Valley Partnership, the premier advocacy group for responsible development in Arizona, announced the addition of three new members joining the Board of Directors, with all new selections to serve up to three terms of three years on the Board. Representing an impressive collection of the most influential leaders within the real estate and development industries, the Board oversees the operations, political advocacy and development components of Valley Partnership.
The following professionals are now serving as Board members:
Benjamin A. Graff, Of Counsel, Quarles & Brady- Graff is an established Arizona land use and zoning attorney with extensive experience in government relations and Arizona politics. Ben authored one of the first Planned Unit Development applications approved by the City of Phoenix and has become one of the preeminent attorneys furthering creative downtown infill development.
Kimberly Davids, General Manager Southwest, The Weitz Company- Kimberly is the General Manager for The Weitz Company in Southwest region. She has over 19 years of construction industry experience having served in a variety of roles throughout her career including superintendent, project manager, project executive, engineer, and operations manager.
Steve Backman, Vice President of Phoenix Development, VanTrust Real Estate- With more than 20 years of experience in Commercial Real Estate and Development experience, Backman focuses on real estate development opportunities throughout the Arizona, Southern Nevada and California regions. His affluence in Western US development and redevelopment opportunities with and background in project feasibility, entitlements, project budgeting, finance, design and construction management are uniquely remarkable.
“Bringing in new and energetic leaders to serve on our Board has been a key component of Valley Partnership’s success in leading on major development issues and staying ahead of the curve on real estate and development trends,” said Cheryl Lombard, President & CEO of Valley Partnership. “These three new Board members will bring unique and fresh perspectives when it comes to challenges like responsible infill projects, access to a sustainable water source, construction and development trends. We are excited to have them as part of our Board and look forward to seeing their leadership in action.”
