Chamber Annual Meeting and Business Volunteer Awards

In June, the Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce hosted the Second Annual Meeting and Business Volunteer Awards.

Since 1947, four years before the incorporation of the City of Scottsdale, the chamber’s business leaders have led the way toward the goal of a livable, vibrant community with a strong love of its past and an unshakable eye toward its future. Despite the inevitability of conflicting views about what that future may look like, one thing is for certain — there is a passion about this place and about its economic success. At the center of that passion has always been the Scottsdale Chamber of Commerce, one of Scottsdale’s oldest nonprofits, passionate about contributing to the betterment of our great city. 

The heart and soul of any nonprofit corporation is its board. The Scottsdale Chamber Board of Directors is comprised of volunteer leaders, every one of whom could spend time elsewhere rather than working with us to build a sustainable future. Our board compensation generally consists of a few lunches per year and the opportunity to support the chamber more deeply.

In return, they take on the policy direction and fiduciary responsibility for the organization. They have felt our challenges through the Great Recession and can take pride in our return to a stronger future. The chamber’s deep thanks goes to Eric Larson, who, as chair of the board, helped steer the organization back to prosperity and a certain future.

More than 250 of our members choose to volunteer on our committees, task forces and advisory councils, for which we are most grateful. Without these incredible engines of the organization, the chamber could never execute a robust program of services and events for our members.

Each of these groups has a chair, someone who chooses to be a leader among leaders. The chamber remains most grateful for their leadership and dedication.

Board of Directors & Executive Committee
Eric Larson, AVB Development Partners

AM Connect Committee
Brad Beller, Signs by Tomorrow

Airpark Committee
Jim Walker, Walker Business Consulting

Ambassador Committee
Bryan Bertucci, Raymond James

Business Attraction Committee
Pete Klute, Klute Communications

Economic Development Advisory Council
Don Couvillon, ASU-SkySong 

Membership Value Advisory Council
Pam Kelly, Pro One Media

Public Policy Advisory Council
Steve Helm, Scottsdale Fashion Square

Business Volunteer Awards

Each year, the Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce presents Business Volunteer Awards to recognize a few among many who do so much for the organization and the community.

Named for the chamber’s “serial volunteer,” the Dale B. Fingersh Volunteer of the Year Award recognizes an individual member who has served as a servant-leader within the membership. The recipient is recognized for outstanding volunteerism through dedication, commitment and service to the chamber. The chamber would like to offer gratitude to Bryan Bertucci from Raymond James Financial.

The Mark F. Eberle Rising Star Award recognizes an individual who, over a relatively short tenure of involvement, has made a substantial impact through his or her volunteerism. The individual named demonstrates the true volunteer spirit and leadership promise. The 2013-2014 deserving recipient is Chris Cole of The Cole Team of Realty One Group.

The Segner Award is named in honor of the chamber’s first chair of the board in 1947. Wesley Segner was an artist and businessman whose watercolors still adorn the chamber office. This award honors a member who has followed Segner’s legacy of leadership, community stewardship and active contributions to the success of the chamber. The 2013-2014 Segner Award winner is Jane Blacker of Ventana Fine Properties.

The Legacy Award honors a Scottsdale Area Chamber member of long standing who has risen above the call of duty over a significant number of years, contributing significantly not only the chamber but to the business community and the community at large. The winner of the 2013-2014 Legacy Award is the remarkable Camille Hill of Merestone.

The chamber and the community have a wonderful and exciting year ahead. By November of this year, we will have at least one new face on the city council. The state will have a new Governor, a new Secretary of State and State Treasurer. Three seats are available on the Scottsdale City Council. Come February, the world will see Scottsdale celebrating another Super Bowl in the Valley, with our city once again receiving much of the economic impact, exposure and outside revenue.

Scottsdale voters will also need to make decisions about the future of education in our largest district and perhaps another attempt to put forth an override request and a general plan for our city. Both efforts are worthwhile. Supporting the SUSD Override will lead to better educational opportunities for our children — our work force of the future. The General Plan, read by few but governing us all, is an essential component to guiding our next ten years. Petty politics killed it once and we cannot let that happen again.

Most importantly, the chamber looks at the fiscal year ahead as one of continued recovery, continued economic growth and renewed prosperity — and our organization will be at the epicenter of it all.