ARIZONA COMPANIES
PRIVATE COMPANIES, RANKED BY NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES
Top 10 BASHAS’ FAMILY OF STORES 22402 S. Basha Road, Chandler, 85248 // 480-895-9350 // bashas.com FOUNDED 1932 EMPLOYEES 8,511 PRINCIPAL Edward Basha III, chairman HIGHESTRANKING WOMAN Elva G. Vivas, director of financing and planning; Denise R. Brownell, director of loss prevention PETSMART INC. 19601 N. 27th Ave., Phoenix, 85027 // 623-580-6100 // petsmart.com FOUNDED 1987 EMPLOYEES 3,540 PRINCIPAL David Lenhardt, CEO HIGHEST-RANKING WOMAN No designee SONORA QUEST LABORATORIES 1255 W. Washington St., Tempe, 85281 // 602-685-5000 // sonoraquest.com FOUNDED 1997 EMPLOYEES 2,900 PRINCIPAL David Dexter, president and CEO HIGHEST-RANKING WOMAN Joyce Santis, chief operating officer FOX RESTAURANT CONCEPTS LLC 4455 E. Camelback Road, Suite B100, Phoenix, 85018 // 480-905-6920 // foxrc.com FOUNDED 1998 EMPLOYEES 2,586 PRINCIPAL Sam Fox, founder HIGHEST-RANKING WOMAN Leezie Kim, vice president, general counsel
EMBRACING OPPORTUNITY
LEEZIE KIM VICE PRESIDENT, GENERAL COUNSEL BY GEORGANN YARA
18
Leezie Kim’s grandfather named her with a poetic combination of two Chinese symbols — “beauty” and “clarity and wisdom” — translated into Korean. The vice president and general counsel for Fox Restaurant Concepts acknowledges that set the bar pretty high. “I don’t live up to any of that,” says Kim, laughing. “But it was a nice gesture from my grandpa.” Her resume, however — which includes representation of high-profile clients such as the National Football League and Arizona State University, serving as general counsel to Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano and serving as White House appointee to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security — makes a compelling argument to the contrary. Kim, a corporate finance lawyer, served 12 years as outside counsel for Fox Restaurant Concepts before founder Sam Fox asked her to join the company in 2014. “Fox was always my favorite client,” Kim says. “So how could I say no?” Born in Seoul, South Korea, to an engineer father and pharmacist mother, Kim emigrated with her family at age 4, when her first name was translated into English, resulting in “Leezie.” After a few years in Michigan, they moved to Scottsdale when Kim was in the seventh grade. Kim earned her degree in economics from Rice University before grad-
uating from the University of Virginia School of Law. Although she can’t explain why, Kim always wanted to be a lawyer. She ponders aloud that her highly educated parents, who spoke perfect English, may have been a factor. “You learn very early the power of persuasive language and speech,” Kim says. After a pause, she chuckles. “Or, maybe it’s because I feel I’m always right.” In law school, Kim met her husband of 16 years, Gary Restaino, criminal division chief for the U.S. attorney’s office in Arizona. The decision to return to Arizona came after living in older, more storied, parts of the country. Kim appreciates that in Arizona, family history doesn’t dictate destiny. Nor is it limiting. “They don’t ask what your parents did or ask if my grandfather went to boarding school with your grandfather,” she says. “Out here, people want to know what you can do. They judge you on your merit.” Kim values the opportunities she’s experienced, from involvement with U.S.-Mexico border issues to being strapped to a moving helicopter. “My mother would always say, ‘This is no dress rehearsal,’” Kim says. “Meaning, this is your life. You only get one, and you need to do everything you can with it. I’ve done that and I feel like I’m the luckiest person.”
DISCOUNT TIRE 20225 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, 85255 // 480-606-6000 // discounttire. com FOUNDED 1960 EMPLOYEES 2,020 PRINCIPAL Bruce T. Halle, chairman and founder HIGHEST-RANKING WOMAN Lori Governale, senior vice president of people care SHAMROCK FOODS CO. 3900 E. Camelback Road, Suite 300, Phoenix, 85018 // 602-272-6721 // shamrockfoods.com FOUNDED 1922 EMPLOYEES 1,977 PRINCIPAL Norman and Kent McClelland, chairman and CEO HIGHEST-RANKING WOMAN Ann Ocana, chief marketing officer EARNHARDT AUTO CENTERS 7300 W. Orchard Lane, Chandler, 85226 // 480-783-4620 // earnhardt.com FOUNDED 1951 EMPLOYEES 1,080 PRINCIPAL Hal J. Earnhardt III, president HIGHEST-RANKING WOMAN Robbyn McDowell, chief financial officer TROON GOLF LLC 15044 N. Scottsdale Road, Suite 300, Scottsdale, 85254 // 480-606-1000 // info@troongolf.com FOUNDED 1990 EMPLOYEES 1,652 PRINCIPAL Dana Garmany, chairman and CEO HIGHEST-RANKING WOMAN Ruth Engle, executive vice president and chief financial officer EMPIRE SOUTHWEST LLC 1725 S. Country Club Drive, Mesa, 85210 // 480-633-4000 // empirecat.com FOUNDED 1950 EMPLOYEES 1,536 PRINCIPAL Jeff Whiteman, chairman and CEO HIGHEST-RANKING WOMAN Holly Purcell, director of human resources CHAPMAN AUTOMOTIVE GROUP P.O. Box 12375, Tempe, 85284 // 480-970-0740 // chapmanchoice.com FOUNDED 1966 EMPLOYEES 1,333 PRINCIPAL Eddie Davault, CEO HIGHEST-RANKING WOMAN Kristine Barber, controller
WHO’S WHO IN BUSINESS // 2015
AZCompanies_Master.indd 18
5/26/15 5:44 PM