Each year, the Arizona Capitol Times recognizes leaders that have contributed to the growth of our state. These are the people and groups that hunker down each day to find ways to improve the quality of life of Arizona’s citizens. The awardees will be recognized at an awards luncheon in September. They will also be profiled in a special edition of the Arizona Capitol Times.
You can purchase a ticket here.
For questions about Leaders of the Year, please contact Sandy Mitchell at Smitchell@azcapitoltimes.com or 602-889-7113.
2024 Leaders of the Year Nominees
Arts & Culture
Tammy McLeod,
President & CEO
Flinn Foundation
Robert Linde
General Manager
Snowbowl Ski Resort
Mitch Menchaca
Director
Phoenix Office of Arts & Culture
Associations
Matthew Kenney
Vice Chair
Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services
Josh Umar
Executive Director
American Subcontractors Association of Arizona
Chirstopher Kline
President & CEO
Arizona Media Association +Arizona Local News Foundation
Matthew Contorelli
Senior Director of External Affairs
Arizona Association of Realtors
Economy
Julie Rees
Principal
Triadvocates, LLC
Jonathan Soto Robles
Deputy Director of Grassroots
Libre Initiative
Mike Huckins
Senior Vice President of Public Affairs & IT Operations Greater Phoenix Chamber
Education
Dalton Abbitt
Chief Political Officer
GenTech Tech Support
Katherine Cecala
President
Junior Achievement of Arizona
Ruth Wylie
Co-Director
Center for Science and the Imagination at Arizona State University
Dr. Chad Wilson
Superintendent
East Valley Institute of Technology
Environment
Michael Cravens
Advocacy and Conservation Director
Arizona Wildlife Federation
Tom Buschatzke
Director
Arizona Department of Water Resources
Autumn Johnson
Executive Director
Arizona Solar Energy Industries Association
Government
Chuck Coughlin
CEO & President
HighGround Public Affairs Consultants
Douglas Nicholls
Mayor
City of Yuma
Mike Townsend
Administrator
Public Safety Personnel Retirement Systems
Steve Titla
Commissioner
Citizens Clean Elections Commission
Sarah Webber
Deputy Director
Arizona State Parks & Trails
Healthcare
Shannon Butler
Executive Director of Government Affairs
CVS Health
Lia Christiansen
Chief Administrative Officer
Valleywise Health
Will Humble
Executive Director
Arizona Public Health Association
Law
Daniel Adelman
Executive Director
Arizona Center for Law in the Public Interest
Andy Gaona
Partner
Coppersmith Brockelman, PLC
Steven Scharboneau
Attorney
Steven George Law
Public Safety
Darrell Kriplean
President
Phoenix Law Enforcement Association
Don Jongewaard
President
Professional Firefighters of Arizona
Elizabeth Burton Ortiz
Executive Director
Arizona Prosecuting Attorneys Advisory Council
Social Services
Brandie Reiner
Executive Director
National Association of Social Workers, Arizona
Eddie Sissons
Executive Director
Arizona Foundation for Behavioral Health
Elena Reid Steinbeiss
Co-Executive Director
Foster 360
Sommer Knight
Co-Executive Director
Foster 360
Technology
Steve Zylstra
President & CEO
Arizona Technology Council
Jason Bagley
Senior Director, U.S. State Government Affairs
Intel
Lifetime Achievement
Terry Goddard