Benjamin Bitter – Bio
Benjamin Bitter has extensive work experience in various leadership and management roles. Benjamin currently holds the position of Deputy City Manager and Chief Product Officer at the City of Maricopa. Prior to this, Benjamin served as the Director of the Arizona City-County Management Association, where they played a significant role in planning conferences and professional development opportunities for local government professionals in Arizona.

Benjamin also gained valuable experience as the Chairperson of the International City/County Management Association and as the Assistant to the Town Manager/Intergovernmental Relations and Communications Manager at the Town of Florence. In these roles, Benjamin worked closely with elected officials, media representatives, citizens, and business leaders to enhance the organization and improve the quality of life within the community. Benjamin was responsible for directing legislative and intergovernmental affairs, managing all communications, and serving as the economic development specialist.

Furthermore, Benjamin's previous experiences include serving as the City Manager at the City of Ashland Kentucky, where they led a financial turnaround of the organization and oversaw its administration. Benjamin also worked as a Senior Management Analyst at the City of Casa Grande, AZ, where they played a crucial role in strategic planning, performance management, and establishing council priorities.

Earlier in their career, Benjamin worked as a Legislative Intern for the Utah House of Representatives and as a Congressional Intern for the US Congress, where they gained valuable experience in conducting research, participating in the legislative process, and managing constituent requests and correspondence.

Benjamin Bitter has a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree with a focus on Urban Management from Arizona State University. Prior to that, they obtained a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree from Brigham Young University, majoring in Political Science with minors in Spanish and Statistics. In addition to their formal education, Benjamin has also obtained several certifications. Benjamin has completed the Certificate of Completion in Senior Executives in State and Local Government from Harvard Kennedy School Executive Education in June 2023. Benjamin is also a Kentucky Colonel, a recognition bestowed by The Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels in 2015. Furthermore, Benjamin holds a Certificate of Management and Organizations, the issuing institution being the University of Arizona, Eller College of Management. Lastly, they have a certification in the National Incident Management System from FEMA.

Caleb Blaschke – Bio
Caleb Blaschke began working as the City Manager for Willcox in 2018. During his tenure, he has achieved significant milestones such as securing over $14 million in grants, launching a 5311 dial-a-ride transit initiative, fostering a prosperous environment for business growth and attraction, revitalizing parks with upgraded facilities including a splash pad and pool, establishing a marketing, tourism, and economic development division, completing a $16 million upgrade to the waste water treatment facility, obtaining a public safety pension bond that reduces debt expenses by over $80,000 per year, transitioning the local dispatch to a regional center saving $200,000 annually, mapping and documenting the municipal gas, water, and sewer infrastructure, collaborating with Cochise County for shared services in building, planning, and animal control, instituting a cost recovery program for extramural emergency responses, and tripling the budget for street maintenance.

Before his role in Willcox, Caleb worked as the Assistant to the City Manager in Flagstaff, where he managed relationships with governments, tribal communities, upheld the city’s minimum wage law, and fostered partnerships with Northern Arizona University through the city’s town and gown program. In Bakersfield, as a Management Analyst, he focused on special projects and code compliance, served as ADA Coordinator, and facilitated partnerships with the Downtown Association and the Mayors “Keep Bakersfield Beautiful Committee” that enhanced city aesthetics. His earlier experiences include internships at the City of Sierra Vista and the Town of Marana.

Caleb’s educational background includes degrees from Northern Arizona University, Arizona State University, and a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Arizona.

Rosa Inchausti – Bio
Rosa Inchausti a 30-year City of Tempe employee, has been appointed to serve as City Manager. Inchausti recently served as the Chief Deputy City Manager, overseeing the areas of Economic Development, Community Health and Human Services, Community Development, Information Technology, and Strategic Management and Innovation.

She began her Tempe career in 1993 as the city’s first bilingual Marriage and Family Therapist. Since then Inchausti has continued with her “firsts” as she advanced to be the city’s first Diversity Director, where she worked with City Council to create Tempe’s Anti-Discrimination Ordinance. She then promoted to the position of the city’s first Strategic Management and Diversity Director, where she spearheaded the wastewater testing for COVID-19 and opioids, advancing community health. In this position she also led the city in becoming a nationally-acclaimed “What Works City.” Additionally, Inchausti spent a year as the Interim Municipal Utilities Department Director while concurrently working as the Strategic Management Director.

In her new role, Inchausti will be the first female to hold the position of City Manager at the City of Tempe. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from Loyola Marymount University and a Master’s degree from Northern Arizona University. Inchausti has been a Tempe resident for over 30 years. She raised her two daughters in south Tempe and now resides in Tempe’s urban core

Susan Thorpe – Bio
Prior to becoming a Senior Advisor for ACMA, Susan K. Thorpe served for 38 years in local governments including serving as County Manager in Arizona, City Manager for two Texas cities and Assistant/Deputy City Manager for cities in Texas, California and Arizona.

In January 2023, Susan received the John J. “Jack” DeBolske Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Arizona City/County Management Association. This award recognizes City/County Managers who demonstrate the highest level of professional excellence in local government and who have made life contributions in serving the profession.

Previously, Susan was named MPA Alumni of the Year in 1998 by the University of North Texas for her contribution to local government. In 2011, she received the Catherine Connolly Outstanding Assistant City/County Manager Award from ACMA.

Susan holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a minor in Economics and a Master of Public Administration from the University of North Texas (UNT). She is a graduate of Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government. Susan has been an ICMA Credentialed Manager since 2004.

Mike Letcher – Bio
Mike Letcher has over 30 years in city management with 20 years here in Arizona, he is very familiar with the challenges and opportunities for our profession nationally as well as in Arizona. Mike’s background consists of management consulting and serving as an assistant professor at the University of Arizona Masters of Public Administration Program, both which require him to stay current on trends in our profession.