The Thunderbirds, hosts of the WM Phoenix Open, have appointed Chris Camacho the Tournament Chairman for the 2027 edition of “The People’s Open”, which is set to tee it up Feb. 8-14 at TPC Scottsdale. Additionally, The Thunderbirds announced that John Damiris has been named Assistant Tournament Chairman for the 2027 event, which will be the 92nd edition of the WM Phoenix Open. Camacho and Damiris took over planning duties immediately following Chris Gotterup’s playoff win at the 2026 WM Phoenix Open on Sunday, February 8.
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Camacho assumes the role of Tournament Chairman after serving last year as Assistant Tournament Chairman alongside Jason Eisenberg. He will lead The Thunderbirds organization in the planning and execution of all facets of the 2027 event, including sponsorship generation and renewals, security and safety, community relations, logistics, development of on-course venues, and overall fan experience enhancement.
“It is a tremendous honor to serve as Tournament Chairman for the 2027 WM Phoenix Open,” Camacho said. “The People’s Open represents the very best of our community, bringing together world-class golf, an unmatched fan experience and a charitable mission that creates meaningful impact across Arizona. I look forward to working alongside my fellow Thunderbirds, WM, our sponsors, volunteers and community partners to build on that legacy and deliver another exceptional tournament at TPC Scottsdale.”
Chris Camacho is the Senior Vice President, Global Site Strategy and Expansion for Axon Enterprises. Prior to that he served 17 years as the executive leader for Greater Phoenix Economic Council. Camacho is involved in many community organizations including the Flinn Foundation, Valley of the Sun United Way, and Elevate Phoenix among others. He has undergraduate and graduate degrees from Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville. He currently resides in Scottsdale with his wife, Maria, and three children, Makenna (18), Case (14) and Cameron (12). Camacho has been a member of the Thunderbirds since 2018.
As Assistant Tournament Chairman, Damiris will work alongside Camacho in all tournament related operations while preparing to assume the Tournament Chairman role for the 2028 WM Phoenix Open.
Damiris is President of the Arizona Region for UMB. In this role, he is responsible for designing and executing the strategy for Arizona, along with promoting growth and managing teams in Phoenix, Tempe, Chandler, Mesa, and Scottsdale. He has more than 22 years of experience in the financial services industry and has spent his entire career at UMB. He joined the bank in June 2004 and was among the founding officers who opened UMB’s Arizona de novo charter in November 2005.
Damiris graduated cum laude and earned his bachelor’s degree in finance, with a minor in mass communication, from Arizona State University. An active member of his community, John is involved in several local civic and sports organizations. In addition to his engagement with The Thunderbirds, Damiris has served as president for the Scottsdale Saguaros, is a graduate of the Scottsdale Leadership Class XXIV and a life member of the Fiesta Bowl Yellowjacket Committee. Damiris lives in Phoenix with his wife, Amanda, and their three children, Sophia (14), George (11) and Zoe (7).
One of the five oldest events on the PGA TOUR, the WM Phoenix has a unique leadership structure, whereas the tournament has a new Chairman each and every year.
The 2027 WM Phoenix Open returns to TPC Scottsdale February 8-14, bringing back “The People’s Open” for its 92nd edition. Recognized six times as the PGA TOUR’s Event of the Year (most recently 2025), the WM Phoenix Open is celebrated as one of golf’s most iconic and fan-friendly events. In 2026, Chris Gotterup defeated two-time WMPO champion Hideki Matsuyama in a head-to-head playoff to earn his fourth career PGA TOUR win and second win in three starts to kick off the 2026 season. For more information visit www.wmphoenixopen.com.
The 2027 tournament marks the 18th year with WM – North America’s leading provider of comprehensive environmental solutions – as proud title sponsor. During WM’s time as title sponsor, the tournament has contributed to setting a new standard for charitable giving and sustainability in sports, earning recognition as one of the largest zero-waste sporting events in the world for 14 consecutive years while raising millions of dollars for the Arizona community each year.
The Thunderbirds were founded in 1937 with the mission of promoting the Valley of the Sun through sports. The Thunderbirds consist of 55 “active” members and more than 280 “life” members who have helped the tournament eclipse $246 million in charitable giving since its inception in 1932, with the 2026 WM Phoenix Open raising a single-tournament record $20.1 million for charity.
