Arizona’s Most Influential Minority Business Leaders for 2026

Influence is rarely built overnight. Arizona’s Most Influential Minority Business Leaders for 2026 demonstrate how resilience, vision and purpose-driven leadership create lasting impact. From overcoming barriers to redefining industries, these leaders leverage diverse perspectives and lived experiences to drive innovation, strengthen communities and shape Arizona’s economic future in meaningful, measurable ways.

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Arizona’s Most Influential Minority Business Leaders for 2026

Here are Arizona’s Most Influential Minority Business Leaders for 2026, as selected by the editorial board for Az Business magazine in consultation with industry leaders:

Jada Allender

Associate // Snell & Wilmer

Background: Allender is a member of the Snell & Wilmer’s Corporate and Securities Practice Group and co-chair of the firm’s Sports and Entertainment Industry Group. Within her sports law practice, Allender counsels clients regarding collegiate athletics name, image, and likeness (NIL) issues and has represented NIL collectives, brands, agencies, universities and high-profile college athletes throughout complex transaction and compliance in this evolving space. Allender is a speaker and author on a number of sport law issues.

Alexa Bradley

Executive talent sourcer // DDJ Myers, an ALM First Company

Background: Bradley specializes in identifying and recruiting top talent through a variety of innovative sourcing strategies. In addition to her technical recruiting expertise, Bradley is deeply passionate about diversity, equity and inclusion. She believes in the power of diversity to drive innovation and organizational success. As a strong advocate for intersectionality, Bradley is committed to fostering inclusive environments where all individuals, regardless of their background or identity, can thrive.

Daune Cardenas

CEO // Pascua Yaqui Development Corporation 

Background: Cardenas, a member of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, is the CEO of the Pascua Yaqui Development Corporation. As CEO, Cardenas oversees a diverse portfolio of ventures. These include Sonoran Pueblo Contracting, the only Tribal 8(a) certified construction company in Arizona, and PYDC Ventures, a real estate management company that is poised to become a Tribal 8(a). She earned a JD from the University of Arizona and a business degree from Northern Arizona University.

Kwok Leung (Albert) Cheung

Principal of Audit & Assurance // REDW

Background: With 20 years of wide-ranging accounting experience, Cheung is a valued veteran of the firm. He specializes in providing audit services to Native American tribes, government agencies, employee benefit plans, and clients in the finance and construction industries. Prior to joining REDW in 2013, he spent four years working for the sixth largest accounting firm in the U.S. and two years for a Fortune 500 company.

Diego Espinoza

Government relations // Salt River Project

Background: Espinoza is an accomplished professional and resolute public servant with over two decades of experience in government relations, public service and small business ownership. His career is defined by a commitment to improving the quality of life for Arizonans and advocating tirelessly for the Hispanic community. Prior to his corporate role, Espinoza was a state representative for the Arizona House of Representatives from January 2014 until September 2022.

Scarlet Filmore

Private wealth advisor // Affirm Wealth Advisors

Background: Scarlet is a dedicated private wealth advisor who helps individuals and families make informed financial decisions aligned with their goals and values. Through thoughtful guidance and disciplined planning, she empowers clients to bring clarity and intention to their financial lives. With 17 years of experience in the wealth management industry, Scarlet provides personalized financial planning, investment management and holistic wealth strategies. She is a Certified Financial Planner® professional.

Overcoming obstacles: “I’ve spent 17 years in this industry, beginning as an assistant supporting advisors and their clients. I loved the work and felt ready to lead client relationships myself. When I shared my goal of becoming an advisor, I was told I didn’t have the right personality or personal experience with wealth to give advice. Even though I was supported in obtaining my CFP®, I was expected to stay in a support role. Refusing to let bias define my future, I joined a leading Ameriprise practice that provided a starting book and real growth support. Today, I’m a private wealth manager.”

Learn more: ameripriseadvisors.com

Candace French

Attorney // Sacks Tierney

Background: French, an accomplished attorney in the practice of Native American law, brings over 20 years of experience working for tribal communities and is committed to advancing sovereignty, economic development, and the protection of natural resources in Indian Country. Hailing from Anadarko, Oklahoma, she is an enrolled member of the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes with a heritage rooted in the Navajo, Comanche, and Blackfeet Nations.

Keith Hunter

Business relationship manager // Columbia Bank 

Background: With more than 25 years of experience, Hunter partners closely with business owners to understand their goals and design sensible, customized financial solutions across lending, treasury management, and credit. He believes banking is more than transactions — it’s about investing time in your community, being involved, and building strong, long term relationships. Hunter is active across local chambers and co chairs the Friends of the Children — Phoenix chapter. He also actively engages with organizations such as Arizona State Bar Foundation, Better Business Bureau, InnovationHub and SBDC. Outside of work, he volunteers with Habitat for Humanity, St. Vincent de Paul and the Boys & Girls Club.

Source of pride: “The accomplishment I’m proud of most is helping underserved businesses gain access to capital as well as guidance and direction when the odds felt stacked against them. Watching those businesses survive, grow and become foundations within their communities has been incredibly meaningful to me. It’s a proud moment, because often times everyone wants to help businesses when they are extremely profitable, however; very few individuals are there when the businesses need them the most during tough times. I’ve built a career on being there for clients when they need me the most.”

Learn more: columbiabank.com

Lowen C. Jones

Arizona managing attorney // Marble

Background: Jones is a highly skilled family law attorney with extensive experience in divorce, child custody and estate planning. He leads a team of legal professionals dedicated to providing compassionate and effective representation in family law matters. With a focus on ensuring access to justice, Jones has become known for his commitment to client-centered advocacy, whether guiding clients through complex custody disputes or helping them navigate the emotional process of divorce.

Heather Lennon

CEO // Imagine General Contracting and Development

Background: Lennon is CEO of Imagine General Contracting and Development, where she leads strategic growth, operations and project delivery for the Arizona-based construction firm. Known for her collaborative leadership style, Lennon brings a strong focus on client relationships, quality execution and team development, guiding complex commercial projects while fostering a culture rooted in accountability, innovation and long-term value creation.

Jerry J. McPherson

Executive director // Arizona Commission of African-American Affairs 

Background: In 2024, Gov. Katie Hobbs named McPherson as executive director of the Commission of African American Affairs. The Commission plays an important role in serving the vibrant African-American community in Arizona, including supporting economic advancement, promoting equality and justice, and providing educational tools and resources needed to thrive. McPherson is a U.S. Army veteran and graduate of the Flinn-Brown Fellowship. 

Carlos Muñoz

Founder // Pimmex-CHASSE

Background: A citizen of the Gila River Indian Community (GRIC), Munoz started PIMMEX in 2008 with his father in Chandler. In recent years, he has grown the business to a staff of nearly 30 team members and partnered with CHASSE Building Team in 2021, growing the business exponentially across Indian Country. PIMMEX holds licenses with GRIC, the Navajo Nation, and the state of Arizona. Among its most notable projects is the remodel of the Apache Gold Casino and Hotel for the San Carlos Apache Tribe.

Sajeev Narayanan

Partner // Heritage Advisors 

Background: Narayanan is a partner at Heritage Advisors, where he provides strategic leadership supporting investment management, portfolio strategy and client relationships. With a strong background in finance and advisory services, Narayanan partners closely with clients to deliver disciplined, long-term solutions, helping institutions and individuals navigate complex markets while aligning investment strategies with organizational and financial goals.

Uche Olekanma, MD, MBA

Vice president of clinical operations // Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona 

Background: Dr. Olekanma has served as vice president of clinical operations at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona since July 2022. In this role, he provides clinical expertise and strategic leadership to senior executives, guiding organizational strategy with a strong commitment to improving care quality and advancing health equity. Dr. Olekanma brings decades of experience in clinical practice and healthcare leadership, with a particular focus on serving marginalized communities. 

Source of pride: “The professional accomplishment I am most proud of is leading the creation and launch of the Gold Card Prior Authorization Program at AZ Blue. This initiative marked a significant shift in how we collaborate with high‑performing providers and streamline access to care. By building a strong cross‑functional team, establishing clear clinical and operational criteria, and executing with discipline, we reduced prior authorization requirements, eased administrative burden, improved turnaround times, and strengthened provider trust. This work is meaningful to me because it helps our members get the care they need and demonstrates how thoughtful, data‑driven innovation can transform healthcare operations.” 

Learn more: azblue.com

Josefa Rodriguez

Shareholder // Gallagher & Kennedy

Rodriguez brings a compassionate approach to helping families resolve domestic disputes involving legal separations, divorce proceedings, spousal maintenance, child custody and support, parental rights, and domestic violence. She is adept at achieving favorable resolutions through strategic advocacy and effective case management, with particular emphasis on settlement negotiations for early resolution and pre/post-nuptial agreements. She also helps bring families together through adoption and DCS Adoption matters.

Nina Shah

Senior vice president and chief medical officer // HonorHealth

Background: Shah uses her clinical and operational expertise to lead enterprise-level quality, safety, high reliability organization, care coordination and Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) efforts across HonorHealth, as well as for strategic efforts related to CMS Star Ratings and LeapFrog safety scores. She is American Board of Internal Medicine certified in internal medicine, pulmonary medicine and critical care medicine.

Kristen Talbert 

Assistant director, Indian Legal Program // Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law

Background: Talbert is an enrolled citizen of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate and serves as assistant director of the Indian Legal Program at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University. She is a highly motivated, results-driven professional with more than 15 years of experience in program planning, development, and leadership across nonprofit and for-profit sectors. Talbert’s career is deeply rooted in working alongside American Indian communities.

Tania Torres

CEO // Torres Multicultural 

Background: Torres is the founder and CEO of Torres Multicultural, a leading Arizona-based agency specializing in multicultural marketing, public engagement, and culturally grounded, community-centered strategy. As the daughter of immigrant parents, Torres’ journey from humble beginnings to entrepreneurial success is central to her leadership and vision. In 2009, she launched Torres Multicultural from a spare bedroom; 17 years later, she has built it into a trailblazing woman- and minority-owned firm respected for its strategic insight, creativity, and measurable impact. Under Tania’s leadership, TORRES’ award-winning work has brought bold strategy, cultural fluency and authentic storytelling to life in major public infrastructure projects, statewide civic initiatives, and culturally driven campaigns that have elevated diverse voices and strengthened community trust.

Overcoming obstacles: “The greatest professional challenge I faced was building Torres Multicultural as a young, Latina, woman-owned firm in an industry dominated by larger, established agencies. Early on, I was often underestimated and had to work twice as hard to earn trust and secure contracts. I overcame this by leaning into my lived experience, delivering exceptional results, and proving that cultural fluency is not a niche skill — it’s a strategic advantage. Over time, our work demonstrated our value, and the quality of our outcomes spoke louder than any barrier placed in front of us.”

Source of pride: “When I started my career in advertising over 25 years ago, people of color were barely represented — and the industry remains disproportionately white today, with 74% of professionals identifying as white and only about 10% Hispanic or Latino. I’ve had to tear down doors to be seen and to ensure communities of color have a voice in rooms where decisions are made. I’m most proud of advocating for underrepresented communities through Torres Multicultural and creating meaningful jobs for marketing professionals of color. Our work has elevated voices and opened doors for other women and minority-owned firms across Arizona. All of this gives me the deepest sense of pride.”

Learn more: torresmulticultural.com

Mayra Judith Uribe

Senior vice president of multicultural banking // National Bank of Arizona

Background: Uribe is senior vice president of multicultural banking at National Bank of Arizona, where she leads initiatives that expand access to financial services for diverse communities across the state. A trusted relationship builder and advocate for inclusive growth, Uribe partners with businesses, entrepreneurs and community organizations to deliver tailored banking solutions that support economic opportunity and long-term financial success.

DeMario Vaughn

Community relations manager // Mercy Care

Background: Vaughn is the Rise and Dream Foundation’s 2025 Advocate Award Honoree — a leader whose work embodies integrity, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to community impact. As the community relations manager at Mercy Care, Vaughn leads with purpose, building partnerships, driving engagement, and championing programs that strengthen communities across Arizona. He is a powerful voice for equity, inclusion, and opportunity—ensuring that vulnerable populations have access to resources, support, and pathways to a healthier future.

Damon Young

Senior vice president of commercial growth and business development // Delta Dental of Arizona

Background: Young brings more than 25 years of healthcare leadership experience. He most recently served as vice president of national partnerships at Crossover Health and previously held senior roles at Optum Health, DaVita Medical Group and DuPage Medical Group. His background also includes leadership positions with Humana, WebMD, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Kaiser Permanente Southern California and Youth Services International, spanning business development, partnerships and operations.

Ami Zaveri

Senior counsel // Quarles

Background: Zaveri provides pragmatic and tactical counsel on the often intersecting areas of technology licensing and use, intellectual property (IP) protection, information security and data privacy. Zaveri’s clients range from startups to large publicly traded and privately held companies in a variety of industries, including software developers and technology deployers, consumer services, logistics, health care, manufacturing, transportation and other industries. She has significant experience negotiating and structuring complex commercial and technology related transactions.