John Kross has been in planning and community development in both Wisconsin and Arizona since 1989. In Wisconsin, he worked for a private downtown redevelopment firm, and in Arizona he has worked for the Town of Gilbert, the cities of Phoenix and Wickenburg, and Queen Creek, where he has been since 1996. Mr. Kross spent his first eight years in Queen Creek as the Community Development Director, two years as Assistant Town Manager and nine months as Interim Town Manager. On March 26, 2007, the Queen Creek Town Council voted unanimously to appoint Mr. Kross to fill the position of Town Manager.

Mr. Kross has a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management and Leadership Studies/Public Policy from Ripon College in Wisconsin and a Masters of Public Administration from Arizona State University. He is a member of the International City/County Management Association, American Institute of Certified Planners, American Planning Association, American Society of Public Administration and the Urban Land Institute. Mr. Kross serves on the Chandler Gilbert Community College President’s Community Advisory Council, the Arizona City/County Management Association Board and is Chair of the TOPAZ Regional Wireless Cooperative (the Board that oversees the implementation and management of the East Valley’s emergency radio response system and is an association of the municipalities of Gilbert, Mesa, Queen Creek, Apache Junction and the Apache Junction Fire District).

Julie Arendall was appointed City Manager in February 2018. Arendall has more than 18 years local government experience and is a Credentialed City Manager (ICMA-CM) through the International City Management Association. Prior to joining the City, Arendall served as a deputy city manager for the city of Peoria, Arizona. She joined that organization in 2012 as the human resources director after 12 years with Yavapai County, first as human resources director, and in 2007, as county administrator. Arendall was an executive-level human resources professional in the private sector before transitioning to local government. Arendall earned a master’s degree in public administration from Grand Canyon University and a bachelor’s degree in business management from Arizona State University. She was honored to attend the Senior Executives in Local Government Program at JFK School of Government at Harvard University, is a Certified Public Manager through Arizona State University and is a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the Society for Human Resources Management.

Patrick Banger is Gilbert’s Town Manager, a position he has held since August 14, 2011. Banger served as city administrator of O’Fallon, MO, for six years prior to working in the private sector, in a role that emphasized smart planning during a period of tremendous growth, and increasing efficiency and the value of government while decreasing employee turnover and cost of services.

Banger has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science from Missouri State University, and a Master of Arts Degree in Management from Webster University.

Banger has also taken part in several executive education programs: Strategic Thinking & Executive Team Dynamics, at The Wharton School, the University of Pennsylvania; Strategy & Organization as well as Negotiation Tactics at Stanford University Graduate School of Business; Corporate Financial Analysis at the University of Michigan Stephen M. Ross School of Business; and Sr. Executives in State & Local Government at Harvard University Kennedy School of Government.

Banger lives in Gilbert with his wife, Belinda, and her daughter Sydney. He has two other daughters Brittany and Erin.

During their June 16, 2015 meeting the Apache Junction City Council formally appointed Bryant Powell as the new city manager starting July 1, 2015.

Bryant has been with the city of Apache Junction for over 14 years starting as the Assistant to the City Manager. He was promoted to Assistant City Manager in 2003. Bryant holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from Brigham Young University, as well as an undergraduate degree in Spanish, with a minor in Political Science from Southern Utah University. In 2014, Bryant received the Credentialed Manager designation from the International City/County Management Association (ICMA). He is the first ICMA-Credentialed Manager to work for the City of Apache Junction. Bryant also received the Catherine F. Connolly Outstanding Assistant City/County Manager Award from the Arizona City/County Management Association.

Bryant has been a member of the Rotary Club of Superstition Mountain since 2010 serving as their president from July, 2014 to June, 2015. He also serves on the Apache Junction Chamber of Commerce’s Board as an Ex-Officio member.

Bryant and his wife Jenny have three daughters and have lived in Apache Junction for 14 years. Bryant is a native of Arizona, having been raised in Safford.

John S. Halikowski was appointed director of the Arizona Department of Transportation in February 2009 to lead the agency responsible for planning, building and maintaining the state’s multimodal transportation system, managing transportation revenue, and providing motor vehicle title, registration and driver license services.

Prior to his appointment, Mr. Halikowski cultivated his transportation policy expertise during 12 years as the director of research at the Arizona House of Representatives, where he made his mark researching, presenting and drafting major transportation-related legislation in collaboration with constituencies most affected by policy changes. Mr. Halikowski put this experience to work for the state through an additional six years of leadership with the Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division, driving executive team decision-making as deputy director and operations chief to achieve top-notch customer service.

As a co-chair of the Arizona Transportation and Trade Corridor Alliance, Mr. Halikowski is currently working with Arizona’s business community to fully utilize the state’s transportation system to connect Arizona’s thriving export economy with regional and global markets. He directs a similar passion toward the development of a sustainable national transportation plan as the chair of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Standing Committee on Research, and a member of the TRB Executive Committee and the advisory board of the Eno Center for Transportation. Mr. Halikowski is a respected leader among his state transportation department CEO peers, having served as the president of the Western Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.

A resident of Arizona for more than 32 years, Mr. Halikowski received his communications degree summa cum laude from Arizona State University, and advanced his leadership abilities by engagement in the Wharton Transportation Executive Program and the AASHTO National Transportation Leadership Institute.

Mr. Montoya brings more than twenty-seven years of professional management experience at municipal, county, state and federal government levels. He is currently the City Manager of the City of Avondale, a full-service city in the Phoenix metropolitan area with a 2018 population of 85,000.

He most recently served as the City Manager of Watsonville, California where he demonstrated success in enhancing economic development activity throughout the entire City. Mr. Montoya developed new relationships with organizations within the City, County and the State and worked with the police, staff and community to reduce crime to its lowest in fifteen years as well as decrease unemployment to its lowest in a decade.

In the past decade he has served on more than a dozen local and regional boards to promote and market each community. He has a Master in Public Administration from the University of New Mexico and a Bachelor of Business Administration from New Mexico State University.

The Buckeye City Council selected Roger Klingler as its City Manager on March 7, 2017. Mr. Klingler started his career in Buckeye in 2014 as the assistant city manager, and became the interim city manager in August of 2016. He has three decades of municipal government management and service delivery experience. He previously served as assistant city manager in Scottsdale for 10 years, as well as general manager of Water Resources and Intergovernmental Relations there.

“Roger has served the city of Buckeye well during his time as both the assistant city manager and interim city manager,” said Mayor Jackie Meck. “He’s a skilled and respected professional city administrator, and his strong leadership these past few years makes him the logical choice to continue leading our city into the future.”

Klingler earned a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Michigan State University and holds a Law Degree from the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University.

Marsha was appointed City Manager in April 2016 after serving as Acting City Manager for 10 months. She joined Team Chandler in April 2013 as Assistant City Manager. Marsha oversees the day to day operations of the City of Chandler. Prior to coming to Chandler, Marsha worked for the City of Lubbock, Texas, for 20 years serving in many capacities in public works and the last five years as Chief Operating Officer overseeing several large departments. Prior to her work at the City she held several positions at the Lubbock District of the Texas Department of Transportation for 10 years.

Marsha is a two-time graduate of Texas Tech University obtaining her bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering in 1988 and her master’s degree in Public Administration in 2000. She is a licensed professional engineer in the States of Arizona and Texas. Marsha is a current member of the International City/County Management Association and Arizona City Managers Association. Prior to moving to Arizona, she served in many positions for the South Plains Chapter of the Texas Society of Professional Engineers (TSPE) including President in 2001. She was also heavily involved in the Texas Chapter of the American Public Works Association (APWA) where she has served in numerous capacities including President of the Texas Chapter in 2004. Marsha has served at the national level for the American Public Works Association, on their awards committee for three years, serving as Chairman in 2010. She also served on the National Nominating Committee in 2012 and served on the Texas Municipal League Board of Directors for two years.

Marsha has received several awards in her career including the Top Three Public Works Leader of the Year Award in 1998 by the Texas Chapter of the APWA and Engineer of the Year in 2006, from the South Plains Chapter of TSPE.

Crystal Dyches was appointed El Mirage City Manager in June 2018. She is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the City, implements City Council policy and oversees a budget of $58 Million. Dyches has nearly two decades of municipal experience having served as the City Manager in Page, Arizona and Waseca, Minnesota, and as the City Administrator in St. Charles, MN. Dyches also worked as the Neighborhood Programs Administrator in Chandler, AZ and as a Neighborhood Outreach Coordinator and Management Assistant II for the City of Mesa, AZ.

Career achievements include: the oversight of the design master plan and Phase I construction at the iconic Horseshoe Bend overlook (in partnership with National Park Service, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area representatives), the completion of the Wastewater Treatment Plant and Conveyance System expansion and adaptive reuse project of an existing retail building to a Public Safety Facility.

Ms. Dyches received her Master of Public Administration from Arizona State University and a Bachelor of Arts, Social Science from Metropolitan State University. Ms. Dyches, her husband Mark and 12-year-old son, Jack reside in El Mirage.

Brent D. Billingsley is a seasoned technical professional with over nineteen years of experience across a broad range of public works, transportation, community planning, transit, air quality, economic development, and environmental responsibilities and projects. As Town Manager of Florence, Mr. Billingsley oversees eight diverse departments within the Town organizational structure, including Administration, Finance, Public Works, Engineering, Fire, Police, Community Development, Library, and Parks and Recreation. Since starting with the Town of Florence in December 2015, he has focused on modernizing and enhancing the Town’s policies, practices, and partnerships.

Mr. Billingsley’s professional repertoire includes project management, public works administration, transportation planning, community planning, transit, air quality, Section 208 area-wide water quality, economic development, floodplain administration, construction management, fleet management, and environmental clearance documentation. He is a frequent speaker on the topics of rural transit, access management, transportation planning, financial assurances, rural infrastructure finance, municipal management, and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

He is a graduate of Northern Arizona University (NAU), a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) and an ASFPM Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM). Mr. Billingsley is husband to Maria and the proud father of Cecilia and Sophia.

Phil Dorchester, a Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation tribal member, has progressively worked toward the tribal council’s vision for the betterment of the community by ensuring efficiency of tribal government operations.

Prior to taking up his current position, Phil regularly involved himself in various committees. These committees are subordinate advisory to the Council and serve as consultative interests in performing departmental functions.

Phil’s experience with the Nation’s enterprises and tribal government began in 1992. Starting as a Gaming Inspector, Phil learned the regulation of the gaming enterprise. He took the position of Casino Manager in 1996, before becoming Assistant General Manager and then Acting General Manager. Phil has held his present position since 2007; as General Manager he oversees the nation’s tribal operations.

Grady Miller has served as the Town Manager of Fountain Hills since 2015. He worked as the Administrative Services Director for a year in Fountain Hills before the Town Council appointed him to Town Manager in June 2015. Prior to working for the Town of Fountain Hills, Grady served as the Town Manager of Narragansett, Rhode Island. Grady previously worked for the City of Peoria, Arizona, for about twenty years and held a variety of management positions in Peoria including Director of the Communications and Public Affairs, Deputy Community Services Director, and Assistant to the City Manager.

Prior to relocating to Arizona in 1990 from Southern California, he worked for the cities of Burbank and Santa Ana. He holds a Master Degree in Public Administration from ASU and a Bachelor Degree in Public Administration from San Diego State University. He received a leadership certificate from the University of Colorado, Denver, in 2002. He is a member of the International City/County Management Association and Arizona City/County Management Association.

Grady has been involved and served in a variety of leadership capacities with several civic and charitable organizations locally and regionally. These include the Four Peaks Rotary Club (Fountain Hills); St. Peter’s by the Sea (Vestry and Food Bank); Peoria North Rotary Club; Narragansett Lions Club; Narragansett Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors; Peoria Chamber of Commerce Marketing Committee, Peoria Educational Enrichment Foundation; Community Advisory Board member for the Valley of the Sun Rehabilitation Hospital; Valley Forward Association Board of Directors; Narragansett Historical Society; and Board of Directors of the Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns.

Glendale City Manager Kevin Phelps is the top executive for the city of Glendale, which is part of a growing area of Maricopa County and the sixth largest city in AZ. His responsibilities include managing day-to-day operations and policy implementation for all city departments and divisions and ensuring prudent fiscal stewardship for the city.

Mr. Phelps was appointed in November 2015 and considers it his priority to bring effective and transparent government practices to the community he serves with an emphasis on leveraging technology and innovation.

Recognizing that it is in Glendale’s interest to have a robust business sector, his desire is that Glendale become both a major job center, and the most business-friendly city in the Valley. His focus is on encouraging initiatives that will grow the city’s economy, increase employment and encourage growth for businesses’ large and small. Glendale is a full-service community offering public safety, water, public works, library and recreation services for residents as well as offering business development services to support a strong economic base.

Mr. Phelps began a comprehensive strategic planning process using the City Council’s newly created mission, vision and value statements. The intent is that Glendale will demonstrate measurable results toward being the community of choice for residents, businesses and employees. To accomplish this work, he has introduced the Balanced Scorecard approach to lead organizational development and set priorities for city staff.

Under his leadership, the city has continued to stabilize financially and operationally after experiencing a serious fiscal crisis that occurred several years prior to his hiring. The turnaround has resulted in credit rating upgrades and a growing fund balance that has been achieved through policy reforms, growth of new revenue streams and a long-term financial plan.

Kevin Phelps is a board member of the Glendale Chamber of Commerce, a member of International City/County Management Association (ICMA)and a member of the Arizona City/County Management Association ACMA.

Mr. Phelps’ government leadership includes serving as the highest ranking appointed official in Pierce County, Washington, an area that includes greater Tacoma and is the states second largest county. Prior to that, he was a deputy auditor for the Washington State Auditor’s office, and was a councilmember for the city of Tacoma, Washington.

Before his tenure in government, he was the founder and managing partner of the Landmark Convention Center in Tacoma.

Jeff Kulaga was unanimously appointed Town Manager / Clerk for the Town of Guadalupe, Arizona on September 28, 2017. He also serves as the Town’s Zoning Administrator, Business License Administrator, Cemetery Administrator and Community Development Director. He is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Town, implementing Town Council policy and overseeing the $11.8M annual budget. He has more than 30 years of Arizona municipal government experience, previously serving as Assistant City Manager in Tempe for 9 years and multiple roles in Mesa and Scottsdale, including Government Relations Director and Executive Assistant to the Mayor.

Kulaga is a double Devil earning his Bachelor of Science Degree and his Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Arizona State University. He is a member of the Arizona City and County Management Association, the Arizona Municipal Clerks Association and the Urban Land Institute. He is a lifetime member of the Arizona State University Alumni Association and is mentor in the Arizona State University, Student Athletes Mentorship Program. He presently serves as Vice Chairman of the City of Phoenix, Arizona at Works Board, Workforce Development Committee.

William “Bill” Stephens became the City of Litchfield Park's City Manager in March 2018. Prior to his appointment by the Mayor and City Council as City Manager, Mr. Stephens served for four years as City Manager for Benson, Arizona.

Mr. Stephens acquired a Bachelor of Arts degree from Arizona State University and a Masters of Public Administration from Golden Gate University.

He served in the military as well. Mr. Stephens was a Colonel of the United States Air Force and Base Commander at several locations including Grissom Air Force Base, Charleston Air Force Base, Youngtown Air Force Base and Dover Air Force Base.

Ricky A. Horst was appointed City Manager for the City of Maricopa, Arizona on June 25, 2018. As the City Manager, he is responsible for the implementation and execution of Council policies, strategic planning, fiscal sustainability and oversight of all city personnel.

Prior to his appointment, Rick served as City Manager for cities in Florida, Utah, and California and brings over thirty-five years of progressive experience in the field of public administration with a proven and verifiable record of creativity, innovation, honesty, and as a results oriented leader “who gets things done.”

Rick received his Associated of Arts degree in Music Education from Okaloosa Walton Junior College followed by a Bachelor of Science Degree in Youth Leadership and Recreation Management and a Master’s Degree in Recreation Management and Community Resource Development from Brigham Young University. He later completed certain course work in the field of Public Administration at Troy State University. Rick is a member of the International City/County Manager’s Association and obtained his Credential City Manager certification in 2004.

Married to his wife Cynthia for thirty-eight years, they enjoy a diverse family of six children and fourteen grand-children that speak eight languages and represent multiple customs and cultures.

Ms. Rich serves as County Manager for Maricopa County. Prior to her appointment as County Manager, she held various positions in the organization including Deputy County Manager, Assistant County Manager, and Planning & Development Director. Before joining the County, she worked for both the cities of Phoenix and Glendale as a planner and neighborhood programs administrator. Ms. Rich holds Bachelor of Science in Physical Geography and Master of Public Administration degrees from Arizona State University. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners, American Planning Association, Arizona Planning Association, Arizona City/County Management Association, Valley of the Sun United Way Board of Directors, and Arizona State University School of Public Affairs Academic Advisory Council.

Chris Brady became City Manager of Mesa, Arizona in January 2006. With more than 25 years of public sector management experience, he is the Chief Administrative Officer of a municipality with approximately 3,500 employees, an annual operating and capital budget of $1.2 billion and a population of 450,000 residents. Mesa, Arizona is the nation's 39th largest city.

He was hired by the Mayor and City Council in 2005 to bring new leadership and direction to City government. During his tenure, Brady has reorganized City departments, streamlined business operations, improved customer service and professionalism of City staff, and steered the City through some of the most difficult economic times in recent history.

Working with the Mayor, City Council, business and community leaders and residents, he has been instrumental in improving the City's financial and budgeting models earning the respect of his peers, and more importantly, Mesa residents. These efforts included the passage of several capital bond initiatives for streets and public safety, with debt service being tied to a secondary property tax (the first in more than 65 years). The City's general obligation bond rating was upgraded by Standard and Poor's Rating Service to AA and in 2010, the City's Aa2 general obligation bond rating was reaffirmed by major rating agencies.

Brady has also used his experience and expertise in economic development to guide the City's business attraction and retention efforts including the executive role in the City's H.E.A.T. initiative which focuses economic development activity on Mesa's key industries - Healthcare, Educations, Aerospace, Tourism and Technology. Some of these successes are First Solar, Banner Health facilities expansions, Able Engineering, Crescent Crown Distributing, Embraer, Cessna, Waxie, Air Force Research Lab and the Chicago Cubs Western U.S. Headquarters and Spring Training Facility.

Prior to joining the City of Mesa, Brady served as Assistant City Manager of the City of San Antonio for ten years. He also served in various executive management and administrative positions for Bellaire, TX, Houston, TX, and Provo, UT.

Jill Keimach joined the Town of Paradise Valley in May 2019 and serves as the Town Manager. As the Town Manager, Jill is responsible for working with staff to implement the policies adopted by the Mayor and Town Council. Jill is also responsible for the day-to-day operations of all departments and staff within the town.

Town Manager Keimach joined Paradise Valley after serving as the City Manager of both Alameda, CA and Moraga, CA. Prior to that, she was the Community Development Director for both Fremont, CA and El Cerrito, CA.

Jill has her Masters of City Planning and Bachelors of Architecture from the University of California, Berkeley. She is also a member of the International City/County Managers Association, American Institute of Certified Planners, and the American Institute of Architects.

Appointed on June 27, 2017, Jeff Tyne has been serving the citizens of Peoria since 1997 in various roles. Most recently, he served as deputy city manager for four years. Prior to his position as deputy city manager, Tyne was the budget director, where he took charge of budget development, strategic initiatives, policy analysis, performance management, and grants management. Tyne also served as the community services director where he managed parks, libraries, recreation programs, sports stadium, and arts activities for the City of Peoria.

Tyne has served in a number of external roles, including as the chair of the

GFOA national standing committee on economic development and capital planning. He was also a Board Trustee for the Arizona State Retirement System, and is a past president for the Arizona chapter of GFOA. Tyne is a Credentialed Manager with the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), and was active with the ICMA Emerging Leaders Development Program.

Tyne earned his Master of Public Administration from Arizona State University, and has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Arizona State University. He attended the Senior Executives in State and Local Government program at the JFK School of Government at Harvard University and has been a training instructor for GFOA in the areas of capital planning, budget and performance management.

Ed Zuercher was appointed Phoenix City Manager in October 2013. In this role, Zuercher is the Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Phoenix and oversees the largest council-manager form of government in the United States, with 14,500 city employees, including seven employee unions and associations. He encourages city employees to focus on working smart, saving money, and being kind to customers in order to provide outstanding, innovative, and effective services at an affordable cost. In 2017, Phoenix was recognized by Governing Magazine and Living Cities as the top city in their inaugural Equipt to Innovate survey, which recognizes Phoenix's capacity and compliance in high performing governance.

Working with the Mayor and City Council, he is responsible for a city budget of $4 billion, including airport, water/wastewater, solid waste, convention center, transit system and general city services. Zuercher’s 25-year career with the city started as a Management Intern and included Assistant to the City Manager, Public Transit Director, Deputy City Manager, Mayor’s Chief of Staff, and Assistant City Manager??. He serves on the boards of directors for Downtown Phoenix, Inc., Greater Phoenix Economic Council, and the Valley of the Sun United Way. He received his Master of Public Administration from the University of Kansas and his B.A. in English/secondary education from Goshen College in Indiana. Prior to his time at the city of Phoenix, Ed taught high school English and American History.

He enjoys life in central Phoenix with his wife and two daughters.

Mr. Louis Andersen, County Manager, has over 30 years of progressive public sector management experience, and received his Bachelor and MBA from City University in Seattle, Washington. He also completed Kennedy’s Senior Executive Management Program at Harvard University.

Mr. Andersen began his public service career in 1986 upon enlisting in the United States Air Force. In 1993 he began his tenure at the Seattle Housing Authority serving as their Special Services Manager. Beginning in 2003, Mr. Andersen provided direct management support to the Town of Gilbert, Arizona Public Works Department, serving as the Environmental Services Manager. He accepted the position of Director of the Pinal County Public Works Department in 2013 and provided management and leadership support for the Transportation Infrastructure, Engineering Flood Control, Solid Waste Recycling, Airport and Emergency Management divisions. Mr. Andersen was promoted to County Manager on September 1, 2019. The County Manager executes policy decisions by the Board of Supervisors as well as oversees County operations.

Mr. Andersen is married to his wife, Brandy, who is employed by the City of Mesa. He has three children, four dogs and one tortoise.

Scott W. Smith is widely recognized as a distinguished leader in both private business and government. In a career that spans over thirty-five years, Smith has been a professional, consultant, private sector CEO, and government leader. He is the former Mayor of Mesa, Arizona (2008-2014) who currently serves as the Interim CEO of Valley Metro, the Regional Transportation Authority for Metro Phoenix. Known for his ability to collaborate and bring parties together to solve complex problems, Smith is for his innovative leadership in building better government that is more efficient and effective.

Smith graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in accounting and started his career at the international accounting firm Price Waterhouse. He earned both MBA and Juris Doctor degrees from Arizona State University and owned a management consulting and advisory firm. Seeking a new challenge, Smith became the CEO of a real estate investment and development company that was burdened with serious legal and organizational issues. He soon transformed the company into a thriving and well respected regional home building and development company in Arizona. Smith eventually bought the company from its European owners. After building the business, Smith sold it to a NYSE company and pursued another passion: public service.

In 2008, Smith ran for, and won his first elective office: Mayor of Mesa, Arizona, the 38th largest city is America with over 450,000 residents. He was reelected without opposition in 2012 and served until resigning to run for Governor of Arizona in 2014. From the time he first took office, Smith championed innovative efforts that made Mesa government more efficient, responsive and accountable to its citizens. He led the largest reorganization of city government in Mesa’s history. Faced with a crippling recession and large deficit, he worked with the City Council and City Staff to reduce the number of city employees, reduce expenditures, and balance the city’s operating budget. But he just didn’t cut costs. Following a pledge to “Build a Better Mesa,” he also made government more effective and business friendly. He eliminated red tape and burdensome regulations, and changed the culture in government by telling bureaucrats to “facilitate, don’t regulate.”

Smith also championed iMesa, a visionary citizen outreach project. Leveraging technology for civic engagement, iMesa was a grassroots improvement effort where residents submit, vote, comment on, and process ideas that helped to transform the community and led to a successful quality of life initiative in the depths of the Great Recession.

During his tenure, Smith also invested strategically in community assets. He rallied residents and leaders and kept the Chicago Cubs from moving their Spring Training to Florida, brought five new colleges to the City, enticed Apple Computers to invest billions in a new facility and led the planning and construction of an extension of Valley Metro’s light rail through Mesa’s downtown district. His leadership helped foster the most successful job creation and economic development efforts in the city’s history. By the time he left office in 2014, Mesa had won many accolades, including being named the Most Innovative City in Arizona and one of Money Magazine’s Five Best Cities to Live in America.

Smith’s fellow leaders have also recognized his leadership skills. He was elected President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors (2013-14), the only mayor from Arizona to ever be so honored. He also served on the President’s Export Council. In Metro Phoenix, he served as Chairman of the Maricopa Association of Governments Regional Council and also headed its Transportation Policy Committee.

In the Fall of 2015, Harvard University selected Smith to serve as a Resident Fellow at the John F. Kennedy School of Government’s Institute of Politics. Smith taught seminars on City Government and mentored students.

While Smith was away at Harvard, Valley Metro was hit by scandal and controversy, and Regional Leaders looked to a respected leader who could both stabilize the embattled agency and restore public trust in it. They asked Scott Smith to be Valley Metro’s Interim CEO, where he has served since early 2016.

Most recently, Smith the Brookings Institution appointed Smith to be a distinguished nonresident senior fellow in its Metropolitan Policy Program.

Scott Smith is a native of Tucson, Arizona. He and his wife Kim have been married 38 years. They have three children and seven grandchildren. Smith speaks fluent Spanish and is also a licensed pilot who volunteers his time and plane flying needed blood products to hospitals around Arizona.

For the past seven years, Bryan D. Meyers has served as the Community Manager on behalf of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community (SRP-MIC). In his role as Community Manager, Meyers oversees 25 departments of which he has direct oversight of 11. The Community employs more than 2,000 employees and provides valuable services to more than 8,700 tribal members.

Meyers is responsible for leading and managing all of the personnel, operations and logistics of the Community government.

"My duties are similar to the duties of a City Manager for a municipality, although the Community cannot be only compared to a City," Meyers says. "The SRP-MIC has duties and responsibilities similar to that of the federal, state and county governments as well as private industry all rolled up into one tribal government."

As a full-service government, SRP-MIC operates the daily government operations of the Community which includes Administration, Council, the Office of General Council, Congressional and Legislative Affairs, Budgets and Records, Finance, Human Resources, Information Technology, Treasury, Internal Audit, Purchasing, Cultural Resources and the Community Regulatory Agency.

Other Community operations include: Public Safety, Education and Community Enrichment, Health and Welfare, Public Works-Transportation, Community and Economic Development and Criminal Justice, which all operate numerous programs and offices within their respective departments.

Meyers also serves as a liaison between the Community Council and the Community Government. He carries out administrative requests by the Community Council, assures the day-to-day operations of the departments and programs to ensure that the needs of the Community are met.

Since 1993, the Community has significantly increased services to Community members, said Meyers, who first started with SRP-MIC in 1993. They include the Memorial Hall, the Lehi Community Center, two fire and police substations, housing projects, new school facilities and construction of the new 150,000 square-foot Two Waters Tribal Complex, which includes the 12,800 square-foot Council Chambers and the 12,000 square-foot Community Cafeteria, which are scheduled to open in 2009

Jim Thompson was appointed as Scottsdale City Manager in January 2017. Prior to that, Mr. Thompson served as the city manager of Casa Grande, Arizona; Bothell, Washington and Bullhead City, Arizona. He has over 30 years of experience as a city manager. Mr. Thompson has also served on the Arizona State Personnel Board since 2004 and as an adjunct professor in Arizona State University’s Department of Public Affairs since 2011. Mr. Thompson has a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Indiana University, a master’s degree in business administration from Regis University, a PhD from La Salle University and attended the Senior Executive Program at Harvard.

Michael Frazier was named Assistant City Manager in July 2015. He has been with the City of Surprise since February 2011, having served as the Surprise Police Chief.

He has had a long and distinguished career in Arizona law enforcement, which began in September 1975. From October 2007 until accepting the role as the Surprise Police Chief, Frazier served as the Police Chief for the City of El Mirage. Frazier began his law enforcement career with the Phoenix Police Department, where he served for 32 years, retiring as the Executive Assistant Police Chief after working his way through the ranks and having served in nearly every division of the police department.

Throughout Frazier's career, his focus has been to reduce crime utilizing the principles of Community Policing, building positive relationships and partnerships with community members, and ensuring that all customers receive extraordinary service. During his tenure as the Surprise police chief, a renewed focus on the department’s vision and mission by department members has resulted in community initiatives that have yielded even stronger community relationships and an 18% drop in crime from 2012-2014.

Frazier has served as a leader/advisor on regional and statewide law enforcement issues, currently serving as the Immediate Past President for the Arizona Association of Chiefs of Police (AACOP) and as an executive board member since 2009; having served as the West Valley Chiefs Association President in 2012 and 2013; serving as a member of the executive board of the Regional Wireless Cooperative (RWC), which governs the Public Safety communications network for over 20 law enforcement agencies in the Phoenix Metropolitan area; serving as an advisor to Drug Free Arizona-Kids in their efforts to provide training to parents and children about drug abuse; having served on the Steering Committee and participated in the ASU Cronkite School production of “Hooked: Tracking Heroin’s Hold on Arizona;” serving as the 2015 chairperson for the Special Olympics Arizona Law Enforcement Torch Run; and, currently serving on the steering committee whose mission is to bring a Boys and Girls Club to Surprise.

In addition to his affiliation with AACOP and the West Valley Chiefs Association, Frazier is a Lifetime Member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), an active member of the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), and a member of the Midsize Cities Section of IACP.

Frazier earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from Arizona State University in Justice Studies in 1984 and a Masters Degree in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University in 1999. Frazier is married and has three children.

Mr. Andrew Ching began serving the City as City Manager in April 2013, following his appointment as Interim City Manager in January 2013. He served as the City Attorney from August 2006 to January 2013. Mr. Ching started his career in the Tempe City Attorney’s Office as a volunteer in 1992, became a law clerk in 1993 and served as a contract attorney from 1995 to 1996. He left briefly from 1996 to 1998 to work in the Mesa City Prosecutor’s Office, where he was named Prosecutor of the Year in 1997.

Returning to the City, Mr. Ching worked as Assistant City Attorney from 1998 to 2005, and was named Senior Assistant City Attorney in 2004. He left the City in 2005 to work as an associate at Phoenix firm Moyes Storey in the areas of civil litigation, land use litigation, zoning law and local government law.

Mr. Ching was born in Tucson and raised in Tempe, and has been a Tempe resident for over 30 years. He received a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Arizona in 1991 and earned a law degree from Arizona State University in 1994.

As the City Manager of Tolleson, Reyes Medrano, Jr. is charged with ensuring the delivery of municipal services to the community, economic development initiatives, budget creation and administration, strategic planning for the city, fiscal accountability, and employee relations. As a Tolleson native, Reyes has seen the growth of the city from a small farming community to a strong commercial and industrial base that allows for the delivery of many amenities and cultural activities to Tolleson’s citizens.

Reyes began his involvement with the City of Tolleson as a dispatcher and administrative assistant to the Chief of Police for the Tolleson Police Department where he served for five years while completing his Master’s Degree in Education from Northern Arizona University and a Bachelor of Arts in Management from the University of Phoenix. After completing his graduate education, he served as the management assistant in the City Manager’s office. Two years later, he was promoted to the post of Assistant City Manager. He was appointed City Manager in October 2005. In addition to his roles with the city, he has held an Adjunct Faculty position with Estrella Mountain Community College for five years, teaching courses in business and psychology.

As a proponent of smart economic development, Reyes was instrumental in the attraction of CarMax to Tolleson. His current focus is to ensure that Tolleson is seen as a viable and attractive option for retail developers through economic development strategies and the downtown redevelopment initiative.

His passion for empowering and soliciting greatness in all people has led to the implementation of a Total Quality paradigm shift, which ensures educational opportunities for all city employees. He has been a powerful mentor for the city’s youth and government employees alike, imparting the knowledge he has gained throughout his years of community service.

Professionally, Reyes has been a keynote speaker on a variety of topics for numerous organizations, including the Arizona Association of Chicanos in Higher Education, the Maricopa Community College District, and the Gas Light Sustainable Design Expo. He has also been selected to serve the Housing and Urban Development Agency as a member of the Federal National Review Committee and moderated a panel on Diversity in Arizona Municipalities for the Arizona City Manager’s Association. In addition, he was voted “Most Likely to Succeed” for Leadership West Class IV, was selected as a member of the Business Journal’s Inaugural Forty under 40 Class of 2001, which recognizes the top executives under the age of 40 throughout the State of Arizona. He was honored by West Valley Magazine as their first “Mover” of their Movers and Shakers program for 2007.

Community involvement has been a cornerstone for Reyes throughout his lifetime. He has served as a Little League coach for more than 20 years, was the former PTA president for P. H. Gonzales Elementary School, and assisted with the introduction of the civic involvement process and heightened awareness of careers in public affairs through the Tolleson Teen Council. Further, he has worked with teen parents in the parenting program at Tolleson Union High School.

Reyes has been married for 17 years to his wife, Elisa, and is the proud father of six children who are actively involved in the Tolleson community.

Mr. Lorefice began his service as Town Manager on April 24, 2017. Vince has served as the Town’s Public Works Director since 2013. Since joining the Wickenburg team, Mr. Lorefice has compiled a long list of accomplishments that have enhanced the professionalism and level of services in the departments under his purview. Among them include his successful efforts to bring in over $2 million in competitive grants and negotiation regarding the management and transfer of new water and wastewater facilities at Wickenburg Ranch.

In 2016, Mr. Lorefice received the Excellence in Management award from the Town of Wickenburg. He currently serves as the National President for FleetPros and is an active member in the Arizona Chapter of the American Public Works Association. He will complete his Certified Public Manager designation through Arizona State University this June.

Prior to his service in Wickenburg, Mr. Lorefice worked as the Facilities and Fleet Manager for the Town of Marana, Arizona, supervising fleet services, facilities management, streets and infrastructure maintenance, strategic planning and budgeting. He was involved in several large scale projects, including a facilities master plan, development of a fleet replacement fund, renovating the Town’s police substation, and reorganization of the streets division. Mr. Lorefice attended Pima Community College in Tucson, Arizona.

Jeanne Blackman was appointed Town Manager on July 2, 2013 by the Mayor and Town Council and is responsible for all operations of the Town in accordance with policies and directives set forth by them.

The Town Manager oversees all Town employee operations and serves as a liaison between our elected officials, residents and local businesses in our community. The Town Manager also serves on a number of Metro Phoenix and West Valley committees and organizations representing our community on a number of important regional issues.