Economic Development in Arizona
Lori Collins, City of Phoenix
Lori Collins is Deputy Economic Development Director for the City of Phoenix and serves on the executive board of directors for the Arizona Association for Economic Development. Since joining the City of Phoenix Community and Economic Development Department in 2015, Lori has focused on developing and implementing strategies to encourage investment and drive job growth. As Deputy Director, she oversees the division responsible for business attraction and works daily with companies seeking to relocate or expand in Phoenix. This division advises developers, corporate real estate executives, entrepreneurs and business owners through the site selection, due diligence and occupancy process.
An Arizona native, Lori has worked in Economic Development since 2001 and gained panoramic experience in the Greater Phoenix area by serving in various roles with organizations including the Greater Phoenix Economic Council and as Marketing Director for the Phoenix and Las Vegas office of a major commercial real estate firm. Lori is a National League of Cities Equitable Economic Development Fellow and serves on the Executive Board of Directors for the Arizona Association for Economic Development.
Learn more about Phoenix Economic Development. Connect with Lori Collins on LinkedIn.
Denyse Airheart, City of Maricopa
Denyse Airheart is the Economic Development Director for the City of Maricopa. She joined the City of Maricopa in August 2013. Airheart received her bachelor’s degree from California State University Fullerton and holds a Master’s in Business Administration. Airheart has more than 10 years of experience in business development talent acquisition. Her primary responsibilities are to move the community forward to achieve growth in retail, commercial and industrial base economies.
She is a member of the International Economic Development Council, the Arizona Association of Economic Development and Vice Chair for the Professional Education Committee, and the Urban Land Institute. She has served as an Ex-Officio Board Member of the Maricopa Chamber of Commerce since 2015 and as the Greater Phoenix Economic Council’s Economic Development Directors Team since 2015.
Learn more about Maricopa Economic Development. Connect with Denyse Airheart on LinkedIn.
Brad Vynalek, Quarles & Brady
Brad Vynalek is a partner in the Phoenix office of Quarles & Brady, chair of the Innovation Committee, and a member the firm’s Executive Committee. He also serves on the board of directors for the Greater Phoenix Economic Council and the on the regional board for Teach For America-Phoenix. He volunteers for such startup engagements as the Venture Ready program. Vynalek is also a recent past-chair of Make-a-Wish America.
He recently announced the creation of a Time Venture Fund (TVF) to provide startups with the crucial legal advice needed at the formation stage while also providing a social benefit to the startup and entrepreneurship communities. The goal of the program is to attract top startups and help entrepreneurs grow their businesses through bespoke and innovative engagements at the most crucial time for the startups.
Connect with Brad Vynalek on LinkedIn.
