As a woman business owner or a top executive making decisions for your company, what would you identify as some of the greatest community organizations or assets that have empowered you or your business?
CATHERINE ALONZO
Chief Executive Officer
Javelina
Sector: Branding
Any successful business is a true reflection of its community; we are all propped up by our customers, our vendors, our staff and our supporters. There are countless organizations that have supported the growth of Javelina, and the development of me as the CEO. I have found that other women in our community have been a tremendous asset. They have shared advice, resources, ideas and connections, and I would have been lost without them.
Local First AZ, the Better Business Bureau and Valley Leadership have been connectors and champions. United Food and Commercial Workers has been a community partner, client and confidante. Arizona State University has educated most of our employees and interns, and has been integral to developing homegrown talent and attracting the nation’s best and brightest to our state. The vision and commitment of the elected and appointed leaders of the City of Phoenix has been essential in the development of our city into a vibrant hub that young talent want to move to and growing families choose to reside in.
Catherine Alonzo is the CEO of Javelina, whose purpose is to advance equality and human dignity through social, political and economic change. It works with purpose-driven organizations to create meaningful change in their communities by marrying strategies from the worlds of marketing and political campaigns. Alonzo is driven to make the world kinder and more equal.
JODI LOW
Founder and CEO
U & Improved
Sector: Leadership Development
I consider myself very lucky to live in a city that has such a thriving and supportive business community. I am highly involved with, and sit on the boards of, several business organizations
such as the Better Business Bureau of the Pacific Southwest, Arizona Business Leadership, the Executives’ Association of Greater Phoenix and Conscious Capitalism Arizona. Each of these organizations has had a major impact on the success of my business through the deep connections I have formed and the true friendships that have come from simply being involved with groups of
people that are focused on improving the way we collectively do business.
I love to contribute to these organizations, as well as the members’ businesses within these groups, because I believe the more we focus on giving to others’ success and growth, the more we can all win — individually, within our businesses, and as a community — together.
Jodi Low is a nationally renowned corporate trainer, inspirational speaker and the founder and CEO of the award-winning leadership development company U & Improved. She trains entrepreneurs, executives and their teams on how to master a mindset for success both personally and professionally. She is a board member of several nonprofits, and founded the U & Improved Leadership Foundation, which gives back to deserving teens.
NICOLE STANTON
Vice President and General Counsel
Harvest Health & Recreation
Sector: Medical Marijuana Dispensary
I have always felt empowered by working with community organizations that focus on leadership, women empowerment and diversity. I understand that partnering with community organizations is a top priority for my personal journey as well as the businesses I work with. For me, personally, my participation in Valley Leadership as a graduate of that leadership program has been a highlight. I’ve also worked with several women’s leadership groups, including Charter 100 and 20% by 2020.
The 20% by 2020 organization is one that I highly respect and made me think about the gender diversity roles on corporate boards. I brought this experience with me to Harvest and have been working with our leadership team to ensure that we focus on gender diversity. Harvest is dedicated to creating well-rounded partnerships with various organizations that touch the cannabis industry, and part of my role is to help guide this process. We’re working to better support the LGBTQ+ community, adopting the recent ONE Community Unity Pledge, and other nonprofit partners like The Epilepsy Foundation and Last Prisoner Project.
Nicole Stanton is vice president and general counsel for Harvest Health & Recreation, overseeing Harvest’s growing legal division and leading efforts to develop ethical best practices. In her role, Stanton navigates state regulations; provides insight into best practices for nonprofit partnerships; provides legal advice on business strategy, including mergers and acquisitions; and oversees the legal aspects of the company’s real estate, HR, corporate governance and compliance functions.
