The First 90 Days:
Critical Success Strategies for New Leaders at All Levels

Product description: 

In this hands-on guide, Michael Watkins, a noted expert on leadership transitions, offers proven strategies for moving successfully into a new role at any point in one's career. Concise and practical, The First 90 Days walks managers through every aspect of the transition, from mental preparation to forging the right alliances to securing critical early wins. Through vivid examples of success and failure at all levels, Watkins identifies the most common pitfalls new leaders encounter and provides tools and strategies for how to avoid them. 

To learn more about this book, click here.

5 Things You Can Do to Help VL Conquer Social Media: 

1) Connect on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn
2) Friend/Follow other VL alumni
3) Suggest alumni connect with VL social media
4) Post on the wall
5) Share VL news and events with friends  

Chair's Corner with Michelle Hernandez,  

Board Chair

Community Dialogue Series, presented by SCF Arizona

Invest in Success!

Community Stewards Society

Membership in the Community Stewards Society comes with a myriad of benefits at all levels, including:

If you take advantage of all that a Community Stewards Society membership offers, it is an exceptional value - and you are also supporting Valley Leadership's mission "to enhance the abilities of leaders to serve and strengthen our communities."  Click here to join the Community Stewards Society today.

Alumni Social Event

The Perfect Turkey 

Leadership Institute Program Day 1 Re-Cap:

History & Economy of the Valley

by Chris Kotterman (Class 33) 

VL Class 33, already showing signs of being the best class ever, began its Leadership Institute sojourn on October 7th at the Heard Museum in Phoenix.

Our program day coordinators did us the favor of scheduling an 8:30am start to the Program Day, which also allowed Class 33 to stake a claim (thus far, at least) to the title of "Most Punctual Class Ever."  We shall see if the remainder of the program bears that out.

The day's topic was "History and Economy of the Valley," and Class 33 heard from Marshall Trimble, Arizona's official state historian, as well as The Goldwater Institute's Byron Schlomach.  Marshall Shore, Jim Rounds and representatives from C.B. Richard Ellis and Elliot Pollack & Co. also spoke.

It was generally agreed that Trimble is delightful to listen to; he can spin an entertaining yarn for as long as you're willing to listen.  The more economically-minded of the class enjoyed presentations on economic incentives and the state economic forecast. 

Byron Schlomach of the Goldwater Institute provided a unique perspective that inspired some lively conversation, as the class explored what exactly the Valley might look like if it were 100 percent "economically rational."  Astoundingly, Class 33 did not have a uniform vision of what the Valley looks like in its ideal form.

At the end of the day, class members retired to Portland's to engage in a Socratic seminar about what they had learned throughout the course of the day.  One gets the feeling that such "academic" gatherings will become a regular part of the VL Class 33 experience. 

Official Arizona state historian Marshall Trimble chats with Class 33 member Jonathan Clark and Brian Zah (Class 32), Program Day Co-Chair, during the morning break.

Meet Class 33

KEN CLARK

Ken is a graduate of Northern Arizona University and The American University.  He currently works as a self-employed realtor in the Phoenix area.

Community Activities/Affiliations: Arizona Competitive Districts Coalition; Get Your PHX.

My Mentor: Former State Representative Roberta Voss

My Guiding Prinicple: You bring about what you think about.

JACKI GRAINGER

Jacki is the Community Relations Manager for Bank of Arizona.  She says that she does "anything that is not banking" - from event planning to internal communications; running the Arizona component of the BOKF Foundation; drives, programming, media relations and sponsorship execution.

Community Activities/Affiliations: Junior Achievement program teacher (kindergartners and first graders); Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Phoenix.     

My Mentor: My mother taught me to put one front in front of the other, love your children, find the fun in everything and make life a party.  My father taught me to always work hard, look people in the eye, and make people you care about feel important.

My Guiding Principle: Luck is when preparation meets opportunity.  Mix that with sincerity, integerity and living the golden rule, and I think you are set.

JASON ISRAEL

Jason is the owner of Creative Healthcare Concepts, LLC, which develops and manages skilled nursing facilities.  Jason handles development, financing any new acquisition or development, and management of the facilities.

Community Activities/Affiliations: Local chapter of Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM), concentrating on commercial and investment real estate.

My Mentor: I have a couple to mention ...

My Guiding Principle: Nothing is impossible; everything is possible.

PATTY JOHNSON

As the owner of Connections Marketing & Communications, Patty provides consulting services (including marketing, communications, public relations, strategic partnership / relationship development, and social media) to clients, primarily in the professional services industry and B2B markets.

Community Activities/Affiliations: Phoenix Aviation Advisory Board Member; Charter 100; Homeward Bound; O'Connor House; Speak Out Against Domestic Violence campaign; Dine Out for Life with the Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS; University of Arizona Medical School (Phoenix) Advisory Council; and volunteer on various political campaigns and initiatives.

My Mentor: Sally Belk-King and Lucia Howard

My Guiding Principle: Work hard, play hard; and always have fun.

CHRISTY McCLENDON

Christy is the Executive Director of The Wellness Community-AZ, which provides educational and emotional support to cancer patients. 

Community Activities/Affiliations: National Association of Social Workers; Chandler Fire Trust Board; Downtown Chandler Community Partnership.

My Mentor: I have many mentors, one of whom is Janice Marturano, Executive Director of The Institute of Mindful Leadership.

My Guiding Principle: Drive for results, be present, act with integrity, and do the right thing.

ARLENE MIRAMON

As the Human Resources Corporate Recruiter for Everest University Online, Arlene provides strategic staffing support to Everest University Online and Everest College Phoenix; identifies top candidates through multiple recruiting channels; and provides leadership to recruiting and staffing efforts across multiple business units. 

Community Activities/Affiliations: ASU Young Alumni (Council Member); Hispanic Business Alumni (Director at Large); Be a Leader Foundation; Fresh Women Start; Community/Employee Activities Liaison at Everest University.

My Guiding Principle: Treat others as you want to be treated and give 100% to everything you touch.

TIVON MOFFITT

Tivon is a Vice President with Colliers International, a commercial real estate brokerage.  Before attending the University of Pennsylvania, Tivon graduated from Chaparral High School. 

Community Activities/Affiliations: Jewish Federation (Social Service Committee Think Tank); Penn & Wharton Club of Arizona (Board of Directors); NAIOP; various volunteer leadership roles.

My Guiding Principle: Always do the right thing.  Maintain honesty and integrity at all times.

ADAM RICE

Adam is the Director of Consumer Sales and Marketing for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona.  In this role, he is responsible for brand and channel management, direct-to-consumer sales, advertising and creative development.

Community Activities/Affiliations: In my position at BCBS of Arizona, I am able to be exposed to and support many great organizations, such as United Way, Crisis Nursery, Phoenix Children's Hospital, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and CPLC.

My Guiding Principle: Treat others the way you want to be treated.

William "WINK" Wiess (Class 15) has been reappointed to the Maricopa County Library District. This is his fourth appointment to this county board, which provides library services to underserved areas of Maricopa County.

Justin Johnson (Class 31) was recently appointed to the Phoenix Planning Commission. 

Yours for Only $12