our WORK
LEADERSHIP IN ACTION
  • Path 2Created with Sketch. Our Members
The membership of Greater Phoenix Leadership (GPL) is comprised of 150 leaders from across the region who lead Arizona’s largest and most infl uential business enterprises. Functioning as a business leader roundtable, GPL members work to improve the overall quality of life in the region and state by addressing Arizona’s most pressing challenges.
  • Path 2Created with Sketch. Our Work
GPL is focused on enhancing and strengthening equity across a broad portfolio of issues in Arizona, working collaboratively on initiatives critical to economic prosperity. Centered on sound public policy in alignment with socially responsible community partnerships, we engage and collaborate with leaders of all sectors willing to come together to solve problems and improve Arizona long into the future.
  • Path 2Created with Sketch. Our Mission and History

Founded as the Phoenix 40 in 1974, GPL today convenes the Valley’s leading CEOs in committees and task forces to help improve the overall quality of life for our community with specific focus on the intersection of business, public policy, philanthropy, and education as they relate to our portfolio of work. Standing Committees on Community Infrastructure, Social Impact and Arizona’s Education system include a variety of task forces with subject matter experts from the community. Together, we convene to advance policies, programs and people to help grow economic vitality and better Arizona.

Standing Committees & Task Forces
Public Policy standing committee
Local & County Relations
  • Path 2Created with Sketch. EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE

K-12
Higher Education
Workforce Preparedness
School Partnerships

  • Path 2Created with Sketch. SOCIAL IMPACT STANDING COMMITTEE

Affordable Housing &
Homelessness

Arts & Culture

Criminal Justice Innovation

Latino Attainment in AZ

Racial Equity Advancement

  • Path 2Created with Sketch. COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE STANDING COMMITTEE

Water
Transportation
Health Sector
Economy
Rio-Reimagined

Our Work

Leadership in Action

GPL is focused on strengthening the future of equity in Arizona, working collaboratively to support and encourage initiatives critical to our growth, centered around sound public policy, and aligned to socially responsible community partnerships. We also engage with and cultivate candidates for public office to help ensure representative governance for all.

SOCIAL IMPACT

Learn More

Education

Learn More

COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE

Learn More

Public
Policy

Learn More
OUR HISTORY
1974
Beginning
PHOENIX 40 CREATED
1978
Valley Leadership

Recognizing the need to identify and develop the next generation of leaders, Phoenix 40 members helped to establish Valley Leadership, a year-long civic engagement program for professionals interested in getting deeply involved with improving the region.

 

1986
Freeway Expansion

Led the effort to fund freeway expansion and regional transportation.

 

1992
Greater Phoenix Leadership
Phoenix 40 became GREATER PHOENIX LEADERSHIP

Helped pass the voter-approved passage of a Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday for Arizona.

 

1996
Super Bowl

Arizona hosted its first Super Bowl, with efforts of those in GPL who had helped attract the NFL Arizona Cardinals to the
region in the late ‘80s.

 

2000
Leaders in improving education

GPL was a leader and major funder of Proposition 301, approved by voters to finance and improve K-12, higher
education and research in AZ.

Developed the plan for an integrated P-20 education model and created the Governor’s P-20 Council.

Assisted in implementing a statewide full-day kindergarten via legislation and support from then Governor Janet Napolitano.

Helped develop the State Robotics Championships for High Schools.

Led the business efforts to pass new laws to require mastering 3rd grade reading before moving on to 4th grade.

 

2002
Founded

Helped found the Arizona Business and Education Coalition (ABEC).

 

2004
Half-cent sales tax

GPL helped champion the extension of the Maricopa County half-cent sales tax to fund freeway and regional transportation needs for the next 20 years.

 

2006
Military Facility’s Task Force

In cooperation with Senator John McCain and Governor Janet Napolitano, GPL led the Military Facility’s Task Force to ensure that military bases remained in the state.

GPL led an effort with Southern Arizona Leadership Council and
Northern Arizona Leadership Alliance to establish Science Foundation Arizona - the largest public-private partnership in the U.S. tasked with broadening and strengthening Arizona’s economy by investing in high-impact research projects that leveraged Arizona’s existing assets and advantages.Scores of new companies and thousands of new high-paying jobs were created through industry-university collaborations.

GPL worked with other organizations to help create and pass the Angel Investment Tax Credit to expand investment in the technology business market in Arizona.

 

2010
Efforts to defeat anti- immigration Bill

Coordinated business community efforts to defeat the anti-immigration (SB 1070) bill in the Arizona Legislature.

 

2016
Helped found the Corporate Philanthropy Awards

Along with the Phoenix Business Journal and Arizona Community Foundation, helped found the Corporate Philanthropy Awards for the region.

Worked with Governor Doug Ducey and other business leaders to fund and pass Proposition 123, adding $3.5 billion in funding for education over a ten-year period.

Helped pass continuation of the federal KidsCare program in the Arizona Legislature.

Worked with partners to restore funding to Career Technical Education (CTE) and Joint Technical Education Districts (JTED) in AZ.

 

2017
Secured legislative support

Secured legislative support for expansion of
bonding capacity for Arizona’s public universities.

Formed the GPL Committee for Arizona Leadership to help elect AZ legislators.

Worked to secure extension of the Angel Investment Tax Credit.

 

2018
Support Educators Increase Salaries

Supported Governor Doug Ducey’s plan to increase educator salaries by 20% by 2020.

Garnered legislative support for extension of the Proposition 301 education funding source via legislative vote and Governor signature.

 

2020
Education Game Plan

Deployment of the Education Game Plan

© 2025 Greater Phoenix Leadership, Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Site by Ivio Agency
SOCIAL IMPACT

Co-Chairs: Mi-Ai Parrish (MAP Strategies) and Noreen Bishop (Chase Bank)

The Greater Phoenix Leadership Social Impact Committee and its member seek to identify, engage, develop and act on solutions that enhance the social fabric of the communities within our region and around the state of Arizona. In collaboration with local, regional and national partners, this committee will leverage its influence to embed equity where talent and leadership can thrive across several critical social determinants.

Social Impact Task Forces:

Education

Co-Chairs:  John Graham (Sunbelt Holdings) and Steven Gonzales (Maricopa Community Colleges)

The mission of the Education Standing Committee is to promote broad-based, non-partisan public policy and connect businesses and schools to strengthen the Arizona educational system.

Education Task Forces:

COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE

Co-Chairs: Paul Komadina (CBRE) and Sissie Roberts Shank (ChasRoberts)

The Greater Phoenix Leadership Community Infrastructure Committee is focused on maintaining and improving the region’s infrastructure needs to ensure that they are equipped to meet the expectations of a 21st century economy. Working strategically with community partners, we seek to inform and influence key policy decisions impacting our regional and statewide competitiveness.

Community Infrastructure Task Forces:

PUBLIC POLICY

Co-Chairs: Sharon Harper (Plaza Companies) and Adam Goodman (Goodman’s Interior Structures)

The Public Policy Committee discusses policies and initiatives related to the State’s economy and quality of life. Members of the committee review proposed legislation that positively impacts business, improves education, or might have a negative effect on Arizona’s image and business climate. The committee sets a comprehensive legislative engagement program so that GPL members can meet with legislators to discuss the impact of bills on their business and our community. GPL also identifies and trains candidates for the Arizona Legislature and encourages member support for their candidacies.

Public Policy Task Forces: