2023-2024 Board of Directors

In our 17-year history, Alliance Bank of Arizona has grown from a de novo bank to a significant portion of Arizona’s largest locally headquartered bank, Western Alliance Bancorporation.  I had the pleasure of starting my career with Alliance Bank in early 2005 after graduating with a degree in Finance and Business Administration from the University of Arizona’s Eller College of Management, and 17+ years into my career, I now serve as the Managing Director of Commercial Banking for Alliance Bank.  In my role, I oversee our bank’s commercial and industrial banking groups operating in Central and Northern Arizona, with a focus on serving our commercial clients’ banking needs by delivering tailored credit structures, cash management and depository products.  

I take pride in the relationships developed throughout my career with clients, referral sources and connections made along the way.  It is particularly satisfying when those relationships reach out to get our input how they might go about pursuing their strategic objectives and how the path they are contemplating pursuing might affect their financial goals and access to capital.  Those are the types of conversations that really validate us bankers as being a trusted advisor to those relationships, especially when the discussion does not center on an immediate banking need.  I also enjoy working with our group of bankers to help them each become successful in their individual roles and with growth in their careers (in fact, it is one of my biggest motivators).

Originally from Santa Rosa, CA, I moved to Arizona in 2001 to attend college and have enjoyed living in Arizona ever since due to the abundance of outdoor activities.  My wife, Marissa, and I have been married for 9 years and have three young boys (ages 7, 6 and 3) which bring a lot of energy to our home.  Marissa and I enjoy traveling, especially to places where we can sit on a beach and enjoy the sun, which we usually do once per year down in Mexico.  I also enjoy staying active and continue to play in competitive adult soccer leagues, hiking (the Grand Canyon being my favorite place to hike) and staying active at the gym.  Our kids have also begun to follow my passion for soccer and baseball, with all three boys currently playing  one sport or the other (and me taking the occasional coaching role for their teams).

Nancy Zezza, Alliance Bank’s Chief Credit Officer, introduced me to AZBL, and while I have known several members prior to joining, I have really enjoyed being able to reconnect with them and getting to know many other community leaders.  I believe AZBL will continue to be a great place where I can continue to develop my network of friends while growing professionally together and relying on each other as our own peer group of trusted advisors.

As Shareholder in the Labor & Employment group at Tiffany & Bosco, I counsel and advocate for my clients in employment and labor law with an emphasis on avoiding and resolving employment disputes, litigation, class actions and other human resource matters.  

I have approximately 15 years of experience helping businesses avoid employment law disputes.  My practice includes counseling and representing management in employment discrimination and sexual harassment claims; investigations into employee conduct; wrongful discharge claims; wage and hour disputes; workplace violence issues; employee hiring; discipline and discharge procedures; leaves of absences; unemployment; and other issues facing employers.   I love practicing employment law because every day brings a new opportunity for me to learn about a new industry or company, while educating individuals on employee/employment related issues.  

I am was co-editor of the Arizona Employment Law Letter from 2013 to 2019, winning the award for General Excellence (2014, 2018) and Best Personal Column (2017, 2019).  I am a contributing author for the West Employment Law Letter (combined publication of former state employment law letters). I have been on the Board of the American Liver Foundation (Desert Southwest Divisions) for approximately six years and became Chair in 2019.  I was honored as Arizona’s Most Influential Women in Business in 2019.

My husband Steve and I are enjoying watching our two young children (Keira; Xander) grow.  Our kids both play club basketball, so we spend most of our time attending games and carting them to practice.  When we are not at our children’s activities, we enjoy family game time, food/wine festivals, hiking, traveling, and making and looking back on fond memories. 

I have connected with many wonderful people since I joined AzBL over three years ago.  I was thrilled to be asked to join the Board of Directors and jumped at the opportunity to become more involved with such top-notch people.  I’m excited about this next AzBL chapter, the educational value our speakers bring, and to broaden my connections with the high-quality membership that is AzBL.

When I first started at ACME, I noticed their products weren't very effective for catching roadrunners...

Carrie A. Smith is the Chief Operating Officer for FSL (Foundation for Senior Living); a leading health care, human services and affordable housing nonprofit organization in Arizona. Carrie provides executive leadership of the organizations core health and human service programs. She leads a team of 300 + employees with an annual operating budget of over $20 Million. For over 25 years she has implemented cost-effective ways to meet the needs of Arizonans so they may continue to live as independent and safe as possible.  She does this by working with community stakeholders to create innovative community based care solutions that improve the quality of life for thousands. Carrie understands the connections between housing, the environment and health outcomes. She is an advocate for changing the way we think about health care delivery. Carrie actively participates in several national and local boards and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work and a Masters of Business Administration.

As most of my friends and colleagues know, I have a very full professional life that revolves around Arizona State University (ASU) and the community. In my Senior Vice President and Secretary role, I manage the Arizona Board of Regents relationship, University ceremonies, chair advisory boards, etc. With the Alumni Association, I provide direction and oversight to connect over 390,000 ASU graduates and support them in continuing their strong tie with ASU. I call it “friend raising” and “affinity building” with our network around the world. As you can guess, I have a very strong foundation at ASU where I have had 18 different positions at ASU over the past 40 years. In addition, I am an Associate Professor in Higher Education, Division of Educational Leadership and Innovation, Mary Lou Fulton Teacher College. It’s very important that we continue to help advance education and our larger community by developing our students and the future leaders.

There is also a strong connection in my personal life to ASU and a lot of my discretionary time involves attending ASU sporting events with my husband of 46 years. I also have a tie to ASU through my Dad who was head baseball and basketball, and then assistant football coach under Frank Kush until he retired. Like me, he was also a Professor at ASU and he believed strongly in the importance of coaching, educating, and developing true student athletes. He and my mother have always been a great inspiration to me in my life.

Why AzBL? David Bruno introduced me and despite my schedule he kept encouraging me to attend. Once I had a chance to join I realized what a great organization AzBL has become. The people are fascinating, the speakers are tremendous, and I have made some new friends. And the fact that the meetings start and end on time is no small matter for many of us. Managing our time is managing a precious resource and AzBL considers that in supporting its membership.

Serving on the Board of AzBL is an honor for me. Even though I have served many other roles in various business associations, I find AzBL is my Business Family.     

AzBL represents the best of state leadership through outstanding speakers, programs, members connecting, charities, and the lifelong friends we make.   AzBL is a mix of various professions and businesses.  It is a safe place to know others on a personal basis.   

As an investment banker, our teams serve midsized company owners and CFOs throughout the west.  I enjoy knowing many leaders around the country and especially in AzBL.   

My firm is partnered with accomplished investment banking teams who have a history of great success.   Our teams find institutional capital offers over $10MM for companies seeking capital for growth or acquisitions.    Our teams are also experts at M&A options, including finding suitable buyer prospects, or in finding interested acquisition targets for client CEOs to make offers to. 

My work is enjoyable in that I track and get to know both CEOs as well as bankers, attorneys, CPAs and others who can help make a successful midsized company transaction.    The good news is a major corporate transaction can represent an exciting project and sense of accomplishment for the client.   The bad news, not every CEO or their company qualified to attract transaction success.  Timing is key, as CEOs rarely need an investment bank.   

Formerly I was in the convention and trade show industries working as CEO with major destinations to attract group business.  These skills help me with what I do today for corporate CEOs. I also managed professional associations nationwide.  

Originally from Houston, I graduated from the University of Houston and was active being a leader in a major Service Fraternity yet still found time to study and play bass in a rock band, plus work part time jobs.   Following college, I served in the USAF in Air Intelligence where each hour I briefed pilots and kept track of progress.   I also served in the USNR as a Public Affairs Reserve Officer for five years.   

My family includes my wonderful wife, Reta Miller.   Reta and I enjoy golf, hanging with family and our friends and church.  My son is a Digital Producer for a major CA tech company and his wife is an Engineer for Disneyland.   My daughter is a Cardiology Nurse at Mayo in AZ.  Following Army Afghanistan duty, my son-in-law Steve has built his Junk King business and is a finalist for the AZ House of Representatives.  They have three delightful boys whom we enjoy.   

I always followed AzBL but did not pause to consider joining.   Jim Duckett invited me to a meeting and others helped recruit me.  In three short years I have made life friends.  

With over 9 years of commercial real estate experience I provide corporations the insight and tools necessary to ensure they are making the most strategic real estate decisions and maximizing operational efficiencies. Keyser represents local, national and international companies looking to buy, sell or lease commercial property for their business. My role is to lead organizations through a custom analysis focused exclusively on their business to determine the right real estate strategy for the organization. This includes but is not limited to capital allocation strategies, organizational growth projections, site selection based on geographic and demographic data, financial analysis, contract negotiations and project management services. By exclusively representing the occupiers of space our platform removes the traditional conflict of interest found in real estate companies that represent both Landlords and Tenants. 

Prior to attending the University of Arizona I was born and raised in Yuma, Arizona. Growing up in a small town I saw first hand the value a great community can provide. Arizona Business Leaders is the best community I’ve found since moving to Phoenix. Through joining AZBL I have had the privilege of getting to know the amazing leaders driving the most influential companies in the Valley. A high moral integrity and genuine kindness exhibited throughout the organization is the secret sauce that pairs perfectly with thoughtful program events. This is a one of a kind organization for any C-Suite executive looking to build deep routed friendships with other leaders from around the valley.    

I am privileged to serve as the Office Managing Partner (Audit) for the Phoenix office of BDO USA LLP, an international accounting firm.  I work with clients in a variety of industries:  life sciences, manufacturing, distribution, retail, healthcare, technology and services, to name a few.  BDO provides audit, tax and consulting/ advisory services to clients all over the globe – from financial statement audits, to tax compliance services, to specialty services (e.g., R&D tax credit, cost segregation), internal audit, information technology risk consulting, transaction advisory services (buy and sell), valuation services, forensics and dispute resolution, etc.  This past year, I was able to spend time in Japan, China and Taiwan for global clients.  I have a BBA from the University of New Mexico and am a licensed CPA in Arizona and New Mexico.

What I love most about what I do every day is being able to BUILD … relationships, dynamic/diverse teams, culture, operational excellence, focus and the BDO brand.  In a busy world like ours, one of my biggest challenges (and opportunities) is integrating life in a way that allows me to help others unleash their full potential and identify ways where we can be “in the zone” or present in everything we do.

My husband, Patrick, and I have 4 children (all grown) and 6 grandchildren – ages 2 to 17 years.  For almost 6 years now, we have been caring for two of those grandchildren and relearning what it means to care for and grow little ones.  Other things that are important to me are serving in my church and community, being a worship leader, and when Patrick and I get a chance to schedule “date” night, find a place with live music and do a little dancing.

I love the energy in this leadership group!  Thank you for the honor of beginning my service on the Board of Directors this year (2019).