Glendale Arizona – You Belong Here – From Super Bowls to Exploding Development and Growth E3
This week Robert and JJ’s guests were City of Glendale Arizona’s Mayor Jerry Weiers and Assistant Director of Economic Development, Jessi Pederson. From Mayor Weiers refreshing honesty to Jessi’s knowledgeable insight, we couldn’t have had a better discussion.
The City of Glendale is a vibrant and welcoming metropolitan city with extraordinary opportunities for everyone to prosper, connect, and experience all that is remarkable about this great community.
We began our discussion with the Super Bowl. Glendale, home of the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals, is hosting their third Super Bowl in 2023 after hosting in 2008 and 2015. The Mayor is proud of the continuing development of the Westgate Entertainment District and the space available to double it’s current size. Jessi shared examples of the exploding growth along the Loop 303, Glendale’s New Frontier, with projections to add 80,000,000 square feet of development along this corridor within the next 10 years.
Both of our guests are excited about the planned redevelopment of the city center to include the city hall office building, amphitheater and park, and to continue to the rest of downtown Glendale.
With over 250,000 residents and nearly 2,000 city employees working together to make Glendale the community of choice for those looking to live, work, and play, You Belong Here is a fitting tagline.
Valley residents will learn about what goes into hosting Super Bowl 57, the current and planned development along the Loop 303 corridor, and what is happening with the redevelopment of the downtown city center.
The city of Glendale is a vibrant and welcoming metropolitan city with extraordinary opportunities for everyone to prosper, connect, and experience all that is remarkable about our community. Incorporated in 1910, Glendale is home to both historic attractions like Sahuaro Ranch Park and state of the art entertainment facilities like State Farm Stadium the home of the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals and the 2008, 2015, and 2023 Super Bowls. 
The city is home to natural preserves such as Thunderbird Conservation Park and high-tech manufacturers like Conair and Honeywell Aerospace. The city can also boast medical school Midwestern University, the only veterinary school in the state of Arizona, and Luke Air Force Base, the training home for new F-35 pilots.
The Westgate Entertainment District is Arizona’s premier entertainment destination offering a vibrant outdoor setting with unique water features and an interactive shopping, dining and entertainment experience. Nearby, the city’s Gila River Arena hosts a multitude of concerts and entertainment events throughout the year.
We are 250,784 residents and nearly 2000 city employees working together to make Glendale the community of choice for those looking to live, work, and play. Our tagline, You Belong Here, is the sentiment we want people to feel about our community and is characteristic of our mission; we improve the lives of the people we serve every day.
Whether you’re a history buff or a professional sports fan, You Belong Here. Whether you’re a resident, a business owner, a visitor, or a city employee, You Belong Here – and we’re going to prove it through our exceptional customer service and unmatched quality of life.
Glendale Mayor Jerry P. Weiers was born in South Dakota and moved to Phoenix as a child. As a young boy, he learned the value of a dollar, hard work, and honesty.
He has held onto these core values throughout his life as a husband, parent, small business owner, and public servant serving four terms in the Arizona House of Representatives before becoming Mayor of Glendale in 2012.
Mayor Weiers has been a lifelong advocate for the military and veterans and dedicates endless hours to providing resources and support for those who serve and have served.
With over four decades of experience as a small business owner, Mayor Weiers provides the public sector with insight and knowledge based on a desire to reduce the bureaucratic red tape that can hinder small businesses.
Jessi Pederson joined the city of Glendale in 2008 working in the City Council Office providing constituent services and support to a six-member Council.
In 2011, Jessi was recruited to join the city’s Office of Economic Development with a primary focus on redevelopment, small business assistance and special projects.
With her combined experience working with elected officials, public partners, and the business community, Jessi was asked to serve as the Chief of Staff for Glendale Mayor Jerry Weiers, a role she has enthusiastically filled on two separate occasions, but her passion for helping grow the Glendale business community has continued to bring her back to Economic Development.
After her most recent two-year stint serving in Mayor Weiers’ office, Jessi rejoined the Economic Development Department in 2017 as the Assistant Director.
With her return to the Economic Development Team, Jessi manages daily operations of the Economic Development staff and is focused on the redevelopment of Downtown Glendale, citywide redevelopment, small business/entrepreneurship assistance and special projects.
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About Your Hosts
Meet JJ Levenske
JJ Levenske is a seasoned construction executive with over 30 years of experience in the commercial and industrial sectors. From pre-construction services to complex quality controls and close-outs, he brings a commitment to delivering the highest levels of professionalism and customer service.
JJ’s dedication to construction has allowed him to become an industry expert which he aims to share with customers and investors alike. JJ does not believe in mediocrity and strives to see the “end at the beginning” for each project, effectuating a higher return on investment for the entire team.
Early on in his career, JJ worked as a cost engineer conducting feasibility estimates, strategic capital estimates, cost planning, and analysis of value engineering for the technology, petrochemical, and food industries. He went on to develop and implement a variety of systems for estimating, scheduling, resource management, and cost tracking while holding Project Manager and Senior Management Positions.
During his tenure, JJ has been involved in $1 billion worth of construction services. A strong entrepreneurial acumen allows him to be the perfect advocate for your facility based business solutions.
Meet Robert Johnson
Robert Johnson is a knowledgeable construction professional with over 40 years of experience. His experience ranges from residential to the commercial and industrial sectors.
Robert began working in the trades immediately out of high school and quickly advanced to Journeyman status. Robert went on to estimating, operations, senior level management and then business development.
Robert is consistently building relationships and networking with those associated with all aspects of development and construction. Robert has become a respected source for prefabricated construction solutions.
Robert enjoys spending time with Pam, his wife of 42 years, their 3 children, and 10 grandchildren.
About Our Sponsors
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