The Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC) released its annual report and announced 13 new members rolling onto its Board of Directors, joining the 11 board members elected midyear.

Now consisting of 92 members, GPEC’s governing board offers perspective from a diverse set of public and private groups representing the whole of Greater Phoenix. These voices guide the organization’s strategies and priorities for advancing regional competitiveness with a focus on high-tech, leading-edge sectors that position Greater Phoenix as an internationally recognized market. The new group includes members from the education, government, healthcare, manufacturing and nonprofit sectors.

LOCAL NEWS: 10 things you may not know are manufactured in Arizona

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS: Want more news like this? Get our free newsletter here

Two officer changes are taking place. Brooke Westemeier, Arizona Managing Partner at Ernst and Young, was appointed Treasurer, succeeding Ron Butler who served since FY22. On Oct. 13, Christine Mackay will join GPEC as President & CEO and step into Interim CEO Thomas Maynard’s position on the Board of Directors.

“As GPEC enters its 36th year, its mission and priorities remain unchanged: propelling Greater Phoenix as an economic hub and driving international attention to the region,” said Board Chair and Arizona Diamondbacks President & CEO Derrick Hall. “The Board looks forward to welcoming its new members and offering guidance to Christine and GPEC over the next year, continuing upon its nearly four decades of excellence in economic development.”

In FY25, GPEC attracted 54 businesses into Greater Phoenix, the second-most in the organization’s history. These companies generated $572 million in payroll and created 7,206 new jobs, 4,983 of which are considered high wage with an average salary of $91,206. Together, the first phase of these company expansions represents $7.2 billion in capital investment in the region.

During the fiscal year, GPEC was named a silver winner of the International Economic Development Council’s Top Economic Development Organization in September 2024, the Arizona Association for Economic Development’s Large Organization of the Year in April 2025, and was recognized by Mac Conway as a top economic development organization for the ninth year in a row in May 2025.

International companies continued to show interest in Greater Phoenix, following a trend over the last half-decade. A record 30% of GPEC’s total prospect pipeline came from international countries as the region built upon its global prominence. GPEC showcased Greater Phoenix on the international stage by participating in 14 international conferences, 22 outbound and inbound missions, as well as supporting eight companies through its Arizona International Soft Landing Experience (AISLE) program with Arizona State University

“GPEC’s recent successes have been driven in large part by the evolution of the region’s brand on the national and international scales,” said Interim CEO Thomas Maynard. “Companies are aware of our diverse supply chains, business-friendly operating ecosystem and deep talent pools. We will continue promoting our landscape holistically to drive sustained growth across the board.”

Explore the full annual report here.

“We pride our Board in the analytical, long-term thinking the members bring to the organization,” said Chief Operating Officer Maureen Howell. “Their experience and insight allow GPEC to be innovative, adapt swiftly and stay ahead of the curve, maintaining our position among the best economic development organizations in the country. We’re thrilled to welcome our new board members and look forward to their contributions over the next fiscal year.”

New members approved at the annual board meeting are:

  • Dr. Joshua Baker, Interim President & CEO, Midwestern University
  • Katie Barnes, COO, City of Hope Phoenix
  • Rick Blake, Senior Director, Commodities, Virgin Galactic
  • The Hon. Lisa Borowsky, Mayor, City of Scottsdale
  • Scott Butler, City Manager, City of Mesa
  • Mark Drayna, Retired, FUJIFILM Electronic Materials
  • Dana Drew Shaw, Vice President of Government Relations, Grand Canyon University
  • The Hon. Bambi Johnson, Councilmember, City of Apache Junction
  • The Hon. Kate Brophy McGee, County Supervisor District 3, Maricopa County Board of Supervisors
  • Jaye O’Donnell, Director of Economic Development, City of Mesa
  • Jen Pokorski, County Manager, Maricopa County
  • Richard Ra, President, LG Energy Solutions Arizona, Inc.
  • Ginger Sykes Torres, Vice President of Resiliency Programs, Local First Arizona

Plus, 11 new members appointed midyear 2025 in March:

  • Chris DeRose, President, CivicGroup
  • The Hon. Lisa Fitzgibbons, Mayor, City of Casa Grande
  • Chris Grogan, President, El Dorado Holdings, Inc.
  • The Hon. Curtis Nielson, Vice Mayor, City of Avondale
  • Amy Perry, CEO, Banner Health
  • Will Rehrig, CEO, Rehrig Pacific Company
  • Dr. Tomas de la Rubia, Senior Vice President for Research and Innovation, University of Arizona
  • Kyle Steinbuch, Regional President Arizona / Head of Corporate Banking AZ/NM, PNC Financial Services Group, PNC Bank
  • Keri Tignini, Arizona/Nevada Region Manager, JPMorganChase
  • The Hon. Rick Watts, Councilmember, Town of Fountain Hills
  • Brooke Westemeier, Arizona Managing Partner, Ernst & Young

View GPEC’s full board here.