Third year of program sees record number of applicants; 25 candidates selected
Phoenix, Ariz. – Sept. 17, 2015 – Valley Partnership announced its 2015-16 Advocates class with this year’s 25 candidates selected from a record 49 applicants.“This is the largest number of applications we’ve received since the program’s inception – 12 more than last year. We’re thrilled with the response for just the third year of the program,” said Cheryl Lombard, President and CEO of Valley Partnership. “It’s an excellent class with diverse disciplines, industry experience and leadership potential.”
The 2015-16 class includes:
Tina Bark-Roy, Johnson-Carlier; Brandon Campbell, Alexander Building Company; Charlie Crews, Small Giants; Mackenzie Fitz-Gerald, APS; Peter Foster, Warner Angle, Hallam Jackson & Formanek PLC ; Marisa Galindo, Walton Development and Management (USA), Inc.; Shane Gutknecht, Southwest Traffic Engineering; Troy Hansen, Anderson-Baron; Katie Kelley, CBRE; Edward Leon, City of Phoenix Planning and Development Department; Justin Lines, Pivotal Tax Solutions; Cullen Mahoney, Trammell Crow Company.
Brent Mallonee, Cushman & Wakefield; Laura Markham, Bergin, Frakes, Smalley & Oberholtzer, PLLC; Sarah Mertins, Town of Queen Creek; Cameron Miller, Evergreen Devco; John Paul Mulhern, Colliers International; Michael Munson, Harvard Investments; Quinn Riekena, Integra Realty Resources; Samantha Root, Indigo Paint & Contracting; Jessica Sarkissian, Bowman Consulting; Michelle Schwartz, RSP Architects; Hayley Smith, FirstBank; Monet Vakili, Ernst & Young; and Tyler Wilson, HilgartWilson.
The Advocates program is created exclusively for a select number of Valley Partnership members under the age of 35. Only current members of Valley Partnership can apply and participate. The program’s goal is to provide young business, real estate and development professionals the opportunity to interact with a variety of industry’s senior executives from local and national companies in a small setting. The experience allows the Advocates to learn about the development process, network with industry leaders, tour development projects and create business relationships among the class.
The 2015-16 program is nine months with a “graduation” in June 2016. It is a series of once-a-month events, lasting two to three hours. Events are usually at a development site or the office of the presenting developer and frequently include breakfast, lunch or happy hour.
An advisory group comprised of Valley Partnership board members and Advocates alumni reviewed the applications and made the selections.
About Valley Partnership
Valley Partnership is the Valley of the Sun's premier advocacy group for responsible development. For more than 25 years, Valley Partnership has represented the commercial, industrial and master-planned community industries and presented a balanced, pro-development perspective. Valley Partnership provides the best education and networking opportunities for commercial real estate professionals.