Most Influential People in Phoenix: 2013

Who’s she? If you ever asked a friend to ID a VIP at an Arizona cocktail party, this list of Arizona trendsetters is a must-read. From educators to charitable and culinary genius’, fashionistas and favorite couples, get to know the Valley of the Sun’s most influential.

These are the winners of Best Of Our Valley 2013 in the People category – the best of the best in Arizona. The winner each category this year will be featured in Arizona Foothills Magazine’s March 2013 issue, a tell-all guide to the coolest people and places in the Valley of the Sun, as chosen by its residents. The winner with the most total votes will be featured on the cover of Arizona Foothills Magazine’ s Best Of issue (but we aren’t telling who won the cover just yet!). All those who won this year can download their 2013 Winners logos here.

To nominate a business, person or item for the 2014 contest, e-mail bestof@azfoothills.com by September 1, 2013. 

Best Arizona Foothills Cover Model

WINNER: January Issue: Caitlin Wilenchik, Face of Foothills

March Issue: Bret Michaels
August Issue: Lauren Lostumo
February Issue: Kayley Prechel
October Issue: Nic Roldan with Alex Faye
May Issue: Lisa Marie
September Issue: Kate Walsh
June Issue: Amber Arbucci
July Issue: Rachel Yampolsky
April Issue: Samantha Geahlen

Best Instagram Feed

WINNER: @cortmarie

@uscgabe
@zacharyhall
@djnoahwylie
@champpr
@cgharai
@melissamelissa01
@lonewolf1211
@musclemama09
@jcook
@lilmisfancyface
@dcpresentshyb

Best Pinterest Board

WINNER: Guy Downes, DeepSpaceMKTG

Andrea Kardashian, mrkardashian
Audrey Cassel, just_audrey
Megan Alkins, slwydamucow3
Lisa Kasanicky, azspagirls
Terri Chandler-Royse, tlcnaz
Kimberley Joe, kimdjoeaz
T Renee James, ReclaimMySexy
Cari A, cariajs
Sharon Cochran, rockncouture182
Sabrina Cervoni, sabrinacervoni
Kim Atkinson, kimatkinsonaz
Joe Schubach, joeschubach
Cristiana Zarr, cristianazarr

Best Twitter Picture from AZFoothillsMag Followers: Men

WINNER: @AJColores

@KyleLedeboer
@EricBurdick
@John_R_Scott
@JeffHechtAZ
@Special_K_in_AZ
@awesomedaz
@Van4Mike
@jaylindley
@justin_sturman
@foodiebear
@mathewblades
@MrSavingSense
@GoTravelzing
@JSchlichGolf
@PHXSuns6thMan

Best Twitter Picture from AZFoothillsMag Followers: Women

WINNER:@AliBeeee

@rockstarronan
@CeeGubb
@melissarein
@kyleunfung
@ThaniaAB
@bbellecouture
@LBallardAZ
@AmyRadar
@Nadie_Yenka
@Kateyes92
@ElyciaMarie
@Laura_D4
@Patooty
@RNchelseagirl
@wendyybeestn
@fashnstudent

Favorite Couple in the Valley

WINNER: Aric and Dugue Zion

Steve LeVine and Jamie Morris LeVine
Bob and Renee Parsons
Colin and Britt Boyse
Woody and Maya Thompson
Brent and Jacqueline Nerguizian
Keith and Tracy Carson
Bob and Heather Novak
Anthony and Amanda Rumore
Jordan and Jason Rose
Jeff and Jodie Heisner
Kurt and Brenda Warner
Suzanne and Anthony Conti
Clarissa and Brian Robinson
Michelle and John Ricart
Ashley and Brad Richardson
Jim and Brenda Howard
Johnjay and Blake Van Es
Anthony and Rebecca Salcito
Elycia Marie and Frankie Muniz
Tiffany and Ben Quayle
Christopher Gross and Jamie Hormel
Jerry and Carol Meek
Al and Lisa Molina
Bob and Ellen Uhl
Robert Black and Mark Reed
Scott and Courtney Gauthier
Matt and Michelle Feeney
Dave Dodge and Patrick Greenwood
Doug and Gwen Parker
Lisa and Randy Johnson
Erik and Kimberly Peterson
Mark and Chrissy Donnelly
Steve and Danielle Gregorich
Angela and Robert Romanin
Robert Arnold-Kraft and Randi
Kellie and Danny Hendon

Marketing Guru

WINNER: Ted Anderson, Anderson Advertising & PR

Steve LeVine, Owner of Steve LeVine Entertainment & Public Relations
Louie Moses, Founder, President and Executive Creative Director of Moses Anshell
Margo Kesler, Owner of MMPR Marketing
Veronique James, President of the James Agency
Bill Lavidge, Owner of The Lavidge Company
Carrie Martz, Owner of The Martz Agency
Tim Riester, Riester Advertising
Melissa Rein, Owner of The Brand Consortium
Charlotte Shaff, Owner of The Media Push
Beau Lane, CEO of EB Lane
Michele Olson, Owner of Olson Communications
Kathy Munson, Media Buying Services
Jason Rose, Owner of Rose+Moser+Allyn PR

Most Fashionable in the Valley Over 30 – Men

WINNER: Micah Johnson, Founder and Executive of MediaStars

Matt Brough (AKA DJ Soloman)
Todd Grobstein, General Manager of Triyar Entertainment
Jason Franklin, co-owner of Sportiqe
Dr. John Badolato, Dentist
Robert Black, Founder of FORD Robert Black and Store Owner
Javier Soto, 3TV Reporter
Tim Braun, GM of Neiman Marcus
Matt Altman, co-owner of Sportiqe
Matt Kraemer, Endurance Rehab
Alfredo Molina, CEO of The Molina Group
Dan Majerle, Assistant Coach for the Phoenix Suns
Remy Toh, Stylist at Saks
Mr. P-Body, DJ
Adams Mays, President, A.R. Mays Construction
Steve Schnall, Vice President of Phoenix Children’s Hospital
Richard Jefferson, NBA
John Mathieson, Vice President Wealth Planning
Jeff Jessup, Sotheby
Dr. Anthony Admire, Plastic Surgeon
Luis Angel Perales, Manager at Jcrew Fashion Square
Jason Rose, Owner of Rose+Moser+Allyn PR
Erik Peterson, Owner of Peterson Architecture & Associates
Jim Kleeman, Executive Vice President of Global Sales and MarCom at IO
Michael R. Hecomovich, CEO of Global Marketing Services
Paul Sarantes, Partner, Archicon Architects and Interiors
Richard Doria, Architect
Jeffery Lowe, Arizona market president of MidFirst Bank
Shane Powell

Most Fashionable in the Valley Over 30 – Women

WINNER: Fawn Cheng, Project Manager of JANI modeling

Tracy Reuter, Event Director at Everything Kids Fest
Renee Parsons, Co-Founder of the Parsons Foundation
Jamie Morris Levine, Chief Communications Officer at Steve Levine Entertainment
Vicki Vaughn, co-chair of Key to the Cure
Jacqueline Nerguizian, Jewelry Designer
Susie Muzzy, Fashion and Wardrobe consultant for The Worth Collection
Katie Wilson, Owner of The Garage Boutique for Kids
Lisa Kasanicky, Founder of AZSpaGirls.com
Brooke Stanley, Etch Salon
Shauna Kupetz, Jam Boutique owner
Heather Dillion, Photographer
Veronique James, James Agency
Whitney Helmich, Wardrobe Stylist
Elizabeth Hannan, Owner of Blue Blazing Media
Alison Johnson, Owner of Sparkling Events by Alison Johnson
Joy Li, Fashion Designer
Rachel Troyan, Associate Wedding and Event Planner
Susie Alofs, Business Owner
Amy Ross, Drybar Owner
Michelle RobsonFounder, Chairperson and CEO of EmpowHER
Tamia Hill, Singer
Doreeen di Muccio Picerne, Fashion by Robert Black
Cindy Christi, CXI Media
Char Hubble, Fashionable Valley Resident
Sherrie Mathieson, Style Consultant
Kristin Van Leer Edwards, Van Leer Insurance
Pune Ghebleh, Director of Mona Foundation
Lauren Haro, Fashionable Valley Resident
Cathy Kleeman, Executive Board Member of Fresh Start Women’s Foundation
Jamie Hormel, Owner of The Wrigley Mansion Club
Rebecca Salcito, Designer
Cathyanne Cockrill, Vintage Fashion, Inc.
Courtney Gauthier, Philanthropist

Most Fashionable in the Valley Under 30 – Men

WINNER: Ryan Coffin, Coffin & Trout Jewelers

Paul Nazzaro, multmedia specialist of Steve Levine Entertainment
William Smith, DJ
Amir Saebi, Owner of Amir’s La Voûte
Brian Swan, CEO/Stylist, Right Hand Man Image Consulting
Darren Simoes, Graphic Designer
Jamie Britton, Graphic Designer
Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals Player
Brent Beauchamp, Fashionable Valley Resident
Gabriele Bertaccini, Chef
Brady Myers, Guardian Life Insurance
Mike Conway, Indy Race Car Driver
Elan Meshkatai, Fashionable Valley Resident
Sean O’Connor, MPower Energy Tabs and Pro Hockey Player
Brooks Butterfield, Fashionable Valley Resident
Joshua Christensen, Project Runway 2011
Bryce Cashman, Fashionable Valley Resident
Alex Covarrubias, Prada

Most Fashionable in the Valley Under 30 – Women

WINNER: Caitlin Wilenchik, Face of Foothills 2011

McKenna Wesley, Model
Erica Kern, Event Coordinator Steve Levine Entertainment
Susie Kiel, Model
Becca Robson, Fashionable Valley Resident
Molly Argue, Miss AZ Teen USA
Rachelle McCray, Miss Arizona United States 2011, Actress
Hannah Hayes, Fashion Blogger
Ashley Hanish
, Fashionable Valley Resident
Kaylee Renda, Local Makeup Artist
Melissa Digianfilippo, Serendipit Consulting
Emilie Andrews, Assistant Marketing Manager at Biltmore Fashion Park
Natalie Davis, Fashion Blogger
Jessica Flowers-Cuff, Owner of The Coffee Shop
Amanda Szot, Fashion Blogger
Lindsay Viker, Fashion Blogger
Shayne Lamas-Richie, Model and Actress
Melissa Rein, The Brand Consortium
Kathleen Looney, Fashionable Valley Resident
Sarah Brue, Owner and Editor of SomethingBrue

Most Influential in Valley Education

WINNER: Sister Joan Fitzgerald, Xavier College Preparatory

Father Reese, President of Brophy College Preparatory Academy
Brent Richardson, Executive Chairman of Grand Canyon University
Leah Fregulia Roberts, Arizona School for the Arts
Christopher Callahan, Dean of the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications
David Gonsalves, Principal of Notre Dame Preparatory High School
Nigel Taplin, Head of Tesseract School
Michael Crow, President of Arizona State University
Stevie and Karl Eller, Philanthropist in Education at U of A
James P. Carruthers, President of Rancho Solano Private Schools
Provost Elizabeth D. Capaldi, Arizona State University Provost and Executive Vice President
Arizona Higher Education Loan Authority

Most Influential in Valley Food

WINNER: Eddie Matney, Owner, Eddie’s House

Craig DeMarco, Upward Projects (Postino, Federal Pizza, Windsor, Churn)
Aaron May, Owner of Praying Monk, Over Easy, The Lodge and Renegade Tap & Kitchen
Sam Fox, Owner of Fox Restaurant Concepts
Joshua Herbert, POSH
Matt Carter, Chef and Proprietor of Zinc Bistro and Mission
Mark Tarbell, Iron Chef Winner and Owner of Tarbell’s
Beau MacMillan, Food Network Personality and Executive Chef of elements
James Porter, Petite Maison
Dennis Mastro, Ocean Club, Mastro’s Steakhouse, and Michael Dominick’s Lincoln Avenue Prime Steakhouse
Kevin Binkley, Binkley’s Restaurant and James Beard Winner
Silvana Salcido Esparza, Barrio Cafe and James Beard Award Winner
Vincent Guerithault, Vincent on Camelback
Lee Hilson, Iron Chef Competitor and Executive Chef at The Phoenician
John Sharpe, Turquoise Room at the La Posada hotel and James Beard Award Winner
Nobuo Fukuda, Nobuo at Teeter House
Christopher Gross, James Beard Winner, Top 10 New Chefs Food & Wine

Most Influential in Valley Nonprofit

WINNER: Maya Thompson, Ronan Thompson Foundation

Jennifer Blank-Matney, Board Member of Numerous Philanthropies
Brandi Hunt, President of The Junior League of Phoenix, Inc.
Lynn Love, 2012 Heart Ball Chair
Suzanne and Anthony Conti, The Purple Society
Emily Pandelakis
Deborah Bateman, Board Member of Numerous Philanthropies
Steve Schnall, Vice President of the Phoenix Children’s Hospital Foundation
Pat Peznick and Beverly Stewart, Founders of Fresh Start
Dr. and Mrs. Robert Flinn, Flinn Foundation
Pam Gaber, Founder of Gabriel
Susan LeVine, Founder of Hospice of the Valley
Bennet Dorrance, President of Dorrance Family Foundation
Stevie and Karl Eller, Philanthropist in Education
Ginger Ward, Founder and CEO of Southwest Human Development
The Kemper and Ethel Marley Foundation
Debbie Gaby, Nonprofit Owner and Philanthropist
Jinger Richardson, Chair of Drive the Dream
Julie Prusak, 2011 Heart Ball 2011 Chairman and Philanthropist
Missy Anderson, Chair of Drive the Dream
Jerry Bisgrove, CEO of Stardust Building Supplies
Pamala Wright, Board Member of Numerous Philanthropies
Sally Adelus, CEO of Hospice of the Valley
Melissa Leonesio, Co-owner of O Premium Waters

Most Influential in Valley Politics

WINNER: Mayor Greg Staton, Phoenix

Sheriff Joe Arpaio
Senator John McCain
Richard Carmona, Candidate for US Senate
Governor Jan Brewer
Vernon Parker, Candidate for US Congress
Kyrsten Sinema, Candidate for US Congress
David Schweikert, Candidate for US Congress
Jeff Flake, Candidate for US Senate
Doug Ducey, Treasurer
Mayor Scott Smith, Mesa
Mayor Jim Lane, Scottsdale
Tom Horne, General Attorney
Jeff Rogers, Pima County Democratic Chairman

Most Influential Man in the Valley

WINNER: David Bruner, President, Circle Road Companies

Bob Parsons, Founder and Executive Chairman of GoDaddy.com
Ron Shurts, Owner of Arizona Rattlers and Annexus Group
Les Corieri, Owner of Evening Entertainment Group
Craig Jackson, Chairman and CEO of Barrett-Jackson
Shawn Yari, Partner and Co-Founder of Triyar Companies LLC
Jerry Colangelo, Businessman and Sports Mogul
Mac Magruder, Francisee and spokesperson
Bob Moran, CEO of Petsmart
David Watson, Revolution Tea
Bob Agahi, Partner and owner of Triyar
Jerry Moyes, Swift Transportation CEO, Former Phoenix Coyotes Owner
Jonah Shacknai, Chairman and CEO of Medicis Pharmaceutical Corporation
Dan Harkins, Owner of Harkins Theatres
Roy Vallee, former CEO of Avnet Inc.
Pete Bolton, Executive Vice President of Grubb & Ellis Co.
JR Meyers, Totem Steel
Michael A. Pollack, Real Estate Investments
Eneas Kane, CEO, DMB Pacific Ventures
Michael R. Hecomovich, CEO of Global Marketing Services
John Dawson (scottsdale Plaza resort)
Jimmy Walker, Chairman and founder of Celebrity Fight Night Foundation
Michael Bidwell, Arizona Cardinals Owner
Douglas Parker, CEO of US Airways
Ed Zito, Executive Vice President of Alliance Bank of Arizona
Gary Edens, Private Investor / Chairman of The Hanover Companies, Inc
Peter Fine, President and CEO of Banner Health
Peter Sperling, Vice Chairman of the Board of Apollo Group
Don Tapia, entreprenuer and philanthropist
J. Doug Pruitt, fromer CEO of Sundt Construction
Rex Maughan, CEO of Forever Living
Daniel Cracchiolo, Attorney
Herman Chanen, Founder and Chairman of Chanen Construction

Most Influential Woman in the Valley

WINNER: Susie Wesley, Philanthropist

Maya Thompson, Ronan Thompson Foundation
Jamie Morris LeVine, Steve Levine Co.
Deanna Salazar, Senior Vice President for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona
Ruth Siegel, Founder and Owner of Serenity Hospice and Palliative Care
Linda Hunt, President of St. Joseph’s Hospital & Medical Center
Mac Perlich, On Media
Kathy Pidgeon, Adoption Attorney and Executive Director of Phoenix Suns Charity
Rachel Saaco, Scottsdale CVB
Daryl Weil, Executive Board Member of Arizona Humane Society
Michelle Robson, empowerher.com
Katie Mueller, Co-Chair of Key to the Cure
Kari Yatkowski, Founder and President of Haven Charitable Foundation
Nicole Stanton
Ginger Clayton, Owner of Elontec
Libby Cohen, Philanthropist
Jamie Hormel, Owner of The Wrigley Mansion Club
Kathryn J. Lincoln, Chair and Chief Investment Officer of Lincoln Institute of Land Policy

Old Faithfuls in Food

WINNER: Eddie Matney, Eddie’s House

Aaron May, Owner of Praying Monk, Over Easy, The Lodge and Renegade Tap & Kitchen
Mark Tarbell, Tarbell’s
Vincent, Vinvent’s
Robert McGrath, Market Street Kitchen
Christopher Gross, Christopher’s

Top Celebrity Twitter

WINNER: @BretMichaels

@JohnjayVanes
@LarryFitzgerald
@TheLadyLa
@RealAliceCooper
@FrankieMuniz
@BubbaWatson
@Kurt13Warner
@JUS10UP10 (Justin Upton)
@MikeTyson
@JaredDudley619
@DDockett (Darnell Dockett)
@AlvinGentry
@MichelleBranch
@TomLehman2011
@JordinSparks
@Gbguitar (George Benson)
@RealChrisPowell
@ChesterBe (Chester Bennington)
@DianaTaurasi
@FrankCaliendo
@ShannonBrown
@IMABIGO (Michael Beasley)
@CY24_7 (Chris Young)
@kerristrug96
@Adrian_Wilson24