June 2026
President's Corner
"Scottsdale Leadership remains your organization. Your experiences, expertise, relationships, and passion are among our greatest assets. We need your voice, your ideas, and your involvement."
Jim Kollenda
Scottsdale Leadership
Board President
2026-2027
Honoring our legacy.
Leading our future.
As I prepare to serve as Board President of Scottsdale Leadership for 2026–2027, I am filled with gratitude, optimism, and a deep sense of responsibility. For four decades, Scottsdale Leadership has helped develop informed, engaged, and community-minded leaders who have shaped the future of Scottsdale and the region. Our legacy is remarkable and our future is bright.
Before looking ahead, it is important to recognize the tremendous success of the past year under the leadership of Dr. Merle Riepe. Merle's thoughtful leadership, strategic vision, and unwavering commitment to our mission have strengthened Scottsdale Leadership in meaningful ways. His dedication, along with the extraordinary work of our professional staff, has positioned the organization for continued growth and impact. Their efforts have reinforced the value of leadership development, community engagement, and lifelong connections among our alumni.
Scottsdale Leadership's success has never been about any one individual. It has always been about a community of leaders who believe that informed citizens, meaningful relationships, and civic engagement can make a lasting difference. Every class member, every volunteer, every board member, every sponsor, and every supporter has contributed to building the organization we celebrate today.
As we begin a new chapter, our commitment remains clear: honor our legacy while leading our future.
The challenges and opportunities facing Scottsdale continue to evolve. Our community needs leaders who are informed, connected, and willing to engage in thoughtful dialogue and meaningful action. Scottsdale Leadership is uniquely positioned to help cultivate those leaders and serve as a trusted convener for important conversations that shape our community.
But our future depends on something equally important: the continued engagement and financial support of our alumni.
Whether you graduated recently or decades ago, Scottsdale Leadership remains your organization. Your experiences, expertise, relationships, and passion are among our greatest assets. We need your voice, your ideas, and your involvement.
If you have been actively engaged, thank you. If life has pulled you in other directions and your connection has faded over time, I invite you to re-engage. Attend an event. Mentor a class member. Join a committee. Volunteer for a project. Support our programs. Help us identify future leaders. Most importantly, reconnect with the network of extraordinary individuals who share a commitment to strengthening our community.
The longevity and vitality of Scottsdale Leadership will depend on our ability to build upon the foundation created by those who came before us while inspiring the next generation of leaders. Together, we can ensure that Scottsdale Leadership continues to thrive for decades to come.
I am honored to serve alongside our exceptional board, dedicated staff, engaged alumni, and community partners. I look forward to listening, learning, and working with all of you as we continue this important journey.
Our legacy is not simply what we have accomplished in the past. It is what we choose to build together in the future.
Thank you for your continued support of Scottsdale Leadership. I invite you to join us as we honor our legacy, lead our future, and strengthen the community we proudly call home.
Jim Kollenda
Joe Bill
Class 3
Written by::
Craig Miller, Class 7
and
Dr. Frances Mills-Yerger, Class 16
We are continually amazed by the accomplishments of our alumni. We see it every time we speak with them—but as we discovered in our conversation with Joe Bill of Class 3, it is especially evident in a life and career like his. Joe could have had an extraordinary life simply building on his work with Mayo Clinic and other successful ventures. Instead, what we found was a restless spirit—someone driven to keep improving, creating, and adding value for others.
We met Joe at his newest endeavor, the Dark Sky Discovery Center in Fountain Hills. What began as an idea he and his wife Nancy recognized as important has grown into a remarkable facility and program that will leave a lasting legacy. Make no mistake, creating something like this is hard work and they are still at it. But he and fellow board members are having to learn this process on the fly. Many times, Joe could have thrown in the towel but he has called upon his inner strength and the power of his team to keep going, just like he had done his entire life. We came away very inspired, and we think you will be too.
Mark Your Calendar
Friday–October 5th 5:00 pm
The Homestead at DC Ranch
Saturday, September 18th 5:00 pm
Monday–October 5th 4:30 pm
Friday–December 11th 11:00am - 1:30 pm
Friday, December 11th, 11:00 am - 1:30 pm
Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort at Gainey Ranch
2026 BOARD RETREAT
Scottsdale Leadership Staff worked hard behind the scenes making
Mission ImPOSSIBLE the theme of our Board Retreat June 5th !
Our team of 2026-2027 Secret Agents were fully engaged from the moment they reported for duty!
Agents gathered to tackle both their individual missions and our collective mission for the year ahead. Through strategic discussions, creative planning, and collaborative problem-solving, the Board accepted its challenge to make the coming year robust, vibrant, and engaging for our members and community.
Plans were carefully documented in CONFIDENTIAL notebooks, evidence of our progress was captured in photos taken at the official CRIME SCENE, and even the snacks were secured in EVIDENCE bags to maintain the integrity of the operation.
While many of the details remain classified, one thing is certain: Scottsdale Leadership is preparing for an exciting year ahead. Our agents are on assignment, our mission is clear, and we are ready to make an impact.
Stay tuned for updates as Mission ImPOSSIBLE becomes Mission Accomplished!
June 24th - Early Voting Begins - Ballots can be mailed in
July 14th - Final Day to Mail in Your Ballot
July 21st - Arizona Primary Election Day
A few words from Scottsdale Leadership Executive Director, Lee Ann Witt
Voting: A Privilege, A Responsibility, A Legacy
As America approaches its 250th birthday, we have an opportunity to reflect not only on our nation's history but also on our role in shaping its future. While there are many freedoms we enjoy, one of the most powerful is the right to vote.
Few responsibilities of citizenship are more important than voting. Generations of Americans fought, sacrificed, and persevered to secure and protect that right. Our democracy depends on citizens who are willing to participate, stay informed, and make their voices heard.
Primary elections often have a significant impact on the direction of our communities. Primaries determine which candidates appear on the general election ballot and frequently shape important decisions long before November arrives. However, voter participation in primary elections is often far lower than in general elections, with turnout frequently below 30% of eligible voters. When that happens, a relatively small number of people make decisions that affect everyone. If we want our voices heard, we must participate throughout the entire election process—not just on Election Day in November. While millions of Americans vote in every election cycle, millions more choose not to participate. Democracy does not sustain itself. It depends on informed citizens who are willing to engage, vote, and accept the responsibilities that come with self-government.
As our nation prepares to celebrate 250 years of independence, let's do more than honor our history. Let us honor the civic duty that accompanies the freedoms we enjoy. The rights we possess today were entrusted to us by those who came before us. It is now our turn to preserve them for future generations.
Voting is more than a right. It is one of the most meaningful ways we can shape the future of our communities, our state, and our nation.
