Even with COVID precautions in place — including socially distanced tables and a limited number of tickets sold — a reduced, but celebratory, capacity crowd honored Az Business and AZRE magazines’ Most Influential Women of 2021 Thursday at Chateau Luxe in Phoenix
“We may have had to reduce the capacity and limit tickets for this year’s event, but no one can limit the impact the Most Influential Women of 2021 have had on Arizona,” said AZ Big Media Editor in Chief Michael Gossie.
Thursday’s event was the 10th anniversary of the Most Influential Women in Arizona Business program, which has honored governors, senators, supreme court justices, the first woman to fly a fighter jet in combat, college presidents and Olympic gold medalists.
“It’s not easy to become one of Arizona’s Most Influential Women,” said co-host Donna Rossi, director of communications for the Phoenix Police Department, Emmy Award winning journalist, and inductees into the Arizona Broadcasters Hall of Fame. “The 50 ladies we are honoring tonight were selected from a pool of more than 2,000 of Arizona’s best, brightest and most innovative women. So, you truly are the best of the best.”
MORE PHOTOS: Click here for more photos from the 2021 Most Influential Women celebration
READ ALSO: Lively crowd honors the Most Influential Women of 2020
AZ Big Media Publisher Amy Lindsey opened the show by thanking the title sponsor, WaFd Bank Arizona; red carpet sponsor TB Consulting; jewelry sponsor Molina Fine Jewelers; audio-visual sponsor Merestone; and digital sponsor Versant Capital Management.
“This amazing event would not be possible without the help of our amazing team sponsors who have made this the biggest and best celebration of our 2020 Most Influential Women,” Lindsey said. “Their belief and commitment to this program is immensely appreciated.”
In addition to recognizing each of our 50 Most Influential Women of 2021, six spotlight awards were presented to women who have changed their industries and opened doors that were once closed. The spotlight award winners were:
Rising star spotlight award: Jamie Boggs, vice president of athletics, Grand Canyon University
Spotlight award for innovation: Christine Boles, vice president of the Internet of Things Group and general manager of Industrial Solutions Division, Intel
Community champion: Dawn Grove, vice President and corporate counsel, Karsten Manufacturing
Trailblazer award: Julie Gable, COO, TBConsulting
Visionary spotlight award: Mary Fedewa, president and CEO, STORE Capital
Outstanding achievement in leadership: Gabrielle Finley-Hazle, president and CEO, Dignity Health Arizona Central and West Valley
The Most Influential Women in Arizona Business for 2021
Julia S. Acken
Member, Jennings, Strouss & Salmon
Jamie Boggs
Vice president of athletics, Grand Canyon University
Christine Boles
Vice president of Internet of Things Group, general manager of Industrial Solutions Division, Intel
Latasha Causey
Vice president, human resources , Bell Bank
Alyssa B. Chapital, MD, PhD, MBA
Medical director, Mayo Clinic Hospital
Kari Cornicelli
Executive vice president and CFO, Phoenix Children’s Hospital
Sarah Cossette
Vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer, Cancer Treatment Centers of America Phoenix
Susan Dana-Kobey
Partner, Burch & Cracchiolo
Christine Ferrell
Vice president, private banking, Enterprise Bank & Trust
Gabrielle Finley-Hazle
President and CEO, Dignity Health Arizona Central and West Valley
Lyndsey Fry
Director of external engagement and female hockey, Arizona Coyotes
Julie Gable
COO, TBConsulting
Beth Ginzinger
Chief strategy officer and chief risk officer, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Arizona
Nancy Gonzales
Executive vice president and university provost, Arizona State University
Meghan H. Grabel
Partner, Osborn Maledon
Cathy Graham
Executive vice president and chief marketing officer, Desert Financial Credit Union
Susan M. Gray
CEO, Tucson Electric Power
Dawn Grove
Vice President and corporate counsel, Karsten Manufacturing
Christina Hamilton
Equity partner, The Cavanagh Law Firm
Jeanine Jerkovic
Economic development director, City of Surprise
Adriana Kong Romero
President , Bank of America Tucson
Barbara Kennedy
Executive vice president and chief human resources officer, Western Alliance Bank
Rebecca Lundberg
Arizona division president, PulteGroup
Lea Marquez Peterson
Chairwoman, Arizona Corporation Commission
Beth McDonald
Radio host, KEZ 99.9
Geri Mingura
Associate general manager and chief human resources executive, SRP
Stacie Pinderhughes, MD
Market chief medical officer , UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement
Jennifer Russo
Owner and executive chef, The Market Restaurant + Bar by Jennifer’s and Jennifer’s Catering
Sandra Sagehorn-Elliott
President and CEO, Vantage West Credit Union.
Dr. Heather Schneider
Dental director, Delta Dental of Arizona
Erica Sietsma
COO, Digital Air Strike
Pam Stelzer, CPA
Audit manager, Henry+Horne
Beth Stiller
CEO, Massage Envy
Mona Stone
Senior vice president, general counsel, chief compliance officer, and corporate secretary, Goodwill of Central Arizona
Elise Thorpe
Principal, Lovitt & Touché
Keri Tignini
Executive director, market executive, JPMorgan Chase
Cathleen Walker
Regional president and head of corporate banking, PNC Bank
Kris Yamano
Wealth management industry leader
