Ambassador Steering Committee

Meet our FY21 Steering Committee

The Ambassador Steering Committee plays a pivotal role in ensuring our Ambassador Program aligns with the organization’s key objectives and mission. Members advise on the strategic direction of the Ambassador Program, serving as a sounding board for emerging initiatives, along with supporting the program implementation.

Committee Members

Ambassador Program Value

“Building a robust economy and growing new industries in our region requires collaboration. The GPEC ambassador program creates and informs dynamic leaders to support this vital task”.

Ambassador Program Value

“Being part of the growth process is rewarding to me. My wife and I have lived in the Valley since 1972 and have watched as the area grew and matured.”

Wally Campbell

Committee Member since FY21

Councilmember, City of Goodyear

Gene Carl

Committee Member since FY21

Manager, Public Sector Enterprise Sales, Cox Communications

Larry Cox

Committee Member since FY18

Vice President of Culture, Sunstate Equipment Co.

Advice for New GPEC Ambassadors

“Never let an opportunity to meet someone new go by. You never know who that somebody might be.”

Importance of Economic Development for the Community

“Growing our communities in thoughtful and strategic ways helps to protect the overall economy through the cycles, and provides diverse employment opportunities while considering the socio-economic, environmental and political aspects unique to our 22 member communities.”

Advice for New GPEC Ambassadors

“Take advantage of all panels, events and tours that you are given an opportunity to attend. You will not be disappointed!”

Laura Davis

Committee Member since FY18

Workplace Consultant, Atmosphere Commercial Interiors

Andrea Drozdowicz

Committee Member since FY18

Senior Vice President, Investor Real Estate Advisory, Wells Fargo

Mike Hawksworth

Committee Member since FY18

President/CEO, MSS Technologies

Involvement in the Ambassador Program

“GPEC provides an opportunity to work with other business leaders to develop and implement a diverse economic vision for the future of Arizona.”

Importance of Economic Development for the Community

“It has proven to be instrumental in improving the diversity of the economic landscape (varying industries) while also creating higher-wage job opportunities to Valley residents.”

Investment in GPEC

“Our company invests with GPEC because we understand and are also committed to the importance of building a stronger community by bringing growth and opportunity to the marketplace.”

Don Helton

Committee Member since FY18

Director of Business Development, Brycon Construction

Bill Honsaker

Committee Member since FY18

Managing Director | Designated Broker, JLL

Garrett King

Committee Member since FY21

Team Lead, Events and Entertainment, Arizona Diamondbacks

Memorable Ambassador Experience

“Being able to see firsthand what is happening all over the Valley is inspiring. Touring new enterprises that recently moved to the region is especially exciting as the leaders of those enterprises always tell a wonderful story about why they chose the Greater Phoenix region.”

Favorite Ambassador Experience

“All have been great, but the one that stands way out was the helicopter ride over the different SRP lakes.”

Being Part of the Community

“I feel like I’m part of something dynamic and growing, but most of all my family and friends are here and I love them very much.”

Gretchen Kitchel

Committee Member since FY21

Executive Principal, Economic Development, SRP

David Patch

Committee Member since FY18

Sales Account Executive, Air Products and Chemicals

Michael Patterson

Committee Member since FY18

Partner, Spencer Fane LLP

Value of the Ambassador Program

“The value received is broad-based and is far-reaching. Whether we are explaining to others what we have learned from our close-knit discussions on critical economic issues/topics, or how and why a company decides to locate to the Phoenix metro area, there is never a loss of information to be had and learned by being a GPEC Ambassador.”

Why GPEC?

“It is the premier source for regional economic development news, access to information regarding new business opportunities for my company, and networking with other professionals who seek to further the growth and diversity of the Arizona economy.”

Favorite Ambassador Experience

“My favorite GPEC Ambassador experience was probably the A.T. Still University tour. I drove past the building for years and had no idea the tremendous offerings and impact they have in the community. Ambassador tours as well as educational events are always informative and definitely worthwhile!”

Mayor Christian Price

Committee Member since FY18

Mayor, City of Maricopa

Rock Rickert

Committee Member since FY18

Principal, Business Development, Archicon

Janine Solley

Committee Member since FY18

Economic Development Director, City of Apache Junction

All Certified Ambassadors

Chase	Kassel	Acronis
David	Patch	Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
Elissa	Rubman	Alliance Bank of Arizona
Calvin	Bovee	APS
Michael	Denby	APS
Kelly	Patton	APS
Rock	Rickert	Archicon Architecture and Interiors, L.C.
Heath	Anderson	Arizona At Work- Maricopa County
Kevin	Dumcum	Arizona At Work- Maricopa County
Garrett	King	Arizona Diamondbacks
Mara	Defilippis	ASU
Caden	Gillespie	ASU
Jodie	Gutierrez	ASU
Paola	Hidalgo	ASU
Gregory	Raupp	ASU
Chris	Richardson	ASU
Kelly	Sandin	ASU
Cher	Stevens	ASU – College of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Robert	Cox	ASU – Office of Research and Economic Affairs
Jeffrey	Anderson	Atmosphere Commercial Interiors
Laura	Davis	Atmosphere Commercial Interiors
Karen	Bottesch	Bank of America
Christy	Withgott	Banner Health
Paige	Heavey	Bridge Relocation Concierge
Don	Helton	BRYCON Construction
Billy	Price	Burns & McDonnell
Brion	Crum	Caliber Companies
Bill	Bayless	CBRE
Pat	Feeney	CBRE
Taylor	Hick	CBRE
Maggie	Niescier	CBRE
Cathy	Teeter	CBRE
Vanessa	Vogel	CBRE
Carly	Figman	Center for Entrepreneurial Innovation (CEI)
Ann Marie	Rucker	Center for Entrepreneurial Innovation (CEI)
Robin	Barker	City of Apache Junction
Janine	Solley	City of Apache Junction
Elan	Vallender	City of Apache Junction
Lisa	Lantz	City of Avondale
Suzanne	Boyles	City of Buckeye
Fernando	Garcia	City of Casa Grande
Mayor Craig	McFarland	City of Casa Grande
Ryan	Kaup	City of Chandler
Thomas	Doyle	City of El Mirage
Daniel	Benson	City of Glendale
Wally	Campbell	City of Goodyear
Laura	Kaino	City of Goodyear
Mayor Georgia	Lord	City of Goodyear
Mayor Christian	Price	City of Maricopa
Adam	Shipley	City of Maricopa
Karen	Calivas	City of Peoria
Kirsten	Hall	City of Peoria
Susana	Trasente	City of Peoria
David	Valenzuela	City of Peoria
Juan	Batres	City of Phoenix
Phil	Bradstock	City of Phoenix
Kedrick	Ellison	City of Phoenix
Laura	French	City of Phoenix
Melissa	Huffman	City of Phoenix
Pam	Lindley	City of Phoenix
Joseph	Macewan	City of Phoenix
Martin	Perez	City of Phoenix
Tanya	Pettway	City of Phoenix
Michelle	Pierson	City of Phoenix
Karla	Scott	City of Phoenix
Claudia	Whitehead	City of Phoenix
Denise	Yanez	City of Phoenix
Josh	Utterback	City of Scottsdale
Jeanine	Jerkovic	City of Surprise
Maria	Laughner	City of Tempe
Parrish	Spisz	City of Tempe
Thomas	Brophy	Colliers International
Phillip	Hernandez	Colliers International
Paula	Boca-Bommarito	CopperPoint Insurance Companies
Mitchelle	Makanjuola	CopperPoint Insurance Companies
Jessica	Morin	CoStar Group
Sheldon	Caldwell-Meeks	Cox Communications
Gene	Carl	Cox Communications
Ellen	Joyce	Cox Communications
Jason	Malcolm	Cresa
Marissa	Mercuri	Cresa
Joshua	Rodriguez	Cresa
Ronan	McNulty	Cushman & Wakefield
Candace	Thrush	Cushman & Wakefield
Matt	Even	Deloitte
Michael	Loeschen	Deloitte
Jacob	Weinberg	Deloitte
Rick	Dircks	Dircks Moving & Logistics
Chris	Petroff	DPR Construction
Michael	King	Gammage & Burnham
Debbie	Hartland	Goodmans Interior Structures
Bryan	Smith	Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona
Isac	Artzi	Grand Canyon University
Haley	Fagerlie	Grand Canyon University
Dwight	Farris	Grand Canyon University
Stephanie	Handley	Graycor Construction
Mackensie	Garretson	Highnoon
Russell	Skuse	Horrocks Engineers
Kristen	Howard	IMEG Corp.
Dennis	Wiensch	Industrial Storage
Richard	Woolery	Industrial Storage
Raghu	Marwaha	IntraEdge
Kirk	McClure	JE Dunn
Bill	Honsaker	JLL
Anthony	Lydon	JLL
Alyson	Murney	JLL
Damian	Glaze	Kitchell
Valerie	Kelly	Kitchell
Candace	Rosauro	Layton Construction
Matt	Nebeker	Lee & Associates
Marc	Pierce	Lee & Associates
Michael	Stavross	M Culinary
Lee	Deluca	Maricopa Corporate College
Emilio	Cabrera	Maricopa County Community Colleges
John	Catapano	Maricopa County Community Colleges
Kimberly	Faust	Maricopa County Community Colleges
James	Jones	Maricopa County Community Colleges
Patti	O’Brien	Maricopa County Community Colleges
Dana	Saar	Maricopa County Community Colleges
Harvey	Smith	Maricopa County Community Colleges
Julie	Stiak	Maricopa County Community Colleges
Sara	Zappia	Maricopa County Community Colleges
Michael	Voss	Mesa Community College
Tim	Dillingham	MidFirst Bank
Matthew	Avila	Mortenson
Tammy	Carr	Mortenson
Chase	Farnsworth	Mortenson
Mark	Dallmeier	MSS
Michael	Hawksworth	MSS
Keith	Latchaw	MSS
Kent	Thomas	MUFG Union Bank
Todd	Kinney	Okland Construction
Jonathan	Sylvie	Page
Kim	Ho	Phoenix Children’s Hospital
Michelle	Major	Phoenix Children’s Hospital
Steve	Reese	Phoenix Suns
Lourdes	Sierra	PNC Financial Services Group
Kyle	Steinbuch	PNC Financial Services Group
Cathleen	Walker	PNC Financial Services Group
Ali	Dionne	Public Policy Partners
Jeff	Dalton	Renaissance Companies
Gretchen	Kitchel	Salt River Project (SRP)
Karla	Moran	Salt River Project (SRP)
Marc	Valenzuela	Salt River Project (SRP)
Mike	Miller	Savills-Studley
Melanie	Burm	Scottsdale Community College
Milena	Dankenbring	Scottsdale Community College
Gregory	Falls	Sherman & Howard
Azim	Hameed	Sherman & Howard
Matt	Hasketh	Sherman & Howard
Kim	Poole	Skanska
Smita	Mehta	SLM Land Holdings
Anita	Verma	SLM Land Holdings
Gerald	Morales	Snell & Wilmer
Rachel	Andrews	Social Television Network (STN)
Jody	Isaac	Social Television Network (STN)
Eric	Sperling	Social Television Network (STN)
Larry	Holly	Southwest Gas Corporation
Mike	Patterson	Spencer Fane LLP
Larry	Cox	Sunstate Equipment Company
Mike	Martella	Town of Gilbert
Doreen	Cott	Town of Queen Creek
Marissa	Garnett	Town of Queen Creek
Jennifer	Lindley	Town of Queen Creek
Michael	LeVault	Town of Youngtown
Windy	Breck	Transwestern Commercial Services
Mikaela	Fink	University of Arizona
Justin	Finnerty	University of Arizona
Cali	Metallo	University of Arizona
Mark	Strickling	University of Arizona
Julie	Trujillo	University of Arizona
Gloria	Verdin	University of Arizona
Jeffrey	Hendrickson	University of Phoenix
Mike	Chadwick	ViaWest Group
Roger	Beguiristain	Wells Fargo Bank
Andrea	Drozdowicz	Wells Fargo Bank
Peter	Drozodowicz	Wist Office Products Company