GREATER PHOENIX ECONOMIC COUNCIL - Key Persons

Adam Goodman

Job Titles:

Member of the Executive Committee
President & CEO, Goodmans Interior Structures

Albert Stanton

as..@gpec.org

Job Titles:

Senior Data Scientist at GPEC

As Senior Data Scientist at GPEC, Albert is responsible for designing, creating and managing data architecture and the various operations that run on those local and cloud-based systems such as data aggregation, processing, storage, analysis and visualization as well as the development and implementation of machine learning models to optimize business attraction efforts. A Phoenix native and downtown resident, Albert earned a BSE in Civil Engineering from Arizona State University yet has found the fields of economic development and data science more to his liking.

Alexis Peterson - CEO

ap..@gpec.org

Job Titles:

CEO
Executive Assistant to the President
Executive Assistant to the President & CEO / Business Development - Domestic & International

Alexis Peterson is the Executive Assistant to the President and CEO of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council. In this role, Alexis provides administrative support by assisting the President and CEO in accomplishing the goals set forth by our Board of Directors. Through working with the Chief of Staff, Alexis works to execute key priorities established by the CEO. Prior to working at GPEC, Alexis served as the Honors Program Coordinator at Paradise Valley Community College. In addition to teaching classes within the program, Alexis managed the overall success of the program through strategic planning for over 400 students. A lifelong Phoenician, she has a Bachelor's Degree in Management from the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University and a Master's Degree in Leadership from the Colangelo College of Business at Grand Canyon University.

André Kudelski

Job Titles:

Chairman of the Executive Committee
Chairman & CEO, Kudelski Group

Andy Warren

Job Titles:

Member of the Executive Committee
Principal, Milemarker Homes

Ashley Busada

ab..@gpec.org

Job Titles:

Senior Director, Business Development

Ashley Busada joined the Greater Phoenix Economic Council team in July 2021 as the Senior Director of Business Development. As a certified economic developer, she brings seven years of economic development experience in business attraction and expansion from North Louisiana. Ashley's project leadership experience and results-driven pedigree will support GPEC's mission to attract and grow quality business. Originally from Shreveport, Louisiana, Ashley graduated from Louisiana State University with a degree in political communication. She is a 2021 Development Counsellors International (DCI) Economic Development 40 Under 40 Award recipient and serves on the International Economic Development Council Young Professionals Committee. Prior to joining GPEC, Ashley worked at the North Louisiana Economic Partnership (NLEP), where she focused on business attraction and retention efforts and coordinated the advocacy-related activities and legislative initiatives.

Bethany Bennick

bb..@gpec.org

Job Titles:

Director of Corporate Development & International Engagement

Bethany Bennick is the Greater Phoenix Economic Council's Director of Corporate Development & International Engagement. She is responsible for implementing the organization's foreign direct investment strategy through proactive international business attraction and strategic global engagement of foreign markets. Bethany previously served as GPEC's Director of International Affairs, Senior Manager of Domestic & International Engagement, and as the Manager of Investor Engagement, where she designed and implemented over 50 topical events for the Ambassador Program and Regional Report webcast series. An Arizona native, Bethany has also called France and Switzerland home. Fueled by an innate passion for cross-cultural cooperation, Bethany pursued several extended experiences overseas, including an UNHCR-affiliate internship in Switzerland and a teaching assistantship with the French Ministry of National Education in Northern France, before returning home to introduce the world to Arizona and vice versa. Upon her return, Bethany managed several award-winning public diplomacy programs at Phoenix Sister Cities and Global Ties Arizona, curating the exchange of 469 citizen diplomats from over 70 countries, including 35 delegations for the Department of State's International Visitor Leadership Program. For most, it was their first encounter with Arizona. Bethany's global mindset led to her ongoing involvement in Greater Phoenix's international community, including the Phoenix Committee on Foreign Relations, where she helped establish a young professional's membership and served as a graduate fellow and as the incoming Vice Chair at Global Ties Arizona, her former employer. She was recently selected as a Next Gen Global Leader with the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition. She is also the Curator of the World Economic Forum's Global Shapers Phoenix Hub, a board member at Alliance Française in Greater Phoenix, and an advisory member with Global Chamber Phoenix. Bethany is also deeply passionate about young talent attraction and retention. She is a former two-term board member with Valley Young Professionals at the Greater Phoenix Chamber (2014-18). She now serves on the Young Talent Advisory Board for the Center for the Future of Arizona. Bethany holds an M.A. in Global Affairs & Management from ASU's Thunderbird School of Global Management, dual B.A. degrees in International Relations and French from Pepperdine University and an undergraduate law certificate in conflict resolution from the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution. While at school, she worked for the Global Justice Program researching international adoption law and the Palmer Center for Micro-Enterprise aiding homeless aspiring entrepreneurs. In 2019, Bethany traveled to India for a State Department Good Governance & Society Fellowship. In 2017, Bethany graduated from both the FBI and Scottsdale Police citizens' academies. She routinely volunteers as a decoy to train TSA K-9 units. Bethany has full professional proficiency in French. She enjoys kayaking, hiking, podcasts, hosting gatherings and fostering dogs via the Arizona Border Collie Rescue.

Brad Smidt

bs..@gpec.org

Job Titles:

Senior Vice President, Business Development
Senior Vice President of Business Development for GPEC

Brad Smidt is the Senior Vice President of Business Development for GPEC. He manages the team that works with companies considering large industrial, office and data center projects in Greater Phoenix, and oversees the organization's EDDT Council. Over his 28 years in economic development, 21 of which have been with GPEC, Brad has helped more than 250 companies expand or relocate to the region. Prior to GPEC, Brad worked in economic development in both the cities of Mesa and Chandler. Brad is a native Arizonan who grew up in Greater Phoenix. His local ties have contributed to his vast knowledge of the area and familiarity with the unique assets of its workforce. In 2008, Brad was named the Economic Developer of the Year by the Arizona Association of Economic Development. Brad is an active member of the Fiesta Bowl Committee, and serves on the University of Arizona Eller MBA Industry Advisory Board. Brad earned a Bachelor's degree in Regional Development from the University of Arizona. He holds a Certified Economic Developer Certification from the International Economic Development Council.

Brad Vynalek

Job Titles:

Member of the Executive Committee
Partner & Firm President, QUARLES & BRADY

Brad Wright

Job Titles:

Member of the Executive Committee
Shareholder, Polsinelli

Brett Johnson

Job Titles:

Member of the Executive Committee
Partner, Snell & Wilmer

Brian Mueller

Job Titles:

Member of the Executive Committee
President, GRAND CANYON UNIVERSITY

Bruce Hoechner

Job Titles:

Member of the Executive Committee
Member of the Full GPEC Board
President & CEO, Rogers Corporation

Candace Rosauro

Job Titles:

Member of the Executive Committee
Business Development Director, Layton Construction

Carol Hu

ch..@gpec.org

Job Titles:

Vice President, Enterprise Solutions

Carol (Shixue) Hu joined the Greater Phoenix Economic Council in 2018. As Vice President of Enterprise Solutions, Carol leads the delivery of in-depth and accurate market knowledge to internal and external stakeholders. She is responsible for the development and implementation of business intelligence strategy, enterprise-level solutions and platforms that support information management for GPEC. She brings 10+ years of experience gained from her role as an urban planner and community developer for the City of Glendale and Maricopa County. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the American Planning Association Arizona Chapter and the Chinese Chamber of Commerce. Carol was formerly the Vice Chair of the Neighborhood Advisory Commission, an inaugural member of the Sustainability Commission for City of Tempe and a Sustainability Advisor for International Economic Development Council. With a deep appreciation of the urban environments and community engagement in Greater Phoenix, Carol is an active member of this community involved in numerous program developments such as the APA State Conference, state and local planning workshops, award committees and mentorship programs. Carol is bilingual and previously lived in China and Canada before calling Phoenix home. Carol holds a Bachelor's degree in Urban Planning and Geographic Information System as well as a Master's degree in Urban and Environmental Planning from Arizona State University.

Carson Brown

Job Titles:

Member of the Executive Committee
Member of the Full GPEC Board
Project Management, W Holdings

Casey Gilchrist

cg..@gpec.org

Job Titles:

Senior Director, International Business Development

Casey Gilchrist joined the Greater Phoenix Economic Council in January of 2022 as the Senior Director of International Business Development. Casey has worked in the economic development field since 2015, having first started in Chesapeake, Virginia where she specialized in domestic and international business attraction. In 2020, she joined the City of Richmond, Virginia's economic development department to oversee both its business attraction and retention programs. During her tenure in Richmond, Casey helped contribute to over $850 million in capital investment and assisted in announcing over 2,000 new jobs. Her leadership and project management experience will support GPEC in attracting and growing quality businesses. She is committed to making the Greater Phoenix region a diverse, inclusive, and competitive regional economy. Originally from Virginia Beach, Virginia, Casey graduated from George Mason University, where she received her undergraduate degree. In 2015, she obtained her Master of Public Administration from Old Dominion University. Before moving to Phoenix, Arizona, Casey was an active member in the Southern Economic Development Council (SEDC) and served as Virginia's alternate director for the SEDC Board of Directors for two consecutive terms. Casey has held memberships to various professional organizations including, the Young Professionals of the Hampton Roads Chamber, the Greater Richmond Association for Commercial Real Estate, and the Virginia Economic Development Association.

Cathleen Walker

Job Titles:

Member of the Executive Committee
Regional President, Phoenix and Northern Arizona, & Head of Corporate Banking, Arizona and New Mexico, PNC Bank

Cathy Teeter

Job Titles:

Member of the Executive Committee
Managing Director, CBRE

Chet Keizer

Job Titles:

Member of the Executive Committee
Director, Adawe LifePlan Center, Ottawa University

Chet Samuelson

Job Titles:

Member of the Executive Committee
Senior Vice President and Commercial Banking Leader, Wells Fargo

Chris Brady

Job Titles:

Member of the Executive Committee
City Manager, City of Mesa

Chris Camacho - CEO, President

cc..@gpec.org

Job Titles:

CEO
Member of the Executive Committee
President

A proven leader with more than 15 years in executive management roles, Chris Camacho serves as the president & CEO of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC), one of the longest-standing public-private partnerships for economic development across the country. Chris served as the organization's executive vice president from 2008-2014 before being named president & CEO in 2015. As chief executive, he has been instrumental in the region's technology and advanced manufacturing sector growth and led the attraction of more than 460 companies during his tenure, creating nearly 85,000 jobs and $24 billion in capital investment. Some notable projects include TSMC, Apple, Silicon Valley Bank, Microsoft, GoDaddy, Yelp, Amazon, Garmin, General Motors, ElectraMeccanica, Zoom, HelloFresh, and headquarters including Benchmark Electronics, Carlisle Companies and Rogers Corporation. Chris leads the development and execution of the region's strategic economic strategy, oversees domestic and international business development, and ensures the market position remains competitive through coordination with partner organizations, private sector leaders, and municipal and state leadership. He has particular expertise in emerging technology, tax policy and international economic development. In October 2021, Chris led GPEC to being recognized as the top economic development organization globally by the International Economic Development Council a year after being named the top EDO in the U.S. in 2020. Chris was recognized as one of ‘North America's Top 50 Economic Developers' by Consultant Connect in 2015, 2016 and 2021. In 2018, he was honored as ‘Man of the Year' by the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and named ‘Most Admired Leader' by the Phoenix Business Journal. In 2013, he was named among an international group of ‘40 Under 40' by Development Counsellors International, a New York-based firm recognizing rising talent in economic development. And in 2012, he received a ‘40 Under 40' award from the Phoenix Business Journal, which identifies talent throughout Arizona each year. Chris is the past president of the Arizona Association for Economic Development (AAED), and in 2011, AAED named him ‘Economic Developer of the Year.' His professional affiliations include serving on the boards of the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the International Economic Development Council, Partnership for Economic Innovation and Valley of the Sun United Way. Since 2016, he has served on the U.S. Investment Advisory Council to advise the Secretary of Commerce on foreign direct investment policies and strategies. Chris is also an Honorary Commander at Luke Air Force Base and a member of The Thunderbirds. Before GPEC, Chris served as president & CEO of the Greater Yuma Economic Development Corporation (GYEDC) from 2006-2008, after serving as the business development manager for two years. During his tenure, GYEDC helped 35 companies and 3,500 jobs locate in Greater Yuma, resulting in more than $350M of capital investment. Some of the larger projects included Alside Window and Door, Northwestern Industries Inc., Johnson Controls and Shaw Industries. Chris graduated from Southern Illinois University with an undergraduate degree in Psychology and a graduate degree in Public Administration and Policy Analysis. He attained Economic Development Certification in Economics and International Development from the University of Oklahoma. Chris currently resides in Scottsdale with his wife and three children and enjoys golfing and playing soccer with his family in his free time.

Chris Koch

Job Titles:

Chairman of the Executive Committee
Chairman, CARLISLE COMPANIES

Chris Zaharis

Job Titles:

Member of the Executive Committee
Executive Vice President, Empire Southwest

Cody Wedemeyer

cw..@gpec.org

Job Titles:

Intern, Graphic Design & Photography

Cody Wedemeyer is the Graphic Design & Photography Intern for the Greater Phoenix Economic Council. As a designer on the scene, he assists the marketing team with creative assets and developing new photos. He has a passion for illustration, photo editing, and combining the pair to make compelling designs. While attending Arizona State University, Cody studied Graphic Information Technology to learn how graphics can support marketing and convey information in effective ways. Since graduating in 2021, he has continued to develop his design skills by taking initiative of his own education in online courses. Learning is another passion of his that continues to drive him to grow creatively and professionally. In his leisure time, Cody enjoys creating art, spending time with loved ones, and playing video games of all types. He also has an immense love for cats and birds of all kinds.

Cora Rodriquez

cr..@gpec.org

Job Titles:

Coordinator of Investor Engagement
Coordinator, Investor Engagement & Events

Cora Rodriquez is the Coordinator of Investor Engagement & Events for the Greater Phoenix Economic Council. She is responsible for the overall project management and event logistics implementation of over 60 annual meetings and events to engage stakeholders and supporters of GPEC's mission from across industries and sectors in Greater Phoenix. Cora has background in events planning and behavioral healthcare supporting at-risk youth. She worked for nonprofit Free Arts for Abused Children of Arizona, where she fundraised, managed grant funding and worked with the mentorship program. She also worked for Open Hearts Family Wellness as a direct service provider and program coordinator. Additionally, she served as the event coordinator for the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University (ASU), where she assisted the development team in engaging alumni to further the school's strategic goals. As a recipient of the prestigious Leadership Scholarship Program at ASU, Cora earned her bachelors degree in Filmmaking from the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts. Born and raised in Phoenix, Cora is an enthusiastic advocate for the region and spends much of her free time trying out new restaurants and soaking up the Arizona sunshine. She is passionate about healthy living, personal finance and utilizing painting and singing as creative outlets.

David Adame

Job Titles:

Member of the Executive Committee
Member of the Full GPEC Board
President & CEO, CHICANOS POR LA CAUSA

David Rousseau

Job Titles:

Vice Chair of the Executive Committee
Vice Chair / President, SRP

Derrick Hall

Job Titles:

Member of the Executive Committee
Secretary / President, Arizona Diamondbacks

Don Garner

Job Titles:

Member of the Executive Committee
CEO, Alliance Bank of Arizona

Dr. Kathleen Goeppinger

Job Titles:

Member of the Executive Committee
President & CEO, Midwestern University

Dr. Michael M. Crow

Job Titles:

Member of the Executive Committee
President, ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY

Dr. Richard J. Gray

Job Titles:

Member of the Executive Committee
Vice President, Mayo Clinic and CEO, Mayo Clinic Arizona

Dr. Robert Robbins

Job Titles:

Member of the Executive Committee
President, University of Arizona

Dr. Sally Morton

Job Titles:

Member of the Executive Committee
EVP of Knowledge Enterprise, Arizona State University

Dr. Steven Gonzales Ed

Job Titles:

Member of the Executive Committee
Interim Chancellor, Maricopa County Community College District

Ed Aaronson

Job Titles:

Member of the Executive Committee
Vice President, COX COMMUNICATIONS

Eliza Howard

eh..@gpec.org

Job Titles:

Intern, Community Engagement & Events
Intern, Community Engagement & Events / Operations

As a Greater Phoenix Economic Council Community Engagement & Events Intern, Eliza assists with a variety of GPEC's engagement efforts including researching, monitoring and maintaining investor-related projects, as well as supporting the execution of investor engagement programs. She received her Bachelor's in Communications and Minor in Public Relations from UArizona in Spring 2021. Before joining GPEC, Eliza has worked in public relations and social media for several years, gaining skills and experience at industrially diverse companies, primarily in the non-profit sector. Eliza's goal is to capitalize on a diverse skillset and use her experience in public relations to break through into new industries. Eliza is native to Phoenix and enjoys all the Valley has to offer. Some of her hobbies are photography, video production, and spending time with loved ones.

Elizabeth Shipley

Job Titles:

Member of the Executive Committee
Public Affairs Director, Arizona & Latin America, Intel Corporation

Eric Orsborn

Job Titles:

Member of the Executive Committee
Mayor, City of Buckeye

Fiona Onyango

fo..@gpec.org

Job Titles:

Research Analyst

Fiona Onyango joined the Greater Phoenix Economic Council in March 2022 as a Research Analyst. In her role, she performs analytical work related to strategic initiatives, business development, and competitive programs and policies. Prior to joining GPEC, Fiona worked for Goldman Sachs as a Securities Lending Operations Analyst, focusing on mitigation of operational risks/issues while auditing & analyzing various contracts. She also serves as a Research Consultant/Economist at Stanford University by providing technical, analytical, support services and evaluation of projects in relation to the strategic objectives of the gender integration initiative at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Fiona has a B.S. in Economics from the University of Nairobi and an M.S. in International and Development Economics from the University of San Francisco. She is fluent in Swahili, enjoys trying out different restaurants and cuisines, and is looking forward to exploring Arizona.

Francis Najafi

Job Titles:

Member of the Executive Committee
Founder & CEO, Pivotal Group

Hon. Alexis Hermosillo

Job Titles:

Member of the Executive Committee
Mayor, City of El Mirage

Hon. Bill Gates

Job Titles:

CHAIRMAN of the Executive Committee
CHAIRMAN, DISTRICT 3, MARICOPA COUNTY BOARD of SUPERVISORS

Hon. Cathy Carlat

Job Titles:

Member of the Executive Committee
Mayor, CITY of PEORIA

Hon. Christian Price

Job Titles:

Member of the Executive Committee
Mayor, CITY of MARICOPA

Hon. Corey Woods

Job Titles:

Member of the Executive Committee
Mayor, City of Tempe

Hon. Craig McFarland

Job Titles:

Member of the Executive Committee
Mayor, CITY of CASA GRANDE

Hon. Jack Sellers

Job Titles:

Member of the Executive Committee
Supervisor, District 1, Maricopa County Board of Supervisors

Hon. Joe Pizzillo

Job Titles:

Member of the Executive Committee
Mayor, City of Goodyear

Hon. Juan Rodriguez

Job Titles:

Member of the Executive Committee
Mayor, City of Tolleson

Hon. Kate Gallego

Job Titles:

Member of the Executive Committee
Mayor, City of Phoenix

Hon. Kenn Weise

Job Titles:

Member of the Executive Committee
Mayor, CITY of AVONDALE

Hon. Kevin Hartke

Job Titles:

Member of the Executive Committee

Hon. Michael LeVault

Job Titles:

Member of the Executive Committee
Mayor, TOWN of YOUNGTOWN

Hon. Rui Pereira

Job Titles:

Member of the Executive Committee
Mayor, Town of Wickenburg

Hon. Sharron Grzybowski

Job Titles:

Member of the Executive Committee

Itzel Rios Soto

Job Titles:

Intern, Digital Marketing

As the Digital Marketing Intern, Itzel Rios Soto works on media planning, audience targeting, content strategies, behavior insights and social media optimization. Her responsibilities include researching stories, pitching content ideas, monitoring brand and engagement, managing website assets, and editing graphics and media. Originally from Sonora, Mexico, Itzel grew up in Phoenix, where she discovered her passion for storytelling. She earned her B.A. in Film & TV Production from the University of Rochester in New York. She was awarded at the Rocky Mountain Emmy Awards by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in 2017, and her first short documentary screened at the San Diego Latino Film Fest in 2018. She has worked with studios across the U.S. on productions like the Queen Collective in collaboration with Tribeca. Her work extends to Paramount Pictures, NPR, Hewlett Packard, NYU, and KJZZ. Her passion for storytelling goes beyond film and television, into digital content creation, graphic design and photography. Outside of work, Itzel travels around chasing water activities like kayaking, surfing or just soaking on a hot day. Learning about different cultures and their languages are among her favorite things. Other joys include eating, riding mopeds and fashion. Above all, she enjoys spending time with her family and hedgehogs.

Jack McCain

Job Titles:

Member of the Executive Committee
Director, State & Local Affairs, American Airlines

Jairus Gallegos

jg..@gpec.org

Job Titles:

Research Analyst

Jairus initially joined GPEC as a Research & Analytics intern in September 2021 and was hired as a full-time Research Analyst in May 2022. Jairus researches, reviews and analyzes data relating to a wide range of economic and business development topics and creates summary reports and briefing documents for project partners. He is knowledgeable in GIS and can display data spatially using a variety of mapping tools. Jairus received his master's degree in Urban and Environmental Planning from Arizona State University in May of 2022 and his Bachelors of Science in Urban Planning from ASU in May of 2021. Before joining GPEC, Jairus volunteered with non-profits that focused on bringing environmental education to students of all ages. He also worked on a multitude of academic research projects focused on affordable housing strategies and solutions in local Arizona cities and has mentored first-year college students in their transition to college. Jairus has lived in Scottsdale since 2013 and is originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Jeff Barton

Job Titles:

Member of the Executive Committee
City Manager, City of Phoenix

Jeff Guldner

Job Titles:

Member of the Executive Committee

Jeff Lowe

Job Titles:

Member of the Executive Committee
Arizona Market President, MIDFIRST BANK

Jeff Pitcher

Job Titles:

Member of the Executive Committee
Director, Fennemore Craig

Jeffrey Hendrickson

Job Titles:

Member of the Executive Committee
Campus Director, Phoenix Campus, University of Phoenix

Jennifer Zonneveld

Job Titles:

Member of the Executive Committee
Director & Site Manager, Guns Operating Unit, Armament Systems, Northrop Grumman

For information on investor levels, please contact engagement@gpec.org or 602-262-8609.

Jessica Daley

jd..@gpec.org

Job Titles:

Artist
Specialist, Digital Marketing

As the Digital Marketing Specialist, Jessica's work centers around digital advertising, content strategy, website UX/UI, lead generation and social media. Her experience analyzing user data helps directly shape marketing strategies and support a holistic understanding of the audience. Through these efforts, she strategizes and executes a cohesive omnichannel user experience for both internal and external stakeholders. She has an affinity for conversion optimization, brand awareness and digital anthropology. Jessica graduated in 2020 with her master's degree in Digital Audience Strategy from ASU. During her studies, she had the opportunity to support Sicangu Community Development Organization with a comprehensive digital audience strategy to promote their voice and message. During that project she was able to gain experience in target audience research, SEO/SEM, social content creation, digital ads and user experience. Jessica is a skilled watercolor artist and has showcased her work in GPEC's art exhibits. Her favorite genre is Art Nouveau and she often draws inspiration from artists such as Gasten DeLatenay and Alfons Maria Mucha. In her free time, Jessica enjoys sustainable fashion, visiting art galleries, discovering local craft breweries, listening to true crime podcasts and practicing yoga. She currently lives in Gilbert, along with her two kids and dog.