reorganizing their financial affairs.

Business advice: “Always deliver the best for your clients, but understand their business goals, which will most often drive the legal solution. If you do not understand your client’s business goals or needs, your legal advice will not provide the best value for your client.”

SUSAN FREEMAN Partner Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie LLP lrrc.com

Freeman’s practice focuses on business bankruptcies (creditors, debtors, acquirers, and others) and on appeals of all kinds. In 2017, Freeman became chair of the American Bar Association Business Bankruptcy Committee, the largest organization of bankruptcy lawyers, and she also serves as president of the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers and is secretary of the American College of Bankruptcy.

Trend to watch: “The changing composition of the Supreme Court will affect the practice of law in significant ways and the outcome may not be as predictable as some expect.”

Surprising fact: “I’m a certified yoga teacher and teach a free weekly class at my law firm.”

98 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

STEVEN BERGER

Shareholder Engelman Berger, P.C. eblawyers.com Berger is the co-founder of Engelman Berger, which has grown carefully over 15 years to meet client demands from a two-lawyer office to a 12-lawyer boutique firm concentrating on commercial disputes, business restructurings and creditors rights. Berger has extensive experience representing parties involved with troubled loans or troubled businesses.

INDUSTRY OUTLOOK: “Although perceived as slow to change, the legal services industry faces changes at an accelerating rate, based in part on advances in technology, changing desires of clients based on generational styles of doing business, focus on cost cutting, increased competition, focus on marketing strategies and globalization of business. The days of exclusive relationships between law firms and businesses are long gone; clients look for expertise and are not content to ‘use the lawyer down the hall.’ Lawyers in both large firms and small firms must deliver prompt, effective services that add value to a business client’s performance. ”

Nussbaum is a Certified Bankruptcy Specialist (Arizona Board of Legal Specialization) and a Certified Business Bankruptcy Specialist (American Board of Certification). His areas of practice include complex bankruptcy law, real estate, construction and contract law. He is a popular lecturer and author on topics regarding bankruptcy, construction and real estate for the State Bar of Arizona, Maricopa County Bar Associations, American Bankruptcy Institute and other professional organizations. Nussbaum is also a member of the Scottsdale Arts development committee.

Business advice: “Eighty percent of success is showing up — Woody Allen.”

LAWRENCE WILK

Partner Jaburg Wilk jaburgwilk.com Wilk represents creditors, trustees, receivers and debtors in significant bankruptcy cases.

An experienced and adept negotiator, he assists in restructuring and working out non-performing loans.

He has expertise in multi-level marketing and Ponzi schemes representing court-appointed receivers to recover significant monies invested through fraudulent schemes.

Business advice: “Be patient, build relationships and be a mensch.”

Source of pride: “Becoming an Adjunct Professor at ASU School of Law and being a name partner at Jaburg Wilk for 30 years. Building a successful business is challenging. Even harder is maintaining a successful law firm through recessions and industry shifts.”

LAW

{ BUSINESS & COMMERCIAL LITIGATION }

WILLIAM DRURY

STACEY GOTTLIEB

Shareholder Renaud Cook Drury Meznaros rcdmlaw.com Drury is an experienced trial attorney who has successfully tried more than 150 jury cases throughout his 38-year career with a notable record of success, including cases that have been recognized in Arizona and nationally. In addition, Drury is equally invested in the community through a variety of charitable organizations, including his role as an original cofounder of Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Trend to watch: “The biggest impacts on our industry will be brought by two separate influences — the impact of technology, and the impact of alternative dispute resolution. Neither, however, replaces the need for trial attorneys, which is why our firm is dedicated to mentoring the next generation.”

PAUL ECKSTEIN

Partner Perkins Coie perkinscoie.com Eckstein has practiced law at Perkins Coie LLP and its predecessor firm, Brown & Bain P.A., since 1965 as a general litigator on commercial, antitrust, intellectual property, constitutional, election, media and Indian law matters at the trial and appellate level. He also serves as an arbitrator and mediator.

Trend to watch: “Creating, receiving and obtaining information digitally, which will minimize the need for law libraries and for storage space for files, which in turn will minimize the need for office space, which in turn will mean that more and more lawyers will be spending more and more time working from home and faraway places.”

100 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

Of counsel Cohen Dowd Quigley, P.C. cdqlaw.com

CHARLES PRICE

Member Dickinson Wright PLLC dickinsonwright.com Price is a civil litigator and mediator in the areas of securities fraud litigation, contract, insurance, healthcare, antitrust law and corporate investigations. He teaches negotiation at the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University and to lawyers and nonlawyers across the country through the Latz Negotiation Institute. Price is listed in the current editions of Best Lawyers in America and Who’s Who in American Law.

INDUSTRY OUTLOOK: “Clients increasingly expect that lawyers will be not merely vendors, but trusted advisors. The best lawyers and firms will not only accept this, but embrace it. In any given case, this might call for an alternative fee arrangement, increased efficiencies, or any of a number of other practical approaches. In the most general sense, all such approaches are ways of telling a client, ‘I understand your world, and in giving you advice I am doing my best to tell you what I would do if my own fate was hanging in the balance.’”

Gottlieb focuses her practice on complex commercial litigation and white collar criminal defense as an Arizona Bar Certified Criminal Law Specialist. Her civil experience includes a wide range of business litigation, such as claims involving breach of contract, breach of fiduciary obligations, fraud and misappropriation of trade secrets.

Trend to watch: “The appointment of the next U.S. Supreme Court justice will have profound, long-term impact on countless legal issues. Also, changes in presidential policy are likely to affect the direction of the U.S. Department of Justice and the prosecution priorities of the various U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country for several years.”

LARRY HAMMOND

Partner Osborn Maledon PA omlaw.com Hammond is the most senior member of the firm’s investigations and criminal defense group. Hammond’s practice has focused primarily on criminal defense – both white collar and general criminal representation.

He has also been extensively involved in complex civil litigation.

Trend to watch: “One issue seems never to go away: the cost of legal services. The unavailability of legal assistance to those of modest means remains a fact of life. Programs like those at Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College School of Law may provide a blueprint for reforms in this area.”

LAW

{ CONSTRUCTION }

MICHAEL HOLDEN

MITCHELL RESNICK

Partner Holden Willits PLC holdenwillits.com Holden has more than 35 years of experience representing clients in construction law matters, as well as general commercial matters. He was voted Construction Lawyer of the Year for 2010 and 2013 by U.S. News – Best Lawyers of America, and has been repeatedly ranked as one of the Top 50 lawyers in Arizona. He regularly speaks and writes on construction law issues for national and local industry groups, and has been a recognized advocate for the construction industry at the Arizona Legislature. He is an adjunct professor at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University, where he has taught construction law for several years.

Managing partner Resnick & Louis, PC rlattorneys.com

GREGORY GILLIS Attorney Sacks Tierney sackstierney.com

JASON MORRIS

Partner Withey Morris, PLC witheymorris.com Throughout his career, Morris’ practice has been exclusively in land use, government relations, zoning, and administrative law. His experience in the field includes all levels of entitlement throughout the state. Morris’ client list includes many well-known builders and companies. He is a frequent guest lecturer and expert participating in industry roundtables, media appearances and academic panels.

Trend to watch: “In-fill development will continue to be a major trend in development. And while zoning 10,000 acres on the edge of town may only involve meeting with three neighbors, redeveloping two acres in the center of town may involve 1,000 neighbors.”

102 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

Gillis has nearly 30 years of trial experience in a wide variety of construction disputes, commercial litigation matters, real estate transactions and litigation, and bankruptcy litigation. Gillis also has extensive experience as a neutral in mediating and arbitrating construction and commercial disputes. Gillis has also been appointed as arbitrator in Maricopa County Superior Court cases and serves as a Judge Pro Tempore for Maricopa County Superior Court, conducting settlement conferences involving a wide variety of civil matters. Gillis has received the AV Preeminent rating by Martindale-Hubbell and is a Best Lawyers and Super Lawyers honoree.

Business advice: “Treat each client like you would like to be treated if you were the client.”

Trend to watch: “The trend toward alternative dispute resolution to resolve business disputes in a more expeditious, confidential and economical manner.”

Resnick focuses his practice on commercial litigation, real estate, landlord/ tenant, construction injury and delay and environmental matters as well as advertising claims. Resnick was named one of the top Arizona construction law attorneys with Southwest Super Lawyers and has been a featured speaker at different seminars around the country regarding construction related litigation.

Business advice: “There is no replacement for hard work, dedication and loyalty” Source of pride: “Employing people in multiple states. Seeing younger attorneys flourish as professionals and have advancement. Seeing insurance companies and clients give us incredible opportunities throughout the years.”

D. KIM LOUGH Partner Jennings, Haug & Cunningham jhc-law.com

Lough has been practicing construction litigation with Jennings, Haug & Cunningham for more than 30 years. His practice focuses on representing commercial contractors and trade subcontractors in their contract and labor disputes. He is an active member of the Arizona Builders Alliance, where he is a member of its Attorneys’ Council.

Trend to watch: “I represent many general contractors and subcontractors and the biggest issue the construction industry is facing is the lack of qualified labor. During the recession, many workers left the industry and those positions have not been replaced. This will have a significant impact on the industry for years to come.”

LAW

{ EMPLOYMENT & LABOR RELATIONS }

NEIL ALEXANDER

AMY GITTLER

Principal Jackson Lewis P.C. jacksonlewis.com

Shareholder Littler Mendelson, P.C. littler.com Alexander serves as co-chair of the Staffing, Independent Contractors and Contingent Workers Practice Group. His practice includes employment litigation, non-compete litigation and counseling clients on employment risk management for employee workforce or individual employee decisions.

Business advice: “It’s a bit of a cliché, but new attorneys need to remember first and foremost that law firms are in the service industry. Hyperresponsiveness is something I take pride in and will serve your interests well in employment law.

Companies need to make employment decisions in real time and can’t wait a few days to speak with their attorney.”

JOHN ALAN DORAN

Member Sherman & Howard shermanhoward.com Doran has more than 25 years of experience in all facets of employment law matters. He regularly represents employers in mass employment, wage/hour class and collective action litigation, as well as employment discrimination, public accommodations discrimination, and wrongful termination litigation. Doran represents employers in no-compete, restrictive covenant and trade litigation throughout the U.S. Trend to watch: “The hottest of issues are clearly in play judicially and administratively, including labor law, wage/ hour law, board and agency overreach, discrimination, alternative dispute resolution, LGBT, paid sick leave, political speech in the workplace and more.”

104 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

JOSEPH CLEES

Shareholder Ogletree Deakins ogletreedeakins.com Clees is a founding shareholder of the Phoenix office of Ogletree Deakins. Clees has been honored as one of the “100 Most Powerful Employment Lawyers in America”

by HR Executive magazine from 2009-2016.

Surprising fact” “I was born in a public housing project to two teenage runaways — my parents.

After 57 years, they are still the most loving, humble, happy couple I’ve ever known.”

INDUSTRY OUTLOOK: “The employment law practice will continue to thrive in coming years. Gridlock in Washington, active federal regulators at the regional level, and energized state and local lawmakers will continue to pressure employers with even more expansive employment laws, regulations and interpretations.

Additionally, enforcement will continue to be zealous, laws and interpretations will be increasingly inconsistent and workers will be more willing to assert claims against employers. Even in probusiness states like Arizona, ballot propositions and local laws will continue to burden employers and create enhanced rights for workers.”

Gittler opened the Phoenix office in December 2007 and managed it through 2012. She advises, counsels and defends businesses in all aspects of employment law, including wrongful termination, sexual harassment, wage and hour, employment discrimination and noncompete agreements.

Business advice: “Don’t allow other people to set limits on what you can do. With hard work, you can accomplish whatever you set as your goal.”

Source of pride: “Arizona Governing Committee v.

Norris is a case I won in the United States Supreme Court. The case established the right of women to receive equal pension benefits upon retirement and equalized forever all employer-sponsored pension plans in the country.”

J. RUSSELL SKELTON

Partner Jones, Skelton & Hochuli jshfirm.com Skelton has been a partner with Jones, Skelton & Hochuli since its inception in 1983. He concentrates his practice on medical malpractice and workers’ compensation defense. Skelton received his law degree from the University of Arizona College of Law in 1969, and his Bachelor of Science degree in 1966. He is a member of the International Association of Defense Counsel, Arizona Association of Defense Counsel and the Arizona Compensation Defense Counsel and the Defense Research Institute.

He has been listed in Best Lawyers in America every year since 1995. He has been listed in Southwest Super Lawyers every year since 2007 and is also rated AVPreeminent with a perfect score.

Littler congratulates Shareholder

Neil Alexander

on being recognized as an Arizona Business Leader

Neil Alexander, Shareholder nalexander@littler.com Camelback Esplanade 2425 East Camelback Road, Suite 900 Phoenix, AZ 85016

littler.com

ABOUT LITTLER: Littler is the largest global employment and labor law practice, with more than 1,300 attorneys in over 75 offices worldwide. Littler represents management in all aspects of employment and labor law and serves as a single-source solution provider to the global employer community. Consistently recognized in the industry as a leading and innovative law practice, Littler has been litigating, mediating and negotiating some of the most influential employment law cases and labor contracts on record for 75 years. Littler Global is the collective trade name for an international legal practice, the practicing member entities of which are separate and distinct professional firms.

For more information, visit littler.com.

LAW

{ ESTATE PLANNING & PROBATE }

DARREN CASE

ALISA GRAY

Shareholder Tiffany & Bosco P.A. tblaw.com

Case is the co-author of the “Arizona Estate Planning and Probate Handbook,” contributor of articles on Forbes.com, former president of the Estate Planning, Probate & Trust Section for the Maricopa County Bar Association and the incoming president for the Central Arizona Estate Planning Council.

Trend to watch: “Presently, the U.S. is in the midst of what is being described as the greatest wealth transfer in human history, where $30 trillion is set to transfer from one generation to the next over the next few decades. Working with families on the transition of such wealth, in regard to answering the questions of ‘how much?’ and ‘when?’ will be critical in preserving a family’s wealth.”

Shareholder Tiffany & Bosco P.A. tblaw.com

WILLIAM CLARKE

Member Jennings Strouss & Salmon jsslaw.com Clarke has provided counsel to international, national, and local businesses and individuals for more than 30 years.

Gray’s practice emphasizes probate and trust litigation and mediation, along with elder law, such as guardianships and conservatorships for incapacitated persons. She is a frequent speaker at legal and professional events, including providing instruction on reducing stress in the workplace. In addition to practicing law, Gray is a yoga instructor at Desert Song Healing Arts Center and a faculty member of Mindfulness In Law Teacher Training.

Business advice: “Trust your gut. If you have reservations about a particular client, pay attention. It’s important that you and your client have alignment in key areas. Don’t be afraid to walk away from a client. And, take time to care for yourself.”

INDUSTRY OUTLOOK:

HOPE LEIBSOHN

Estate planning attorney Sherman & Howard shermanhoward.com Leibsohn meets with clients to facilitate legacy plans that incorporates each client’s unique family dynamics and core life values. Leibsohn takes pleasure in helping clients create a comprehensive plan that defines the essence of their lives that will be passed down to family, friends, and/or organizations.

Away from work: “Culture and the arts are important to me. Whether visiting a museum, a live performance or attending a foreign film with subtitles, the experience can transcend the venue and allows the art patron to travel through various experiences and cultures on national, global or even intergalactic levels. The arts also serve as a wonderful connector for the human experience.”

106 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

“Lawyers who practice in the area of estate planning and probate are experiencing an increase in family disputes related to division of assets upon a loved one’s death.

Societal changes have created new challenges to how assets are transferred from one generation to the next. For example, the current senior generation has a much higher occurrence of second and third marriages than prior generations.

When divorced and widowed spouses remarry, there is a greater potential for conflict between the ‘original family’ and the ‘second or third family’ upon his or her death, regardless of how well the families appeared to blend and get along.

As a result, disputes may lead to contentious behavior among family members, drawing out the probate process and impacting the division of assets, including those of family held business, jeopardizing its viability to survive the conflict.”

JAMES RYAN

Managing partner Frazer Ryan Goldberg & Arnold LLP frgalaw.com The co-founder of Frazer Ryan Goldberg & Arnold is a widely acknowledged leader in Phoenix legal and business circles for complex estate and business planning for closely held businesses and high-net-worth individuals. He serves on the boards of the Arizona Community Foundation and the 100 Club of Arizona and on the community board of directors for Bankers Trust Company.

Trend to watch: “The demographics of Americans who are aging into the prime estate and tax planning phases of their lives, combined with the rapid rate of technological change, will pose new challenges in serving clients on their terms.”

LAW

{ FAMILY }

KAINE FISHER

SUSAN SWICK

Partner and director of family law Rose Law Group roselawgroup.com Fisher earned his J.D. from Syracuse University in 2005 and was admitted to the Arizona State Bar in 2006. Fisher has focused his practice on representing clients in high-conflict, high-asset family law matters. He co-authored the best-selling book, “A Cup of Coffee with 10 of the Top Divorce Attorneys in the United States.” He has made numerous media appearances to discuss family law topics.

Trend to watch: “As Arizona moves closer and closer to legalizing marijuana for recreational use, it will be interesting to see how Family Court judges treat this ground-breaking change in the law when evaluating parental fitness and other best-interest issues.”

ANGELA HALLIER

Partner Hallier & Lawrence hallierlaw.com Hallier is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Certified Family Law Specialist and Judge Pro Tempore. She founded Hallier & Lawrence, a divorce and family law firm and established Angie’s Angels as a community service extension of the firm. She is the author of “The Wiser Divorce – Positive Strategies For Your Next Best Life,” and has appeared on CNN, FOX News, and The Dr. Drew Show.

Source of pride: “Writing my book, ‘The Wiser Divorce.’

It compiles everything I’ve learned about how to act, talk, and think as you go through a divorce so that your next best life awaits you when you are done. It contains no only legal tips, but life tips, too.”

Trend to watch: “Fortunately or unfortunately, whether the economy is booming or in a bust, people continue to divorce. My industry would be most helped by a more national realization that divorce is a transition, not an end. It can be graceful and not debilitating.”

108 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

Partner Parker Schwartz parkerschwartzlaw.com

CHRISTINA HAMILTON Attorney The Cavanagh Law Firm cavanaghlaw.com

Hamilton practices in the area of family law. She has been a Certified Family Law Specialist since 1992. Her experience includes handling complex divorce matters, often including business valuation issues and other forensic matters.

Hamilton also specializes in custody litigation and handles issues concerning child support, paternity, cohabitation and premarital agreements.

Business advice: “Listening to your clients, being responsive to their inquiries and advising them of the law and what is/is not achievable are the cornerstones for a successful practice.”

Trend to watch: “Gay marriages and the children that are arising out of those marriages via adoption and/or in vitro fertilization.”

During her first 10 years of practicing law, Swick represented clients in commercial transactions and commercial and employment law litigation. Since then, she has combined that transactional and litigation experience to focus her practice in all areas of family law, including complex financial and business valuation issues in divorces, custody and parenting issues, paternity cases, premarital and cohabitation agreements, appellate matters and other family law related matters.

Business advice: “Advise, educate and guide your family law client, who is typically undergoing one of the most stressful and often scary stages in life, to a resolution as quickly and efficiently as possible.”

KELLIE WELLS Partner Padish & Wells padishwells.com

Wells’ leadership in the legal profession is evidenced by her service as a judge pro tem in Maricopa County Superior Court and as past chair of the Maricopa County Bar Association Family Law Section. Wells also dedicates a considerable amount of time to providing pro bono services to individuals throughout the Phoenix area.

Business advice: “Take the time to network and volunteer as much as you can. Get to know the judges’ staff, go to networking events where you will meet people from other professions, volunteer at your kids’ school, etc.”

Trend to watch: “Until people stop posting their every thought on social media, family law is just going to continue to grow and get more interesting.”

LAW

{ INSURANCE }

STEVEN PLITT

GENA SLUGA

Partner Kunz Plitt Hyland & Demlong kunzlegal.com

Plitt has been recognized as one of Arizona’s Top 50 Lawyers by Southwest Super Lawyers. He is also been listed as a Top 100 Lawyer by Az Business Magazine. He is a nationally recognized expert on insurance law. In addition to practicing law, he is also a law professor, teaching insurance law. He has a national insurance law practice.

Business advice: “Success happens when opportunity meets preparation. The best preparation comes from being passionate and diligent about meeting client needs and exceeding their expectations.”

Surprising fact: “I collect western bronzes relating to the law in the Old West. ”

RANDY SASSAMAN

Counsel Holloway, Odegard & Kelly hoklaw.com Sassaman has been certified as personal injury and wrongful death litigation specialist since 1996. He enjoys an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell, and has been selected to the Southwest Super Lawyers, Arizona’s Finest Lawyers, and Best Lawyers. Sassaman is a native of Kansas and received his law degree from the Washburn University School of Law, where he was a member of the Washburn Law Journal in 1981.

After working for a Superior Court judge in Phoenix, Sassaman accepted a position with Holloway & Thomas handling liability defense, insurance coverage and bad faith cases on behalf of insurers.

110 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

Shareholder Christian Dichter & Sluga cdslawfirm.com

KURT ZITZER Partner Meagher & Geer meagher.com

Zitzer has 27 years of experience providing legal counsel to business owners, with a focus on insurance, construction, product liability and general business advising. He is passionate about helping his clients succeed at their business and producing cost efficient and favorable results when matters proceed to litigation.

INDUSTRY OUTLOOK: “Attorneys will experience an increased commoditization of their services. General counsels face greater scrutiny over the decision to retain outside counsel.

Successful attorneys and law firms will need to invest in resources to track performance against industry matrixes, because clients have already invested in these resources and are tracking performance. While client relationships will continue to be a factor in obtaining and retaining work, relationships will only be valuable if the attorney or firm measures well against industry cost standards. As with many industries, there is a downward pressure to curb legal expenses without sacrificing service.”

Sluga is licensed to practice in Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico and Texas. Sluga’s practice emphasizes insurance coverage analysis. She is a graduate of University of California, Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law. She maintains a Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent rating and was recognized by Southwest Super Lawyers in 2013 as one of the 25 Top Women Lawyers in Arizona to accompany her listing in that publication in the Insurance Coverage category.

Trend to watch: “As in many businesses and professions, technology is the blessing and curse of the future. It allows small firms like our firm to compete with the mega firms, but it someday may render many lawyers obsolete.”

MARK WORISCHECK

Managing shareholder Sanders & Parks sandersparks.com Worischeck’s practice emphasizes complex civil litigation, primarily in the areas of insurance coverage and bad faith, product liability and aviation law. Worischeck has been recognized as one of Arizona’s Top 50 Lawyers by Southwest Super Lawyers and selected as Insurance Lawyer of the Year

by Best Lawyers.

Source of pride: “Working with and mentoring young lawyers and having the opportunity to help shape their careers has been the most professionally rewarding part of my career.”

Dream dinner: “I have always respected Ronald Reagan for his ability to lead and bring people together. I would like to sit down to dinner with him at Durant’s over a juicy steak.”

Congratulations Kurt!

KURT ZITZER was selected by Az Business magazine as one of the Top 100 Lawyers in Arizona for 2017.

Kurt is recognized in the areas of insurance coverage, commercial litigation, and professional liability.

in Arizona

01

4 • 201

5

TOP 50

• 2016 •

013 • 2 • 2

2017

Southwest Super Lawyer 2017

DIRECT

480 /607-9719 480/624-8570 | kzitzer@meagher.com

meagher.com

LAW

{ MANAGEMENT }

GRADY GAMMAGE, JR.

EDWARD NOVAK Shareholder Polsinelli polsinelli.com

Partner Gammage & Burnham gblaw.com

Gammage grew up on the ASU campus in the 1950s. After graduating from Stanford, he came home and started practicing law in the mid 1970s. With two partners, he founded Gammage & Burnham in 1983. Gammage practices in the areas of zoning, land use and real estate. He is also a senior fellow at ASU’s Morrison Institute and the Kyl Center for Water Policy. His work there focuses on urban growth and development, quality of life and local economic issues. He also teaches at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law and at the W.P. Carey School of Business.

Business advice: “Lawyers don’t have to be obnoxious to be successful. ”

JOHN NORLING Managing attorney Jennings, Strouss & Salmon jsslaw.com

Norling’s practice is focused on advising clients on all aspects of their business operations, including corporate and finance, mergers and acquisitions, real estate, federal and administrative compliance, and advertising law. Norling is recognized as an industry leader in the representation of automobile dealerships.

Trend to watch: “The legal industry is transforming at a rapid pace. Law firms must adapt to ever changing client demands and expectations. Technology continues to be a blessing and a curse – a blessing regarding the opportunities it presents and a curse regarding the cost of implementation and the potential exposure from a cybersecurity perspective.”

112 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

LEAH FREED

Managing shareholder Ogletree Deakins ogletreedeakins.com Freed has exclusively practiced management-side labor and employment law throughout her career. Freed advises and counsels private and public employers in all aspects of employment law, in addition to handling complex employment litigation matters. Freed has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America, Southwest Super Lawyer and as one of Az Business magazine’s Most Influential Women in Business.

Business advice: “Understand your role as a partner to your clients. The more you get to know their businesses needs and goals, the better you can provide client service that will solidify a long-term relationship.”

Source of pride: “I consider myself extremely lucky to work in profession that I enjoy and to partner with talented colleagues and clients. It is rewarding to continue to work in a supportive environment and to be presented with the opportunity to help clients solve new challenges every day.”

Novak chairs the firm’s national Governmental Investigations and White Collar Criminal Defense practice. In more than 30 years of legal practice, he has acquired the respect of the legal and business communities for his ability to counsel and resolve difficult issues.

Business advice: “Listen and ask questions. Clients know more than we think they might.”

Source of pride: “Assisting the Arizona Justice Project team in securing the release of Lewis Taylor, a wrongfully convicted man who spent 42 years in prison.”

Trend to watch: “A decrease in regulation coming out of the new administration could lead to more litigation, as well as more transactional work.”

NICOLE STANTON

Phoenix office managing partner Quarles & Brady LLP quarles.com Stanton is a member of the American Law Institute, Charter 100 Women and Women’s Metropolitan Arts Council.

She serves on the Arizona Equal Justice Foundation board and is founder of The Dion Initiative. In 2016, she was named Woman of the Year by Arizona Summit Women’s Law Association and honored by Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS with its Outstanding Achievement Award.

Trend to watch: “Regulatory changes predicted to happen at a federal level due to the Trump administration. From immigration to the environment, to healthcare to trade, whenever a change occurs, it affects our clients. We will need to find cost effective ways to deal with what could be fast and furious dramatic changes.”

LAW

{ NONPROFIT }

LAURA LO BIANCO

ELLIS CARTER

President Caritas Law Group caritaslawgroup.com Carter exclusively represents, nonprofit, tax-exempt and mission-based businesses with respect to corporate, tax and regulatory matters, as well as donors with respect to major gifts. Carter spent 13 years practicing with large firms, forming Caritas Law Group (formerly Carter Law Group) in 2010.

Business advice: “Pick an area you are truly passionate about and learn everything you can about it. Never stop learning. If you become an expert in something, success will follow.”

Trend to watch: “The rise of state regulators in the regulation of nonprofits. The impact will be an increased need to focus on state law compliance where in the past the focus has been of federal tax compliance.”

SCOTT DEWALD

Partner Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie lrrc.com For more than 30 years, DeWald has advised clients including public and private companies, profit and nonprofit corporations, as well as LLCs and partnerships of all sizes in the areas of corporate, mergers and acquisitions and securities law. He is consistently ranked among the top attorneys in his field by The Best Lawyers in America, Chambers USA and Martindale-Hubbell. He contributes hundreds of hours on pro bono assistance to nonprofit institutions and improvements to state laws on LLCs, corporations and benefit corporations.

Business advice: “Positive outlook, high energy, fairness, fun, willingness to not keep score when it comes to giving and working hard.”

Director Fennemore Craig fennemorecraig. com

ROBERT BROWN

Practice group leader Gallagher & Kennedy gknet.com In practice for 42 years, Brown is a Fellow of the Arizona Bar and has an AV Martindale Hubbell rating.

Industry outlook: “Arizona’s nonprofits are on the leading edge of political and cultural change. If the past five years are a guide to the future, then the next few will likely contain evolutionary and most likely unpredictable changes.

Federal and/or state governments face looming budget deficits, rising entitlement obligations and increasing healthcare costs.

This could result in significant reductions in the deductibility of charitable contributions. If this were to transpire, the consequences for the nonprofit sector will be dire.

The 2015 Obergefell U.S. Supreme Court decision, which legalized gay marriage, will continue to reverberate throughout the faith community, as well as through nonprofits which provide social services. Numerous ambiguities and unanswered questions will be presented to the courts for resolution as gay and lesbian couples marry, divorce, face custody issues and the like.”

Lo Bianco is the chair of Fennemore Craig’s nonprofit and tax-exempt groups, focusing on corporate law and transactional matters. Her corporate experience includes business counseling, the formation of organizations, including nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations and limited liability companies, corporate governance, and maintenance of requisite organizational records.

Business advice: “Whether seeking a career in the law or any other industry, you must enjoy the work that you do and the people with whom you do it. Practicing law is like hiking a mountain, it requires training, focus, perseverance and continuous learning. Determine that you like hiking before reaching the mountain.”

KENDIS MUSCHEID

Partner Ballard Spahr ballardspahr.com Practicing law for more than 25 years, Muscheid focuses exclusively in the nonprofit/tax-exempt area, representing tax-exempt organizations and donors making charitable gifts.

Muscheid represents a variety of 501(c)(3) and other exempt organizations, including private foundations, education institutions, healthcare entities, religious groups, social welfare organizations and arts groups.

Trend to watch: “There is a high probability that tax reform legislation will impact charitable giving. It remains to be seen what tax reforms will be enacted (cap gains, estate tax, etc.) and to what extent each may shift incentives for charitable giving. The charitable sector will be closely watching.”

Nominate at azBIGmedia.com | ABL 113

LAW

{ MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS }

STEVEN PIDGEON

PHILLIP GUTTILLA

Co-managing partner DLA Piper dlapiper.com

Shareholder Polsinelli polsinelli.com Guttilla enjoys partnering with his clients to provide insightful legal and strategic business advice. He serves as outside corporate counsel to clients operating globally. His practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, securities and corporate finance, representation of board of directors and board committees, start-up and emerging growth companies, and business transactions.

Trend to watch: “I think artificial intelligence tools will become an increasingly critical tool for lawyers. AI will free lawyers from some repetitive tasks so that we can focus on providing the highest value services.”

SCOTT WEISS Attorney Weiss Brown weissbrown.com

KAREN MCCONNELL

Partner Ballard Spahr ballardspahr.com McConnell has extensive M&A experience, including private equity and venture capital transactions. Her distinctions include Chambers USA and Best Lawyers of America.

Trend to watch: “As the amount of available legal work has been shrinking, but the number of lawyers seeking that work has not, the practice of law has become increasingly competitive. The lawyers and law firms who embrace practice management tools, alternative fee arrangements and other practices that provide real value to their clients are the ones who will most successfully master the new environment. It is no longer sufficient to be a good lawyer; we have to be great lawyers and we have to deliver the value our clients expect.”

114 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

Weiss is a corporate and securities attorney and focuses his practice in the areas of securities, private offerings, venture capital and mergers and acquisitions. Weiss is also a certified public accountant.

Prior to Weiss Brown, Weiss was a shareholder at the international law firm of Greenberg Traurig and also served in the audit practice at Arthur Andersen.

Source of pride: “Transferring professional disciplines (from accounting to law) helped me to bring a more broad understanding to business law and I continue to rely on both disciplines every day.”

Trend to watch: “New and different technologies continually cause us to engage with clients, stimulate investment and keep us busy.”

Pidgeon has handled more than $35 billion in transactions, including two recent public company mergers. Pidgeon is widely recommended by clients who have said that he “is extremely experienced in securities and also has a strong business perspective,” “is knowledgeable on both the legal and business side,” and is an “extraordinarily smart and extremely practical lawyer.”

Business advice: “Work hard. There is simply no substitute for experience.”

Source of pride: “Working with younger lawyers who have become partners at law firms, general counsel to companies or business leaders. It’s great fun to see people we work with go on to shine on their own.”

CHARLES BERRY

Senior counsel Clark Hill clarkhill.com Berry is senior counsel in Clark Hill’s Corporate Practice Group. He represents corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships, other business entities and individuals in a wide spectrum of transactions, focusing primarily on capital formation and business management. He has extensive experience in securities regulation, private and public offerings, mergers and acquisitions and securities industry issues, including FINRA matters.

Berry prepared the first “plain English” initial public offering of securities registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Trend to watch: “New technologies being applied to capital formation could fundamentally change how businesses — particularly small- and medium-sized businesses — raise capital. Also, the availability of online ‘do-it yourself’ legal services has eliminated reliance on lawyers for routine services. While often beneficial, those services sometimes create serious problems when inadvertently misused.”

Lick the competition with...

azBIGmedia.com Print

•

Digital

•

Events

LAW

{ PERSONAL INJURY }

ROBIN BURGESS

WENDI SORENSEN

Owner, secretary/ treasurer Sanders & Parks sandersparks.com Burgess is an experienced litigator who emphasizes professional liability, personal injury and municipal liability in her practice.

She has tried cases in state and federal courts, on issues ranging from complex medical negligence claims to constitutional claims.

Trend to watch: “As a recent article in Az Business identified, fewer lawsuits are going to trial and thus there are fewer trained trial attorneys overall. This will impact the ability of people and businesses to find experienced and accomplished trial counsel if and when needed. This will also lead to fewer new trial judges having actual trial experience, which could result in questionable trial results and more appeals.”

G. JAMES GOODNOW, III

Shareholder Fennemore Craig, P.C. lambergoodnow. com Goodnow has been named one of “America’s Techiest Lawyers.” and has gained national recognition as the face of the Millennial generation in business.

Business advice: “Forge your own path. The legal profession is one of the most traditional, conservative industries in existence. It’s easy to get lured into doing it the way everyone did before — and that can be stifling and limiting. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and to seek out innovation.”

Trend to watch: “Technology will continue to impact and transform almost every aspect of the law. Recently, we became the first legal team in the country — at least to our knowledge — to harness Oculus Rift and virtual reality technology. As a firm, we are also among the first handful of law firms in the United States to deploy ROSS Artificial Intelligence.

Across the legal industry, technology is positively impacting case outcomes and making the practice of law more efficient. Ignoring it is not an option.”

118 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

Partner Burch & Cracchiolo bcattorneys.com

PATRICK MCGRODER, III Shareholder Gallagher & Kennedy gknet.com

McGroder specializes in plaintiffs’ catastrophic personal injury trial litigation, including wrongful death, product liability, aviation, consumer advocacy and professional negligence. His more than 40 years of litigation successes have also yielded many important health and safety reforms. Recognized by peers as one of America’s finest trial lawyers, he has garnered professional honors and awards at the local and national levels.

Business advice: “Stop starting every sentence with a first person pronoun. Try listening with empathy, compassion and understanding. It will make you a better human being and a more consummate professional.”

Sorensen has been certified by the State Bar of Arizona as a Certified Specialist in Personal Injury and Wrongful Death law due to her nearly three decades of litigation experience in both state and federal court. Her practice focuses on aggravated liability and damages matters.

Trend to watch: “Efficiency in reaching the right result. Consumers of legal services not only expect, but are entitled to, a litigation plan tightly focused on achieving the best result with the least amount of legal expense possible. As attorneys, we provide the best service to our clients when we identify and focus our efforts on the one or two key issues of dispute so the matter can be moved toward a resolution.”

GEOFFREY TRACHTENBERG Managing partner Levenbaum Trachtenberg, PLC www.LTinjurylaw. com

Trachtenberg is a founding partner at Levenbaum Trachtenberg. He is the past-president of the State Bar of Arizona and the current president of the Arizona Association for Justice.

Business advice: “I am driven by three main philosophies: gratefulness, knowledge and mindfulness.

I try daily to appreciate my life and those around me, know more today about the world than yesterday and look for ways to lessen the suffering of others.”

Source of pride: “It would be co-developing the SBA’s Public Service Center, which serves as a model to providing access to justice for those who have no or limited means and simultaneously leveling the playing field for small and solo lawyers.”

LAW

{ REAL ESTATE }

REBECCA BURNHAM

C. ADAM BUCK Partner Radix Law radixlaw.com

Buck is a Certified Real Estate Specialist with nearly two decades of transactional and litigation experience in Arizona and Nevada. As a partner with Radix Law, Buck focuses on business law, real estate law, homeowners association law, employment law, commercial litigation and estate planning.

Business advice: “Talk to as many lawyers as you can about what it is like to be a lawyer. Listen to them and take time to decide if it is something you really want to do. If so, develop a plan to get your law degree with as little debt as possible. Being debt free will give you the freedom to practice law the way you want to practice.”

Shareholder Greenberg Traurig gtlaw.com

PAUL WEISER

Managing shareholder of the firm’s Scottsdale office Buchalter Nemer buchalter.com

Burnham represents real estate interests in connection with the acquisition, planning, development, financing, operation and sale of real estate developments, as well as legislative and public policy matters pertaining to economic development and land use.

Trend to watch: “The passing of the baton from the Boomers, who have dominated every aspect of life for the last three decades, to Gen X and, to an even greater extent, the Millennials, the first generation to come of age taking continuous disruptive innovation for granted. This has huge implications across the board.

In my industry, it is already leading to rethinking how we address the use of space for living, working and moving about.”

INDUSTRY OUTLOOK:

ED BULL

President and shareholder Burch & Cracchiolo bcattorneys.com Bull is the firm president and practice chair of the land use and zoning department. Bull is certified as a Real Estate Specialist by the Arizona Board of Legal Specialization. A peer review rated AV 5.0 Preeminent attorney, Bull has been recognized

by Chambers USA, Best Lawyers in America, Super Lawyers, Arizona’s Finest Lawyers and AZRE’s People to Know in Commercial Real Estate.

Trend to watch: “Infill development in both residential and industrial uses will continue as land becomes available. Light rail-related developments will continue to grow as we see in the Glendale and I-10 corridor.”

Surprising fact: “If I wasn’t a lawyer, I’d be swinging a hammer or ranching.”

120 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

The commercial real estate industry has been fairly vibrant. There are new developments in the works, as well as many sales, purchases and leases being completed. There will be bubbles, but there is no reason to think that the amount of transactional work won’t continue.

However, clients are becoming more cautious in their actions, more sophisticated in their purchase of legal services and thinking more outside the box with respect to the ever-evolving ways in which the spaces within their properties can be utilized. Many are trying to handle more of the legal work in-house, while the larger ones are considering hiring in-house counsel. Transactional lawyers will need to continue to be creative in helping clients implement the ever-changing visions they have for their properties, while structuring fee arrangements in such a way as to make sure that their services remain a cost effective way for owners and developers to manage risk while protecting their investments.“

KENNETH VAN WINKLE JR.

Managing partner Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie lrrc.com Van Winkle is a member of the firm’s Real Estate Transactional Group and focuses his practice on real estate leasing, real estate equity and debt financing, and real estate sales and acquisitions. Van Winkle has represented both borrowers and lenders in real estate finance transactions, including mortgage-based lending transactions, equity joint venture financing transactions, franchise lending transactions, sales/ leaseback transactions and leasehold mortgage transactions. He also has extensive experience representing tenants in leasing office, manufacturing and industrial space.

Business advice: “Develop and maintain sincere and honest relationships within your profession and community.”

PROVIDING LEGAL COUNSEL AT ALL STAGES OF OUR CLIENTS’ GROWTH & EVOLUTION

Buchalter’s Scottsdale Office Named

“Best Place to Work” by the Phoenix Business Journal

This program is designed to recognize outstanding places of employment in the valley.

16435 North Scottsdale Road Suite 440 Scottsdale, AZ 85254 WWW.BUCHALTER.COM

480 • 383 • 1800

LAW

{ SECURITIES & FINANCE }

MARC LIEBERMAN

ALAN BASKIN

Member Baskin Richards baskinrichards.com Baskin’s practice emphasizes securities arbitrations, securities enforcement and regulatory matters, commercial litigation and white collar criminal cases. He believes he is the only attorney to obtain a fee award against the Arizona Corporation Commission in a securities case and he has done so twice. Baskin is one of a handful of attorneys to have obtained a seven-figure award in an Arizona NASD (now FINRA) arbitration, and has settled cases involving millions of dollars.

Business advice: “If you are afraid of the word ‘no,’ just stay in bed.”

Surprising fact: “I have run 16 marathons, with more to come. This includes Boston in 2013, which changed the world and revealed far more good than bad about the world.”

JAIME DADDONA

Partner Squire Patton Boggs squirepattonboggs. com Daddona’s practice focuses on corporate and business matters with an emphasis on mergers and acquisitions, commercial transactions, securities offerings and compliance, and corporate governance.

Trend to watch: “Cybersecurity and data privacy issues are the biggest threats facing companies right now. Based on a 2016 Cyber Claims study done by RSM, 87percent of claims submitted are for companies with revenues less than $2 billion, and the average payout per breach claim is $495,000. The exorbitant costs, coupled with potential personal liability for directors and officers, are slowly bringing these critical threats to the desks of GCs and risk managers at every level.”

122 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

Senior partner Kutak Rock kutakrock.com

JONATHAN FRUTKIN Principal Radix Law radixlaw.com

As the founder and principal of Radix Law, Frutkin has significant experience as an attorney, a business executive and business owner. Over the course of his career, he has owned a website design business, a software company, a real estate development company, and served as the developer for a national ice cream chain. Frutkin’s legal practice focuses on providing general counsel, including legal advice on capital formation, mergers and acquisitions, litigation strategy and intellectual property. His work includes handling both domestic and international transactions on behalf of his business clients, ensuring that these matters comply with all relevant federal, state and international laws. He is also the author of “Equity Crowdfunding: Transforming Customers into Loyal Owners.” His expertise in crowdfunding has resulted in regular media appearances.

Business advice: “Remember that clients are turning to lawyers for answers, not a list of things they should or should not be doing.”

Lieberman chairs Kutak Rock’s Alternative Investment Group, which negotiates private equity, hedge fund and real estate transactions for institutional investors like public pension systems, endowments, banks, insurers and sovereign wealth funds.

Trend to watch: “As more municipalities struggle with unfunded pension obligations, there will be a material increase of municipal bankruptcies, which will materially impair the pensions of thousands of government employees.”

Away from work: “I write novels. My first, ‘The Sign of the Anasazi,’ just won the Paris and Southern California book awards.”

PAUL ROSHKA, JR. Shareholder Polsinelli polsinelli.com

Roshka is a seasoned commercial and securities litigator who is trusted to resolve clients’ financial matters, primarily those involving the prosecution and defense of claims in federal and state courts alleging violations of securities laws. Roshka practices regularly before the SEC, Arizona Securities Division and FINRA. Business advice: “Listen to what clients say and be passionate about helping them resolve their problems and achieve their goals. Always provide value.”

Trend to watch: “I anticipate that with a new SEC chairman, there will be less aggressive enforcement of market and corporate conduct and an increase in cases focusing on individual investor losses.”

SAME FIRM, NEW NAME. THE FRUTKIN LAW FIRM IS NOW RADIX LAW.

The word Radix in Latin means “root”: the root of a tree, the root of knowledge, or the root of a number.

Our new name reflects our values. We are a business law firm that knows the law, helps our clients pursue opportunities and deal with challenges, and we are rooted right here in Arizona.

15205 N. Kierland Blvd., Suite 200 Scottsdale, AZ 85254 Phone: (602) 606-9300 radixlaw.com

LAW

{ TAX }

SHAD BROWN

ELIOT KAPLAN

Managing partner Brown & Jensen Law Firm brownandjensen. com

Brown represents clients in a variety of legal areas, including estate planning, probate, trust administration, guardianships, conservatorships, tax matters and QDROs. Trend to watch: “The possibility of significant tax reform is the issue that will have the biggest impact on the tax and estate planning industry in the coming years. Our country continues to operate in a deficit, which logic would indicate, is an unsustainable path in the long term. How our elected officials ultimately address this issue will have a significant impact on how we structure estate plans and many business transactions in the future.”

PAT DERDENGER

Partner Steptoe & Johnson steptoe.com Derdenger focuses on federal, state and local taxation law.

Widely recognized as one of Arizona’s top tax lawyers, Derdenger has been listed in Best Lawyers in America since 1995, and in 2016, was selected as the Phoenix Tax Lawyer of the Year. He also has been listed in Southwest Super Lawyers for 10 consecutive years and in 2013, was selected as one of the “Top 50 Attorneys in Arizona.”

Trend to watch: “Federal income tax reform, which would be the first major reform since 1986, will impact not only the federal income tax practice, but also the state income tax practice, particularly with respect to states that ‘piggyback’ the Internal Revenue Code.”

124 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

Partner Perkins Coie perkinscoie.com

YALE GOLDBERG

Partner Frazer Ryan Goldberg & Arnold LLP frgalaw.com Goldberg has a national reputation for successfully representing businesses and individuals in tax controversies in state and federal tax courts, trial courts and courts of appeal.

He began his career as a trial attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice. Goldberg is a Certified Specialist in Tax Law (Arizona Board of Legal Specialization) and is a fellow of the American College of Tax Counsel.

Business advice: “We are in a service profession and a people profession. The best thing we can do to preserve and enhance our reputation is to serve our clients professionally, promptly and with empathy.”

Trend to watch: “As government at all levels continues to grow, the demand for tax revenues could result in heightened audit and collection efforts by state and federal taxing authorities, putting individual and business taxpayers under increased scrutiny.”

Surprising fact: “I juggle and I have run more than 60 marathons, many of them in under three hours.”

Kaplan counsels clients on private equity transactions, mergers and acquisitions, partnerships, limited liability companies and joint ventures, entity planning and structuring, entity formation and dissolution, corporate governance, fund formation and business reorganizations and restructurings and the potential and related tax liabilities triggered by complex transactions and entity structures and administrative tax controversies.

Business advice: “The legal profession has many different practices. Find the practice you most enjoy, learn everything you can about it and let your existing and prospective clients see your competence and passion for it.”

MARTHA PATRICK

Shareholder Burch & Cracchiolo bcattorneys.com Patrick’s law practice focuses exclusively on civil and criminal tax controversies.

She joined Burch & Cracchiolo in 1987 after nine years with the IRS chief counsel. Patrick is a peer review rated AV Preeminent attorney, recognized since 2008 by Best Lawyers in America for Tax Law and named 2014 “Lawyer of the Year” for Tax Controversy in Phoenix.

Business advice: “Don’t let others define your success.

Do what brings you satisfaction, be true to your values and treat others fairly. As simply stated by Mark Twain and Spike Lee: ‘Do the right thing.’”

Trend to watch: “Cuts to the IRS budget and limits on federal hiring will have a substantial impact on the ability to get things done at the IRS.”

{ INDUSTRY OUTLOOK }

RENOVATION REVOLUTION Arizona resorts are remodeled, re-imagined and re-energized

By ALISON BAILIN BATZ

A

record 43 million overnight visitors came to Arizona last year, and they collectively spent $58 million per day during their stays, according to the Arizona Office of Tourism. That’s $40,000 pumping into our economy every minute. Here are some of the ways hotels and resorts have worked to keep up with supply, demand, national trends and consumer wants of these travelers and locals alike.

HILTON SEDONA As part of recent renovations, the upscale 219-room resort redesigned guest rooms, lobby and social spaces that reflect the natural elements of Sedona. They also developed formal partnerships with The Hike House Sedona and Pink Adventure Group to offer travelers a wealth of outdoor adventures, recommendations, education, gear and much more available right in the resort lobby at multiple stations.

SCOTTSDALE RESORT AT MCCORMICK RANCH Formerly the Scottsdale Resort & Conference Center, the newly named Scottsdale Resort at McCormick Ranch recently underwent a massive $11 million renovation, which transformed the independent resort and revitalized its amenities head to toe. The project included a full architectural, décor and soft goods renovation to three Presidential Suites in the resort’s McCormick Building; the addition of two new restaurants and a bar; the transformation of the main pool; a significant addition to outdoor meeting and event space; enhanced guest rooms; and the opening of a General Store & Trading Post.

SPONSORED BY EXPERIENCE AZ MAGAZINE 126 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

FAIRMONT SCOTTSDALE PRINCESS Fresh off the completion of the 2016’s Sunset Beach expansion project, which included the development of 102 new luxurious guest rooms, as well as the addition of the sixth and largest pool and Western-themed event venue Copper Canyon, the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess continues to transcend expectations with the next phase of resort enhancements. Refined and sophisticated, the Princess’ Fairmont Gold inventory— including 69 guest rooms and suites and exclusive private lounge—received an impressive 2017 update, as did its event spaces within.

THE PHOENICIAN In late Spring, The Phoenician announced its largest refurbishment project since the resort opened in 1988, with completion set for December 2017. The re-model will include the re-development of all signature public areas. The extensive renovations represent the second phase of a two-year repositioning plan, which began in summer 2016 with the redesign of the resort’s casitas and all guestrooms, as well as the makeover of The Canyon Suites. Among the most hotly anticipated updates – the Il Terrazzo ROYAL PALMS

{ INDUSTRY OUTLOOK }

restaurant will be re-concepted as Mowry & Cotton and The Centre for Well-Being will be replaced by The Phoenician Spa, a stunning, three-story facility that will feature a rooftop pool, 24 treatment rooms, a Drybar, nail salon and more.

property. Two especially unique enhancements – a Hummingbird garden with 14 species of the beloved birds and the launch of El Conquistador Western Adventures on property, which is an 18-horse stable that offers guided horseback trail rides and family friendly adventures.

THE BOULDERS RESORT & SPA The Boulders Resort has made its mark as one of the finest golf destinations in the world over and over throughout the past several decades. Now, in true Boulders style, they unveil a luxurious new clubhouse facility with the same panache.

Now complete, the space features an expansive pro shop, lounges, swimming pool and event space all set amidst the most stunning natural landscape in the area.

ROYAL PALMS In mid-2017, Phoenix’s romantic destination resort, Royal Palms Resort and Spa, announced a multimillion dollar renovation to all 119 rooms, including its Presidential Suite, as well as select meeting and event spaces. The renovations, completed in late Fall 2017, complement recent improvements made to the resort’s pool and lounge area, event lawns and landscaping. The resort’s rich history,

HOTEL ADELINE Thanks to a $12 million renovation, the former Scottsdale Inn re-opened as Hotel Adeline in fall 2017. The property was transformed into a contemporary urban retreat meant to attract savvy leisure and business travelers, as well as locals, who crave a vibrant social experience.

Hotel Adeline offers 213 guestrooms, including five spacious 700-squarefoot king suites, featuring sleek and uncomplicated design. Hotel Adeline’s 3,000-square-foot zero edge pool and trendy pool bar are the centerpiece of the property.

emblematic details, and iconic location were at the center of the design.

SANCTUARY ON CAMELBACK MOUNTAIN RESORT & SPA The resort has been doing big things in its spa over the past two years, including $2 million in renovations to its Spa Casitas and Spa Suites. Unveiled in 2017, the casitas and suites surround the resort’s stunning infinity-edge pool and award-winning Sanctuary Spa. They also launched the Spa House, a 3,500-square-foot, four-bedroom private guest enclave.

MOUNTAIN SHADOWS Mountain Shadows – the $100 million boutique resort, luxury condominium and golf course project at the base of Camelback Mountain– opened its doors in 2017. And while the property retains the Mountain Shadows name in homage to the original resort and golf course first founded on the land in 1959, the sleek new space was masterfully conceived for today’s guest and built from the ground up, with no expense spared.

THE SCOTT Classic Hotels & Resorts rebranded and renamed Firesky Resort & Spa as The Scott in recent months, and then announced that over the next two years that it will invest $15 million in updating the property to both celebrate the historic building’s iconic architecture while introducing a new look and feel and elevated guest service culture. The first phase of the redesign to the lobby, on-site bar and restaurant, pool and cabanas and meeting space was completed in September 2017.

HILTON TUCSON EL CONQUISTADOR RESORT Hilton Tucson El Conquistador Resort announced in mid-2017 the completion of its largest renovation in the resort’s 35-year history, encompassing all areas of the 500-acre 128 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

FAIRMONT SCOTTSDALE PRINCESS

LIFESTYLE

{ AUTO DEALERS } BRENT BERGE Owner Berge Auto Group bergegroup.com

Berge founded Berge Auto Group for the purpose of delivering quality products and service to customers and to provide jobs and job security for its employees, as well as benefitting the community. Berge’s commitment in each location is made only after determining the quality of the products and services which can be furnished to the public.

Company strengths: “Our main focus is providing the highest level of customer service possible and our dedication in this area has paid off with our biggest strength: customer satisfaction.”

Trend to watch: “The biggest driving force behind auto sales in 2018 will be the economy. Gas prices remaining low have already fueled our truck and SUV sales greatly.”

TEX EARNHARDT

Founder Earnhardt Auto Centers earnhardt.com The Earnhardt Auto Group, based in Chandler, was founded 65 years ago by Earnhardt, 86, the oldest living first-generation car dealer in Arizona. Over the years, Earnhardt became widely known as the cowboy car dealer who rode a bull. His trademark slogan, “that ain’t no bull,” was the ultimate truth in advertising. The bull he rode in the commercials was really a steer. From its humble beginnings of selling a few cars a month, Earnhardt Auto Centers is now one of the largest auto groups in the Southwest.

Business advice: “To have a successful career in the auto industry, you need to have an attitude of not only selling a customer today, but to earning the business of his or her family, friends and neighbors. Repeat business is the key to success.”

Trend to watch: “We must continue to adapt to the ups and downs of the economy, which are inevitable in the auto industry.

We’ve been in business for over 65 years, so whatever may happen would not be our first rodeo.”

WALLY HENKEL General manager Big Two Toyota bigtwotoyota.com

Henkel is general manager of Big Two Toyota, which celebrated its 50th year in business in 2017. The Toyota dealership is known for its unique amenities, such as its barbershop and salon services. Big Two Toyota is also ranked among the top 60 Toyota dealerships nationwide in terms of new vehicle sales volume. The dealership is also committed to local causes and giving back to the community it serves. This includes supporting the Lon E. Hoeye ICAN Youth Center in Chandler, which is named in memory of Big Two Toyota’s founder.

Strength of staff: “Thirty-nine of our employees have worked here for a least 10 years and we’re so thankful our hard-working staff continues to always go above and beyond.”

DAVID KIMMERLE CEO Sanderson Ford sandersonford.com

Kimmerle is proud that Sanderson Ford has been in business for more than 60 years. He gives the credit to the employees, customers and the Sanderson philosophy of doing business. For their 60th year Sanderson donated more than $1 million in food, toys, clothing and money to serve those in need. The dealership also works with veterans and Seats for Soldiers as a way to honor those who have served.

Sanderson Ford is the only dealership in the area that is closed on Sundays, a management philosophy that Kimmerle has that allows employees to spend time with family. The dealership was originally founded by Don Sanderson, Kimmerle’s father-in-law.

WERNER SCHUMACHER Owner Schumacher European Ltd. schumachermb.com

Schumacher was born in 1942 in Engelskirchem, Germany. Schumacher was destined to be in the car business from a young age. His father owned a MercedesBenz dealership in the post WWII era. After moving to the United States when he was 20, Schumacher got his first job at a Volkswagen dealership in Manhattan.

Strength of staff: “Our employees feel like part of the Schumacher family.

We have literally dozens of individuals in sales, service and technicians who have been with our family for over 20 years. We value their talents and strive to attract talented individuals who can quickly adapt to the ever-changing technology on the Mercedes-Benz products.”

130 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

LIFESTYLE

{ JEWELERS } SCOTT GAUTHIER

Owner and designer Jewelry by Gauthier jewelrybygauthier.com Over the past 24 years,Gauthier has become one of the most renowned and recognized high-end jewelry designers in the country.

His work favors a clean and modern aesthetic, accented with some of the world’s most precious and rare gemstones. Gauthier designs and molds each piece himself, creating distinctive works of art that reveal his contemporary vision. The purity of each design is inspired by nature, gemstones, architecture and his past creations. As influential as he is cutting-edge, Gauthier continues to reinvent himself, constantly developing new techniques and building off previous inspirations to gain new insight and direction.

ALFREDO MOLINA

Chairman and CEO Molina Fine Jewelers molinafinejewelers.com Internationally recognized jeweler and top gemological expert known worldwide, Molina is chairman and CEO of Molina Fine Jewelers and Black, Starr & Frost, America’s first jeweler since 1810. Both names are synonymous with sophisticated designs, rare gemstones and creating historic jewelry for America’s captains of industry, as well as Hollywood celebrities and royal families.

Trend to watch: “We bring nature’s greatest treasures from around the world to Arizona. We search the world for the one of a kind gems that collectors desire. Our greatest challenge is the rarity of these gems.

A challenge that we have constantly overcome for 11 generations.”

Away from work: “My favorite hobby is to be Michelangelo and Indiana Jones. My treasure hunts do not include a hat and a whip, but it does include a three-piece suit.

There is nothing more enjoyable than the discovery and sculpting of a treasure that has been dormant for centuries.”

132 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

CORNELIS HOLLANDER Dutch master jeweler Cornelis Hollander Designs cornelishollander.com

Born and raised in the Netherlands with a love of art, music, and motorcycles, Hollander decided to pursue his passion for design and sculpture by studying art and jewelry design at the Vrije Academie in Den Haag, Holland.

He honed his jewelry making skills in Hatton Garden, England, and continued to refine his talents as designer in South Africa. Since Cornelis Hollander introduced his first collection in 1984, he has become internationally recognized as one of America’s leading designers.

Business advice: “If you feel it from your guts that this is what you want to do in life, then that’s your calling. The bottom line is that it needs to come from within.”

EDMUND MARSHALL Owner E. D. Marshall Jewelers edmarshalljewelers.com

Since 1971, Marshall has earned a distinctive reputation for providing clients with Arizona’s largest selection of high end gems, GIA certified diamonds, custom jewelry and new and pre-owned luxury watches. From the beginning, Marshall established very high standards for quality and customer service. In 1981, Capriccio Fine Jewelry was opened in Scottsdale to offer jewelry designs that were created by the craftsmen in the manufacturing shop at E. D. Marshall Inc. In 1995, Marshall opened E. D. Marshall Jewelers in a newly renovated building on Scottsdale Road, which continues the tradition of manufacturing original fine jewelry designs, with an emphasis on perfection of craftsmanship.

OLIVER SMITH

Designer and owner Oliver Smith Jeweler oliversmithjeweler.com

Smith has been making exceptional jewelry in Arizona since 1981. With exquisite designs, competitive pricing and the highest quality of craftsmanship and ethical standards, Smith aims to create jewelry to last a lifetime. Smith got his start in the jewelry industry after graduating from Lock Haven University with a BA in economics. Originally from Worcester, Pa., this GIA graduate gemologist came West 30 years ago to start his own jewelry business and has been successful ever since. He enjoys planning the future of Oliver Smith Jeweler, promoting the Oliver Smith Jeweler brand, and designing new pieces and collections.

LIFESTYLE

{ RESTAURATEURS } LAUREN BAILEY CEO and co-founder Upward Projects upwardprojects.com

Bailey helps lead Upward Projects, a locally focused company creating inspired restaurants that are connected to the communities they serve. Upward Projects places an emphasis on preparing high-quality food and adapting and reusing historically relevant buildings that are an integral part of local neighborhoods. To uphold this philosophy, Bailey focuses primarily on conceptualization, strategy and operations.

Toughest challenge: “Growing my leadership skills at the same pace that our company is scaling. I spend a lot of time on personal development and self awareness. I also leverage my network and ask for help often.”

RYAN HIBBERT

CEO and managing partner Riot Hospitality Group riothg.com

Hibbert has helped RHG develop on trend concepts in Arizona and Chicago since 2009.

Hibbert, with colleagues Mike Troyan and Jon Wright, combined their passion for the industry and expertise to develop Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row and El Hefe.

Business advice: “Multi-tasking to me is a big no-no. I am a big believer in taking on every task in business as its own small project. I will analyze everything on my desk individually and see it to its completion, which in my opinion gives a better overall finished product.”

Surprising fact: “I am a huge chemistry nerd. I actually taught organic chemistry at the University of Arizona as an undergraduate because I was thinking about going into teaching.”

SAM FOX

MARK RUSSELL

Fox is the visionary behind the successful restaurant group with nearly 60 locations and 16 unique concepts spanning 11 states. A James Beard Award nominee for Restaurateur of the Year and New York Times bestselling cookbook author, Fox was named to the Nation’s Restaurant News “Power List” for the third year in a row.

Born in Chicago, Russell founded Oregano’s Pizza Bistro as a dedication to his parents.

Russell realized his father’s lifelong dream of creating a fun neighborhood joint and opened his first restaurant in Old Town Scottsdale in 1993. Oregano’s has since grown to 20

Founder and CEO Fox Restaurant Concepts foxrc.com

INDUSTRY OUTLOOK: “While we intentionally build our restaurants to appeal to a range of audiences, it seems the rise of Millennial diners will continue to reshape the industry. For Millennials, dining has become more than just a meal: it’s an experience. Restaurants that haven’t already begun to do so will shift their focus toward elevating the guests’ experience, whether it be through interactive décor, staff hospitality, or menu design and offerings.

These experiences will also be enhanced by new technologies like online ordering and delivery.

My only hope is that this doesn’t take away from realtime interaction, which is such a crucial part of our hospitality and the industry.”

134 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

Founder and CEO Oregano’s Pizza Bistro oreganos.com

locations in Arizona.

Business advice: “The thing that comes to mind right away is, ‘be prepared to work.’ You have to love coming to work, because there is no 9-5. And spend your time diversifying and training in all aspects of the restaurant business, from dishwasher to marketing. Always remember, profit is the result of doing the right thing. It takes a team to make that a reality.”

SILVANA SALCIDO ESPARZA Founder and chef Barrio Cafe and Barrio Queen chefsilvana.com

Esparza has won dozens of awards and honors including several semi-finalist nominations for the James Beard Award, and has appeared on Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. She was awarded a scholarship from the exclusive IACP for study in Mexico and was named one of the Top Latino Chefs in the country by Latino Magazine. Chef Silvana was named one of the Top 10 Mexican Chefs by MSNBC Latino and earned a spot among the Best New Restaurants by Esquire Magazine 2012.

Personal strengths: “My personality is reflected in my cuisine and being an ‘I don’t care’ kind of person liberates me from the things that paralyze people. I push the envelope and it’s reflected on the plate.”

Experience AZ is an exciting guide to Arizona lifestyle and adventures, offering readers the best advice on where to eat, stay and play.

Online at azBIGmedia.com

LIFESTYLE

{ SPORTS } MICHAEL BIDWILL President Arizona Cardinals azcardinals.com

Bidwill was instrumental in the effort that led to the creation of the University of Phoenix Stadium. The stadium has been noted as a catalyst for the Cardinal’s recent success and the team has sold out every game it’s played since the venue’s opening. Along with the responsibilities of guiding the Cardinals organization, Bidwill has been a strong advocate for economic development and education in the greater Phoenix community. Bidwill received the 2014 Transformational Leader Award from the Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

Surprising fact: “Before joining the Cardinals in 1996,I was a federal prosecutor in Phoenix for six years.”

KEN KENDRICK

Managing general partner Arizona Diamondbacks dbacks.com Kendrick is a charter member of the ownership group that brought baseball to Phoenix in 1998. He has been managing general partner of the D-Backs since 2004. He is founder/principal/owner of several other businesses in the fields of technology, financial services, real estate development and manufacturing/distribution. Kendrick owns the most expensive baseball card in history, the T206 Honus Wagner. He owns more than 10,000 baseball cards.

Business advice: “Be willing to become an intern in the minor leagues of baseball and learn the business from the ground up.”

Toughest challenge: “Overcoming the significant debt accumulated by the D-Backs in our early years. We designed a capital and operating plan that we have executed over the last 10 years.”

Surprising fact: “Being from a small town in West Virginia, I wrote in the high school annual that my ambition was to own a sports team. A true ‘Walter Mitty’ dream.”

136 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

STEVE PATTERSON President and CEO Phoenix Coyotes coyotes.nhl.com

Patterson started with ASU’s athletic department in 2011 as chief operating officer and managing director of Sun Devil Sports Group. He was named athletic director in March 2012 and led the creation and development of ASU’s 425-acre sports facility district. Patterson replaced Anthony LeBlanc as the Coyotes’ CEO after owner Andrew Barroway bought out LeBlanc and his other minority partners.

On the team’s home: “Arena deals take time, talks and negotiations. They’re kind of like vampire movies. You go to the coffin a dozen times and you think they’re dead, but they keep rising back up. Every single deal I’ve been involved with was thought to be dead a dozen times and then it rose back up.”

ROBERT SARVER Owner Phoenix Suns nba.com/suns

A lifelong sports fan, Sarver’s quest to purchase an NBA team began with a conversation with University of Arizona basketball coach Lute Olson. Olson referred Sarver to Steve Kerr, a former player at Arizona and a 15-year NBA veteran, to assist him in buying an NBA franchise. Sarver, chairman and CEO of Western Alliance Bancorporation, bought the Suns from Jerry Colangelo in the spring of 2004. He also owns the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, which has won three WNBA championships.

Toughest challenge: “Basketball is a very humbling business. In the banking business, a lot of banks can make money in a given year. In basketball, one team wins and one team loses every night.”

BRYAN SPERBER President Phoenix Raceway phoenixraceway.com

Sperber has been a leader in NASCAR for more than two decades and has served as president of Phoenix Raceway since 2002. During his tenure, Phoenix Raceway successfully landed a second NASCAR race and has become one of the most popular tracks on the NASCAR circuit among drivers and fans. A native of Daytona Beach, Sperber has also been chairman of Auto Club Speedway and president of Watkins Glen International.

Business advice: “Push the envelope, but be open to other points of view.”

Dream dinner: “I would hang out with Jimi Hendrix at Modern Margarita.

It would be fun to get his take on music and the way of the world over cerveza and chips.”

presented by

LIFESTYLE

{ TOURISM } DEBBIE JOHNSON

Director Arizona Office of Tourism VisitArizona.com Johnson has been recognized as a leader in Arizona’s tourism industry for more than 20 years. As director of the Arizona Office of Tourism, she recognizes the critical role tourism plays in Arizona’s economic development and quality of life. Marketing Arizona to prospective visitors is more than just a job, it’s Johnson’s daily calling.

Source of pride: “Being asked by Gov. Doug Ducey to lead our state’s tourism marketing agency is something I never imagined possible. It has been an incredible experience and I’m truly proud every single day to be part of the fantastic team here at the Arizona Office of Tourism.”

LORRAINE ZOMOK Manager Visit Glendale visitglendale.com

While overseeing Glendale’s tourism efforts, Zomok recognized the need for the 14 West Valley cities to obtain more tourism exposure. A coalition of West Valley partners was formed with the goal to build a CVB that would serve the region.

INDUSTRY OUTLOOK: “Our warm weather, magnificent natural beauty, treasured historical sites and urban and rural local appeal help make tourism the No. 1 export industry in Arizona. The latest Arizona Office of Tourism research reports that more than 43 million people visit annually.

These visitors collectively spent $21.2 billion in the state. A new statewide focus on brand pillars including culinary, wellness, adventure and culture — along with increased efforts to reach international markets including Canada, Mexico, Germany, Britain, France and China — will continue to expand Arizona’s market share of these essential visitors.

Arizona’s tourism programs are positioned to bring increased global visibility to all 15 counties statewide.”

138 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

STEVE MOORE

President and CEO Visit Phoenix visitphoenix.com A 40-year veteran of the industry, Moore helped secure funding for the expansion of the Phoenix Convention Center and was inducted into the Arizona Tourism Hall of Fame in 2012.

Toughest challenge: “The hijacking of our state’s brand during the SB 1070 saga, including the boycott of travel to Arizona. We responded by initiating mass fly-ins of customers so they could see the REAL Arizona for themselves. Our work with the Real Arizona Coalition influenced the National Council of La Raza ... to lift its boycott of our state, sending the signal that illegal immigration is not just an Arizona issue but a national one, and making it easier for us to get back to the business of booking conventions.”

KIM SABOW

President and CEO Arizona Lodging and Tourism Association azlta.com Sabow previously served as director of the Arizona-Mexico Commission, led international affairs for Gov. Doug Ducey, served as assistant vice president of state relations for the University of Arizona, and served in three previous gubernatorial administrations.

Business advice: “Surround yourself with strong talent. Hire people smarter than you. Listen. Communicate. Take risks and don’t be afraid to make mistakes.

Never stop learning. It’s OK not to have all of the answers. Focus on collaboration and modernization. Most of all, be authentic and do what you love.”

Surprising fact: “I have a passion for sports. I grew up playing competitive tennis and went to college on a tennis scholarship.”

RACHEL SACCO

President and CEO Experience Scottsdale ExperienceScottsdale.com For 30 years, Sacco has played an integral role in Scottsdale’s tourism industry. She has been recognized for her contributions by being inducted into Scottsdale’s History Hall of Fame, Arizona State University College of Public Programs’ Alumni Chapter Hall of Fame and Arizona Governor’s Tourism Hall of Fame. Sacco serves on the U.S. Travel Association’s national board.

Business advice: “A quote from Maya Angelou has always stuck will me: ‘People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.’ Wherever you are in your career or in your life, remember to cultivate your relationships sincerely.”

TOURISM

{ HOSPITALITY } GUY BITTNER

Resort manager The Phoenician thephoenician.com Bittner joined The Phoenician in 2014 after 10 years with Fairmont Hotels & Resorts. In his current role, he oversees the daily operations for both the 643room AAA Five Diamond resort and its boutique hotel, The Canyon Suites — one of only two Forbes Five Star and AAA Five Diamond properties in Arizona. The native of Israel sits on the board of the Valley Hotel & Resort Association.

Business advice: “Surround yourself with the best people. This will allow you to stay on top of trends -- and your competition -- while also taking calculated risks.”

Surprising fact: “I am an avid guitar player and not too bad with a riff. I have played for several internal functions here at The Phoenician.rear”

STEVE HART

Area vice president Marriott International marriott.com Hart, a 45-year hospitality veteran, has served Marriott for 39 of those years. Additionally, he developed the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa and opened the resort as general manager in 2002. He oversees all Marriott development and operations in Arizona.

INDUSTRY OUTLOOK: “Marriott has grown in a terrific way with the acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, an historic milestone in the industry that has created the world’s largest lodging company. This will create a wealth of opportunities for the ladies and gentlemen who serve in our hotels and resorts, while at the same time offering our loyal guests and rewards members access to a collective portfolio of 5,800 hotels and resorts in more than 110 countries. Moving forward, this allows us to offer more benefits, amenities and more choices to travelers looking to have their own, unique travel experiences. It’s a win-win for all and it’s a true privilege to be a part of this extraordinary experience.”

140 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

DAVID KONG

President and CEO Best Western International bestwestern.com David Kong is a hospitality industry leader with deep experience in the industry. Since he was named president and CEO of Best Western in 2004, Kong has led the company to significant financial achievements, including an average RevPAR index of 110 over the past five years, as well as unprecedented performance in guest loyalty and hotel satisfaction.

Business advice: “I am an immigrant who came to this country with nothing. This industry has allowed me to earn a good living, provide for my family and find fulfillment. It is a forward looking industry. It has empowered me to dream boldly and to pursue those dreams without hesitation.”

SCOTT LYON

Founder and managing partner Westroc Hospitality westroc.com Lyon grew up in the real estate world, learning the business from his father Rusty, founder of Westcor, a development company. Leadership of the renovation and expansion of Scottsdale Fashion Square highlights Lyon’s tenure at Westcor. Lyon branched out into the hotel and resort industry through key participation in the formation, expansion, and eventual sale of Carefree Resorts. In this role, he was instrumental in the development and management of some of the most renowned resorts and communities in the country, including The Boulders in Carefree and The Lodge at Ventana Canyon in Tucson. Westroc now manages Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain and Scottsdale’s historic Hotel Valley Ho.

JACK MILLER

Regional vice president, Central U.S. Region Fairmont Scottsdale Princess scottsdaleprincess.com Miller joined the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess in 2009 as general manager of the iconic 750-room, AAA Five Diamond resort in the Sonoran Desert. His role expanded to regional vice president in 2017. Miller, a 40-year veteran of the hospitality industry, has overseen the Princess’ unprecedented expansion with the new Palomino Conference Center, 102 new guest rooms, the new Sunset Beach and award-winning events.

Business advice: “Find a career that you can truly be passionate about.

Life is too short to spend time in a career that doesn’t inspire you. If you’re passionate and inspired, you’ll invest your time, talent and energies in success. Loving what you do is truly success.”

The perfect getaway in your own backyard.

Experience a one-stop vacation haven at JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa. Start your day in the comfort of your luxurious guest room or suite with tech-friendly amenities and views of the McDowell Mountains from your private balcony. Relax in one of four sparkling pools, float down the lazy river or splash down the waterslide.

Play where the pros play and enjoy championship golf at Wildfire Golf Club - home of the LPGA Founders Cup. Enjoy a tranquil treatment at the award-winning Revive Spa. Dine at one of five unique restaurants. Or simply relax and enjoy our 316-acre playground in the stunning Sonoran Desert where luxury, unparalleled personal service and adventure awaits.

To book your stay, visit jwdesertridge.com or call 800.835.6206.

@jwdesertridge 5350 East Marriott Drive Phoenix, AZ 85054 Š2017 Marriott International.

LIFESTYLE

{ SPECIAL EVENTS } DREW ALCAZAR Owner and CEO Russo and Steele russoandsteele.com

Knowing he liked the view from the driver’s seat best, Alcazar and his wife launched Russo and Steele Collector Automobiles in 2000, featuring two specialty auctions annually - one in Scottsdale in January and the other in Monterey, Calif. in August.

Trend to watch: “We are currently achieving incredible results in the area of European sports cars and we are starting to see the beginnings of a Renaissance period surrounding classic American muscle. Of course, as we move into the future and new generations of enthusiasts enter the marketplace, we continue to expect to see new avenues opening and Russo and Steele will always be on the forefront there as well.”

CRAIG JACKSON

Chairman and CEO Barrett Jackson Auction Company barrett-jackson.com Jackson has earned a reputation as one of the world’s most respected car collector and restoration experts with nearly 40 years in the industry.

Jackson has helped propel Barrett-Jackson’s evolution into being the world’s leading collector car auction and automotive lifestyle event.

Away from work: “Anything that goes fast and burns petroleum — cars, planes, boats, Jet Skis. I love the rush and going fast.”

INDUSTRY OUTLOOK: “Over recent years, we’ve seen a steady increase of Gen-Xers and Millennials entering the collector car industry, buying more cars from the 1970s, ‘80s and ‘90s. Our sale of the 1971 Custom Chevy K5 Blazer for $220,000 at Palm Beach this year is a perfect example of that trend and I see that segment growing even stronger as we bridge the gap with future generations. The RestoMod market also continues to be strong, combining the great look of a classic car with newer technology that younger generations want.

It definitely makes for an exciting future in the collector car industry.”

SEAN CURRIE

Executive director Celebrity Fight Night celebrityfightnight.org Phoenix native Currie has served as the executive director of Celebrity Fight Night for nearly 20 years. Under his direction, the annual charity event has grown into a star-studded evening presented in honor of Muhammad Ali. In 23 years, Celebrity Fight Night has raised $130 million and has included stars like Reba McEntire, David Foster, Jennifer Lopez, Andrea Bocelli, Halle Berry, Harrison Ford, Billy Crystal, Robin Williams, Tom Hanks and Steve Martin.

Trend to watch: “For any charity event, the ability for donors to support the charity is paramount. So as the current condition of the economy affects people’s finances, it certainly affects their ability to donate to worthy causes.”

MIKE NEALY

Executive director Fiesta Bowl fiestabowl.org Before taking the reins of the Fiesta Bowl, Nealy served as the president and chief operating officer of the Phoenix Coyotes and had been with the organization for eight years. Nealy oversees the community-based Fiesta Bowl organization, which operates the Fiesta Bowl, Cactus Bowl and numerous other events. He joined the Phoenix Coyotes in January 2006 after four seasons with the Minnesota Wild, where his responsibilities included strategic planning and finance, and he led the Wild’s charitable activities. In 2012, he was named Sports Business Leader of the Year by Minnesota State University for demonstrating outstanding business, academic and visionary leadership.

CARLOS SUGICH

Tournament chairman Waste Management Phoenix Open Presented by Ak-Chin Indian Community wmphoenixopen.com Sugich leads the Thunderbirds in the planning and execution of every facet of the 2018 tournament, including meeting with current and potential sponsors, recruiting PGA TOUR players to the event and developing new on-course venues. A partner with the law firm of Snell and Wilmer, Sugich is a member of the firm’s real estate and commercial finance practice group and chairs the firm’s Cross-Border Business Practice.

Trend to watch: “Each year we look to build upon the tremendous success of our tournament set by our predecessors. We have some great new things in the works for the 2018 event and we are excited to put these plans into action.”

142 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

The Barrett-Jackson Collection Showroom is the ultimate venue to sell, consign or purchase quality collector cars throughout the year.

With a Service Department dedicated to collector and premium vehicles, this automotive destination also features restoration system products, official apparel, and Barrett-Jackson Endorsed Insurance.

480.306.8210 | 3020 N SCOTTSDALE RD BARRETTJACKSON.COM/SHOWROOM

JOIN US AT THE SCOTTSDALE AUCTION JANUARY 13-21, 2018

{ INDUSTRY OUTLOOK }

THE EVOLUTION OF WORKPLACE What are the issues and trends that are changing the way human resource professionals do business?

T

By MICHAEL GOSSIE

he “employee experience,” the uncertainty in healthcare, paid sick time, Millennials and the continuing evolution of technology are just some of the challenges that are changing the workplace heading into 2018.

Az Business assembled experts in the HR arena for a discussion or what business leaders can expect and how business leaders should react to changes that are coming to the workplace. The five roundtable experts are: • Adam Boyd, associate, Radix Law • Kent Brockelman, managing partner of Coppersmith Brockelman • Eric Knott, MBA, PHR, CLRL, founder and chief strategist, FinePoint HR • April Miller, Arizona market director, Workway • Jessica Pierce, executive director, Career Connectors

SPONSORED BY PRISMA GRAPHICS 144 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

Question: What trend or issue is going to have the biggest impact on the workplace in Arizona?

Adam Boyd: “The employee experience” is a trend I predict will soon have the biggest impact on human resources in Arizona. Many job seekers say they desire improved work spaces and more “rewards.” I recommend that HR executives work with their companies to engage employees with an embedded company culture to both attract and retain qualified employees.

Kent Brockelman: Legally, the change in administration in Washington, D.C. has led to uncertainty about various federal laws that affect employers, including the Affordable Care Act, changes to the Fair Labor Standards Act, and immigration enforcement. Employers and their human resources professionals must live with that uncertainty while adapting to an increasingly complex patchwork of state and local laws that seems to be filling the void created by relative inactivity on the federal level.

Eric Knott: Innovation. Our chambers and government representatives have worked hard to make Arizona a magnet for start-ups, technology, and business innovation, and it worked. Arizona’s HR executives need to pivot to a highly competitive talent environment, modernizing total compensation packages, fostering internal mentorship programs, and establishing best-in-class workplaces in order to keep and attract top talent.

Jessica Pierce: The whole topic of drug usage, both legal and illegal is having a big impact on HR in Arizona. If Arizona passes legalized marijuana, the way to implement the law and respond to employees will be a difficult road to navigate. Then the drug epidemic in America is having an impact on HR. Employers need to have resources to assist affected employees, and they will need help navigating reduced employee productivity.

Question: What is the biggest legal issue facing the human resources industry in Arizona?

Kent Brockelman: The biggest legal issue is Arizona’s new law requiring almost all employers to provide their employees with paid sick time. Employers large and small are wrestling with a multitude of issues, including whether to adapt existing PTO policies to the requirements of the new law or create separate paid sick time banks. While well intended, the new law might have the unintended consequence of taking PTO or vacation time away from employees in favor of paid sick time the employees may not use.

Eric Knott: Although there are a number of close seconds, the largest legal issue has to be healthcare. HR professionals must understand the changes taking place in healthcare regulation and work with their brokers for solutions catered to the organization’s workforce. Staying ahead of the changes is a significant strategic advantage for an organization, paying-off financially and in terms of employee engagement.

MARKETING TRENDS TO WATCH IN 2018 Bob Anderson may have purchased Prisma in 2000, when it was a traditional print-services firm, shortly before the world of print and marketing would change forever, but he still has his fingers on the pulse of modern marketing.

Prisma is now a full-service marketing solutions provider, with a huge team focused on data analytics. We spoke with Anderson about his thoughts on marketing in 2018, as data increasingly becomes the latest buzzword: Greatest opportunities: “Identifying the short and long-term market objectives, and seeing those through. I think that’s one of the biggest things, we are just so distracted with so many things, we really need to get back on the focus. I think so many marketing companies get distracted with all of the newness with every little thing, whether it’s LinkedIn, Facebook updates and all of that. All different touch points, I think (marketers) really need to help their clients focus on what’s best for them at that time. [But] focus is key, customer experience and using smart data. Those are the three I think are the greatest opportunities. Everything is data driven, it’s at your fingertips. And it’s important to analyze and measure effectively to

efficiently reach your target audience. Data tells a story, and it can be tied to customer acquisition and retention.”

Toughest Challenge: “Finding ways to stand out and come across as genuine, with your message. The market place is very noisy and it has become more difficult to deliver the right message, in the right time, to the right audience. As marketers, we have to be smarter in order to reach the intended target, and drive the call to action.”

What to watch for in 2017: “I think we’re already seeing a shift in focus around the customer experience, and I think that will continue as well into 2018 as we see the growth of mobile and video. I think that’s where everyone is going to be moving to, mobile and video with almost everything.”

Bob Anderson

{ INDUSTRY OUTLOOK }

Adam Boyd

Kent Brockelman

April Miller: Marijuana and the workplace.

As the legal status of marijuana continually changes, employers face new compliance challenges. Accommodations and limitations of adverse actions for employees using medical marijuana are included in legislation in Arizona and 10 other states. Whether you work in these states, or any of the 23 states with legislation on marijuana, staying compliant will mean staying up to date on your state’s marijuana legislation.

Question: How have Millennials changed the workforce and workplace?

Adam Boyd: This is an important question because by 2020, Millennials will make up 50 percent of the workforce. That number will grow to 75 percent by 2025. Millennials pose a challenge because they have different expectations for advancement, frequently leave jobs after two to four years, and prefer to work remotely. HR professionals should work to ensure that their company has provided a strong technology platform to keep millennials engaged.

Eric Knott: Overall, HR departments have done well preparing their organizations for the shifting worker demographics. However, formal, structured mentoring programs are still spotty, but they’re key to developing and engaging millennial talent. Developing these programs will keep the workforce engaged, focused, advancing, and will serve the organization well as knowledge is transferred and employees are empowered.

Productivity and satisfaction increase in high-development cultures.

April Miller

April Miller: The challenge is not with Millennials, but rather with the continued use of legacy approaches that worked for prior generations. Millennials continue to have different needs (such as flexibility), which will frustrate leaders until those same leaders accept those changes as the “new norm.” Leaders today need to stop managing to their own expectations and start managing to the expectations of the newer generation.

Jessica Pierce: The numbers of Millennials hitting the workforce brings in much new talent that is inexperienced, so there is a growing workforce skills/readiness gap. Many workforce agencies, associations, nonprofits and companies are working in partnership with colleges, universities and certification schools to address the skills gap. Companies do need to be open to internships to help address the challenge so that the millennials can gain work experience in a field with the growing workforce need.

Question: How has technology changed human resources?

Adam Boyd: Technology has become ubiquitous in the workplace, and that technological evolution has extended to HR executives. The most striking way “man machine collaboration” and technology has affected the role is regarding recruitment and decision making during the hiring process.

Kent Brockelman: The use of technology to replace subjective decision making in the workplace has the potential to reward merit by removing unconscious biases, and perhaps reduce legal liability for claims requiring a

SPONSORED BY PRISMA GRAPHICS 146 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

Eric Knott

Jessica Pierce

showing of intentional animus. However, the critical importance of a human resource professional’s judgment and ability to connect and communicate with other people is not likely to wane anytime soon.

Eric Knott: HR executives are falling in love with meaningful, clean, just-in-time data.

HR can now provide data just like a finance or operations department. The technology embedded in HRIS software is slick and incredibly useful in strategic decision making.

The challenge is for HR executives to become more data-driven, more informative with their senior leader peers, and more inclusive of industrial applications for social media.

April Miller: Technology continues to provide human resources executives with immediate, on-demand information. The difficulty lies in making long-term human resources decisions with short-term data. Immediate access to data should be tempered with trending and cautious change, rather than immediate and radical change.

Jessica Pierce: HR executives now need to be versed in cultures and laws across the nation and the world. Work from home technologies (such as the company Open) have developed entire systems to manage the working from home office. Companies have managed employees from across the world for years, but it is a trend that will continue to grow. Every function of HR is affected with employees working across the globe: Talent acquisition, compensation and benefits, training and development, risk management, employee relations, etc.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

{ ACCOUNTING } SANDY ABALOS

RON BUTLER

Principal in charge, Phoenix office REDW redw.com

Arizona managing partner EY ey.com

Abalos has more than 30 years of public accounting experience, specializing in the financial needs of privately held businesses through a wide range of services, including accounting, tax consulting, entity structuring, succession planning and more.

Trend to watch: “Demographics. The Boomers are moving into retirement, Gen X has the McGuffin, and few Millennials are highly engaged in the workforce. That means great opportunities for those highly committed to the industry. Cybersecurity and increasing complexities will make it harder for smaller practices. The regulatory burdens are immense.”

Surprising fact: “I competed at the 1976 U.S. Olympic Archery Team tryouts my senior year in high school.”

Butler is a partner in the Phoenix office of EY, with more than 25 years of public accounting experience. Butler was EY’s Pacific Southwest Strategic Growth Markets leader from 2006 to 2008. He was appointed Arizona managing partner in June 2008 by Ernst & Young’s Americas Executive Board. Butler provides strategic guidance with the operation and management of the EY Arizona practice.

Business advice: “Stay relevant to your clients. The business world continues to evolve and the challenges companies face each day are different.”

Surprising fact: “I am an avid outdoorsman. As an Arizona native, I have spent most of my free time hunting and fishing in this very diverse state.”

CHUCK GOODMILLER Co-managing partner Henry & Horne henryandhorne.com

Goodmiller thrives on finding new solutions to old problems and strategizing new ways of doing things to benefit his clients and team members. Goodmiller specializes in providing clients with personalized professional service with

expertise in the core practice areas of consulting, audit, tax and accounting services.

Surprising fact: “Be yourself, be honest and understand that no one cares how much you know until they know how much you care.”

Surprising fact: “If I wouldn’t have become a CPA, I would have been a surgeon. I do not regret my decision for a minute.”

JONAS MCCORMICK

STEPHEN RODIS, CPA

McCormick is the overall leader of Deloitte’s Arizona practice. He has served some of the largest and most complex companies in Arizona and serves as a trusted business advisor to Deloitte’s top Arizona clients.

Trend to watch: “Without question, the trend that will have the biggest impact across most, if not all, industries will be the continued pace, proliferation and advancement of technology.

The impacts of the some of the major transformative and disruptive technologies such as digital, cloud, social, mobile, big data, analytics and artificial intelligence coming together could have major impacts on any number of industries and transform the landscape of the major players for the future.”

Rodis is director of the firm’s tax department and leads the international team. He serves on the Arizona State Board of Accountancy, Tax Advisory Committee, and co-chairs the Phoenix Tax Workshop.

Managing partner Deloitte deloitte.com

148 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

Partner Wallace, Plese + Dreher wpdcpa.com

INDUSTRY OUTLOOK: “The CPA profession has the responsibility and opportunity to create firms where Millennials lead and impact their business community. Driven by changing demographics and technology, advisory and consulting will out-pace traditional tax and accounting services. Firms will concentrate on higher value services, global markets and leveraging technology. Millennials expect flexibility, cutting-edge technology, frequent communication and continuous career development.

Critical changes are necessary for firms to position themselves for

growth in talent, technology, and business services. Leadership must stress the next generation’s influence on talent and clients. Embracing and implementing these changes will create a sustainable, business environment for future generations.”

$25

20th Anniversary 1997-2017

Spring - Summer 2017

The exclusive publication of the Cactus League

2017 Spring Training Guide 12

$9.95 0

74470 25431

7

SUBSCRIBE TODAY azBIGmedia.com | 602.277.6045

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

{ ACCOUNTING } BRADLEY PREBER

JOHN PRENZNO

National managing partner, business risk services Grant Thortnon grantthornton.com

Assurance principal CliftonLarsonAllen claconnect.com

Preber serves on the firm’s partnership board and was the office managing partner for Phoenix. He has more than 35 years of experience serving as a litigation consultant, expert witness, forensic accountant and fraud investigator. He is the author of “Financial Expert Witness Communication: A Practical Guide to Reporting and Testimony.”

Trend to watch: “The traditional labor intensive business model used by my industry is under extreme pressure caused by digital technology.

A number of reliable sources are predicting that automation, robots and cognitive analytics will replace human beings in this industry. The industry will have to adapt or risk extinction.”

Prenzno has more than 35 years of experience servicing middle- and lower-middle-market privately held companies and private equity groups. His industry experience includes manufacturing and distribution, dealerships, hospitality and telecommunications. Prenzno is a member of CLA’s National Transaction Team, focusing on due diligence, mergers and acquisitions and transaction structuring.

Business advice: “Be passionate about you do. Strive to help others, it will come back to you. Say thank you to your clients and the people who work with you.”

Childhood dream: “I wanted to be a baseball player, although that had little impact on baseball or my career.”

MARK WEBER Partner Moss Adams mossadams.com

Weber has been in public accounting since 1986, serving small and mid-size businesses and their entrepreneurial owners and managers. He focuses on financial statement attestation, SEC public company reporting, merger and

acquisition consulting, and strategic business planning. His specific experience includes financial audits, with related management recommendations for cost savings; merger and acquisition consulting, including analyzing targets of offers; and due diligence procedures. He previously served as a manager of emerging business services for offices of two Big Four firms and at the Securities & Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C.

BRYAN ZALL

CHUCK MCLANE

Zall’s professional experience includes more than 30 years of financial consulting, business planning, financial statement preparation and auditing.

His primary emphasis is in healthcare, manufacturing, nonprofit, commercial construction and financial service industries.Zall also leads RSM’s Private Equity Fund initiative in Phoenix. In this role, he coordinates local professional services to national and international fund clients engaged in Southwestern U.S.-based transactions.

Business advice: “Teamwork and collaboration. Put forth your best effort to support your natural work team. You will get noticed and be appreciated.”

As an experienced leader in the Phoenix office of CBIZ MHM, McLane’s expertise spans more than 29 years. He works with a wide array of clients in various industries, including real estate, construction, consumer products, manufacturing and distribution, healthcare and hospitality.

Audit partner RSM US rsmus.com

150 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

Senior managing director CBIZ & Mayer Hoffman McCann cbiz.com

INDUSTRY OUTLOOK: “The biggest changes are coming from the expectations of financial statement and tax return clients and users and changes in technology.

Clients and users of the information we produce have big expectations regarding the clarity and accuracy of the information. Enhanced technology is removing some of the analytical work performed by individuals and putting it in the computer. However, these changes have not yet removed the need for strategic thinking of individuals.

There are big expectations for artificial intelligence. It is becoming increasingly more important for accountants to be able to determine and present hypothetical situations to clients so that they can predict future impacts on businesses.”

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

{ ADVERTISING } TED ANDERSON

BEAU LANE

President Anderson Advertising & Public Relations anderson-adv.com

CEO LaneTerralever laneterralever.com

Originally from San Diego, Anderson started his career while still in college working in the PR and media areas.

Moving to Arizona in 1995, he started his own agency in 2004 and lead the development of unique, highly specialized marketing solutions for a wide variety of clients both inside and outside of Arizona.

Trend to watch: “Marketing is still evolving with the way businesses reach and communicate with its customers. As the digital landscape keeps growing and consumers’ behavior keeps changing, agencies will have to be ahead of the curve to help clients to see not just what’s happening now, but what lies ahead.”

Lane has spent the past several decades growing LaneTerralever into one of the largest and most successful agencies in the region. He possesses extensive experience in sales and marketing and supervises the daily operation and management activities of LaneTerralever. He was named 2013 Ad Person of the Year by Phoenix Ad Club. Under his direction, the agency has received national and local recognition for years of award-winning work.

Trend to watch: “The advertising and marketing business is becoming as much a technology business as a creative enterprise. The necessity of both skills will only accelerate in the future.”

MATT SILVERMAN

Vice president and managing director R&R Partners rrpartners.com Silverman manages the Arizona office of R&R Partners, one of the Top 10 independently owned marketing and advertising firms in the United States. He is a businesssavvy communications executive who knows how to plan

strategically, calm troubled waters and stay one step ahead of the competition. With more than 25 years of experience, Silverman has honed the art of communication from every possible angle.

Business advice: “Be curious. Expose yourself to a lot different things. Learn constantly. Strategic and creative insights come from well-rounded people.”

Trend to watch: “We all need keep looking ahead, listening and adapting. Change is the trend that’s constant. We must remain flexible.”

ARIC ZION

BILL LAVIDGE

Not a typical agency owner, Zion has both MBA training and a master’s in computer engineering. His career has spanned three continents, including several years living and working in Tokyo and London. As CEO of Zion & Zion, one of Arizona’s top ad agencies, Zion’s technology and business experience gives Zion & Zion its edge when it comes to campaign integration.

Business advice: “If you’re going to have a strategy, then have a real one. Differentiate yourself in a meaningful way.”

Surprising fact: “Some would be surprised, and others wouldn’t, but I am far more driven by our agency’s culture and quest for excellence than I am by money. I love to be the best — not the biggest, the best.”

Lavidge has served as an influential and pioneering business leader since starting his agency in 1982 and producing awardwinning campaigns that helped spotlight the Phoenix advertising industry locally and nationally. The company has grown into one of the largest agencies in the Southwest servicing local, regional and national brands. Passionately committed to his clients, staff and the community, Lavidge’s record of success distinguishes him from his peers.

Business advice: “Never give up and always try to exceed expectations.

Exceptional results require exceptional effort.”

Trend to watch: “Technological advancements. Computers can now replace investment analysts picking stocks. It is not unreasonable to think that computers will someday not only buy media, but also help create the actual advertisements.”

CEO Zion & Zion zionandzion.com

152 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

CEO LAVIDGE lavidge.com

Source of pride: “I’m proud that our company has survived, thrived and continued to stay relevant for more than three decades. Less than 10 percent of businesses can make that claim.”

Treats. Treats. Treats.

Junkie, LAVIDGE office dog

What’s on your customers’ minds?

At LAVIDGE, we uncover insights to help you move the needle. How do we do it?

By becoming experts in select verticals, including Healthcare, Personal Care, Food Services, and Technology. Download our 2017 Southwest Personal Care Marketing Report at Lavidge.com.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

{ BUSINESS BROKERS } BONNIE EWELL-DOLL

JEFF PAVONE

Designated broker American Associates americanassociatesaz.com

Principal Commercial Plus commercialplus.com

Ewell-Doll started part-time writing ads and recruiting. She worked her way through the ranks from answering phone calls and filing to becoming instrumental in relocation, property management and accounting. Ewell-Doll enjoys the more difficult tasks that come with being a business broker, such as the legal issues. She worked for a judge for three years prior to joining the firm. EwellDoll is active in the community, especially with regard to charitable causes.

She organized numerous golf events and rummage sales for Muscular Dystrophy. She has also donated her time on Global Volunteer Day.

Pavone is a licensed commercial real estate agent in multiple states. He provides mid-level ($1 to $100 million) businesses (general businesses, car washes, gas stations/c-stores) exceptional service and added value at every stage of a transaction, from single sites to large chains. Pavone leads a team of business, financial and industry specific experts that work together to give buyers and sellers the best possible results. Pavone has successfully closed hundreds of commercial transactions with a sales value in excess of $600 million.

Trend to watch: “The biggest impact on our industry would be the rise of interest rates, which in turn would discourage buyers.”

CHRIS SMITH

Business broker Sunbelt Business Brokers of Phoenix azbizlist.com Smith is the owner and manager of Sunbelt Business Brokers of Phoenix since 2003, which is one of the larger business brokerages in Arizona. He is an Arizona-licensed CPA, real estate broker and former commercial banking executive,

which are skills that are needed to successfully and confidentiality sell Arizona Main Street businesses.

Trend to watch: “Funding sources for Main Street business transitions has always been a challenge. The uncertainty of the SBA funding and changing requirements will continue to have a significant impact on business sales.”

Away from work: “I am actively involved in the Boy Scout program in Phoenix, which develops some the best leaders for our future.”

CHARLES TANKO

JIM AFINOWICH

Tanko oversees the operations of WCI Brokers Central, which takes care of the marketing, interviewing, qualifying of buyers and coordination of tasks when it comes time to buy or sell a business. Tanko has more than 42 years experience as a business broker. He is an attorney licensed in California and in the Federal Court System, but does not practice law in Arizona. Tanko participated in more than 4,000 business sales. WCI Brokers is the largest full-service brokerage firm in Northern Arizona and is the only business brokerage in Arizona that has substantial operations in Northern, Central and Southern Arizona.

Afinowich has more than a quartercentury of successful experience selling businesses as an M&A advisor. His smallest transaction was $3,000 and his largest $120 million. He is a Certified Business Intermediary, a Merger and Acquisitions Master Intermediary and holds several securities licenses. He is a founding partner of IBG Fox & Fin, an M&A firm with offices in Arizona and across the U.S. His firm has been ranked No. 1 in its category for 15 years in a row

by Ranking Arizona magazine.

Business advice: “Get a strong foundation in finance and accounting and find a good firm to mentor you.”

Source of pride: “Being elected president of he International Business Brokers Association, the largest association of business intermediaries in the world.”

Managing broker WCI Brokers Central wcibusinessbrokers.com

154 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

Managing director IBG Fox & Fin ibgfoxfin.com

Trend to watch: “The aging of Baby Boomers will result in a large number of businesses seeking an ownership transfer.”

The Many flFLavors of AZ Big Media

azBIGmedia.com

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

{ BUSINESS INSURANCE } MICHAEL BILL

JEFF DOLLARHIDE

CEO MJ Insurance mjinsurance.com

Bill joined MJ Insurancein 1992, became president in 2001 and was named chief executive officer in the fall of 2006.

Source of pride: “Developing and mentoring new associates and emerging leaders in our organization brings me the most pride. MJ’s commitment to personal and professional development is my greatest accomplishment and I can see the positive impact this has made upon our team.”

Trend to watch: “I believe that technology will have the biggest impact in our industry in the coming years. Technology will impact the transactional components of the insurance industry, while creating opportunities for brokers to drive more consultative advice and proactive service.”

President, CEO and managing partner MassMutual Arizona arizona.massmutual.com Dollarhide started his career with MassMutual Arizona as an agent and decided to work his way up to the highest position he could and did this in record time. Upon his appointment as general agent in 2000, Dollarhide was the youngest to receive this position in MassMutual company history and even received the coveted “Chairman’s Trophy” award in his first year of service.

Since then, Dollarhide has created an award-winning financial firm that has made a lasting impression on its client’s lives and community. Jeff believes that one of the biggest parts of success is giving back and being an active member of the community.

MARK HESTER

President Hester, Heitel & Assoc. Inc. hesterheitel.com Hester has worked in the insurance industry for more than 40 years and is actively involved in the community.

Business advice: “To become a professional, learn the

JACK BENNETT

President and partner Bennett & Porter Insurance Services bennettandporter.com Bennett established Bennett & Porter in 2002. Through innovation and firstclass service, he quickly grew it to become an Arizona premier independent provider of insurance and wealth management services. Bennett works with his agents and advisors using a unique philosophy and strategy to protect assets and build wealth for individuals and businesses.

INDUSTRY OUTLOOK: “The market is going to become more competitive and insurance companies will look for ways to diversify and expand their offerings. Property and casualty companies are beginning to roll out value-added services, such as life insurance, financial planning and towing and travel assistance. In the commercial sector, risk management is more readily available and some even offer company nurse programs to reduce workers’ comp claims. In insurance, our assets lie not just with the products, but also with client relationships. We want to be their first choice and we are always asking what else we can offer to add value.”

156 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

business from the best minds in our industry; be persistent; If you don’t know the answer to a question, find the answer; and always put the clients’ interest ahead of your interests.”

Trend to watch: “Driverless cars and trucks with the unique exposures they will pose and the new laws that will be created by this technology will be interesting to watch.

Hopefully, this will eliminate — or at least significantly reduce — accidents and lower insurance costs for our valued clients.”

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

{ BUSINESS INSURANCE } TERRENCE SCALI

STEVEN TOUCHÉ

CEO NFP Property and Casualty nfp.com Scali acquires, integrates and leads insurance agencies and brokerages. As CEO for NFP, Scali is responsible for growing the property and casualty business internationally. Locally, Scali founded, grew and sold two very large Arizona-based

insurance firms.

Industry outlook: “Clients want more value for their money from the insurance industry. As self- service personal lines and small commercial lines grow more competitive through technology advancements — and AI advisors provide customer advice — the industry is changing and the human advisors will be competing with AI for roles left by retiring employees.

Pressure on profit margins means some firms will merge with — or sell to — competitors. As agencies sell to private-equity-backed brokers and publicly owned brokers, we’ll see more mega brokers emerge. Agencies must illustrate greater business value by adapting technology and providing clients more value to meet their needs.”

President Lovitt & Touché Inc. lovitt-touche.com

Touché has more than 35 years of insurance industry experience. He is responsible for the profitable operations of one of the largest insurance brokerages in the United States.

Business advice: “Be willing to do the things that are the most difficult. Persevere. Handle all interactions with others – both professionally and personally – with honesty and integrity.”

Source of pride: “Working closely with my brother and my father (before he passed) to develop a company that operates with integrity and actively supports the communities in which we live. We’ve been honored to develop some amazing insurance professionals and create a generous charitable footprint in the communities we serve.”

ALLAN SMITH

Senior vice president Marsh USA marsh.com Smith’s mission is to develop and maintain lasting client relationships at Marsh by delivering leadership, solutions, and services to help his clients successfully manage their risks. Smith’s risk management experience and expertise

includes complex property and casualty insurance program design and negotiation, enterprise risk management, loss control, and claims management (property, liability, workers compensation). Marsh, a global leader in insurance broking and risk management, teams with its clients to define, design, and deliver innovative industry-specific solutions that help them protect their future and thrive.

It has approximately 25,000 employees serving more than 100 countries

MARC SCHMITTLEIN

President and CEO CopperPoint Mutual Insurance Company copperpoint.com Schmittlein joined CopperPoint as president and CEO in June 2016. He was recently president of cyber business division and previously co-president of business insurance for Travelers. Schmittlein holds a CPCU designation and is an accredited advisor in insurance.

Business advice: “Insurance is more than claims or selling a policy. It offers a variety of career paths in multiple disciplines, so don’t assume there isn’t a place for you. There’s plenty of room for growth and success in a dynamic industry that exists to protect people and their business pursuits.”

Surprising fact: “I really enjoy the skill and concentration required to shoot a compound bow.”

158 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

Protection that works just as hard as you.

That’s the Point.

For over 90 years, CopperPoint has been Arizona’s premier workers compensation provider. Our extensive coverage options and safety expertise can help protect both your growing business and your employees. Learn more at copperpoint.com.

NOW REPRESENTED BY SELECT AGENTS.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

{ CYBERSECURITY } ORI EISEN

CHUCK MATTHEWS

Founder and CEO Trusona trusona.com

Chairman and CEO WGM Associates wgmllc.com

Eisen has dedicated his life to fighting online crime. He is the founder and CEO at Trusona. Prior to Trusona, he founded 41st Parameter, which was acquired by Experian in 2013. In his free time, he volunteers with Thorn, the digital defenders of children. He founded Ball to All, a charity that donates free soccer balls to children who have never had one. He is a founding member of Security Canyon – Arizona’s Cyber Security Coalition.

Trend to watch: “The security world will start moving away from passwords, especially as the number of breaches per day increase. The industry will need to adopt new ways to keep their businesses and their customers secure.”

Matthews is responsible for leading the strategic direction for WGM Associates, which helps companies protect themselves from the ever-evolving threats of cyber crime. He has 30 years of experience in management and the finance, real estate and technology industries, providing a solid foundation for leading the company. After many successful years in banking, Matthews held leadership roles with DMB Associates and IntelliCommunities, where he pioneered the use of advanced technologies to develop the infrastructure and related services for master planned communities. Matthews currently serves as treasurer of the FBI National Citizens Academy Alumni Association Board of Directors.

HILARY SCHNEIDER President and CEO LifeLock lifelock.com

As a female CEO of a major publicly traded company, Schneider is in the minority. She was named chief executive officer of LifeLock in March 2016. As CEO, Schneider

is responsible for the company’s strategic direction and oversees all aspects of the company’s business operations and growth. She originally joined the company as president in 2012. Prior to LifeLock, Schneider was executive vice president of Yahoo! Americas, where she was responsible for Yahoo!’s North and South American business, reporting to the CEO. Business advice: “It’s about having the swagger, even when you may not feel it.”

NEILL FEATHER

TINA SLANKAS

Feather leads the company’s approach to 360-degree domain security by providing industry analysis and utilizing rapidly evolving data sets related to security and hacking trends. Feather has more than 20 years of experience in technology, notably providing technology solutions and industry insights for Johnson & Johnson prior to joining SiteLock.

Trend to watch: “You’re starting to see more and more cybersecurity firms, either headquarter or at least have offices here in Arizona. We see the continued growth not only in our business, but across the street is a cybersecurity firm and there a few others cropping up and creating this Cybersecurity-Silicon Desert kind of concept.”

As the cybersecurity program director for the City of Phoenix, Slankas is responsible for monitoring cybersecurity trends and legislation to ensure compliance, collaboration and coordination with government and private sector security experts.

Challenge ahead: “Cyber Security and advanced computer technologies have been recognized, by state and local governments, as an industrial cornerstone for the Arizona economy. To foster the local development of the corresponding industries and businesses, Arizona must generate, attract and retain an increasing number of highly educated talents. This challenge has been recognized by the economic development organizations and by the private sector as well.”

President SiteLock sitelock.com

160 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

Executive director Cyber Security Canyon cybersecuritycanyon.org

TRUTHS About Magazine Media

1 Magazine media total audience grew to 1.75 billion in 2015 across platforms an increase of 6.2%

23 4

The top 25 print magazines reach more adults and teens than the top 25 prime time TV shows

Households with income of $150k+ are drawn to magazines

Magazines show the highest return on advertising spendthe ultimate ROI

602.277.6045 | azBIGmedia.com

5 Print magazines are number 1 in reaching affluent influential consumers

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

{ HUMAN RESOURCE } KRISANNE ELSNER

ERIC KNOTT

Owner and president Elsner HR elsnerhr.com

Principal FinePoint HR finepointhr.com

Elsner is the owner and president of Elsner HR — a leader in human resources department recruiting for both contract and direct-placements. Elsner HR is a 2015 blending of two long-respected companies, Southwest Recruiting Services and Fishel Bocker and Elsner HR Associates. Elsner’s firm brings more than 25 years of experience in HR recruiting with a special expertise in candidate interviewing.

She began her career in the human resources field and worked for several Fortune 500 companies including Unilever, McKesson and Sundstrand Aerospace. She is a member of the Society for Human Resources Management and is past president of the Arizona Professional Recruiters Association.

A true HR pro, Knott has worked in human resources for some of the nation’s most well-respected companies, including as the senior HR leader for several large Arizona employers. With two decades of experience, Knott is principal at FinePoint HR and provides HR consulting services to clients around the world.

Trend to watch: “The impending changes in government regulation and employment law will have a significant impact on human resources. The challenge is for HR leaders to stay ahead of the changes and help their businesses pivot in a way that leverages teams better than the competition.”

KEVIN SALCIDO

Vice president of human resources and chief human resources officer Arizona State University asu.edu Salcido is an experienced human resources executive with a strong record of delivering business results. Salcido has demonstrated an ability to develop and execute a strategic

and integrated HR management program.

Trend to watch: “The continued trends towards globalization and the ongoing occupational displacement caused by technology will continue to impact HR. There are some who think these trends can be reversed – but those people are wrong. We are firmly entrenched now in the knowledge economy, which means that those with no postsecondary education will be left further and further behind.

It also means that competition will only increase for welleducated and well-prepared candidates.”

JENNIFER SELLERS

SONJA TALLEY

Sellers is the Central Valley chair of the Society for Human Resource Management of Greater Phoenix. At The Cavanagh Law Firm, Sellers is a member in the Employment, Labor, OSHA and Immigration group. She provides counseling in both the transactional and litigation arenas of employment & labor law. She offers advice on hiring, employment contracts, covenants not to compete, severance agreements, employee manuals, compensation, benefits and terminations. She represents clients in front of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the U.S. Department of Labor and the National Labor Relations Board.

Talley is a certified Human Resources Professional with over 18 years executive leadership experience in various industry settings to include healthcare, construction/engineering, government services, and education. She currently serves as the State Director for the Arizona Society for Human Resources Management and is active as a licensed HeartMath coach.

Trend to watch “The needs of an aging Baby Boom generation, lack of highly skilled available workforce and the younger generation’s demand for workplace flexibility will drive an increase in our virtual workforce. HR leaders must adapt to this new virtual landscape in order to help businesses maintain their competitive edge.”

Business advice: “Do what you love and

Member The Cavanagh Law Firm cavanaghlaw.com

162 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

Principal CORE HR Solutions, LLC corehrsolutions.com

love what you do! Get involved in your HR community through volunteer work, professional membership, and building your HR network.”

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

{ MEDIA }

MIKE ATKINSON

LINDA LITTLE

President and CEO AZ Big Media azbigmedia.com

President, Arizona region iHeart Media iheartmedia.com

Atkinson started AZ Big Media in 1985 and now publishes nine magazines — Az Business, AZRE (Arizona Commercial Real Estate), Ranking Arizona, Az Business Leaders, Az Business Angels, Home & Design, Experience AZ, PTK (People & Projects To Know) and the Cactus League’s Play Ball. AZ Big Media also host 10 business events, delivers a daily digital newsletter, and publishes a news website that BuzzFeed said “Everyone In Phoenix Should Know About.”

Business advice: “Be consistent in what you say and do, push aside the naysayers and keep your life in balance.”

Source of pride: “Every issue we publish is a work of art both visually and editorially.”

During her 20-year career, Little has become known for using a combination of broadcast, digital and event marketing assets to create and execute marketing solutions that drive results.

Business advice: “Never stop learning.

Our industry has changed dramatically with digital and social media adding to the complexity of reaching consumers and getting your message heard.

My advice is to never remain in the past, focus on new ways to integrate media and keep learning to stay ahead of your competition.”

Childhood dream: “I wanted to be a fashion designer and went to college in New York city for a career in fashion.”

ED MUNSON

Vice president and general manager KPHO CBS5 and KTVK 3TV meredith.com KPHO is the CBS TV affiliate station in Phoenix and KTVK is a hyper local news station. The news operation is the largest in the state of Arizona, creating more than 100 hours of

local news and information programming a week. As the general manager, Munson oversees the stations and digital sites operations. He has been in the position since 2008. The stations are owned by Meredith Corporation, based in Des Moines, Iowa.

Trend to watch: “How the viewer receives, watches and chooses programming. Many screens carry content, but a four-inch screen does not make bad content better. The winners will have the best, most relevant content.”

MI-AI PARRISH

STEVE STRICKBINE

Parrish leads strategic vision for Arizona’s largest media company as it swiftly evolves to meet consumer needs, engage with the community and fulfill its First Amendment mission. Prior to Republic Media, she was president and publisher of Kansas City Star Media and Idaho Statesman Media. Prior, she was in newsrooms across the country, including a stint at the Arizona Republic. A two-time Pulitzer juror, she’s married to Pulitzer Prize winner Dave Parrish.

Trend to watch: “The idea of our First Amendment being weakened, questioned and devalued is a giant concern and could have an impact on our industry, our community and our very way of life. Our republic is founded on these principles.”

Strickbine is a former CPA who grew up in the Valley and attended ASU. He is the founder of Times Media Group, which he started as a single community publication in the North Scottsdale area and has grown into a leading print and digital media company serving the Valley and Tucson.

Business advice: “Embrace the changes taking place in our industry. As the Chinese proverb says, ‘A crisis is often opportunity riding the dangerous wind.’

There are more opportunities today in the media industry than ever before, as new technology has laid waste to long-standing traditional paradigms.”

Childhood dream: “I always wanted to a business of my own, which lead me down the path to becoming a CPA. Accounting is the foundational language of business and I believe it has provided me with sound

President Arizona Republic republicmedia.com

164 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

President Times Media Group timespublications.com

judgment and decision making abilities when evaluating options and opportunities.”

Surprising fact: “I was a killer poker player when I was in high school and college.”

We surf the Internet.

We swim in magazines.

The Internet is exhilarating. Magazines are enveloping. The Internet grabs you. Magazines embrace you. The Internet is impulsive. Magazines are immersive. And both media are growing.

Barely noticed amidst the thunderous Internet clamor is the simple fact that magazine readership has risen over the past several years. Even in the age of the Internet, even among the groups one would assume are most singularly hooked on digital media, the appeal of magazines is growing.

Think of it this way: during the life of Google, magazine readership actually increased 11 percent.

What it proves, once again, is that a new medium doesn’t necessarily displace an existing one. Just as movies didn’t kill radio. Just as TV didn’t kill movies. An established medium can continue to flourish so long as it continues to offer a unique experience. And, as readers’ loyalty and growth demonstrate, magazines do.

Which is why people aren’t giving up swimming, just because they also enjoy surfing.

The Power of Print Copy Credit: Young & Rubicam

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

{ MULTICULTURAL MARKETING } ERIC DIAZ

JOE RAY

Partner Nativa thenativa.com

President and creative director Maximo Branding maximobranding.com

Diaz leads Nativa, a multicultural communications agency that focuses on the Hispanic market, by focusing on the needs of the client in order to deliver the best long-term solution through his creative team. He credits his years working across continents for Staples as the guiding path to his strong project management ability. To stay on top of the newest trends in multicultural marketing, Diaz participates in online conversations, researches best practices and industry trends and discusses the newest wrinkles in social media programming and web development. A veteran of several office environments, Diaz says he enjoys the fact that he can finally justify spending his day on Facebook.

Ray has more than 25 years of multidisciplinary experience in branding, marketing, advertising and design.

His expertise is notable in finding new messaging methods to produce brand domination for clients, thus achieving a better ROI. He is also known for effectively connecting brands with Hispanic consumers.

Business advice: “Family oriented entertainment is big with Latinos, but that doesn’t mean everything has to be a family focused group activity. For example, sporting events characteristically are, but professional sports can be prohibitively expensive for an entire family. Marketers should seek to include Latinos in all facets of the entertainment industry, family-oriented or otherwise.”

TANIA TORRES

President and CEO Torres Multicultural Communications torresmulticultural.com Torres founded Torres Multicultural Communications, is the daughter of immigrants and the first in her family to graduate college. In 2009 she left a high-level post at a local

LISA URIAS

CEO and managing partner Urias Communications and CoNecs North America uriascommunications.com After 15 years in international marketing, Urias founded Urias Communications in 2004, an advertising/PR agency with a multicultural focus. Locally and nationally award-winning, Urias Communications recently merged with Molera Alvarez to form CoNecs North America, a brand management, PR and government affairs agency designed to position clients throughout North America.

Trend to watch: “A recent New York Times article, ‘Brands to Ad Agencies: Diversify or Else,’ revealed that Verizon, HP and General Mills warned their respective advertising agencies that they must diversify or else. Both agencies and corporations have to diversify their employee base at every level to be successful.”

166 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

ad agency to launch her own business. Six years later, she’s grown her multicultural marketing business into one with a dozen employees and millions in capitalized annual billings.

Trend to watch: “It’s exciting to see the rise of the conscious consumer. Nowadays, consumers are expecting more from the companies they do business with. Conscious consumers want a relationship, not just a transaction. They want a human, transparent and authentic experience with companies that exhibit values similar to their own.”

MARK SUAREZ

President Mosaic Multicultural mosaicmulticultural.com Suarez leads an insights-driven strategic marketing firm dedicated to multicultural markets, which works in partnership with LAVIDGE. Suarez has spent more than 10 years working in various categories with brands such as McDonald’s, AAA of Arizona and Blue Cross and Blue Shield. Suarez is a third-generation Puerto Rican who started Mosaic with Bill Lavidge in 2013.

Business advice: “Be true to who you are. The business of advertising/marketing is a highly competitive business that constantly pushes the thinking of you, your organization and the brands you partner with. Be honest to clients even if it’s unpopular.”

Source of pride: “The best part of about my profession is seeing a team grow and succeed. It gives me great pride to coach, mentor and lead a team of folks who are

willing and capable to replace me.”

Trend to watch: “Digital and consolidation. Brands need to spend more in digital to remain relevant and a byproduct of this will be resource consolidation across the board.”

STEP 1

Ask yourself if you’re reaching the multicultural consumer.

(Are you getting your fair share?)

STEP 2

Give us a call.

(Ask for Mark.)

480 648 7539 mosaicmulticultural.com

ADVERTISING

PR

INTERACTIVE

MEDIA

STRATEGY

LEADERSHIP

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

{ PUBLIC RELATIONS } VERONIQUE JAMES

JENNIFER KAPLAN

Founder and CEO The James Agency thejamesagency.com

Founder and CEO Evolve Public Relations and Marketing evolveprandmarketing.com

James founded The James Agency, an award-winning, full-service advertising, public relations and digital firm in Scottsdale, specializing in hospitality and lifestyle brands. James is currently president-elect for Entrepreneur’s Organization, Arizona Chapter and will serve as the organization’s third female president in 2017-2018. James also on the board of Colleen’s Dream Foundation.

Business advice: “In a competitive industry like marketing, it’s important to go the extra mile for clients. Be a creative problem solver. Present innovative ideas. Take time to simply call them to check in or invite them to lunch. In addition to the job you’re hired to do, make an effort to ‘wow’ them.”

Kaplan is a familiar face in the Valley. She is a native of Phoenix and prides herself on knowing and understanding the dynamics of the community and the deep rooted relationships she has established.

Connecting with her client’s and the ability to understand their needs has led to her success. She approaches her clients as an extension of their team in order to create the ownership and passion their clients expect.

Business advice: “Don’t let fear hold you back from following your dreams and — more importantly — your passion. If you are doing something you love, you will be successful.”

Surprising fact: “I eat the same thing every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner ... with some exceptions.”

MATTHEW OWENS CEO OH Partners owensharkey.com

Owens is a passionate marketer. His leadership has enabled OH Partners to emerge as the fastest-growing advertising and PR firm in the Southwest. Along with his business partner, Scott Harkey, they are dedicated to building an

MIRJA RIESTER Partner and chief strategic officer RIESTER riester.com

Riester owns RIESTER, one of the largest advertising and public relations firms in the Western United States. Forbes included RIESTER in its list of “Top 100 Global Ad Agencies That Know Social Media and Google.” Riester is an international market researcher, brand management expert and business executive with global marketing experience.

Business advice: “Be persistent, intuitive and emotional.

Our industry relies on emotions to connect with audiences, on intuition to anticipate change and on persistence to seek true outcomes.”

Surprising fact: “I am a fierce competitor. Growing up in Europe as a gymnast, I learned how to train hard every day, work for perfection and never give up.”

168 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

agency that transforms the competitive landscape of their home market. They have combined the power of a fully integrated marketing agency with the vigor of a dot-com start-up.

Trend to watch: “The maturation of the digital age promises to continue to force our industry to stay on the cutting edge. My hope is our ability to predict consumer behaviors will significantly drive down costs while limiting the amount of clutter in the media market place.”

AL STEVENS

President the spr agency thespragency.com Stevens leads the spr agency, a Scottsdalebased public relations and social media agency that serves clients nationwide, providing intelligent and innovative solutions to help entrepreneurs, small businesses and Fortune 500 companies reach customers, clients and stakeholders.

Business advice: “Listening is always the more successful route to success in public relations. We all have a propensity to talk rather than listen. The more you listen, the more you can learn – about your client and yourself. ”

INDUSTRY OUTLOOK: “As with any industry, innovation forces business leaders to adapt or be left behind.

In our industry, there’s no question that technology is the catalyst for change right now. Our job as communicators and

marketers is to not lose focus on the human connection that we’re attempting to make.

Technology is a tool, a way to help us make better and stronger connections with one another. At the end of the day, that’s what it’s about: connecting with people in a way that’s authentic and inspiring.”

WE MAKE YOUR BUSINESS BETTER GET READY FOR YOUR BUSINESS TO TAKE OFF For a decade, the spr agency has specialized in successfully combining public relations, social media, digital marketing and business marketing strategies to get our clients noticed. We focus on delivering measurable results that help your business succeed. As Ranking Arizona’s No. 1 public relations agency for 2017, we’re selective about who we work with and only choose clients that match our business philosophy: work hard, work smart and work ethically. Find out how we can elevate your business today.

PUBLIC RELATIONS | SOCIAL MEDIA | DIGITAL MARKETING THESPRAGENCY.COM | 480.648.1770

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

{ DIGITAL MARKETING } MIKE ARCE

JEFF HERZOG

CEO and founder Loud Rumor loudrumor.com

Founder and CEO ZOG Digital Inc. zogdigital.com

Arce is the founder of Loud Rumor, an online marketing agency that helps fitness studios grow and get more members. He is an entrepreneur, speaker, coach and host of a top fitness business podcast, “The GSD Show.”

Business advice: “Find mentors and be a good mentee. By that I mean that you should always listen to what your mentors say.”

Trend to watch: “Social media will have the biggest impact on our industry. Since this is constantly changing, my job is to stay up to date and ahead of the curve. At Loud Rumor, we currently use Facebook advertising as a way to generate hundreds of leads every month for our fitness customers.

But that could change quickly based on social media trends.”

Herzog is considered to be a digital visionary, having pioneered the search marketing industry through his creation of iCrossing and later the launch of ZOG Digital. After selling iCrossing in 2010, Herzog launched his newest firm with a focus on innovative SEO and digital marketing practices, for his affluent fortune 500 clientele. At ZOG, he has built a team of industry innovators that focus on blending their unrivaled digital expertise, with cutting-edge marketing technology.

Business advice: “Business success is based in finding a particular passion and pursuing it relentlessly. I find that passion is the No. 1 indicator on whether any business will succeed, and ultimately thrive.”

ALONA RUDNITSKY

Managing partner Helix House Digital Advertising Agency myhelixhouse.com Rudnitsky is the managing partner of Helix House and is currently working out of the corporate office in Old Town Scottsdale. She also serves as the marketing director of

Opportunities 4 Kids, a leading nonprofit organization that is helping underprivileged children obtain funding to pursue their passions.

Trend to watch: “Virtual reality will be one of the biggest game changers in the advertising industry. It’s going to allow for a fully immersive experience and we’ll be able to give the potential client a test drive, trip, or walk through from the comfort of their home within the next few years.”

ALEXI VENNERI

BRIAN COLLING

Venneri is the co-founder and CEO of Digital Air Strike, a leading social media and digital engagement company. Venneri has more than 20 years of experience in marketing and is a pioneer in digital response, social marketing and online reputation management.

Trend to watch: “New social platforms are emerging and existing ones change constantly — for example: Snapchat in 2013 and Instagram Stories in 2016. Also, the social sites are being viewed as resources for information – including Facebook, consumer reviews and job postings. With effective engagement strategies, our clients are able to capitalize on the changes.”

Colling is the founder of Colling Media, a technology infused lead generation advertising agency focused on results.

Colling is passionate about helping to fuel the economy and staying on the cutting edge of what helps businesses succeed.

Away from work: “Working out while listening to audio books in the morning gives my mind and body the energy it needs to fuel the day.”

Co-founder and CEO Digital Air Strike digitalairstrike.com

170 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

CEO Colling Media collingmedia.com

INDUSTRY OUTLOOK: “I believe over the next 12 months to five years, the advertising industry will see a shift in the agency/client relationship. The new model will feature agencies who will help the advertiser become sophisticated marketers. I predict the client will be the smartest one in the room and an agency will help execute marketing strategies – much like an Ad Operations team. This

shift forces agencies to be better educators instead of hoping clients don’t have it all figured out. Clients will want to work with agencies that educate, leading to deeper win/win relationships and better advertising performance.”

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

{ WORKFORCE PLACEMENT } DEANNE DESAUTELS

TODD GOVIG

President and CEO Accounting & Finance Professionals, Inc. afprofessionals.com

President and CEO Govig and Associates govig.com

As founder of Accounting & Finance Professionals and Staff-Logic, Desautels has more than 19 years of recruiting, staffing and human resources experience. In 2010, she was the recipient of the Republic Media award for “Giving Back to the Community.”

Business advice: “The only way to get ahead is by working hard and continually learning along the way. Passion for people is the key in staffing and recruiting. Your goal needs to be connecting and helping people make the right choices for them in their career, which will guide them to happiness.”

Trend to watch: “Our government has the largest impact on our industry.”

Govig has created a successful company where employees embrace a talentdriven, talent-delivered philosophy.

Employees are provided with career growth opportunities, flexibility with work-life balance and financial support to meet educational goals. Established in 1978, Govig employs more than 70 recruiting professionals with a focus on accounting, finance, tax, operations, construction, biopharmaceutical and senior housing.

Childhood dream: “I always wanted to own my own business. My dad wanted me to be a lawyer. I am not a lawyer – but I love good lawyer jokes.”

Surprising fact: “In my spare time, I do aerobatics in a small plane.”

MAX HANSEN

Co-founder and CEO Y Scouts, Inc. yscouts.com Since 2002, Hansen and his staffing companies have placed nearly 20,000 in jobs in Arizona. In 2012, 10 years after Hansen founded Job Brokers at age 26, the firm had $25 million in revenue. Hansen also invented the term “purpose

ANDY JACOBS

Vice president Concentric Healthcare Staffing concentrichealthcare.com Jacobs is one of the leaders at Scottsdale-based Concentric, which specializes in healthcare employment with an emphasis in nursing and allied health. Concentric develops partnerships with its clients and becomes an integral part of clients’ staffing solution.

Trend to watch: “We’re faced with, what’re we going to do about Obamacare and how are we going to fund it if we’re going to keep it? Those questions are yet to be answered. And for our purposes here in Arizona, once those are answered, I think it will be easier for the hospitals and facilities around here to understand how they are going to be able to budget their hospitals and facilities and their employees.”

172 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

based recruiting” with the formation of his executive search firm, Y Scouts.

Business advice: “Stop only filling skill gaps with resumes.

We are giving our industry a bad name when this is the only focus. There is so much more to making sure someone is right for a company than whether or not their resume has the same key words on it as a job description. People don’t work in job descriptions, they should work for companies who have purpose that aligns with their own.”

PAUL BOCA

CEO Corporate Job Bank corporatejobbank.com Boca has been president and CEO of both Corporate Job Bank Personnel Services and Professional Search Associates for almost 30 years, building the company into the No. 1 locally owned staffing company in Arizona. He participates on many business and civic boards.

Business advice: “It’s always about the people, not the technology or the systems we use for tracking searches. It’s having people who work for you that love helping people.”

Toughest challenge: “We have been helping many of our customers for years and continuing to find the high quality employee that our customers are accustom to from Corporate Job Bank is always tough. The employee market is always changing and we work very hard to stay in step.”

Surprising fact: “I have a great love for clothes. Believe it or not, this love started back when I sold shirts and ties door to door in the 1970s.”

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

{ WORKFORCE PLACEMENT } AARON MATOS

RYAN NOUIS

CEO and founder Olivia by Recruiting.Ai recruiting.ai

Founder and CEO Job Brokers jobbrokersinc.com

Matos is founder and CEO of Olivia by Recruiting.Ai, which is transforming recruiting software through the power of natural language processing and artificial intelligence. He is also the founder of Recruiting.com, a provider of next generation software and technology that enables organizations to succeed by recruiting and hiring the right people thorough cloud-based candidate management software and a network of leading local, diversity, and niche job boards, including Jobing.com. He is a recognized expert on Internet recruiting, employment branding and recruitment technology.

Surprising fact: “My first job was as a bike mechanic at Swiss American Bicycles.”

Nouis decided to start Job Brokers after he and Max Hansen became “friendly competitors” at rival recruiting companies.

Now a multimillion dollar company, it was perhaps the most important decision he ever made. As CEO of Job Brokers, Nouis is heavily involved in the operations of the company, from payroll and insurance to information technology and the fine points of how the company functions. Besides ensuring that business matters run smoothly, he is equally as involved in recruitment, sales and marketing. Nouis began his career as an aircraft dispatcher and then moved into a position as recruiter for an aviation recruiting company. The two experiences molded him into a skillful manager.

THOR OAKLEY

Regional vice president Revature revature.com Oakley is regional vice president for Revature, a technology talent development company that provides a turn-key talent acquisition solution for corporate and government partners and no-cost coding bootcamps for university graduates.

Before Revature, Oakley was with Robert Half for more than 10 years and oversaw the technology and creative staffing divisions of the company.

Business advice: “Be proactive and be memorable. Whether working with clients or candidates, this industry is about people. Work hard to maintain positive relationships and demonstrate your commitment and integrity by taking the initiative to help them find solutions. People will remember how you treated them.”

KAREN VANDEHEI

PAUL SMITH

Vandehei co-founded Accurate Placement in 1996. As a Certified Temporary Staffing Specialist with more than 20 years staffing/recruiting experience, she has developed unique systems and pricing structures that are cutting-edge, yet simplistic, to foster a win-win partnership with her business partners. Vandehei has served on the board for the Society of Human Resource Management of Greater Phoenix and is a past president of the Arizona Staffing Professionals Association.

Trend to watch: “Shortage of qualified candidates for our positions and a changing workforce that may not fit our clients’ needs.”

Smith purchased Band B Employment in 1983. In 2006 the company was rebranded as Allstaff Services to reflect the wide range of services the company provides as a full-service staffing firm. In 2012, the company celebrated its 50-year anniversary. Allstaff has expanded to three branch locations and provide on-site services in multiple states.

Business advice: “If you don’t know where you are going, you won’t know where you are when you get there-plan! plan! plan! Give back to the community and don’t forget the community gave to you.

Work hard then work harder.”

Dream dinner: “Teddy Roosevelt. He is one of the main reasons why you and I are in Arizona. He had vision and carried a big stick.”

President and CEO Accurate Placement accurateplacement.com

174 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

President and owner Allstaff Services Inc. allstaffaz.com

Source of pride: “My most memorable accomplishment was when I was the chairman of the light rail committee with the Phoenix Alliance. We have seen the results and its expansions.”

REAL ESTATE

{ INDUSTRY OUTLOOK }

SPONSORED JOKAKE CONSTRUCTION 176 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

A FOUNDATIONAL SHIFT As real estate continues its healthy recovery, changes in education and the use of technology will impact the sector

By JESSE A. MILLARD

T

he commercial real estate industry has been moving along quietly and steadily since the Great Recession. Vacancies are low in many sectors, revealing room for growth and ample opportunities throughout the Valley.

But it won’t be easy. Labor shortages, new technology and a need for more education throughout the construction and commercial real estate industries are shifting dynamics across the sector as it marches further into recovery.

Az Business Leaders magazine sat down with Casey Cartier, CEO of Phoenix-based Jokake Construction, to talk about these shifting dynamics and what we should expect to see in 2018 in commercial real estate.

Az Business Leaders: Which sectors will be the strongest next year and in the next couple of years?

Casey Cartier: Certainly, healthcare, being No. 1 for us, the industrial sectors and then office after that. We certainly see large growth in the service-provided healthcare industry.

That ultimately as it reacts to the possible changes to the Affordable Care Act whatever comes from that, will be impactful. But we’re seeing low vacancies across the board in all sectors, which is a major piece we measure for market sector opportunities.

ABL: Three of our four major sports teams in the region are seeking new stadiums, or at least fighting about it. Do you think that will happen and, if so, how soon?

REAL ESTATE

{ INDUSTRY OUTLOOK }

CC: I think the (Arizona) Coyotes are the closest. The opportunities in the future will be with smaller-seat stadiums, if there is one.

I would say the Coyotes are in the forefront of that. We are intimately knowledgeable of Chase Field, with the impacts and improvements going on, as we spend a lot of time working there. That, and considering what it took for that stadium to happen, a new one would be a reach. But I think Arizona is a pretty creative state and if it proves out to be a benefit to Phoenix and Arizona as a whole, I think there’s a good chance. I would much rather see all three teams stay here than move.

So, I guess in the next five years, the Coyotes as a strong maybe and the others are a no. But the Diamondbacks could be the next one on the table.

ABL: What’s the biggest challenge that the commercial real estate industry will face next year?

CC: Finding qualified labor. In the recession, we had a tremendous number of people leave the real estate industry as a whole, but predominantly on the construction side.

One of the issues the commercial real estate industry faces is having to realign their pricing strategies to really meet the cost to produce.

In all reality, the increase of minimum wage increased a lot of this industry’s labor costs by

20 percent. We aren’t struggling to find people to come into this industry, but the training aspect that it takes to get someone up to speed, that 20 percent impact is holding a lot of training programs apart. We’re not seeing huge pushes with apprenticeship programs to get folks trained. Phoenix and Arizona as the land of opportunity has always been about how much more affordable it is than California, next door. That gap is tightening. And, I think the industry as a whole has to come to terms with what it takes to produce projects today in Arizona than in the past.

ABL: We’ve been seeing a large push for better education at the public level. Do you think that the larger political will for educational support will help alleviate training costs?

CC: I absolutely do. If we look back to history and what it took to construct buildings in the 1950s with manpower, we’re now operating off fractions of that. So, the only way to offset that resource impact is with technology. I think we’ll see a shift of the general tradesman construction type from a general operations standpoint into a much more engineering operation with prefabrication and those kinds of things. The actual labor head counts will go down and be made up with through the use of technology. Education has to get us there.

From what we see on our projections and from what other industry leaders are saying, 2018 looks strong and we certainly believe there’s an uptick through 2020.

SPONSORED JOKAKE CONSTRUCTION 178 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

AB: What’s the next technology that will either start to be implemented or will be adopted in greater numbers next year?

CC: In our industry, building information modeling, or BIM, has been the big technology that’s been rolling out. And the implementation of that has only grown. I think some of the other states in the U.S. and other countries operate based more around a prefabrication model and Arizona will now start taking on more of that. The technology is really about, “how do you actually virtually build those models?” And then give those same instructions to someone in the field and have them build it. So, logistics technology and being able to bring manufactured things to the site, versus building out of bricks and sticks, is really the next technology we use.

Construction typically adopts great technology from other industries. I think going to the distribution channels, like UPS, and analyzing the logistics aspect of how to do that with building things is how we’ll deal with price and labor constraints overall.

ABL: What would more BIM adoption do to the construction industry?

CC: Speed to market will be the first change.

If we can shorten the time frame between concept to construction, I think we’re going to get more creative solutions. We’ll be able to deal with the crunch in labor and training. And the technology will bridge that gap. If we can get from an idea that loads in to virtual workbooks that are used on site, we can actually (deliver concepts) from the architect’s mind to the tradesman’s hands and we can pull all of those inefficiencies in the middle out of the build.

ABL: What’s 2018 looking like? Will it be a good year for CRE? CC: From what we see on our projections and from what other industry leaders are saying, 2018 looks strong and we certainly believe there’s an uptick through 2020. Our industry and the state has done well in the recovery and things have been manageable. We’ve grown at a slower pace than Arizona has grown in the past has done coming out of recoveries, which gives us more sustainable production.

REAL ESTATE

{ ARCHITECTS }

BERNIE DEUTSCH

President Deutsch Architecture Group 2929.com Deutsch Architecture Group is a testament to Deutsch’s drive and passion for the architectural profession.

Through his leadership and guidance, the firm has served both local and national clientele for 33 years. Deutsch’s vision of a total collaborative work environment combined with open communication and a commitment to a healthy life-balance supports invigorated staff members and fresh ideas. Deutsch’s dedication to service and appreciation for long-term relationships has earned him a reputation as the foundation of the Valley’s architecture, engineering and construction industry. Deutsch is responsible for Dolphinaris at OdySea in the Desert.

SHAWN RUSH Principal Corgan corgan.com

Rush is a principal and office director of Corgan’s Phoenix office, with more than 30 years of architectural design experience and averaging 200-plus volunteer hours annually for CREW. Trend to watch: “The increased speed in technology advancements raises debates over us losing real, human interaction. But the tools and data being developed in architecture serve to humanize technology. They allow us to empathize and connect in amazing ways, strengthen our client relationships and enable us to design spaces where people thrive.”

Away from work: “I’m a farmer at heart so when I’m not working you will find me growing things.”

180 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

JAY SILVERBERG

Principal, design director Gensler gensler.com A nationallyrecognized architect and design leader, Silverberg brings more than 29 years of experience to his role. Skilled at executing contextually and environmentally responsive design solutions, Silverberg is consistently recognized for site-specific solutions that integrate architecture with context. His work bridges cultural identity and responds to social and economic challenges within project constraints.

Trend to watch: “The Valley is certainly experiencing a steady economic comeback and now more than ever, well-designed, thought-provoking solutions are needed to attract and retain the best and brightest talent.

Designing for flexibility and embracing these changes will be paramount.”

BRAD WOODMAN

Vice president, office director SmithGroupJJR smithgroupjjr.com Woodman is deeply engaged within the firm and the industry. He is committed to the continued growth and revitalization of Downtown Phoenix, currently serving on the Innovation District Steering Committee for Mayor Greg Stanton.

Business advice: “Be authentic and hold yourself to the same high standards you expect of your partners and employees. It’s OK to make mistakes, but learn from them, live up to them and don’t repeat them.”

Trend to watch: “Virtual reality is already beginning to open new doors and opportunities for clients to envision their space. It is transforming the way we study spatial relationships and is allowing us to better communicate with our clients.”

MICHAEL DAVIS

Founder, CEO and director of design DAVIS thedavisexperience.com Davis is a second-generation Arizonan who has lived in Phoenix since 1973. He is an architect, artist, strategic thinker and developer committed to sustainable urban development. Davis’ primary focus at the firm is the creation of exquisite, meaningful places where people spend the most time. Founded in 1991, DAVIS has designed 75 million square feet, with a market value of $20 billion.

INDUSTRY OUTLOOK: “If history is any predictor of the future, we can expect a reasonably robust 12 months followed by a recession in 2019-2020. We’ve all been told that the country is in its seventh or eighth year of economic ‘expansion,’ but it remains miles short of the decade-plus between 1994 and 2006. During the Great Recession, architecture was among the most severely affected occupations in the U.S. Every recession has a lasting impact on the profession. It has the effect of creating an industry with a preponderance of youth and the significantly well experienced with a wide gap in between.”

REAL ESTATE

{ BROKER MANAGERS }

BRYON CARNEY

Managing principal Cushman & Wakefield cushmanwakefield. com Carney has more than 30 years of experience in commercial real estate. He is responsible for the strategic planning and the day-to-day operations of the firm. Under his guidance, the Arizona office of Cushman & Wakefield is one of the largest and most successful brokerage offices in the Southwest.

Business advice: “To survive and thrive in today’s competitive business environment, you must embrace change, not only to improve your performance, but continue to add value to your company. You can choose to change with the times, take advantage of new opportunities in your industry and grow your business; or you can fight the changes, refuse to adapt and watch your business likely perish.”

DAVE CHEATHAM

Managing principal and president Velocity Retail Group velocityretail.com Cheatham cofounded Velocity, a full-service commercial brokerage company focused on the needs of retail tenants and owners. For more than 30 years, Cheatham has provided strategy for corporate real estate executives for national retailers.

He is considered an authority in providing leasing, development and consulting services for shopping center owners. During his career, he has been involved in opening more than 1,000 stores.

Business advice: “Work with a mentor, be a listener, and have a relentless work ethic.”

Surprising fact: “I spend a lot of my time and resources in building a self-sustaining infrastructure to educate students in Zambia, Africa.”

182 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

FRED DARCHE

Managing principal Lee & Associates leearizona.com Darche specializes in the representation of landlords and tenants specializing in the leasing and sale of office space in the Metropolitan Phoenix real estate market. Darche’s extensive knowledge of the Metropolitan Phoenix market is complemented by thorough analysis and marketing skills involving tenant relocation, tenant expansion, lease negotiations, market analysis and property marketing. These qualities, along with a strong work ethic, have enabled him to become a respected presence within the market. His notable clients include the Dial Corporation, Fennemore Craig, American Express and Twentieth Century Fox. Darche is an active member of University of Arizona Alumni.

DAVID GENOVESE

Principal and managing director Avison Young - Arizona avisonyoung.com Genovese has a career that spans more than 30 years in the commercial real estate industry. Throughout his career, he has directed over $2.75 billion of sales and leasing transactions and is currently involved in more than 10 million square feet of commercial office space in Metro Phoenix and throughout Arizona.

Trend to watch: “I believe technology and the FASB and IASB accounting changes will impact occupiers and leasing in the future. Smaller, highly utilized, functional and collaborative spaces will continue to lead the way, but flex space and being able to occupy space without traditional leases will be attractive to many office users.”

GARY GREGG

Managing principal Cresa cresa.com/phoenix Gregg formed the Phoenix office in 1999 and is a recognized leader in the corporate real estate advisory services field.

He has extensive experience representing clients in a wide variety of industries, with areas of expertise that include strategic portfolio planning, corporate headquarters transactions, lease renegotiations, build-to-suits, saleleasebacks, dispositions, portfolio repositioning and complex transaction requirements. Always on behalf of tenant, Gregg and his team have clients that range in size from the local one-off assignment to Fortune 100 and 500 companies with a global footprint.

Business advice: “Our industry can be challenging, especially in the first few years. Have a longterm vision, be committed and surround yourself with people you trust and admire.”

Source of pride: “I started this business out of my house more than 18 years ago. Watching our office grow because of the individual and collective efforts of incredible people has been truly remarkable.”

REAL ESTATE

{ BROKER MANAGERS }

CRAIG HENIG Senior managing director and Arizona market leader CBRE cbre.com

Henig oversees 15 lines of business in the Phoenix, Tucson, Albuquerque, Las Vegas and Salt Lake City offices. Henig’s extensive background in corporate services, brokerage, property management and project management, as well as his deep relationships, allow him to provide superior client service and lead professionals across multiple business lines and geographies.

Trend to watch: “Mobility and technology are driving forces behind the evolving workplace.

Companies are beginning to rethink and adapt their workplace and labor strategies to meet the demands of their workforce, while still being able to service their clients. The result is more efficient and collaborative workplace designs.”

PERRY LAUFENBERG

Managing director SVN | Desert Commercial Advisors svndesertcommercial. com Laufenberg serves as the managing director, designated broker and co-founding partner of SVN in Phoenix. Since entering the commercial real estate industry in 2003, Laufenberg has worked diligently to help his team set and reach their individual sales and income goals.

Source of pride: “Being one of the youngest managing directors in our industry is a point of pride for me. The most rewarding part of my position is helping guide others to success and watching them achieve their personal and financial goals.”

Dream dinner: “Martin Luther King Jr. His inspirational leadership and message of peace and inclusion is something that everyone should strive for.”

184 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

TERRY MARTINDENNING

CEO NAI Horizon naihorizon.com Martin-Denning has more than 30 years in the industry.

She is responsible for the overall strategy of NAI Horizon, providing leadership and direction to ensure consistent high quality results, client satisfaction and on-target financial performance while promoting the vision, culture and professionalism of NAI both internally and externally. She is a leader within the NAI network, serving as past chair of the Western Region Principals group.

Business advice: “Learn to be a good listener and only make promises that you expect to fulfill. Don’t be satisfied with today’s success. Continue learning and setting new lofty goals. Ethics and integrity are more important than any financial gain.”

ARI SPIRO

President ORION Investment Real Estate orionprop.com Spiro has been involved in the real estate industry for more than 20 years and has been a part of hundreds of transactions for over $1 billion of total consideration.

Business advice: “Be enthusiastic. If you cannot be passionate to win the business, how can someone believe that you will be passionate to service the business?”

Trend to watch: “Adapting to constant change.

Gone are the days that you can rely on doing the same thing the same way for a decade or more. If you are not adapting and reinventing yourself, your business, your marketing or your property, you will be passed by and passed by quickly.”

BOB MULHERN

Managing director Colliers International colliers.com/greaterphoenix Mulhern is the senior managing director for Colliers International’s Greater Phoenix office. He is the co-founder and president of the Great Hearts Arizona Board of Directors.

Business advice: “I always encourage aspiring real estate professionals to make sure that integrity drives all their decisions and to focus on activities that take advantage of your unique abilities.

Happiness and success comes from doing things you love to do and are very capable of doing well.”

Trend to watch: “Arizona was hit hard by the Great Recession and climbed out slowly, without its normal boost from home construction. When the economy slows again, we hope the downward correction is less dramatic than past cycles, signaling Phoenix has overcome its ‘boom/bust’ economic pattern.

That would be great.”

Away from work: “My wife and I have nine children (and two grandchildren). We enjoy all aspects of having a large family, especially Sunday dinners and family events.”

REAL ESTATE

{ BROKERS INDUSTRIAL }

LEROY BREINHOLT

President and designated broker Commercial Properties Inc. cpiaz.com Breinholt has more than 29 years of commercial real estate and industrial market experience. During his tenure as president and designated broker, he has repeatedly been recognized as a top broker in the Valley, while growing the company through various market conditions. For the last 12 years, Breinholt has been named by CoStar as one of the top Phoenix deal makers.

Toughest challenge: “Trying to manage a company and remain the top producer so the company could survive. I managed it by hiring an amazing GM that can handle company issues, allowing me to do what I enjoy and do best, which is focus on doing real estate transactions.”

MARK DETMER Managing director JLL jll.com

A 23-year industry veteran, Detmer leads the Industrial Capital Markets practice for the Western United States at JLL, specializing in industrial investment sales for institutional clients as well as private owners of real estate. During his career, Detmer has exclusively represented institutional owners, REITs, sovereign wealth and developers in the acquisition or disposition of office and industrial assets. Globally, he has completed more than $500 billion in transaction volume over the past five years.

Trend to watch: “Technology will have a bigger and bigger impact on the collecting, keeping and sharing of information. Embrace it.”

186 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

MICHAEL HAENEL

Executive managing director Cushman & Wakefield cushmanwakefield. com Haenel has more than 32 years of experience in the acquisition, disposition and leasing of industrial, back-office buildings and land in Arizona. He’s been honored locally and nationally as a top producer and a community leader.

Business advice: “Be patient. This is not an overnight success type of business. Get trained by an expert, have a mentor, work 60-plus hours a week, cold call every day, build and nurture relationships, ‘do what you say you’re going to do’ and eat/sleep commercial real estate until you figure it out.”

Away from work: “I like to be outdoors with my family, disconnected from technology.”

STEVE MCKENDRY

Executive vice president and branch manager DAUM daumcommercial. com McKendry is the designated broker of DAUM’s Arizona brokerage operations and Phoenix office.

Beginning his career with DAUM in 1973, McKendry has continued his specialization of industrial brokerage and has been instrumental in the sale and leasing of numerous industrial buildings, industrial parks, design/build projects and investment property sales. Additionally, he actively represents developers and investors with site selection and land purchases.

McKendry is also a member of DAUM’s board of directors. Prior to DAUM, McKendry was part of a site selection team for a national development company.

PAT FEENEY

Senior vice president CBRE cbre.com Feeney specializes in the sale and lease of single and multitenant industrial properties, land sales, build-to-suit projects, investment property sales and landlord and tenant representation assignments. Entering his 32nd year in commercial real estate, he has brokered more than 3,000 transactions in excess of 156 million square feet.

INDUSTRY OUTLOOK: “The outlook for commercial real estate is positive. Arizona has a business-friendly environment, robust and efficient transportation system, affordable rents, strong labor supply and diversity of industries, all of which will support continued growth. Technology is also changing the way we do business. More and more, our clients are looking not simply for a transaction-focused broker, but for a strategic advisor who can quickly provide real-time data and market intelligence to guide decision-making. CBRE is continually rolling out new technology that allows us to do our job anywhere, anytime — and provide better information and insight to our clients.”

When it comes to real estate, we see potential everywhere. CBRE turns scale into strength, expense into performance, and property into prosperity. How can we help you transform your real estate into real advantage?

Phoenix Office 602 735 5555 www.cbre.us/phoenix

Tucson Office 520 323 5100 www.cbre.us/tucson

Build on Advantage

REAL ESTATE

{ CONTRACTORS }

ANDREW GEIER

Executive vice president Layton Construction laytonconstruction. com In 2005, 29-yearold Geier was promoted to business unit leader over Layton’s Arizona interior construction group, becoming the youngest business unit leader in the company’s history. Today, Geier leads Layton’s Arizona construction activities, with an emphasis on business development, pre-construction and strategic planning.

Trend to watch: “External factors, like politics, financing, labor and technology, continue to shape the construction industry. Technology has made the biggest impact in the way we connect with our clients during the pre-construction process and throughout construction. We continually look for new ways to incorporate technology into our approach to exceed project goals.”

G. MICHAEL HOOVER

President and XEO Sundt Construction sundt.com A 30-year industry veteran, Hoover is the president and CEO of Sundt Construction, a general contractor that has been in business for over a century and a quarter, and is known for its commitment to quality and innovative approaches to transportation, industrial and building projects. A former chairman of the Highway and Transportation Division of the Associated General Contractors of America, Hoover is active on several boards of directors, including the Greater Phoenix Leadership, the Construction Industry Round Table and The Road Information Program.

Childhood dream: “I played a lot of sports as a kid, but I always wanted to be a professional golfer.”

188 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

DAVID SELLERS

President LGE Corporation lgedesignbuild.com Sellers is the owner, president, and CEO of LGE. LGE is full-service design/ build commercial construction company that is the parent company of its construction company, LGE Design Build, and its architectural firm, LGE Design Group. Since 1994, LGE has completed more than 900 projects totaling more than 18 million square feet.

Surprising fact: “I was diagnosed with colon cancer when I was 29 and spent the next 12 months going through various types of chemo, all while working full-time during the recession of 2007. Not many people know this, since at the time I didn’t want that kind of attention. Now that I am 100 percent clear and healthy, I am more open to discussing it.”

JIM SWANSON CEO Kitchell kitchell.com

Since 2008, Swanson has led Kitchell as it expanded into new practices, fostering a spirit of collaboration and innovation among a 950-member workforce that spans the western and southwestern U.S. Business advice: “Be humble and know what you don’t know. Play the long game. Think of how you can build communities and have a role that’s bigger than just bricks and mortar. Get involved in the issues that impact our livelihood: the economy, education, charitable endeavors. Register to vote and exercise that right – it’s the one powerful tool that every resident has and it should be treated with respect.”

JUSTIN KELTON

President McCarthy Building Companies, Southwest Division mccarthy.com Kelton became president of McCarthy’s Southwest Division in 2016, overseeing strategic planning, client relations and business development for the firm’s Arizona, Nevada, Colorado and New Mexico offices.

INDUSTRY OUTLOOK: “The construction industry is going to be significantly impacted by two primary factors: workforce and technology. Workforce shortages will hinder construction project progress, particularly as more new projects come online. Without enough skilled workers, the industry’s recovery will face hurdles. Training programs and encouraging young people to explore opportunities in construction are — and need to remain — a focus. Technology will have short-and long-term impact.

Advancements are changing the way we build today and will continue.

One key technology that’s changed design and construction is virtual reality. It allows owners, designers and end-users to experience space well before it’s built and allows us to make changes early in the process, saving money and time.”

REAL ESTATE

{ CONTRACTORS }

LORRAINE BERGMAN

President and CEO Caliente Construction calienteconstruction. com Bergman, an Arizona native is the president of Caliente, one of the largest commercial construction companies in Arizona. Deeply committed to charitable and business organizations, somes of her notable accomplishments include past president of the Arizona Builders Alliance and co-founder of Advancing Women in Construction.

Trend to watch: “The shortage of skilled trades and professionals continues to impact construction. As large numbers of Baby Boomers leave the workforce and political agendas continue to impact worker availability, implementing new technologies and developing efficient business practices will enable companies to do more with less labor.”

DANIEL BJERK

Estimator Bjerk Builders, Inc. bjerkbuilders.com In 1987, Bjerk got a call from his brother Scott, president of Bjerk Builders, to come to Arizona and give him a hand with Bjerk Builders. He has been here ever since.

Business advice: “The Phoenix market is one of the best places to have a career in construction. The best advice I can give someone is to build and establish relationships with others in this industry.”

Trend to watch: “I think the biggest impact is the lack of young skilled tradesmen in all construction divisions, thus creating a shortage of manpower on projects. The shortage of manpower affects the overall construction timeline for the completion of projects.”

190 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

MIKE BONTRAGER Senior vice president Adolfson & Peterson Construction a-p.com

Bontrager is responsible for Adolfson & Peterson’s strategic direction and overall growth. His extensive resume in the industry spans more than three decades, serving in numerous positions along the way. Bontrager serves on numerous associations, including on the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce board of directors.

Business advice: “Take on the difficult assignments and push yourself out of your comfort zone. If you want it bad enough, you’ll succeed. View problems as good things. Leave a trail of satisfied customers and find a specialty — something you do better than anyone else. This makes you valuable to the customer and your company.”

KIMBERLY DAVIDS

General manager The Weitz Company weitz.com Throughout her 16 years in the construction industry, Davids has demonstrated the ability to organize and lead projects in a variety of roles such as superintendent, project engineer, project manager, executive or operations manager. She is involved in many industry organizations, including Arizona Builders Alliance, Greater Phoenix Economic Council and Valley Partnership.

Business advice: “Be prepared to learn something new every day. Show up early, stay late and ask a lot of questions. No matter what role you play on the team, it is vital to the success of the project. At the end of the day, remember to have fun.”

CASEY CARTIER President and CEO Jokake Construction Services, Inc. jokake.com

Cartier’s strategic vision focuses on two fundamental aspects – providing leadership and growth opportunities for the company’s team members and elevating Jokake’s reputation as a sophisticated builder and player in the market. He oversees and manages local and regional construction operations for the company and is the champion of Jokake’s stakeholder model.

INDUSTRY OUTLOOK: “As the one of the nation’s fastest growing cities and counties, commercial real estate in Phoenix and Maricopa County will continue to expand, specifically in the technology/software, industrial manufacturing and office markets.

Public spending should also increase to keep pace with the growing populations across the Valley. That said, the world is an intertwined ball of economies; frailty in the global economy — as well as uncertainty in the U.S. economy — could result in another recession in the next five years. There should be some caution over the next few years to ensure growth is sustainable for our longterm economy.”

ALWAYS...

ON YOUR TEAM Our Team thrives on the ideas and stories behind the structures we have built, which have been possible by some of the most renowned Owners, Architects, Engineers and Contractors in the industry. We take pride in partnering with the best teams to build what starts as a simple concept and becomes a reality. Contact Suntec Concrete to discuss your next dream project.

Experience concrete like never before.

602-997-0937

•

suntecconcrete.com

REAL ESTATE

{ DEVELOPERS }

MICHAEL EBERT

Managing partner RED Development reddevelopment. com As a founding partner, Ebert has shaped RED’s successful development area in projects across the country since 1995 and leads all aspects of the company’s business. His keen insights and knowledge about the qualities that come together in a compelling property are an essential part of RED’s continued evolution.

Business advice: “Listen and learn from others.

The most successful business people know there is always more to learn. Recognize the best practices of successful people and projects and identify how you can adapt those to your strengths. Often it’s a focus on reinventing not necessarily inventing. As Nike says, ‘Evolve immediately.’”

SHARON HARPER

Chairman, president and CEO Plaza Companies theplazaco.com Harper leads Plaza Companies, a dynamic and multifaceted real estate investment and services firm, involved in healthcare, senior housing, bioscience and biotechnology sectors. Harper is a trustee for the Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust, The McCain Institute for International Leadership with ASU, chairman of Greater Phoenix Leadership and on the executive board for GPEC. Trend to watch: “Our state’s efforts to continue to grow a broad-based economy with high quality jobs, excellence in education and innovative companies will drive the growth of commercial real estate in our state, and will position Arizona as the place to do business in the Western United States.”

192 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

DOUG LEVENTHAL

Principal and chief operating officer Evergreen Devco evgre.com Leventhal has about 20 years in the development business. He is responsible for the day-to-day operations as well as directing the development of commercial projects nationwide.

Childhood dream: “As a child I wanted to be an architect. I ended up getting a master’s degree in it from ASU, but decided not to pursue it professionally.

It was during the program that I was drawn to the development side of real estate as opposed to the design side. My architecture training has served me well because without it, I doubt I would have landed in this industry.”

Surprising fact: “When I was 14, I taught myself how to both juggle and ride a unicycle.”

RICK COLLINS

Regional president Ryan Companies US, Inc. ryancompanies.com Collins is responsible for Ryan’s Southwest and Northwest Regions, where Ryan’s 160 team members provide development, design, construction and real estate management services. Previously, Collins developed a track record of success in office, medical office, hotel, mixed-use development and redevelopment.

Trend to watch: “Ongoing labor shortages in the construction industry will increase construction prices, lengthen project schedules, and limit expansion. Arizona’s state funding of our public school system ranks low nationally, giving pause to companies considering Arizona for expansion or relocation. We will be well served to make legislative progress on school funding.”

JOHN GRAHAM

President Sunbelt Holdings sunbeltholdings.com Sunbelt has been a recognized leader in real estate development, management and investment throughout the Southwest since 1979. Sunbelt has developed more than 50,000 acres of land during the past 30 years and some of the Valley’s most beloved residential communities, including McDowell Mountain Ranch, Power Ranch and Vistancia and commercial projects Phoenix Gateway Center, Hayden Ferry Lakeside and the PV|303.

Business advice: “Be patient, work hard and always treats others kindly and with respect.”

Toughest challenge: “The downturn of the 1980s that included life with the RTC was my darkest time by far. I took the tumble far too personally and it took a toll on my physical and mental health. I was lucky to have strong people around me who helped pick up the pieces and move forward.”

Surprising fact: “I made an unassisted triple play playing Little League baseball.”

PERSEVERANCE.

31

BUILDING SUCCESSFUL ARIZONA PROJECTS FOR 31 YEARS

With a steady course of action and perseverance, a Bjerk Builders crew on your next endeavor will help to ensure your project will be completed on time, within budget, all while exceeding your expectations and goals.

480.497.2300 • fax: 480.497.9610 • License B1-088897

www.bjerkbuilders.com

A

fter reading

spring training teams

and watching

, you will be

compelled to connect with the top

Make sure to

’s best companies

.

in

Read

and be inspired by

.

to see the ever-changing

skyline, or ďŹ nd design trends in

for your next remodeling project.

Arizona’s destination for news, information and innovation

azBIGmedia.com

REAL ESTATE

{ ENGINEERS }

GREGG CREASER, P.E.

President and CEO Speedie & Associates Inc. speedie.net Creaser is CEO and Geotechnical Division manager, providing consulting engineering services for private and public entities.

Trend to watch: “Last year’s attacks on landscape architects and geologists is the start of a nationwide trend. Due to a lack of understanding of what our industry provides for the built environment, some of our legislators are touting that professional licensure is an impediment to employment and that we are an over-regulated industry. A departure from licensure for professional engineering and architecture could open doors to poorly qualified and/or unethical persons practicing in Arizona, with no consequence other than increased risk to public health and safety.”

PATRICK EDWARDS

Vice president and regional manager Burns & McDonnell Engineering Company burnsmcd.com Edwards leads a team of more than 100 architects, engineers and construction professionals delivering projects across Arizona and the Southwest. With more than 25 years of experience, his focus includes large-scale power generation projects, research and education facilities, manufacturing, aviation and mission critical facilities.

Trend to watch: “There are prototype construction techniques that resemble large-scale 3-D printers. It is very exciting to envision designs going directly from the computer to the field and being constructed in a fraction of the time. New materials and complex forms will open up limitless opportunities for expression and functionality.”

196 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

GREGORY HAGGERTY

CEO Dibble Engineering dibblecorp.com As CEO, Haggerty is responsible for the direction and strategy of the firm.

He was named CEO in 2013. Haggerty has more than 20 years of civil engineering experience on multidiscipline projects. Dibble Engineering provides a full range of civil engineering services to clients across Arizona and the Southwestern United States. The company’s broad market expertise offers the ability to deliver complete engineering solutions, from concept to closeout. A testament to this success is the company’s repeat client base. More than 80 percent of Dibble CM’s current clientele are repeat clients.

RYAN WEED

President and CEO Coe & Van Loo Consultants Inc. cvlci.com Weed became president of CVL in January 2015, previously holding the title of executive vice president. He has more than 20 years of experience in planning, zoning, preliminary and final design, and construction documents in the hospitality, retail, residential, commercial, solar and energy sectors. Weed directs his teams to think creatively and solve problems in ways that benefit agencies, communities and clients.

Source of pride: “Completing project milestones ahead of time. We have had many instances where the construction permits were achieved several weeks ahead of schedule. It is very rewarding to call a client with such great news.”

DARREL WOOD Founding principal Wood, Patel & Associates Inc. woodpatel.com

Wood has more than 30 years of experience serving clients in the private and public works sectors, particularly related to entitlement work and challenging drainage assignments. As a founding principal of Wood/Patel, Wood is involved in the day-to-day operations of the firm, as well as sharing his knowledge and expertise on a variety of ongoing projects.

Wood/Patel supports the community through financial contributions, donating professional services and volunteering to worthy causes.

Business philosophy: “Clients need positive results without surprises. As a firm, we empower our team members to best serve our clients and create win-win relationships.

We do this by being committed, hardworking and personable, all balanced with a skill set of competitive, expertise and client service.”

REAL ESTATE

{ ENGINEERS }

ROBERT LEMKE JR.

CEO AZTEC Engineering Group, Inc. aztec.us Lemke is a 1986 graduate of North Dakota State University with a degree in civil engineering. He moved to the Valley in 1987 and became a professional engineer in 1991. In May 1997, he went to work at AZTEC as a senior vice president and was promoted to CEO in October of 2006.

Business advice: “Never settle for second place. The extra little effort in the quality of your work or work product can set you apart from the competition and will open doors to many opportunities.”

Source of pride: “Being a registered professional engineer. This accomplishment is so rewarding simply because engineers are one of a handful of professions that daily improve the quality of life for the inhabitants of Earth.”

CLIFFORD PAUL

Principal PK Associates pkastructural.com Paul is a partner in the structural engineering firm PK Associates and holds professional registrations in 33 states. He graduated from the University of Colorado, Boulder Campus in 1977 with a degree in architectural engineering, majoring in structural engineering.

Business advice: “Meet all deadlines. Follow through with what you say. Listen to the client.

Never say ‘can’t.’”

Trend to watch: “Working with suppliers and manufacturers to prefabricate structural and architectural systems in order to save time and money. For this, the further development of building information modeling will be even more important.”

DAVID MELROY

THOMAS RYAN

Melroy has been the president of MSA Engineering Consultants since 1996 and has worked in the engineering industry for more than 39 years.

Licensed in 40 states, Melroy leads his team in all aspects of the business from contract proposals through the design stage. MSA has completed more than 11,000 projects for more than 1,300 clients.

Business advice: “My best advice I would give to an aspiring engineer would be to acquire an internship by your junior year in college and become fluent in Building Information Modeling (BIM) software.”

Trend to watch: “Innovation in BIM software used by the design and construction industry is elevating our work process and how we conduct business.”

Ryan has more than 30 years of experience in Arizona, which is comprehensive and extensive in the field of land development. His project experience includes numerous large master planned communities, residential developments ranging from low density to high density, commercial and industrial projects. Ryan’s approach to project management is grounded in the responsibility and accountability of all the aspects of the project, including the initial survey work, planning, preliminary plat/preliminary site planning, engineering — sewer, water, grading, paving, drainage, final plat — and the preparation of the construction documents.

President MSA Engineering Consultants msa-phx.com

198 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

Principal Hoskin Ryan Consultants, Inc. hoskinryan.com

DAVID SKINNER

Senior vice president and area operations manager HDR hdrinc.com Skinner graduated from Washington State University in 1991 and began his career as a roadway design engineer. He opened an office for HDR in Olympia, Wash., in 2001 and relocated to Arizona in 2012.

Business advice: “Have the drive to push boundaries and the integrity to do the right thing for the right reasons. Be willing to take risks, continually seek mentors and listen to experience before taking action.”

INDUSTRY OUTLOOK: “The engineering industry is focused on planning, design and development of infrastructure.

This includes transportation, water and wastewater, power and the environment. We will see a marked focus on the funding required to plan, construct and maintain critical infrastructure. Over the next five years, we will see drastic changes in the way infrastructure is utilized by such things as autonomous/ driverless vehicles and the dramatic changes this will have in our urban centers related to land use planning, roadway design, safety and mobility.”

REAL ESTATE

{ HOME OWNERS ASSOCIATIONS }

D.J. COLE

CEO CCMC ccmcnet.com Cole’s career includes 10 years with CCMC, a three-year stretch as Cold Stone Creamery’s chief financial officer during its most significant growth phase and nearly two decades in telecommunications. He began his career in Chicago and has now called the Valley home for more than 25 years.

Trend to watch: “The last of the Baby Boomers are nearing retirement age. The slowdown in new household formation over the last several years will begin to reverse as Millennials start families. This will impact the generational makeup of our communities and drive us to continually evolve strategies for social connection and communications.”

DARIN FISHER Founding owner Vision Community Management

Fisher is the founder of Vision Community Management, one of the largest community management companies in Arizona. Vision Community Management provides full-service management, development consulting, financial reporting, director and member training and financial recovery programs.

As a community leader, Fisher volunteers with civic and charitable organizations and serves on the boards of several nonprofit groups. He is a past chairman of the Arizona Association of Community Managers and has served on the board of the Arizona Association of Community Managers.

200 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

JOHN KEMPER

President FirstService Residential Arizona fsresidential.com Kemper oversees all aspects of daily operations and is responsible for driving a collaborative effort to grow FirstService Residential’s client base along with colleague growth and retention.

Prior to joining FirstService Residential, Kemper spent the past two decades as a leader in the recruiting industry, where he worked with some of the world’s largest and most respected companies.

Trend to watch: “Unnecessary legislation that will take away the ability of management companies and managers to do their jobs efficiently and effectively.”

Surprising fact: “I was a professional water ski racer when I was 12 years old.”

JUSTIN SCOTT CEO Homeowners Association Management Company hoamco.com

Since 1993, Scott has led Homeowners Association Management Company, a full-service community association management company servicing the needs of more than 70,000 homeowners in nine markets.

From condominium communities to custom home developments, HOAMCO provides service levels that are unsurpassed. Scott is also CEO of NorthAire, a flight school for accelerated private pilot training.

Source of pride: “I believe in taking care of our employees, who in turn, take good care of our clients.

The proof is in the pudding, as they say, and our particular recipe has resulted in a 98 percent retention rate.”

LINDA LANG

President and CEO Arizona Association of Community Managers www.aacm.com Lang leads AACM, a professional trade association for Arizona’s HOA community managers. Led by her entrepreneurial spirit, Lang founded successful companies including a concrete construction company, a commercial and industrial machine shop and Arizona Rotorcraft, Inc., a maintenance center for Rolls Royce Allison turbine helicopter engines.

Trend to watch: “The community management industry and the homeowner association industry in general are threatened by over-legislation that attacks a homeowner’s right to contract. As regulation through legislation takes hold, increased costs to homeowners and an inability for local control to thrive isn’t far behind. Arizona’s homeowners would be best served by ensuring that HOAs can freely contract with professional community managers capable of developing and maintaining wellcared-for communities.”

Surprising fact: “I am a former NHRA alcohol funny car driver and have flown in an F-16 fighter jet.”

REAL ESTATE

{ REITS }

ZEV HENDELES Principal 3rd Ave Investments 3rdaveinvestments. com

A second-generation real estate investor and operator, Hendeles founded 3rd Ave Investments in 2013 in Phoenix. He brings more than a decade of experience identifying value-add properties, retrofitting multifamily affordable housing, and implementing strategies that dramatically increase property value. With more than 2,000 apartments in the Valley, Hendeles specializes in the acquisition and repositioning of Arizona multifamily assets through a private equity fund structure.

Trend to watch: “Everyone agrees that interest rates will continue to increase in the coming years. So if that’s a given, then rental growth rates will have the single biggest impact on the multifamily industry.”

SCOTT PETERS Chairman, CEO and president Healthcare Trust of America htareit.com

Peters founded HTA in 2006 and has grown it into the largest dedicated owner of medical office buildings in the U.S., with more than 18.7 million square feet in 31 states, with an enterprise value of approximately $4.3 billion.

Trend to watch: “Healthcare demand is increasing as Americans get older and people need to see the doctor. Over 10,000 people turn 65 every day and Millennials are starting to have families and spending more money on healthcare. We believe these trends are not going to change. HTA is positioned to take advantage of these trends and has consistently focused on acquiring high-quality assets located in community core, key markets across the U.S.”

202 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

GLENN RUFRANO CEO VEREIT, Inc. VEREIT.com

Since joining the organization, Rufrano reconstituted the board of directors, formalized the VEREIT management team and introduced a business plan to guide the company’s strategy. Under his leadership, the company changed its name to VEREIT, moved its listing to the NYSE and implemented a company-wide business approach based on discipline, transparency and consistency.

Trend to watch: “We are in the single-tenant retail, restaurant, office and industrial industry. As a provider of capital to corporate clients, larger more stable firms will come to dominate this industry. The impact will be consolidation to provide diversified companies, which will then access lower-cost capital.”

STEVEN SCHWARZ

Founding partner ViaWest Group viawestgroup.com Schwarz leads the acquisition and development efforts for ViaWest, while directing certain operational areas and co-managing the investment strategy. He has more than 20 years of experience in the development, operations and financing of all types of real estate, with deep experience in industrial and office properties.

Business advice: “Make sure you love what you do. Success will only come if you’re passionate and interested in your daily experience. Focus primarily on opportunity and learning when you’re young; less on compensation. It’s a long game. Seek internships early and focus on results. Take a speaking or drama class. Work on your writing. And be able to do math in your head.”

CHRISTOPHER VOLK President and CEO STORE Capital storecapital.com

Volk co-founded STORE Capital in May 2011 and serves as STORE Capital’s president and CEO. STORE, which was listed on the New York Sock Exchange in 2014, is the third Arizona-based, NYSE-listed company Volk has led.

Prior to forming STORE Capital, Volk co-founded Spirit Finance Corporation. Earlier, Volk served as president of Franchise Finance Corporation of America.

Business advice: “Spend time on our website and the websites of other companies in our business. Do some research to see if what we do has interest to you and do not hesitate to reach out to leaders directly. If you are in college, you can also start out with a summer internship to see if you like this business.”

Trend to watch: “Changing technology. Fuel-efficient vehicles, driverless vehicles, energy efficiency, artificial intelligence, a trend to a cash-less society and enhancements in the electronic delivery of goods and services, amongst other things, will materially change the face of our customers’ real estate needs.”

POWERING YOUR PROSPERITY MICHAEL ROCKS

ALLEN & ROCKS, INC.

Avid Outdoorsman Walker & Dunlop borrower since 2012

602.957.1112 | WalkerDunlop.com California loans will be made pursuant to Finance Lenders License #603H310 / BRE Broker #01982999.

REAL ESTATE

{ OFFICE INTERIORS }

BRAD KRAUSE President and founder Krause Interior Architecture krauseaz.com

Krause is a recognized leader in the design industry, founding Krause in 1996. Celebrating more than 20 years, the firm was recently honored by being named the No. 1 Interior Design Firm in Ranking Arizona and has won numerous industry awards.

Trend to watch: “Technology is moving at incredible speed and will change the entire way we live. Can you imagine going to a meeting, seeing and interacting with everyone from anywhere in the world? Or to walk into a space, having it know you and changes the environment to match your needs. Think about the possibilities of printing and building our own homes.

Exciting times.”

JOSE MARTINEZ

Founding principal and owner FoRM Design Studio formdesignstudio. com Martinez began his professional career in the Phoenix design community in 1986. With a master’s of architecture from the University of California at Berkeley and a bachelor’s in interior architecture from Arizona State University, Martinez emphasizes both design and education within the profession. Martinez remains active in the design community and shares his broad experience by guest lecturing at ASU and through his many professional affiliations. His project experience includes a wide variety of project types, including corporate office, restaurant, retail, hospitality and financial institutions.

204 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

PAUL SARANTES

Partner Archicon Architecture & Interiors LLC archicon.com Sarantes has more than 30 years of experience in the architecture and interior design field with an emphasis in programming and design for a wide variety of project types in the medical and the restaurant industry. His leadership has been a key factor in the success of Archicon, with successful outcomes on a mixture of project types.

Trend to watch: “With technology continuing to expand, will see continued advancement in our field.

Architects and interior design firms will provide clients the ability to experience the space around them before it is built in a virtual reality mode, allowing them to understand the space or building before it is built.”

CURTIS SLIFE

President and CEO FM Solutions fmsolutions.net Slife has more than 30 years experience in architecture, interior design, facility management and project management. He is the founder and CEO of FM Solutions. He designed and managed numerous project types, ranging from new buildings to renovations and additions of existing. Slife is the recipient of IFMA Achievement and IFMA Sheila Sheridan Awards.

Source of pride: “I became an IFMA Fellow in 2013.

At the time, there were only 113 IFMA Fellows in the world.”

Trend to watch: “I believe that if IFMA Certified Facility Managers were legally allowed to be property managers, energy costs nationwide would be reduced by 30 percent in a three-five year period.”

BETH HARMON-VAUGHAN Managing principal Gensler gensler.com

With more than 30 years of experience, Harmon-Vaughan leads the Gensler Phoenix office in both innovation and service. As a client advocate, she continually challenges the design teams to explore all options ensuring solutions are thoroughly developed.

INDUSTRY OUTLOOK: “Designing for resiliency and wellness will continue to drive change in our industry. Optimizing occupant health and happiness, as well as being cognizant of environmental impacts, will be at the forefront of design decisions, creating workplaces that attract and retain the best employees.

Competition for this talented workforce will only increase, and experience-based design emphasizing an authentic brand and choice in workspace types will serve as true differentiators between employers. An additional disruptor is the impact of driverless cars — already prompting major changes to the design of parking garages, requiring them to be adaptable for future uses as workplaces, housing, or hotels.”

REAL ESTATE

{ RETAIL OWNER-OPERATOR }

MARTIN DE RITO

CEO De Rito Partners derito.com De Rito formed De Rito Partners, Inc. in 1992. The company offers fullservice retail brokerage operations, property leasing, sales and tenant representation. The company has 20 seasoned brokers exclusively representing more than 180 shopping centers and 60 national and local retailers. De Rito Partners Development is currently redeveloping 1.2 million square feet at The Pavilions at Talking Stick (formerly Scottsdale Pavilions).

Business advice: “At the end of the day, you must be very persistent day in and day out. Look for solutions that benefit both parties and remember that every day is but a small life.”

SCOTT NELSON

Senior vice president, real estate services Macerich macerich.com As senior vice president of real estate services for Macerich, Nelson manages development and redevelopment in the company’s West Region portfolio. His responsibilities include overseeing the design, construction, and tenant coordination processes, along with advancing project entitlements and approvals. He has more than 18 years of experience in real estate and management consulting. Prior to his career at Macerich, Nelson was with Ernst & Young’s management consulting firm, where he collaborated with Fortune 500 companies to implement business best practices. Nelson received an MBA from the University of Southern California.

206 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

JAMES PEDERSON

Founder and chairman Pederson Group Inc. pedersoninc.com A native Arizonan, Pederson started his career as administrative assistant to the mayor of Phoenix after receiving bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Arizona. His experience in real estate development began as vice president of the Grossman Company and then vice president of operations for Westcor, Inc. After 10 years experience with these shopping center developers, Pederson began his own company in 1983. Since that time, the company has grown to be among the premier retail developers in the Southwest. Pederson has been awarded the CSM (Certified Shopping Center Manager) and CMD (Certified Marketing Director) by the International Council of Shopping Centers.

PAUL RHODES Executive vice president Vestar vestar.com

Rhodes, a founding principal of Vestar, oversees construction for its operations.

Rhodes has been responsible for the construction of more than 95 shopping centers, in excess of 21.5 million square feet.

Source of pride: “Development and construction of the Scottsdale Pavilions Shopping Center, now called The Pavilions at Talking Stick Shopping Center, the first Power Center of its kind in the Southwest, totaling more than 1.1-million square feet. What made this project so rewarding is it was built in conjunction with the Pima Indian Community and on the Pima Indian Reservation.”

Surprising fact: “In the summer of 1978, I worked as a rough neck on an offshore drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico.”

MICHAEL POLLACK

Founder, president and CEO Michael A. Pollack Real Estate Investments pollackinvestments.com For more than 40 years, Pollack has specialized in all aspects of retail, commercial, multifamily and singlefamily real estate developments, including ownership, management, construction and leasing of real estate projects in Arizona, California, Texas, Louisiana and Nevada.

INDUSTRY OUTLOOK: “Even though employment has increased and the unemployment rate nationwide is near 4 percent, wages are rising again and real economic growth just reached 2.6 percent, it’s important to be prepared for change. I believe that over the next 12 months, our country will continue to prosper, but we must be prepared for future changes, as actions will almost always cause reactions. We can seize change for tomorrow with our eyes on the horizon for victory, while dismissing yesterday’s view of being a ‘victim.’ Good days ahead?

Possibly, but review your business model today for alignment with the ‘change’ that is coming. As it has been said, ‘It is OK to forget our mistakes, but always remember what they taught us.’”

REAL ESTATE

{ PROPERTY ASSET MANAGEMENT }

JOHN DAHLIN

Managing director of real estate management services Colliers International colliers.com Dahlin has 30 years of experience in facility, property and asset management. He’s responsible for overseeing property and facilities management operations. The Phoenix portfolio exceeds 7 million square feet, serviced by 50 Colliers employees. Dahlin’s experience includes industrial, office, retail, and mixed-use properties.

Trend to watch: Consolidation and specialization.

Future property managers will manage many functions (accounting, service centers, vendors) using technology for long-distance clients. Managers will be skilled e-communicators at all levels and possess specialized college/university training to jump start what has been historically been a career of on-thejob-training.“

JACKIE HINES Vice president, group manager JLL us.jll.com

Hines oversees the firm’s management business for Arizona, providing support and guidance to the local property management team and assisting JLL’s regional director in pursuing new business opportunities and growing market share. Hines also applies her market expertise as she directly manages several key local projects, including two prominent Class A office properties in Scottsdale and two large industrial centers in Phoenix. In these roles, Hines oversees all tenant leases and tenant improvement projects and holds complete operational and financial responsibility, requiring strong relationship skills and a broad understanding of Arizona’s major markets and property types.

208 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

PATRICK MCGINLEY President of management services Vestar vestar.com

McGinley oversees all operations for Vestar’s 23 million square feet under management.

He graduated from the University of Arizona in 1985, with a major in finance. He has worked in the real estate field since that time in the areas of development, property management and leasing, and commercial lending. He joined Vestar in 1989 and has been involved in the significant growth of its property management division.

Business advice: “Be multi-faceted and indispensable to your clients, and employers should treat everyone with respect.”

Childhood dream: “A psychologist. It was a huge benefit to my career. The ability to listen, find common ground and amicably solve problems is crucial in our business.”

ANDI ST. JOHN Managing director, asset services CBRE cbre.com

St. John has more than 20 years of commercial real estate experience. She provides executive oversight to the professionals who are responsible for the management of office, retail and industrial assets totaling in excess of 21 million square feet in the Phoenix Metro area. In addition, St. John is also responsible for developing new business and serves as a client liaison.

Trend to watch: “The status quo for workplace design will continue to be redefined as more and more building owners meet the ever-evolving tastes of tenants’ workforces. Workplace design strategies that are more collaborative, flexible and amenity-rich will soon become the norm, not the exception.”

SUE CANNON

Senior vice president Cushman & Wakefield cushmanwakefield.com Cannon has more than 20 years of experience as a real estate professional leading, managing and overseeing property management services for institutional and large investor owners in Arizona.

She has experience creating and supervising teams of property managers, accountants and maintenance personnel, as well as presenting property strategies to institutional owners for multimillion square foot portfolios.

INDUSTRY OUTLOOK: “Recruiting exceptional property management and engineering staff will be important to maintain a high level of service and continuity for our clients. The Asset Services Group at Cushman & Wakefield has a number of highly experienced professionals that have been working in the business 10-plus years. They are interested in training and educating their teams and the next generation of employees. We are working to structure our teams in a way that that will allow that experience to be shared and then utilized to the benefit of all teams, their tenants and clients.”

REAL ESTATE

{ SUBCONTRACTORS }

JERRY BARNIER

DAVID FAGAN

President Suntec Concrete suntecconcrete.com

President Cannon & Wendt Electric Company cannon-wendt.com

Barnier is an ex-farm boy from Washington state that couldn’t take the wet, so he headed out. After leaving and spending one season as a ski bum in Jackson Hole, he hitchhiked to Phoenix, where he started his career in concrete. In 1984, after working at Artcraft for a few years, Barnier bought their concrete division and started Suntec Concrete.

Business advice: “This business is a lot of fun when you are part of a team that can build great buildings.

And its art when that happens.”

Trend to watch: “I think the mid-height multifamily construction will transform to manufactured modular units that stack. That trend will impact the structural frames we build.”

Fagan, the fourth generation of his family to be in construction, joined Cannon & Wendt in 1987 as a project manager, rose through the ranks and is now the company’s president. Over the past 10 years, Fagan has been instrumental in transitioning Cannon & Wendt from a single ownership company to 100 percent employee owned.

Trend to watch: “A continuing shortage of skilled labor. A recent survey by the AGC found ‘nearly seven in 10 respondents are having trouble finding hourly skilled workers.’ As an industry, we must do a better job of attracting young people into our technical colleges and apprenticeship programs.”

JERRY BUESING

President and CEO Buesing Corp. buesingcorp.com Jerry Buesing, president and CEO of Buesing Corp., began working in the construction industry at 16 years old in Minnesota.

After years in the industry, he and his brother founded Buesing Corp., which he later moved to Arizona, developing a reputation for taking on difficult projects.

Source of pride: “I am proud of all our projects because they have all been completed successfully and safely. From our early projects, such as Bank One Ball Park (now Chase Field) and America West Arena (Talking Stick Resort Arena) to our most recent projects, such as Marina Heights and the Liberty Center at Rio Salado, Buesing has worked as a team to be part of the ever-changing Phoenix Metro area.”

210 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

STEVEN HOOVER

President, maintenance division SiteWorks siteworksllc.net Hoover joined the team of landscape professionals at SiteWorks as partner and maintenance division manager in 2012. His years in the construction industry as both contractor and owner positions him well to grow the division.

Business advice: “Realize the value of our service. As the economy returns, so must equilibrium in pricing.

As demand for our service grows, so must the value for quality service. Price fairly, but accordingly.”

Surprising fact: “My father was a mechanic and through years of watching him and learning, I found a love for building, tinkering and fixing mechanical things.”

JAMES DINAN

Owner, president and CEO Bel-Aire Mechanical belairemechanical.com Dinan is the owner, president and CEO of Bel-Aire Mechanical, which was founded in 1986. It is now the largest private and locally owned signatory mechanical/plumbing contractor in the state of Arizona.

The company’s project markets are diverse and include hospitals and healthcare facilities, data centers, higher education, laboratory, casinos and resorts, corporate office and service/maintenance.

INDUSTRY OUTLOOK: “I believe the HVAC and the general construction industries will continue to see increased opportunities over the next 12 to 24 months. Going out from 24 to 60 months seems a bit more unpredictable. Expected tax reform, if it actually gets passed would be a very positive stimulus. Technology advances — both in the office and in the field — will continue to impact our means and methods. Finding more highly skilled and highly motivated employees to handle the growth opportunities and to replace the talents of our employees that have 30 or more years of experience will be challenging.”

REAL ESTATE

{ SUBCONTRACTORS }

DAVE JONES

CEO MidState Mechanical midstatemechanical. com Jones provides strategic leadership to one of Arizona’s largest mechanical contractors. Under his leadership, the company has enjoyed significant growth. Jones has helped the company stay on top of industry trends, anticipate changes in the various markets and develop company measurements for success.

Business advice: “Build a plan, design what it takes to sustain the plan, follow it and never give up.”

Personal strengths: “Determination and hard work. When I started Midstate Mechanical, I was the estimator, project manager and field crew. I had to work hard and fill all those roles until the company grew and I could afford to hire people. That determination to do whatever it took led to my success.”

TERRY KEENEN President Climatec climatec.com

Keenen’s top priority is providing strategic direction for the business and championing Climatec’s customerfocused culture across the company’s Building Automation, Security & Life Safety and Energy Services divisions. Under Keenen’s leadership, Climatec has grown from a local Arizona business to an industry leader with more than 800 employees.

Business advice: “I encourage young people to pursue a career in construction regardless of their background.

If college is in the plan, an engineering or construction management degree is a great foundation. If college isn’t in the plan, there are numerous trades providing training and apprenticeships leading to rewarding, well-paying careers.”

MERLE “RICK” KARBER JR.

WES MCCLURE

A Phoenix Native, Karber formed Karber Sheet Metal in 1973, which eventually became Interstate Mechanical Company (IMCOR), one of the largest mechanical contractors in the Southwest, with more than $50 million in annual revenue.

Business advice: “First, love what you do. Next, training, education and experience are critical to success. Our industry involves understanding complex systems and then applying that knowledge to solve unique challenges. Lastly, relationships are crucial and you should protect them at all costs. I am extremely appreciative of the personal relationships I have forged over the years.”

McClure started his construction career 40 years ago, joining Wilson Electric in 1991 as the Sierra Vista Division manager. In 2003, McClure took ownership of the organization as president. Today, the company is 47 percent employee-owned.

Business advice: “Identify the greatest need in your company or in your market and do whatever it takes to make yourself the go-to person in that area.”

Trend to watch: “Having enough skilled labor will be the biggest impact to the construction industry. We need to continue to educate our youth about all the great opportunities in the industry.”

Surprising fact: “I once had shoulder-length hair and played in a rock and roll band.”

Founder IMCOR imcor-az.com

212 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

President Wilson Electric Services Corp wilsonelectric.net

TIM KING

President HACI Mechanical Contractors, Inc. hacimechanical.com King has more than 36 years of experience in mechanical contracting and has spent the last 23 years as owner and president of HACI Mechanical. Under his leadership, HACI has grown from a sheet metal contractor to a fullservice mechanical contractor, including sheet metal, piping, plumbing and an extensive facilities service division.

INDUSTRY OUTLOOK: “The construction industry in Arizona has recovered from the recession it has experienced for the past seven years. One of the most significant issues facing mechanical contractors during the next five years is finding experienced trades individuals to produce the projects.

During the recession, many of the trades people left Arizona or the construction industry. The demand to hire and train new trades people was low. During the next five years, wage increases will be significant and re-cultivating the trades for young people will be critical. The next five years will be a great opportunity for those joining the industry.”

ROC104397 ROC104169 ROC104170 ROC104171 ROC104172 ROC257478 ROC247905

REAL ESTATE

{ LAND INVESTORS }

LISA ATKINS

Commissioner Arizona State Land Department land.az.gov Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey named the former Greater Phoenix Leadership vice president and Central Arizona Project president as state land commissioner in 2015. Atkins, who served 20 years as chief of staff and top aide to late Arizona Republican Congressman Bob Stump, ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 2002 in a crowded Republican primary won by U.S. Rep. Trent Franks. The Arizona State Land Department oversees 9.3 million acres of land owned by the state that are sometimes auctioned off to home builders and real estate developers. The Trust lands constitute approximately 13 percent of land ownership in Arizona.

CHAZ SMITH Senior vice president Colliers International colliers.com

Real estate brokerage is a second career for Smith, following a 13-year career with Levi Strauss. He invested 21 years with CBRE and more than 2 years with NAI Horizon, where he formed a partnership with John Finnegan and Ramey Peru.

They moved their practice to Colliers International 11 years ago.

Trend to watch: “The state’s deficient investment in education. Arizona’s great, but without a solid, future workforce, we will fall to mediocrity. As long as I have been in the industry, Arizona has been a leader in economic development. Current trends point to a different future, significantly impacting the future of real estate.”

214 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

KULDIP VERMA Founder and CEO Vermaland vermaland.com

Verma founded Vermaland in 2001.

Vermaland is a land banking and land development company based in Arizona. Vermaland owns nearly 25,000 acres of land, mostly in the West Valley. Vermaland currently has the largest holdings of 50- to 1,200-acre parcels in Metro Phoenix.

Business advice: “The best business advice I can give to others is to always stay true to yourself. Align your values with your business so that the decisions you make are based in your beliefs and not others’ beliefs.

Be willing to always be a student and learn new things.

The business world is constantly evolving. Learning is what keeps you focused on your tasks, while expanding your knowledge and growing your business.”

GREG VOGEL

Founder and CEO Land Advisors Organization landadvisors.com Since founding the company in 1987, Vogel has applied his unique knowledge in the areas of land economics, land use and market trends to become a trusted advisor and broker to a broad spectrum of clients, including financial institutions, investors, homebuilders and master-planned community developers. Vogel has led the expansion of the company into 22 markets across the United States.

Trend to watch: “Reduced regulation will help in regaining land use rights and facilitate and reduce the cost of development. Additionally, we have under-built for almost a decade and now America’s housing is full.

This high occupancy will require a dramatic increase in building.”

NATE NATHAN

President Nathan & Associates nathanandassociatesinc.com Nathan, a Chicago native, graduated from ASU in 1976 and founded Nathan & Associates in December of 1980. Over the past 35 years, the firm has concentrated its efforts on land transactions for masterplanned communities, residential, commercial, retail, industrial and multifamily projects in Arizona.

INDUSTRY OUTLOOK: “After surviving five downturns over the 37 years of owning Nathan & Associates, I believe the next 12 months to five years will be one of the most dynamic and profitable times in real estate in the history of Arizona. With our new governor, pro-business environment, diverse economy, transportation systems, pro-growth attitude, weather, housing affordability and the fact that we are a right-to-work state, the world is focusing on Arizona.

We have just come through a nine-year downturn, which shook the foundation of our real estate industry. Although our recovery has been slower than anticipated, the momentum is building and you can see it everywhere. We are fortunate to live here.”

REAL ESTATE

{ RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPERS }

CRAIG KRUMWIEDE

President and director Harvard Investments harvardinvestments. com Krumwiede oversees the company’s development and investment activities.

He is actively involved in the Arizona real estate and business communities, including numerous leadership positions with Urban Land Institute and ASU’s W.P. Carey College of Business and Master’s of Real Estate Development programs. He also is a founding partner of Social Venture Partners.

Business advice: “Never compromise your integrity. People will generally forgive and forget when you make a mistake; they will never forget if you compromise your integrity.”

Surprising fact: “I have a need for speed, especially fast boats. The faster, the better.”

WILLIAM OLSON

Senior vice president and division manager Newland Communities newlandcommunities. com Olson brings 35 years of diverse real estate industry experience to Newland. Before joining Newland, he held leadership roles with Del Webb, The Rouse Company and 17 years at Hines as managing director. Olson’s background spans most disciplines in commercial and residential development and management.

Business advice: “The same advice that my terminally ill father gave me when I graduated: Find a career where you will be exposed to a broad spectrum of business experience and work as hard as you can to learn every facet of that business. His advice was sage.”

Trend to watch: “Technology. We have only scratched the surface.”

216 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

GREGG TRYHUS

President and owner Grayhawk Development grayhawkdevelopment. com Tryhus is the principal driving force responsible for the company’s involvement in land development, community development, golf club development and golf operations. Actively involved with community, corporate and philanthropic organizations, Tryhus has served on numerous boards both past and present. Currently, he is a trustee for Arizona State University and president of the Sun Angel Foundation, a member of the Brophy College Preparatory Academy Board of Regents, World Presidents’ Organization, Greater Phoenix Leadership and a life member of the Scottsdale Charros. He also serves on the board of HelpingHands Housing Services and Thunderbird Charities.

TODD WOOD

Founder and CEO Christopher Todd Communities christophertodd communities.com Wood is founder of Christopher Todd Communities, a new Arizona-based development company with a specific, unique niche in horizontal multifamily communities. The company creates gated, technology-forward, rental communities comprised of single-story, single-family homes with front and backyards and community amenities.

Business advice: “Acquire as much knowledge in this vertical vocation as possible. Attend trade shows, seminars and conventions. Subscribe to industry periodicals and magazines. Obtain a master’s degree from an accredited university and then work for a large company, because they develop systems and processes that you will use your entire life.”

BRENT HERRINGTON President and CEO DMB Associates dmbinc.com

Herrington provides strategic leadership for the DMB organization and oversees all aspects of the company’s operations. He joined DMB in 1998.

INDUSTRY OUTLOOK: “Greater Phoenix continues to see robust population growth and the outlook for real estate development in the Valley is favorable. Just as in the past, much of the new growth will occur at the edges of the existing metro area. However, there will be a sharp increase in demand for housing, commercial space, shopping, dining and entertainment in locations nearer town. This will create endless opportunities for infill and redevelopment in urban and near-town locations. These locations have become even more attractive to families, due to the emergence of high-performing charter schools.

There will also be extensive new development in the light-rail corridor.

The emergence of autonomous automobiles, online shopping, telecommuting, robotics and artificial intelligence will all have an impact on the future of Valley real estate.”

REAL ESTATE

{ HOMEBUILDERS }

ROGER CREGG

President and CEO AV Homes avhomesinc.com Cregg has served as president, CEO and member of the board of directors since December 2012. Prior to this, Cregg served as senior vice president of finance and chief financial officer of The ServiceMaster Company, a residential and commercial service company, from August 2011 through November 2012. He served as executive vice president of the Pulte Group, a national homebuilding company, from May 2003 to May 2011 and CFO of PulteGroup from January 1998 to May 2011. He has served as a director of Comerica Incorporated since 2006. He was a director of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, Detroit Branch, from January 2004 to December 2009 and served as chair from January to December 2006.

DOUG FULTON CEO Fulton Homes fultonhomes.com

Fulton was named CEO in August 2007 and leads Arizona’s largest family owned and operated homebuilder. Fulton Homes primarily builds mid-priced to high-end homes and has built more than 60 communities in the Phoenix area, most of which are located in the East Valley. The largest community built by Fulton is Fulton Ranch in Chandler, which is still being expanded.

Fulton Homes has contributed more than $300 million to Arizona’s schools, communities and children.

Business advice: “I hire people that I don’t have to go around wiping their nose. I make it very clear to everyone that this is where we’re going, get them to buy into it, to understand it and treat them with respect.”

218 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

STEVEN HILTON

Chairman and CEO Meritage Homes Corporation meritagehomes. com Hilton co-founded and has led Meritage Homes for more than 30 years. Meritage builds homes in 19 markets and nine states across the U. S. and has delivered more than 90,000 homes since it was founded. Hilton is recognized as an entrepreneur and for his leadership in energy-efficient homebuilding.

Source of pride: “Certainly growing Meritage into one of the largest builders in America and one of the best in class is gratifying, but my greatest source of pride is my ability to make a real difference with my charitable pursuits. I believe when it’s all over, my time on Earth won’t be judged by how much I accumulated; but hopefully what I did with it will matter most.”

BRAD SCHOENBERG

Phoenix division president Taylor Morrison Homes taylormorrison.com Schoenberg has lived in Arizona for more than 35 years. He received his bachelors degree from the University of Arizona. Prior to Leading the Phoenix division for Taylor Morrison, Schoenberg worked for 18 years with Pulte Group.

When the opportunity to lead the Phoenix division became available in March of 2015, Schoenberg says the job was tailor-made for him.

Source of pride: “Leading a culture that is driven by engaged employees who are empowered to provide our customers with a world-class home buying experience. I’m also proud of being a developer and exporter of talent and helping fellow team members achieve their goals.”

Trend to watch: “Developing skilled labor and making homebuilding a honored career. Shortage of workforce is limiting our ability to meet the supply demands of the industry across the nation. Homebuilding is a great career with many rewards including, but not limited to, a great way to earn a living.”

Surprising fact: “I have been a member of the PGA of America since 1992.”

DON MURPHY

Division president Shea Homes sheahomes.com Shea Homes hired Murphy as the new division president in February 2015. Murphy originally joined Shea Homes Active Adult in February 2002, where he acquired $1.4 billion worth of property and 14,000 home sites during his tenure.

He lived in Arizona and held various positions including vice president of acquisitions and also served as interim area vice president for the division’s Northern California operations.

In 2005, Murphy was selected to lead the Sacramento division and was successful establishing Shea Homes there. Murphy holds an MBA from Arizona State University. Shea Homes is America’s largest privately owned new home builder, primarily building mid-priced to high-end homes.

Display Solutions Group provides customized brand enhancement through the design and turnkey product management of business identity items such as signs and graphics.

Offerings include large format printing for commercial and corporate interiors and illuminated exterior signage. We serve the Phoenix Metro area and surrounding cities as well as Tucson.

DESIGN . MANUFACTURE . INSTALLATION INTERIOR . EXTERIOR . GRAPHICS . SIGNAGE PROUDLY SERVING: COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE LEASING COMMERCIAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT | DISCERNING ENTREPRENEURS

DISPLAYSOLUTIONSGROUP.BIZ . (480) 782-1951 150 WEST ELLIOT ROAD #2 - CHANDLER, AZ 85225

REAL ESTATE

{ CUSTOM HOMEBUILDERS }

TOM ARGUE

Founder and president Argue Custom Homes arguecustomhomes. com Nearly two decades ago, Argue Custom Homes entered the Valley’s homebuilding market with the goal to build the finest homes in the finest neighborhoods. Today, Argue is a preferred builder in DMB’s prestigious Silverleaf, Estancia, Troon and Fulton Ranch communities. Many of these communities offer exquisite architecture, private golf courses and worldclass amenities. With more than 100 luxurious homes from Cave Creek to Paradise Valley, Argue has become one of the premier builders in the Valley. Argue Custom Homes was the No. 1 Custom Home Builder in the 2016 edition of Ranking Arizona.

Latest projects: “Carefree Estates in Carefree and Village of Saguaro Forest within Desert Mountain.”

MATTHEW CODY

President Cachet Homes cachethomes.net Cody has been active in the real estate industry during the last 33 years, with extensive experience in the Phoenix metropolitan area. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin/ Madison with a master’s degree from the real estate program. He formed Cachet Homes in the early 1990s and has been committed to developing neighborhoods that serve their residents and the surrounding areas as a whole.

Business advice: “The current era of technology seems to emphasize immediacy and urgency. However, when developing an overall business strategy or personal career, I think it is wise to adopt a longterm and patient mindset, carefully evaluating and reevaluating along the way.”

220 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

ROD CULLUM

Owner and founder Cullum Homes cullumhomes.com Cullum founded Cullum Homes in 1985 and has helped it become one of the oldest and most reputable luxury homebuilders in Arizona. The Scottsdale-based business specializes in custom and semi-custom homes in affluent areas of the Phoenix metropolitan area. Cullum Homes’ new custom homes at the redevelopment of the Mountain Shadows golf course in Paradise Valley features homes ranging between $2.3 million and just under $4 million.

Trend to watch: “We are seeing a more savvy buyer who still wants the best quality materials, but instead of the huge mega mansions with acreage that we saw in the mid 2000s, today’s buyer wants a home that is right-sized to fit their current lifestyle needs.”

THOMAS LABLONDE, JR. Founder and president LaBlonde Homes lablonde.com

LaBlonde formed LaBlonde Homes in Scottsdale in 1987.

LaBlonde started building homes in McCormick Ranch, followed by Scottsdale Country Club, Scottsdale Ranch, then subsequently in Troon North, DC Ranch and other prestigious communities in the Pinnacle Peak area. LaBlonde offers fully integrated design and construction services that honor and reflect the requirements, preferences and vision of each client.

Trend to watch: “The use of technology in new homes is definitely the trend that is impacting our industry the most. LaBlonde Homes is excited to take advantage of forefront technology and style, while implementing functional and practical living.”

DAVID KITNICK

Founder and president Rosewood Homes rosewoodhomes.com Kitnick is a 30-year homebuilding veteran, having earned local and national recognition, including having started and successfully led the Arizona Division of Greystone Homes in the 1990s, then Ashton Woods in 2001 before starting Rosewood Homes. He led all three start-ups to “Builder of the Year” or “Small Volume Builder of the Year” recognition. Rosewood Homes is the only Arizona builder to have been recognized by homeowners with the prestigious Eliant Homebuyer’s Choice Award for providing the “Best Overall Purchase and Ownership Experience” in North America.

Trend to watch: “We may be several years away but car sharing services like Uber and Lyft could dramatically affect real estate development. This could have a profound effect on multifamily, retail and office development, particularly in the more densely populated areas. Garages and parking lot sizes could be reduced as more people use temporary car sharing services rather than owning and needing to store and park multiple cars.”

s me o H le ec ailab p S v A

Don’t miss your opportunity...

Small Volume Builder of the Year, Rosewood Homes, presents the final remaining custom-quality homes at Sierra Highlands in scenic North Scottsdale sited on generous lots with beautiful mountain views.

Each well-detailed, single-story residence is designed for seamless indoor/outdoor living ranging from 4,115 to 6,189 square feet with professional Gaggenau kitchens, casitas, guest houses and 3 & 4 car garages.

From the low $900s to the mid $1 millions

www.sierrahighlands.com | 8484 East Sand Flower Drive, Scottsdale, Arizona | 480-970-1900 Open Daily 10AM to 6PM Except Fridays 12PM to 6PM Rosewood Homes is a multi-year recipient of the “Small Volume Builder of the Year” MAME Award from the Homebuilders Association of Central Arizona. And a 4-time winner of the prestigious Eliant Homebuyers Choice Award voted by homebuyers for providing the “Best Overall Purchase & Ownership Experience” in North America. In the interest of continuous improvement, Rosewood Homes reserves the right to change or modify pricing, plans, designs, materials, features and specifications without prior notice or obligation.

Sales by Rosewood Sales Group, LLC. Rosewood Homes Construction, LLC ROC#250901. © Rosewood Homes 2017.

REAL ESTATE

{ MULTIFAMILY BUILDERS }

V. JAY HIEMENZ

President and COO Alliance Residential Company allresco.com Hiemenz oversees multifamily acquisition, development and property management efforts nationwide. He also is responsible for the company’s recent launch into senior housing. Hiemenz started his real estate career at Trammell Crow Residential, where he was COO of the Southwest and Mountain States.

He is a frequent speaker at industry events and is a board member of the National Multi-Housing Council.

Business advice: “Find the right company with opportunities to learn and through constant self development, take in all that you can of the various disciplines of real estate, including management operations and particularly capital markets, as that drives the investment decision for real estate.”

JEFF MARK

Principal Mark-Taylor mark-taylor.com Mark founded Mark Development Corp in 1985. He oversees and has direct involvement in development, product design, site planning and construction. Prior to 1985, he owned J.L. Mark Builders, a contracting firm that built 15,000 apartment units in Arizona, California and Nevada. With his experience, Mark-Taylor, Inc. has created timeless award-winning apartment communities. Within Mark-Taylor’s in-house structure, it has subsidiary architecture and general contracting companies to exclusively design and build each new community. With more than 19,000 units and counting, Mark-Taylor is the largest multifamily developer in Arizona history.

222 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

MIKE TARVER CEO MT Builders Companies mtbuilders.com

Tarver, a graduate of the Construction Engineering Program at ASU, has more than 40 years of experience in the Phoenix Metro construction industry. Tarver has managed construction work in excess of $1 billion. This includes apartments, senior living, retail, churches and commercial and industrial buildings.

Business advice: “Be driven by a passion for building quality projects that will meet the needs of your your clients. Treat your team members with respect, and reward them for their efforts. If you can accomplish these things, everything else will fall into place for the success of your business.”

PATRICIA WATTS

Partner and co-founder Deco Communities decocommunities. com Watts is determined to break the mold of affordable apartment living. With a belief that the surrounding environment has a profound effect on daily attitudes and feelings, Watts guides her company in creating comfortable and relevant home environments that have a positive impact on residents.

Business advice: “Look forward, not back. Business models that were successful in the 2000s will not be successful now. All aspects of consumer and economic fundamentals have changed and are still changing and businesses need to evolve more quickly than ever to adapt.”

Surprising fact: “I grew up in Edmonton, Alberta and I can still do a pretty good double lutz-double salchow.”

CHAPIN BELL President PB Bell pbbell.com

Bell oversees all company-wide personnel, accounting, financial analysis and support functions. Bell is also responsible for overseeing all development and acquisition activities. To date, Bell has participated in the development of nearly 3,000 multifamily units.

INDUSTRY OUTLOOK: “We continue to believe in the longterm strength of the multifamily market, in part due to Millennial lifestyle choices and home buying behaviors, couples starting families later in life and Baby Boomers looking for a carefree lifestyle. The Phoenix market is expected to be one of the nation’s top performing multifamily markets due to anticipated job and population growth, even despite likely near term softness in submarkets that have had a large number of new units added to inventory, which will correct once inventory is absorbed. The multifamily industry is exciting and ever changing and now includes a level of quality that is better than it has ever been, from premium amenities to cutting-edge technology.”

REAL ESTATE

{ REALTY FIRMS }

CARMEN BRODEUR

Realtor Trillium Properties topscottsdalehomes. com Brodeur is a luxury Realtor in Scottsdale with a unique background as an attorney. Her legal experience and education sets her apart from other Realtors. She uses her tremendous experience with negotiations and contracts to get the best deal for her clients. Brodeur has been ranked in the top 1 percent of Realtors in Arizona for several years.

Trend to watch: “Real estate websites such as Zillow. com are changing the way people search for real estate. There is more information available than ever before. However, it cannot replace an experienced Realtor who is a skilled negotiator, knows the real estate contracts inside and out and has insider knowledge about the communities.”

WALT DANLEY

President Walt Danley Realty waltdanley.com Danley moved to Arizona from Oregon for the sunshine and established himself in the real estate industry. He decided to make the luxury home market his focus after selling a luxury home to an opponent during a tennis match.

Business advice: “There are no shortcuts in this industry. You have to know the inventory. Looking at updates on your computer is OK, but to really understand the market, you have to see the properties in person. Also, know the contract inside and out.

Have questions? Ask your broker – don’t guess.”

Dream dinner: “Elton John. The first reason is obvious: I love his music. But more importantly, he is a true philanthropist. His charitable heart is inspiring.”

224 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

D. DEEMS DICKINSON

President and designated broker Russ Lyon | Sotheby’s International Realty russlyon.com As a secondgeneration Realtor, Dickinson’s career spans two of the three generations of owners of Russ Lyon | Sotheby’s International Realty. In addition to serving as president and designated broker for one of the Top 75 real estate companies in the United States, Dickinson also serves on the National Association of REALTORS® and the Arizona Regional Multiple Listing Service board of directors.

Business advice: “Stay relevant. With the technological advances in today’s world and the amount of information available, it is important for agents to understand their market and interpret it on their client’s behalf.”

CLAY FOUTS

CEO West USA Realty westusa.com Fouts was recognized in Swanepoel’s Top 200 Most Powerful People in Residential Real Estate 20122017. Fouts has helped West USA Realty experience a 49 percent growth in revenue and an 86.5 percent growth in agent count in the last two years.

Trend to watch: “The biggest trend will continue to be technology. In the 1980s, the real estate market was quite different. Technology driven, West USA Realty has been a leader in the industry. West USA Realty’s in-house computer software developed specifically by our computer division, helped West USA Realty become who we are today. We look forward to continuing to provide our agents with the most cutting-edge technology to assist in their careers.”

MATT WIDDOWS

CEO and founder HomeSmart International homesmart.com Widdows founded HomeSmart in 2000 as a technology-forward real estate brokerage in Arizona.

HomeSmart was created on the principle of providing the highest value in the industry with amazing customer service, at a low cost to agents and is driven by proprietary technology. Over 17 years, he grew the brokerage from two agents to more than 13,000 in 16 states.

Today, HomeSmart is the largest real estate company in Arizona.

INDUSTRY OUTLOOK: “I wish I had that crystal ball. I don’t see any huge changes in the next year outside of some minor corrections in certain markets across the U.S. that have seen unsustainable home sales in the last year or two. Obviously rates are starting to creep up and will continue this trend. Longer term, I’m sure we will see a cyclical downturn eventually. However, my hope is that it is nothing near what we saw after 2007-2008. This cycle is a little different and harder to predict, because we had such a slow recovery from a very dramatic recession that we haven’t seen before.”

MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS: Education & Networking

Annual Community Project

Advocacy

Recognition

TO JOIN, PLEASE GO TO VALLEYPARTNERSHIP.ORG OR CALL 602.266.7844.

REAL ESTATE

{ RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE SERVICES }

JIM BELFIORE

President Belfiore Real Estate Consulting belfioreconsulting. com Belfiore has nearly 20 years experience in real estate research and analysis. During the last 11 years, he and his team have helped Arizona developers, homebuilders, lenders, investors and brokers understand buyers, macro and micro-level supply and demand conditions and potential outcomes of community development and building strategies.

Trend to watch: “Labor remains the biggest challenge for the rapidly growing industry. It has had a profound effect on homebuilder costs over the last 30 months and will continue to have a similar effect. Mortgage interest rates are also likely to have a considerable effect.”

JEFF FLEETHAM

Director Arizona Registrar of Contractors roc.az.gov Gov. Doug Ducey appointed Fleetham as director of Arizona Registrar of Contractors effective February 2015. Prior to his appointment, he owned 12-88 LLC, a residential project consulting and dispute resolution company, licensed as a B-3 General Residential Remodeling Contractor. His background includes construction, consumer products, consulting and dispute resolution in both public and private sector industries. Fleetham was an investigator with Arizona Registrar of Contractors from Jan. 2007 to Sept. 2013. He serves on several councils and boards and in mid-2015, the National Association of State Contractors Licensing Agencies’ Executive Committee appointed him to its board of directors.

226 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

K. MICHELLE LIND

CEO Arizona Association of Realtors aaronline.com

Lind oversees the strategic direction and day-to-day operations of the state’s largest trade association. Prior to becoming CEO, Lind served as general counsel, the primary legal advisor to the association. She is the author of “Arizona Real Estate: A Professional’s Guide to Law & Practice” and a State Bar of Arizona boardcertified real estate specialist.

Trend to watch: “The industry has experienced major technology advancements that impact the way real estate transactions are conducted. Additionally, data management, efficiency and control by both brokerages and Multiple Listing Services will continue to impact the real estate industry and result in increased business consolidations.”

ELLIOTT POLLACK

CEO Elliott D. Pollack & Company edpco.com Pollack leads Elliott D. Pollack and Company, an economic and real estate consulting firm that was established in 1987. The company is widely known for accurate and insightful analyses of economic and policy issues. His firm consults to a broad spectrum of private and public sector clients.

Business advice: “Don’t get dogmatic and focus on the needs of the customers. Tell it like it is regardless of what the client might want to hear. Credibility is critical.”

Childhood dream: “I thought I’d be a lawyer. That changed due to the draft. It was one of best — and luckiest — things that ever happened to me as it set me on a completely different path.”

ROSIE ROMERO JR. President and founder Rosie on the House rosieonthehouse.com

Romero began working in the remodeling industry in 1972. He opened Legacy Custom Builders in 1988 and sold it to key employees in 2002. During his 14 years as owner, Legacy received numerous awards.

Rosie is a nationally recognized speaker for the remodeling industry.

INDUSTRY OUTLOOK: “Residential remodeling activity nationally and locally is operating at levels never before seen, even prior to the housing bubble bust in 2007. This demand for remolding is being driven by several factors: pent-up demand that now can be financed through newly appreciated equity, Millennials moving out of parents home and Baby Boomers staying healthier longer and desiring to stay in their current home in the neighborhood they know. This level of activity is putting serious upward pressure on wages for those in the construction trades. I see accommodating the aging Baby Boomers as being the driver of our industry for the next decade.”

ARIZONA’S MOST TRUSTED Contractor & Referral Service

Voted Arizona’s #1 Referral Network 8-years in a row

by Ranking Arizona: The Best of Arizona Business

Rosie on the House is every Arizona homeowner’s best friend!

•

Arizona’s most trusted contractor and home improvement referral network

•

Resource-packed website with countless DIY Q&A’s

•

Weekly articles in Arizona’s most popular newspapers across the state

•

Syndicated Saturday morning home improvement talk show broadcast live from KTAR, heard statewide

Romey Romero, Co-host

Rosie Romero, Host

REAL ESTATE

{ TITLE & INSURANCE }

BRUCE BEVERLY

CEO Great American Title Agency, Inc. azgat.com Since 2004, Beverly has been the CEO of Great American, which has branches Valley-wide. By adhering to industry best practices and delivering on its commitment to exceed the expectations of its customers, Great American has been rated the No. 1 Title Company in Arizona by Ranking Arizona magazine for eight consecutive years.

Business advice: “No one typically succeeds immediately, so invest the time to learn the industry and your craft. Be passionate, committed, ethical and innovative. Change will be constant, so welcome the opportunities it brings.”

Surprising fact: “I am an admirer and collector of flags — also known as a vexillologist.”

DYLAN KING

Division president Stewart Title stewart.com King became division president of Pioneer Title in April 2017. Prior to that, he was vice president for Chicago Title.

King is a member of the Home Builders Association of Central Arizona, National Association for Home Builders, Valley Partnership, Arizona Land Title Association, The International Council of Shopping Centers and the Arizona State Escrow Association.

Stewart Information Services Corporation is a global real estate services company, offering products and services throughdirect operations, network of Stewart Trusted Providers and family of companies.

Stewart offers residential and commercial title insurance, closing and settlement services and specialized offerings.

228 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

KEITH NEWLON

President Pioneer Title Agency pioneertitleagency. com After his father found success in the title industry, Newlon used the help of his parents to found Pioneer Title Agency in 1985. His basic mission was to provide exceptional service to Arizona’s smaller communities or secondary markets throughout the West Valley and beyond. Today, it has grown from just Newlon and a handful of employees into a more than 350-member team.

Source of pride: “We’ve been able to be a big part of our people’s journeys from entry-level jobs that – through mentoring – turned into leadership positions.

Having them find success on their own path is so much better than being a big Wall Street company focused on quarterly earnings reports and investors.”

BART PATTERSON

CEO Clear Title Agency of Arizona cleartitleaz.com Imagine founding a company that was reliant on Phoenixarea real estate transactions and then being hit with the Great Recession. But not only did Clear Title not fold up during the recession, Patterson changed its initial course and found creative ways to generate revenues via bank owned real estate transactions and foreclosures and experienced 200 percent compounded annual growth.

Source of pride: “The secret to our success has been hiring the best and brightest escrow agents in town and turning lemons into lemonade during the recession. Our people built a great name and reputation for themselves during that time, which continues to serve us well as the Arizona real estate market comes back.”

MICHELLE SCHWARTZ Senior vice president and county manager Old Republic Title ortc.com

Schwartz built her career from the ground up, beginning as a receptionist, and credits her mentors for fostering her servantleader mentality.

Business advice: “To be successful in the real estate business, you need vision. You must be able to see the potential in a property or what a loan can accomplish. My objective as a leader is to help others see the potential in themselves.

Don’t let other’s perceptions or expectations guide you. Follow your own vision.”

Source of pride: “Creating a culture focused on people. I love providing opportunities for people to grow personally and professionally and watching them realize their fullest potential.”

Surprising fact: “I used to be a competitive ballroom dancer.”

Dream dinner: “Mother Theresa at T. Cook’s at the Royal Palms. Her clarity of purpose is inspiring.”

MANUFACTURING & TECHNOLOGY

{ INDUSTRY OUTLOOK }

Pedal to the metal

Arizona has the chance to be a leader in additive manufacturing — or metal 3-D printing

P

By JESSE A. MILLARD

olymer-based 3-D printing has been all the rage, well-known for faster prototyping or novelty items that can be made on the spot, but the world of 3-D printing is about to get a lot more metal.

Many Arizona-based companies, particularly firms in the aerospace and defense industry, have been working night and day to bring metal 3-D printing, or additive manufacturing, parts to market while also gearing up to create a workforce of the future.

In partnership with Arizona’s universities and researchers, the state has the chance to be a leader in this space.

3-D metal printing works by laying down layers of metal powder, which can be as thin as a strand of hair. A thermal source, which could be anything from a laser to an electron beam, will then melt this powder. This process will continue, layer by layer, until a part in any shape is created within the build chamber.

SPONSORED BY AZBIGMEDIA 230 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

Metal-based 3-D printing can be used to create medical devices and parts for aircraft, cars and boats.

This process is perfect for complex parts that are expensive and time-consuming to machine.

By using 3-D printing to make these parts, you can have a more efficient and lighter weight part, which is perfect for the aerospace industry. Also, entire assemblies that consist of dozens of parts can be 3-D printed to make one part.

3-D printing technology is not new. It has been around for decades, but the materials have revolved around plastics for some time. Recent advancements have created fresh opportunities for metal-based 3-D printed items.

Dhruv Bahte Ph.D, associate professor at Arizona State University, studies how

materials react. Throughout his career, he has become extremely interested in the metal 3-D printing space. He recently left his job as chief technologist at PADT Inc. to continue research at ASU in this field, while also teaching future engineers the secrets of this emerging world.

Arizona’s aerospace industry is leading the charge of adopting metal additive manufacturing where it works best in order to create lighter parts, while also freeing up ways parts can be designed, Bahte says. At the moment, local aerospace firms like Honeywell are working to get these parts approved for use within airplanes, Bahte says. Both the materials used to make these 3-D parts need to be qualified to fly, as well as the part in its final form. Honeywell has already had the Federal

Dhruv Bahte

Malcolm Green

Aviation Administration approve two non-flight critical parts, Bahte explains.

These are relatively low-risk, non-critical parts, but Honeywell is developing a roadmap to further introduce more parts, he says.

And as more roadmaps are created within this space, 3-D printing with metal will only be adopted more, bringing a whole new world of benefits to manufacturers and engineers.

“Where we’re looking at this, going down the road is that we’re looking at replacing 10-, 20-, 30-part assemblies with one part,” Bahte says.

“And completely redesigning things like heat exchangers, housing for all kinds of equipment, turbo chargers. And what does that mean?

Ultimately, we’ll have lighter components and significant weight reduction. People typically

Joe Manzo

Eric Miller

Brian Vetere

talk about 20 to 50 percent weight reductions for things that fly.”

Come gather and collaborate Last year, during the Arizona Technology Council’s Aerospace, Aviation & Defense and Manufacturing Conference, there were presentations about metal additive manufacturing, sparking interest from those in attendance.

Arizona Technology Council President and CEO Steven G. Zylstra fielded some questions about whether or not the Tech Council should coordinate the industry to spur local collaboration between industry partners and the universities.

As a result, a committee was formed, picking two co-chairs, one of which was Dhruv

Steven G. Zylstra

Bahte. During this year’s conference, there was much talk about Arizona’s opportunities within this space from a meeting room at ASU’s SkySong. People were asking, “Could Arizona become a leader?”

“I think there’s a sense that there’s an opportunity here for Arizona to become one of the national leaders in additive manufacturing,” Zylstra says.

Since this committee was formed, the local researchers from ASU and representatives from the firms like Honeywell and Raytheon have been working together to support the local industry. They’ve been doing this by working to create a pipeline of future talent from ASU and by sharing research and ideas in this new space, Zylstra says.

MANUFACTURING & TECHNOLOGY

{ INDUSTRY OUTLOOK }

ASU’s Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering has been deeply engaged in this space. The school currently has the largest additive manufacturing lab in the Southwest, and Associate Director of Corporate Engagement at the Fulton Schools Malcolm Green has been working with companies to help them find the best application for metal additive manufacturing.

Green says there isn’t a major player in the nation that isn’t utilizing additive manufacturing or at least evaluating this technology in some regards. 3-D printing with metals is a disruptive space, Green notes.

“Additive manufacturing is disruptive to the point where once companies and employees see the potential, then minds start racing about new materials, new blends, new chemistries of products that can be 3-D printed that are stronger and lighter in weight,” Green says.

ASU and its 3-D printing research lab, the Manufacturing Research and Innovation Hub, officially launched last January. Companies have been working with ASU to find applications for this technology, while opening a door for students to work and research in the real world through internships or postgraduation jobs, Green says.

And with more generations of future engineers to work in this space, the more interest from companies to work with ASU will be generated, Green says.

As ASU becomes more popular in this space, the school will be stronger and so will popularity of this technology, he says.

“It goes full circle and provides a stimulus for the economic region,” Green says.

Big changes, big disruptions It seems the local players who could most benefit from metal 3-D printing are deeply committed to collaborating to find more ways of using this technology in their manufacturing processes.

Titan Industries, which was founded by two former engineers at Orbital ATK, is one of the firms deep in the trenches of metal 3-D printing. Co-founder Brian Vetere sits on the Society of Automotive Engineers board that is writing specifications for metal 3-D printing materials and processes.

And Titan Industries Co-founder and CEO Joe Manzo is one of the local leaders who is 232 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

beating the drum, loudly for all to hear, that Arizona should and can become a metal 3-D printing hub.

Manzo and his team are deeply focused on research within this space and in creating the next generation of ready-to-make parts that are completely designed with metal 3-D printing in mind. It’s a whole new world, hence the need for manufacturing process specifications from industry groups like the Society of Automotive Engineers, which releases specifications for many different kinds of manufacturing processes.

“Once specifications come out in a year or so, you’re going to see a big landslide into the adoption of metal 3-D printing,” Manzo says, “because there’s a path for certification of parts.”

Manzo co-chairs the Tech Council’s additive manufacturing committee with Bahte.

“Through that committee, we’ve been able to bring together pretty much everyone who’s printing in the state,” Manzo says.

Two sub-committees have been spun out too.

One is focused on research collaboration and the other is focused on workforce development, Manzo says.

With many adopters to this technology, collaboration at the research level and

engagement from the universities, Arizona could be a force to be reckoned with in the metal 3-D printing space, benefitting from Arizona’s already thriving aerospace industry and rich mineral desposits.

Local stakeholders are only worried about two things: that research collaboration fails to continue and that companies are able to source talent from Arizona without looking elsewhere across the nation. ASU’s lab at the Polytechnic Campus could help with this.

“We’ve got the people, we’ve got the equipment, we’ve got the customer base, now we’ve got the research and development capabilities for some formative things,” says Eric Miller, co-owner and principal at PADT, about Arizona’s potential to be a hub.

Miller consults with firms about metal 3-D printing and his firm is also a 3-D printing machine dealer.

Arizona just needs to be confident in pursuing this potentially vital industry, Miller says. Leaders can’t be dissuaded by other large investments out of state, he notes, and Arizona needs to make sure the students graduating from the universities are ready for this technology.

“We can do this if we don’t get in our own way,” Miller says.

MANUFACTURING & TECHNOLOGY

{ AEROSPACE & DEFENSE } TAYLOR LAWRENCE

KJELL STAKKESTAD

Lawrence is a Raytheon Company vice president and president of its Missile Systems business, a position he assumed in July 2008.

Toughest challenge: “If you look at other states, many of them have a very integrated economic development plan that includes the local, state and federal government leaders – and everybody’s on the same page. If you look at the news clips from our Huntsville (Alabama missile plant) groundbreaking, those in attendance included the mayor of Huntsville, two of the congressional representatives from that area, both of Alabama’s U.S. senators and the governor. It was a very integrated approach. You seldom see that type of unified support in Arizona.”

In 1993, Stakkestad helped found KinetX Aerospace. As the orbit dynamics lead for the development of the IRIDIUM satellite ground control system, he developed the initial orbital dynamics requirements for the ground system and led the orbit trade study that chose the company to implement the requirements and was part of the initial operations team that assembled the IRIDIUM constellation.

Industry’s needs: “If we had a vibrant advocacy group fighting for the aerospace industry, you would see commercial space and space work in Arizona grow dramatically.

Arizona is a place where people want to come. The only drawback is that we have to do something about the education system.”

President Raytheon Missile Systems raytheon.com

RICK KETTNER Senior director Orbital ATK orbitalatk.com

Kettner provides leadership and technical guidance to the activities in Gilbert, currently with approximately 350 employees. Kettner supports strategy and long-term technical direction for the space systems business in Gilbert and is responsible for managing infrastructure commensurate with the needs of the business.

Source of pride: “Working in the space industry and supporting the greatest nation in the world yields a continuous sense of pride. Having contributed to a number of government programs that have served the science community, the country and the world is immeasurable.”

Business advice: “Challenge yourself early in your career, do things that are uncomfortable.”

SHAWN LINAM CEO Qwaltec, Inc. qwaltec.com

Linam is the co-founder of Qwaltec, a woman-owned business that provides high-quality mission readiness, technical training and systems engineering. Prior to founding Qwaltec in 2001, Linam provided mission readiness and training for 234 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

President and CEO KinetX Aerospace kinetx.com

JANE POYNTER CEO World View worldview.space

Poynter is a member of the Biosphere 2 design team and a member of the original crew who lived inside the sealed, self-sustaining habitat for two years. She was co-founder, president and chairwoman of Paragon Space Development Corporation, which develops technologies for extreme environments. Experiments in her patented, self-sustaining habitats have flown on the International Space Station, Mir and the Space Shuttle.

Poynter is a recognized leader in sustainable development.

On sending KFC into space: “As you can imagine, when we first heard about it, we laughed our heads off. And when we picked ourselves off the floor, we actually thought it was really, really cool.”

commercial and government satellite operations teams.

Business advice: “Choose a university, like ASU, that has a strong aerospace or space exploration school and try to get involved with any research projects they’re working on.”

INDUSTRY OUTLOOK: “We will continue to see an increase in the launch and operation of small satellites over the next

few years, which will result in an increase in automation of satellite operations and innovative solutions to managing satellite constellations and space situational awareness. In addition to the number of satellites increasing, we should see the first commercial companies transporting humans to space. For the first time, private citizens will be able to pay a commercial company for a chance to go to space. It’s tremendously exciting!”

AZ TOTEM ART

Custom Bird Feeders and Totems made from repurposed architectural materials

aztotemart.com

By Appointment Only • 602.677.5999

MANUFACTURING & TECHNOLOGY

{ COMMUNICATIONS } KEN MCMAHON

SCOTT WAGNER

Vice president of enterprise sales for Mountain West Region CenturyLink centurylink.com

TOMAS GORNY CEO Nextiva nextiva.com

Gorny is a Polish-born American entrepreneur. He is the cofounder, chairman and CEO of Unitedweb, a holding company that invests in disruptive technologies, and Nextiva, a cloud communications company that currently serves more than 100,000 businesses.

Source of pride: “I am proud to work with great people every day who are the best at what they do and are changing our industry.

They’re inspiring, innovative, and make coming to work exciting and fun.”

Business advice: “A track record is pointless. Or at least I feel they are overrated. It’s all about what you’re doing now and what you plan to do in the future.”

McMahon oversees strategic partnerships that support enterprise customers in Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico.

He has spent 19 years in the telecommunications industry.

Trend to watch: “The digital transformation of our industry is requiring businesses to become more agile, secure and optimized to be successful. Technology is becoming the No. 1 driver of an organization’s success — across all business segments. A company’s ability to transform the way they interact with their customers, the way they offer products and services and the way they meet their customer’s needs through the digital experience will differentiate them from their competitors.”

Designated CEO GoDaddy godaddy.com

CLARK PETERSON President of enterprise Vonage vonage.com

Peterson joined Vonage upon the company’s acquisition of Scottsdale-based Telesphere, where he served as CEO. Peterson’s leadership positions in telecommunication span more than 25 years.

Business advice: “Think big.

The cloud communications industry is dramatically changing the way people work and businesses communicate and operate.”

Trend to watch: “One of the most disruptive new technologies is ‘contextual communications,’ which enables businesses to gain intelligence about a caller, based on where within a website or app the caller clicks to initiate a call. This technology will soon expand to capture many types of data before the call’s even answered.”

JOHN WOLFE

Senior vice president and Southwest Region manager Cox Communications Arizona cox.com Wolfe is responsible for the company’s overall operations in Arizona and Nevada. A 24-year Cox veteran, Wolfe joined the company’s Southwest Region in Phoenix in September 2014 after two years 236 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

as Cox’s senior vice president and general manager of the Northeast Region. Wolfe is a member of Greater Phoenix Leadership and the Southwest Cable Communications Association.

Trend to watch: “Homes and businesses need ever-increasing broadband capacity as more devices are connected to the network and video content becomes more portable. That’s why

Wagner, GoDaddy’s president and chief operating officer, will assume the CEO role upon Blake Irving’s departure, which is , effective December 31, 2017.

Wagner joined GoDaddy in 2013, after a 13-year tenure at KKR, where he served as a partner.

Wagner was a key member of the team that invested in GoDaddy in 2011, serving as GoDaddy’s interim CEO, and then joined the company’s leadership team as CFO and COO when Irving became CEO. Wagner was promoted to the role of president in 2016, with expanded responsibility across go-to-market channels, including marketing, customer care, international markets, and corporate development.

Cox continues to invest tens of millions of dollars each year into our broadband infrastructure, all while we’re continuing to roll out super-fast Gagabit internet services in Arizona.”

Business advice: “Be prepared to let go of your assumptions. A quote often attributed to Mark Twain says it best: ‘It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.’”

Speak To Customers on Their Terms

Supercharge Business Productivity & Reinvent Customer Interaction Vonage customers not only benefit from increased productivity, collaboration and mobility through cloud communications, but can also communicate contextually to cultivate personalized customer experiences boosting satisfaction, loyalty and revenue for their brand.

Businesses like yours leverage Vonage for predictable scalability and more meaningful customer interaction. Speak with us today to explore how personalization will shape the future of communications.

Unified Communications | Collaboration | Mobility | API Integration | Contact Center and more...

Connect with us: 480.385.7000 | www.vonage.com Š 2017 VONAGE.

MANUFACTURING & TECHNOLOGY

{ ENERGY }

MICHELLE DE BLASI

MARK WIDMAR

De Blasi is a director at Fennemore Craig and focuses her practice on environmental law with an emphasis on natural resources matters.

She advises clients on energy and environmental matters, including traditional and renewable energy project development, environmental permitting and compliance and greenhouse gas emissions. She is the co-executive director of the Arizona Energy Consortium.

Trend to watch: “It is critical to stay at the forefront of the fastpaced market forces. Automation and outsourcing will have a strong impact on the way legal services are provided, which will bring changes to the structure of the traditional law firm.”

Widmar became CEO of First Solar in July 2016. He joined First Solar in April 2011 as CFO and served as First Solar’s chief accounting officer from February 2012 through June 2015. Widmar also serves as a director on the board of the general partner of 8point3 Energy Partner, the joint venture formed by First Solar and SunPower in 2015 to own and operate a portfolio of selected solar generation assets.

Trend to watch: “One of the things that you’ll hear a lot is that PV results in reliability and stability issues around the grid.

There is an unmet need to ensure that we can actually have very high solar penetration and that it doesn’t adversely impact the reliability and stability of the grid”

Director Fennemore Craig fennemorecraig.com

DONALD BRANDT

Chairman, president and CEO Pinnacle West Capital Corporation pinnaclewest.com Brandt was elected to Pinnacle West’s board of directors in 2009 and promoted to chairman, president and CEO of Pinnacle West and chairman and CEO of APS. Brandt currently serves on the boards of the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations, the Nuclear Energy Institute and the Edison Electric Institute.

Toughest challenge: “We know solar power is going to play a big part in meeting Arizona’s future energy needs. We’re doing our part to help make that happen. As a national leader in utilityscale solar, we believe APS can help make Arizona the solar capital of America. One of our responsibilities is to make sure the infrastructure is in place to support a future of rapidly increasing solar adoption.”

MARK BONSALL

General manager and CEO Salt River Project (SRP) srpnet.com Bonsall assumed his current role at SRP in 2011. He has worked at SRP for 40 years. He has chaired and remains a member on the board of the Heard Museum. He formerly chaired the boards of the Phoenix Children’s Hospital, the Greater 238 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

CEO First Solar firstsolar.com

TOM FORESE

Chairman Arizona Corporation Commission azcc.gov Forese has had a successful career in both public service and the private sector. Forese has served two terms in the Arizona Legislature and currently serves as the chairman of the Arizona Corporation Commission. As chairman, he has focused on assuring low utility rates in order to help keep costs for businesses low. This contributes to economic growth and job creation.

Trend to watch: “The greatest issue facing Arizona is the future of water. Arizona has become a popular destination to raise a family and start a business. With increasing growth, Arizona needs to properly manage its water for future generations.”

Phoenix Chamber and the Valley of the Sun YMCA.

INDUSTRY OUTLOOK: “Profound changes are taking place in our industry. Energy consumption trends indicate that we have likely entered a “new normal” of flatter load growth.

Today, more than ever, customer experience is measured against new perceptions. And, social preferences are moving towards a

less carbon-intense future. At SRP, we have been moving in a strategic direction of ‘leaner, greener and even more customer-centric’ to address the business environment we see ahead, and meet the diverse needs of the customers we serve. We have kept our prices low, reduced our carbon intensity by 23 percent in recent years with substantial reductions forthcoming, and recently won our 28th J.D. Power award for service excellence.”

MANUFACTURING & TECHNOLOGY

{ MANUFACTURING } STEVE MACIAS

JOHN SOLHEIM

In 200, Macias co-founded Pivot Manufacturing, a local manufacturing company that does machining and assembly work for Department of Defense prime contractors and other commercial customers. Macias handles sales and finance for Pivot and is the current chair of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce, past chair of the Arizona Manufacturers Council and sits on the boards of the Arizona Hispanic Chamber and Arizona Commerce Authority.

Trend to watch: “Additive manufacturing will have a wave effect on manufacturing, bringing ever greater change in how products are designed, and the manufacturing process planned and implemented as 3-D printing grows and becomes more efficient and less costly.”

Solheim, the oldest son of Ping chairman and CEO John A. Solheim and grandson of company founder Karsten Solheim, was tabbed to become company president upon the retirement of Doug Hawken on Jan. 1, 2017.

Solheim’s ascension was not merely a birthright. He served as executive vice president for the past two years after a four-year stint as president of Ping Golf Japan. Prior to that, he oversaw the company’s new product development efforts as vice president of engineering.

Source of pride: “I have aspired to this for most of my career.

Such responsibility is something I don’t believe you can ever be completely ready for, but I am certainly prepared.”

President and co-owner Pivot Manufacturing pivotmfg.com

CHRIS BRADY

Vice president, engineering General Dynamics Mission Systems gdmissionsystems.com Brady is responsible for engineering execution across 60 major GD Mission Systems sites and 6,700 employees.

Previously, Brady served as the general manager of the Assured Communications business area, which included the Joint Tactical Radio System Handheld, Manpack, Small Form-fit, Mobile User Objective System and Digital Modular Radio programs, among others. In this role, he grew the business by a factor of 10 over 10 years. Prior to General Dynamics, Brady was responsible for the development and successful deployment of the Iridium System ground-based communication gateways. Brady has more than 30 years of experience in his areas of expertise.

RICK SMITH

CEO and co-founder TASER International taser.com The driving force behind Smith’s strong leadership is the aspiration to reduce world violence. Since 1993, he has dedicated himself to delivering innovative technology solutions to create safer communities. He’s

240 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

President Karsten Manufacturing Corporation (PING) ping.com

STEVE MEGLI

Vice president and general manager, Fab Sort Manufacturing Intel Corporation intel.com Megli joined Intel in 1987 as a process engineer at Intel’s Fab 7 in Rio Rancho, N.M. From 1997 through 2007, he held factory manager and plant manager positions at Fab 12 and Fab 22 in Chandler. In 2008, he become general manager of Assembly Test Manufacturing, where he was responsible for managing Intel’s assembly and test operations worldwide before taking over Fab Sort Manufacturing in 2012.

Leadership style: “For the most part, it’s ‘tell me what help you need,’ and I will try to be a helper and enabler to that.

I’m also very quick to call out a performance issue and I’ll have a discussion with someone about it.”

an approachable leader who loves a good brainstorm and is invigorated by challenging problems and the team he’s assembled to help solve them. Smith graduated from Harvard University and received an MBA from the University of Chicago and from the University of Leuven (Belgium).

Source of pride: “We have saved over 180,000 lives from potential death or serious injury — it drives our passion and is something that

makes all of us proud and grateful to work at TASER.” Trend to watch: “Advances in artificial intelligence will improve law enforcement safety and accountability. Wearable cameras coupled to AI will eliminate paperwork, effectively tripling the number of cops on the street while making them more effective and more trusted.”

naiopaz.org

GETTING INVOLVED IN NAIOP IS THE EASIEST WAY TO START MAKING AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT WITHIN THE COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY. – MATT MOONEY

COUSINS PROPERTIES 2017 NAIOP BOARD MEMBER

MANUFACTURING & TECHNOLOGY

{ MINING & NATURAL RESOURCE } MISAEL CABRERA

DIEGO ORTEGA

Director Arizona Department of Environmental Quality azdeq.gov

RICHARD ADKERSON Vice chairman, president and CEO Freeport-McMoRan fcx.com

Adkerson has been in his current role since January 2008. He has an established career in the mining sector and is past chairman of the International Council on Mining and Metals.

He serves on the Arizona Commerce Authority, Greater Phoenix Leadership and Dean’s Council of 100 for Arizona State University’s W. P. Carey School of Business.

Trend to watch: “Mining is a global business. Our mines are located in countries around the globe and the commodities we produce are sold to customers throughout the world. We benefit as the global economy expands and succeeds.

Government actions to restrict trade and foster nationalism are barriers to achieving the benefits of global growth.”

Appointed by Gov. Doug Ducey in August 2015, Cabrera previously served as ADEQ deputy director under former Director Henry Darwin. Darwin and Cabrera led ADEQ’s agencywide transformation, applying private sector techniques to deliver better, faster, more cost-effective environmental protection for Arizona.

Trend to watch: “The pendulum of government will swing dramatically towards deregulation over the next several years. It could also swing back after that. Consider an alternative: never write rules; when necessary, design them. By adopting design processes used in engineering and software development, we can have fewer, clearer and more effective regulations.”

THEODORE COOKE

General manager Central Arizona Project (CAP) cap-az.com Cooke was named general manager of CAP in March 2016, reporting to the publicly-elected board of directors and responsible for carrying out the board’s policy directives and overseeing all operational aspects of CAP, the 242 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

General manager of communities and communication Resolution Copper resolutioncopper.com

FRANCIS MCALLISTER Chairman Arizona Mining Association azmining.com

McAllister is vice president of land and water for FreeportMcMoRan Americas and chairman of the Arizona Mining Association. Arizona has been blessed with minerals. The primary mineral is copper, but other mining operations exist or are being contemplated in minerals like gold, potash, silver, uranium, or coal. Because these resources exist in Arizona and the world needs these resources, mining will continue to be a part of this evolving economy. The future of electric vehicles, renewable electricity, transportation, communication, housing all depend on mining.

Mining will continue to be a part of the Arizona economy to continue to supply the evolving economy of the world. “”

largest water provider in Arizona.

Business advice: “Don’t ever stop learning. Build relationships and above all practice humility.”

INDUSTRY OUTLOOK: “For industries dealing with scarce natural resources, our primary challenge in the near term is to do more with less. Not just the traditional ‘efficiency’ of doing more with what we have and at less cost,

Ortega leads Resolution Copper in engaging and partnering with business and community leaders, neighbors, Native American tribes and other stakeholders in the project. He is responsible for community programs, regional economic development, communities, government relations and internal and external communications.

Trend to watch: “The mining industry has and will continue to evolve over time. The biggest impact to the industry is technology, which is helping companies continue to grow and develop with minimal impact in so many ways. Technology has positioned the industry to use more innovation.”

but literally doing more with even less than we currently consume.

Next, we must develop substitute supplies – in the case of water, through things like desalination and weather modification. None of this will be possible without increased public awareness, willingness to sacrifice to maintain our standard of living and ability to grow, even more innovation and creativity and, above all, teamwork.”

MANUFACTURING & TECHNOLOGY

{ SOFTWARE }

DEREK RAGO

DAVE WOODRUFF

Vice president and general manager McKesson Specialty Health mckesson.com

BOB LA LOGGIA

CEO AppointmentPlus appointment-plus.com La Loggia is a veteran of four startups, including his most recent company, AppointmentPlus. He has grown AppointmentPlus from a small startup to now having over 90 employees. It was recently named a CareerBuilder Top 50 Places to Work. La Loggia is active in the Arizona startup community, including being a Seed Spot board member and mentor, serving on several advisory boards for startups, and being a member of Social Venture Partners. He is also an angel investor with both the Arizona Tech Investors and the Desert Angels. La Loggia’s passion is business, especially startups. He is committed to helping Arizona build a worldclass business ecosystem.

Rago has 20 years experience in healthcare business management and strategy with the last 10 years at the senior executive level. He currently is a leader of McKesson Specialty Health’s Data & Informatics and Marketing Services lines of businesses.

Trend to watch: “With the election of Donald Trump, there is little doubt that this new administration will usher another new era in the U.S. healthcare system, though at this time details of reform still remain unknown. I do expect the evolution to value-based care will continue and will require all healthcare stakeholders to evolve their business model to support optimizing the quality of healthcare delivery.”

Founder emeritus meltmedia meltmedia.com

GIRISH RISHI

CEO and member of the board of directors JDA Software jda.com Rishi became JDA CEO after serving as executive vice president at Tyco International, responsible for the firm’s global retail solutions and North America building automation business, that together, generates more than $4 billion in annual revenue.

Trend to watch: “Our customers are undergoing enormous change with omnichannel, new dynamics in the global supply chain and automation at the edge with a trend towards the Internet of Things, mobility and analytics. To that end, I look forward to building upon JDA’s demonstrated innovation and solutions capabilities, as we leverage our partner ecosystem to best serve our customers.”

CLATE MASK

CEO and co-founder Infusionsoft Infusionsoft.com As Infusionsoft’s CEO, Mask leads the company’s vision, strategy and growth. His entrepreneurial spirit sparked early in his career and evolved into the software industry while he was at About.com. Mask then co-founded Infusionsoft to 244 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

help small businesses succeed with smart sales and marketing automation tools just for them.

Business advice: “My dad taught me something as a teenager that remains very true to me to this day: Thoughts become words. Words become beliefs. Beliefs become actions.

Actions become habits. And habits determine our outcomes.

As entrepreneurs, we have to

Woodruff is a founder and a former partner at meltmedia.

Whether you need a richly interactive website or a system that handles complex business workflows, Woodruff helped create meltmedia so it can tackle almost any custom app. From strategy to design to development to delivery, meltmedia has experts all under one roof, so there is no need for outsourcing.

Benefit of ownership: “I liked working at meltmedia mostly because I owned it, therefore I was never late, which is super because I hate being late anywhere.”

Surprising fact: “I love to write.

In fact, I’ve written 10 books.

They’re just some short stories and a few people at melt have actually read them.”

master our thoughts. When we do, we create amazing outcomes.”

Toughest challenge: “In 2009, we decided to remove the setup fee in our subscription service to acquire customers faster. This decision nearly killed Infusionsoft as we watched our cancellations skyrocket. In response, we reintroduced the setup fee because we realized charging for this valuable service discouraged the wrong customers from purchasing.”

MANUFACTURING & TECHNOLOGY

{ TECHNOLOGY } KENNETH LAMNECK

GEORGE SLESSMAN

Lamneck was appointed to his current position in January, 2010. He brings more than 20 years of industry experience to Insight. Beginning in 2004, Lamneck served as president of the Americas at Tech Data, where he led operations in the United States, Canada and Latin America. Insight reported record revenue and profit this year due to a healthy IT market, company efficiencies and the addition of Datalink Corp.

Company outlook: “As we head into the second half of 2017, we believe our growing cloud, data center and supply chain offerings, combined with our strong operational focus, will position us well to continue to gain market share and deliver value to our stakeholders”

For nearly two decades, Slessman has been a technology visionary and leader. He has founded, built, and successfully exited multiple businesses in his career, creating more than $1 billion in equity value. Slessman’s forte is disruption – inventing and synthesizing software, data and energy technologies in unique ways that have enabled the transformation of business and mission performance for more than 1,000 enterprises and organizations.

Business advice: “Get a job doing something that excites you.

That is the foundation for success — your success.”

Professional strengths: “ A willingness to do the ‘work’ and a fundamental need to change the status quo ... to reinvent things for the better.”

President and CEO Insight Enterprises insight.com

KEITH JACKSON

President, CEO and director ON Semiconductor onsemi.com Jackson was named president and chief executive officer of ON Semiconductor in 2002. With more than two decades of experience in the semiconductor industry, Jackson was previously executive vice president and general manager of Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation’s Analog-Mixed Signal division and headed Fairchild’s Integrated Circuits Group. From 1996 to 1998, Jackson served as president and member of the board of Tritech Microelectronics Ltd. From 1986 to 1996, Jackson served in various managerial and marketing positions at National Semiconductor, including its High Performance Logic, Digital Logic, Advanced Systems and Interface Products divisions.

STEVEN ZYLSTRA

President and CEO Arizona Technology Council aztechcouncil.org Zylstra is responsible for strategy, operations, all financial matters and accomplishment of policy development for the Arizona Technology Council. Zylstra is a vocal spokesman for the value technology can provide in raising

social and economic standards in Arizona.

INDUSTRY OUTLOOK: “The technology industry in Arizona is booming and I expect this to continue as new companies make Arizona their home. Technology sectors such as semiconductor manufacturing, MedTech, Internet of Things, self-driving vehicles, and aerospace and defense continue to thrive, while sectors like

Co-founder and CEO IO io.com

STEVE SANGHI

CEO Microchip Technology Inc. microchip.com Sanghi is the longest serving CEO of a semiconductor company. Under his leadership, Microchip completed its 105th consecutive profitable quarter on December 31, 2016.

Trend to watch: “The semiconductor industry has seen significant consolidation in recent years due to slowing growth and it’s expected that only about 15 major semiconductor companies will survive the next decade.

Microchip is in the Top 10 semiconductor companies by market capitalization and our choice has been to either to acquire others or to be acquired.

Microchip has acquired 17 companies in the last decade, which will have a huge impact on which players will be still standing in the next decade.”

SpaceTech, FinTech and EdTech are gaining significant momentum.

Our entrepreneurial ecosystem is stronger than ever before, and with the recapitalization of the Angel Investment Tax Credit, there is $10 million in tax credits available over the next four years to incentivize investments, further stimulating growth. Our five-year outlook is bright and we will continue to strive to become a premier technology hub.”

Nominate at azBIGmedia.com | ABL 245

Wet your whistle…

Connecting Industr y with Nonprof its

azBIGmedia.com Print

•

Digital

•

Events

WHO’S WHO

{ CEOs } GREGORY CAPPELLI CEO Apollo Education Group apollo.edu

Cappelli serves as chief executive officer of Apollo Education Group and chairman of Apollo Global.

Before joining Apollo Education Group in 2007, Cappelli spent 10 years as a research analyst for Credit Suisse, where he served as Managing Director and Senior Research Analyst and founded the Credit Suisse Global Services Team. He also held the position of Vice President and Senior Research Analyst at ABN AMRO. Cappelli received bachelor’s in economics from Indiana University and his MBA from the Brennan School of Business at Dominican University. Cappelli serves on the Board of Governors of the Boys and Girls Clubs of America and the board of trustees for Dominican University.

WILLIAM AMELIO

KENT MCCLELLAND

CEO Avnet avnet.com

Amelio, brings more than 35 years of management and industry experience, was named CEO of Avnet in September 2016. Prior to Avnet, Amelio was the president, CEO and a director of CHC Group.

Company outlook: “For me, Avnet is all about passion and possibilities.

We have an experienced management team and an engaged workforce comprised of talented employees who are dedicated to serving our customers, suppliers and partners. By better aligning these resources with our competitive solutions specialist, embedded and supply chain strengths, Avnet will undoubtedly be positioned to achieve profitable growth for our shareholders and deliver upon the ever growing market potential in our industry.”

President and CEO Shamrock Foods Company shamrockfoods.com

McClelland is the third-generation to guide Shamrock Foods Company. McClelland¹s commitment to the company¹s roots, coupled with his dedication to innovation, are evidenced in the company¹s recent West Coast expansion and a new dairy manufacturing facility on the East Coast. Owler, a pioneer in crowdsourced information that’s building the world’s largest database of company and executive information, named McClelland the most likeable CEOs in Phoenix.

Business advice: “My father’s wisdom will continue to be a guiding force for the company, just as his father’s leadership values stand true still today. I’m honored to carry on a tradition that’s now 90-years strong.”

EDWARD SHOEN

Chairman of the board Amerco (U-Haul International, Inc.) uhaul.com Shoen grew up in the U-Haul organization and was first employed in 1971. He is a graduate of the College of the Holy Cross, Harvard Business School and ASU’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. Shoen was chosen by the Amerco Board of Directors as president in 1987 and has been leading the company since. Amerco has been the hottest Arizona stock over the last decade, generating an average annual return of 27 percent.

Business advice: “Set realistic goals with realistic time frames. Set a goal and go at it, understanding that nothing happens in 90 days or a year. It takes years to nurture the crop that feeds you today.”

248 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

DREW BROWN Founding partner and chairman of the board DMB Associates dmbinc.com

Together with his partners, Brown has guided the company’s growth and evolution for the past 30 years and has provided strategic and creative leadership for each of DMB’s projects.

He is active in a number of organizations including the Phoenix Art Museum, Greater Phoenix Leadership, The Flinn Foundation, Honor Health and is a member of Notre Dame Law School Advisory Council and Urban Land Institute.

Business advice: “Associate with partners who share your values. Study projects that you admire and are performing well.

Be patient for the project in the right location, with the right partner. If there is any doubt about a partner, there should be no doubt — pass.”

Company outlook: “We are focused on the future. For over 30 years, our company has been driven by our core values - profit, partnership, legacy and fun.

Those values have driven us through market cycles, each of our projects and will continue to define us into the future.”

WHO’S WHO

{ CFOs } MARC LEVINE

Executive vice president and CFO JDA Software jda.com Levine is responsible for all of the finance, accounting, facilities, purchasing and information technology activities for JDA Software. Levine is extremely passionate about helping the business reach its goals, and brings a culture of accountability and ownership to the organization. Prior to joining JDA, Levine spent 25 years in a variety of senior financial leadership positions with Hewlett Packard.

Business advice: “This is an industry where you have to embrace uncertainty.

Be flexible enough to handle rapid change, but have the discipline to keep yourself and your organization focused on what’s most critical to creating value for your business and your customers.”

SUSAN BARNES

CATHERINE LONG

Executive vice president and CFO Blood Systems bloodsystems.org Barnes joined Blood Systems, Inc. in 1991. She has been instrumental in designing and implementing several cost-savings initiatives to assist the Blood Center Division in lowering the cost of blood to its hospital customers.

Business advice: “Regardless of your position, in the back office support departments or as a phlebotomist in one of the donor centers, never forget that you contribute to the effort of savings lives every day.”

Source of pride: “Creating an offshore captive insurance company to protect the assets of the company. To date, over $ 20 million has remained on the balance sheet of the company versus being paid to insurance carriers.”

CFO, executive vice president and treasurer STORE Capital storecapital.com Long, a 30-year veteran of the financial services and real estate industries and a STORE cofounder, is dedicated to maximizing long-term shareholder value, ensuring a consistent source of capital for growth, and maintaining the highest level of integrity and transparency for which she is known.

Business advice: “Have vision and share it, have integrity and show it, and be open to change – constantly.”

Personal strengths: “Innovation _ the ability to start with a blank sheet of paper and envision how to create something – whether it’s a process or the infrastructure of a company. This skill has served me well in launching several

ADAM REMIS

Chief financial and human resources officer InnSuites Hospitality Trust Remis has more than 20 years of combined accounting, audit, tax and technology consulting experience. Currently, Remis is responsible for all financial reporting, risk management, human resources and information technology. Remis currently is on the Arizona chapter of the Financial Executives Institute Board of Directors.

Business advice: “Stay in school. There are some excellent hospitality and accounting programs in Arizona. Expect to graduate and be willing to learn all facets of our industry by taking a variety of jobs. Successful CFOs need experience in many different areas, not just accounting.”

250 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

MICHELLE HOFFMAN

Chief financial and operating officer Real Time Companies real-time-companies.com Hoffman is known as a turnaround expert who solves business puzzles through establishing trust organization wide, creating diverse experiential learning opportunities and remaining resilient through constant industry changes. In 2016, she was named CFO of the Year by FEI.

INDUSTRY OUTLOOK: “Airlines are focused on maximizing capacity and are profitable as there are a high number of commercial aircraft launched into the market.

Aerospace has delivered on the narrow body aircraft model demands. Established carriers are swapping out older, less efficient jets for new versions, and low-cost airlines are rapidly expanding their fleets with the narrow-body solution. Next few years will experience a slow time for new program development. Large OEM’s and first-tier suppliers are focused on maximizing profits by using off/near shore supply chain options with risk to the product quality and time to market.

Continued focus and demand into Unmanned Aircraft Systems will ultimately make this market explode with opportunity.”

WHO’S WHO

{ ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT } JOHN LEWIS

President and CEO East Valley Partnership evp-az.org

DANIELLE CASEY

Lewis was mayor of Gilbert before taking on his current position with East Valley Partnership. He also has private sector experience with Apollo Group (19 years) and Ernst & Young (nine years).

Trend to watch: “In support of regional economic development success, we need a trained workforce. We anticipate adding 1.2 million new jobs to our current 2 million jobs in the Greater Phoenix area in the next 30 years. Appropriate education attainment of our future workers is both a concern and a great opportunity for our state and PHX East Valley region.”

Surprising fact: “In high school I made several short movies with a friend that created great interest.”

CHRISTINE MACKAY

Economic Development Director City of Scottsdale choosescottsdale.com Casey is responsible for the oversight and execution of business attraction, retention and expansion, small business and entrepreneurial support, and employment center revitalization initiatives in the City of Scottsdale.

Previously, she was the assistant city manager for the City of Maricopa.

She is chair of the GPEC Economic Development Director’s Team.

Trend to watch: “Some interesting impacting the local economic development practice include the growing critical importance of talent to company decisions, the way people shop (online vs. in store), the increase in the sharing economy and other disruptive technologies, and of course the Millennial workforce.”

Director, community and economic development City of Phoenix phoenix.gov/econdev

Mackay is responsible for leading the Business Development Team, including the areas of business attraction, business retention and expansion, small business and entrepreneurial efforts, downtown and community development, international, retail and workforce development.

During the past five years, Mackay has been responsible for locating or expanding more than 170 companies and 27,000 jobs into the region.

Business advice “Never take no for an answer. There is always a solution to each challenge a project presents and it is our role to make certain that these projects move forward and bring good quality jobs to the community.”

JOE SNELL

President and CEO Sun Corridor Inc. suncorridorinc.com Sun Corridor Inc. is a transformative economic development organization representing one of the most dynamic and growing major business centers in North America. Under Snell’s leadership for the past 11 years, the organization has helped to drive significant business investment into Tucson and Southern Arizona through primary job creation, resulting in a total economic impact of $18.7 billion.

Business advice: “It is very easy to get pulled into a variety of directions due to large stakeholder groups. If one is not careful, they can quickly be boiling the ocean. I suggest that often the greatest skill someone in this industry can have is the ability to say ‘no.’”

252 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

CHRIS CAMACHO

President and CEO Greater Phoenix Economic Council gpec.org Camacho leads one of the longest standing public-private partnerships for economic development in the U.S. Camacho is a proven leader with more than 10 years in executive management roles.

Business advice: “Lead with pace and intensity, but always maintain your integrity.”

INDUSTRY OUTLOOK: “From the perspective of business attraction, we are seeing some of the strongest activity in GPEC’s history, in terms of not only the number of companies evaluating the market, but the quality of those companies.

Strong regional collaboration has resulted in strategies that are delivering a diversified economy in Greater Phoenix. It is the development and the execution of such strategies that is changing in the field of economic development. But the biggest shift in the field of economic development will be a renewed focus on people and place, rather than regulation and taxation. Cities within regions must create vibrant, diverse amenity bases with lively arts and culture scenes to draw the next generation workforce.”

WHO’S WHO

{ EDUCATION } MARIA HARPER-MARINICK

Chancellor Maricopa Community Colleges maricopa.edu

Harper-Marinick leads one of the largest community college systems in the nation. She oversees operations for the system, which serves 200,000 students and nearly 10,000 faculty and staff members across 10 colleges (ChandlerGilbert, Estrella Mountain, GateWay, Glendale, Mesa, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Rio Salado, Scottsdale, and South Mountain), a Corporate College, and two skills centers. Harper-Marinick has been the recipient of various awards and recognition, including 2017 Woman of the Year Award from Valley Leadership, 2016 Athena Award – Public Sector and the 2015 Woman of the Year award from the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

MICHAEL CROW

EILEEN KLEIN

President Arizona Board of Regents azregents.edu

President Arizona State University president.asu.edu Crow is guiding the transformation of ASU into one of the nation’s leading research universities, which combines the highest levels of academic excellence, inclusiveness to a broad demographic, and maximum societal impact — a model he terms the “New American University.”

Business advice: “As universities and as a society, we must find ways to make the most of our nation’s intellectual capital.

Higher education plays a central role in driving innovation and increasing our nation’s economic competiveness. With a commitment to educating larger and increasingly diverse segments of our population at the highest levels, we strengthen our ability to succeed in an increasingly global knowledge economy.”

Klein has more than 20 years of strategic fiscal, executive management and policy reform experience. She oversees the $5.3 billion Arizona public university system works with university presidents to achieve ambitious goals to increase degree production, double research activity and reform instructional delivery and financing of the university system.

Trend to watch: “Higher education today demands a rethink to remain competitive in the long term. In an era of competition for limited state dollars, our university enterprise is focusing more than ever on the balance between price, quality and service.”

ROBERT ROBBINS President University of Arizona arizona.edu

Robbins assumed his position as the 22nd president of the University of Arizona on June 1, 2017. Previously, he served as president and CEO of the Texas Medical Center in Houston from 2012 to 2017. In this role, he significantly enhanced TMC’s commitment to collaboration, introducing five crossinstitutional research initiatives centered on innovation, genomics, regenerative medicine, health policy and clinical research. Prior to his time in Houston, Robbins served as professor and chairman of the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Stanford University School of Medicine and founding director of the Stanford Cardiovascular Institute.

254 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

BRIAN MUELLER President and CEO Grand Canyon University gcu.edu

Mueller joined GCU in 2008 to usher in a new era for the university -- from an entrepreneurial venture to a market-supported private university. Taking the successes he experienced as a teacher and coach as well as 22 years of experience at the Apollo Group, Mueller has transformed GCU from a financially-troubled university into a $3 billion institution that is a driving force in higher education.

Business advice: “Start by teaching. There’s no better way to become passionate about education than to become a teacher. If you understand schools and universities from the teaching perspective, then you have the foundation to be able to lead effectively.”

Trend to watch: “Families are becoming very value-conscious when choosing a university.

They want to know: ‘Do you have a program that will help my son or daughter get a job? Do you have a cost structure that will allow them to graduate with a minimum amount of debt? And do you have a safe and valuesbased environment?’”

WHO’S WHO

{ FAMILY OWNED BUSINESS } DAN HARKINS Owner and CEO Harkins Theaters harkinstheatres.com

Since his father, Dwight “Red” Harkins opened Tempe’s first movie house at the height of the Depression in 1933, Harkins has helped grow Harkins Theatres to more than 400 screens and growing. Harkins Theatres has helped set a new standard for charitable giving through charity benefit premieres and screenings and public service announcements on the movie screens.

Business advice: “My father taught me the meaning of showmanship. He taught me that showmanship means much more than it sounds. To my father, showmanship meant you were a good marketer, a good leader and a good citizen.

Being a good showman meant operating with high integrity and giving back to the communities we serve.”

EDWARD BASHA III

President, CEO and chairman of the board Bashas’ Family of Stores bashas.com Basha leads Bashas’ Family of Stores, the familyowned grocer that operates Bashas’, Food City, AJ’s Fine Foods, Eddie’s Country Store and Bashas’ Diné supermarkets across Arizona. He is responsible for overseeing the day-today operations of more than 110 grocery stores and 8,500-plus employees.

Business advice: “Find the right niche for you and surround yourself by good people.”

Source of pride: “One of the best things about being a family-owned business is the trust and collaboration that we have with each other. That connection keeps us moving forward with a common goal in mind, making it much easier than it could be in a non-family setting.”

SHARISSE JOHNSON CEO Macayo’s Mexican Kitchen macayo.com

Johnson is the daughter of Macayo’s founders Woody and Victoria Johnson. Macayo’s Mexican Restaurants first opened more than 70 years ago and has locations throughout Arizona and Nevada. Macayo’s uses only the freshest ingredients to make the time-honored family recipes.

Source of pride: “Our teammates — some of who have been here since my father — and our guests, who have been dining with us since. Our team loves the stories of how my father could walk into the kitchen and know if a recipe was wrong just by the smell. Our guests will stop me in the restaurants to tell stories of him and the memories they have.”

JEREMY SMITH

Sales, marketing and showroom manager Central Arizona Supply centralazsupply.com Smith and his brother are the third generation of family members to run Central Arizona Supply, the plumbing industry’s largest independently owned family business in the Southwest. Today, the next generation has expanded the showroom and wholesale sides of the business.

Source of pride: “As a family business, we want to work with other local businesses just like us who take pride in the quality of products they produce along with having high-level, responsive service. If you’re a plumbing manufacturer in Arizona or America, you’re automatically getting a seat at the table for us to consider carrying your product.””

256 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

BRAD GHASTER President and CEO Ghaster Painting ghasterpaintinginc.com

Ghaster started painting apartments part time while in college in Arizona. In 1975, he started Ghaster Painting & Coatings. He has grown the business from one employee to 35 employees with rapidly growing sales. Ghaster has served on the national board and is past president of the Painting and Decorating Contractors of America - Arizona Chapter.

Source of pride: “Being able to send our long-term employees to Hawaii on their anniversary with us as a reward for their service and loyalty.”

INDUSTRY OUTLOOK: “The cost of painting is approximately 25 percent materials and 75 percent labor.

The future of the painting industry will be as bright as the quality of the skilled labor work force that is available. As the labor pool diminishes, the prices will increase due to a growing demand and a limited supply of quality painting professionals.

We foresee exponential growth in the demand for quality and experienced painting contractors as the buildings in town age and need repainting in order to remain marketable.”

WHO’S WHO

{ INFLUENTIAL WOMEN } KIMBERLY MCWATERS Chairmanand CEO Universal Technical Institute, Inc. uti.edu

McWaters is CEO of UTI, the leading provider of post-secondary education for individuals seeking careers as automotive, diesel, motorcycle, marine and collision repair technicians.

Trend to watch: “For a long time, families thought a college degree was the only ticket to a good job and bright future. But the workforce is shifting. We’re seeing college grads in jobs that don’t require a degree, while employers are having a tough time finding people trained to work as electricians, plumbers, transportation technicians and in other jobs that require high-tech, hands-on skills. So, I think we’ll see more people look at jobs in the skilled trades, which pay well and offer plenty of opportunity.”

DEBORAH BATEMAN Vice chairman National Bank of Arizona nbarizona.com

Bateman serves as vice chairman of the board of directors for National Bank of Arizona. She is involved with the ongoing development of the bank, with a focus on the bank’s impact and engagement in Arizona communities.

A veteran banker, with more than 40 years of experience, Bateman’s career has spanned leadership capacities in wealth strategies, retail banking, operations and technology, treasury management, program management, service excellence, community bank consulting, and merger/acquisition integration.

Business advice: “Be authentic in everything that you set out to do and always make sure you are doing it because you truly want to create value and make a difference by serving others.”

SUSAN PEPIN

President and CEO Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust pipertrust.org Pepin is a nationally recognized medical educator, clinician and researcher. Formerly, Pepin served as associate dean for diversity and inclusion and associate professor of surgery and pediatrics at Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth. She is known for diversifying the medical school’s student body and is a leader in the field of neuro-ophthalmology.

Business advice: “Read broadly and voraciously. Innovation and nimbleness are bolstered by ‘borrowing’ what’s working in different forums.”

Source of pride: “Mentoring. I always learn more than I give.”

APRIL SALOMON Executive director Musical Instrument Museum mim.org

Joining MIM in 2007, Salomon played an key role in the design, staffing, collection acquisition and launch of the $250 million museum before taking the helm in May 2014. Salomon held positions at the Smithsonian Institution, Intel Corporation, Hewlett-Packard, Heard Museum, Institute for Learning Innovation and Newseum.

Trend to watch: “Because museums compete for consumer dollars like retailers, hospitality establishments and other attractions, we have to be mindful of our stated missions and try to avoid being all things to everyone, which many arts and cultural institutions sometimes do. Staying true to the organization’s founding principles often increases and sustains support over time.”

258 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

JODY SARCHETT Senior vice president Lovitt & Touché lovitt-touche.com

Sarchett is senior vice president of Lovitt & Touché, one of the nation’s largest independent insurance brokerages. Focused on commercial insurance, Sarchett has been instrumental to the company’s growth since 2003. She has earned numerous accolades for her business development skill and strategy, and commitment to mentorship.

Business advice: “Our business is built on relationships. For someone interested in pursuing a career in the insurance field, it’s really never too early to begin building a network that’s filled with talented professionals across industries with whom you can collaborate.”

Trend to watch: “It’s uncertainty around the Affordable Care Act and what it will look like in the future.

It’s an interesting time for employers and insurers as we both look to manage costs by modifying plan designs and promoting wellness and disease management programs, while awaiting the final result.”

WHO’S WHO

{ MAYORS } W.J “JIM” LANE Mayor City of Scottsdale scottsdaleaz.gov

JENN DANIELS

With the heart of an accountant, Lane is a businessman who can think out of the box. Lane moved to Scottsdale in 1973 and has worked in accounting, managed publicly traded corporations and later owned/operated businesses. He was elected to the Scottsdale City Council in 2004 and elected mayor in 2008 and 2012.

Through reforms, results and leadership Scottsdale enjoys a strong economy, more jobs, increasing property values, a vibrant downtown and a revitalized South Scottsdale.

Business advice: “Standing still is never an option in the private or public sector. Reform thinking fuels positive change so always look for ways to improve results.”

JONATHAN ROTHSCHILD

Mayor Town of Gilbert gilbertaz.gov Daniels has been on the Gilbert Town Council since 2009. She was appointed by the Town Council as Mayor in July of 2016 and elected by the voters to a full term beginning January of 2017. Daniels is the founder of Operation Welcome Home, a program honoring returning men and women from overseas deployments.

Trend to watch: “Local governments across the nation are beginning to embrace and enhance technology and utilize it in a manner that offers its full benefits to our residents. In Gilbert, we have long been working toward this goal and place a strategic emphasis on being a technology leader through utilization of a digital roadmap as our guiding foundation.”

Mayor City of Tucson mayorrothschild.com

Rothschild went to City Hall promising accountability in government, increased emphasis on economic growth and help for those most in need. As mayor, he’s increased incentives for Tucson businesses and led efforts to pass a $100 million road improvement bond.

He’s a leading advocate for developing trade, tourism, and the transportation infrastructure to support both. Rothschild had a 30year career practicing law with the firm of Mesch, Clark & Rothschild.

Business advice: “I think everyone should have work experience before running for office - experience where they have significant responsibilities and can point to achievements.”

GREG STANTON Mayor City of Phoenix phoenix.gov/mayor

Stanton was raised in Phoenix.

After earning his law degree from the University of Michigan, Stanton returned to Phoenix, where he practiced law at Jennings Strouss & Salmon and later at Quarles & Brady. In 2001, he left private law practice to serve on the Phoenix City Council. With a staunch commitment to creating high-wage jobs in Phoenix, Stanton was the lead councilman bringing the Translational Genomics Research Institute, the ASU downtown campus and the University of Arizona Medical School to the city.

Business advice: “Listen closely and be open to new ideas. I will always listen to the businesses themselves — talking with them and finding out the tools they need to thrive and succeed.”

260 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

JACKIE MECK

Mayor City of Buckeye buckeyeaz.gov

Meck was born and raised in Buckeye, the city where he is now mayor.

Source of pride: “My most recent accomplishment that brings me the most joy is a joint effort by numerous public and private agencies, city staff and the residents of Buckeye to create Skyline Regional Park.

In our first year of operation, more than 200,000 people have enjoyed this jewel in the desert.”

INDUSTRY OUTLOOK: “The city of Buckeye was recently named the seventh-fastest-growing city in the country by the U.S. Census Bureau. This increase in population will continued upward, providing many opportunities for the city, the West Valley and the entire metro area. New commercial and retail businesses will give residents many new prospects to work closer to where they live, creating a better quality of life for them.

As the chair of the Maricopa Association of Governments this year, my priorities are to focus on additional economic development and transportation opportunities that will benefit the entire region.”

WHO’S WHO

{ NONPROFITS } KRISTEN MERRIFIELD CEO Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits arizonanonprofits.org

Merrifield brings more than 13 years’ experience to her role as CEO of the Alliance, serving previously as the COO of the Arizona Small Business Association, as well roles at the ASU Foundation and the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce. She is the current board president of the Arizona Society of Association Executives and holds the prestigious designation of Certified Association Executive from the American Society of Association Executives.

Trend to watch: “As our members get busier, and as resources and budgets become tighter, the association sector’s challenge will be to find new ways to continually engage our members and provide increasing value for their membership investment.”

GRETCHEN E. BUHLIG

STEVEN SELEZNOW

CEO ASU Foundation for A New American University asufoundation.org Buhlig joined the ASU Foundation for A New American University in January 2012 as vice president for leadership giving and now serves as chief executive officer.

In her executive role at the foundation, Buhlig works closely with ASU Enterprise Partners CEO Rick Shangraw and ASU President Michael Crow to identify, cultivate, and steward major university donors. She matches donor interests with ASU priorities, structuring complex investments that advance ASU’s vision.

Additionally, she directs the development enterprise, which includes the development offices within ASU’s colleges, institutes, performing arts venues, leadership giving, the core development team, and engagement programs.

President and CEO Arizona Community Foundation azfoundation.org

Seleznow leads the Community Foundation, which promotes innovation across a broad array of issue areas including education, health, community development, the environment, arts and culture and more.

Previously, Seleznow served for five years as deputy director for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Business advice: “Good service is not enough. You must take your clients to a place they didn’t expect you’d go. We want our donors to have an experience that surprises, delights and amazes them. Focus on doing the extra thing, taking another step, reaching beyond expectations, and attaching a value-add to every service.”

MERL WASCHLER President and CEO Valley of the Sun United Way vsuw.org

Waschler leads the largest non-profit investor in health and human service programs in Maricopa County. In partnership with the board of directors, thousands of community volunteers, 500 business supporters and 90,000 individual donors and wide array of community partners, United Way is focused on breaking the cycle of poverty by ensuring kids succeed in school, ending hunger and homelessness and increasing the financial stability of families.

Trend to watch: “The new generation of donors, volunteers and employees are definitely shaping how non-profits address issues and engage people. They are the most digitally savvy and least institutionally bound generation we’ve seen. They are passionate and innovative - an incredibly powerful combination. Non-profits must welcome them, capture their imaginations and involve them in ways that we might not have imagined. I truly can’t wait to see what this generation will accomplish.”

262 ABL | Nominate at azBIGmedia.com

ADELE DIETRICH President Association of Fundraising Professionals Greater Arizona Chapter afpgreateraz.afpnet.org

Dietrich, legacy giving officer of Phoenix Rescue Mission and president of the AFP Greater Arizona Chapter, believes relationship building is paramount to the safekeeping and longevity of effective fundraising.

Importance of AFP: “There can be unethical ways of raising money and there can also be short-term efforts in fundraising. AFP works to counter these negative aspects of fundraising by legitimizing the work involved with raising money. That’s why I prefer the term ‘development professional’ over ‘fundraising professional.’

Development professionals should not be perceived as taking advantage of donors.

They work over long periods of time to develop authentic and lasting relationships.”

The mission of Az Business Angels magazine is to: Engage organizations, companies and individuals to take action Encourage social and environmental responsibility Educate on the need for corporate philanthropy

for more info:

azBIGmedia.com

602.277.6045

Get the recognition you deserve!

Single plaque

Double plaque

Stand-off wall plaque

Desktop plaque

ONLINE STORE Az BIG Media owns the exclusive rights to AzBusiness Leaders and is the only provider of official plaques.

azBIGmedia.com | 602.277.6045 Many more styles and sizes available online

Buyers and sellers of diamonds, fine gold and estate jewelry.

LONDONGOLD.COM ARROWHEAD

(623) 979-4445 CHANDLER

(480) 705-4191

SCOTTSDALE

(480) 367-1717