Valley Forward’s 2011 leadership met for a half-day retreat at the Desert Botanical Garden in November to discuss short- and long-term goals for the association and begin development of a 2012 Strategic Agenda.

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2012 membership renewals will be sent out at the beginning of January. We truly appreciate your continued support and look forward to another successful year together! If you have any questions or need your invoice prior to January, please contact Jhenifer Krutz at jkrutz@valleyforward.org.

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Pixel Effects began as a boutique web design and development firm in 1997. From the outset, its priority was to provide clean, simple, sales-driven web portals for each of its valued clients. As the internet evolved, the firm experienced a bit of an evolution itself. To maintain its edge as a leading provider of online business services, Pixel Effects adapted its own business model to incorporate a growing list of e-commerce solutions available to those companies willing to embrace the rapid expansion of internet commerce.

Today, Pixel Effects offers a full range of internet-based business tools designed to simplify the business process for clients and their customers. The company not only provides web design and development services, but custom web application development, search engine marketing and optimization services, a variety of payment gateway programs and even unique shopping cart applications tailored specifically for client products.

The firm sincerely believes continued and unwavering commitment to the success of its clients coupled with its keen understanding of technology fuels its ability to provide the best possible business solutions for each of its valued clients.

Pixel Effects offers a host of internet driven solutions specifically designed to cut operating costs, attract new customers and simplify nearly every aspect of day-to-day operations. The firm can create custom web-based applications offering an improved methodology for managing critical projects, organizing valuable data, and monitoring inventory, sales and customer behavior. Pixel Effects is proud to provide clients with measurable customized marketing solutions for long-term initiatives.

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PUBLIC EDUCATION
Chair: Penny Pfaelzer, PfaelzerDean&Partners
Vice Chair: John Godec, Godec Randall & Associates

 
ENERGY
Chair: Rob Wanless, Solon Corporation
Vice Chair: TBD

LAND USE/OPEN SPACE
Chair: Tim Conner, City of Scottsdale
Vice Chair: Chris Brown, SmithGroupJJR

 
CANALSCAPE SUBCOMMITTEE
Chair: George Pasquel, Individual Member
Vice Chair: Stephen Thompson, Thompson + Pollari Planning Architecture
 

TRAILS SUBCOMMITTEE
Chair: Michael Park, EPG

 
TRANSPORTATION/AIR
Chair: Craig Hughes, Total Transit/Discount Cab
Vice Chair: Brigitte Bavousett, U-Haul

 
WATER
Chair: Crystal Thompson, Central Arizona Project
Vice Chair: Margaret Galloghy, Fennemore Craig

To register your participation on an Issue Committee for 2012, click here and login to your individual profile page using your email address and password.

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THE SKY'S THE LIMIT

Valley Forward's October Luncheon featured an interactive program on the economic and environmental impact of Arizona’s aviation sector. Featured speakers included: Danny Murphy, aviation director for Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport; Lynn Kusy, executive director of Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport; and Gary Mascaro, aviation director for Scottsdale Airport. Cary Pfeffer, owner of ClearComm Consulting, moderated the program.

EARTHFEST EDUCATORS NIGHT

Our seventh annual EarthFest Educators Night, made possible by Central Arizona Project, along with University of Phoenix, our official education partner, and others was a huge success. Nearly 400 teachers attended the event, which included exhibits, activities and displays on environmental education resources for Arizona teachers. Each teacher received a classroom-size recycling bin donated by Republic Services.

MEMBER MIXER

Valley Forward's "Just for the Fun of it Mixer," hosted by Orcutt | Winslow, featured networking, beer/wine, tacos from Ticoz, ping pong and foosball tables.

ANNUAL LUNCHEON

Our 42^nd Annual Luncheon featured Richard Picciotto, FDNY Chief and highest ranking firefighter to survive the World Trade Center collapse. Attended by 450+ community, business and civic leaders, the event demonstrated the power of the human spirit, revealing a nation united and tenacious, saddened but resilient after the 9/11 tragedy.

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Following the highly successful launch of a parks and open space primer communicating the economic impact of Arizona’s natural assets, Arizona Forward convened a meeting of stakeholders to explore ways to address funding issues impacting our state’s public lands. More than 30 directors of state, county and municipal agencies attended to share their thoughts on how best to advance practical solutions to solve our parks crisis.

Through this ongoing process we hope to identify where our commonalities and differences lie with the ultimate goal of reaching consensus on advocacy efforts and a work program for 2012. Let us know if you’d like to get involved.

Demonstrate your leadership and join today! Click here for membership information. Click here to download the membership application. To discuss your involvement, call Diane Brossart at (602) 240-2408 or email dbrossart@arizonaforward.org.

Charter members of Arizona Forward include: Arizona Community Foundation, First Solar, Freeport McMoran Copper and Gold, National Bank of Arizona, Solon Corporation, Sundt Construction, The Nature Conservancy, Total Transit and Wells Fargo.

Be sure to like our Arizona Forward page on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

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Diane Brossart is a regular guest blogger for KTAR 92.3 News Talk Radio and AZ Big Media. Check out our her recent postings:

KTAR Guest Blog

EARTHFEST PROVIDES FREE RESOURCES TO TEACHERS




AZ Big Media Guest Blog

9/11 FIREFIGHTER RICHARD PICCIOTTO TO SPEAK AT VALLEY FORWARD LUNCHEON

THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE AVIATION INDUSTRY, PHOENIX SKY HARBOR

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Check out our latest guest blog submissions:

• LIVING LARGE DRIVING LESS, by Taz Loomans of Blooming Rock Development


• SUSTAINABILITY AS A LIFE STRATEGY, by Craig Hughes of Total Transit


• RECYCLING IS A SUSTAINABLE PRACTICE EVERYONE SHOULD EMBRACE, by Janette Coates of Waste Management


• DEAR FUTURE ELECTED OFFICIAL, by Colin Tetreault of ASU's School of Sustainability


• 9/11: ANNUAL LUNCHEON PROVIDES A CHANCE TO REFLECT, by Stephen Anderson of Gammage & Burnham

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TOP HONORS…Lawrence Enyart, FAIA, of LEA-Architects, LLC, received the Silver Medal from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Western Mountain Region.


REINVENT PHOENIX…a planning project for new housing and business development in neighborhoods along the light rail corridor was awarded a $2.9 million federal grant.


ENERGY REBATES…Energize Phoenix has partnered with APS and National Bank of Arizona to provide rebates and financing for commercial property owners who choose to do energy efficiency upgrades and improvements to their buildings.


MOVING ON…the Arizona State Parks Board announced that Executive Director Renée Bahl is leaving the agency to become the new Assistant County Executive Officer in Santa Barbara County.


TRENDS DAY…ULI Arizona’s full-day conference on Jan. 26 will feature 30+ top industry experts and a keynote address by banking industry leader Fredrick Waddell.


WOODBURNING…check out this cool online toolkit to get prepared for the inevitable Valley-wide No Burn Day restrictions.


BACK TO THE FUTURE…save the date for Friends of Transit 10th Annual Conference on Feb. 24.


MERGING BRANDS…SmithGroup and JJR are now one: SmithGroupJJR. After working side-by-side for 40 years, they’ve combined the two brands for a single firm name.


SMART GROWTH…the HUD-DOT-EPA Partnership for Sustainable Communities and the USDA released Supporting Sustainable Rural Communities, a report that discusses how the four agencies are collaborating to support rural communities.


DESIGN COURSE…the Valley Permaculture Alliance with Toby Hemenway, author of Gaia's Garden: A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture, are offering a Permaculture Design Certification Course for anyone interested in learning about sustainability and earning a certification from the Permaculture Institute USA.


CLEAN AIR…focusing on a collaborative method to achieve clean air, the Maricopa County Air Quality Department has implemented a Compliance Assurance strategic vision.

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