I. Regional Economic Wealth Development

• Planning promotes a broad spectrum of business and employment that serves diverse community needs and encourages personal growth and wealth development of residents as part of a healthy regional economy.
  
  
• Local, state and tribal leaders work together to strengthen local and regional opportunities for business growth and diverse economic development. Planning encourages regional economic cooperation to be more effective in a climate of increasing global competition.
  
  
• Sustainable economic development and vitality are an integral goal of local planning activities.

II. Stewardship

• Planning recognizes that clean water and clean air are essential elements of public health and quality of life for Verde Valley residents, visitors, and future generations. These vital resources are preserved and protected, and future land use and infrastructure planning will incorporate this recognition.
  
  
• Natural open land and native wildlife have intrinsic value and are critical to maintaining the character, identity, and health of the Verde Valley for residents, visitors, and future generations and will be accommodated in all planning decisions.
  
  
• Effective stewardship of natural areas is essential to preserve and protect their intrinsic character and beauty and are integrated in all future plans.

III. Sense of Place

• Local plans are based on a "vision" of each community's future that incorporates citizens' input and reflects the community's desires within a regional context.
  
  
• Strengthening and preserving each community's culture, history, and vitality are important to residents and the attraction of future residents and are important considerations.
  
  
• The public and private sector partners to preserve and/or conserve special places and provide reasonable access to them.
  
  
• Communities of diverse character and heritage define our region; and future regional and local plans and investments conserve, value, and respect each local community's "sense of place" and promote distinct community identities and unique contributions to the region.
  
  
• Access to undeveloped, public, natural areas is critical to maintaining the character and identity of the Verde Valley and its many differing geographic areas and is included in all future development plans.
  
  
• The myriad of consequences, both short-term and long-term, some unintended, resulting from zoning and density decisions must be thoroughly and carefully evaluated as a part of the local planning review process for such decisions.

IV. Quality of Life

• Planning and development ensures the availability of a range of choices in housing, employment, education, recreation, healthcare, and other essential services. Safe, secure circumstances to enjoy these opportunities are a fundamental requirement of all future planning.
  
  
• Future local planning addresses and incorporates the need for school sites and facilities in conjunction with other development activity.
  
  
• Long-range needs for adequate essential infrastructure such as water, waste and waste water management, power, communications, and transportation systems as well as safety and public facilities are an essential objective of all future plans.
  
  
• Local planning efforts encourage public and private organizations, working cooperatively, to efficiently and effectively develop and use community infrastructure and to develop methodologies that provide for the cost of this essential infrastructure to be borne equitably by all beneficiaries.

Mary A. Chicoine is the principle of Momentun Catalysts, a firm that provides institutional advancement services to non-profit organizations.  Her areas of expertise include: strategic planning, integrated marketing, board and volunteer development, and all aspects of fundraising. She served as the Vice President for Institutional Advancement for Dominican University.  She has also served as a college chief financial officer and college instructor, and functioned as interim executive and advancement leadership for several organizations.

Active in the advancement arena since 1985, Mary has contributed her expertise to many non-profit boards and organizations. Ms. Chicoine is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) and holds coaching certification in several areas.  Her work has been recognized in the Chronicle of Higher Education and USA Today.  She received a B.S. degree from Loyola University, Chicago, and an M.S.A. degree from the University of Notre Dame.
Some of Ms. Chicoine's professional and civic activities include:

• Conference presenter for CASE, AHP, AFP, APRA, NCDC, the American Red Cross, United Way, Gonser Gerber Tinker Stuhr, and the Fraternity Executives Association;
• Local Board member of Verde Valley Regional Economic Organization, Association of Fund Raising Professionals Northern Arizona Chapter, Verde Valley Land Preservation, Inc. and Montezuma-Rimrock- McGuireville Trails Coalition and  member of Yavapai County Comprehensive Plan Citizen Advisory Committee;
• Graduate and Advisor of the Central Association of College and University Business Officers Management Institute;
• Volunteer consultant for several start-up not for profit organizations; and
• Guest lecturer at Oklahoma State University, North Park College and the University of Notre Dame.

Mary has been a resident of Arizona since May of 2010.  Prior to moving to Arizona she lived in a suburb of Chicago.

A  resident of Clarkdale, Arizona since 1997. Robyn is a partner in her family’s business, ALCORA MARBLE L.L.C., a custom bath and kitchen products shop located in historic downtown Clarkdale.  As a 35 year member of the League of Women Voters, Robyn has held many positions including local and state presidents in California and currently on the board of the League of Women Voters Sedona-Verde Valley and liaison to League of Women Voters of Arizona.  Robyn also serves on the board of several other non-profit organizations— treasurer of the Clarkdale Chamber of Commerce, chair of the Verde Valley Theatre, and current chair of the Verde Valley Regional Economic Organization.  Robyn has served on the Town of Clarkdale’s Planning Commission and Board of Adjustment, and currently serves on Clarkdale’s Design Review Board.

Jodie Filardo
Filardo Group
(928) 301-8338
FilardoGroup@gmail.com

Principal

Jodie Filardo is a regional economic developer in northern Arizona, with passions for sustainable economic development, organization building, government relations, and project management.  A founder of Verde Valley Leadership, she is a collaborator, contributor, and community innovator with current background and board positions in local and regional economic development organizations.  Recognized as an economist, researcher, and expert in strategic planning, Ms. Filardo is a consensus builder across political and geographic boundaries and also a technology savvy implementer with private and public sector experience.  Specializing in developing new organizations, she is also a seasoned media relations talent with an extensive public speaking background.

A graduate of Stanford University with a B. A. in Economics, Ms. Filardo obtained her Masters in Business Administration from the W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University.  She is a Motorola University certified Capability Maturity Model and Project Manager Instructor.

Ms. Filardo began her career as a software engineer for Electronic Data Systems, and transitioned to management providing project management, team building, and leadership to information technology teams in the corporate sector for decades.  Beyond information technology, she also built and led large organizations in the telecommunications and aviation industries at US Tel (which became Sprint) and at American Airlines.  In addition, she lived in Beijing and in Manila while consulting in human resources, finance, software engineering and IT sectors, and serving as the Chief Information Officer on the Executive Board of one of the largest mobile telecommunications firms in Southeast Asia.  In Arizona, she worked for Yavapai College as a member of the leadership team, and moved into local government serving as the City of Sedona’s first economic planner and now revenue manager.  Furthermore, she specializes in leading formations of new organizations, guiding visioning processes resulting in solid strategic directions complete with implementation plans and metrics.

Jennifer Wesselhoff is the President/CEO of the Sedona Chamber of Commerce. With 9 years Chamber of Commerce experience, Wesselhoff held the Director of  Tourism position as well as the Vice President’s position for the Sedona Chamber of Commerce.  Jennifer oversees the Sedona Chamber of Commerce, Tourism Bureau, Visitor Center and Film Office. 

Prior to working at the Sedona Chamber of Commerce, Wesselhoff worked as an English teacher in Japan and spent three years in the hospitality industry in Interlaken, Switzerland.  She has knowledge of three foreign languages and holds a Bachelor’s degree in French and a Bachelor’s degree in Communications from Miami University. 

Jennifer is an active member of several national and statewide professional organizations and sits of the Board of Directors for the Western Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus.  She is completing her Certified Destination Management Executive certification with Destination Marketing Association International and is a Certified Film Commissioner with the Association of Film Commissioners International.  Jennifer co-developed Verde Valley Tourism Council and Scottsdale-Sedona Alliance.

Wesselhoff and her husband, Rick, live in Sedona with their dog, Ali.  When not at the office, she can be found running, biking or hiking in the red rocks of Sedona, or cooking and traveling with friends.

Information requested.

Three words that best describe Tom Schumacher are teacher, artist, administrator. Tom has lived in the Verde Valley and worked for Yavapai College for over 30 years. He taught art classes in numerous media at Yavapai College for 27 years and has exhibited his ceramic art throughout Arizona and the United States. He is currently the Campus Executive Dean of the Verde Valley Campus as well as overseeing the Sedona Center for Arts & Technology and the Camp Verde School Complex.

Tom serves on the Yavapai College President’s Leadership Team and represents the college on many community boards and committees in the Yavapai County district. For the past four years, he has been a member of the Cottonwood Economic Development Council (CEDC) and is the current president of the group. Tom is also a founding member of the Verde Valley Wine Consortium representing the education committee and serves as Secretary for the Verde Valley Regional Economic Organization (VVREO).

Jamie Fullmer is dedicated to a powerful belief - that a clear vision guides the leadership and development that is essential to fueling strong Native communities now and into the future. Fullmer founded Blue Stone Strategy Group to provide business and strategy advisory services to Tribal leadership, Tribal enterprises, and Corporate entities working with Tribes in “Indian Country”. The company's focus is on sound analysis and strategic planning for economic growth in Indian Country.  www.bluestonestrategy.com

During his two terms as Chairman of the Yavapai-Apache Nation in Camp Verde AZ, Jamie initiated a strategic plan and supporting sustainability through economic development and diversification, education, fiscal planning, and community development. This resulted in lowering the Tribe's expenses while increasing productivity and maintaining member's services. He also implemented a long-term investment plan to ensure the financial stability of the Tribe for generations to come.

Jamie has a Business Degree from Southern Utah University and his Master of Social Work degree from The University of Utah. He initiated his career in the insurance industry and he spent six years in the mental health industry providing clinical treatment services and crisis intervention services. In 2000, he returned to his homeland to become the Yavapai-Apache Nation's Director of Health and Human Services prior to being elected as the Chairman.

Jamie's focus reaches far beyond his own people: He has served as President of the Inter-Tribal Council of Arizona; and he is currently the Chairman of Northern Arizona University’s Institute of Native Americans and Board member Native Home Capital. In June 2007, the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development (NCAIED) honored Jamie with the First American Tribal Leadership Award, which recognizes outstanding leadership and contributions to American Indian economic and business development.

Andy Groseta is a third-generation cattleman from Cottonwood, Arizona.  His family is one of the pioneer mining and ranching families that settled in north central Arizona.  Andy’s family ranching operation has included the Pine Creek Ranch, a stocker ranch, located north of Williams, Arizona, which was owned and operated by the family from 1980-2000; and, the W Dart Ranch, a cow/calf operation headquartered in Cottonwood, Arizona, that has been in business in the Verde Valley since 1922.

Since 1983, Groseta has been a partner in Headquarters West, Ltd., a statewide agribusiness firm specializing in farm and ranch brokerage, appraisals, management and consulting.  Groseta has managed ranch properties throughout northern Arizona.

Groseta is a 1972 graduate of the University of Arizona with a B.S. in Agricultural Education and Animal Science and he received a Master’s Degree in Agricultural Education in 1978. 

He is a Past President (2008) of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.  He has served as Chairman of the University of Arizona Yavapai County Cooperative Extension Advisory Board and presently he serves on the school board of Mingus Union High School.  Also, he is past Chairman of the Catholic Community Foundation; and is past Chairman of Northern Arizona Healthcare.  Also, he has served on the Arizona Department of Water Resources Advisory Board; Verde Watershed Association “Charter Board Member;” and former member of Yavapai County’s Water Advisory Committee (WAC); representing Yavapai County District 3.  In addition, he is President of the Cottonwood Ditch Association and is 1st Vice President of the Arizona Cattle Growers Association.  He has been and is involved in other agricultural organizations.

William S. Jump is President of DEC Investment Group, Inc.   Prior to joining DEC, Mr. Jump was the chief executive of a privately held company involved in a variety of activities, including mergers and acquisitions, energy management, and real estate investments.  Mr. Jump has been responsible for raising venture capital and private investment capital for a variety of companies and partnerships.  Mr. Jump is the principal owner of DCMC, a construction management company involved in development and rehabilitation of residential and commercial properties Mr. Jump oversees all management activities in DEC’s portfolio.  

Mr. Jump previously served as a Vice President of the Cummins Engine Co., a Fortune 500 company.  He held a variety of responsibilities with Cummins for nearly 20 years in domestic and international operations, including responsibility for a start up operation in Brazil.  Mr. Jump and his family lived in San Paulo for six years where he was a director of a joint venture between Cummins and CAEMI, the largest privately held holding company in Brazil.  CAEMI-Cummins built and marketed diesel engines and parts in Brazil as well as components for export markets.  Mr. Jump later became Vice President of the Midwest Division, the largest domestic division, responsible for sales and service.

Mr. Jump has served as President of the Board of Trustees for Marburn Academy, a private school for children with learning differences.  In addition, he is a trustee for Opera Columbus and served on the Columbus Museum of Art’s Business Advisory Board.

Mr. Jump is a graduate of the University of Colorado School of Business.

After an extensive career in broadcasting, publishing, and the entertainment industry, Tom Pitts created a company to develop projects based on intellectual property rights, while operating very successful resort development, marketing, and management companies. He has been an active member of many national and international wine and food organizations He has served on numerous trade association, community, and institutional boards. Mr. Pitts currently serves locally as the President of the Verde Valley Wine Consortium and as the Vice President of the Jerome Chamber of Commerce. He is a principal in the Sedona Verde Valley Tourism Council and a Director of the Verde Valley Regional Economic Organization. He teaches a Wine Appreciation course at Yavapai College and writes the monthly wine column for Sedona Monthly as well as periodic columns for Arizona Vines & Wines magazine. He owns and operates a restaurant in Jerome.

Casey Rooney is the Economic Development Director for the City of Cottonwood and the President and CEO of the Cottonwood Economic Development Council.  He is the Chair of the Northern Arizona Council of Governments Economic Development Committee.  He is a board member and officer of the Verde Valley Regional Economic Organization, the Verde Valley Wine Consortium and the Arizona Wine Growers Association.  He is also a board member of the Yavapai County United Way and Campaign Cabinet co-chair.  In his spare time he teaches an SBDC entrepreneurship class at Yavapai College and provides mentorship as a big brother for the Big Brothers/Big Sisters organization.

Before arriving in Cottonwood 4 ½ years ago he served as the Economic Development Director for Champaign County Regional Planning Commission in Illinois working closely with the University of Illinois’ research park and incubator (Enterprise Works).  Prior positions included the startup of the Center for Manufacturing Excellence, a business incubator and industrial training center, Chamber of Commerce Director and a long career working in industry as a manufacturing manager for notable companies such as United Technologies Carrier Corp and Sundstrand Aviation.  He proudly started his career working for his father in their small family business in Findlay Ohio, Rooney Builders, in business continually for over 60 years.

Casey has a Bachelor of Science Degree from Bowling Green State University in Ohio, a Master of Business Administration from the University of La Verne in California and he is also a recent graduate of the Economic Development Institute at the University of Oklahoma.

Steve Goetting was born in Chicago. He received his B.A from Beloit College, and attended Georgetown University graduate school. The son of a Lutheran minister, and an OB nurse, he is married with two sons, both graduates of the University of Arizona. Steve Goetting and his wife, Barbara, bought their home in Camp Verde on 9/11/2001 and moved to Camp Verde from Falls Church, Virginia full time in 2007.

In Falls Church, Virginia Steve owned Goetting Investments and sold the firm in 2007. Steve served on the Board of Directors for the Falls Church Chamber of Commerce and was Chairman for a term.  He was a founding member of the Board of Directors of the Falls Church Education Foundation which he chaired. Steve coached Falls Church’s high school boys tennis coach. The teams won seven Virginia state championships during his tenure.  He is currently part owner of The State Theatre in Falls Church, Virginia.

Upon moving to Camp Verde, AZ, Steve served on the Camp Verde Parks and Recreation Commission. He ran for Mayor of Camp Verde in 2011.  Steve currently is Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Verde Valley Archeological Center. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Camp Verde Chamber of Commerce, the Verde Valley Wine Consortium, and the Verde Valley Regional Economic Organization. Steve is also the Vice President of the Diamond S Ditch Corporation.

With his wife Barbara, Steve operates Verde Entertainments, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the economic development of Camp Verde.  Verde Entertainments is the organizer of the Camp Verde Pecan, Wine and Antique Festival and the Kingdom of the Spiders Movie Reunion and Tribute.  Steve has also been on the Board of Directors for Camp Verde Promotions, the sponsors of Camp Verde CornFest and Fort Verde Days.

Recently, Barbara and Steve have opened The Horn Saloon in Camp Verde which offers fine wine, craft brews, and great food in a rustic yet polished environment.  They are partners in the White Hills Gallery, an art gallery focusing attention on contemporary art in the Verde Valley.

Melissa Preston is the Economic Development Director for the Town of Camp Verde, Arizona.  She has been with the Town since March 2011 first serving as Finance Director.  Melissa has worked in Arizona municipal government since 2000 with the cities of Scottsdale and Glendale, and early in her career, worked in state and local government in Washington.  Her public service experience is broad.  She has worked in auditing, community services, economic development, finance, fire, marketing and communications and retirement systems, and has acquired a solid understanding of government and political operations.  She holds an undergrad degree in applied business through Grand Canyon University, and a masters of education from Northern Arizona University.  She is a member of the Arizona Association for Economic Development and serves on the board of the Verde Valley Regional Economic Organization.

Mel Preston, M.Ed.
Economic Development Director, Town of Camp Verde
473 South Main Street, Camp Verde, AZ 86322
928.567.6631 ext. 103
mel.preston@campverde.az.gov