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Goodyear Mayor Georgia Lord and FLITE Goodyear were honored at Westmarc’s 29th Annual Best of the West awards dinner.
Hosted every fall by the Western Maricopa Coalition, the awards dinner recognizes “outstanding accomplishments and contributions to quality of life, economic development, innovation and leadership” in the West Valley, according to the organization.
This year, the event was held at State Farm Stadium in Glendale.
The Westmarc board of directors honored Lord with the Inspiration in Leadership Award.
“I’m so honored to be recognized this way,” Lord said. “I’m so proud of Goodyear, and we would not be where we are today without the leadership of our city council and our hard-working staff. Receiving this award is a major highlight in my career and I am so humbled.”
Lord has been a public servant in the city of Goodyear since 2005. She is currently serving her final term as mayor. Lord is an executive committee member for WESTMARC.
“Mayor Lord is such an inspiration and has been a champion for not only Goodyear, but the entire West Valley,” said Neil Terry, Westmarc chair. “Her keen business sense has brought so much success to our region and she truly loves and cares about her city. She is a proven leader and an amazing person.”
FLITE Goodyear, a 1 million-square-foot mixed-use campus received the Economic Engine Award.
FLITE Goodyear hosts more than 60 businesses, many related to technology, intelligence and surveillance. The site, adjacent to Phoenix Goodyear Airport, formerly was home to defense company Lockheed Martin.
Other winners include ASU J. Orin Edson Entrepreneurship + Innovation Institute, Peoria Forward for Excellence in Innovation, Peoria Community Arts Project for Quality of Life Enhancement in the Community and West-MEC’s Southwest Campus for Quality of Life Enhancement in Education.
Westmarc’s board of directors also recognized Grand Canyon University with the Regional Advancement Award and Karla Moran of SRP with the President’s Choice Award.
Westmarc is a public-private coalition of 15 communities along with the business and education sectors of the West Valley. It was founded in 1990 to promote the area and increase economic development in the West Valley.
