transformation leader of the year
The Transformation Leader of the Year award program recognizes the achievements of Arizona leaders who have driven significant transformation change in their organization.
Recognizing Transformation Success
Each year, MSS Business Transformation Advisory presents its MSSBTA Transformation Leader of the Year award in partnership with the Arizona Technology Council and the Arizona Commerce Authority at the annual Governor’s Celebration of Innovation gala event.
This award recognizes a leader or organization that has achieved significant and measurable transformational change in the previous calendar year. Nominations for the following sample of organizations are encouraged:
• Emerging/Hyper-Growth Companies – $5M to $49M in revenue
• Mid-Size Companies – $50M to $999M in revenue
• Enterprise Companies – over $1B in revenue
• Non-Profit Organizations
• Public Sector Agencies – municipal, county, and state agencies
• Higher Education – public or private institutions
• K-12 Education – public or private institutions
Qualified nominees show the traits and character of a transformational leader. Nominated organizations should be in operation for three years or more, headquartered or have significant operations in Arizona, and have achieved measurable transformative outcomes in the previous calendar year.
10 Traits of a Transformation Leader
We take the process of selecting recipients of the Transformation Leader of the Year awards seriously. In addition to the criteria described above, there are 10 key traits all award winners exemplify.
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Humble
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Accountable
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Risk Takers
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Decision Makers
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Share in Organizational Consciousness
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Inspirational
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Open-Minded
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Adaptable
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Innovative
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Visionary
Winners of the Transformation Leader of the Year
2023 Recipients
Bradley Likes & Rick Dockall
Republic Services
Republic Services provides residential, small-container, and large-container collection services, emphasizing technology for growth and customer satisfaction. Formerly managed manually with 1990s technology, customer routing and logistics were revamped through the RISE project led by Bradley Likes and Rick Dockall. The transformation to a web-based platform, along with in-cab tablets for drivers, achieved substantial savings, enhanced communication, and record-high Net Promoter Scores, contributing to improved customer retention.
2023 Nominees
Danette Bewley | President and CEO, Tucson Airport Authority
Sintra Hoffman | President and CEO,
WESTMARC
Najwa Khazal | General Manager for Service Technology Centers Americas, Edwards Vacuums
Tamala McBath | CEO, Dress for Success Phoenix
Brian Spicker | President and CEO,
Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation
Kimberly Tobey | Director of Educator
Preparation Programs, Rio Salado College
Scott Zufelt | Deputy Director of the Office of
Data Analytics, Pima County
2022 Recipient
Grant Anderson
Paragon Space Development Corp.
Since taking over as President and CEO in October 2014, Grant Anderson has re-focused Paragon Space Development Corporation’s mission. He has worked to improve, enhance, and modernize the company to successfully move in a focused direction, transforming their IP, products, and systems into innovative solutions for their customers. Paragon’s success has been written about in numerous articles and was recently named #3 behind Blue Origin (#1) and SpaceX (#2).
2022 Nominees
Jamie Baxter | Co-founder and CEO, Qwick
Chris Camacho | President and CEO
Greater Phoenix Economic Council
Gregory Edgar | Executive Director, Arizona Lottery
Julie Giese | President, Phoenix Raceway
Matt Johnston | CEO, GitKraken
Richard McHattie | Chief Technology and Innovation Officer
Maricopa, Clerk of the Superior Court
Dr. Lisa Rhine | President, Yavapai College
Brian Spicker | President and CEO
Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation
Scott Zufelt | Deputy Director of the Office of Data Analytics, Pima County
2021 Recipient
Howard Stewart
AGM Container Controls
Howard Stewart is the President and CEO of AGM Container Controls in Tucson, Arizona. Howard tirelessly champions the concept that businesses should provide College Tuition Reimbursement (CTR) to their entire workforce. He encourages his employees, family, and friends to pursue the mind-opening experience of higher education, and regularly delivers presentations in both Metro Tucson and Metro Phoenix on the importance of businesses providing such CTR.
2021 Nominees
Dr. Cara Christ | Executive Director,
AZ Dept of Health
Lev Gonick | CIO, Arizona State University
Lloyd Hayes | Founder and Executive Director, Million Dollar Teacher Project
Carrie Kelly | Executive Director, Arizona Association for Economic Development
Dr. Jim Ratcliff | President and CEO,
Rowpar Pharmaceuticals
Douglas Sylvester | Dean,
O'Connor College of Law at ASU
Amy Walters | Assistant VP of Technology Operations, Cancer Treatment Centers of America
2020 Recipient
Dr. Elizabeth "Betsy" Cantwell
University of Arizona Office for Research, Innovation & Impact
Dr. Elizabeth “Betsy” Cantwell leads the University of Arizona’s Office for Research, Innovation and Impact. She is responsible for expanding the university’s capacity for knowledge creation and discovery; integrating efforts by faculty, students, staff and executive leaders to move inventions and technologies to the marketplace; increasing the university’s connectivity with external collaborators; spearheading industry and public partnerships; and increasing total research funding.
2020 Nominees
Joan MacMaster | CEO, Desert Angels
Tim Roemer | CISO, State of Arizona
