Current print subscribers can create a free account by clicking here
Otherwise, follow the link below to join.
To Our Valued Readers –
Visitors to our website will be limited to five stories per month unless they opt to subscribe. The five stories do not include our exclusive content written by our journalists.
For $6.99, less than 20 cents a day, digital subscribers will receive unlimited access to YourValley.net, including exclusive content from our newsroom and access to our Daily Independent e-edition.
Our commitment to balanced, fair reporting and local coverage provides insight and perspective not found anywhere else.
Your financial commitment will help to preserve the kind of honest journalism produced by our reporters and editors. We trust you agree that independent journalism is an essential component of our democracy. Please click here to subscribe.
Need to set up your free e-Newspaper all-access account? click here.
Non-subscribers
Click here to see your options for becoming a subscriber.
Register to comment
Click here create a free account for posting comments.
Note that free accounts do not include access to premium content on this site.
I am anchor
Business
Fiesta Bowl director stepping down
Mike Nealy leaving the organization after eight years
Posted
Mike Nealy, who has led the Fiesta Bowl organization for the past eight years, is stepping down as executive director.
The move, announced Tuesday, comes after Nealy helped to grow the organization into one that hosts multiple college bowl games and has developed a $20 million charitable fund for local nonprofits.
"We worked diligently over the last eight years to develop world-class college football bowl season experiences and community events while also driving economic growth and expanding charitable giving within our Arizona community. I believe this is the right time to step aside as the Fiesta Bowl continues to prepare for what is expected to be a dynamic future for collegiate Bowl Season organizations," Nealy said in a statement.
The Fiesta Bowl is one of the premier bowl games for NCAA college football and serves in a regular rotation as host to college football playoffs and national championship games.
Fiesta Bowl Chairman Patrick Barkley said Nealy was hired to help strengthen and grow the Fiesta Bowl in events and partnerships, and he achieved what the board sought from him.
"He was the right person to help us meet our mission and objectives, and we are deeply grateful for all of Mike's contributions to the Fiesta Bowl Organization. We wish Mike the best in all his future endeavors," he said in a statement.
The Fiesta Bowl board will engage a national search firm to identify Nealy's replacement over the coming months, Barkley said. Board member Jim Hatfield will step in as interim director while the search is ongoing.
Hatfield, who has served on the board for seven years, recently retired as executive vice president and chief financial officer for Pinnacle West Capital Corp. and its primary subsidiary, Arizona Public Service Co., the state's largest electric company.
"Mike has done an excellent job of helping to fortify our organization, its charitable mission and our place in college football. I am honored to provide a steady hand as we look for our future next executive director," said Hatfield.
While the organization carries the name of its primary game, the Fiesta Bowl played in Glendale every January, it also is the organizer of the Guaranteed Rate Bowl held at Chase Field every December, a parade and a host of other events.
The organization also is heavy on philanthropy, giving out $16 million in grants during the past five years.
