Past Speakers
The history of the Arizona Business Leadership Award ™ was to recognize an Arizona business that had excelled in aligning itself with the goals of the Arizona Business Leadership Association. Strong Arizona companies are vital to our economic landscape and AzBL carried this tradition of honoring companies from 1997-2017.
2023-2024
- Sky Harbor Airport, Roxann Favors, Assistant Aviation Director/Chief Revenue Officer
- Grimaldi’s Pizzeria, Joseph M. Ciolli, Chief Executive Officer
- Goodman Interiors, Adam Goodman, CEO
- StrataTech Education Group, Mary Kelly, President & CEO
- Isola Group, Travis Kelly, Vice Chairman, President & CEO
2022-2023
- Waymo Operations, Ryan McNamara, Vice President
- Wheels Up, Justin Firestone, Co-Founder
- Mountainside Fitness, Tom Hatten, Founder & Chairman of the Board
- Shamrock Foods, Vince Daniels, CHRO
- Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC), Chris Camacho, President & CEO
- Goodwill of Central & Northern Arizona, William Fischbach, Vice-Chair
- Hospice of the Valley, Lin Sue Flood, Formerly Cooney, Director of Community Engagement
2021-2022
- Freestar - Kurt Donnell, President & CEO & David Freedman, Founder
- AZ Cyber Threat Response Alliance - Frank Grimmelman, President
- https://www.sonoraquest.com/newsroom/ - David Dexter, President & CEO
- JP Morgan Chase - James Glassman, Head Conomist, Commercial Banking
- Hint, Inc. - Kara Goldin, Founder & CEO
- Troon - Dana Garmany, Executive Chairman
- Entergis - Bertrand Loy, President, CEO & Board Member
- Footprint - Troy Swope, Co-Founder & CEO
2020-2021
- Alkaline 88 Water - Ricky Wright, Chief Executive Officer
- Axon - Luke Larson, President
- Wells Fargo Securities, LLC - Jay H. Bryson, Chief Economist & Managing Director
- HomeSmart - Ashley Bowers, President
- Thunberbirds - Chance Cozby, Executive Director
- Lockton Companies - Pete Clune, Chief Executive Officer
2019-2020
- Microchip Technology - Steve Sanghi, Chief Executive Officer
- First Solar - Michael Ahearn, Founder & Chairman of the Board
- Arizona State University - Dennis Hoffman, Ph.D., Director of Office of the University Economist
- Palo Verde Generating Station - Maria Lacal, Chief Nuclear Officer & Senior Vice President of Nuclear Regulatory
- Arizona State University - Ray Anderson, Vice President for University Athletics
2018-2019
- Kudelski Group - André Kudelski – Chief Executive Officer
- Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community - John Carroll, Treasurer
- Zivelo - Healey Cypher, Chief Executive Officer
- Wells Fargo - Gary Schlossberg, Senior Economist
- Creative Testing Solutions - Sally Caglioti, President
- Porsche Chandler - Richard Cvijanovich, Owner
- Tuft & Needle - JT Marino, Co-Founder
- Anthony Robles, Nike Athlete and Motivational Speaker
2017-2018
- Grand Canyon University – Brian Mueller, President
- Redirect Health – Dr. Dave F. Berg, Co-founder & Chairman of the Board
- EXOS – Dan Burns, Chief Executive Officer
- Total Transit – Craig Hughes, Chairman & Founder
- ICF & Brand Under Fire – Jeff Hunt, Author, Partner
- Estee Lauder Companies, Inc. – Damon Burrell, Senior Vice President Consumer Engagement Corporate Marketing
- 317 Ventures, Founder & HealthiestYou, Former CEO – Jim Prendergrast
- SNEAKY BIG Studios – Marianne Guenther, Chief Executive Officer
2016-2017
- Cerberus Global Investments, LLC – Vice President Dan Quayle, Chairman
- Mobile Mini – Erik Olsson, President & CEO
- Boeing Defense, Space & Security – Michael W. Booen, Director, Attack Helicopter Sustainment Global Services & Support
- Arizona Coyotes – Anthony LeBlanc, Arizona Coyotes
- American Traffic Solutions – James D. Tuton, Founder & CEO
- VisionGate – Scarlett Spring, President & Chief Commercial Leader
2015-2016
- Fox Restaurant Concepts – Sam Fox, Founder
- Western Refining – Jeffrey S. Beyersdorfer, Senior Vice President-Treasurer, Director of Investor Relations
- Drug Enforcement Administration – Doug Coleman, Special Agent
- Charlotte Russe & Too Faced Cosmetics – Ken Stevens, Chairman of the Board
- Four Peaks Brewing Company – Andy Ingram & Jim Scussel, Co-Founders / Owners & Brewmasters
- SolarCity – Brad Buss, Chief Financial Officer
- Lee & Associates – R. Craig Coppola, Founding Principal
2014-2015
- Goodwill Industries International, Inc. – Jim Gibbons, President & Goodwill of Central Arizona – Jim Teter, President & CEO
- Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation – Jeffrey D. Buchanan, Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
- Allstate Insurance Company – Mike Barton, President
- Knight Transportation, Inc. – Kevin Knight, Chief Executive Officer
- Cancer Treatment Centers of America – Edgar Staren, M.D., Ph.D., Former President & CEO
- Wells Fargo & Company – John Stumpf, Chairman, President & CEO
- Arizona Cardinals – Michael Bidwill, President
2013 - 2014
- Resources Global Professionals – Brandon Johnson, Chief Information Officer
- Boeing Brazil – Donna Hrinak, Ambassador
- Taylor Morrison, Inc. – Sheryl Palmer, President & CEO
- FranklinCovey – Hyrum Smith, Co-Founder
- Isagenix – Adriana Pozzani Lynch, Senior Vice President of Global Marketing
- Green Card Fund LLC – Girish Patel, Co-founder
- Joe Garagiola, Jr. – Designated Hitter for Arizona Business Leadership
2012-2013
- Travel Channel – Laureen Ong, President & Hotel Impossible – Anthony Melchiorri, Host
- Deckers Consumer Direct Corporation – John Kalinich, President
- ASM America, Inc. – Dr. Peo Hansson, General Manager
- Gallagher & Kennedy – Mike Kennedy, Shareholder & Co-Founding Partner and Former Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee Chairman
- PetSmart – David Lenhardt, President & Chief Operating Officer
- Waste Management, Inc. – Dave Aardsma, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer
- Great Clips – Rhoda Olsen, Chief Executive Officer, Great Clips
2011-2012
- Lucas Arts Entertainment Company – Jim Ward, Former President and Currently Interim President & CEO of The Phoenix Symphony
- Amazon.com – Michael Pazak, Director of Sales
- Remy International – John Weber, President
- Phoenix Children’s Hospital – Robert Meyer, President & Chief Executive Officer
- McDonald’s Corporation – Shelby Yastrow, Former EVP, General Counsel, & Corporate Secretary; Current Member of the Board of Directors of Great Clips; New York Times Bestselling Author
- Deka Research International & FIRST – Dean Kamen, Founder
- ON Semiconductor – Bob Klosterboer, SVP & General Manager
2010-2011
- Chartis – Vincent J. Masucci, Los Angeles Region President
- Apollo Global Management, LLC – Barry J. Giarraputo, Chief Accounting Officer and Controller
- Center for Executive Medicine – Dr. Connie Mariano, Former Director of the White House Medical Unit and Physician to Three U.S. Presidents
- APS – Eran Mahrer, Director of Renewable Energy
- U of A – Price Fishback, PH.D., Professor
- Inventure Foods Inc. – Steve Weinberger, Sr. Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
- Taser International – Rick Smith, Cofounder, CEO and Director
2009-2010
- Wally Kelly, Chairman & CEO, CBS Outdoor North America
- Chance Cozby, Director Tournament Player Relations, Ping
- Doug Parker, Chairman & CEO, US Airways
- Joseph L. Ford, C.F.E., Senior Vice President & Chief Security Officer, Corporate Security, Bank of the West, Former FBI Associate Deputy Director & Chief Operating Officer, Bank of the West/FBI
- Dr. Jeffrey M. Trent, Founder, President & Research Director, TGen
- Scott Davis, Senior Vice President & Chief Concept Officer, Panera Bread Company
2008-2009
- Jack J. Pelton, Chief Executive Officer, Cessna
- John Philip Coghlan, Former President & CEO, Visa
- Luc J. Messier, Senior Vice President, ConocoPhllips
- Michael G. Koppel, Chief Executive Officer, Nordstrom
- Michael C. Mac Donald, Senior Vice President Operational Effectiveness, XEROX Corporation
- Harris H. Simmons, Chairman, President & CEO, Zions Bancorporation
- Donald J. Bailey, Chief Executive Officer, Willis North American
2007-2008
- Lou Tice, Co-Founder & Chairman, The Pacific Institute, Inc.
- Geoff Smith, President, Roush Fenway Racing
- Trevor Hill, Founder & CEO, Global Water Resources
- Josh Byrnes, SVP & General Manager, Arizona Diamondbacks
- Michael G. Oxley, Vice Chairman, NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc.
- Matt Janopaul, President & COO, Fender Musical Instruments Corporation
- Dr. Frank M. Hatheway, Chief Economist, NASDAQ
- Aaron Matos, PHR, Founder & CEO, Jobing.com (Leadership Award)
2006-2007
- Craig Jackson, CEO, Barrett-Jackson
- Rob Gillette, President & CEO, Honeywell Aerospace
- Karim Khoja, CEO, Roshan Afghanistan
- Todd McFarlane, Owner, TMP International
- Matthew Hart, President & COO, Hilton Hotel Corporation
- Robert Sarver, Owner, Phoenix Suns
- John Gamauf, President, North America Tire, Bridgestone/Firestone
- Bob Parsons, CEO & Founder, The Go Daddy Group, Inc. (Leadership Award)
2005-2006
- Laura Roberts, CEO, Pantheon Chemical
- Debra Kelly-Ennis, Chief Marketing Officer, Diageo
- David Moffett, CFO, US Bank
- Bryan Bartlett, Retired Chief Engineer, Saudi Aramco
- Don Murray, CEO, Resources Global Professional
- John McAdams, President & CEO, F5
- Richard Schneiders, CEO, Sysco Corporation
- Scottsdale Center for the Arts Authors & Art Event
- Tom Lewis, Owner & CEO, T.W. Lewis (Leadership Award)
2004-2005
- David Cavazos, Acting Aviation Director, Sky Harbor International Airport
- Todd Maclin, Executive Vice President, JRMorganChase
- David Kong, President & CEO, Best Western International
- Vincent Roig, Chief Executive Officer, Southwest Student Services Corporation
- Burt Tansky, President, CEO and Director,Neiman Marcus
- Debra Kelly-Ennis, President & CEO, SAAB Cars, USA
- Doug Ducey, President & CEO, Cold Stone Creamery
- Phil Francis, President & CEO, Petsmart
- Kim McWaters, President & CEO, Universal Technical Institute, Inc.
2003-2004
- Captain’s Hoss, Pearson & Jon McBride Owners, ATSI
- Sheika Lubna Al Qasimi, CEO, Tejari
- Brad Tilden, CFO, Alaska Airlines
- Steve Sanghi, President, Chairman & CEO, Microchip
- Anders Berggren, President, Electrolux Commercial Outdoor North America
- Jerry Moyes, CEO, Swift Transportation
- Rojon Hasker, SVP Marketing, Safeway
- Dennis Kuester, President & CEO, M & I Bank
- Mike Fong President, Calence, Inc. (Leadership Award)
2002-2003
- Max Poll, Chief Executive, Int’l Genomics Consortium
- Peter J. Solomon, Chairman, President & CEO Peter J. Solomon Company
- John Coors, President, Coors Tech
- Dr. George Ebbs, President, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
- Dr. Michael Crow, President, Arizona State University
- Arthur Levitt, Former SEC Chairman and best-selling author
- Donald G. Sodorquist, Retired Senior Vice-Chairman, Walmart Stores
- Kirk Lanterman, President & CEO, Holland America
- John Bebbling, Owner,Tempe Paint & Decorator, Inc. (Leadership Award)
2001-2002
- Anne Mariucci, President, Del Web
- Cyrus Freidheim, Jr. Vice Chairman, Booz Allen & Hamilton
- Steve Bartlette, President & CEO, Financial services Roundtable
- Walter E. Boomer, President & CEO, Rogers Corporation
- Leonard M. Harlan, President, Castle Harlan, Inc.
- Peter Fine, President & CEO, Banner Health Systems
- Patrick Sullivan, CEO, Interact Commerce Corporation
- John F. Antioco, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Blockbuster, Inc.
- Eddie Basha, CEO, Bashas’ (Leadership Award)
2000-2001
- Roy Vallee, Chairman & CEO Avnet, Inc.
- Jack Swonson, President, USAA
- Gary Michael, Chairman of the Board & CEO, Albertson’s
- Russell W. Meyer, Chairman of the Board, Cessna Aircraft Companies
- Douglas Foshee, Chairman, CEO and President, Nuevo Energy Company
- Richard B. Myers, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
- Robert D. Hormats, Vice Chairman, Goldman Sachs & Co.
- Elizabeth Sanders, President, Sanders Partnership
- Ed Ast, President and CEO, Shasta Industries (Leadership Award)
- Steve Ast, Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Shasta Industries (Leadership Award)
1999-2000
- Jim Ivy, CEO, Savin Corporation
- Nathan Schulhof, CEO, audiohighway.com
- Eric Crown, CEO, Insight Enterprises, Inc.
- Dr. Paul Jones, Jr. Chairman & CEO, Compass Bancshares, Inc.
- Roger Penske, CEO, Penske Corporation
- Jonathan Ornstein, Chairman, Mesa Airline Group & Virgin Express
- Marcie Rossell, VP, Corporate Economist & Investment Spokesperson, Oppenheimer Funds
- Al Piergallini, President & CEO, Novartis Consumer Health North America
- Steve Bunger, Chief Executive Officer, Mobile Mini, Inc. (Leadership Award)
