Speakers

Hans Driessnack is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Abrazo West Campus in Goodyear, Arizona. Under his leadership, Abrazo West Campus has been actively expanding its facilities and services to meet the growing healthcare needs of the community. For example, Abrazo Health recently acquired land to develop a new medical campus in Buckeye, Arizona, which will include medical offices, ambulatory services, and an acute care hospital.

So much of life revolves around sharing and enjoying food, and Chef Kevin Barko is a seasoned professional chef, businessman, educator, and entrepreneur who is an expert in preparing it and teaching others too.  He is a Verrado Rotary Club member who has already kicked many West Valley events up a notch with his delicious talents and generosity.

Chef Barko served as Director of Marketing and Promotions for Shamrock Foods in New Mexico and Arizona from 2005-2014, and then as Director of Marketing and Business Resources for the Sysco Corporation for the 6 years after.  Then in 2020, Kevin founded his KPB Consulting firm, and we’re delighted that he and wife Amy had the vision and expertise to start Heritage Street Cooks right here in Verrado! 

Kevin says:  “Heritage Street Cooks offers hands on cooking instruction for adults, teens and kids for fun and education.  Our classes are personalized for individuals, couples, and groups of all sizes and age ranges."  Kevin and his wife Amy teach using the classic French cooking technique which is the world standard. Each class is scheduled one evening per week for 3 hours, and teaches solid, basic cooking skills. Students learn, create, and enjoy a new menu each week, including a dessert. 

There’s a lot more to the story: catering, Meals of Joy for seniors, the C-CAP program to prepare students for careers in culinary arts, and so much more.   Join us as Chef Kevin Barko shares his journey and the story of Heritage Street Cooks!  

Stan Holm, CEO of Banner Boswell Medical Center and Banner Del Webb Medical Center, brings over 28 years of leadership experience to the forefront of healthcare management. His expertise spans both for-profit and non-profit sectors, where he has excelled in forging strategic partnerships and fostering a culture of trust and collaboration. Holm's leadership is marked by his ability to navigate complex changes, develop transformative services that elevate care quality, and improve operational and fiscal efficiency, making a significant impact on the communities he serves.

David Simmer served as District Governor of Arizona District 5495 for the 2019-2020 Rotary year.  

David grew up in Nebraska before heading east for his formal education. He followed a bachelor’s degree (BA) at Illinois Wesleyan University with a masters degree in accounting (MSA) and a law degree (JD) from Northeastern University and Boston University School of Law respectively.

David’s professional career concentrated on guiding high and ultra-high net worth clients as they navigated all aspects of wealth management from his firm’s offices in Wellesley Massachusetts and Palo Alto California. David and his wife, Isabel, retired to Sedona, Arizona in 2010.

Shortly before retiring David was invited to join the Rotary Club of Sedona where he quickly was drawn into community service and leadership positions. Most notably he chaired the Imagination Library committee which brought Dolly Parton’s free-book-a-month for preschoolers program to Sedona in 2012. Since inception the local club has distributed over 50,000 new, age-appropriate books to children in the Verde Valley to promote early childhood literacy and brain development.

David has also served as Secretary and President of the Rotary Club of Sedona and Assistant Governor for five clubs from Sedona to the Grand Canyon. He was named his club’s Rotarian of the Year in 2016. David is a Paul Harris Fellow, major donor level 3, Paul Harris Society Member and a Legacy Society Member.

David served on three District 5495 merger task groups and was named chair of the newly formed Leadership Development Committee for the District. In that position he has received significant recognition in the Zone for his efforts to re-think and innovate in Rotary education including focusing on elective education, broad-based curriculum and distance learning.

DG David is passionate about service at every level (local, international and club) and is dedicated to supporting and strengthening the clubs in northern and central Arizona.

City of Buckeye fire chief Jake Rhoades has more than 29 years of experience in fire and emergency management, most recently as fire chief for Kingman, Arizona.

Jake notes that “The team in Buckeye is a well-known department with a lot going for them, and so does the city of Buckeye. Being a part of that professionally is exciting, and so is the ability to plan and see what the future has in store for the community.” 

Jake is happy to be in Buckeye with his family, and closer to his sons. One is a firefighter with the Northwest Fire District, and his youngest is (was) a senior at ASU.

Jake has a master’s degree in business administration from Columbia University, a master’s in executive fire service leadership from Grand Canyon University, a bachelor’s degree in physical education from Oklahoma Christian University, and became a certified public manager through ASU. 

Rhoades said his experience in fire service throughout his career has prepared him for his new role in Buckeye.  “If anyone looks at my resume, my career is diverse. I push myself and those around me for continuous improvement, we always want to be better.”

Chief Jake, his wife, and his blue nose pit bull are enthusiastic Buckeye residents. He believes it’s important to be in and part of the community he serves, and we're delighted to have him in our Verrado Rotary gang and look forward to his update. 

Join us to honor our veterans in recognition of Veterans' Day.

Mr. Neese is the Superintendent of the Roosevelt Irrigation Distirct.  The RID has been providing power and water to the west valley since 1923.

By the early 1920s many farmers had purchased land west of the Agua Fria River. The promised supply of water that they had counted on was not going to be delivered. These landowners organized their own irrigation district. In March 1923 the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors tentatively approved creation of the Roosevelt Irrigation District No. 1, named for the former president, Theodore Roosevelt, who had been the biggest supporter of national reclamation and dam building. The first leaders of this effort—W.J. Burns, G.C. Rubel, and T.J. Roberts— carried petitions to every landowner in the area. They obtained signatures from 115 individuals who owned 20,000 acres and agreed to create the Roosevelt Irrigation District (RID).

Chris Larson grew up in Buckeye and is the Library/Museum Director for the City of Buckeye. As noted on the City's website, "The Buckeye Public Library System is a dynamic, open and diverse library of the 21st century. We welcome all through our doors, empowering those we serve with information and community. We have free Wi-Fi, public access computers and thousands of books and DVDs to choose from. We also offer a range of programs and events to our community".

Suzanne (Susie) Boyles serves as the Economic Development Director for the City of Buckeye, Arizona. Additionally, she is a board member of the Arizona Association for Economic Development, an ambassador for the Greater Phoenix Economic Council, and a Young Talent Advisor for the Center for the Future of Arizona. She holds Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Business from Western New Mexico University. Among her achievements is the Buckeye Healthcare Initiative, which aimed to identify healthcare gaps and development opportunities in the city. This initiative successfully attracted Abrazo Health and Banner Health to commit to building healthcare campuses in Buckeye, including two new acute care hospitals, medical office buildings, and other healthcare services. Her tenure at the City of Buckeye has been marked by success in attracting both large and small businesses offering high-paying jobs. She attributes her success to her mother, who was a strong role model. Susie attended college on a volleyball scholarship. In 2022, she was recognized as one of the Most Influential Women in Arizona by Arizona Business and Arizona RE Magazine (AZBigMedia), and in 2023, she was featured in the list of People and Projects to Know in Commercial Real Estate by AZBigMedia.

Mr. Feericks is the President Phoenix Region, Howard Hughes Holdings, Inc..  Howard Hughes Holdings is developing Teravalis which spans 37,000 acres, 100,000 homes, 300,000 residents and 55 million square feet of commercial space.  The development is located west of the White Tank Mountains, along the Sun Valley Parkway.  Ground was broken in 2023 and the develop is expected to continue for decades.

Clay Goodman is the Vice Mayor of the City of Buckeye and represents Buckeye District 6.  

Sintra Hoffman is the President and Chief Executive Officer of WESTMARC, representing the West Valley of Metro Phoenix where she has the pleasure of working with 15 communities, over 3,000 square miles and home to 1.8 million residents. With 25 years of experience in federal, state, local and non-profit leadership, Sintra is a natural convener, bringing key stakeholders together to advance the region's economic vitality and improve the quality of life for her community. She previously served as Assistant Division Director for the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) leading the Office of Public Affairs to build and sustain relationships in Arizona's cities, towns, counties, tribes and business community and support infrastructure investments statewide. Prior to her time at ADOT, she spent 10 years with the City of Surprise, serving as the Director of Intergovernmental Relations and Deputy City Manager where she focused on policy development and economic sustainability for the community.  

Sintra was recognized by the Phoenix Business Journal as a Most Admired Leader in 2023 and one of 25 Outstanding Women in Business in 2022. Previously Arizona Business Magazine recognized her as one of the Most Influential Women in 2016. In 2019 she was recognized by Estrella Mountain Community College as their Education Hero and also received BMO Bank’s Women Who Lead award.

She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Master’s of Administration in Public Administration.

Ms  Zbbiegien is one of two homeowner representatives on the 5 member Verrado Community Association Board of Directors.