From athletes and educators to artists and entrepreneurs, these superlative Valley dwellers are raising the proverbial bar.
By Jessica Dunham, Marilyn Hawkes, Jason Keil,
M.V. Moorhead, Craig Outhier, Lisa Van Loo & Tom Zoellner
Original photography by Camerawerks
Food & Beverage
John Diego Acosta, 32
As a craft beer professional, John Acosta worked his way up from the bottom – or rather, the back, as in “back of the house.” Now running operations for Phantom Fox Beer Company and Chupacabra Taproom – and frequently tapping into his background as an artist for promotions and branding – Acosta started his career in humble fashion, as a dishwasher for Saddle Mountain Brewing Company in Goodyear. “Very shortly I started bar-backing, bartending, bar manager, assistant GM, then marketing and events director.” He’s also supervised fundraising events for Veteran’s Cancer Network and other causes, and designed the logo for an Arizona Firefighter’s Foundation fundraising event that was worn by the D-backs and helped sell more than 100,000 T-shirts.
Did You Know? Born in San Diego, which is how he got his middle name.
Rochelle Daniel, 41
How does it feel to get a “recommended” rating from French culinary kingmaker Michelin? Rochelle Daniel would know. The Phoenix native’s Flagstaff eatery, Atria, earned the distinction this past summer, when Michelin Guide judges visited Arizona for the first time. “You know, it feels good, but it lights a fire under me to get a star,” says Daniel, who lives part-time in the Valley. Getting that elusive star could happen: Despite the demands of two children, Daniel – whose life-track took her from Sunrise High School to Le Cordon Bleu – has a well-earned reputation for innovation and artistry, with multiple projects in the works to entice future judges, including Pompette Bistro, Pompette Bakery and Little Rich Girl, a speakeasy downstairs from Atria.
Did You Know? Has a tattoo of a heart with flowers extending, aptly, from the atria.
Evelia Davis, 56
Part businesswoman, part culinary investigator, Evelia Davis created a culinary Valley sensation with Latha. A Michelin Guide selected honoree in 2026, the restaurant specializes in “diaspora soul food” – i.e. the ingredients and tastes that came out of Africa and spread to Brazil, the Caribbean and the American South. “The foodways traveled with the people,” Davis explains. Latha is Swahili for “flavor,” the lodestar for her and executive chef Digby Stridiron, a native of St. Croix, as they enthrall diners with barbecued oxtail, pineapple piri piri chicken and other pan-African delicacies. Davis didn’t start out in the gastronomy business; she has a PhD in business administration. But the Louisiana native struck culinary gold in Downtown’s historical Heritage Square. “Arizona has so many people who are open to trying different kinds of food,” she says. “People from all over the world live here.”
Did You Know? She was editor-in-chief of her high school newspaper and had early designs on a journalism career.
Zach O’Haire, 44
“I have a passion for beverage,” Zach O’Haire says. Fortunately for the Tucson transplant, he was able to score work in the field. As the beverage director for all-world Valley hospitality group Pretty Decent Concepts, O’Haire’s polymath grasp of cocktail technique – from the wily martini variants of Filthy Martini to the tiki-adjacent party sips at faux-747 speakeasy Carry On – enjoys a full workout. His 2026 projects include Tempe’s Roman God of Fire in collaboration with celebrity chef Scott Conant, and its in-house watering hole Mea Culpa, where O’Haire stretches his wings with amaro and Italian liqueurs. O’Haire’s passion for beverage comes from a deeper passion: “I love taking care of people,” O’Haire explains. “I love showing people a good time.”
Did You Know? Grew up wanting to be a record producer. Fitting, his last book read was The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin.
Law & Government
Kate Brophy McGee, 71
When she was in the Arizona Legislature, Kate Brophy McGee customarily began the annual sessions with a benediction delivered from her desk: “May the words we speak and the actions we take honor the Arizona we love and that our children and grandchildren will call home.” The Bisbee native felt it was an important reminder to her colleagues and herself that government was about far more than self-glorification or ladder-climbing. “It’s not about the next thing you tweet but about what you manage to accomplish” for the common good, she says. Now serving as a Maricopa County supervisor, she brings the same instincts for cooperation and personal modesty to governing the state’s largest metro area – and will serve as an important stabilizing force when the county ratifies votes in the upcoming election. “We’ve got to all get on the same page,” she says, and channel “the incredible grit and determination that built the Arizona we love.”
Did You Know? First concert: San Francisco Symphony.
Jimmy Cerracchio, 51
Main Street Mesa has seen tremendous economic growth over the last decade thanks to the efforts of the Downtown Mesa Association, which appointed Jimmy Cerracchio as its president and executive director earlier this year. The Phoenix native wants to keep supporting local businesses as the East Valley suburb grows into a destination for tourists and locals. “I think people will see what is happening on Main Street and want to be part of it,” the expectant first-time father says. “Great dining and nightlife, a world-class arts center, amazing museums and family events, a rejuvenated amphitheater and an exceptional community connected by a truly walkable area.”
Did You Know? First concert: “Probably Crystal Gayle at the Arizona State Fair in 1979.”
Jessica Mefford-Miller, 45
For someone whose job it is to move people around the nation’s fifth largest metropolis, Valley Metro CEO Jessica Mefford-Miller moves pretty fast herself, jamming her days full of meetings to help put the puzzle pieces together between bus routes, light rail tracks, streetcar lines and rideshare programs across 19 municipalities – all while seeking her doctorate in geography. Even in our car-crazy sprawl where only between two to four percent of the population is using public transportation, her efforts are being applauded: the American Public Transportation Association recently named Valley Metro the best system in its class, beating out 30 other agencies. “I wanted to be a fashion designer [growing up],” the Illinois steel-town import says. “Now I help design transit systems, and my outfits get whatever attention is left over.”
Did You Know? Tattoos? “Nope. Tattoos mean forever, and that’s a mighty long time.”
Nasser Abujbarah , 43
As managing attorney of Phillips Law Group, Nasser Abujbarah sees himself as more of a train conductor than a trial lawyer, overseeing 167 attorneys for the injury-law giant. “I touch every part of the firm, from legal operations to finance,” he says. A graduate of Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, Abujbarah’s career includes numerous seven-figure results along with recognition by Best Lawyers in America and Arizona’s Top 100 Lawyers. Growing up, he wanted to be a sports journalist, but says that this job is “just as fun.” What he enjoys most is watching his staff grow and succeed. “Nothing gives me greater joy,” he says. When not at work, Abujbarah spends time with his wife and seven-year-old son along with their dog, Penny. He dreams of someday living in Florence, Italy, “at least part-time,” where he and his wife were married.
Did You Know? First concert: “Method Man and Red Man! It was as an all-timer. I’ve [also] seen Jay-Z live 17 times.”
Terry Goddard, 70
Numbered among the lions of Arizona’s political history, Terry Goddard has a record of service dating to the early 1980s, when he led a successful effort to create Phoenix city council districts and allow for more equal representation. The former four-term mayor is clear-eyed about the quirks of the state he loves. “Arizona has always had an ornery streak in matters of governance,” he says, “from refusal at statehood to give up recall of judges, to using the National Guard against California’s building Parker Dam, to… refusing to join Medicaid and opting for a completely different approach to health insurance for lower income people … and so many more [examples].” His final act: Serving as one of our foremost preservationists. After leading Downtown’s Monroe Street Abbey project, the Tucson native and one-time aspiring wrangler was honored by the Arizona Preservation Foundation.
Did You Know? First concert was Peter and the Wolf at the Tucson Symphony.
The Creatives
Fausto Fernandez, 50
Growing up in the Mexican border town of Ciudad Juarez, Fausto Fernandez never thought he’d become an artist. It wasn’t until he started working in museums, including the Heard Museum and the ASU Art Museum, that the University of Texas at El Paso grad really believed he could pursue it as a career. As the creative force behind a number of public art works, including the Terrazzo floor at the Phoenix Sky Train Station, Fernandez found his artistic lane and made his mark. After suffering a stroke in early 2025, Fernandez is finding his way back to his studio. As he continues to recover, some challenges remain. And he recognizes that a new season of artistic creation may be on the horizon. “I want to paint,” he says. “The way I paint right now will be a little different.”
Did You Know? He learned English while working at a summer camp between semesters at UTEP.
Dolan Ellis, 91
Turns out, Arizona had an irresistible pull on Dolan Ellis, who was born and raised on a Kansas farm. The musician had dreamed about the desert as a boy, and when he was old enough to move, he did. In the 60 years since Governor Sam Goddard bestowed on him the title of Official State Balladeer, Ellis has written more than 300 songs while preserving and celebrating Arizona’s cultural heritage. Recently, he traded songwriting for book writing, authoring his memoir, Adventures of a Balladeer. “It started as a series of essays and it grew into a book,” Ellis says. “It’s been a very interesting trip and I’m just absolutely thrilled with the life that it’s given me.”
Did You Know? Ellis took his mom to his first concert after a fight with his girlfriend at the time. The performer? Elvis Presley.
James Payne, 55
Though he only assumed the reins at the School of Ballet Arizona last year, James Payne is no newcomer to the state’s dance scene. Born in Camp Pendleton, the dance prodigy began his training in Phoenix with acclaimed classical ballet instructor Nina Marlow, and was 15 years old when he took his first paying dance job with Ballet Arizona. His performing career took him to Ballet West and Houston Ballet before he retired from the stage in 2001. Payne held leadership roles in Houston and Philadelphia before returning to Arizona in 2025 to assume the directorship of Ballet Arizona’s training school, where he’ll help shape the next generations of dancers. “This felt like an opportunity to bring those experiences home. Now I get to help students who are starting out just as I did.”
Did You Know? Got matching compass tattoos with his wife and two adult kids over Christmas one year.
Amanda Kehrberg, 41
Amanda Kehrberg thinks a lot about how entertainment leads people to certain values and conclusions. It’s her job: She’s a doctoral student at Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. She puts her theories into practice as a standup comedian and regular commentator for KJZZ where she offers spicy opinions on pop culture and her own upbringing in Ahwatukee, “the biggest cul-de-sac in the world.” After she lost her father to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (known colloquially as Lou Gehrig’s Disease) in 2020, Kehrberg’s work took a serious turn into advocacy for ALS Arizona. She calls her home state “endlessly spread out and yet so hilariously small – it’s funky and strange and innovative.”
Did You Know? Last book read: The Lost City of the Monkey God by Douglas Preston, about the use of tech to identify ruins in the Honduran rainforest.
Andrew Hudson, 39
As a kid, Andrew Hudson wanted to be a science fiction writer when he grew up. Isn’t it nice when things work out? Recently, the St. Louis transplant and Arizona State University assistant professor completed a book tour for his debut novel, Absence, published in May by Soho Press. “It’s sci-fi, but it’s also a crime novel and a mystery,” says Hudson, who holds a Master’s in creative writing from ASU. His fiction is rooted in a genre called solarpunk, sort of a hybrid of cyberpunk and Michael Crichton-style suspense “which wrestles with climate issues.” It’s an opportune genre for the Tempe writer, who also holds a Master’s in sustainability from ASU.
Did You Know? Last book read: Francis Spufford’s recent World War II time travel fantasy Nonesuch.
Colton Dawson, 19
The list of Valley music artists who’ve broken out with major-label deals over the past decade is not a long one: pop siren Upsahl (Arista Records), singer-songwriter Alec Benjamin (Atlantic Records), a handful of others. The most recent addition: rising country talent Colton Dawson. Not two years ago, the affable Warner Records signee was a Gilbert schoolboy entertaining his friends at Perry High School with George Strait covers and honing the art of live performance gigging with his dad, Valley golf pro Gary Dawson, on stage at the Arizona Country Club. “Two acoustic guitars and two mics,” the 19-year-old says. “We did over 500 shows. It tanked my grades pretty bad.” What awaited him was arguably better than college: a contract with Warner propelled by his soulful self-produced debut single, “It’s Gonna Rain.” Now partly based in Nashville as he tours the U.S., Colton returns regularly to see his folks and kid sister. “And to play a gig with my dad like old times.”
Did You Know? First music concert: Litchfield Park-based country singer Ben Haggard.
Sports
Dena Anderson, 46
In the seven years since Dena Anderson was named athletic director at Paradise Valley Unified’s Horizon High School, the Huskies have won nine AIA state championships across multiple sports, including a rare four-peat in girls volleyball (2021-2024). Subsequently, she was named 5A Athletic Director of the Year in 2023 by her fellow administrators. A Horizon alumna, Anderson is proud to build a legacy of success for the school. “Growing up in Horizon’s neighborhood, attending our feeder schools and watching my parents dedicate their careers to public education shaped who I am today,” she says. “Horizon [means] the world to me, and building a lasting legacy here is deeply personal.”
Did You Know? Last book read: The Power of Positive Leadership by Jon Gordon.
Maci Decker, 14
Scoring 37 points in her first basketball game at PS Academy Arizona last season, Maci Decker drew enthusiastic comparisons to WNBA star Caitlin Clark. But the court can be a sensory challenge for the autistic point guard, so her mom suggested wearing earplugs during games. “I can still hear my coaches and teammates,” Decker says. “We weren’t sure if the referees would make me take them out, but so far, nobody has asked me to.” The Gilbert resident’s long-term plans don’t include a sports career, but they do involve basketball – she wants to be a ball girl for the Phoenix Suns. “I could still be around the game I love without having to play at the intensity of a college game,” she says.
Did You Know? Hasn’t been to her first music concert yet: “But I really want to see Forrest Frank!”
Michael Wilson, 27
Off to a torrid start in 2026, Arizona Cardinals pass-catcher Michael Wilson is proving what the team seemingly knew when it signed him to a three-year/$75 million contract in the pre-season: Wilson is a No. 1 wide receiver in the NFL. Not that the cerebral Stanford University grad is sizing himself up against the Kurt Warners and Larry Fitzgeralds of team lore quite yet. “I’m still early in my career and haven’t played a big enough role in bringing meaningful wins to the organization,” he says. “Until that happens, I’m going to say I don’t feel very close to those guys.” A bigger priority: feeling close to his wife, Portland Thorns soccer star Sophia Wilson, and their baby daughter, Gigi, whom the couple welcomed last September. Not surprisingly, being one of America’s premier athletic power couples makes child-rearing tricky. “We’ve pretty much had to do a long-distance relationship [since college],” says the player. “And I know at [Gigi’s] age, they’re growing so much and those moments… are so fleeting. It’s extremely hard.”
Did You Know? Only one of two active NFL players who holds a Master’s degree, in media and communications.
Business & Technology
Dara Gibson, 51
As an occupational hazard, Dara Gibson will give a side-eye to certain emails. An educator who more or less tripped into cybersecurity, Gibson is the founder and CEO of Cybersecurity Readiness Advisors, a Valley-based cyber-insurance and incident-readiness advisor. Her mission is to offer guidance to small and medium-sized businesses, which need it just as much as large-scale corporations, the Northern Arizona University product says. “When you have a company going through the worst day of its business life, that’s when they don’t know what the next steps are,” says Gibson, who was honored for her entrepreneurial efforts at the 2026 Cybersecurity Woman of the Year awards in Liechtenstein. “75 percent of small businesses get hit by a threat actor and they don’t have $500,000 to pay for the remediation and fixing, so they go under.”
Did You Know? She’s steadfastly obsessed with Schitt’s Creek and currently can’t get enough of Ted Lasso.
Sandul Gangodagamage, 21
With aesthetics reminiscent of both LEGO figures and Minecraft, the online gaming destination Legion Platforms has attracted more than 12 million global users. The driving force is an Arizona State University junior, Sandul Gangodagamage, who won the Inferno Invitational Startup Cup for his efforts and is on track to becoming one of the most successful tech moguls in the state. The Minnesota import credits his university for emphasizing innovation and business among its students in the mold of Stanford University’s catalyzing presence in Silicon Valley. Except he thinks Arizona is an even better place to get a new idea going and ramped up. “The cost of doing things here is so much cheaper than in other places, which goes a long way for startups,” he says. “People are building companies faster than ever in Arizona.”
Did You Know? “Somewhat fluent” in Sinhala, a national dialect of Sri Lanka.
Ginger Sykes Torres, 45
A Stanford-educated environmental planner, Navajo Nation member and former Biden administration appointee, Ginger Sykes Torres joined Local First Arizona as vice president of resiliency programs in March 2025. Centered on energy, climate, food systems and the economy, her work at the local-business accelerator gives her the opportunity to find solutions that “benefit both people and the planet.” She enjoys seeing her actions translate into real opportunities and improvements in people’s lives and communities. “Knowing that the work we do now can help create a healthier, more vibrant and more resilient Arizona for future generations is deeply rewarding.” As a teenager, Torres was the first female to win a world championship Native American hoop dance title at the Heard Museum. Now the mother of three is teaching her children. “It’s beautiful to watch them develop their relationship with the dance and see how they express their story.”
Did You Know? Last book read: American Oasis: Finding the Future in the Cities of the Southwest by Kyle Paoletta.
Education & Research
Kenneth Smith, 43
As the ninth of 10 children, Kenneth Smith was raised by a hard-working mother who instilled in him a sense of community service. He brings that dedication to work every day as principal and COO of Genesis Academy, an alternative high school in Phoenix that serves “high needs, high trauma” students. It’s a campus where social-emotional learning and social services are baked in, the Los Angeles transplant says. “Those are some of the shifts you have to make to take the barriers off the table. If they’re not fed, they can’t learn. If they don’t know where they’ll sleep, they can’t learn.” Smith says he’s somewhat of a “fixer,” turning failing campuses into excelling ones in quick order. “The goal is to reach the head and the hearts,” he says. “We take that very seriously.”
Did You Know? Has two tattoos: “The names of my kids on my left arm.”
Tammy Stewart, 53
California native Tammy Stewart, who moved to Phoenix in 2004, says the arts were part of her life from an early age, instilling a deep appreciation for their ability to spark curiosity and connection. “That love has continued to shape my personal and professional life,” she says when describing a career in development, fundraising and community engagement at places such as Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, Phoenix Art Museum and Arizona Science Center, where she currently oversees the center’s $14 million operation as CEO. Key to her drive? Community. “Cultural centers and other arts organizations are essential to a thriving city. They offer [people] opportunities to experience the world from different perspectives… and they create spaces where [we] can come together.”
Did You Know? Current TV obsession: Premium: The Bear. Local: Check, Please! Arizona.
Kami Cothrun, 49
In 2008, Kami Cothrun founded PS Academy Arizona in Gilbert for neurodivergent learners in middle school and high school. Under Cothrun’s leadership, the school has earned dual accreditation from the National Independent Private Schools Association and Cognia (a nonprofit accrediting organization) along with a specialized autism endorsement, placing the institution in an elite group meeting rigorous academic and autism-specific standards. Cothrun strongly believes that all teenagers deserve to have the same junior and senior high experiences as their typical peers. “People often mention how great it must be to know that the school has made such a difference in students’ and their family’s lives,” says the Scottsdale native and mother of three. “I am humbled by that and so grateful that my staff and I are able to make a life changing difference.”
Did You Know? Has four tattoos including a bale of sea turtles. “It’s my favorite animal.”
Yohannes Haile-Selassie, 65
Where do we come from? And where are we going? The answers to these profound questions might be possible thanks to Yohannes Haile-Selassie. As the director of the Institute of Human Origins at Arizona State University and evolution professor at the school, the world-famous paleoanthropologist has been at the forefront of some of history’s most important fossil and artifact discoveries. “Fossils are the only clues we have to understand where we came from, why we look the way we look today and what changes we have undergone physically, behaviorally and culturally,” the Berkeley-trained scientist, who moved to the Valley in 2021, says. “Some of our close relatives went extinct, and understanding why gives us clues of how we might be able to avoid extinction from the kind of climate change we are currently witnessing, and work toward better adaptive strategy.”
Did You Know? Hails from Ethiopia and speaks three regional dialects: Tigrigna, Amharic and “to some level Afarigna.”
The Do-Gooders
Jenna Hubaishy Mertens, 32
When Jenna Hubaishy Mertens bought a used American Girl doll for $20 on Facebook in February 2025, she had no idea it would spark something bigger. Remembering how much she loved her American Girl dolls as a kid, the Valley construction attorney bought the bargain-priced doll and then donated it to the Department of Child Safety. “I thought it would be cool to give a doll to someone who probably couldn’t afford one,” she says. Soon, Mertens and her husband began buying and refurbishing used American Girl dolls as a “fun, quirky hobby.” Before long, the Phoenix couple expanded their efforts to fixing and donating other gently used toys. The hobby led the Wisconsin-raised Mertens to found PHX Doll House, a nonprofit that has since given away more than 3,000 toys to Valley children in need.
Did You Know? Last book read: Allen Levi’s enchanted-stranger bestseller Theo of Golden.
Mel Martin, 96
Auto collector Mel Martin got his first car at age 17, a 1920s-era Douglas truck that “wasn’t fast or pretty,” but changed the trajectory of his life. The Iowa native subsequently owned several garages and a towing company, learning every aspect of the automotive industry, before transitioning to commercial real estate. Along the way, he collected many valuable specimens. In 2008, when the collection grew too large for him to garage, he opened the Martin Auto Museum in Glendale. The nonprofit museum currently houses more than 200 classic cars and hot rods. Martin’s first love was a 1929 Chevy, but his favorite car in the museum is a 1930 LaSalle four-door convertible. “I drove it in the Great Race across the country twice,” he says, referring to the vintage car rally between New York and Alabama. Where car-love is concerned, his motor will never stop purring.
Did You Know? The last book he read: “My biography – Mel Martin: An American Success Story.”
Dr. Steven Hansen, 61
In addition to “president and CEO of the Arizona Humane Society,” Dr. Steven Hansen is known at work as the “Top Dog,” a fitting moniker for a veterinarian and animal advocate who is devoted to saving untold numbers of Valley animals. Under Hansen’s watch, the Arizona Humane Society has grown into a nationally recognized provider of shelter-based veterinary care, and has one of the country’s largest veterinary trauma hospitals for homeless pets. “At the center of everything is the hospital. We always take in a sick or injured animal, that’s priority number one for us, 365 days a year,” the Nebraska native and licensed veterinarian says, also pointing to the org’s fostering/adoption and spay/neutering programs. The Top Dog has been known to nurse a few shelter animals at home over the years and currently has two dogs and one cat.
Did You Know? First concert: CSN, baby… Crosby, Stills and Nash.
Nicole Almond Anderson, 44
Nicole Almond Anderson already has her hands full directing communications for Arizona State University’s Thunderbird School of Global Management. But she makes time for – and even prioritizes – her advocacy on behalf of her 11-year-old daughter and the 2,000 other children around the world afflicted with the rare disorder known as Pitt Hopkins Syndrome. Her efforts have been recognized by the City of Phoenix, where she serves as the chair of the Mayor’s Commission on Disability Issues. She also raises funds for research through RareiTees for a Cure, a brand of shirts sold online. “As a fifth-generation Arizonan, I care very much about helping our communities thrive,” she says. “People are very open to giving to humanitarian efforts. Arizona is a very charitable state.”
Did You Know? As a kid, dreamed about being the editor-in-chief of a fashion lifestyle magazine.
Michael Kuba, 42 & Matthew Kuba, 16
In 2016, Michael Kuba founded The Junkie Garage, a donation-based, nonprofit auto-repair shop in Glendale. With his son, Matthew, they fix cars for Valley residents who can’t afford to pay for costly repairs. His mission is simple: “Everyone deserves to get home safe.” The Kubas tackle everything from air conditioners to brakes to radiators. The customer supplies the parts and the Kubas donate time and expertise for the repairs, underwritten by the garage’s donation program. “I felt that people who couldn’t afford to donate much would be offset by the people who could,” Michael says. Michael runs the 501(c)(3) Junkie Garage as a side gig (by day, he’s a cabinetry professional), but his motivation goes beyond the work. His incentive? “Seeing the smile on people’s faces who otherwise could have never gotten the repair done,” he says.
Did You Know? Michael’s current TV obsession: the Taylor Sheridan-created CIA thriller Lioness.
Glenn Jordan, 64
Of the Chandler strip mall explosion that burned about 40 percent of his body, Glenn Jordan remembers only pieces: “I remember getting out, I remember stop, drop and rolling.” Had it been Phoenix instead of Chandler, the allegory would be too heavy-handed: The eyeglass repair shop manager certainly rose from the ashes, albeit after weeks in the hospital, some of it in an induced coma, rehab and months of occupational therapy. Since then, the New York native and lifelong Yankees fan organized a pull-up competition that brought in $40,000 for the Arizona Burn Foundation.
Did You Know? First concert: Bob Seger, 1979 at Veterans Memorial in Phoenix. Third-row ticket: $9.
Medicine & Health Care
Dr. Dannah Raz, 40
As chief of developmental pediatrics at Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Dr. Dannah Raz thinks a lot about how medical care of babies and toddlers goes beyond the doctor’s office. With autism rates on the rise in the Valley and across the globe, the Phoenix native advocates for universal screenings at ages 18 and 24 months – all the better to help parents take effectual action. “If I could change one thing, it would be the ‘they will grow out of it’ mentality,” she says. “If a child is identified early as having developmental delays or is suspected of having a diagnosis such as autism, take action and connect them and their family with the support they need. Services can always be adjusted later.” For her efforts, Modern Healthcare magazine named Raz to its 2026 40 Under 40 list.
Did You Know? Current TV obsession: Dancing with the Stars. “Lots of great competitors this year but I am rooting for Ezra Frech.”
Jared A. Langkilde, 52
“Be ambitious about what is possible,” Jared Langkilde advises. “Nonprofits sometimes confuse stewardship with thinking small. Responsible stewardship and transformational ambition can coexist.” The president and CEO of HonorHealth Foundation can back up this notion. Overseeing the healthcare giant’s charitable arm, Langkilde raised almost $53 million last year. The Eagle Scout, MBA (from Arizona State University’s W.P. Carey School of Business) and proud father of six is also a board chair at Boyce Thompson Arboretum. What motivates all this? Langkilde confesses: “I’m much more sentimental than I probably appear.”
Did You Know? In addition to English, he speaks Portuguese, French and the South American Indigenous tongue Guarani.
Christina Vignery, 43
Shawna Beckman, 43
Processing the rollercoaster of emotions that hit when you’re a teenager can be tricky at best, debilitating at worst. And for the families that support teens? Overwhelming. That’s where Christina Vignery (right), executive director at Artemis Adolescent Healing Center, and her identical twin sister, Shawna Beckman (left), the clinic’s chief clinical officer, come in. Managing a 100-staff, 70-bed operation with centers in Phoenix and Tucson, the Kansas natives are working together to help patients (and their parents) struggling with mental health, whether it’s helping them develop coping skills, detox from social media or create a substance abuse recovery plan. “When you have a kid that is struggling, it can be very lonely as a parent,” Vignery says. “We’re getting them the support they need.”
Did You Know? Shawna’s last book read: Atomic Habits by James Clear
Did You Know? Christina has three daughters. “My house is basically estrogen.”
The Land Barons
Zander Diamont, 31
Jared Amzallag, 37
Los Angeles advertising execs Zander Diamont and Jared Amzallag didn’t have a background in real estate development when they moved to Arizona and launched Minimal Housing Concepts in 2020. But they strongly suspected the Valley would embrace the Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) concept – better known as tiny homes. These aren’t prefab dwellings – they’re traditionally constructed units built by local crews, suited for a guest home or in-laws. The duo then used that foundation to create Minima Homes, a more traditional “dirt to door” luxury residential development company with several eight-figure projects underway. “A lot of the builders are all about speed and being as cheap as possible, and for us, we really want to change the landscape and bring a product that just hasn’t been seen here,” Diamont says.
[Zander]Did You Know? Father-of-two played college football for the Indiana Hoosiers.
[Jared] Did You Know? Childhood ambition: “Be a vet and save animals.”
Sharon Harper, 70s
As chairman and CEO of Plaza Companies, ranked the state’s top woman-owned company by Phoenix Business Journal in 2021, Sharon Harper is something of a unicorn in the male-dominated commercial development realm. The Minnesota native also has a knack for collaboration. Two decades ago, Plaza broke ground on Skysong, its partnership between the City of Scottsdale and Arizona State University. Then Harper took what she learned from that project and worked with the two landowners of Park Central to revitalize the long-dormant property, bringing in Creighton University to build a medical school at the historical – and now revitalized – Midtown mall. “Plaza Companies has been able to integrate with our cities, with our state, with our country in ways that elevate everything,” Harper, who raised five children in the Valley, says.
Did You Know? Harper is an avid PBS News Hour viewer.
Greg Vogel, 62
As the founder and chairman of Land Advisors, a Scottsdale-based real estate brokerage and advisory firm with national reach, Greg Vogel characterizes his work, simply, as helping “landowners achieve their goals.” Pressed, Vogel will admit there’s more to it. “Land may seem simple, but it’s really not at all,” he the New Jersey native says. “It’s probably more complex than any other real estate class.” Vogel started Land Advisors when he was 24 years old, knowing then he would use his real estate degree from Arizona State University somewhat differently than most of his peers. In the 40 years since, the firm has played a strong role in shaping how and where Phoenicians live. From Verrado to Estrella to newer communities such as Asante and Saddleback, Land Advisors has quarterbacked thousands of transactions and development projects across the Valley and U.S., totaling more than $40 billion nationwide.
Did You Know? Last book read: Land of Legends: The Making of Arizona, released November 2026. “I’m the co-author.”
Media
Ian Schwartz, 45
While Ian Schwartz wouldn’t have called himself a night owl before entering the world of morning news, he wasn’t waking up daily at 3:30 in the morning, either. But the Good Morning Arizona meteorologist, reporter and all-around uplifting a.m. presence never lets his pre-dawn alarm (or the broken arm he suffered after a cycling accident in 2023) affect the positive attitude he exudes as he shares good news from around the Valley. “I feel like viewers need a break sometimes from some of the things that happen in the newscast,” the Mesa native says. “It’s our responsibility to cover those things, but sometimes it can be a lot. It’s nice to break that up a bit.”
Did You Know? Has one tattoo: his mom’s name in Hebrew.
Ray Stern, 60
Queens native Ray Stern won numerous awards for his investigative reporting for Phoenix New Times – covering crime, corruption, cannabis and the turbulent reign of Sheriff Joe Arpaio – before heading to The Arizona Republic in 2021 to cover the Capitol. The father-of-two’s stories over the last year range from scandals involving the Arizona Rangers quasi-police organization to how issues with the state’s SNAP program affected those who once benefited. Now, after five years of focusing on the state legislature, Stern is pivoting to City Hall, hoping subscribers will keep their local politicians accountable. “There are a million stories in the big city, and I hope to bring our readers some good ones,” the inveterate sci-fi fan says. “I’m excited to apply my experience and connections to the beat.”
Did You Know? For a hot minute, wanted to be a paleontologist as a child. “But by about 8, I knew I wanted to be a writer.”
Michael Chow, 60
Michael Chow admits he circled the block a few times during his more than three decades at The Arizona Republic. From nearly stepping on a landmine in Kosovo to covering protests at the State Capitol, the photojournalist knows where to aim his camera. “A good photograph is something that honestly represents what happened at the scene, and it strikes an emotion and resonates with the viewer,” the father-of-three says. Arguably the most decorated photojournalist in Arizona history, the San Jose, California, native boasts a mantle that includes a 2018 Pulitzer for the Republic’s reporting on the border wall and a 2025 Rocky Mountain Emmy Award for his Gilbert Goons documentary. After years of the Republic providing his gear, Chow recently bought his first camera since college. He took a buyout last year and plans to travel the world – taking a few photos, we suspect.
Did You Know? Last book read: AI for Good by Josh Tyrangiel.
Sumi Sarkar, 30
A public relations dynamo with one of the gaudiest rosters of trend-setting restaurants around, Sumi Sarkar is also a licensed therapist. And while, on paper, PR and counseling may seem incongruous, the sole employee of Sumi Sarkar Public Relations says both occupations are about finding an authentic way to communicate. It’s certainly helped her share the story of Tempe’s Filthy Animal, which was named the Best New Restaurant in the U.S. by Yelp this fall. “It’s obviously exciting to see Filthy Animal receive national recognition,” the Kolkata, India native says. “But what I love even more is getting to tell the story of the creative people behind it and help show a larger audience what’s happening in Tempe and the Valley’s hospitality scene.”
Did You Know? The expectant first-time mom (due March 2027) has five tattoos – including one inked by “a man named Spooky” on her 21st birthday.
Mike Broomhead, 59
In an era when talk radio has a reputation for extreme views and bombastic rhetoric, Mike Broomhead represents a more thoughtful way of talking about the issues. Raised in Florida, the KTAR morning host is a social and fiscal conservative who nevertheless takes the time to consider differing opinions. As a former rodeo cowboy and electrical contractor, he also has a keen sensibility for the heterodox views of blue-collar Arizonans and a somewhat repentant take on the “us vs. them” climate stirred up by talk radio’s older guard. “I used to think of myself as a preacher,” he says. “Everyone would say ‘amen’ and go on their way. But now I think of myself as a missionary, trying to convince. Not everyone’s a believer. Not everyone will agree. That’s okay. We’re becoming a lot more sophisticated in many ways. The conversations are changing in Arizona.”
Did You Know? Last book read: Death Be Not Proud, writer John Gunther’s classic 1949 memoir about his teenage son’s battle with cancer.
Generations
Gen Alpha
Ijeoma Uzoanya
Not many 10-year-olds list “learning about the Victorian era” as a hobby, but Ijeoma Uzoanya is not most kids. Born to Nigerian-American parents, the young Chandlerian began reading at age three. At seven, she wrote and published a book, Marshmallow Martin, about a man who loves marshmallows to death (literally). And now Uzoanya is earning a 4.0 GPA at Rio Salado College, acing courses like English 101 and Intro to Human Communication, in preparation for her studies at a four-year university. “My first choice is Arizona State University; then to Harvard Law,” she says. Ijeoma’s mother, Tochi Uzoanya, told ABC15 in their coverage of the young prodigy that her daughter has charted this ambitious course all her own. “I believe in this country you can be anything you want to be, so I encourage her to fly,” she told the news outlet.
Did You Know? First concert: “I have sung at the choir festival, which is technically a concert.”
Gen Z
Landon Hairston
What do Rick Monday, Floyd Bannister, Bob Horner and Spencer Torkelson all have in common? Answer: All were Arizona State University baseball players who went No. 1 in the MLB amateur draft, the most of any college program. Outfielder Landon Hairston could be the fifth. Raised in Gilbert, the sweet-swinging son of ex-D-backs outfielder Scott Hairston had a sophomore season for the ages last spring, batting .400 with a program-record 28 home runs (more than ex-Sun Devils Reggie Jackson or Barry Bonds ever hit) while picking up the Baseball America College Player of the Year Award (just the seventh underclassman to do so since 1981). “It meant a lot to me to put on a show like that for my hometown,” he told the publication. A consensus Top 5 prospect for the 2027 season, he could make us prouder still when MLB teams draft next summer.
Did You Know? He’s Gen Z, but has Millennial tastes. Currently binging Parks and Rec.
Millennial
Jimmy McCain
Four years in the U.S. Marine Corps weren’t enough for Jimmy McCain, the youngest son of Arizona maverick senator John McCain. After his honorable discharge, he reenlisted in the Arizona National Guard in 2014 and served two deployments in Afghanistan as a squad leader. As a soldier-scholar, he holds history degrees from Arizona State University and Trinity College in Dublin. Governor Katie Hobbs appointed him to the Arizona Board of Regents last year, where he now oversees operations at his graduate alma mater and the state’s two other big universities, which are all “crushing it,” the 39-year-old says, in their mission to bring knowledge, research and training to his home state. “We can credit the maverick leaders we’ve had here, from Carl Hayden, who said we’re not going to fit into an eastern pigeonhole, to Barry Goldwater, and right up to the present,” he says. “We think independently. This makes us a player on the national stage.”
Did You Know? Favorite tattoo: “The first one: USMC on my shoulder.”
Gen X
Fay Fredricks
ABC15 news anchor Fay Fredricks has covered countless stories during her three-decade Valley media career, but has a hard time choosing a favorite. “I think stories are about people, not things that happen, and connecting people through the human experience,” says the SoCal transplant, who moved to ABC15 in 2015 after manning the anchor desk at 12News for many years. Highlights include reporting from the Oscars and the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy, and traveling to New York with the Arizona Diamondbacks during the World Series in the weeks after 9/11, which she describes as a “profoundly moving experience on many levels.” Fredricks and her husband, Tim Ring, a Valley sportscaster, and their three children enjoy traveling. At the top of her bucket list: a trip on the Orient Express.
Did You Know?Is fluent in German, taught to her by her German mother.
Boomer
John Shufeldt
If you’ve ever found sweet relief – or at least a quick amoxicillin script – at an urgent care, you can probably thank John Shufeldt. In 1993, the Scottsdale-based emergency medicine physician established NextCare, later expanding it across the country and creating a household brand. A true renaissance man, the Chicago native also has a law degree, owns a telehealth platform, is a leading investor in emerging healthcare technology (via his Jetstream Venture Fund) and founded Tribal Health, a medical management company which aims to erase healthcare disparities on reservations. Oh, and he’s a private pilot. Looking ahead, the father of two says he’s most intrigued by novel solutions with a promise of impact. “Anything that lowers costs and improves access or quality, hands down,” the 66-year-old says. “We have the tools but no one is putting them together in a way that is impactful for populations, particularly populations that are underserved already.”
Did You Know? Shufeldt is the first-ever Great 48er who holds M.D., J.D. and MBA degrees.
Silent/Greatest
Rita Davenport
Rita Davenport has rarely stepped into the same river twice during her six decades in the American workforce, working as a teacher and social worker, authoring bestselling books, serving as president of a multi-level marketing firm and, most famously, pioneering one of the first female-led cooking shows, Cookin’ with Rita, which debuted on KPHO (CBS5) in the pre-Food Network 1980s. “I’ve been so blessed,” says the Nashville native, who currently runs a successful motivational speaking business. Davenport once dated businessman Carl Dean, whom she had known since first grade, before he married the late Dolly Parton. She says Parton’s famous song, “Jolene,” was written about her, a story that Parton good-naturedly confirmed at a concert in Phoenix that Davenport was attending along with 5,000 other fans. “Everyone applauded.”
Did You Know? Her first concert was a good one: Elvis Presley.
