Carondelet Health Network welcomes new CEO

Experienced health care executive Monica C. Vargas-Mahar, FACHE, has joined Carondelet Health Network as market chief executive officer. Carondelet Health Network serves the Tucson area through its St. Mary’s Hospital, St. Joseph’s Hospital, Marana Hospital, St. Raphael’s Emergency Center and related entities.

Vargas-Mahar has more than 20 years of experience in healthcare administration has served in multiple leadership positions. Prior to joining Carondelet, she served as chief executive officer of The Hospitals of Providence East Campus and market chief operating officer of The Hospitals of Providence in El Paso, Texas.

“I look forward to being a part of the Tucson community and collaborating with our physicians, associates and board of governors to ensure Carondelet hospitals deliver the highest standards of care to every patient. Carondelet offers many advanced services including Level 1 trauma, neurosciences, cardiovascular and surgical care, and it’s exciting to join such a talented team,” said Vargas-Mahar.

Vargas-Mahar is chair of the National Association of Latino Healthcare Executives and was appointed by The American Hospital Association to its Carolyn Boone Lewis Equity of Care Award Committee. She also serves on the board for Trinity University Healthcare Administration Program, Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA) and Loretto Catholic High School. Vargas-Mahar is also the former chair of the United Way of El Paso.

Greater Phoenix Chamber announces new board members

The Greater Phoenix Chamber announced new leaders within its board of directors to lead the organization in its mission to promote regional prosperity and serve as a catalyst for economic vitality and strong communities in fiscal year 2022.

Christina Noble, chief growth officer of Sonora Quest Laboratories, will serve as the 2021-2022 board chair, succeeding John Wolfe, senior vice president, Southwest Region for Cox Communications. Erin Mettille, sales director, Slalom Consulting, will serve as chair-elect.

The 2021-2022 board of directors will focus on the continued recovery of the Greater Phoenix business community following the COVID-19 pandemic, along with prioritizing the growth of the Chamber’s Diversity & Inclusion initiative. The board provides insights and guidance to the Chamber’s work in public policy, economic development, growing the regional talent pool, and supporting local businesses in myriad ways.

“The Greater Phoenix Chamber has a long history of responding to the needs of area businesses to strengthen our economy through public policy, and economic and workforce development,” says Christina Noble. “The Chamber’s work over the past several years – most recently under John Wolfe’s strong leadership—has positioned it to lead responsibly and effectively as we look at economic recovery after the pandemic. I look forward to working with the board and the Chamber’s outstanding staff as we continue to serve our members and the community.”

The Chamber also welcomes the following business leaders to its board of directors:

• Susan Anable, Cox Communications

• Shannon Butler, CVS Health

• Jennifer Carussetta, Phoenix Children’s Hospital

• Greg DeBernard, USAA

• Joe Donnarumma, Univision

• Nicole Forziati, State Farm

• Grenee Martacho, Concord General Contracting

• Francis McAllister, Freeport McMoRan

• Kris Newman, McCarthy Building Companies

• Amilyn Pierce, Arizona Diamondbacks

• Jason Rowley, Phoenix Suns

• April Salomon, Musical Instrument Museum

• LaShandra Sartor, Quicken Loans

• Gary Shullaw, PetSmart

• Rob Taylor, SRP

vDoug Welzel, Amazon

• Lisa Riley – Wells Fargo

The board of directors also welcomes the following officers onto the Executive Committee:

• Legal Counsel – Ryan Curtis, Fennemore Craig

• Audit and Governance Chair – Cale Whittington, Ernst & Young

• Diversity & Inclusion Chair – Laura Lynn Smith, ADP, Inc.

• Finance Committee Chair – Brent Cannon, National Bank of Arizona

• Human Resources Chair – Scott Smith, TowerHunter

• Nominating Committee Chair – Mike Tilton, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona

• Public Affairs Committee Chair – Susan Anable, Cox Communications

“The leadership of our board of directors has never been more important, as we lead the Arizona business community post pandemic, and focus on rebuilding our economy,” said Todd Sanders, president & CEO of the Chamber. “I look forward to working with our incoming Board leaders and members as we navigate these ever-changing times and develop solutions that provide direct value to our members and to the community at large.”

The Greater Phoenix Chamber Foundation also welcomes several new leaders within its board of directors for fiscal year 2022.

Stacy Derstine, Vice President, Customer Service & Chief Customer Officer at APS, will serve as the Foundation’s 2021-2022 board chair, succeeding Mike Bontrager, Vice President & General Manager of Alston Construction.

The Foundation also welcomes the following business leaders to its board of directors:

• De Anne Russell, Common Spirit Health

• Kim Samuel, Equality Health

The newly appointed board leaders and members officially assume their duties on July 1, 2021.

Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani adds three attorneys

Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani recently welcomed three lawyers to its Phoenix office. Peter Silverman joins as senior counsel and Meagan Swart and Steven Crocchi join as associates. Peter served at the Arizona Attorney General’s Office as the legal counsel for then Secretary of State Janice K. Brewer in high-profile litigation concerning the constitutionality of Arizona election laws and other legislation. He would later serve as Chief of Staff and General Counsel for the Democrats at the Arizona State Senate. Peter was selected by three Secretaries of State to serve on the Arizona Election Equipment Advisory Committee.

A former public defender with significant courtroom experience, Meagan is an associate in the Employment, White Collar Criminal Defense, Tort & Product Liability, Commercial Litigation, Insurance, and Governmental Regulatory and Administrative Law practice groups. Meagan is a member of the Liberty Project and Arizona Women Lawyers Association. 

Before joining Gordon Rees, Steven spent two years clerking for the Honorable Randall M. Howe at the Arizona Court of Appeals. While in law school, Steven conducted 32 trials while working as a limited-practice student at various prosecutor’s offices and was the 2019 recipient of the Paul Holloway Trial Advocacy Award. Steven is a member of the firm’s Commercial Litigation and Insurance practice groups.

Celebrity Fight Night gets new leadership

The Celebrity Fight Night (CFN) fundraiser has announced a leadership change when it returns in 2022 after a two-year hiatus. CFN has raised over $90M for charities in 27 years. 

CFN has supported a range of worthwhile causes and will now focus its firepower on defeating cancer, which annually takes the lives of millions. Stepping to the helm will be Dr. Stacie J. Stephenson, as CFN merges with Gateway for Cancer Research, an international grantmaking organization dedicated to funding innovative, patient-centric clinical research. Dr. Stephenson is the Vice Chair at Gateway as well as the Chair of Functional Medicine for Cancer Treatment Centers of America.