Leaders of the year in Public Policy 2024

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