Filed under: Arizona, City of Phoenix, City of Phoenix News, Phoenix, Phoenix Arizona, US - AZ (Phoenix) | Tags: GPEC, Greater Phoenix Economic Council
GPEC Announces New Board Director Leadership
(Phoenix, Arizona) – The Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC) announced the appointment of its Board of Directors for the 2008-2009 fiscal year.
The Board of Directors will be led by Chair Michael Bidwill, president of the Arizona Cardinals; Vice-Chair Sharon Harper, president and CEO of The Plaza Companies; and Vice-Chair William Pepicello, president of the University of Phoenix. Board officers include Treasurer Donald E. Brandt, president and COO of Pinnacle West and president and CEO of APS; Secretary Ivan Johnson, vice president, community relations & televideo, Cox Arizona; and Immediate Past Chair, R. Neil Irwin, partner at Bryan Cave.
IIt is certainly an honor to be elected chairman of such a distinguished organization,” said Bidwill. “I look forward to continuing GPEC’s work with regional leaders in bringing top-flight companies and high-paying jobs to Greater Phoenix. In particular, Arizona has a unique window of opportunity to land a number of solar technology companies in the coming months and GPEC is working diligently to bring them to the region which will help diversify our economy.”
New appointments to the Executive Committee include Richard C. Adkerson, president and CEO of Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold; Steve Betts, president of SunCor Development Company; Dr. Michael Crow, president of Arizona State University; and William Pepicello, president of the University of Phoenix.
New Board Directors include David Bentler, statewide economic development manager for APS and chair of GPEC’s Economic Development Directors Team; Dr. Ángel Cabrera, president of Thunderbird School of Global Management; Jeffrey Crockett, partner at Snell & Wilmer; Dr. Debra Friedman, dean and vice president of Arizona State University Downtown Phoenix; G. Todd Hardy, associate vice president of corporate engagement at Arizona State University; Tom Johnston, senior managing director of Cushman & Wakefield of Arizona and chair of GPEC’s Community Building Consortium; Andy Kunasek, Maricopa County Board of Supervisors for District 3; Jeff Lowe, president of MidFirst Bank Arizona; Paul Luna, president and CEO of Helios Education Foundation; Jackie Meck, Town of Buckeye Mayor; Denise D. Resnik, president of Denise Resnik & Associates; and Anthony Smith, City of Maricopa Mayor. A complete Board Director list is included below.
“GPEC’s role in driving a high-performance economy is more crucial now than ever and our new and returning Board leadership will help us achieve success in the current economic downturn,” said Barry Broome, GPEC president and CEO.
Mayors from GPEC’s member communities and the organization’s Nominating Committee are responsible for appointing Board Directors. The one-year terms are approved annually during GPEC’s September Board meeting.
GPEC FY 2009 Board of Directors (in alphabetical order) Bold Denotes Executive Committee Member
- Richard C. Adkerson, President and CEO, Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold
- Jason Bagley, Government Affairs Manager, Intel
- Dennis Barney, President, Landmark Property
- The Honorable Robert Barrett, Mayor, City of Peoria
- David Bentler, Statewide Economic Development Director, APS
- The Honorable Steven M. Berman, Mayor, Town of Gilbert
- Steve Betts, President, SunCor Development Company
- Michael Bidwill, President, Arizona Cardinals
- Donald E. Brandt, President and COO, Pinnacle West Capital Corporation and President and CEO APS
- The Honorable Fulton Brock, County Supervisor, District 1, Maricopa County Board of Supervisors
- Ángel Cabrera, Ph.D., President, Thunderbird School of Global Management
- Brian J. Campbell, Attorney, Wilkins Campbell Mahoney Chartered
- José Cárdenas, Chairman, Lewis and Roca
- Bradley Casper, President and CEO, The Dial Corporation/A Henkel Company
- Jeffrey W. Crockett, Partner, Snell & Wilmer
- Dr. Michael Crow, President, Arizona State University
- Rick Dietz, Councilmember, City of Apache Junction
- Mark Dobbins, Senior Vice President, Human Resources and General Affairs, SUMCO Phoenix Corporation
- Rich Dozer, President, GenSpring Family Offices
- The Honorable Boyd W. Dunn, Mayor, City of Chandler
- Robert Enderle, Director of Community Relations, Medtronic
- Peter S. Fine, President and CEO, Banner Health
- Debra Friedman, Ph.D., Dean and Vice President, Downtown Phoenix Campus, Arizona State University
- The Honorable Adolfo F. Gamez, Mayor, City of Tolleson
- Kevin Gillette, Senior Vice President, Arizona Market Executive, Bank of America
- Rufus Glasper, Ph.D., Chancellor, Maricopa Community Colleges
- Kathleen H. Goeppinger, Ph.D., President and CEO, Midwestern University
- MaryAnn Guerra, Chief Business Officer, TGen and President, TGen Accelerators, LLC
- The Honorable Hugh Hallman, Mayor, City of Tempe
- Barry Halpern, Partner, Snell & Wilmer
- G. Todd Hardy, Associate Vice President, Corporate Engagement, Arizona State University
- Sharon Harper, President and CEO, The Plaza Companies
- Jim Hartman, Chairman, Economic Development Advisory Commission, Town of Wickenburg
- Jon Held, Executive Vice President and CFO, The Arizona Republic
- C.A. Howlett, Senior Vice President, Public Affairs, US Airways
- R. Neil Irwin, Partner, Bryan Cave, LLP
- Ivan Johnson, Vice President, Community Relations & Televideo Cox Arizona
- Paul Johnson, CEO, Old World Homes
- Tom Johnston, Senior Managing Director, Cushman & Wakefield of Arizona
- Don Kile, President, Master Planned Communities, The Ellman Companies
- David Krietor, Deputy City Manager, City of Phoenix
- The Honorable Andy Kunasek, County Supervisor, District 3, Maricopa County Board of Supervisors
- The Honorable Georgia Lord, Councilwoman, City of Goodyear
- Jeff Lowe, President, MidFirst Bank Arizona
- Paul J. Luna, President and CEO, Helios Education Foundation
- Jim McDowell, CEO, AAA Arizona
- Jeff McElfresh, Vice President and General Manager, AT&T Mobility
- The Honorable Jackie Meck, Mayor, Town of Buckeye
- William Pepicello, Ph.D., President, University of Phoenix
- Denise D. Resnik, President, Denise Resnik & Associates
- Steve M. Shope, Ph.D., President and Acting COO, Cognitive Engineering Research Institute
- The Honorable Anthony Smith, Mayor, City of Maricopa
- Donald A. Smith, Jr., President and CEO, SCF Arizona
- Joseph Stewart, Chairman and CEO, JPMorgan Chase Arizona
- Victor Trastek, M.D., Chairman, Board of Governors, Mayo Clinic
- Gena Trimble, Manager, Communications and Community Relations, Salt River Project
- Gerrit van Huisstede, Regional President, Desert Mountain Region, Wells Fargo
- Richard B. West, III, President, Carefree Partners
- Candace Wiest, President and CEO, West Valley National Bank
- Dan Withers, President, D.L. Withers Construction
- Kate Zanon, Assistant to the Town Manager and Economic Development, Town of Fountain Hills
GENERAL COUNSEL
Bryant Barber, Attorney at Law, Lewis and Roca
About the Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC)
A true public/private partnership, GPEC is the regional economic development organization for Greater Phoenix. Working with its 18 member communities, Maricopa County and more than 140 private investors, GPEC attracts quality businesses to this dynamic region. By creating a high-performance economy through capital investments and jobs, Greater Phoenix companies enjoy a business climate where they can compete and thrive in today’s global economy. Since 1989, GPEC has worked to achieve an economically sound and sustainable region. For more information, visit www.gpec.org.
Filed under: Arizona, City of Phoenix, City of Phoenix News, Parks, Parks and Recreation, Phoenix, Phoenix Arizona | Tags: Greater Phoenix Economic Council
City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department Hosts National Public Lands Day Celebration
The City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department staff will host a National Public Lands Day Outdoor Recreation Fair Sept. 30 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Individuals of all ages are invited to the event at the North Mountain Visitor Center at 12950 N. 7th St., which is just south of Thunderbird Road. A volunteer trail project will precede the fair from 6:30 to 9:30 a.m.
Attendees will have a chance to enjoy live animals up close; take a guided hike; scale an outdoor climbing wall; attend special presentations and workshops; and much more. Many of the displays and activities are geared toward children, making this event both exciting and educational for the whole family.
National Public Lands Day also will include displays and demonstrations from over 50 outdoor recreation and public land agencies. The event is free and open to the public. Food and beverages will also be on sale throughout the course of the event.
Public parking for the event will be in the Western Saddle Club lot, across from the center on the east side of 7th Street. Disabled-accessible parking will be in the center lot. For more information call the center at 602-495-5540. Information on the North Mountain Visitor Center is online at phoenix.gov/parks/nmvc.html.
The National Public Lands Day Celebration is sponsored by the Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and APS. Would-be volunteers also can arrange to work on a trail project at the Preserve before the festival begins. Community groups or individuals interested in participating in the trail project must pre-register by calling 602-534-6522.
Filed under: Arts, Arts and Entertainment, City of Phoenix, City of Phoenix News, Parks, Parks and Recreation, Phoenix, Phoenix Arizona, US - AZ (Phoenix) | Tags: CultureFest, Greater Phoenix Economic Council, Pueblo Grande Museum, Smithsonian
Parks and Recreation Department Hosts the Smithsonian’s CultureFest 2006
Experience the cultural treasures of Arizona when CultureFest 2006 returns to the Valley Nov. 1 – 5. This five-day cultural festival will feature events and programs presented by the Smithsonian’s best and brightest scholars and experts – who combine the magic of the Smithsonian with the treasures found only in Arizona. The following CultureFest 2006 events will take place at these Phoenix Parks and Recreation facilities:
- Thursday, Nov. 2, 7 – 8 p.m. Shemer Art Center & Museum
- Silly Putty, Jacks and Yo-yos: Stories behind Our Favorite Toys
- Friday, Nov. 3, 4 – 5:30 p.m. Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Project:
- “A Bird’s Eye View”
- Friday, Nov. 3, 7 – 8 p.m. Pueblo Grande Museum & Archaeological Park
- “Off –the-Map: Landscape in the Native Imagination”
- Saturday, Nov. 4, 9 – 11 a.m. South Mountain Environmental Education Center
- “Coyotes: History and Folklore”
- Saturday, Nov. 4, 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m. North Mountain Visitor Center
- “Where the Chicks Hang Out”
For a complete listing of all Smithsonian’s CultureFest 2006 workshops, classes and presentations that will be held throughout the Valley and for additional information visit culturefest.com.
Filed under: City of Phoenix, City of Phoenix News, Community and Economic Development, Downtown Development, Downtown Phoenix, Economic Development, Phoenix, Phoenix Arizona, Small Business, US - AZ (Phoenix) | Tags: Entrepreneurs, GPEC, Greater Phoenix Economic Council, Small Business Owners
GPEC Announces Leadership of Economic Development Directors Team
August 15, 2006 (Phoenix, Arizona) – Bruce MacTurk, economic development program manager for the City of Phoenix, has been elected chairman of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC) Economic Development Directors Team (EDDT). Additionally, Sheri Wakefield-Saenz, economic development manager for the City of Tempe, joins the leadership team to serve as the EDDT vice-chair.
“With the diverse background Bruce and Sheri have in economic development, I am confident this team will provide valuable guidance and support for GPEC’s initiatives,” said Barry Broome, GPEC president and CEO. “GPEC’s Board of Directors appreciate their commitment not only to their respective cities, but to the entire region.”
Members of EDDT are made up of economic development professionals from GPEC’s member communities, higher educational institutions, utility companies and other economic development partners and act as an advisory committee to the President and CEO. Monthly meetings are held to discuss regional issues and GPEC’s strategic efforts, and to assist GPEC’s business development team in attracting new business to Greater Phoenix.
MacTurk has served on EDDT since 2001 and has worked in economic development for more than 18 years. He is an active member of the Arizona Association for Economic Development (AAED) and CoreNet Global, an association for corporate real estate professionals.
Wakefield-Saenz has worked in economic development for over 16 years and has been an EDDT member for over 11 years. She is an active participant of AAED and is a Certified Economic Developer.
MacTurk and Wakefield-Saenz’s terms officially began July 1 and end June 30, 2007.
For more information about GPEC, visit www.gpec.org.
A true public/private partnership, GPEC works closely with its statewide partners, as well as 16 member communities, Maricopa County and more than 130 private investors, coordinating public and private efforts in promoting Greater Phoenix to companies seeking a location where they can compete and thrive in today’s global economy.
Phoenix Arizona 