35 minute read
Most Influential Women in Arizona
Julia S. Acken Jamie Boggs Christine Boles Latasha Causey Dr. Alyssa Chapital Kari Cornicelli Sarah Cosette Susan Dana-Kobey Christine Ferrell Gabrielle Finley-Hazle Lyndsey Fry Julie Gable Beth Ginzinger Nancy Gonzales Meghan H. Grabel Cathy Graham Susan M. Gray Dawn Grove Christina Hamilton Jeanine Jerkovic Adriana Kong Romero Barbara Kennedy Rebecca Lundberg Lea Marquez Peterson Beth McDonald Geri Mingura Dr. Stacie Pinderhughes Jennifer Russo Sandra Sagehorn-Elliott Dr. Heather Schneider Erica Sietsma Pam Stelzer Beth Stiller Mona Stone Elise Thorpe Keri Tignini Cathleen Walker Kris Yamano
10th Anniversary
— 2021 —
THE JOB AHEAD
In the wake of the pandemic, here’s how to bring more women back into positions of power in the workplace
By MICHAEL GOSSIE
COVID-19 created countless workplace challenges, but women in business faced the most — and seemingly the highest — hurdles.
For many women, the global pandemic left no real choice but to step away from work to manage new familial obligations like educating their children at home and caring for youngsters who would have spent their days at daycare or in school prior to the COVID-19 outbreak.
We have already seen a disproportionate number of female employees exit the workforce due to the effects of COVID-19, and the trend is likely to continue. Researchers from the National Women’s Law Center estimate more than 2.3 million women have left the workforce since February 2020, bringing female labor participation rates to the lowest levels the country has seen since 1988.
In the first month of 2021 alone, women made up an astonishing 80 percent of U.S. job losses — more proof of a recession that is specifically hitting women, erasing decades of work to narrow the gender gap. A new term — “shecession” — has been coined to describe this cataclysmic shift in the workplace and workforce.
The implications of the global health crisis are far-reaching and could result in a perpetuation and widening of the gender pay gap, as well as a lack of employment and advancement opportunities for women in the years ahead. It could also perpetuate the stereotype that mothers are not reliable employees because of their obligations to child rearing.
Now is an important moment for policymakers, business owners and employers to figure out how they are going to respond to the fact that, more than ever before, female employees are being stretched to cover family caregiving and work obligations at the same time.
According to Joshua Black, managing attorney at the Law Office of Joshua Black, some ways to make the workplace more family-friendly, include: • Reviewing medical and other leave policies to ensure the policies are gender neutral and available to all employees. For instance, employers can review their handbooks for antiquated language, such as “maternity leave,” opting to update such a policy to “parental leave.” This language shift encourages a well-rounded workforce and embraces the idea that male employees can also take leave to care for family. • Providing paid leave and paid sick days to help employees care for family members. • Being aware that illness, such as COVID-19, affects each employee differently. Employers should review an employee’s individual circumstances when considering granting leave or workplace accommodations. • Helping make childcare more accessible and affordable for employees. • Working to normalize employees taking parental leave when appropriate. Many employees – male and female – say they fear taking parental leave will negatively impact the way they are viewed in the workplaces and will limit growth/ promotion opportunities. • Being open to flexible work arrangements that make it possible for working parents to have a career while raising their families.
With this issue of Az Business casting the spotlight on the Most Influential Women in Arizona Business for 2021, here is advice from past Most Influential Women on what business leaders can do to create more opportunities for women in the workplace.
MEET THE MOST INFLUENTIAL WOMEN OF 2021
From a pool of more than 1,200 women under consideration, the editorial board for Az Business magazine and a panel of experts selected 38 women as the Most Influential Women of 2021. Meet them on the pages that follow.
JODI R. BOHR
shareholder, Tiffany & Bosco Most Influential Women of Arizona CLASS OF 2019 “Mentorship support and flexibility are key. A formal mentorship program offers women the opportunity to ask questions without judgment. This support builds bonds that last. Also, flexibility (when possible) removes some of the pressure women feel when balancing work and family needs. Last year proved that we can get it done with a little flexibility. It’s OK to not be flexible at times. But when work can be done outside of normal business hours, let it be. A woman who feels like she can be there for her family when needed and is not placed within unnecessary constraints will shine and stick around to rise up the ranks.”
LISA DAVEY
vice president and Northeast Arizona Division manager, WaFd Bank Arizona Most Influential Women of Arizona CLASS OF 2018 “As a female leader at WaFd Bank, I have opportunities to give back, cultivate new relationships, learn and grow side by side with a vast number of other women leaders. In my position, I aim to provide opportunities for young women to flourish within our bank by recognizing and utilizing the top talent among us. Our partnership with Metro High School introduced me to numerous talented young women who completed the WaFd Bank sponsored EVERFi program and excelled in the banking and finance classes. I encourage these young professionals to lead by example and share their passion for their career with the community through volunteerism and mentorship.”
ANGELA OLEA
RN, CEO, Assisted Living Locators Most Influential Women of Arizona CLASS OF 2019 “COVID-19 disproportionately impacted women in the workforce who faced a dual crisis of both job loss and overwhelming increase in caregiving demands as a result of school closures and collapse of support networks for their aging parents. It has created an unsustainable dynamic. As we prepare for post-pandemic life, I believe that offering parttime flexibility, remote-work environments, supplement wages and increased funding for childcare and senior assistance will ultimately be the key to drive the opportunity for women to better their work-life balance and return to the workforce.”
ELIZABETH SHABAKER
CEO, Versant Capital Management Most Influential Women of Arizona CLASS OF 2018 “We need more women in both the financial industry and in leadership. There has been a great deal of talk about it but not enough action. It’s not going to happen by just giving advice to women about how to advance in business. It’s up to businesspeople and their organizations to consciously include women in their ranks and in leadership positions. Propelling women to new roles requires plans that involve the commitment of both men and women. That means creating a workplace where women are included in all departments and with access to programs that amplify the capabilities of those who have the aspirations and ambition to excel in their field.”
WILL YOUR NEXT MARKETING CAMPAIGN BE EFFECTIVE? ASK A WOMAN
Women hold more power than society leads us to believe. We’re bombarded with images of traditional femininity — hourglass figures, smooth skin, made up faces. Society and its expectations of women are largely shaped by the media we consume, Veronique James and the media we consume Marketing has an agenda — especially when it comes to ads.
Slowly but surely, marketers are cluing into the mindblowing fact that women hold the majority of purchasing power in a household — somewhere between 70-80 perecent, according to Forbes. That means that targeting women the right way makes sense. Dollars and cents.
But too often we see marketing campaigns utterly fail to connect with the female audience due to antiquated ideas of what women want — and want to be. Whether or not you have a woman on your agency team, it’s important to hear what female voices have to say about what your brand is offering.
Do you want your marketing campaign to be effective? Here are three reasons to ask women their thoughts on your next ad.
Think outside the archetype
A woman holds the majority of purchasing power in her household, but that doesn’t mean she runs the stereotypical home. The archetype of the do-it-all supermom may be a reality for some, but many modern women don’t fall into the category of the selfless caregiver. In fact, more and more women are choosing not to have a family at all.
The “supermom” archetype might be convenient for advertisers, but it places toxic expectations on women and devalues the role men play in a family. The supermom is in contrast to the helpless dad, who is happy to support his wife but is completely out of his depth when it comes to basic household tasks.
A woman’s eye can easily identify these stereotypes that don’t apply to her goals and desires as a woman. Market research that surveys women can further identify the pain points in a woman’s life where your brand can swoop in and improve it.
Be mindful of belittling
The now-infamous 2012 “BiC for Her” campaign may go down in history as one of the most tone deaf of all time. It began with the bizarre idea that a woman would need a gendered speciality pen in traditionally feminine colors.
Starting with a flawed idea, the ad campaign only got worse from there. In an ad, written next to a woman in a business blazer, were the words “Look like a girl. Act like a lady. Think like a man. Work like a boss.”
The message women received is that they need to look young and act proper at all times. The ad also suggests that thinking like a man is somehow better than thinking like a woman, especially when it comes to being a professional. And all of this came from an ad for a pink pen.
While we don’t know who was in the room for the BiC for Her concept meeting, we can say that asking women what they thought of the campaign would have steered marketers away from these belittling messages.
Excluding powerful audiences
“Inclusivity” is the marketing term de jour, and we won’t likely go back to the before times when the common target audience was the white, middle-class mom. Including minorities, people from diverse backgrounds and those with disabilities in your ad campaign can lead to skyrocketing sales if done in an empowering way. American Eagle lounge brand Aerie clued into this fact early on, incorporating more body types, racial backgrounds and abilities than you’d see in the average lingerie ad.
Victoria’s Secret took note. Once known for its idealistic “Angels,” the brand held 80 percent market share in 2015. In 2019, that number slipped to 65 percent. Since then, the brand has increasingly begun using models with a wider diversity of races, body types, abilities and even genders in the marketing
for its PINK line. This signals a cultural shift from one that strives for perfection to one that aims for comfort in our own skin.
My business, The James Agency, is woman-led and we’ve been able to identify these pitfalls from day one. By bringing more women into your marketing ideations, you’re not only creating a cultural shift — you’re impacting your brand’s bottom line. Kind of a win-win, right?
Veronique James is the founder and CEO of The James Agency (TJA), a woman-led, fully integrated marketing agency located in Scottsdale. James founded TJA with the goal of creating an agency focused on communication and transparency with clients and employees. James is an Az Business magazine Most Influential Women 2018 honoree.
Barbara Kennedy
Executive vice president and chief human resources officer
Western Alliance Bank
A champion of women, Kennedy has blazed a trail not just for HR professionals, but also for women in highly competitive and traditionally male-dominated industries. Source of pride: “Being able to leaf through a collection of personal messages and notes I have received over the years that express genuine gratitude is something for which I’m extremely proud. They reflect years of friendship, mentoring and in some cases, a life-changing impact the relationship has had and reinforces that going the extra mile has made a difference.” Elise Thorpe
Principal
Lovitt & Touché
A nationally recognized thought leader in employee health and wellbeing for more than 25 years, Thorpe has partnered with CEOs, CFOs and HR professionals to create strategic benefits packages that attract top talent and align with company culture. Lesson learned in 2020: “The pandemic reinforced the importance of relationships, flexibility and a positive attitude. Strong relationships helped strengthen mutual trust and respect during an unpredictable period that required immense flexibility in how we operated personally and professionally while striving to stay positive in some of the most trying circumstances.” Gabrielle FinleyHazle
President and CEO
Dignity Health Arizona Central and West Valley
Finley-Hazle has more than 20 years of experience in healthcare and leads Dignity Health Arizona Central and West Valley, including St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center and St. Joseph’s Westgate Medical Center. Lesson learned in 2020: “There are many lessons that I will take away from the pandemic, including the power of prayer, resiliency, the importance of transformation, and innovation. However the most powerful lesson was the tremendous impact of ‘Hello Humankindness.’ As a healthcare leader, all of these lessons have profoundly impacted me and our organization during the pandemic.” Meghan H. Grabel
Partner
Osborn Maledon
Grabel is a partner at Osborn Maledon, where she leads the Energy, Water, and Utility Practice Group. She teaches the utility law and regulation course at ASU College of Law. Source of pride: “Establishing a thriving energy, water and utility law practice. I left a key position in a good company because I saw a strategic opportunity to use my expertise and fill an underrepresented demographic in Arizona’s utility regulatory bar. My firm is now a valuable player in utility regulation and energy project development, representing multiple clients from a variety of industries.”
Jennifer Russo
Owner and executive chef
The Market Restaurant + Bar by Jennifer’s and Jennifer’s Catering
Russo, a graduate of the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco, owns and operates Jennifer’s Catering and the popular The Market Restaurant + Bar by Jennifer’s, located in the Arcadia neighborhood of Phoenix. Lesson learned in 2020: “The fact that we survived is amazing and says everything. And I have an incredible staff and client base. But besides that we learned how to work leaner, smarter and harder because 23 years of business was on the line. We didn’t stop once. We just kept being thankful and pushed through.” Dawn Grove
Vice President and corporate counsel
Karsten Manufacturing
Grove is the vice president and corporate counsel for Karsten Manufacturing Corporation, parent company of PING (a top global golf equipment brand) and related subsidiaries. Gov. Doug Ducey appointed her to chair the Workforce Arizona Council beginning in 2016. Lesson learned in 2020: “My takeaway is how precious time with people is, and how nothing is more valuable than the people we are blessed to meet. Being a leader is all about caring for and serving people, and now I serve with greater urgency, never knowing when our last moments together might be.” Nancy Gonzales
Executive vice president and university provost
Arizona State University
When she graduated from ASU, Gonzales became the first in her family to earn a college degree. She then went on to earn a PhD from the University of Washington and launched an award-winning career in research and teaching. Source of pride: “I am most proud that I have used my research, community work and leadership roles to open doors for individuals and groups that have been underrepresented in higher education. This is ultimately the core thread that unites my past work as a faculty member, teacher, mentor, social and behavioral scientist, and executive leader.” Lea Marquez Peterson
Chairwoman
Arizona Corporation Commission
Marquez Peterson is the chairwoman of the Arizona Corporation Commission, which regulates the utility industry. She is the first Latina to serve as a statewide public official. She formerly served as the president of the Tucson Hispanic Chamber. Lesson learned in 2020: “As a commissioner, I worked to protect Arizonans who were facing financial difficulties by supporting disconnection policies for our utilities. Additionally, I’ve focused on supporting efforts to ensure high-speed internet to vulnerable populations across the state. My priority is the public’s health and safety during the pandemic.”
Christine Boles
Vice president of Internet of Things Group, general manager of Industrial Solutions Division
Intel
Boles’ organization is responsible for Intel’s Industrial IoT business. For more than 25 years, Boles led development, delivery and enabling Intel-based solutions, across a broad range of customers, applications and industries. Lesson learned in 2020: “My personal brand includes being an approachable, relatable leader. During 2020, I increased my connection with others, creating a safe workplace for individuals to deal with personal unknowns and challenges. Through focus and clear priorities, and encouraging individuals to ask for help, we globally achieved incredible business results.” Beth McDonald
Radio host
99.9 KEZ
McDonald believes that her love of radio was nurtured by her mother who always had the radio on at the breakfast table. During her childhood, her family occasionally vacationed in Phoenix, and she knew that this is a place she would love to live. Source of pride: “There are a couple of things I’m particularly proud of. One is being one of the first women in the country to host a morning drive radio show. I think what makes me most proud is my longevity in this industry and realizing that people still have an interest in listening.” Julie Gable
COO
TBConsulting
Gable has more than 20 years of experience in IT and business consulting with a proven track record of delivering meaningful and measurable technical and operational results. Source of pride: “I am proudest of the people I have brought into the IT industry through what I call ‘creative staffing.’ I often seek out non-technical people who are culturally aligned (analytical, strong communication and work-ethic) and then develop their technical skills. Few things are as rewarding as watching these individuals overcome the technical hurdles and then go on to have meaningful careers in IT.”
Kari Cornicelli,
Executive vice president and CFO
Phoenix Children’s Hospital
Cornicelli has extensive experience in healthcare finance, value growth and in developing healthcare reform initiatives like population health strategies. She leads broad financial initiatives as well as the operations of Phoenix Children’s Care Network and Phoenix Children’s Pediatrics. Lesson learned in 2020: “I’ve always valued teamwork. This past year, the importance of a cohesive team became even more evident.” Surprising fact: “I probably appear as a workaholic — which isn’t uncommon for these types of leadership positions. But I do like to have fun. I am an outdoor enthusiast who likes to go jeeping, camping, biking and hiking.” Erica Sietsma
COO
Digital Air Strike
Sietsma is COO at Digital Air Strike, a consumer experience technology company based in Scottsdale. She has 20 years of technology experience and has been a driving force of Digital Air Strike’s vision and growth. Lesson learned in 2020: “Nothing is impossible. Each challenge (or pandemic or recession or market crash) is just a new opportunity to get creative and problem solve. I learned that as a team (and as a leader) we can do hard things, but do them smarter and more creatively.” Surprising fact: “I do a pretty good imitation of Chris Farley’s SNL character, Matt Foley.” Latasha Causey
Vice president, human resources
Bell Bank
Causey has been an HR leader for decades. She is active in the community, serving on the Teach for America, Valley of the Sun United Way, ASU Alumni Association and Phoenix Workforce Commission boards. Source of pride: “What gives me the most pride is seeing those I have led, mentored or coached – especially those in the next generation of workers – flourish into the best versions of themselves. All the phone calls, what-if’s and connections have helped them succeed both personally and professionally. Doing my small part in helping them gives me confidence in our future.” Mona Stone
Senior vice president, general counsel, chief compliance officer, and corporate secretary
Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona
Stone has volunteered on several nonprofit boards, including the Arizona Association of Corporate Counsel and the Institute for Inclusion in the Legal Profession. Source of pride: “My current role at Goodwill is a true honor and privilege. I am able to provide both business and legal guidance to the business in support of our critical vision to end poverty through the power of work. I also am mentoring some incredible future leaders. Being able to help people transform their lives is extremely rewarding.”
Susan Dana-Kobey
Partner
Burch & Cracchiolo
Dana-Kobey is a family law attorney who handles all aspects of divorce and family law matters. Lesson learned in 2020: “To slow down and look up. Strong leaders adapt to change and find innovative ways to get through challenges. If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that we need to always nurture our ability to understand humanity and its ever-evolving ways so that we can be better prepared to lead in the right direction when the road is dark. When we are too busy to look up, we miss the opportunities that allow us to develop the skills needed to lead.” Alyssa B. Chapital, MD
Medical director
Mayo Clinic Hospital
Dr. Chapital is an associate professor of surgery in the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science and also serves as the medical director for the Mayo Clinic Hospital. She led the Hospital Incident Command for the COVID-19 pandemic. Lesson learned in 2020: “Nothing is impossible. Too many times we are challenged as leaders, as humans, with situations or problems that seem unfathomable or unsolvable. Complacency was not an option during the pandemic. Committing to an audacious goal takes guts but also it inspires people to operate at the highest possible level and do great things.” Beth Stiller
CEO
Massage Envy
Stiller is the CEO of Massage Envy, the largest provider of therapeutic massage and skin care services across its over 1,100 franchise locations. She has more than 20 years of experience in retail, branding, merchandising and management. Lesson learned in 2020: “It’s the importance of connection. Everyone was physically isolated for months, so we worked hard to keep the lines of communication open. We conducted frequent touchpoints to discuss the changing environment, provide support and listen to our franchisees’ challenges. Finding ways to stay connected while physically apart was a big focus and something I’ll always keep in mind going forward.” Sarah Cosette
Vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer
Cancer Treatment Centers of America Phoenix
Cosette is an Air Force Academy graduate, holds a master’s in nursing from Vanderbilt University, and serves as a lieutenant colonel and chief nurse in the Air Force Reserve. Lesson learned in 2020: “While the pandemic forced clinical leaders into a defensive mode, I doubled-down on empowering CTCA clinicians and Air Force medics … and then listened. Maximizing their tactical role and drawing on their expertise enabled me to regain the offensive and lead more strategically, continuing our hallmark compassionate care to our patients and communities.”
Heather Schneider, DMD
Dental director
Delta Dental of Arizona
Dr. Schneider is Delta Dental of Arizona’s dental director and an adjunct instructional dentist at A.T. Still University. Source of pride: “Many don’t know this, but initially I was a dental assistant. I am exceptionally proud of pushing myself to earn my Doctor of Dental Medicine degree and the Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) residency that I completed after that, extending my surgical and specialty skill set.” Surprising fact: “I am a twin. Yes, there are TWO of us.” Julia S. Acken
Member
Jennings, Strouss & Salmon
Acken focuses her practice on labor and employment law. Acken has defended numerous companies in gender, race and disability discrimination cases in state and federal court. Lesson learned in 2020: “There is no ‘best way’ to get the job done. I used to try and control every aspect of my work product, but the pandemic made that impossible. I had to be creative, find alternatives and rely on others, and the final product ended up being as good, if not better, through that collaboration.” Jamie Boggs
Vice president of athletics
Grand Canyon University
Boggs was instrumental in GCU’s successful transition from NCAA Division II to Division I. She was selected as vice chair of the NCAA’s Division I Women’s Basketball Oversight Committee.
Lesson learned in 2020:
“Serving with humility, empathy and authenticity is necessary to strengthen the connection with your team, especially in times of significant challenge. A leader’s responsibility is to create calm and a clear direction. It is important to lean on your culture, which for us is one of collaboration, continuous improvement, community and Christian leadership.” Jeanine Jerkovic
Economic development director
City of Surprise
Jerkovic was recognized in 2019 as “Economic Developer of the Year” by the Arizona Association for Economic Development. Jerkovic has a BA from Arizona State University and has an MSc from the London School of Economics Source of pride: “I am most proud of leading the recruitment of Costco to the City of Surprise, because it was the most-wanted retailer by the residents for several years. When the Surprise Costco opened its doors in September 2020, it launched a 890,000-squarefoot Prasada Gateway Village masterplan.”
Beth Ginzinger
Chief strategy officer and chief risk officer
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Arizona
Ginzinger, RN, MBA, is responsible for developing and overseeing the BCBSAZ’s foundational and transformational strategic planning activity. She also has responsibility for enterprise risk management, business continuity, and strategic intelligence. Source of pride: “Being a part of launching Arizona’s first 24/7 vaccine clinic is an experience I will hold with me forever. I am proud to have been a part of a company that stands by its mission to inspire health and to always go where our help is needed.” Kris Yamano
Vice president and market leader
BMO Wealth Management
Yamano leads her team in providing high-net-worth families, businesses and charitable organizations with customized wealth services. She serves on the executive committees for both the board of the Arizona Center for Nature Conservation and Arizona Council on Economic Education. Lesson learned in 2020: “The pandemic underscored the importance of flexibility, empathy and communication. Being willing to adapt is imperative, and it’s essential to have frequent and open dialogue with both clients and team members to understand their needs. These things continue to be especially valuable as we transition to a new environment.” Stacie Pinderhughes, MD
Market chief medical officer
UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement
Dr. Pinderhughes has a built a reputation as a visionary medical leader with a history of devising and implementing complex care delivery systems. Source of pride: “Early in my career, I had the privilege of developing a model for the first and only inpatient hospice unit in Harlem, N.Y., at that time. Later in Arizona, my team and I developed hospital and community-based palliative care programs. It was a privilege to serve countless individuals and their families at a time when they were vulnerable, often scared and in need of compassion.” Cathy Graham
Executive vice president and chief marketing officer
Desert Financial Credit Union
Lesson learned in 2020: “I learned that anything is possible if you tackle it one day at a time … Because none of us knew how long the pandemic was going to be, we had to each wake up every day and focus on the most important things we needed to do that day to take care of each other and keep business going. It turns out the total of all of those daily actions resulted in innovation, agility and growth beyond what we could have imagined.”
Christine Ferrell
Vice president, private banking
Enterprise Bank & Trust
Ferrell has been with Enterprise Bank & Trust for more than 14 years and has 21 years of combined banking and mortgage lending experience. Source of pride: “Recently I was awarded the Sales Champion Award for 2020 from Enterprise Bank & Trust. This award honors an extraordinary Enterprise associate who is a champion for a better client and associate experience. I have always looked up to the past recipients so I was honored to be chosen out of all the fantastic and deserving people I work with. It’s tough competition and not to be taken lightly.” Geri Mingura
Associate general manager and chief human resources executive
SRP
Lesson learned in 2020: “People are resilient and adaptable. SRP employees pivoted quickly to develop solutions to continue to serve our customers and community … The pandemic reinforced the importance of supporting employees, being open, flexible and letting them demonstrate how awesome they are.” Surprising fact: “I love American muscles cars. I once traveled to Las Vegas to drive a NASCAR at the Richard Petty Driving Experience. I love fast cars and have always favored the Chevy Camaro. To my surprise, my top speed around the racetrack was in a Dodge Challenger, not the Camaro.” Cathleen Walker
Regional president and head of corporate banking
PNC Bank
Walker brings 30 years of financial services experience at PNC Bank to the market and leads a team that provides top-notch service, scale and capabilities with a community focus. Lesson learned in 2020: “The biggest lesson I have taken away from the pandemic is realizing just how important good communication and empathy are with our employees, our community and our clients. Both attributes have played critical roles when working with community organizations on solutions for their pandemic-related needs and with companies looking for remote work solutions to grow their businesses during the pandemic.” Christina Hamilton
Equity partner
The Cavanagh Law Firm
Hamilton is an AV-rated attorney and senior member at The Cavanagh Law Firm. As a certified family law specialist, Hamilton handles complex divorce matters and custody litigation. Source of pride: “As a divorce attorney, I am most proud when my clients tell me I did not just do my job; but rather I helped them overcome their challenges with grace and dignity. Oftentimes, I have been told I have made a difference in their lives or the lives of their children which, in my eyes, is what my practice is all about.”
Lyndsey Fry
Director of external engagement and female hockey
Arizona Coyotes
Fry is the first person — male or female — from Arizona to represent Team USA in ice hockey at the Olympics and the first athlete from Arizona to win a medal in the Winter Olympics, winning a silver medal in the 2014 Olympics. She played college hockey at Harvard University. Source of pride: “I am most proud of co-founding the Arizona Kachinas Hockey Association. When I was born, there were fewer than 20 girls in the state of Arizona playing hockey. Now we have almost 200 in our association alone.” Keri Tignini
Executive director, market executive
JPMorgan Chase
Tignini leads a team of middle market banking professionals focused on serving the financial needs of commercial banking clients in the Intermountain Region. Lesson learned in 2020: “One of my favorite quotes is, ‘Lead yourself with your head and lead others with your heart.’ The power of empathy showed up in many ways this year, as we all managed through unprecedented demands. I hope we all take some of the grace we’ve shown each other back into the world as we emerge from the pandemic.” Surprising fact: “Im a huge Disneyland fan.” Rebecca Lundberg
Arizona division president
PulteGroup
Lundberg is PulteGroup’s Arizona division president, leading the strategy and execution for a team of 200 to deliver more than 2,000 homes annually. Passionate about giving back, Lundberg is a board member for HomeAid, HBACA and the University of Arizona’s marketing department. Surprising fact: “At the age of 17, I left home to dance as a soloist with the Moscow City Ballet Company in Moscow, Russia. We traveled throughout the United Kingdom and Southeast Asia, where I performed the roles of Big Swan and Spanish Bride for the prime minister of Singapore.” Pam Stelzer, CPA
Audit manager
Henry+Horn
Stelzer is a manager with Henry+Horne, specializing in technology audits. She is on the board at Valleywise Health Foundation and previously at Foundation for Blind Children. Stelzer has chaired fundraisers, guided blind climbers to the summit of Kilimanjaro and received the Cardinals Community Quarterback Award. Source of pride: “Mentoring. I love to be a part of the formal and informal mentoring processes. Helping empower staff to overcome obstacles, gain confidence, grow technically, earn promotions and ultimately excel is extremely rewarding.” Surprising fact: “I swam Alcatraz to raise funds for a local charity.”
Sandra Sagehorn-Elliott
President and CEO
Vantage West Credit Union
Sagehorn-Elliott leads Vantage West Credit Union, which has 20 branches statewide, $2.5 billion in assets, and a track record of community involvement. She assumed leadership in 2020 with a charge to propel the credit union’s 65-year legacy forward. Lesson learned in 2020: “I learned we are capable of more than we give ourselves credit for. When we had to move all of our non-branch employees to a work-from-home model in order to keep the business running, we did it in under two weeks. Our team’s ability to adapt was truly impressive.” Surprising fact: “I attended a two-room country school from kindergarten to 6th grade.” Susan M. Gray
CEO
Tucson Electric Power
Gray began her TEP career 26 years ago as a student intern and is now the first woman to lead the company. She has championed efforts to promote women’s engagement and achievement in the traditionally male-dominated utility industry. Source of pride: “I’m very proud of my role in starting a Women in Energy resource group several years ago at our company. It provided a more formal way to inspire and equip women to be successful and was another step toward a larger focus on diversity, equity and inclusion. We’re continuously working to bring this support not just to women, but to the men who work alongside us.” Adriana Kong Romero
President
Bank of America Tucson
As president of Bank of America Tucson, Kong Romero deploys the bank’s resources to address social and economic concerns and build strong communities. She leads a team of bankers who serve companies with annual revenues of $5 million to $2 billion. Lesson learned in 2020: “The pandemic taught me the importance of slowing down and appreciating the value of the simpler things in life, for the sake of my physical and mental health. If we come together and prioritize the health of our employees and community, we’ll emerge from the pandemic stronger than before. As we transition to a “pre-pandemic normal,” I remain committed to this notion and encourage everyone to pursue a healthy worklife balance.”
THE SCIENCE OF INCLUSION
Here’s how Arizona’s technology community is striving for equality and diversity in its industry
Steven G. Zylstra
Technology Each year, I become more hopeful for the future of equality for women and minorities in Arizona’s expanding technology ecosystem. And while great progress has been made, we still have a long way to go until true equality is achieved. It’s worthwhile to take a look at the remaining barriers, the work we’re doing to achieve our goals and what we’ve accomplished thus far.
Gender bias remains a big issue. According to the National Center for Women & Information Technology, women make up 47 percent of all employed adults in the United States but only 25 percent of computing roles. Women in engineering positions account for only 13 percent of the total U.S. engineering workforce, according to the Society of Women Engineers.
A look at the cause
The underlying reason there are fewer women who pursue or stay in high-paying jobs in high-tech fields is the persistent culture of discrimination against women. A Pew Research Center report found 50 percent of women surveyed said they had experienced gender discrimination at work. The industry can certainly do more to advocate for young women and minorities in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), and continue to encourage them on
opportunities in technology until the cows come home. However, until we fix the “bro culture” largely associated with the technology industry, we won’t get far.
One way Arizona’s technology community is trying to solve this issue is by promoting female leadership. As the state’s largest technology trade association and a strong voice for this community, the Arizona Technology Council is pushing for equality. A little over a year ago, the Council’s board of directors and I made the decision to actively appoint more female board members for increased parity, diversity, inclusion and equity. Since January 2020, we have appointed five new female board members.
In addition to this commitment to equity on the board, the Council and other key stakeholders in the technology and economic development community are working to bring FairHire to Arizona. FairHire is a high-end applicant tracking system featuring a fully anonymized, blind-hiring platform backed by behavioral science. The main purpose of the platform is to remove unconscious bias from the hiring process and improve diversity across industry sectors. The goal is to launch FairHire in Arizona in late 2021 or early 2022.
New initiatives
A major initiative of the Council’s and the SciTech Institute is the Chief Science Officer (CSO) program, designed to build excitement and enthusiasm for young students interested in technology. Participating schools encourage girls and boys in grades 6 through 12 to get elected as CSOs by their peers. Youth who become CSOs are invited to a summer leadership institute, where they create a customized action plan aimed at impacting STEM learning.
The CSO program began in Arizona in 2015 and has expanded to 720 children in 10 states and three countries around the world. It aims to cultivate a pipeline of diverse STEM leaders and to help prepare them for college, careers and civic engagement. The program also helps solve the challenge of gender disparity by addressing the problem at the beginning of the pipeline. The program has been successful in this regard because more than 50 percent of the CSOs elected in 2020 were girls. This next generation of technology talent will help inspire even more women to get involved with STEM programs and education to help us reach parity and eliminate gender bias in our industry.
The Council also founded the Tech Inclusion Forum IDEA series to focus on highlighting the inclusion, diversity, equity and awareness (IDEA) challenges facing women and minorities in STEM fields today, and showcase the many extraordinary and accomplished women in Arizona’s tech ecosystem. The goal of the forum is to highlight challenges and triumphs while also providing awareness and tools to hiring managers, top executives, human resources leaders, and experienced and aspiring STEM professionals.
Progress being made
Through these and many other initiatives statewide, we’re certainly making progress. An annual study conducted by SmartAsset concluded Chandler ranks as the 14th best city in the nation for women in technology. Data collected from SmartAsset’s survey and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics found women in Chandler make up 28.1 percent of the city’s tech workforce, which was the 18th largest in the study. However, they rank towards the middle of the study for gender pay gap, earning 85 cents for every dollar men make.
A 2020 Arizona Technology Industry Impact Report released by the Council stated 33 percent of Arizona’s technology jobs were held by women. While still nowhere close to an acceptable number, it’s much higher than the national average that hovers around 20 percent to 25 percent, according to Built In, a national community united by a shared passion for technology.
I urge every community around the state to focus on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Take a hard look at your company culture to ensure it’s welcoming to women and minorities. I remain hopeful for Arizona’s technology community, and with the work we’re all putting in, I do expect to report back next year with even more impressive results.
Steven G. Zylstra is the president and CEO of the Arizona Technology Council.
