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Agenda: Wednesday
Wednesday, January 22, 2025
Pre-Conference Hike
8:30 AM | Lobby
This 9th annual ACMA hike will be on the “Baldwin Trail” – This awesome loop trail is near the Village of Oak Creek. It is about 3.5 miles long and boasts beautiful views of Cathedral Rock. We plan on hiking this one counterclockwise and end up at Red Rock Crossing so dogs can swim! It is super beautiful out on this trail with excellent views. It will probably take an hour and a half to complete. This is a Level 2.5 out of 5.
Everyone should meet at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday morning January 22nd in the lobby of the Hilton. Dress appropriately and remember to bring water and sunscreen. No fee is necessary for the hike however registration is required as we don't want anyone getting left on the trail. Please complete the attached release of liability agreement to register and email it to me by Friday, January 17th at Tim@IPMaz.com to receive confirmation of your registration.
Registration Opens
10:00 AM | Canyon Pre-function
Lunch on Your Own
11:30 AM
Bridging Academia and Local Governance: Insights from the University of Arizona-Tucson Police Department Collaboration on Violent Crime Reduction Programs
1:00 - 2:15 PM | Canyon Ballroom
An increasing number of states and universities have established non-partisan policy laboratories to develop and evaluate policy innovations addressing pressing governance challenges in areas such as public security, disaster management, election integrity and other governance issues. These labs serve as a potentially vital resource for local governments, which can use the labs to secure funding for their own innovations. In this session, Dr. Schuler will introduce the lab and some of its existing partnerships with local first responders such as fire and police departments. Dr. Smith will then present in greater detail the findings and experiences from a collaboration between the University of Arizona’s School of Government and Public Policy and the Tucson Police Department’s community-based programs for addressing violent crime. Community Violence Intervention (CVI).
Speakers:
Paul Schuler, Associate Director, School of Government and Public Policy, University of Arizona
Craig Smith, Associate Professor, School of Government and Public Policy, University of Arizona
Paul Schuler – Bio
Paul Schuler is Associate Director of the University of Arizona School of Government and Public Policy. He is also one of the leaders of the school’s Arizona Policy Lab (https://policylab.arizona.edu), which facilitates collaborations between local governments and the University to develop and evaluate policy innovations.
Craig Smith – Bio
Craig Smith is an Associate Professor at the University of Arizona School of Government and Public Policy. His research focuses on how governance institutions can ease inter-agency collaboration. One of his current projects is to evaluate the effectiveness of the Tucson Police Department’s Justice Department-funded Community Violence Intervention Program.
Sponsor Networking Break
2:15 - 3:00 PM | Canyon Pre-function
Interactive Ethics for Managers
3:00 - 4:30 PM | Canyon Ballroom
Managers often face ethical dilemmas in their role and must utilize the ICMA Code of Ethics as the framework to assist them in making an informed decision when faced with a difficult situation. However, most ethical dilemmas do not fit neatly in a box. This session will provide an opportunity to evaluate various scenarios and engage in an interactive best practices discussion.
Presider:
Robert Aldous, Assistant to the City Manager, Casa Grande
Speaker:
Tim Pickering, President & CEO, Interim Public Management
Robert Aldous – Bio
Robert Aldous holds a bachelor's degree in accounting from the University of Utah and a Master of Public Administration from Brigham Young University. He began his career with the Arizona Governor's Office on the budget team before moving to the City of Casa Grande where he currently serves as the Assistant to the City Manager. In his free time, Rob enjoys spending time with his family and enjoying the outdoors.
Tim Pickering – Bio
Tim Pickering, ICMA-CM, CEcD, serves as President & CEO for Interim Public Management, LLC, which provides interim department directors and city managers to cities and counties in the Southwest in which he founded in 2010. Prior to this endeavor, he served communities for two decades in the capacity of City Manager or CEO, including the Town of Fountain Hills and Salt River Devco, both in Arizona; Collinsville and Freeburg in Illinois; and Olivette, Missouri.
Mr. Pickering began Interim Public Management, LLC (IPM), in 2010 to serve local governments when a transition of senior leadership occurs. IPM quickly became Arizona's largest local government executive staffing service, featuring 250+ associates and has served 2/3rds of Arizona’s cities and counties. Beyond Arizona, IPM has served communities in Colorado, Missouri, Nevada, and Utah. In his role as President & CEO of IPM, Mr. Pickering specializes in providing the right interim personnel for each community’s unique management transition situation.
Tim previously served on the Board of Directors of the Arizona
City/County Management Association (ACMA) and has continued to dedicate himself to serving ACMA by being its recreation coordinator hosting over 12 ACMA conference golf tournament and coordinating 7 winter hikes for ACMA. He was a driving force behind the creation of the Manager’s Corner, facilitating the first five sessions and has served numerous times on the ACMA conference planning committee. He has facilitated sessions on Managing Through Transition, the 5 W’s of Employment, From Roue to Vogue, Mistakes the Made us Stronger, Coaching Up, Down and Across, Professional and Office Attire and will be a facilitator for the Ethical Dilemmas session this year at the ACMA conference. Mr. Pickering served on the Valley Leadership Board of Directors in Phoenix as well and received the Dr. Leo Cohen Urban Management Award. He is a 35+ year member of the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) and has been a Credentialed ICMA Manager (ICMA-CM) for over 20 years.
He is a graduate of Harvard Kennedy School’s Senior Executives in State and Local Government program, and of the University of Oklahoma’s Economic Development Institute. He has been one of the country’s approximately 1,100 Certified Economic Developers (CEcD) for 25+ years. Additionally, he has lectured on administrative topics for graduate programs at Arizona State University (ASU). Mr. Pickering attended the ASU school of public administration and received his BS and Master of Public Administration from Southern Illinois University. Mr. Pickering and his wife Deanna are 21 plus year residents in the Valley and live with their dog Junior and puppy Gabby.
Harvard Reception
4:45 - 5:45 PM | Sycamore Room
ASU / NAU / U of A / GCU Faculty & Student Reception
4:45 – 5:45 PM | Juniper Room
Welcome Reception
5:45 - 7 :00 PM | Oak Creek Canyon
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Agenda: Thursday
Thursday, January 23, 2025
Continental Breakfast
7:15 AM | Canyon Pre-function
Coffee and Conversation: Forging Community Partnerships in Rural Arizona
7:15 - 8:00 AM | Dry Creek Canyon
This session is intended to focus on rural partnerships between cities, towns, counties, nonprofits, and higher education. Steve Peru, former Coconino County Manager and ACMA Life Member, Joanne Keene, Deputy City Manager of Flagstaff, Sue Brown, former deputy Coconino County Manager, and Sara Rinfret with Northern Arizona University will lead the session to facilitate a conversation discussing opportunities for partnerships in communities in Northern Arizona.
Presider:
Dr. Sara Rinfret, Professor of Public Administration & MPA Director, NAU
Speakers:
Steve Peru, Former County Manager, Coconino County
Joanne Keene, Deputy City Manager, Flagstaff
Sue Brown, Former Deputy County Manager, Coconino County
Corner Discussions
8:15 - 10:00 AM
- Associate Members Corner | Canyon Ballroom
Allows all associate members – from those serving in leadership roles as directors to those starting out in city, town and county management – to discuss issues related to their careers in public service or their position in an informal setting.
- Assistant/Deputy Managers Corner | Dry Creek Canyon
Allows city, town and county assistant and deputy managers to discuss issues related to their position in an informal setting.
- Managers Corner | Oak Creek Canyon
Allows city, town and county managers to discuss issues related to their position in an informal setting.
10:00 - 10:15 AM | Canyon Pre-function
Corner Updates
10:15 - 10:30 AM | Canyon Ballroom
Personal Security in the Digital Age: Protecting Managers from Targeted Harassment
10:30 – 11:45 AM | Canyon Ballroom
This session equips city managers with practical strategies to combat targeted digital harassment, weaponized litigation, and doxxing attempts that threaten their work and personal security. Learn from experienced leaders about implementing protective measures, documentation protocols, and crisis response planning to maintain effective public service while safeguarding against emerging threats.
Speakers:
Patrick Banger, Town Manager, Gilbert
Ben Bitter, City Manager, Maricopa
Mark Goodman, Police Chief, Maricopa
Chris Payne, Town Attorney, Gilbert
Patrick Banger – Bio
Patrick S. Banger was appointed City Manager in August 2011. Patrick has more than 24 years of local government experience in addition to 7 years of executive level leadership in the private sector.
During Patrick’s tenure Gilbert has become the 79th largest city in the U.S., with a growing population of 280,436. Patrick has been a key leader in the process of transforming Gilbert into one of the most sought-after places for residential living and corporate expansions and relocations. He is a forward-thinking, change-orientated leader and has been instrumental in helping Gilbert become one of the most prestigious and award-winning communities in the nation. Since 2011, Gilbert’s financial performance has excelled and was recognized as the top performing city in the nation post-recession, tripling its general fund reserves, and receiving thirty six credit rating upgrades culminating in AAA ratings from all three agencies; Moody’s Investor Service, Fitch and S&P placing Gilbert in the top .002% of cities in the nation.
Patrick has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science from Missouri State University and a Master of Arts Degree in Management from Webster University. He is an active member of the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport Sr. Staff Committee, Past Chairman of the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) Management Board, current President-elect of the Arizona City/County Management Association (ACMA) and a former Honorary Base Commander at Luke Air Force Base. He also received the 2019 John J. ‘Jack’ Debolski Award for Excellence in City Management by the Arizona City/County Management Association, the highest award ACMA bestows on a public official.
Ben Bitter – Bio
Ben Bitter is an experienced City Manager, with expertise in public works, economic development, planning, and financial management. He currently serves as the City Manager for the City of Maricopa, Arizona. He previously served as the Assistant to the Town Manager and Intergovernmental Relations and Communications Manager in Florence, Arizona. Prior to his time in Florence, Ben served the City of Ashland, Kentucky as its City Manager and the City of Casa Grande, Arizona as the Senior Management Analyst.
In his career, he has confronted difficult challenges head-on, in order to help communities become more resilient. This has included reducing spending while managing through various emergencies, while also increasing spending on vital infrastructure projects. He has helped modernize and future-proof organizations through the implementation of new technologies and innovative strategies. He has served on the Board of Directors for the Arizona City/County Management Association since 2020, and previously served as the Chair of the International City/County Management Association’s Digital Strategies Committee from 2019-2023.
He has a B.A. from Brigham Young University in Political Science (with Minors in Spanish and Statistics), and an M.P.A. from Arizona State University. Ben received a certificate from the Senior Executives in State and Local Government program at Harvard in 2023. He also holds a certificate of Management and Organizations from the University of Arizona.
Mark Goodman – Bio
Chief Mark Goodman began his law enforcement career in 1994 when he was hired by the Pasadena (CA) Police Department. Over the next 28 years, Goodman progressed through the ranks of the department to the rank of Division Commander. He worked in every division of the department and served as the department’s Acting Deputy Chief.
Over the course of his career, Chief Goodman gained expertise in both operational and administrative aspects of law enforcement. Goodman joined the City of Maricopa (AZ) Police Department as the Chief of Police in January of 2023. Chief Goodman believes in the value of contemporary community policing, partnering with stakeholders, and long-term problem solving.
Chief Goodman holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice and a Master of Arts degree in Organizational Leadership. He is a graduate of Class 66 of the CA POST Command College and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy – Session 283.
Chris Payne – Bio
Chris Payne is the Town Attorney and Risk Manager for the Town of Gilbert. In his role, he serves as the chief legal advisor to the Town Council, its Boards and Commissions, and all Town Departments and employees. Chris oversees the Civil Division, Town Prosecutor Division, and Risk Management Division, providing legal representation and managing risk for the Town.
Presentations:
Personal Security in the Digital Age Presentation
Protecting Yourself Presentation
Lunch & Annual Business Meeting
12:00 – 1:30 PM | Tequa Ballroom
Negotiating Manager Contracts: Strategies for Success
1:45 - 3:00 PM | Canyon Ballroom
Whether approaching your first city/county contract or your tenth, crafting an employment agreement that balances the needs of the manager, governing body and community can be challenging. This panel discussion will focus on effective negotiation strategies, key clauses to incorporate, and how to avoid potential pitfalls.
Presider:
Ian McGaughey, County Administrator, Yuma County
Speakers:
Patrick Banger, Town Manager, Gilbert
Chris Brady, City Manager, Mesa
Jenn Reichelt, Deputy City Administrator, Yuma
Ian McGaughey – Bio
Ian McGaughey has been County Administrator for Yuma County since June 2022 after serving two years as Deputy County Administrator. He has 19 years of local government experience, including serving as City Manager for Somerton, Arizona, Town Manager for Clifton, Arizona, a department director in Tribal local government in Alaska, and as an elected Council member for a city in New York. He has broad experience in the private sector, including small-business ownership, television communications experience, and public relations responsibilities. Ian holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from American University in Washington, DC, and a Master of Public Administration from Arkansas State University. He has been an ICMA Credentialed Manager since 2020.
Patrick Banger – Bio
Patrick S. Banger was appointed City Manager in August 2011. Patrick has more than 24 years of local government experience in addition to 7 years of executive level leadership in the private sector.
During Patrick’s tenure Gilbert has become the 79th largest city in the U.S., with a growing population of 280,436. Patrick has been a key leader in the process of transforming Gilbert into one of the most sought-after places for residential living and corporate expansions and relocations. He is a forward-thinking, change-orientated leader and has been instrumental in helping Gilbert become one of the most prestigious and award-winning communities in the nation. Since 2011, Gilbert’s financial performance has excelled and was recognized as the top performing city in the nation post-recession, tripling its general fund reserves, and receiving thirty six credit rating upgrades culminating in AAA ratings from all three agencies; Moody’s Investor Service, Fitch and S&P placing Gilbert in the top .002% of cities in the nation.
Patrick has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science from Missouri State University and a Master of Arts Degree in Management from Webster University. He is an active member of the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport Sr. Staff Committee, Past Chairman of the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) Management Board, current President-elect of the Arizona City/County Management Association (ACMA) and a former Honorary Base Commander at Luke Air Force Base. He also received the 2019 John J. ‘Jack’ Debolski Award for Excellence in City Management by the Arizona City/County Management Association, the highest award ACMA bestows on a public official.
Chris Brady – Bio
Chris Brady Chris Brady became City Manager of Mesa, Arizona in January 2006. With more than 30 years of public sector management experience, he is the Chief Administrative Officer of a municipality with approximately 4,000 employees, an annual operating and capital budget of $1.8 billion and a population of 500,000 residents. Mesa, Arizona is the nation's 35th largest city.
He was hired by the Mayor and City Council in 2006 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).
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
Jenn Reichelt – Bio
Jennifer Reichelt has worked for (and with) local governments for over 20 years. She currently serves as the deputy city administrator for the City of Yuma, Arizona.
Before joining The City of Yuma, Jenn worked for Raftelis (previously the Novak Consulting Group) as a manager where she conducted organizational assessments and executive recruitments for local governments across the country.
Earlier in her career she served as deputy city manager for the City of Great Falls, Montana and as the deputy marketing and communications director for the City of Glendale, Arizona.
Jenn holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in public administration from Northern Arizona University. She is an ICMA credentialed manager and is LEAN certified. She is a proud graduate of Leadership ICMA and the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service Senior Executive Institute.
Senior Advisor Meetings
1:45 - 4:30 PM | Sycamore Room
Sponsor Networking Break
3:00 - 3:30 PM | Canyon Pre-function
Bridging Divides: Building Inclusive Communities and Workforces for Tomorrow
3:30 - 4:30 PM | Canyon Ballroom
Early careerists bring fresh perspectives to bridging divides in the workplace and in our communities. Graduate students from Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, and the University of Arizona, alongside ICMA Past President and West Coast Regional Director and ASU 2025 Harrell-Hutchinson Visiting Professional, Pat Martel, explore the influence of shifting public opinions and generational differences on the future of public service. Our panelists will share ideas on how to deliver effective public services while cultivating an engaged workforce. This session will also explore strategies for shaping dynamic organizational cultures, addressing recruitment and retention challenges, and aligning workplace expectations with today's next generation workforce.
Facilitator:
Pat Martel, ASU Harrell-Hutchinson Visiting Urban Management Professional
Speaker:
McKenna Hubbard, ASU Jane Morris 2025 MPA Fellow
Zach Hill, ASU Marvin Andrews 2025 MPA Fellow
Doris Mensah, U of A Keane 2026 MPA Fellow
Andrea Lucchesi, NAU December 2024 MPA Graduate
Pat Martel – Bio
Patricia “Pat” Martel, Class of 2025 (Cohort 18) Jane Morris Fellow and a proud Double Devil from ASU, is currently pursuing her Master of Public Administration with a concentration in Public Finance. After her undergraduate studies, her roles as Outreach and Internship Coordinator and later as Campaign Coordinator for Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego ignited her passion for local government. In addition to her graduate studies, McKenna has gained invaluable experience as the primary administrator for Valley Benchmark Communities and now serves as a Management Intern with Phoenix’s Audit, Fire, and Environmental Programs departments. She is also employed by the City of Mesa as a Marketing Intern in the Department of Transportation, serves as the Graduate Advisor for the Council at Watts College, and is Vice President of the ICMA Student Chapter at ASU.
McKenna Hubbard – Bio
McKenna Hubbard, Class of 2025 (Cohort 18) Jane Morris Fellow and a proud Double Devil from ASU, is currently pursuing her Master of Public Administration with a concentration in Public Finance. After her undergraduate studies, her roles as Outreach and Internship Coordinator and later as Campaign Coordinator for Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego ignited her passion for local government. In addition to her graduate studies, McKenna has gained invaluable experience as the primary administrator for Valley Benchmark Communities and now serves as a Management Intern with Phoenix’s Audit, Fire, and Environmental Programs departments. She is also employed by the City of Mesa as a Marketing Intern in the Department of Transportation, serves as the Graduate Advisor for the Council at Watts College, and is Vice President of the ICMA Student Chapter at ASU.
Zach Hill – Bio
Zach Hill, a native Californian, earned his B.A. in Sociology and Linguistics from UC San Diego and is now pursuing a Master's in Public Administration. Driven by a commitment to social justice and sustainability, Zach spent many years as an activist and student leader before relocating to Arizona to further his education. His dedication to achieving social change inspired him to pursue a career in local government management. Zach is currently working as a Management Intern for the City of Phoenix, where he is gaining valuable insight into the operations of municipal governance. He hopes to apply his experience as a Marvin Andrews Fellow toward a career focused on making our communities safer, greener, and more equitable for all.
Doris Mensah – Bio
Doris Mensah is a committed Master of Public Administration (MPA) student at The University of Arizona, specializing in Local Government. She is the current Keane Fellow at the University, the Treasurer of the University’s ICMA Student Chapter, and a Management Intern at the Town of Oro Valley, where she supports the Town Manager’s Office in advancing strategic initiatives and community-focused projects.
Prior to her MPA studies, she worked as the Executive Assistant for the Mayor and Council at the City of Flagstaff, where she provided comprehensive administrative support to the elected officials and acted as the liaison between the council and the public, handling communications and fostering community engagement and relations. Her educational background includes degrees from the University of Ghana and Northern Arizona University. Upon graduating, Doris intends to continue her career in local government with the ultimate goal of becoming a City Manager.
Andrea Lucchesi – Bio
Andrea Lucchesi With 6 years of experience in education and 7 years in nursing, Andrea brings a unique blend of expertise that bridges two essential pillars of community well-being: learning and health. Her journey in education taught her the transformative power of knowledge and the importance of fostering equitable opportunities for growth. Working bedside in the county hospital, she gained firsthand insight into the challenges individuals and families face in accessing quality healthcare. These experiences cultivated her passion for addressing systemic disparities and inspired her to pursue the MPA to amplify her impact.
With her MPA, she is now equipped to orchestrate meaningful change at the community level. The degree has honed her skills in policy analysis, program evaluation, and strategic leadership, enabling her to design and implement initiatives that improve public services. Whether it's advocating for better access to healthcare, enhancing educational resources, or fostering cross-sector partnerships, she approaches each challenge with a holistic perspective rooted in her diverse professional background.
Presentation:
Bridging Divides Presentation
ACMA Board Meeting
4:45 – 5:45 PM | Juniper Room
Reception
6:00 - 7:00 PM | Oak Creek Canyon
Dinner & Awards Ceremony
7:00 PM | Canyon Ballroom
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Agenda: Friday
Friday, January 24, 2025
Continental Breakfast
7:30 AM | Canyon Pre-function
Economic Development IS a Team Game When Managing Developer & Council Viewpoints
8:00 - 9:15 AM | Canyon Ballroom
In the pursuit of economic development, a disconnect often arises between the perspectives of governing bodies and the practical challenges faced by development projects. Misaligned expectations between councils, staff, and developers can lead to unnecessary delays, jeopardizing even the most promising initiatives. This panel discussion will explore strategies for bridging these gaps, fostering clearer communication, and aligning goals to ensure more productive meetings and, ultimately, successful project outcomes.
Presider:
Jeff Fairman, Retired Economic Development Manager for the City of Eloy
Speakers:
Tim Suan, Deputy Town Manager/Economic Development, Wickenburg
David Malewitz, City Manager, Eloy
Carolyn Oberholtzer, Attorney, BFSO Law
Sean Gillispie, Broker, Nathan Associates
Morgan Brown, City Manager, Show Low
Jeffrey Fairman – Bio
Since the mid-1970s, Jeff's work has spanned both the public and private sectors, focusing on economic growth, community revitalization, and sustainable development. In the public sector, Jeff served with Arizona Office of Economic Planning and Development, providing guidance to help communities grow and thrive. Jeff has held key positions as Economic Development Manager and Director for several municipalities, including Mesa, Peoria, Avondale, Casa Grande, Eloy, and El Cajon, California. In the private sector, Jeff expanded his knowledge by working for and with architects, contractors, and engineers. His work with these professionals strengthened his understanding of the planning and development process, from initial concept to completion.
In 1995, Jeff was honored as Economic Developer of the Year and in 2010, Jeff received the prestigious William H. Lampkin Long Term Excellence in Economic Development Award, for his sustained efforts and remarkable achievements in the field.
Tim Suan – Bio
Tim Suan Since 2021, Tim Suan has served as the Deputy Town Manager for Wickenburg, overseeing Economic Development, Tourism, Community and Neighborhood Services, Public Information, Grants Administration, Information Technology, Recreation, Library Services, and Special Events. In addition to these responsibilities, he acts as the Town Manager in the Manager's absence and performs various other duties.
Previously, Tim served as the Community & Economic Development Director for the City of Page. Before that, he held a similar position with the Town of Gila Bend, where he also took on interim leadership roles in the Public Works, Water & Wastewater, and Airport Departments.
Actively engaged in regional leadership, Tim serves on multiple boards, including the Arizona Association for Economic Development. An Air Force veteran, he holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Arizona State University and a Master’s Degree in Public Policy and Public Administration from Northwestern University.
As a result of her commitment to bettering the lives of Arizonans, Stephanie earned a Gabe Zimmerman Public Service Award as the 2023 Emerging Leader.
David Malewitz – Bio
David Malewitz David Malewitz has served as City Manager for Eloy since November 2021, leading city operations and advancing the City Council’s strategic goals to promote community and economic growth. With nearly 20 years of experience in local government across Michigan and Virginia, he specializes in budget management, strategic planning, and cross-departmental collaboration. David holds an MPA and a Graduate Certificate in Local Government Management from Virginia Tech and was honored in 2024 with an ACMA scholarship to attend Harvard’s Senior Executives program. He and his wife, Heather, enjoy exploring Arizona with their two horses and Saint Bernards.
Carolyn Oberholtzer – Bio
Carolyn Oberholtzer practices in the fields of land use and municipal law, and handles zoning, due diligence, development agreements and regulatory issues within municipalities and counties throughout the state. Carolyn served as Assistant City/Town Attorney for Avondale and Fountain Hills, Arizona from 2002-2004. Since her time with the municipalities, she has handled the rezoning cases for many thousands of acres spanning many jurisdictions across the State – including the negotiation of complex pre-annexation development and incentive agreements and the creation of special taxing districts to finance project infrastructure – for large master-planned communities, commercial and industrial projects.
Sean Gillispie – Bio
Sean Gillispie has 37 years of experience in commercial real estate. He began his career as a runner at Grubb & Ellis, moving on to L.J. Hooker International before joining Nathan & Associates, Inc. in 1986. Sean specializes in working with retail and industrial users for sales and leasing of acreage and pads. He also has extensive experience with homebuilders and multi-family developers, and is the firm’s government state land specialist. Sean also has experience in master plan consulting on commercial projects in the Houston and El Paso, Texas areas. Sean is active in the Green Building and recycling movement, and is a founding board member of the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USCGC) Chihuahuan Desert Chapter and is experienced with LEED construction and neighborhood development. Sean is active in many charities and is a past board member of the Scottsdale League for the Arts. He attended Brophy College Preparatory in Phoenix and received his BS/BAM and MBA from the University of Phoenix in 1991. He also holds a certificate in Spanish language from the Cuahunahuac Institute of Language in Mexico. Sean enjoys sailing in his free time and is a licensed skipper with extensive sailing experience.
Morgan Brown – Bio
Morgan Brown graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science in 1993 and from Arizona State University Law School in 1996. Morgan was a partner in Brown & Brown Law Offices where the firm handled legal matters for municipal clients. In 2013, Morgan became the full-time city attorney for the City of Show Low. In February of 2023, the Show Low City Council hired Morgan as the City Manager. Morgan and his wife, Shawna, who retired as an elementary school teacher this year, have three children and one grandchild with one on the way.
Economic Update & Outlook
9:20 – 10:20 AM | Canyon Ballroom
This presentation will provide an overview of the status of the U.S. and Arizona economies as they currently stand with a look towards near term trends and what we can expect in 2025.
Speaker:
Jim Rounds, President & CEO, Rounds Consulting Group, Inc.
Jim Rounds – Bio
Jim Rounds is President of Rounds Consulting Group. The firm specializes in economic development and tax policy analysis; education research; healthcare economics; transportation economics; fiscal planning including revenue forecasting and budget development; strategic planning and marketing; environmental economics; impact and market studies; tourism analysis, and litigation support.
Mr. Rounds regularly provides advice to policymakers at the Arizona State Capitol, to mayors throughout the state as well as city council members, county board members, and other public and private sector leaders in the community. He has delivered hundreds of economic presentations throughout Arizona and is quoted weekly on television, radio, and in printed media.
Jim has provided economic guidance to policy leaders across the country on matters of real estate, tourism, economic planning, fiscal planning, criminal justice reform, education policy, and economic impact modeling. The advising also includes designing efficient tax credit programs, setting competitive tax rates, and analyzing the associated dynamic benefits and costs from changes in public policy.
In 2020, Jim introduced the concept of designing public policy based on generating a positive Return on Investment (ROI) for state taxpayers. This new approach has been embraced by a large number of lawmakers across the state and has been used at the state and local levels of government.
Mr. Rounds enjoys participation among multiple organizations and well as using proper analysis and communication to bridge political gaps. For example, Jim is a Senior Fellow at the Goldwater Institute; the President of the Maricopa County IDA, board member at Valley Partnership and the Arizona Small Business Association; and advisor to education focused groups including the Arizona Board of Regents and the various state universities, among others. Jim has also been the lead economist for multiple rural and urban area healthcare policy efforts.
Jim has also been supporting the concept of “growing from within,” which includes efforts to better understand small business development issues and strategic investment in education and workforce training. Jim is a lead member of the Joint Legislative Budget Committee’s Finance Advisory Committee, and has served on scores of committees and task force efforts at both the state and local levels.
Mr. Rounds began his career as a Senior Economist and Senior Budget Analyst with the Arizona Joint Legislative Budget Committee and has been engaged in policy related economics for more than two decades. Jim has a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master of Science degree in Economics from Arizona State University.
Documents:
Economic Update Presentation
Legislative Update
10:30 – 11:30 AM | Canyon Ballroom
This session will provide an update for members on a variety of timely legislative issues. Representatives from the League of Arizona Cities & Towns as well as the County Supervisors Association will provide an overview of the 2025 legislative session and explain the challenges and opportunities currently facing Arizona cities, towns and counties going forward.
Speakers:
René Guillen, Deputy Director, League of Arizona Cities and Towns
Craig Sullivan, Executive Director, County Supervisors Association of Arizona
René Guillen – Bio
René Guillen is a Deputy Director at the Arizona League of Cities and Towns. René was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona. He began working in politics in 2003 when he interned for the Arizona House of Representatives. He returned to work as research staff for the House in 2005. In 2010 he began working for the League of Arizona Cities and Towns and in 2011 he became their Legislative Director. In January of 2015 he became the Policy Advisor on Government and Transportation for Governor Doug Ducey. In the fall of 2017, he left the Ducey administration to join the Town of Gilbert to serve as their Director of Intergovernmental Relations. In 2020 he left to rejoin the League as a deputy director serving under Tom Belshe. René has worked a wide variety of legislative issues including: HOAs, pension reform, illegal immigration, energy and water policy, transportation issues, deregulation, autonomous vehicles, occupational licensing, the sharing economy and local government issues. René and his wife Stacy live in Goodyear, AZ and have two children, Lincoln (8) and Charlotte (6).
Craig Sullivan – Bio
Craig Sullivan joined the staff of the County Supervisors Association of Arizona (CSA) in November 2004. He was appointed the executive director in August 2005 and is responsible for all aspects of CSA operations, including member services and the development and implementation of the state and federal legislative programs.
Documents:
Legislative Update Presentation
Conference Concludes
11:45 AM
Hotel
Hilton Sedona Resort at Bell Rock
90 Ridge Trail Drive Sedona, Arizona 86351 USA
Phone: 928-284-4040
Registration desk for the conference will open on Wednesday, January 22 at 10:00 a.m. The first session will begin at 1:00 p.m. in the Canyon Ballroom.
