Meet The Judges
| Dorothy H. Finley - Finley Distributing |
| Sharon Foltz - Tucson Electric Power |
| Sherry Hoskinson - University of Arizona - Eller College of Management |
| Mark Irvin - Mark Irvin Commercial Real Estate Services |
| Joe Snell - Tucson Regional Economic Opportunities |
| Jonathan Walker - Metropolitan Tucson Convention and Visitors Bureau |
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Dorothy H. Finley, Chairwoman of the Board - Finley Distributing
A native Arizonan, Dorothy Finley has been a part of the Miller Brewing Company since 1948 when she and her late husband, Harold Finley, began the distributorship in Cochise County. Today, under her leadership, the company serves retailers in nearly all of Pima, Pinal and Santa Cruz Counties. Ms. Finley has worked hard to make her business a success and now she is reaching out to help others learn the skills and to gain the knowledge to effectively do the same.
Her public service commitments cover almost every type of organization imaginable; from non-profit groups to professional societies. She serves on executive boards, the board of directors, and advisory boards of many community associations such as: the Greater Tucson Economic Council, Southern Arizona Leadership Council, Arizona Aerospace Foundation, Friends of Kartchner Caverns, Tucson Urban League, DM-50, University of Arizona Alumni Association, University of Arizona Eller College Graduate School of Management. Most of these associations are critical in enhancing the quality of life for some Tucson citizens and many of these agencies depend on private donations for their survival. Ms. Finley once said, “The community is an extension of my home and I have set about to make it a better place in which to live." Judging from a number of different sources, she has done just that.
A strong proponent of quality education, Ms. Finley spent much of her life active in the academic arena. She has served as both a teacher and principal in the Tucson Unified School District for over a period of 30 years. Her election as Chairman of the TUSD Elementary School Principals and having been Past President of the Arizona Elementary School Administrators augmented her commission on the Pima Community College Foundation Board of Directors and as founder of the Women’s Studies Advisory Council at the University of Arizona. In December of 1994, Ms. Finley was nominated by the University of Arizona’s College of Education as a recipient of the Alumni Association Sidney S. Woods Service Award for her outstanding service to the College, the University, and the community at large.
Ms. Finley has said that “What sets Tucson apart from other communities, is the warmth and friendliness of its people ... special people who honestly care for one another.” In 1989, one of those special people, Dorothy Finley, was recipient of the Woman of the Year Award that honored and recognized her for her outstanding service to the community. In 1994, she was named as one of Tucson’s Most Influential People.
Ms. Finley was recently honored at the Pentagon for the 2004 Honorary Zachary and Elizabeth National Distinguished Civilian Humanitarian Award.
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Sharon B. Foltz, Community Relations Director - Tucson Electric Power
Sharon Foltz, born in Canton, Ohio, has been involved in volunteerism most of her life and has been an administrator of volunteer programs for more than twenty years. As the State Volunteer Coordinator for the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation in the ‘70’s, she also served as a consultant to the Governor’s Office for community service projects and trainer for the Columbus Volunteer Center.
Settling in Tucson in 1981, she has been active in a wide array of civic activities. Through volunteer work as a children’s advocate for Pima Association of Governments, Parents Anonymous and involvement with her two daughters activities, she came to know and love Tucson as her home community. Volunteerism introduced her to the United Way of Greater Tucson where she was hired as the Director of Volunteer Development. Under her direction the Multicultural Leadership Development Program (MLDP) grew in reputation and financial solvency, providing annual workshops and resource training programs.
Recruited in 1993 to her current position at Tucson Electric Power Company, she has worked with hundreds of local nonprofits, committees and neighborhood groups. As Director of Community Relations, she has continuous opportunities to put her creative and communication skills to work growing an integrated community relations program dedicated to serving the public. At TEP she coordinates the corporate volunteer program ( the Community Action Team), works with senior management on philanthropy strategy, manages all aspects of philanthropy program, board placements, corporate memberships and community partnerships.
As a result of the CAT Program’s 1993 Points of Light Award, Sharon served on the Points of Light National Council of Workplace Volunteerism from 1994 – 1999. This wonderful opportunity allowed her to continue training of trainers and provide resources to business volunteer programs across the Nation.
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Sherry Hoskinson, University of Arizona - Eller College of Management
Sherry Hoskinson has worked with the University of Arizona's Karl Eller Center and McGuire Entrepreneurship Program since 1996. Within her role at the Karl Eller Center, she has worked to develop programs and initiatives including the Entrepreneurship Internship Programs; the Arizona Venture Forum, addressing critical issues facing Southern Arizona small business; The Arizona Venture Competition; Enterprise Magazine; The Rodel Social Entrepreneurship Initiative; the Associates in Entrepreneurship Programs; the Eller Faculty Scholars programs; the development of courses in entrepreneurship in non-business disciplines; the center's extensive technology transfer initiatives; and the Masters MIS Entrepreneurship Track. She currently serves on the executive board of the National Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers, and is the Education Division Vice President for the United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (USASBE). The McGuire Entrepreneurship Program has been a top ranked national program since its inception, and was ranked #2 in the nation in 2004.
Sherry's background is in business development and management within academic institutions and in socially relevant initiatives including programs to promote self-sufficiency for persons with serious mental illness; community wellness; domestic violence prevention; rural health care models; and the Americorp programs.
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Mark C. Irvin, CCIM, SIOR, Managing Member - Mark Irvin Commercial real Estate Services, llc
Mark has been involved in commercial real estate his entire adult life coming from a family that has developed in excess of $150,000,000 in office properties throughout the United States.
He has been engaged in commercial real estate activities in Tucson, specializing exclusively in office and medical properties, since 1983. He and his firm are consistently recognized as one of Tucson's leading real estate firms.
Mark was the first office specialist to hold designations as both a CCIM (Certified Commercial Investment Member) and SIOR (Society of Industrial and Office Realtors). In addition to his own report on the real estate market, he has been reporting on the state of the Tucson real estate market for the prestigious SIOR Professional Journal since 1990. Mark is also a four-time winner - including being a back-to-back-to-back winner - of the annual CCIM Office Market Forecast Competition before retiring from competition in 2006.
Like most members of the firm, Mark is very active in non-profit and professional organizations. He regularly does workshops for non-profit organizations highlighting board development and fund-raising strategies. Over the past 10 years he has presented his “How to Make Your Board The Board In Town” seminar free to over 50 agencies in Tucson.
His own personal board involvement includes:
- American Red Cross of Southern Arizona - Secretary and Past Board Member (2001 - 2005)
- CCIM Southern Arizona Chapter - Past President 1992 (Active Member since 1987)
- Boys and Girls Clubs of Tucson - Past President, 1994 (Active Board Member since 1990)
- Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce - Chair Total Resource Campaign 2007
- Pima Community College Foundation - Past President, 2006 (Active Board Member since 2001)
- Rotary Club of Tucson - Past Board of Directors Member, 2002 - 2004 (Active Member since 1994)
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Joseph A. Snell, President - Tucson Regional Economic Opportunities
As the first President of Tucson Regional Economic Opportunities, Inc. (TREO), Joe Snell brings nearly 20 years of economic development experience to an organization focused on the coordination of all area economic development activities, providing one-stop shopping for expanding local companies and for companies considering relocation to the area. Snell’s knowledge on building competitive, balanced economic development efforts and his commitment to regionalism are integral to TREO’s position as a leader in economic development.
In his previous positions as President of the Metro Denver Network and Executive Vice President with the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, Snell focused his efforts on creating an infrastructure for developing high tech jobs. Snell is widely remembered for the development and launch of a national campaign to brand Denver as a high tech center.
Over the years, Snell has developed a reputation for creating strong economies in high growth communities. Prior to his work in Denver, Snell led efforts that resulted in explosive job growth in Douglas County, Colorado, one of the fastest growing and wealthiest areas in the United States. Snell has led many other areas to rapid growth and success including Rio Rancho, New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico and Hutchinson, Kansas, where he was recognized for his efforts in developing a model strategic plan and for successfully promoting trade and investment with international companies.
Currently, Snell serves as a member of several economic development organizations throughout the country. He is a board member of the Arizona Association for Economic Development and the Metropolitan Tucson Convention and Visitors Bureau. He is Chairman of the Arizona Global Network, and is a member of the Governor’s Workforce Council, the Commerce and Economic Development Commission’s Finance Steering Committee, and Arizona’s Bioscience Roadmap Steering Committee.
Snell holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska and is a graduate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for Organizational Management. Snell is married and has three children.
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Jonathan Walker, President and CEO - Metropolitian Tucson Convention and Visiors Bureau
Jonathan is currently President & CEO for the Metropolitan Tucson Convention & Visitors Bureau (MTCVB) and has nearly 30 years experience in all aspects of CVB management.
Jonathan came to the MTCVB in January 1994 as Vice President of Sales & Marketing where he directed all aspects of convention sales and tourism promotion.
In 1999 Jonathan was promoted to the position of President & CEO where he is responsible for the operation and administration of all Bureau departments and activities.
Jonathan began his bureau career in Columbus Ohio at the Greater Columbus CVB and has held positions with the CVBs in Salt Lake City Utah and Phoenix Arizona.
Jonathan is a native of Portland Oregon and has lived in Tucson for the past 14 years. He attended Boise State University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration and went on to Ohio State University and the University of Phoenix where he completed his MBA. He has also earned the professional designation of Certified Destination Management Executive (CDME) through Purdue University.
Jonathan is on the Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI) Foundation Board of Trustees and is the 2008 President of Western Association of Convention & Visitors Bureau (WACVB). He currently serves on the boards of the Arizona Tourism Alliance, CANAMEX and co-chairs the Tourism Committee of the Arizona Mexico Commission. In addition, he sits on the Boards of the Southern Arizona Lodging and Restaurant Association (SALARA), Tucson Regional Economic Opportunities Advisory Board, the Wells Fargo Bank Advisory Board and is a member of the Tucson Conquistadors. In January 2007, Jonathan was appointed to serve on the Tucson Airport Authority Advisory Council.
Jonathan has been married for more years than he can remember and has two daughters ages 21 and 24.
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