The Arizona Capitol Times celebrated the fifth annual Leaders of the Year in Public Policy awards and presentation, celebrating outstanding individuals and organizations for their professional and civic involvement.

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This year’s event recognized the past four years of honorees with a
special pre-centennial kick-off with our State Balladeer, Dolan Ellis.

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Introducing the Arizona Capitol Times 2011 Leaders of the Year in Public Policy Honorees:

Government

Paul Matson, executive director, Arizona State Retirement System

Lifetime Achievement

John Driggs, former mayor of Phoenix

Social Services

Darrel Christenson, vice president/director of community integration, Arizona Bridge to Independent Living (ABIL)

Transportation

David Martin, president, Associated General Contractors, Arizona Chapter

Public Safety – Paul Babeu, sheriff, Pinal County
Arts & Humanities – Eight-Arizona PBS Horizon
Business – Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold, Inc.
Education – Fred DuVal, chairman, Arizona Board of Regents
Environmental – Sandy Bahr, director, Sierra Club Grand Canyon Chapter
Healthcare – Robert Meyer, president & CEO, Phoenix Children’s Hospital
Government Transparency – Sen. Ron Gould, R-Lake Havasu City; Sen. Steve Gallardo, D-Phoenix; Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Phoenix; Rep. Kimberly Yee, R-Phoenix
Volunteerism – Rep. Kate Brophy McGee, R-Phoenix
Unsung Hero – Hay Relief Donors

Watch a slideshow from the event:

Arizona Capitol Times 2010 Leaders of the Year in Public Policy Honorees:

Arts & Humanities – David Ira Goldstein, Arizona Theatre Company
Business – Todd Sanders, Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce
Economic Development – Christine Mackay, City of Chandler
Education – Tim Carter, Yavapai County Education Service Agency
Environment– Cheryl Lombard, The Nature Conservancy
Government – Central Arizona Water Conservation Project Board of Directors
Healthcare – Ronald S. Weinstein, M.D., Arizona Telemedicine Program, University of Arizona
Government Transparency – Rep. Chad Campbell, D-Phoenix, Rep. Russ Jones, R-Yuma, Sen. Frank Antenori, R-Tucson, Sen. Rebecca Rios, D-Apache Junction
Lifetime Achievement – Jack Brown, Arizona House of Representatives
Social Services – Arizona Families F.I.R.S.T. Program, TERROS
Technology – ServiceArizona.com, Arizona Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicles Division
Transportation – John Halikowski, Arizona Department of Transportation
Volunteerism – Russell Smoldon, Salt River Project
Unsung Hero – Dale Shewalter, Arizona Trail Association

Arizona Capitol Times 2009 Leaders of the Year in Public Policy Honorees:

Arts & Humanities – Rep. Michele Reagan, R-Scottsdale
Business – Jason Bagley, government affairs manager, Intel Corporation
Education – Project Citizen, administered by Arizona Foundation for Legal Services and Education
Environment– Patrick J. Cunningham, deputy director, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
Government – Frank Fairbanks, Phoenix City manager
Healthcare – Tom Kelly, president and CEO, Schaller Anderson
Legislative – Rep. Ray Barnes, R-Phoenix
Lifetime Achievement – “A.J.” Jack Pfister, general manager, Salt River Project (posthumous)
Policy Development – Goldwater Institute
Public Safety – Roger Vanderpool, director, Arizona Department of Public Safety
Social Services – Kris Jacober, founder and president, Arizona Association for Foster and Adoptive Parents
Technology – Cox Communications
Transportation – Phil Gordon, mayor of Phoenix
Volunteerism – Kerry Martin (posthumous)
Unsung Hero – Elizabeth ‘Betty’ Rhodes, founder of Prefab of Arizona, now A New Leaf Foundation

Arizona Capitol Times 2008 Leaders of the Year in Public Policy Honorees:

Arts & Humanities – Sen. Barbara Leff, R-Paradise Valley
Business – Eileen Klein, United Health Group
Economic Development – Gov. Janet Napolitano
Education– Rep. Mark Anderson, R-Mesa
Environment– Sid Wilson, manager, Central Arizona Water Conservation District
Government – Jan Lesher, director, Arizona Department of Commerce
Healthcare – Anita C. Murcko, MD, medical director, clinical informatics and provider adoption, AHCCCS
Legislative – Tim Schmaltz, CEO/coordinator, PAFCO
Lifetime Achievement – Sen. Jake Flake (posthumous)
Public Safety – Chuck Foy, Arizona Public Employees Association
Social Services – Mark Holleran, CEO, Central Arizona Shelter Services (CASS)
Technology – Sen. Bob Burns, R-Peoria
Transportation – Victor Mendez, Arizona Department of Transportation
Volunteerism – Steve Lynn, VP UniSource Energy Corp. and Tucson Electric Power
Unsung Hero – Amina Donna Kruck, director of advocacy programs, ABIL

Arizona Capitol Times 2007 Leaders of the Year in Public Policy Honorees:

Arts & Humanities – Sen. Carolyn Allen, R-Scottsdale
Business – Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Economic Development – Kevin McCarthy, Arizona Tax Research Association
Education– Arizona Business and Education Coalition (ABEC)
Environment– David P. Kimball, III, Gallagher & Kennedy
Government – Sen. Bob Burns, R-Peoria
Healthcare – Hospice of the Valley
Legislative – Rebekah Friend, Arizona AFL-CIO
Lifetime Achievement – Chuck Shipley (posthumous)
Public Safety – Andrew P. Thomas, Maricopa County Attorney
Social Services – Gretchen Jacobs, Greenberg Traurig
Technology – Government Information Technology Agency, (GITA)
Transportation – Gary G. Hayes, Pima Association of Governments/Regional Transportation Authority
Volunteerism – Marty Shultz, Pinnacle West Capital Corp.