Greater Phoenix Leadership (GPL) President and CEO Neil Giuliano today announced Melissa Taylor, who served on Arizona legislative leadership staff for over 14 years, most recently as Chief of Staff for the Arizona State Senate, will join the organization as Executive Vice President. Heather Carter, former state senator and representative who served in the role since it was created October 2020, is departing GPL to become Senior Vice-Chancellor of External Relations with Maricopa Community College District.
GPL serves as the region’s premier CEO business leader organization engaged on critically important public policy issues, supporting and working with government leaders to help improve overall quality of life for residents of the region and state.
As Executive Vice President, Taylor will be responsible for ensuring the voice of CEO level business leaders is engaged with policy makers at all levels of government via the work of GPL’s Education, Community Infrastructure and Social Impact standing committees.
Founded as the Phoenix 40 in 1974, which became Greater Phoenix Leadership in 1994, the organization has been proud to leadon education, infrastructure and other community issues over decades, partnering with government leaders to address needs and challenges to ensure further economic prosperity.
GPL Chair Pam Kehaly, President and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona said “Melissa has long been involved with the policy making process in Arizona, developing a broad knowledge of issues important to Arizona. She will be a valuable addition to the GPL team, and we are very pleased to welcome her to this critical role.”
Taylor said, “I am very excited for this opportunity to work with such a distinguished group of Arizona leaders. I look forward to working collaboratively with GPL members to build upon their longstanding tradition of supporting economic growth in the valley and improving the quality of life for all Arizonans through sound public policy.”
“GPL has long played a key role in addressing community needs, ensuring support to build and improve the region’s transportation infrastructure, helping to lead the effort to pass Proposition 123 in 2016, which added hundreds of millions of dollars annually for K-12 education, and more recently speaking up for election integrity, City of Phoenix Bond Program passage and a broad toolbox to address workforce and housing needs across Arizona. As we approach 2024 and the 50th anniversary of our founding, we will continue to aggressively lead on critical issues and advocate for pragmatic and comprehensive solutions for our challenges, now and into the future,” said Giuliano.
About Greater Phoenix Leadership
Greater Phoenix Leadership is an organization of business community CEO’s aligning leadership and resources with education, philanthropy and government sector leaders to improve economic vitality and quality of life. The mission of GPL is to improve the greater Phoenix area and the State of Arizona by bringing together talent, resources, and leadership to create action on priority issues. More information is available at www.gplinc.org.
