Junior Achievement – Career Readiness & Literacy E7
Junior Achievement of Arizona is a non-profit organization equipping Arizona students to succeed in work and life by giving them the knowledge and skills to plan for their future and make smart academic, career, and financial choices. 
JA Alumni are more likely to further their education, feel confident managing money, have career success, and be more participative in their communities.
Sims Business Systems is a family owned 43 year old local technology company. They offer a turnkey approach to a business’s technology environment.
Scot Taggart is a native to Arizona, was the 1st graduating class of Perry Highschool in the Chandler Unified School District. He serves on two boards currently.
The Brain Injury Alliance of Arizona which he chairs their Young Professionals Committee and The American Subcontractors Association of Arizona which he chairs their New Members and Events Committee.
Connect with Scot on LinkedIn.
Junior Achievement of Arizona is a nonprofit equipping students to succeed in work and life by giving them the knowledge and skills to plan for their future and make smart academic, career and financial choices.
JA’s proven programs in work/career readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy positively impact the futures of students. In fact, JA Alumni are more likely to have a degree, feel confident managing money, have career success, and have started businesses as an adult.
JA lessons align with national/state standards and are delivered to 90,000 AZ students/annually with the help of our education partners and local community volunteers.
As VP, Strategic Impact, Anne Landers is acutely focused on how students, educators, individuals, corporations and other entities experience and engage with JA.
Anne is committed to ensuring that the Arizona community has a high-impact and positive experience with JA, so the organization can continue to shape the futures of tens of thousands of students each year.
In tandem with JA’s president, Anne is the primary driver of ensuring the organization’s unique value proposition, thought-leadership, track record and impact on our community is represented in key education, career readiness, and financial literacy conversations.
Additionally, she oversees all digital, PR, marketing, and advertising for the organization, in addition to leading the organization’s data management programs for donor and volunteer engagement. She has been part of the JA team for 7 years.
Previously, she served as the Interim Director at nonprofit Life In Abundance, overseeing U.S.-based operations and fundraising, to support programs in Africa and the Caribbean. She began her career at an advertising and PR agency, Decibel Blue, where she was one of the agency’s first two employees, managing clients such as Dunkin’ Donuts and My Sister’s Closet.
Honored as a 40 Under 40 in 2018, Anne holds a degree in Journalism from ASU. She is also a proud alumna of Valley Leadership, Scottsdale Leadership, and the Allstate Executive Leadership program at Kellogg|Northerwestern.
Follow Junior Achievement of Arizona on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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
Bleuwave is a Phoenix-based general contractor with a specialty in land development & site improvement, pre-construction, design build, remodel and renovations, construction management, and post construction.
Bleuwave is passionate about what they do and takes pride in their partner’s success.
When you need it done right the first time, call Bleuwave.
Follow Bleuwave on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Tori Contracting’s smaller, cohesive structure results in superior workmanship and economical solutions.
The Tori Contracting team has construction experience acquired by performing highly successful work for hotels and casinos, restaurants, retail stores, healthcare facilities and a wide range of commercial and themed projects.
We provide design assist capabilities from start to finish…from schematic design and development through construction documents with the aid of our full-time AUTOCAD staff.
