Palmer Nackard
President
Nackard Pepsi
Sector: Beverage Distribution
Each year, our employees contribute to more than 450 local philanthropic causes and organizations, and this comes in a variety of forms that include financial gifts, sponsorships, volunteer hours, product donations and more. We gravitate toward programs that allow our employees to get hands-on and have fun, like the recent Cooler Runnings races, where a four-man Nackard Pepsi team designed a bobsled out of a cooler and competed to benefit the Flagstaff Family Food Center. We also make a conscious effort to support causes that have personal meaning to our team members, such as the Reserves Downhill Trails Project, which is expanding and improving mountain biking trails, a hobby that many of our employees enjoy on their own or with their families.
Getting out and engaged in the communities we serve creates personal relationships that make what we do less transactional and more rewarding. It gives our work a deeper meaning, which translates into stronger engagement, pride and satisfaction when our team members are in the office or on the job.
Palmer Nackard is the third generation to lead The Nackard Companies, a family business that includes Nackard Pepsi, Hi-Line Refreshment Services and Legacy Beverage. Among his professional and industry contributions, Nackard is president of the Arizona Beverage Association, representing beverage companies throughout the state. He also is active in the alumni network for Brophy College Preparatory in Phoenix, where he attended and graduated high school.
Brandon B. Rafi
Founder, Owner & President
Rafi Law Group
Sector: Law
Employee involvement in philanthropic activities tends to deepen engagement because it gives work additional meaning. When people have opportunities to contribute to causes they care about, it reinforces a sense of purpose that goes beyond daily responsibilities. That purpose often shows up as stronger motivation, pride in the workplace and a greater connection to colleagues.
In our experience, shared volunteer efforts create space for employees to interact outside of normal roles and routines. Those experiences build trust and empathy, which naturally carry back into how teams collaborate and communicate at work. People tend to feel more invested when they’ve worked alongside one another in service of something meaningful.
It’s also important that participation is voluntary. When employees choose how and when to get involved, engagement feels authentic rather than prescribed. Giving people that autonomy encourages ownership and reinforces a culture where values are reflected through action, not just words.
Brandon B. Rafi is founder, owner and president of Rafi Law Group, a Phoenix-based personal injury firm known for compassionate client service and community impact. He established Rafi’s Hope to support children and families and has earned honors that include Phoenix Business Journal’s 40 Under 40, Philanthropic Business Leader of the Year and recognition among Arizona’s Most Influential Minority Business Owners.
Jody Sarchett
CEO & President
Marsh McLennan Agency Arizona
Sector: Insurance
Employee involvement in our philanthropic efforts directly increases engagement because it gives people a sense of purpose, connection and shared ownership beyond their day-to-day roles. There’s something powerful about serving alongside colleagues. These experiences create space for titles to fade, conversations to open up and connections to deepen. Those moments build trust and empathy that naturally carry back into the workplace.
At Marsh McLennan Agency, we expand access to flexible volunteer opportunities that reflect individual interests, whether that’s volunteering time, supporting a nonprofit partner or rallying around a community need that hits close to home.
To support that autonomy, colleagues are empowered with a dollar-for-dollar donation match tied to volunteer participation. The result is a culture of giving that people choose. In 2025 alone, our Arizona teams contributed more than 500 volunteer hours supporting thousands of local families.
What we see time and again is that when employees are trusted to give back in ways that align with their values, they show up more engaged, more connected and more committed to the work they do every day.
Jody Sarchett, AAI, CIC, CRM, CEBS, is CEO and president of Marsh McLennan Agency’s Arizona office, one of the state’s largest commercial insurance brokerages. A recognized leader in commercial insurance and risk management, she sets the firm’s strategic direction, oversees operations and guides teams in delivering sophisticated insurance and benefits solutions while strengthening the agency’s long-standing commitment to Arizona communities.
