to view the full AzBL 2014-15 Programs Schedule.

YOUR BUSINESS
STRATEGY RESOURCE
2014 - 2015
PROGRAMS
Mark Your Calendars
www.AzBL.org
Chairman Partner
Upcoming 2014-2015 Arizona Business Leadership Events
This program schedule contains details for each of the upcoming 2014-2015 AzBL
events. Each month an invitation will be sent to members via email and is also
available on our website at www.azbl.org. Our events were created to encourage peerto-peer fellowship and the sharing of real-world experience from industry leaders
across the country. The speakers will provide their perspectives on global events,
economic conditions and their own career development, strategies and lessons
learned. We welcome you to come prepared with your questions for our speakers.
We hope you enjoy the year we have planned!
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
Good to Great
If inspiration is what you are looking for, then be sure to attend AzBL’s 201415 season-opener, Wednesday, September 10 featuring Jim Gibbons, president
and CEO, Goodwill Industries International and Jim Teter, president and CEO,
Goodwill of Central Arizona. It’s not just the good that Goodwill® does, but the
enormous economic impact they make that is the real inspiration, coupled with
the stories of these two incredible leaders – you will leave feeling truly inspired.
Jim Gibbons
Goodwill Industries
International, Inc.
President
Jim Teter
Goodwill of
Central Arizona
President & CEO
Event Partner
Gainey Ranch Golf Club
7600 Gainey Club Drive • Scottsdale, AZ 85258
Dinner Event Agenda
5:30 p.m. - Registration & No Host Cocktails
6:15 p.m. - Dinner & Conversation
7:15 p.m. - Presentation
8:30 p.m. - Meeting Adjourns
Goodwill was founded in 1902 in Boston by Rev. Edgar J. Helms, a Methodist
minister and early social innovator. Helms collected used household goods and
clothing in wealthier areas of the city, then trained and hired the poor to mend
and repair the used items. The goods were then resold or given to the people
who repaired them. The system worked, and the Goodwill philosophy of “not a
charity, but a chance” was born.
Dr. Helms’ vision set an early course for what today has become a more than
$5B social enterprise with nearly $3.8B in revenue through Goodwill stores
that are a household name. Guiding this effort internationally is Goodwill’s
president and CEO, Jim Gibbons. After earning his bachelors of science degree
in industrial engineering from Purdue University in his home state of Indiana,
Gibbons attended the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration,
graduating with a master’s degree and the distinction of being its first-ever blind
graduate. Appointed by President Obama, Gibbons is also a former member
of the White House Council for Community Solutions (WHCCS), a two-year
commitment that ended in 2012. Gibbons is a sought-after speaker having most
recently spoken at TEDx, he writes for the Huffington Post and can also be found
on Twitter: @jdgibbons.
The other Jim, fellow Phoenician and AzBL member, Jim Teter has an
equally inspiring story that also begins with a bachelor of science in industrial
engineering; Teter got his from Texas Tech University. His storied career
tells the tale of a true business leader. With 26+ years of experience with
high-profile corporations such as IBM and Avnet and his commitment to
volunteerism and community service with the United Way, the American Heart
Association and others, his eventual spot leading Goodwill of Central Arizona
seems like fate hard at work.
Join us Wednesday, September 10 for this remarkably inspiring story.
Thursday, October 2, 2014
Luncheon Event
Paul E. Mock
Employer Support of
the Guard and Reserve
(ESGR)
National Director, Major
General (retired)
The U.S. Military spends billions of dollars training our service men & women
and as a result developing extremely competent and highly motivated leaders.
Veterans have proven records of performance and are often celebrated for their
leadership; team-building; organizational commitment; decision-making; working
in diverse, cross-cultural work-settings; and advanced technical training. Soon
a very large number of these brave Veterans will be transitioning out of active
duty or completing their deployments and have hopes of entering our business
communities.
Event Host PARTNER
Arizona Country Club
5668 E. Orange Blossom Lane • Phoenix, AZ 85018
Luncheon Event
11:15 a.m - Registration
11:45 a.m. - Lunch & Conversation
12:15 p.m. - Presentation
1:15 p.m. - Meeting Adjourns
We’ll explore the recent history of our government’s staffing of the military
components, including strategic decisions and outcomes as well as an inside look
at the employment numbers and a glimpse over the horizon to the trends coming.
We hope you will join us for lunch on Thursday, October 2 as we challenge each
other and area businesses to join Arizona Business Leadership and Wells Fargo in
our support and commitment to mobilize, educate employers and connect them to
this fast-growing, Veteran workforce.
4th Thursday, October 23, 2014
Go Ahead, Make My Day
Jeffrey D. Buchanan
Smith & Wesson
Holding Corporation
Executive Vice President
& Chief Financial Officer
Event Partner
Gainey Ranch Golf Club
7600 Gainey Club Drive • Scottsdale, AZ 85258
Dinner Event Agenda
5:30 p.m. - Registration & No Host Cocktails
6:15 p.m. - Dinner & Conversation
7:15 p.m. - Presentation
8:30 p.m. - Meeting Adjourns
The name Smith & Wesson is as American as baseball and apple pie. It is a
part of the very fabric of the American history since 1852. In 1870, Smith &
Wesson sold the first-ever large caliber cartridge revolver, the Model 3 American,
establishing the company as a world leader in handgun manufacturing. Smith &
Wesson’s Model 10, also known as the .38 Military & Police, was first introduced
in 1899 and is still used today by many police agencies and military forces around
the world. And who can forget their famous Model 29? It’s the .44 Magnum that
accompanies “Go ahead, make my day,” the iconic phrase made famous by Clint
Eastwood as Dirty Harry.
Smith & Wesson is still making peoples’ day, especially investors. On June 19 this
year the company announced 2013 year-end results, which were the best in its
history and which included record annual net sales of $626.6M, up 6.7% from
last year and record annual net income from continuing operations of $88.6M.
The company also reported record gross margins and earnings per share.
Join AzBL on Thursday, October 23 as we welcome Jeffrey D. Buchanan,
Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer, Smith & Wesson Holding
Corporation, who will share his story, more about the company’s strategy, and
how this CFO intends to keep the balance sheet flexible enough to deal with ever
changing market conditions.
Thursday, November 6, 2014
In Good Hands
Mike Barton
Allstate Insurance
Company
President, Allstate
Business Insurance
Event Partner
Gainey Ranch Golf Club
7600 Gainey Club Drive • Scottsdale, AZ 85258
Dinner Event Agenda
5:30 p.m. - Registration & No Host Cocktails
6:15 p.m. - Dinner & Conversation
7:15 p.m. - Presentation
8:30 p.m. - Meeting Adjourns
Good Work. Good Life. Good Hands. You can almost hear the deep voice of
Dennis Haysbert, the reassuring face of Allstate’s TV and radio ads, saying
those words. Allstate has established a firm presence in the insurance
market and their famous ads (including the series featuring the man playing
“Mayhem”) have certainly helped solidify that place. But it takes much more
than great ads and a heartfelt company motto to achieve the kind of sustained
success Allstate has achieved. It takes great leadership. AzBL is pleased to
welcome Mike Barton, President, Allstate Business Insurance, as our
November 6 program speaker.
Barton, who joined Allstate in 2012, is responsible for the profitable growth
of the small-business insurance group valued at $500M in annual revenues.
He brings over 24 years of industry experience to his role, and in just his first
year, he and his team reversed a ten-year slide of growth and profitability. Now
that’s leadership! Before joining Allstate’s team, Barton worked with Willis,
where he served as Chief Executive Officer of the Human Capital Practice. He
was named to Business Insurance’s list of “Power Brokers” and is a nationally
recognized speaker on subjects ranging from reforming health care in America
to business strategies for improving health, engagement and productivity.
Avoid mayhem and join AzBL on Thursday, November 6 to hear from this
outstanding leader in the insurance industry.
Thursday, December 4, 2014
Holiday Social
Event Partner
Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts
7380 East 2nd Street • Scottsdale, AZ 85251
Event Agenda
5:30 p.m. - Registration & Cocktails
6:00 p.m. - Welcome, Hors d’oeuvres & Conversation
6:30 p.m. - Art and Entertainment
9:00 p.m. - Event Concludes
A Night to Remember…
No, we are not talking about your first kiss – we are talking about the most wonderful
time of the year. The date you look forward to. The evening you tell all your friends
about. Of course, it’s the AzBL December Social!
This year we will celebrate at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts. Our
evening will include an eclectic mix of fine art exhibits, entertainment, bountiful
conversation, food and drink. We may even have a surprise or two up our sleeves,
so stay tuned! Put a hold on your calendars for Thursday, December 4, as you won’t
want to miss this annual holiday social gathering.
2nd Thursday, January 8, 2015
Knight Moves
Kevin Knight
Knight
Transportation, Inc.
Chief Executive Officer
Gotcha! You’re singing that Bob Seger song now aren’t you?
If you think about it, a classic song that stays with you over the years is made up of
many of the same components of a great business - there is a good storyline, a little luck
and plenty of hard work to make it to the top. A company who has all the right moves
and is a classic we’ll never forget is the incredibly successful Phoenix-based company, led
by AzBL’s January speaker, Kevin Knight, CEO, Knight Transportation, Inc.
Event PARTNER
Gainey Ranch Golf Club
7600 Gainey Club Drive • Scottsdale, AZ 85258
Dinner Event Agenda
5:30 p.m. - Registration & No Host Cocktails
6:15 p.m. - Dinner & Conversation
7:15 p.m. - Presentation
8:30 p.m. - Meeting Adjourns
Knight Transportation exemplifies one of the most remarkable success stories in
the trucking industry. Starting with just a handful of trucks and one service center
in Phoenix, Knight now runs a fleet of over 4,000 tractors and more than 8,800
trailers from their nationwide service center network. With just a few associates in the
beginning, to now employing nearly 5,000 and going from a family-owned business
to a large publicly-traded company on the New York Stock Exchange (KNX), Knight
Transportation really delivers!
In 2013, the company’s financial performance was once again stellar with revenue
(excluding fuel surcharge) increasing 5.3%, to $791.9M over last year, and net income
increasing 8.1%, to $69.3M from $64.1M. Impressively, Forbes Magazine named the
company to its list of Top 200 Best Small Companies 15 years in a row.
At the helm is Kevin Knight who has served as Chairman since May 1999 and Chief
Executive Officer since 1993. Knight currently serves on the Board of Directors and
Executive Committee of the American Trucking Association.
Join AzBL on the Thursday, January 8 to learn how Knight, his family, and other team
members built the business, sustained the tough times and what the future holds for
this impressive organization.
2nd Thursday, February 12, 2015
The Triple Threat in Cancer Treatment
Edgar Staren
M.D., Ph.D.
Cancer Treatment
Centers of America
It’s not often that you come across an individual so extraordinary that it causes you take
a moment to pause in wonder. Such is the case with our February speaker,
Dr. Edgar D. Staren, former President and CEO of Cancer Treatment Centers of
America at Western Regional Medical Center here in the Valley. Dr. Staren is a “triple
threat” player - M.D., Ph.D., and MBA as well. With experience in medicine, education
and business sets the bar pretty high, but then that is what all the great ones do.
Former President & CEO
President, Advanced
Individual Medicine, LLC
Event PARTNER
Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) is a growing network of regional
destination hospitals specializing in complex and advanced-stage cancer care. CTCA
provides a comprehensive, fully integrated and individualized cancer treatment
experience at hospitals located in suburban Chicago, Philadelphia, Phoenix and
Tulsa. The Patient Empowered Care model at CTCA places patients at the center of
their care, encouraging and enabling patients and their families to take an active role
in their treatment decision-making.
Prior to his role at CTCA, the hospital did not engage in large-scale research or
clinical trials, but under his leadership, the hospital expanded into clinical trials with
an emphasis on personalized medicine specific to cancer treatment.
Dr. Staren’s desire and passion to help cancer patients is personal. At 46, he was
diagnosed with an aggressive case of sarcoma in his leg. After surgery to resect the
muscles on the middle of his leg, six weeks of radiation and four months of physical
2nd Thursday, February 12, 2015 — Continued
Gainey Ranch Golf Club
7600 Gainey Club Drive • Scottsdale, AZ 85258
therapy, he could walk again – and just six short months later he was back in clinical
practice. He has said of the experience that he now has a much better understanding
of what patients go through, their fears and how it affects all aspects of their lives.
Dinner Event Agenda
5:30 p.m. - Registration & No Host Cocktails
6:15 p.m. - Dinner & Conversation
7:15 p.m. - Presentation
8:30 p.m. - Meeting Adjourns
With his training as a medical doctor and researcher, as well as his management
training, Dr. Staren has recently moved into another role in the organization, forming
a partnership with TGEN to provide personalized medicine, a real passion of his.
In this endeavor he will be in a position to personally improve the care provided to
cancer patients, something he will certainly be focusing on in the new company and a
topic he will share with AzBL members in February.
Dr. Staren earned his M.D. at the Stritch School of Medicine at Loyola University,
Chicago, his Ph.D. in immunology/microbiology from Rush University, Chicago and
his MBA from Benedictine University in Lisle, Ill.
A self-described servant leader who leads by example, Dr. Staren has a unique
and likely very effective business philosophy based on what he calls the “Mother
Standard.” That is, we treat all of our customers (patients in his case) as we would
want our own mother to be treated. This philosophy is heartfelt and extraordinary,
much like the man himself.
Mark your calendars for Thursday, February 12, 2015. This will be an AzBL dinner
event you do not want to miss.
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
Driving the Largest Stagecoach in the World
John Stumpf
Wells Fargo
& Company
Chairman,
President & CEO
As Wells Fargo’s Chairman, John Stumpf oversees one of the oldest and most
successful banks in the world. John has been with Wells Fargo and its predecessor,
Norwest Corporation, for 32 years. Having risen from the loan department at
Norwest in 1982, John has played an important role in the evolution of Wells Fargo
– first with the merger of Norwest, later with the $23 billion acquisition of First
Security Corporation, and most recently leading one of the largest mergers in history
with the purchase of Wachovia.
Event PARTNER
He was named President in 2005, elected to the Board of Directors in 2006, Chief
Executive Officer in 2007, and Chairman of the Board in 2010. He serves on the
Board of Directors for The Clearing House, the Financial Services Roundtable,
Target Corporation and Chevron Corporation. He also serves on the Board of
Trustees of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.
Wells Fargo is a $1.6 trillion diversified financial services company that provides
banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance
for individual and companies. Headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo has about
265,000 team members in more than 9,000 locations in 36 countries, serves one in
three households in the United States, and is the most valuable bank in the world by
market capitalization as of the second quarter 2014.
Gainey Ranch Golf Club
7600 Gainey Club Drive • Scottsdale, AZ 85258
Dinner Event Agenda
5:30 p.m. - Registration & No Host Cocktails
6:15 p.m. - Dinner & Conversation
7:15 p.m. - Presentation
8:30 p.m. - Meeting Adjourns
Wells Fargo is recognized as a leader in innovation and quality, customer satisfaction,
social responsibility, charitable contributions and in 2013 was named “Best Bank” by
Euromoney in its Global Awards for Excellence – the first time that a U.S. bank has
received this prestigious award, as well as to the Forbes Top 20 list of Biggest Public
Companies.
AzBL is extremely honored to welcome this extraordinary, award-winning business
leader Wednesday, March 4, 2015. His many years of leadership experience, tremendous
history with Wells Fargo and his proven track-record of success worldwide make him
one of our most intriguing and exciting speakers. Be sure to mark your calendars and
register early, this event will be sure to sell out.
Thursday, April 2, 2015 (tentative date)
Are you ready for some football?
Michael Bidwill
Arizona Cardinals
President
Sure it will be during the off-season, but AzBL is excited to kick-off the month of
April with Arizona Cardinals team President, Michael Bidwill.
After practicing law for six years as a federal prosecutor, Michael Bidwill joined the
Cardinals as Vice President/General Counsel in 1996. Since taking over, Bidwill’s
Cardinals have come a long way. Highlighted by an appearance in SuperBowl XLIII
in January 2009 and punctuated by Bidwill’s good hiring instincts and willingness to
spend when it makes sense. From Kurt Warner in 2005, to the long-term contract
the team has recently secured with superstar Larry Fitzgerald, under Bidwill’s
direction, these Cardinals are flying high.
Event PARTNER
Helping them soar is the massive University of Phoenix stadium that brought much
energy to the team and fans and a much-needed economic boost to the west valley.
A fact you may not know, the Arizona Cardinals have sold out every game played
since the opening of the University of Phoenix Stadium in 2006. In addition to a
boost for the west valley, Bidwill is also helping to expand growth in the greater
Phoenix economy. He served two terms as Chairman of GPEC, is a board member
of Greater Phoenix Leadership and serves on the Arizona Commerce Authority
Board, among others.
Gainey Ranch Golf Club
7600 Gainey Club Drive • Scottsdale, AZ 85258
Active in the NFL, he chairs the League’s Security and Fan Conduct Committee and
is on the NFL Charities Board. Perhaps his most impactful service is his role on
the Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee, the group who brought SuperBowl XLII
in 2008 and successfully won the bid to host the 2015 game – and its half billion
dollar economic impact to our state!
Dinner Event Agenda
5:30 p.m. - Registration & No Host Cocktails
6:15 p.m. - Dinner & Conversation
7:15 p.m. - Presentation
8:30 p.m. - Meeting Adjourns
Perhaps Bidwill’s greatest achievement is yet to come. No host city has ever played
in the big game. Can his Cardinals be the first? Super Bowl XLIX, the 49th edition
of the Super Bowl, will decide the league champion for the 2014 season. Maybe,
just maybe, this AzBL meeting will be a celebration of a history-making event. Join
us Thursday, April 2 as we welcome a Michael Bidwill to the AzBL stage.
(Event date is subject to change pending the release of the NFL Owners meeting schedule later in the season)
May, 2015
Dinner & Presentation
Who will be our 2015 Award Recipient?
Submit your nomination by 10/31/14
One more round of applause for our
2014 Award Recipient
Arizona Business Leadership Award™
The purpose of the Arizona Business Leadership Award ™ is to recognize an
Arizona business that has excelled in aligning itself with the goals of the Arizona
Business Leadership Association. Strong Arizona companies are vital to our
economic landscape. AzBL strives to recognize organizations that embody
our ideals.
Nomination Guidelines and Criteria
The winner recipient demonstrates how a company shows leadership within the
Arizona business community AND within the nominee’s own industry, excels at
financial growth, creates a strong company culture, promotes community activity,
and supports business education.
Any member of AzBL may nominate a company that meets the minimum criteria
for the award. To learn more or to download a nomination form, go to www.azbl.
org. Entries must be submitted to AzBL no later than 5:00 p.m., October 31, 2014.
Award recipient, date, and location of event to be announced early in 2015.
Pictured left to right: Gene Peterson, Tom Englert, Christian Roe, Kathy Wills
Partners
Chairman Partner
presidential Partners
Executive Partners
Media partner
Arizona Business Leadership Association, Inc.
7225 W. Oakland Street, Suite 1 • Chandler, AZ 85226-2433
Phone 480-496-4229 • Fax 480-858-1802 • Email info@azbl.org • www.AzBL.org
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