GILBERT TALKS - Key Persons
Alan Fitzgerald moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 1973 from Monterey, California to begin his university studies in Electrical Engineering, and graduated in 1977 from Arizona State University with a Master of Science degree in Engineering.
His engineering career started at Motorola and then he consulted with technology firms in Arizona until 1985 when he founded Adtron Corporation. For twenty-three years Adtron specialized in the development and production of solid-state disk technology and in 2001 Adtron was the 3rd fastest growing Arizona-based private technology company. The company sold in 2008 to NASDAQ listed technology firm Smart Modular Technologies.
From the acquisition until 2010 he served as Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at Smart Modular Technologies, and after retiring in 2011, he opened Art Intersection with galleries, photography arts lab, and workspace that serves as a resource center for both emerging and established artists.
Job Titles:
- Land Development and Investment Expert
- Managing Director of Watts Gwilliam & Company
Ben Cooper serves as the Managing Director of Watts Gwilliam & Company and its Optic Asset Management division. He is a partner and co-manager of the Vista and Zona funds, a series of alternative investments with a focus on real estate and private equity opportunities.
Previously, Ben provided real estate development and entitlement assistance around Arizona through his consulting firm, Cooper Development Strategies. Before that, Ben worked in similar functions at Norris Design, Rose Law Group, and Kent Cooper & Associates. In each of these roles, Ben has helped numerous national and regional residential and retail developer clients navigate city, county, and state regulations. Finally, he has been very involved in his local community, serving as an elected member of the Gilbert Town Council from 2010 to 2015. Ben is currently serving as the Chairman of Gilbert Talks, a non-profit that promotes Civil Discourse in the community.
Ben received his MBA from the Thunderbird Graduate School of International Management and holds a BA from Brigham Young University. Ben resides in Gilbert with his wife and three daughters, who all love to travel together whenever possible.
Candy has worked with churches, schools, and foundations, whose mission she is passionate about, as well as companies in the for-profit sector. Her area of expertise is in Organizational Development, working with businesses to build effective teams, improve workplace efficiencies, and clarify strategic direction.
Candy also volunteers in the community and serves on Boards for Gilbert Leadership (graduate of Class XX), LEAD Charter Schools, Leading Edge Academy Queen Creek, and Gilbert Talks.
Having grown up in Orlando, FL, and lived in NC for 20 years, she is happy to call Gilbert, AZ home with her husband, Ron, of 37 years. They have two adult children - a son who is an Army vet in the IT industry and a daughter with an adventure photography/graphic design business. Candy enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time with the family.
Job Titles:
- Dean of Community Affairs and Resource Development, Chandler - Gilbert Community College
Cindy is a Gilbert native who serves as the Dean of Community Affairs and Resource Development. Her family is a fourth generation farming family in Queen Creek. Cindy spent over 14 years on the Gilbert Parks & Recreation Advisory board. Cindy grew up playing youth soccer in Gilbert and joined the Gilbert Youth Soccer Association board in 1990s, she is still involved in the soccer league today and helped build the permanent soccer park in Gilbert.
She enjoys volunteering in the community and giving back. Cindy has a Ph.D. in Public Administration, an M.S. in Recreation Administration, and a B.S. in Communication, all from Arizona State University. Additionally she has a certificate in Corporate Community Involvement from Boston College's Center for Corporate Citizenship, and a graduate certificate in Nonprofit Leadership and Management from the ASU Lodestar Center for Philanthropy & Nonprofit Innovation.
Job Titles:
- Local Small Business Owner
- Small Business Owner, Gilbert, AZ
Dani Kahn is a local small business owner and advocate of the creative arts. Dani Kahn is a co-owner of HG (Higher Grounds) Roastery and Cafe, and also, the small multimedia design company: Studio Fortis. She has spent almost 13 years in Gilbert with her loving husband, enjoying the unique culture.
Darren Patoni is a "Best Selling Author" as well as President and founder of FullScope IT with
A respected member of the Gilbert Town Council during his tenure, Eddie helped successfully lead the fast-growing community and introduced initiatives and programs that have become a model for municipalities across the state. Among his public service accomplishments are creating the Town of Gilbert ENDVR (Ending Domestic Violence Responsibility) program and serving as the president of the Arizona Municipal Water Users Association and chairman of the Maricopa Association of Government Domestic Violence Council. Currently, Eddie Cook serves as the Maricopa County Assessor.
Outside of the public sector, Eddie has spent more than 30 years in the high technology industry. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Engineering from Arizona State University and has served in a leadership position for a technology company that provides cloud-based data services to Fortune 100 companies since 2002. He has also served on various boards and commissions. He was appointed by Governor Ducey to the Arizona State Information Technology Authorization Committee, which reviews some of the state's largest IT projects.
Eddie is married to Jenny, his high school sweetheart. They have five children and three grandchildren. In his free time, he enjoys scuba diving, is a certified glider pilot, volunteers for several charitable organizations, and enjoys exploring Arizona in his jeep.
Job Titles:
- B2B Business Development Expert
- Founder, Emily Evans Consulting
Emily Evans | Founder, Emily Evans Consulting
Emily Evans is a B2B business development expert, a successful entrepreneur and an inspirational leader and coach. Emily began building her business in 2011, going on to establish
a substantial block of clientele. In the process she has also grown a great team of people that serves the Phoenix valley business community.
Emily specializes in assisting small business owners with selecting the right employee benefit options and a plan to communicate them. Emily has earned many local and national awards related to sales and manpower development and managerial excellence during her career in her chosen industry.
Emily is a graduate of Class XXV of Gilbert Leadership, and because of her extensive community involvement, she was nominated as Small Business Woman of the Year in 2016. Emily is completely dedicated to building a legacy of community involvement and servant leadership through helping other sales and entrepreneurial professionals grow.
Faith Roberts resides in Gilbert with her family and is the owner of a local Electrical Contracting company. Her passion is family which is an element that shines through her work as well as her leisure. Faith's primary focus this year is to continue to serve the community in Gilbert through volunteer work, community stewardship, and supporting the town on its journey of growth.
Howard works with his extended family in the development of Morrison Ranch, their family owned farm which nears completion of its transition to a 2,000 acre master planned community.
Howard's past volunteer leadership positions include serving on Boards of Gilbert Leadership, East Valley Leadership, Dignity Health Foundation East, Center for Arizona Policy, and Gilbert Talks.
Howard has been married to Jana for over 32 years. They have three adult children. Howard, a native of Gilbert, is a graduate of Gilbert High, the University of Arizona, Dallas Theological Seminary, and Phoenix Seminary. Howard loves to read, teach, and travel.
Job Titles:
- Project Manager, Devscale
Jennifer Dille is one of the co-founders of TEDxGilbert. She loves working as a project manager at Devscale, a software company. She started Engagement Learning, a textbook company with her husband, Brian. She served as the executive director of Hope Arising, where she led teams of doctors and volunteers on trips to Ethiopia.
Jen is proud to be in Gilbert Leadership Class 30. She got her Bachelor's Degree in Secondary Education at Brigham Young University. She taught piano for 15 years and enjoys teaching young adults at her church. When she's not listening to TED talks, she's kayaking or off-roading in her Jeep.
Jenn Daniels was first elected to the Gilbert Town Council in 2009 and was re-elected in 2012 to a four-year term. Jenn serves as the town liaison to the Higley Unified School District, the Regional Public Transportation Authority, the MAG Transportation Policy Committee, Mayor's Youth Advisory Committee, Town Health Trust and Operation Welcome Home. As a wife and mother of four school-age kids, life is busy and full and she wouldn't have it any other way.
Jim Hayden is an accomplished serial entrepreneur having successfully started 12 companies and has served on over three dozen Boards of Directors in his career including Dignity Health, a $10.3B hospital system with 89,000 employees and 8,900 beds.
Jim's primary focus these days is on Board Developer which he founded, and brings over 25 years of healthcare expertise to the table from patient care to C-Level administration having overseen 2,600 employees and a budget of $300M.
Job Titles:
- President, Rayhons Financial Solutions
JW grew up in Iowa with a Midwest work ethic and hometown values. Arizona has been his home since 1997. He is married with four children. His wife, Tiffany, works with an understanding heart in the health field as a registered nurse. JW volunteers with Junior Achievement and enjoys coaching youth sports through multiple organizations including the YMCA, Boys & Girls Club, and Jr. Suns / Jr. NBA.
Rayhons Financial Solutions is a disciplined financial planning and investment management services firm that provides intelligent, insightful, researched advice. Rayhons Financial was founded to help people create and live out the lifestyle they desire. JW has been serving clients since 1999 and is an Investment Advisor Representative with Voya Financial Advisors.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Gilbert Community
- Owner of Foundation Insurance Services
Jän Simon is the Owner of Foundation Insurance Services, which he started in 2019. After nearly 25 years in the insurance industry, he made the leap of faith to start his own business. His diverse background in the industry has positioned him to better help his clients understand their exposure and offer solutions to protect both their business and personal assets.
Originally from Washington State, Jän has been a member of the Gilbert Community since 2003. His involvement with the Town and Community of Gilbert really took off after joining the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce in 2014 and graduating from Gilbert Leadership Class XXIV, which ignited his passion for the Town and opened his eyes to ways he could get involved and give back to the community.
Jän now serves on the Town of Gilbert Planning Commission as Chair, Gilbert Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Gilbert Chamber Executive Board and is a Past Chair of the Gilbert Leadership Board where he is finishing his sixth year on the board.
Job Titles:
- Economic Specialist
- Entrepreneur and Economic Specialist, Stinkweeds, Modified Arts, and SilverPlatter
Kimber Lanning is an entrepreneur and economic specialist who works to cultivate strong, vibrant, creative communities and inspire a higher quality of life across the state of Arizona.
Lanning owns three small businesses: Stinkweeds, Modified Arts, and SilverPlatter, and in addition, Lanning founded Local First Arizona, a statewide organization dedicated to raising public awareness of the economic and cultural benefits provided by locally owned businesses.
Along with an advisory board of dedicated, local business owners and civic leaders, Lanning pursues the dual goal of establishing vibrant and culturally unique businesses at the forefront of the state's identity, as well as creating a sustainable and healthy region through the implementation of diverse local economies. She works to inform, educate, and motivate consumers to support local enterprises, and encourages public policy that enables locally owned and operated businesses to thrive.
Job Titles:
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- VP Partner Strategy, MIND24 - 7 Founder, AZ Family Primary Care and Men 's Health Health & Testosterone Clinic
Libby is a Family Nurse Practitioner who is deeply committed to all things related to optimizing life, in community and practice. She is a provider, connector, and steward of all things best in practice, from evidence-based care for complex medical and mental health needs and multiple comorbidities to functional and integrative medicine.
Her passion is the juxtaposition of soul care and metabolic health. She is a sought-after speaker on the topics of trauma and its impact on neurological and mental health, life choices, family system integration, and professional development, by speaking life and hope into hard spaces. From physician and provider burn-out to foster care initiatives to homelessness, she is an expert in strategic planning and developing root-cause solutions and interventions.
Her greatest joy and calling is being a Wife and Mom to six beloved kids, ages 9-29, and all raised in Gilbert! With a strong belief in the God Who places the lonely in families, they have walked through fostering and adopting, from AZ to Russia. She can be found happily connecting with friends in local coffee shops, nurturing her garden and baby trees, hiking Northern Arizona's mountain trails, and exploring cultures unknown around the world. Libby serves on the board of the Christian Medical and Dental Association. She has also served on the Arizona Foster Care Review Board, the Town of Gilbert's Community Services Committee and the Human Relations, Culture, and Arts Promotion Commission.
Job Titles:
- Owner & Designated Broker, Newman Realty, Gilbert, AZ
Mark Newman | Owner & Designated Broker, Newman Realty, Gilbert, AZ
Mark has been a resident of Gilbert since 1992 after relocating from Albuquerque, NM. Mark and his wife Mickie own Newman Realty, a Gilbert based residential real estate brokerage. Together they have a blended family with 5 adult children and two sweet dogs. Mark has a passion for servant leadership and is an active and involved member of the Gilbert community. Both Mark and Mickie serve on several local boards and are actively engaged with the programs and organizations that bring value to Gilbert. Other interests include history, art, architecture, travel and photography.
Job Titles:
- Director of Licensure & Certification for AmSurg
Marnie first moved to Gilbert in 2004. After spending several years in her hometown of Nashville, Tennessee, she returned to Gilbert in 2021. She is happy to be back in Gilbert and enjoy all that is has to offer.
Marnie currently works as the Director of Licensure & Certification for AmSurg, a health care company based in Nashville. She has worked in the health care industry for 18 years following several years in the insurance industry. Marnie attended Western Kentucky University and received both her bachelor's and master's degrees in Health Care Administration.
Marnie has one daughter that keeps her busy and continuously inspires her. Marnie enjoys cycling, hiking, running and traveling.
Job Titles:
- Realtor / New Home Specialist / Community Outreach, Newman Realty, Gilbert, AZ
Mickie Newman | Realtor/New Home Specialist/Community Outreach, Newman Realty, Gilbert, AZ
Three words that would describe Mickie Newman are genuine, passionate & consistent. She considers herself very blessed and lucky to live, work and play in Gilbert Arizona.
Mickie was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. As a young adult she and her family spent a couple of years in Las Vegas before eventually settling in the Phoenix area in 2004. Mickie lives in Gilbert, AZ with her husband and blended family that includes 5 incredible young adults and 2 dogs. She is deeply committed to making a positive impact in our community for all of our families and generations to come. Mickie is an advocate for healthy relationships & families, she serves on the speakers committee for the Arizona Coalition to End Sexual & Domestic Violence
In 2015 Mickie obtained her residential real estate license and enjoys working with her husband Mark Newman & their team as ambassadors for our industry and our community. Mickie thoroughly enjoys engaging in the many resources that Gilbert and other east valley communities have to offer from local events, restaurants and service opportunities. Mark and Mickie share a love of history and travel. They love to see new places, taste different food, experience other cultures and meet and connect with people all over the world.
Favorite Quote: "Someday you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again."- C.S. Lewis
Nathanael Pierce has been executive director of Gilbert Talks since October 2023. Local to Gilbert, he is currently a graduate student in philosophy at Arizona State University and serves as a board member with the Arizona Bioethics Network and editorial assistant with the Erasmus Journal for Philosophy and Economics. Previously, he was with the Central European Cultural Collaborative at Arizona State University.
Job Titles:
- Banking Professional, Gilbert, AZ
Nickolas Uhan is a commercial banking professional with 14 years in the industry. Within his banking career, he has spent much of this time working in the middle market, specifically with mid-sized companies headquartered in Arizona, working directly with business owners and executive teams. Nick has experience working with many industries, with expertise in healthcare, professional services, manufacturing, entertainment, construction, and RE investment. From an education background, he earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin, and his MBA from Arizona State University. In addition to the banking industry, Nick is also currently serving on two non-profit boards, including the Chandler Children's Medical and Dental Clinic, and Gilbert Talks. When not actively involved in the Arizona community, Nick enjoys spending time with his wife and two children.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Leadership Team
- Manager for Gilbert
- Town Manager, Town of Gilbert
Patrick S. Banger is the Town Manager for Gilbert, Arizona, a position he has held since August 2011. Patrick has been a key leader in the process of transforming Gilbert from a bedroom residential community to a premier location for corporations. He is a forward-thinking, change-orientated leader which has been proven by the innovative development of initiatives including Gilbert's SPARK App League, Long Range Infrastructure Program and the Native American Internship Program.
Job Titles:
- Dir of Gilbert Operations, Orbital ATK Gilbert, AZ
- Senior Director for the Gilbert Location of Orbital ATK
- Senior Technical Reviewer
Rick Kettner is currently the Senior Director for the Gilbert location of Orbital ATK. Mr Kettner provides leadership and technical guidance to the activities in Gilbert, currently with a population of approximately 250 employees. Mr Kettner supports strategy and long term technical guidance for the space systems business, and is responsible for growing infrastructure commensurate with the needs of the business. Mr Kettner also manages the administrative needs of the department including expenses and personnel. Mr Kettner interacts both with internal senior management as well as customers on business related matters.
Mr Kettner serves as Senior technical reviewer for major system reviews and system deployments. He is also the lead on a number of cross-company improvement initiatives. Mr Kettner also leads and participates in a number of new development and marketing activities.
Mr Kettner currently serves on the Dignity Health East Valley Community Board of Directors, the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors (current Vice Chair for Public Policy), The Challenger Space Center Arizona Board of Directors (current Vice Chairman), and the Board of Directors for Gilbert Talks. Mr Kettner also serves on the President's Community Advisory Committee for Chandler-Gilbert Community College.
Mr Kettner holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Arizona. In addition, he has completed several leadership training programs.
Job Titles:
- Leader
- Member of the Leadership Team
- Vice President of Operations, Mercy Gilbert Medical Center
Mr. Apodaca is a servant leader ministering in healthcare administration. He has worked in the industry for over 40 years. Thirty years of which have been in leadership positions. His current position is Vice President of Operations for Dignity Health Chandler Regional and Mercy Gilbert Medical Centers. He received his Bachelor of Science Radiological Technology at Wayland Baptist University in Texas. He is a registered Radiology Administrator (CRA). Has his Radiologic Technologist license in multiple states which includes Texas, Florida and Arizona. He is a proud graduate of Ministry Leadership Formation Program. A long standing member of American Healthcare Radiology Administrators and American College of Healthcare Executives.
Mr. Apodaca provides executive oversight for a number of departments including Laboratory, Pharmacy, Environmental Services, Nutrition Services, Diagnostic Imaging, and Rehabilitation. Mr. Apodaca is also the Orthopedic and Spine Service Line executive strategic leader for the East Valley as well as overseeing the service line development and growth of the East Valley Primary Stroke Center and Chest Pain Certification.
He has served on multiple community boards including: Improving Chandler Area Neighborhood (ICAN), and Gilbert Leadership. He is a founding member of the East Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and serves as Board Chair. He also is proud to serve on the Queen Creek Chamber of Commerce, Chandler Education Foundation Board, Spectrum Property Management Board and Gilbert Talks.
Mr. Apodaca very grounded in his Christian Faith and is very proud of his strong family beliefs. He has been married to his lovely wife Roselinda for 43 years. He has three children and nine grandchildren, which he enjoys spending time with on his weekends.
Tad grew up in Scottsdale, Arizona and started his restaurant career in the 1970's at Dale Anderson's legendary Other Place restaurant. After spending many years there, Tad moved to Dallas, Texas and enjoyed a rewarding career with American Airlines. Before retiring, he managed various departments, was involved in human resources, collective bargaining, information technology and (of course) food service. He moved back to Arizona in 1997 to partner in Joe's Real BBQ. He teamed with his Partners to open Joe's Farm Grill in Gilbert, Arizona in 2006.
Committed to community service and the arts, Tad has served on the Town of Gilbert's Economic Development Advisory Board, as Board President of Gilbert Cares and on the Board of the Phoenix Boys Choir. He is a graduate of the Gilbert Leadership Program (Class 8), a Founding Board Member of Gilbert Talks, former Vice President of the Agritopia Homeowners Association, Advisory Board Member of the East Valley Institute of Technology Culinary Arts program and an Advisory Board Member of Search Ministries Phoenix.
Tim no longer serves as a director of Gilbert Talks since his relocation to run a healthcare organization in the Northwest.
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Corporate Banking, National Bank of Arizona
As a Corporate Banking Relationship Manager with National Bank of Arizona® , Tim supports public and privately traded companies with their financing needs in a variety of sectors including: Manufacturing & Distribution, Industrial Electronics, Transportation & Logistics, Food & Beverage, Human Resources, Technology and Consumer Products. He seeks to support clients and enhance the business community by offering extensive lending knowledge and providing solutions on complex transactions while upholding sound lending practices. Tim started his commercial lending career with Wells Fargo Co. in the formal Credit Training Program developing in-depth financial analysis, underwriting and portfolio management experience. He joined NB|AZ® in 2015 as a lender with more than 10 years of banking experience. Tim is a graduate of Arizona State University's W.P. Carey School of Business earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance.
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Park University 's Gilbert Campus
- Vice President, Park University Gilbert
Yira Brimage was appointed vice president of Park University's Gilbert Campus in November 2021. In her role as vice president, Brimage holds the top leadership position for the University's Gilbert Campus and is responsible for leading the strategic growth and operations of the campus. Most recently, Brimage has been the principal and owner of Brimage Consulting in Tucson, Ariz., which specializes in working with educational, health care and small businesses to prepare their workforces with competency-based skill development.
Brimage is not a stranger to higher education in Arizona. For nearly four years (August 2014 to June 2018) she served as vice president of student affairs and engagement at Pima Community College's downtown campus in Tucson. She also served a variety of roles with Maricopa Community Colleges for 14 years, including vice president of student affairs at Phoenix College from 2010-14, and associate dean of enrollment services (2000-05), dean of student affairs (2005-09) and acting vice president of student affairs (2009-10) at Scottsdale Community College. Brimage began her career in higher education at Arizona State University, serving nine years in undergraduate admissions for various campuses, as well as in student affairs for the ASU East (now Polytechnic) Campus.
Brimage is working to earn her Doctorate of Education degree in educational leadership from Northern Arizona University (ABD) following the completion and successful defense of her dissertation on "Latina Leadership in Community College." She earned a Master of Education degree in educational leadership and policy studies from NAU and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish and communications from ASU.