Inaugural Impact Maker Expo spotlights Valley leaders

Scottsdale mayor David Ortega among speakers

By Delarita Ford
Mail | Twitter: @AzNewsmedia

The first Impact Maker Expo showcased motivational speakers including the Valley Leadership organization’s 72nd Man and Woman of the Year plus an added bonus with city of Scottsdale Mayor David Ortega, recognizing the impact leaders have on the community.

The expo, geared toward alumni of the leadership organization, was 3-6 p.m. April 21, followed by a reception from 6 to 8 p.m. at Scottsdale Center for Performing Arts, 7380 E. 2nd St., Scottsdale.

Speakers and representatives included leaders from agencies for child well-being, environmental sustainability, health, and other sectors. The 72nd Man and Woman of the Year, Kimber Lanning and Dr. Warren H. Stewart Sr., led what was called a “fireside chat.” Another notable leader in attendance, who addressed pressing issues facing Arizona, included Tempe Mayor Corey Woods.

“Each human has a purpose ... Be kind. Be just. Be humble.” Stewart Sr. said. “Be careful about the unholy trinity as you move above the ladder.”

Money, sex and power were the three things called the “trinity” Stewart Sr. warned about getting in the way of effective leadership if one allowed it to take precedence over good deeds and motives.

After congratulating honorees Lanning and Stewart Sr., Ortega recognized the community services many continue to perform despite life’s heightened challenges during the pandemic. Describing turbulent times worldwide, referencing Ukraine, he spoke of the “importance of leadership in the state, the world, and the city.”

With threats of “being murdered because they support democracy in Ukraine,” he commended heroic sentiments of the mayor and council members in other regions of the globe setting examples as leaders to ensure their citizens experience a good quality of life.

“We have our own responsibility to uphold that people are dying for,” said Ortega.

Pictured: On left, Scottsdale Mayor David Ortega; in center, a view of the Impact Maker Expo at Scottsdale Center for Performing Arts; on right, Tempe Mayor Corey Woods. (Photos by Laura Segall Photography)

Pictured: On left, Dr. Antoinette Farmer-Thompson, provost and chief academic officer at Strayer University, co-founder Foresight; in center, Impact_Hayley Winterberg, executive director at Arizona Peer & Family Career Academy (Left); on right, Jaimey Bly, at right, talks to a guest. (Photos by Laura Segall Photography)

He detailed how residents in Scottsdale, which has about 2,600 employees and 2,500 volunteers, “took democracy seriously,” as he was voted into office when the pandemic hit.

“COVID taught the world a lesson. Everybody felt vulnerable, not just the immunocompromised,” said Ortega, adding an immunocompromised person told him “I can’t get a shot, the COVID shot won’t change that vulnerability.”

Likewise, Ortega described how different people deal with challenging situations in various ways, and the pandemic, although bad, helped people and organizations think of alternatives “just to survive.”

“Lots of things were being worked out, I think. As we look at the housing issue as well, what’s been happening is COVID turned the world away,” Ortega said, noting how things are different, but for the better.

He pointed out how Scottsdale is leading the way in not only examining housing issues, but urban and low density, more open space, water conservation, etc.

“Scottsdale had the attributes being founded on things driving costs sky high,” Ortega said of what has attracted people to live and work in Scottsdale.

He said it will take impact leadership at every level from individuals, better use of resources, and working together to solve many of the looming issues involving housing, food and environment crises.

“It’s so exciting to see the work of all the Impact Teams in one, bustling, interactive space. Seeing so many leaders working together to solve Arizona’s most pressing issues was inspiring, and getting leadership insights from our 72nd Man and Woman of the Year honorees, Dr. Warren Stewart and Kimber Lanning, was the icing on the cake,” stated Valley Leadership CEO Dave Brown.

Delarita Ford
Lead Reporter | Surprise
@AzNewsmedia

dford@iniusa.org

Meet Delarita
Delarita Ford originally joined Independent Newspapers Incorporated, now Independent Newsmedia, Inc. USA in 1997, as a general assignment reporter for the Delaware State News daily paper after starting her journalism career in Maryland in 1994, where she honed her skills by writing obituaries, covering community news from births to deaths, education to legislation and more. As a reporter, she has had the opportunity to cover sitting and former U.S. presidential visits in Baltimore, Delaware, and Arizona.

Community: One of the few seasoned journalists who still enjoys covering community events, she can be found with a reporter’s pad taking notes, her phone taking pictures while capturing life’s moments to memorialize them in print for the local newspapers and for the active-adult community where she lives. She maintains a presence with the Black media and the National Association of Black Journalists to encourage peers, socialize, and mentor younger writers.

Education: Life learner who learns from life. Aside from the collegiate education received, she got the best training from on-the-job experience with former editors who went through copy with a red pen and demanded the best writing for hard news and feature stories. 

Random Fact: While a Delaware State News reporter, she could call then Sen. Joe Biden and his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, usually late at night if a quote or input was needed for varying topics, including legislation and education.

Hobbies: Adopt rescue dogs and give them a nice home. Continuously read and critique news stories from various platforms.