Guiding Growth

Originally hailing from San Diego, Cortnie's career in the hospitality industry began with a remarkable 12-year tenure at Starbucks Coffee Company. It was here that she developed a profound passion for creating an incredible company culture. Leveraging this passion and knowledge, she embarked on a new venture in San Francisco, managing the only Nespresso flagship location on the West Coast. Her jo...

Cynthia Dunham grew up the daughter of a Green Beret, and her upbringing took her from Utah to North Carolina, to Germany, and then to Washington. She returned to Utah as a college dance major, but life and love led her to Arizona, where she transitioned into accounting, eventually founding her own firm. Her journey into public service saw her elected as a council member and then as Mayor of Gilbe...

2024 CANDIDATE EDITION Natalie Di Bernardo, a proud Arizona native, epitomizes the spirit of community engagement and entrepreneurial drive. As a devoted mother to teens, she understands the importance of building a thriving environment for future generations. Natalie's journey in entrepreneurship has equipped her with invaluable experience in turning visions into successful actions. Her tenacity...

Aaron was born in Southern California and raised in a military family who was transferred around the country. He was primarily raised in Southeast Virginia and ended up attending the College of William and Mary. He graduated in 1995 with a Bachelor's of Business Administration, with an emphasis in accounting. Upon graduation, he worked for Ferguson Enterprises for 17 years as a buyer, branch credi...

2024 CANDIDATE EDITION Monte Lyons is a USAF veteran and has worked in the aerospace industry for over 40 years. He holds three degrees with a Masters in ADR. His career in aerospace included roles in manufacturing, quality, facilities, tooling, biz ops, flight test, and operations.  Monte has been married to his wife of 40 years, they have 7 children, and 7 grandchildren together. They have lived...

2024 CANDIDATE EDITION Scott Anderson, a dedicated Gilbert resident of over 30 years. Since settling in 1988 with his wife EJ Anderson and their five children, Scott has been deeply involved in town affairs. As the visionary behind the Gilbert Riparian Preserves, he is steadfast in his commitment to preserving Gilbert's status as a nationally acclaimed community and a top-tier destination in Arizo...

2024 CANDIDATE EDITION With a dynamic career spanning over two decades in the energy, water, and infrastructure sectors, I currently lead as a Senior Engineer within the Electric Vehicle (EV) group at Salt River Project (SRP). At the forefront of SRP's managed charging initiatives, my role is crucial in shaping the future of electric vehicle integration. My work is driven by a passion for innovati...

2024 CANDIDATE EDITION Kenny Buckland has spent the last 40 years refining his leadership skills. He began as a teenager managing the family business, progressed to become the second in command of a large police department, became a leader in long-range surveillance technology focusing on protecting our borders, and served as a global crisis manager. Currently, he serves as the senior director of s...

Pearlette J. Ramos, Ph. D., J.D. is a lawyer, transformational leader, social justice advocate, and entrepreneur with more than 25 years’ experience in activism, change and strategic management, and DEI consultation. Born in Youngstown, Ohio and raised in the housing projects, Pearlette’s childhood home was poverty- stricken and riddled with substance abuse, domestic abuse and untreated mental ill...

Sharon Kotsonas is very active in her town of Gilbert, AZ where she is considered a social entrepreneur and a community leader. In 2019 Sharon launched her nonprofit, Weekly Collective Volunteers Inc., which provides various support services to people facing economic adversity, physical and mental health challenges, or other obstacles. Her initiative aims to make people seen, heard, and supported....

Damir Ljubovic grew up in Bosnia and Saraeeayvo and moved to America in 1995 as a refugee of the Civil War. Starting over in America, he moved to Arizona in 2002 and, in 2014, chased the American dream by starting his own business alongside his wife while raising three children. 365 Mechanical has been in business for ten years, helping commercial and residential customers with their HVAC needs. O...

Ellen Marrs, a three-time Boston Marathon finisher and mother of seven, is a seasoned entrepreneur, renowned author, record-breaking fundraiser, and sought-after speaker. Her journey reflects a life dedicated to setting and achieving audacious goals, a commitment exemplified by accomplishments such as running the Boston Marathon thrice, balancing life with a family of nine while traveling the Unit...

A native of Gilbert - who was born to a native of Gilbert - this guest has both roots and recognition in the Town as the third son of Marvin and June Morrison. Alongside his siblings and cousins, he has actively engaged in the development of the master-planned community known as Morrison Ranch. With a Masters in Theology and a Doctorate in Ministry, he considers his Christian faith to be the most...

Tiffany Shultz is a seasoned professional with a diverse background and a strong commitment to her community. A proud graduate of Arizona State University, Tiffany has called Arizona home throughout her life. Her journey began in broadcast journalism before transitioning to a successful career in public relations. Tiffany's professional trajectory took an exciting turn as she shifted her focus to...

This podcast recording includes subject matter regarding acts against children that some may find upsetting or triggering. Listener discretion is advised. Dania Blanco founded Cosmiix Artistry in 2010. She was still working full-time as an investigator for the Town of Gilbert and raising three kids. Her artistic career started out in the film industry, working on commercials and editorial shoots d...

Jolean Fleck, vice president of people and organizational development, joined Delta Dental of Arizona in 2019. In this role, she works to shape the company’s culture and create an enriching experience for employees. With a focus on building a strong, high-performing team, Fleck is also responsible for leadership development and employer branding. Before joining Delta Dental of Arizona, Fleck was t...

Cindy Packard and her husband Blair are the founders of Care for Life, an NGO in Africa that, for the past 24 years, has seen unprecedented success in alleviating suffering, promoting self-reliance, and instilling hope for those families and villages living in extreme poverty. Cindy helped research and create a unique program using local people to offer comprehensive training and mentoring in heal...

Brimage holds the top leadership position for the University’s Gilbert Campus and is a member of the University’s executive leadership team. She is responsible for leading the strategic growth and operations of the campus, including academic programming, market development, community relations, fundraising, enrollment growth, student services, student academic support, student engagement, and athl...

Tim Hovik is an Executive and Philanthropist residing in Arizona. He’s the Owner & Operator of San Tan Ford in Gilbert, Arizona.  Mr. Hovik is the leader among his colleagues. Tim’s greatest asset is his ability to make the right decisions at the correct times. The evidence is in the results. He’s also past President of the F.D.A.F. and current Chairman of the influential Ford National Dealers...

Owner of Garage-East Winery here in Gilbert, Arizona, since 2016. Married with three children living in Gilbert, the best town ever. Retired hero. ---------- Guiding Growth :  Conversations with Community Leaders Join our hosts, Sarah Watts and Ben Kalkman, as we explore the human journey of leaders - their stories of humility, triumph, roadblocks, and lessons learned - as they reflect on how they...

Dr. Maria Hesse serves as a Professor of Practice in the higher education program at Arizona State University. She was Vice Provost for Academic Partnerships at Arizona State University for a decade. Prior to joining the ASU administration in 2009, Dr. Hesse served as President and CEO for Chandler-Gilbert Community College, one of the Maricopa Community Colleges. Before her 25 years in the Marico...

David is the Arizona Regional President for Meadows Bank, a community bank specializing in financial services for businesses and real estate. He was born and raised in Louisiana and moved to Arizona in 2004. David previously served as a Director in Bank of the West/BNP Paribas’ commercial banking office in Phoenix. Prior to that, he was a Vice President at JPMorgan Chase Bank’s Middle Market Banki...

Dana Berchman is the Chief Digital Officer in Gilbert, Arizona, where she manages all internal and external communications, public relations, marketing and digital government initiatives, government innovation, and open data and storytelling efforts. She leads a digital team responsible for developing forward-thinking policies on social media, digital communications, web initiatives, and other too...

Leticia Barwick, with an illustrious 35-year career in the industry, is the owner of Meritum, a credit card processing company. Proud to be a local and family-owned business, Meritum stands as a testament to her commitment to her community. Beyond her professional success, Leticia's heart belongs to travel, her creative passion for scrapbooking, cherishing precious moments with loved ones, and her...

Meet Andrew Augustyniak: a guy who wears many hats and owns them all with a smile. Dad to four awesome kiddos, partner-in-crime to his amazing wife, and once upon a time, a golf pro turned loan magician. He’s the brain behind the Augustyniak Lending Team and the top 1% of the nation, according to the folks at Mortgage Executive magazine. Growing up in sunny Arizona, Andrew was all about numbers an...