ARIZONA COMMERCE AUTHORITY (ACA) - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President, Business Development
Job Titles:
- Public Relations Director
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Member of the EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
- Co - Chairman, Executive Committee / President, Arizona Cardinals
Job Titles:
- Co - Founder
- Member of the Board
- Representative
Representative Ben Toma was born in Romania, and came to America in pursuit of the American Dream in 1987. He has been living in the West Valley since 1996. He married his wife Ani in 1998, and together they have five daughters in the Deer Valley School District.
Brett Goeringer serves as Chief Financial Officer of the Arizona Commerce Authority, where he oversees teams responsible for accounts payable/receivable, procurement, accounting and grants administration.
Prior to ACA, Mr. Goeringer was Senior Director, Global Financial Operations at Arizona State University, where he led finance and compliance teams and worked with academic departments across the university on strategic initiatives.
Mr. Goeringer began his career at KPMG and also worked at PWC. He has also spent time living and working in foreign locations while performing senior roles in the tax, internal audit and finance functions. His diverse experience includes time spent at two publicly traded companies and working in various industries, including manufacturing, software/SAAS, construction and natural resources.
Mr. Goeringer earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and a Master of Accounting from Brigham Young University. Mr. Goeringer is a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Internal Auditor.
Brian Sherman serves as the Chief Innovation Officer of the Arizona Commerce Authority. Mr. Sherman approaches economic development as a social entrepreneur, startup evangelist and bureaucracy hacker. He believes human-inspired, market-leveraged, data-driven entrepreneurship can create a better world. His work is focused on public sector strategy, technology-based economic development, entrepreneurship, early-stage capital formation and technology commercialization, as well as innovation in public policy, strategy and finance.
Mr. Sherman is a 20+ year public service veteran serving in executive positions at the Arizona Technology Council, Arizona State University, the Town of Gilbert, the State of Arizona and on the founding team of the Arizona Commerce Authority.
Mr. Sherman has a Bachelor's degree in Geography/Geographic Information Systems and an MBA from the W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- President of the Board
- Regional President for Phoenix / Northern Arizona, PNC Bank
Cathleen C. Walker is regional president for Phoenix/Northern Arizona and head of Corporate Banking for Arizona and New Mexico for PNC Bank.
Prior to being named to her current position, Ms. Walker served as executive vice president and managing director of PNC's Debt Capital Markets loan syndications origination and structuring team in Chicago. This team supported large corporate, middle market, leveraged, and investment grade clients in various industries, as well as specific industry coverage including healthcare, financial institutions group and leasing transportation and finance. Additionally, Walker was head of Equipment Finance Loan Syndications, responsible for all aspects of PNC's equipment finance loan syndication process, including product strategy, origination and distribution.
Ms. Walker began her PNC career in 1992 as a member of the Corporate Banking training program and spent several years in PNC's Commercial Banking group as a relationship manager. Following that experience, she worked in loan syndications and was initially responsible for sales and distribution for both primary and secondary transactions, and she eventually transitioned to the structuring and origination team and worked with a broad array of clients.
Ms. Walker currently is a member of Greater Phoenix Leadership, Greater Phoenix Economic Council, ASU's W.P. Carey School of Business Dean's Council, the Valley of the Sun United Way Women's Leadership Council and Golden Seeds. She serves on the board of directors of Southwest Human Development. Prior to her relocation to Phoenix, Ms. Walker served on the board of directors of JDRF of Western Pennsylvania and the board of The Woodlands Foundation as treasurer.
Ms. Walker holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Pittsburgh, with a Finance concentration and a certificate of International Studies, and a BA in Economics from Pennsylvania State University.
Clate Mask has been educating and inspiring entrepreneurs for over a decade, and is recognized by the small business community as a visionary leader. His passion for small business success stems from his personal experience taking Infusionsoft from a struggling startup to an eight-time Inc. 500/5000 winner. As CEO, Mr. Clate is leading Infusionsoft on its mission to simplify growth for millions of small businesses worldwide. Under Mr. Clate's leadership, Keap (formerly known as Infusionsoft) has landed four rounds of venture capital including a $55 million Series D led by Bain Capital Ventures with contributions from prior investors, Signal Peak Ventures and Goldman Sachs. He was named an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year finalist, a Top 100 Small Business Influencer by Small Business Trends, one of the 100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs of 2013 by Goldman Sachs, and Business Leader of the Year by the Arizona Technology Council. Mr. Clate is a national speaker on entrepreneurship and small business success, and co-author of the New York Times bestseller Conquer the Chaos: How to Grow a Successful Small Business Without Going Crazy. Mr. Clate has a BA in Economics from Arizona State University, as well as an MBA and a JD from Brigham Young University.
Job Titles:
- Director, Arizona Trade and Investment Office in Europe
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- President & CEO, Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Danny Seiden brings more than 16 years of experience in global public affairs and government relations, as well as handling complex legal matters in private practice and public sector service. Prior to joining the Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Mr. Seiden was legal counsel to the Valor Global leadership team. He focused on helping achieve growth objectives as well as providing continued public affairs guidance in AZ, WA and other States.
Mr. Seiden worked at Intel, was a shareholder at Greenberg Traurig where he chaired the Phoenix office government law and policy practice. Mr. Seiden served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Arizona Governor Doug Ducey from 2014 to 2018 where he assisted in the passage of landmark legislation including the Arizona Opioid Epidemic Act and K-12 education funding ballot referral.
Mr. Seiden was recently named among 2020 Leaders of the Year in Public Policy by Arizona Capitol Times for his contributions in the field of law and public policy. Mr. Seiden earned his Juris Doctor (cum laude) from Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at Arizona State University and Bachelor of Arts (cum laude) from Pepperdine University. Mr. Seiden serves as an adjunct professor at Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at Arizona State University, is a board member of numerous community organizations. Mr. Seiden is passionate about orphan care and volunteers with Orphan Outreach for orphaned and vulnerable children in Mathare, Nairobi and Bungoma, Kenya. He and his wife Ann, live in Phoenix with their three children.
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Business Development
Mr. Budinger is one of the founders and president of Rodel Inc., a startup that grew to become the world's largest manufacturer of the surface finishing chemicals used to make computer chips, rigid memory disks and specialty optics. Currently, Budinger is Chairman and Founding Director of the Rodel Foundations, and Board Member of The Morrison Institute, Greater Phoenix Economic Council, Basis Charter Schools and Greater Phoenix Leadership. In addition, Don serves on the Southern Arizona Leadership Council, Tucson Values Teachers and the O'Connor House Advisory Group.
Dr. Craig Barrett received a Ph.D. degree from Stanford. After joining Intel in 1974, he served as CEO and chairman, retiring in 2009. Dr. Barrett is a leading advocate for improving education and increasing awareness of the value of technology in raising economic and social standards globally. He chairs Achieve, Change The Equation, Arizona Ready Education Council, and BASIS Schools; co-chairs the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Advisory Board; vice chairs Science Foundation Arizona; and is on the Boards of Society for Science and the Public, K12, Arizona Commerce Authority, Tallwave, and Geothermic Solution. Dr. Barrett previously served as Chair of the National Academy of Engineering. He is on the faculty of Thunderbird School of Global Management, and Dr. Barrett and his wife, Barbara, founded Barrett, the Honors College at Arizona State University.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- President / Northern Arizona University
José Luis Cruz Rivera began his tenure as the 17th President of Northern Arizona University (NAU) on June 14, 2021. Prior to joining NAU, Dr. Cruz Rivera served as President of Lehman College of The City University of New York and as Executive Vice Chancellor and University Provost of the 25-campus system. During his tenure at CUNY, Lehman enhanced its national reputation as an engine of social mobility and the Central Office of Academic Affairs registered important accomplishments on behalf of the University's more than 20,000 faculty members, 26,000 professional staff and 500,000 students and learners.
A leading national advocate for policies to expand opportunities and improve educational outcomes for all students-especially those who have historically been underserved-Dr. Cruz Rivera is a frequent keynote speaker and writer on higher education issues. He has testified several times before the U.S. Congress, and his work has been covered by many media outlets, including The Chronicle of Higher Education, the New York Times, the Washington Post, and Univision.
Previously, Dr. Cruz Rivera served as provost of California State University, Fullerton. He is a former vice president of Higher Education Policy and Practice at The Education Trust in Washington, D.C. and a former Chief Student Affairs Officer for the University of Puerto Rico system. He began his career as a faculty member in engineering at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, rising through the ranks and serving as chair of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department and dean of Academic Affairs.
Dr. Cruz Rivera chairs the board of directors of The Education Trust and serves on the board of the Data Quality Campaign. He is also a member of the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) advisory board, the Anchor Institutions Task Force, and the steering committee of the Presidents' Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration. In the past, he has served on the board of directors of the New York Botanical Garden, the Institute for Higher Education Policy, the Regional Plan Association, and the Association of Chief Academic Officers. He has also served as a member of the Community Advisory Group of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the advisory board of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities Committee on Academic Innovation and Transformation, and as a commissioner on the Postsecondary Value Commission.
Dr. Cruz Rivera is a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, a patented inventor, and a National Science Foundation Career Award recipient. His work as a faculty member on optical interconnections for massively parallel processing systems was published in scientific journals and presented at international conferences. He earned his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering (magna cum laude) from the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez and his master's and doctorate degrees from the Georgia Institute of Technology. He is an alumnus of the Harvard Institute of Educational Management.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- CEO / Mayo Clinic
- CEO of Mayo Clinic
Richard J. Gray, M.D., is CEO of Mayo Clinic in Arizona, the No. 1 hospital in the state, ranked by U.S. News & World Report for the last nine consecutive years. Dr. Gray works with Paula Menkosky, chief administrative officer, to provide leadership and strategy, define and implement Mayo Clinic's operational plan, and expand Mayo Clinic's leadership in Arizona and the Southwest.
Before being appointed CEO in 2019, Dr. Gray worked as a surgical oncologist, specializing in treating patients with breast cancer, melanoma and sarcoma. He served as chair of the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center in Arizona, chair of Mayo's Breast Specialty Council, and vice-chair of the Department of Surgery in Arizona.
Dr. Gray has been recognized as an esteemed educator, a patient education champion, including his selection as Mayo Clinic Distinguished Educator of the Year in 2013. He is a professor of surgery at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science and, for ten years, served as program director of the General Surgery Residency Program.
His research focuses on developing less burdensome and better-coordinated treatments to reduce the risk of cancer recurrence. He has published more than 150 research manuscripts.
Dr. Gray graduated cum laude from Lake Superior State University. He also played Division II college basketball and earned his medical degree from the College of Human Medicine at Michigan State University. Dr. Gray first came to Mayo Clinic in Arizona in 1995 as a surgical resident. After a fellowship in surgical oncology as a Mayo Foundation Scholar at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, he joined the staff at Mayo Clinic in 2001.
He and his wife, Kathryn, have three sons.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- President, University
Dr. Robert C. 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 (TMC) in Houston from 2012 to 2017. In this role, he significantly enhanced TMC's commitment to collaboration, introducing five cross-institutional research initiatives centered on innovation, genomics, regenerative medicine, health policy and clinical research.
Prior to his time in Houston, Dr. Robbins served as professor and chairman of the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Stanford University School of Medicine, founding director of the Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, president of the International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation, president of the Western Thoracic Surgical Association, president of the American Heart Association Western States Affiliate, president of the Bay Area Society of Thoracic Surgeons, and chair of the American Heart Association Cardiovascular Surgery and Anesthesia Council, among other roles. In 2016 he served as president of the American Heart Association Southwest Affiliate.
An internationally recognized cardiac surgeon, Robbins has focused his clinical efforts on acquired cardiac diseases with a special expertise in the surgical treatment of congestive heart failure and cardiothoracic transplantation. His research work includes the investigation of stem cells for cardiac regeneration, cardiac transplant allograft vasculopathy, bioengineered blood vessels, and automated vascular anastomotic devices. Robbins is the author of more than 300 peer-reviewed articles and a former guest editor of the Circulation Surgical Supplement.
While at TMC, Robbins also served on the Houston branch of the Dallas Federal Reserve board, the board of directors of the Welch Foundation, and the American Heart Association Southwest Affiliate in 2016. He served on an independent blue ribbon committee to evaluate the Veterans Affairs health system, and the World Affairs Council of Greater Houston honored him as the 2016 International Citizen of the Year.
His educational background includes a B.S. in chemistry from Millsaps College, medical degree from the University of Mississippi, general surgical training at the University of Mississippi, cardiothoracic training at Stanford University, postdoctoral research at Columbia University and the National Institutes of Health, and congenital heart surgical fellowships at Emory University and Royal Children's Hospital.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Chancellor, Mohave Community College
Dr. Stacy Klippenstein was chosen by the College Board of Governors to take over the reins as President of Mohave Community College on July 1, 2019. Prior to joining Mohave Community College, Dr. Klippenstein served as the President of Miles Community College in Miles City, Montana, from January 2014 to June 14, 2019. Previously, Dr. Klippenstein served as the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management at Montana State University Billings, which includes a two-year technical college. From this experience, Dr. Klippenstein became passionate about two-year education and helping students attain industry-recognized credentials, certificates, and two-year degrees. Dr. Klippenstein knows that a college education can transform the lives of so many and a community college contributes to the economic growth of any small, rural community.
Prior to his time at Montana State University Billings, Dr. Klippenstein served as the Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs and Director of Housing and New Student Programs at Central Washington University. Dr. Klippenstein has also worked at Texas Tech University and Northern Arizona University in various capacities. Dr. Klippenstein received a bachelor's and master's degree from Eastern Montana College (now Montana State University Billings) and a doctorate in higher education leadership from Nova Southeastern University. Dr. Klippenstein also serves as an Associate Consultant for the Strategic Enrollment Planning division of Ruffalo Noel Levitz. Over the past 30 years, Dr. Klippenstein has instructed many first-year experience, student leadership, psychology, and graduate courses.
Dr. Klippenstein is married to Carrie Klippenstein and has two sons, Steven and Ty. Both are successful college graduates. In his spare time, Dr. Klippenstein enjoys a round of golf, spending time outdoors, traveling with Carrie, and spending time with friends and family. Go Bighorns!
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President, Business Development
Job Titles:
- CEO
- Executive
- Member of the Board
- Member of the EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
- CEO Position at Blue Yonder
- Chief Executive Officer of Cognite
Girish Rishi is the Chief Executive Officer of Cognite, a data platform company that harnesses the power of the cloud to deliver insights to the energy and the industrial sector. Mr. Rishi was previously the CEO at Blue Yonder, a leading supply chain software company. The business transformed into the cloud during his tenure, driving strong growth, profitability, innovation, and customer and employee satisfaction.
Before his CEO position at Blue Yonder, Mr. Rishi held executive leadership positions at Motorola, Tyco, and Symbol Technologies, leading global businesses that delivered IoT, software, and services. Mr. Rishi has a master's degree in public policy from Johns Hopkins University, an MBA from Hartford University, and an undergraduate degree from the University of Mumbai.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Executive Committee
- Governor
- Member of the Board
- Secretary of State
Born and raised right here in the Grand Canyon State, Governor Katie Hobbs has dedicated her life to listening to her community and helping solve difficult challenges for the people of Arizona. A fearless advocate for Arizona, Governor Hobbs will bring transparency and accountability to the governor's office and deliver real results for all of us. She learned the value of service from her parents and from her faith. Starting as a kid who volunteered at church, she has spent her entire life serving - and has never stopped. She put herself through college at Northern Arizona University and graduate school at Arizona State University with a combination of work study and scholarships, and then immediately started as a social worker helping everyday Arizonans. Her first job out of college was working with youth experiencing homelessness in Phoenix, and then she helped run one of the largest domestic abuse shelters in the country. In her time as a social worker and running a domestic violence shelter, Governor Hobbs saw firsthand the price Arizonans pay when their elected leaders fail to address the problems people are facing day in and day out. Frustrated with the lack of leadership, Governor Hobbs decided to run for office herself, and she used her experience as a social worker to take on Arizona's toughest challenges. In the legislature, she worked with both parties to expand health care to over 500,000 Arizonans. She worked across the aisle to find new ways to tackle the growing opioid epidemic here in Arizona. And she worked with a Republican governor to clear the state's rape kit backlog and put sexual assault offenders in jail. When Governor Hobbs became Secretary of State in 2018, she had more tough challenges to tackle. She promised to bring trust and accountability to the office - and she did. Governor Hobbs modernized the office, fixed broken systems, battled misinformation, and navigated the pandemic. Governor Hobbs has never backed down from a tough fight, and she is a battle-tested leader with the strength and experience to get the job done. Now Governor Hobbs is ready to deliver real results for everyday Arizonans and finally bring the leadership required to solve the most urgent issues Arizona faces today. Governor Hobbs knows firsthand that government only works well if it's led well. For Governor Hobbs, that means transparency and accountability. It means focusing on our common needs, not the small differences that divide us. It means bringing people together to serve our state, not tearing us apart for political gain. And it means creating opportunity for all - regardless of zip code, gender, race, or ability.
Job Titles:
- Project Manager, Business Development
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Supervisor
- President and CEO / Arizona Commerce Authority / President, County Supervisors Association of Arizona / Supervisor Jason E. Whiting
Supervisor Jason E. Whiting has served on the Navajo County Board of Supervisors since 2014. Supervisor Whiting represents District III, which includes the communities of Holbrook, Snowflake, Taylor, Woodruff, Shumway, Silver Lake Estates, White Mountain Lakes, Clay Springs, and a portion of Heber-Overgaard.
Job Titles:
- MARKETING & MEDIA RELATIONS
- Senior Vice President, Marketing & Communications
Jena Coolidge McGovern serves at the SVP of Marketing & Communications at the Arizona Commerce Authority. She is responsible for leading and executing the ACA's strategic marketing plan. Ms. McGovern and her team amplify Arizona's unique value proposition across a variety of tactics including paid and earned media. She believes the recipe for marketing success is achieved with three key ingredients: a team of passionate professionals, a culture that promotes creativity and leading-edge tech tools.
Previous to joining the ACA in November 2017, Ms. McGovern worked as a digital strategist and copywriter at local Phoenix advertising agencies where she developed marketing experience across CPG, B2B, health care and non-profit sectors. Ms. McGovern is also passionate about growing and supporting the state's marketing community. From 2019-2021 served as President of the Arizona Innovation Marketing Association. She has held a position on the AZIMA board of directors for seven years and currently serves as the TIM Awards Co-Chair. Ms. McGovern is an alumna of Texas State University - San Marcos where she earned a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Journalism.
Job Titles:
- CEO
- Member of the Board
- CEO, Horizon Strategies
- Expert
Jenn Daniels is an expert in navigating the complexities of municipal government. She has been an elected leader for over a decade, serving as a Councilmember, Vice-Mayor and the Mayor of Gilbert, Arizona. Under her leadership, Gilbert thrived, becoming one of America's most vibrant towns-earning several national awards, including the Most Prosperous City in America, Most Livable City and Second Safest City. As Mayor, she was committed to the future of Gilbert and, as part of the Town's "City of the Future" initiative, was focused on innovating local government in the areas of fiscal responsibility, infrastructure and technology and community prosperity. Under Ms. Daniels's leadership, the Town implemented advisory groups including Advancing Education in Gilbert, ONE Gilbert and the Executive Advisory Committee. During Ms. Daniels's time in leadership, the Town achieved AAA bond ratings from all three rating agencies, opened three new parks, and transformed the Heritage District into a regional destination with some of the best restaurants in Arizona-all while remaining the safest community in the state with the lowest cost of service in the metro Phoenix area. Ms. Daniels has also been a small business owner since 2005.
Ms. Daniels has served on several regional and national boards and committees, including the Maricopa Association of Governments Regional Council, Regional Transportation Policy Committee, Greater Phoenix Economic Council, League of Cities and Towns Executive Committee, and Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative, and as a Rode! Fellow for the Aspen Institute. In 2020, Jenn was appointed by Governor Doug Ducey to a six-year term on the State Transportation Board.
Ms. Daniels's experience spans a broad spectrum that encompasses both her public and private expertise. She has a deep understanding of transportation planning and policy, municipal strategy and engagement, including procurement, economic development, strategic communications, political strategy and policy analysis. She brings a wealth of knowledge and an extensive network to get our clients their desired outcomes.
Ms. Daniels makes being a mom to four kids spanning high school to elementary her top priority and spends her free time hiking, reading, organizing all the things and baking delicious treats.
Job Titles:
- Federal Aviation Administration / Aviation Safety
Job Titles:
- Executive Director
- Member of the Board
- Executive Director, Arizona Board of Regents
The Arizona Board of Regents named John Arnold its executive director in July of 2018. In this role, he is responsible for guiding the board's strategic plan with ambitious 2025 goals to increase educational attainment and advance the public higher education enterprise to serve students and impact Arizona's economy.
Mr. Arnold had served as interim managing director of the board beginning in May of 2018 to lead the board office during the search for a new leader. He joined the board office in March of 2015 as vice president of business management and financial affairs, developing financial policies and procedures for the university enterprise, addressing capital development and state budget requests, and coordinating system wide analysis of complex financial issues.
With more than 20 years serving the state of Arizona, Mr. Arnold brings significant public service experience and a deep commitment to higher education to the position. He has an exceptional background in financial affairs and a proven track record of leadership, serving as Gov. Jan Brewer's state budget director where he was instrumental in providing fiscal direction and solutions for the state during the Great Recession as well as implementing the budget and advising the governor on all related matters.
Throughout his career, he has worked with leaders in education from K-12 to college. As director of the Arizona School Facilities Board,he managed programs for new school construction, building renewal and energy savings.
Mr. Arnold is married with five children. He received his bachelor's degree in accounting and his master's degrees in accounting and public administration from Brigham Young University.
Job Titles:
- Managing Director
- Member of the Board
- Managing Director, Thiel Capital
John R. Selby (Jack) is a technology, finance and independent film entrepreneur. His current primary role is as Managing Director at Peter Thiel's family office, Thiel Capital, in Los Angeles.
As a "PayPal Mafia" member, Jack co-founded, along with Peter, Clarium Capital Management, a macro hedge fund after selling PayPal to EBay in October 2002. At PayPal, Mr. Shelby joined as an original employee and later served as a Corporate Officer/Senior Vice President, overseeing the company's international and corporate oper¬ations. As an active technology investor and advisor, Jack is involved with companies such as SpaceX, Bird, Affirm, Blend, FreedomPay, Q Bio, POPSUGAR and many others.
Job Titles:
- Director, Arizona Trade and Investment Office in Republic of Korea
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President for Economic and Rural Development
- Senior Vice President, Economic / Rural Development
- Vice Chairman of the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority
Keith Watkins serves as the Senior Vice President for Economic and Rural Development for the Arizona Commerce Authority. In this capacity, Keith plays a vital role in advising the ACA and Governor's office on rural economic development issues and opportunities. Under his leadership, the ACA has played a direct role in creating and executing more than $6 million in new rural investment grant programs, assisting more than 60 businesses expand or locate in Arizona's rural communities, creating more than 6,000 jobs, and generating $542M in private capital investment.
Mr. Watkins also serves as Vice Chairman of the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority (WIFA), a public bonding authority that works with Arizona communities and publicly regulated water and wastewater companies to develop, acquire and expand water-related projects. With a bond portfolio of over $1 billion, WIFA serves as a vital financing arm for these core infrastructure needs.
Prior to his work at the Arizona Commerce Authority, Mr. Watkins was Vice President of JF Companies, a privately-held diversified real estate development and water resources firm with holdings in the Western United States. Mr. Watkins managed a real estate holdings portfolio worth nearly $100 million and was responsible for negotiations for property acquisitions, entitlements, public affairs, marketing, and dispositions.
A third-generation Arizona native and University of Arizona graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in Regional Development, Mr. Watkins has earned a national reputation for his work in economic development. He has extensive public and private-public economic development experience, having served in executive positions in many organizations.
Mr. Watkins spent nine successful years at the Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC), where he led the organization's high performing business recruitment efforts, helping to land companies such as Vanguard, Charles Schwab, and Midwestern University. Playing a direct role in the retention and recruitment of more than 200 firms, Mr. Watkins's leadership helped generate over 165,000 new private sector direct jobs and more than $2 billion in private capital investment. He also served as a founder of the Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore, where he was recruited to start up this new private-public partnership that serves the City of Baltimore and five adjacent counties. While there, Mr. Watkins developed and executed the first region-wide business retention and attraction enterprise, helping to recruit more than 24 new employers during his tenure and helping to retain an existing General Motors plant. He also served as Economic Development Director for the Town of Buckeye where he initiated the airport master plan and aggressively marketed the Town.
Mr. Watkins also serves on many boards and commissions, representing the Arizona Commerce Authority and State of Arizona, including:
Water Infrastructure Finance Authority (WIFA), Vice Chairman
Maricopa County Economic Development Council, Member - this group advises the Maricopa County Government on economic development issues and opportunities
Rural Business Development Advisory Council, Board Member - this group advises the Arizona Commerce Authority on rural policy and issues
Arizona Association for Economic Development (AAED), Board Member
Commission of Indian Affairs, ex-officio Board Member
Greater Prescott Regional Economic Partnership, ex-officio Board Member
Job Titles:
- Chief Financial Officer
- Chief Operating Officer
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Independent Management Consultant
Ken Burns serves as the Chief Operating Officer of the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA), where he oversees teams responsible for financial incentive program administration, accounting, information technology, human resources and overall operations.
Ken Burns serves as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer of the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA), where he oversees teams responsible for financial incentive program administration, accounting, information technology, human resources and overall operations.
Prior to ACA, Mr. Burns served in a similar capacity for the Greater Phoenix Economic Council for more than seven years, where he was active on Finance, Audit, Resource Development and other strategic planning committees.
In addition to his economic development experience, Mr. Burns has served as an independent management consultant and with a regional CPA firm. His executive experience includes serving as Chief Operating Officer for two mid-sized law firms. He also served on the firm's executive management committees.
In his earlier years, Mr. Burns held leadership positions in diverse industries, including manufacturing, telecommunications and the construction trades.
He serves on the Clearinghouse CDFI Arizona Board of Advisors and volunteers on the Finance Committee for Florence Crittenton.
Mr. Burns earned Bachelor of Science degrees in Business Administration, Mathematics and Computer Science from Wayne State College in Nebraska and an MBA from Arizona State University. Mr. Burns has also completed the University of Arizona's Basic Economic Development Course and is a Certified Public Accountant, licensed in Arizona.
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President, International Trade
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Lea Márquez Peterson serves on the Arizona Corporation Commission and is the President of the Márquez Peterson Group, a community affairs firm in Southern Arizona.
Lea has been an entrepreneur in Arizona for many years and formerly owned a chain of gasoline stations/convenience stores and a business brokerage firm in Southern Arizona. She served as the President/ CEO of the Tucson Hispanic Chamber from 2009 until 2018. The Tucson Hispanic Chamber serves the business community in the bilingual, bi-cultural region of the Arizona-Sonora border and was recognized as the Hispanic Chamber of the Year in 2013 by the U.S Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Lea was a Congressional candidate for Arizona district two in 2018.
Lea received her Bachelors degree from the University of Arizona majoring in entrepreneurship and marketing. She received her Masters in business administration from Pepperdine university. She is also a graduate of the Stanford Latino Entrepreneurship program.
She was appointed by Governor Doug Ducey to the Arizona Corporation Commission in the Spring of 2019. She formerly co-chaired the Arizona Zanjeros, a business leadership group formed to ensure the state continues to flourish economically by driving business growth and promoting Arizona's extraordinary assets. In addition, she co-chaired Governor Doug Ducey's Transition Team subcommittee on Economic Development, Entrepreneurship and Trade in 2014. She serves on the Boards of the University of Arizona Foundation, the Pima County Workforce Investment Board, and serves as the Chairwoman of the Board for the Carondelet St. Mary's and St. Joseph's Hospitals in Tucson. Lea is also the President of the Greater Tucson chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners. She resides in Tucson with her husband and two children.
Job Titles:
- Director, Arizona Trade and Investment Office in Taiwan
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President, Business Attraction
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Partner
- Healthcare Industry Leader
- Partner, Illumina Ventures
Mara Aspinall is a healthcare industry leader and pioneer committed to active civic involvement. She is a Partner with Illumina Ventures, a premier genomics and precision health venture firm supporting companies to improve human health. Previously, Ms. Aspinall co-founded BlueStone Venture Partners, investing in diagnostics, devices and digital health companies in Arizona and other southwestern states.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ms. Aspinall emerged as a national expert on disease diagnostics and worked as an advisor to the Rockefeller Foundation and co-authored the Foundation's reports on COVID policy.
Ms. Aspinall is the former President and CEO of Ventana Medical Systems, a billion-dollar division of the Roche Group (now Roche Tissue Diagnostics) based in Tucson. She led her world-class team to new financial success, more than two dozen major instrument and assay launches as well as global leadership in companion diagnostics.
With a passion for education about the importance of diagnostics, Ms. Aspinall co-founded the Biomedical Diagnostics School at Arizona State University, the first and only program dedicated to diagnostics as an independent discipline. She is a Professor of Practice at ASU. Ms. Aspinall also heads Health Catalysts Group - publishing Sensitive and Specific: The Testing Newsletter and the HCG Diagnostics Year in Review. She served on the Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary's Advisory Council on Genetics, Health & Society (SACGHS) in the Bush and Obama administrations.
Ms. Aspinall was named Arizona Biosciences Leader of the Year by AZBio, one of the 100 Most Inspiring People in Life Sciences by PharmaVOICE Magazine and one of the Most Influential Corporate Board Directors by Women Inc. She started her career at the consulting firm Bain & Company. Ms. Aspinall holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA in International Relations from Tufts University.
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President, Infrastructure and Executive Director, Institute of Automated Mobility ( IAM )
As Senior Vice President for Infrastructure, Marisa Paula Walker focuses on the intersection of economic development, infrastructure and transportation innovation. Ms. Walker leads several initiatives on behalf of the ACA, including Institute of Automated Mobility (IAM): A public-private consortium focused on defining the safety standards science and policy required for a future of ubiquitous automated transportation in Arizona and the nation.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Senior Manager
- Senior Manager, Government Operations / the Boeing Company
Mark Gaspers serves as Senior Manager, Government Operations at The Boeing Company in the southwest. Before this role, Mr. Gaspers was a Trade Control Specialist supporting Boeing's Space Exploration division.
Before joining Boeing, Mr. Gaspers was a policy analyst for defense, homeland security, veterans, and NASA issues for the Senate Republican Policy Committee (RPC) under the chairmanship of Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ). Mr. Gaspers also served as a senior legislative assistant for Representative Lincoln Diaz-Balart and Senator Kyl's health care legislative correspondent. He completed the Air Command and Staff College with the Air Force Fellows section while working for Representative Diaz-Balart.
Mr. Gaspers received his master's degree in national security studies from Georgetown University in 2001. While at Georgetown, he served as an associate editor of National Security Studies Quarterly and worked as a research assistant for the Kennedy Institute of Ethics. He holds a bachelor's degree in political science from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.
Mr. Gaspers currently chairs the board of directors for the Arizona Manufacturers Council. He resides in Tucson with his wife, Dr. Mary Gaspers, and their two children.
Job Titles:
- Director General, Arizona Trade and Investment Office in Mexico - Guanajuato
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- President of the Arizona League of Cities
Douglas J. Nicholls is the 27th Mayor of the City of Yuma, Arizona. He was elected to serve the Yuma community as Mayor in 2014 and was recently re-elected for a third term beginning January 2023. Mayor Nicholls previously served as a council member in 2009. He is committed to the residents of the greater Yuma area through the core belief that quality communities open doors for all residents to succeed through quality jobs, superior education and a robust quality of life.
Mayor Nicholls spearheads many efforts to enhance and grow the Yuma community, including serving as the Founder and Chairman of 4FrontED's Governing Board. The 4FrontED effort is an economic development-focused board of regional mayors and leaders from the region that includes the four states on the U.S.-Mexico border: Arizona, California, Sonora, and Baja California. Together, they work to maximize the impact of the megaregion on the global economy, representing a population of nearly two million people.
Mayor Nicholls' vision to enhance accessibility to higher education culminates in plans for the Innovation District in the greater Yuma area. He brought together multidisciplinary leaders throughout the community to foster innovation and higher education opportunities in the Yuma region. The effort relies upon vertical coordination with industry, education at all levels, and the greater community to provide those opportunities.
Mayor Nicholls serves as President of the Arizona League of Cities and Towns, an organization of all ninety-one cities and towns in Arizona. In 2021, he was appointed to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Local Government Advisory Council, is one of 39 selected members, and is the only member from Arizona. Mayor Nicholls serves on many boards, including the Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area and Amberly's Place. He is a previous Chairman of the Greater Yuma Economic Development Corporation.
In 2019, he was inducted into the Arizona State University (ASU) Academy of Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame for the School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment. Mayor Nicholls was raised in Yuma. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Degree from Arizona State University (ASU) with an emphasis in Civil Engineering before continuing post-baccalaureate studies in Transportation Engineering. In addition to his role as Mayor of Yuma, he is President and Owner of Core Engineering Group, an Ordained Deacon at St. Francis of Assisi Parish, an active Rotarian and Member of the Caballeros de Yuma, and a dedicated husband and father of four children.
Job Titles:
- General Counsel
- Member of the Board
- Member of the EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
- President of the Board
- Vice President
- Co - Chairman, Executive Committee / President, Arizona Cardinals
After practicing law for six years as a federal prosecutor, Michael Bidwill joined the Cardinals organization in 1996 as Vice President/General Counsel and today serves as team Owner and President. In that time, his influence over the club and his role in shaping its success has been undeniable.
In addition to his prominent role in guiding the Cardinals, Mr. Bidwill has established himself as an influential leader in the greater Phoenix business community where he has been a strong advocate for economic growth and development.
Within the NFL, Mr. Bidwill chairs the League's Security and Fan Conduct Committee, a group of eight club executives that oversees and develops best security practices for NFL facilities. He also serves on the board of the National Football League Foundation, which in 2013 will award more than $23 million in grants to support youth and high school football programs, health and safety efforts, as well as community health initiatives, including NFL PLAY 60. Mr. Bidwill has also been a member of the league's Business Ventures Committee since 2007 when Commissioner Roger Goodell appointed him to it.
Mr. Bidwill additionally serves on Arizona's Super Bowl Host Committee. That group not only oversaw the successful staging of Bowl XLII at University of Phoenix Stadium in 2008 but attracted the 2015 game (Super Bowl XLIX) and its half billion dollar economic impact to the state.
From 2008-10, Mr. Bidwill served back-to-back terms as Chairman of Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC). He is also a board member of Greater Phoenix Leadership (GPL), an organization composed of the region's top business and civic leaders. In July of 2011, Mr. Bidwill and 16 business leaders in the state were appointed to the Arizona Commerce Authority Board of Directors. He is also a member of the board for the Pat Tillman Foundation, which carries on the legacy of the former Cardinals safety killed in Afghanistan in 2004.
Job Titles:
- Leader
- Member of the Board
- President / Arizona State University
Michael M. Crow is an academic leader and educator, designer of knowledge enterprises, and science and technology policy scholar. He has been the sixteenth president of Arizona State University since July 2002. He is guiding the transformation of ASU into one of the nation's leading public metropolitan research universities, an institution combining academic excellence, inclusiveness, and societal impact-a model he terms the "New American University."
During his tenure ASU has developed a new era academic design built around innovation, established more than 15 transdisciplinary schools and research initiatives and witnessed an unprecedented academic and learning technology infrastructure expansion, quadrupling of research expenditures, and attainment of record levels of diversity. He was previously executive vice provost and professor of science and technology policy at Columbia University.
A fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and the National Academy of Public Administration, he is the author of books, articles and designs for new knowledge enterprises, new science and technology policies, new highly adaptive higher education institutions and new transdisciplinary concepts for enhanced human welfare.
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Business Development
Job Titles:
- Director, Arizona Trade and Investment Office in Israel
Job Titles:
- Division President
- Member of the Board
- Division President, Fry 's Food Stores
- President of Fry 's Food Stores
Monica Garnes is President of Fry's Food Stores, a division of The Kroger Co. headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. She is responsible for all aspects of merchandising and operations for the 125 stores located throughout the state of Arizona.
Her professional experience has included opening new stores, serving as the community/media/government communications liaison for 245 stores in the former Great Lakes Division, serving as a certified division inclusion trainer and running all aspects of Merchandising for the Fry's Food Stores in Arizona. She was twice named one of Progressive Grocer's Top Women in Grocery and in 2019 they named her Retail Trailblazer. Ms. Garnes was named one of Fortune and Food and Wine magazines "Most Innovative Women in Food and Drink," and was recognized by the Phoenix Business Journal as one of their "Outstanding Women in Business," as well as by the Arizona Business Magazine in the category of "Most Influential Women in Arizona Business." In 2020, Ms. Garnes received the Athena award from the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce.
Ms. Garnes is a native of Columbus, Ohio, and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from The University of Rhode Island in Kingston, Rhode Island. While at The University of Rhode Island, she was a four-year starter, two-year captain and was named to the Atlantic Ten All-Rookie Team for the women's basketball team. Her commitment to service has been shown by her long-term participation in community service including memberships on several boards. Ms. Garnes currently serves on the Phoenix Suns Charities Board, The University of Rhode Island College of Business Advisory Board, the Rio Salado College President's Advisory Council, Greater Phoenix Leadership, and the Friends of the Food Bank Advisory Council at St. Mary's Food Bank. She is also the Executive Chair for Kroger's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advisory Council.
Job Titles:
- Director General, Arizona Trade and Investment Office in Mexico - Mexico City
Job Titles:
- CEO
- Member of the Board
- Member of the EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
- President
- Executive Committee
At Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (BCBSAZ), one mission is to inspire health and make it easy. This relentless focus on improving lives is at the heart of everything BCBSAZ does-from helping members improve their physical and mental health to elevating the entire community's health.
CEO and President, Pam Kehaly's role is to drive strategy, oversee organizational operations, and deepen relationships with members, partners, and community leaders.
During her tenure, she has driven double-digit member growth while creating a culture of caring, empathy, diversity, and inclusion-both inside and outside the organization. When the right thing is done for customers and each other, our organization will thrive.
She is particularly proud that BCBSAZ is recognized by Modern Healthcare's Best Places to Work in Healthcare. Everyone in the organization understands their role in making a difference in people's lives.
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President, Executive Initiatives
Patrick believes in the power of compelling storytelling and is passionate about the art of simple, effective writing. At the ACA, he leads strategic public relations and external communications efforts, alongside the Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications, with responsibilities that include sharing Arizona's story of economic diversification, technological innovation, and policy leadership with local, national, and international audiences.
Mr. Ptak joined the ACA in December 2020. Prior to that, he spent a decade doing communications and legislative work for elected officials and political campaigns, starting as an unpaid intern on Capitol Hill. He served in the press offices of U.S. Representatives Adam Kinzinger and Martha McSally in Washington, D.C. before moving to Phoenix in 2017 to serve on the team for Arizona Governor Doug Ducey, eventually joining the governor's senior staff as Communications Director from 2018 to 2020.
Originally from Illinois, Mr. Ptak earned bachelor's degrees in English and Political Science from the University of Dayton (go Flyers!).
Job Titles:
- Phoenix Film Commissioner
Job Titles:
- CEO
- Member of the Board
- Chief Executive Officer of Avnet
Phil Gallagher is the chief executive officer of Avnet and a member of its board of directors. As CEO, Mr. Gallagher is focused on growing and accelerating the company's leadership position in the electronic components and technology industry by leveraging Avnet's global distribution expertise and value-added services from design chain to supply chain.
A 40-plus-year Avnet veteran with a passion for serving customers, Mr. Gallagher was named CEO of Avnet in November 2020. Previously, he served as global president of Electronic Components, where he was responsible for leading the company's massive broadline components distribution business worldwide.
Beginning his long and successful career with Avnet in 1982, Mr. Gallagher has held key executive leadership positions in sales, marketing and operations. He led two former operating groups for the company, serving as president of Avnet Electronic Marketing Americas from 2004 to 2009 and as global president of Avnet Technology Solutions from 2009 to 2014.
Mr. Gallagher is also a past president of the National Electronics Distributors Association (NEDA), now known as the Electronic Components Industry Association. In 2009, he received the Gail S. Carter Award, one of the organization's highest honors. He currently serves on the Arizona Commerce Authority Board of Directors and the Advisory Board of Women in Electronics. Mr. Gallagher is also a member of Greater Phoenix Leadership and the Greater Phoenix Economic Council.
Mr. Gallagher holds a bachelor's degree from Drexel University.
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President, Business Development
Sandra Watson - CEO, Chairman, President
Job Titles:
- CEO
- Chairman
- Executive
- Founding Member
- Member of the Board
- Member of the EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
- President
- President and CEO / Arizona Commerce Authority / President, County Supervisors Association of Arizona / Supervisor Jason E. Whiting
Sandra Watson is an economic development professional with 28 years of leadership experience in business attraction and expansion, innovation, entrepreneurship, economic policy and workforce development. Since 2011, Ms. Watson and her teams have worked with more than 1,177 companies that have committed to creating more than 267,000 quality jobs and investing more than $113 billion in capital in the state.
Currently, Ms. Watson serves as the President & CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA), a public-private partnership that leads statewide economic development. The unique structure of the ACA brings together leaders from private industry, academia and all three branches of state government. She also oversees the Workforce Arizona Council and Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity, a data-driven team focused on economic and labor market analysis. In addition to leading the ACA and serving on its Board of Directors, Ms. Watson serves on Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs' leadership team as her Senior Economic Policy Advisor.
Ms. Watson serves as a founding member and the Chair of the State Economic Development Executives Network board. She is also a member of the National State Science and Technology Institute Board of Trustees and the Make-A-Wish Foundation Arizona Board of Directors. She is also a founding partner on the Institute for Automated Mobility Board of Directors.
Job Titles:
- Manager, Arizona Trade and Investment Office in Taiwan
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Senate President, State
Senator Warren Peterson was elected to the Arizona House of Representatives in 2012. He is the House Majority Leader and has served as Commerce Chair and on the Appropriations, Finance, Ethics, Elections, and Government and Higher Education Committee.
Job Titles:
- Manager, Arizona Trade and Investment Office in Republic of Korea
Job Titles:
- CEO
- Chairman
- Member of the Board
- Chairman & CEO, Plaza Companies
- Chairman, CEO and Co - Founder of Plaza Companies
Sharon Harper is Chairman, CEO and co-founder of Plaza Companies. Her forward-thinking commitment has helped make Plaza, one of the premier real estate firms in Arizona and has earned her and Plaza respect throughout the industry and across the country. She is not only dedicated to her business endeavors but is also actively involved in many different aspects of the community.
Ms. Harper oversees all facets of company operations, including the ownership, development, leasing or management of nearly 13 million square feet of Arizona urban transformational projects, medical healthcare companies, senior living communities and bioscience/biotechnology centers. With Ms. Harper at the helm, Plaza Companies' properties and projects have received significant recognition within the real estate, construction, senior living, technology and medical sectors, and the company has proved instrumental in setting a national standard of excellence in the ownership, development, management and leasing of award-winning facilities throughout these sectors.
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President, Research
Shawn oversees several research teams at ACA that collect, code and analyze employment data and produce bespoke research products to support ACA's business attraction and expansion efforts, workforce development and marketing outreach. She also directs Arizona's endeavors to maximize the positive impact of Opportunity Zones and Opportunity Funds in the state.
Previously, Ms. Neidorf worked in public opinion polling at the Pew Research Center in Washington, D.C., and as a newspaper and magazine journalist, most recently at The Mercury News in San Jose, California.
Ms. Neidorf has a doctorate in economic and organizational sociology from the University of Illinois at
Chicago, where she completed a concentration in survey methods. She also has a master's degree from UIC in sociology and a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Job Titles:
- CEO
- Co - Founder
- Member of the Board
- CEO & Co - Founder, Tucson Tamale
Sherry Martin co-founded Tucson Tamale in 2008. Since then, the company has grown from a small takeout shop in Tucson to a successful Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) Brand sold in over 6,000 grocery stores nationwide. Ms. Martin and her co-founder and husband operate two manufacturing plants in Tucson, Arizona, employing 50 people. The Tucson Tamale Company ranked No. 148 on Inc. Magazine's Regionals 2023 list of the Southwest fastest-growing private companies in America.
Prior to Tucson Tamale, Ms. Martin worked at Intuit and led a cross-functional team to implement global privacy policies. She was instrumental in developing the Privacy Breach Protocol and managed several privacy breaches, strengthening the company's data security and privacy compliance.
Ms. Martin is a proud alum of the University of Arizona, where she graduated summa cum laude in Communication. She is an active member of the Latino Business Action Network and a graduate of its Stanford Latino Entrepreneurship Initiative (SLEI) Scaling Program. She is an integral part of the CPG Female Founders Group and Leading Women of Consumer.
Job Titles:
- CEO
- Founder
- Member of the Board
- CEO and Founder of Valor Global
Simer Mayo is CEO and founder of Valor Global, overseeing all aspects of the company's strategy. Prior to founding Valor, Mr. Mayo worked with top consulting companies around the globe in different technical and management roles. Mr. Mayo's drive for excellence and commitment to customer delivery have been keystones for the success of Valor.
Mr. Mayo brings over 15 years of experience in global business and holds a Master's from MIT and a Bachelors from Delhi University, India.
He is an avid sports fan, enjoys traveling to different countries and loves the outdoors. He is married to his beautiful wife of 10 years, Vicki and has two kids. He is very passionate in helping with youth initiatives and provides leadership to several non-profit organizations and charities. Simer is a member of YPO (Young President's Organization).
Job Titles:
- Business Development Executive, Arizona Trade and Investment Office in Europe
Job Titles:
- Deputy Workforce Administrator
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President, Strategy
- Strategy Executive
Susan Marie is a strategy executive with more than a decade of experience in communications, operations, and business development. In her role as Executive Vice President of Strategy for the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA), she focuses on plans and partnerships that help the organization exceed its goals. Ms. Marie collaborates across every team at the ACA and with external stakeholders to ensure alignment and execution of the organization's foremost initiatives.
Since joining the ACA in 2014, Ms. Marie has worn many operating hats, making her uniquely positioned to both advise and act on strategic visions. She has led many key initiatives including a statewide branding campaign conducted under the Governor's direction, the creation of two five-year business plans, execution of high-level CEO Forums held during mega-sporting events including the Super Bowl, Final Four, and NCAA Championship Game, production of the National Semiconductor Economic Roadmap, and more.
Prior to the ACA, Ms. Marie held positions in Phoenix advertising agencies, with experience in B2B, B2C, and early-stage startup marketing and communications. She worked with Invest Southwest to reposition its brand and launch a new signature pitch competition, Venture Madness, serving on the Executive Committee as Marketing Chair for three consecutive years.
Passionate about all aspects of building vibrant communities in Arizona, Ms. Marie is active in the state's arts and culture sector and volunteers with the Phoenix Art Museum docent program. She holds a BS in Political Science from Arizona State University.
Job Titles:
- CEO
- Member of the Board
- CEO, AZTOR Health Management Strategic Advisors
- Owner / Principal of AZTOR Health & Wealth Management Advisors
Mr. Astorga retired from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona after serving 23 years as the Senior Vice President & CFO. During his tenure as CFO at BCBSAZ, he also held the position as President of BCBS of Mexico (1994-1999) and as the Chief Business Development Officer (2009-11). Prior to joining BCBSAZ, he was a partner with Astorga & Maurseth, a local CPA firm (1976-1987) and a Senior Supervisor with KPMG, a national CPA firm (1970-1975).
Mr. Astorga is the owner/principal of AZTOR Health & Wealth Management Advisors and serves in a community leadership role as Chairman of the Board for the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Foundation. He is an Advisor to Consular Corps of AZ, Cancer Treatment Centers of America Global, Equality Health, GlobalMed, and TransMed7; and is also a Consultant to Blue Cross Blue Shield of AZ, CPLC, Martinet Medical, Q Point Health, and Valle del Sol. He has been an active member of the community where he currently serves on various boards including, the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Banner Health Foundation, BBVA Bank AZ, Catholic Charities (Emeritus), Heard Museum, Ottawa University and previously served as co-chair of the Governor's Citizens Finance Review Commission, Maricopa Community Colleges' ACE Campaign Cabinet, and Governor's Film and Television Commission.
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President of Business Attraction
Vic Narusis serves as the Executive Vice President of Business Attraction for the Arizona Commerce Authority. Mr. Narusis oversees the business development team at ACA that are responsible for bringing businesses to Arizona and assisting companies already in Arizona grow and thrive. His relationships with local community partners including municipalities and utilities allow him to find the best opportunities and solutions for businesses. Mr. Narusis also oversees the Film and Digital team and manages ACA's Arizona Trade and Investment offices.
Prior to joining the ACA, Mr. Narusis has spent over two decades in economic development for various organizations including the State of Illinois, the Delta Regional Authority, McHenry County Economic Development Corporation, and Woodstock Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Narusis also spent several years working in real estate development and commercial banking.
Mr. Narusis holds BS from Marquette University, an MBA from St. Louis University, and a Certificate in Public Administration from Clemson University.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- President / Raytheon
- President, Raytheon Missile & Defense
Wesley D. Kremer is the President of Raytheon Missiles & Defense, a business of Raytheon Technologies. He leads 31,000 employees and is responsible for a broad portfolio of air and missile defense systems, precision weapons, radars, command and control systems and advanced defense technologies.
Mr. Kremer, an electrical engineer and U.S. Air Force veteran, has decades of executive experience in aerospace and defense. He held multiple leadership positions at Raytheon Company before its merger with United Technologies Corporation in 2020, including president of the Raytheon Missile Systems and the Integrated Defense Systems businesses.
In the U.S. Air Force, he served as a weapon systems officer on F-111 and F-15E aircraft and flew more than 90 combat sorties in Iraq and Bosnia. He holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Montana State University and an MBA in engineering technology management from the City University of Seattle.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- President of Raytheon Missiles & Defense
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- CEO / USI Insurance Services LLC
- Chief Executive Office Wick Pilcher Insurance
William "Wick" Pilcher joined USI in 2013 and currently serves as Chief Executive Office Wick Pilcher Insurance, a Division of USI in Phoenix, Arizona. In this role, Mr. Pilcher is responsible for driving volume, engaging the sales force, managing sales and production, new business and renewal processes, coordinating with claims, loss control, and actuarial services. Along with other team members, Mr. Pilcher has responsibility for ensuring that USI delivers on the growth goals as well as ensuring the agency's excellent client service commitments.
Prior to joining USI, Mr. Pilcher served as President/CEO for Wick Pilcher Insurance, Inc.
Mr. Pilcher has been in the insurance industry over thirty years. He began his career as a broker at C.E. Heath with Lloyd's of London. He joined Olliver/Pilcher Insurance in 1978 as an Account Executive, soon became a Branch Manager, and in 1983 was appointed President & Chief Operating Officer. In 1986, Olliver/Pilcher merged with Corroon & Black and Mr. Pilcher was named Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Arizona office.
In June 1992 Mr. Pilcher resigned his position as Chairman and CEO of the Arizona operation to open his own independent agency, Wick Pilcher Insurance, Inc. A long-standing tradition links the Pilcher name with insurance for the past half century. The company provided full service in three areas: Commercial Insurance, Personal Insurance, and Employee Benefits.
Mr. Pilcher earned his BA degree from Arizona State University.
Mr. Pilcher has been active in the Phoenix community and on many Boards such as Paradise Valley Country Club, Barrow Neurological Foundation, Compass Bank, Brophy College Preparatory, Young Presidents' Organization, Phoenix Symphony, Men's Anti-Violence Network, St. Joseph's Hospital and The Heard Museum . He is a member of Wine and Food Society of Phoenix and the Commanderie De Bordeaux.