MOST INFLUENTIAL WOMEN

Grenee Martacho CEO

Concord General Contracting

Background: Martacho has made it her mission to shatter the norms in commercial construction while empowering the men and women around her to do the same. She joined Concord in 2007 as a marketing coordinator and became a partner and vice president in 2016. In 2020, Martacho took the helm as the company’s CEO. As CEO, she leads a team of 65 employees and manages $90 million in annual revenues while carrying out a strategic plan that constantly focuses on growing the firm.

Inspiration: “I thought I would be in construction for two years tops; the people in this industry changed my path. Every day, I get to work with people who are authentic, strong, and appreciative. They make me want to work harder to be a better leader and find new ways to make our culture even stronger.”

Source of pride: “I became CEO in January 2020 with big aspirations, then COVID changed everything. I became reactive to protecting our company, listening to individuals’ struggles dealing with constant change, staying strong when we lost an employee, all while celebrating becoming an ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) and giving ownership to our employees. Before 2020, I didn’t deal with change well. Today, I take pride that I learned that pivoting when faced with adversity is what makes a strong leader.”

LEARN MORE: READ FULL BIOS OF ALL THE MOST INFLUENTIAL WOMEN OF 2023 AT AZBIGMEDIA.COM

Heather Personne

Managing principal Evolve Ventures

Background: Throughout her career, Personne has spearheaded the development of more than 100 retail, office, hospitality and multifamily properties throughout the western U.S.

Inspiration: “More than anything, I want to make a difference for the next generation of leaders. As a woman in a male-dominated field, there are many obstacles I’ve had to overcome. Having the opportunity to control my own destiny, brand and message inspires me — it’s about more than the work, it’s about leaving an impact.”

Source of pride: “Founding a company right before a global pandemic certainly doesn’t seem like the smartest idea in hindsight, which is why I am so incredibly proud of what Amy Malloy and I have built. There was a moment — or two — of fear and uncertainty along the way, but we never wavered from our commitment to think differently and to focus on relationships and creative solutions for our partners and clients. We never looked back and couldn’t be more grateful.”

Surprising fact: “I was on ‘The Wallace and Ladmo Show’ one time when I was maybe seven or eight. I switched seats with someone at the last minute, and she won the Ladmo Bag. I was crushed.”

Danielle Puente President

DP Electric

Background: In 2015, Puente joined DP Electric as the controller and quickly learned the finance and human resources side of the business. The first impact she had was to hire an HR leader, Christina Fernandez, and together they improved the culture through various initiatives such as appreciation lunches and an award system called DP Dinero. These initiatives are still a part of the DP Electric culture today and the company consistently wins “top companies to work for in Arizona” awards. As the company grew from a $30 million contractor in 2015 to $60 million in 2018, Puente was promoted to CFO and started to get more closely involved with all aspects of the business, including pre-construction and operations. She was promoted to president in 2023 and is responsible for overseeing the company’s operations, culture and driving its growth and success.

Inspiration: “When I started at DPE as the controller, I did not necessarily picture myself one day leading the company. What inspired me to follow the path as president of DPE was my desire to foster a strong culture and recruit and retain the best people that propel us forward.”

Surprising fact: “I studied abroad in Guatemala for a summer in college because I wanted to experience a place completely different from the U.S. Warm showers are now something I will always have extra appreciation for.”

LEARN MORE: READ FULL BIOS OF ALL THE MOST INFLUENTIAL WOMEN OF 2023 AT AZBIGMEDIA.COM