CEOs You Should Know - Phoenix

CEOs You Should Know - Phoenix

As part of iHeartMedia’s commitment to the communities we serve, we are introducing CEO's You Should Know, a monthly program feature that profiles the businesses that drive our economy. CEO's You Should Know interviews will air each month on KFYI and promoted across our portfolio of seven broadcast properties: News Talk 550 KFYI, 102.5 KNIX, 99.9 KEZ, 95.5 The Mountain, 104.7 KISS FM, Mix 96.9 and Fox Sports 910. CEO’s included in these segments will represent local and international firms, because all play a part in driving the Phoenix business community.

Episodes

December 8, 2025 23 mins
Trevor is redefining excellence at Wilde Wealth Management by taking a client-focused approach through understanding each individual’s unique circumstances and guiding them through life’s challenges. At the same time, he demonstrates a strong commitment to the community by actively raising funds for various local organizations.
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St. Mary’s is the First Food Bank in the world and was started in Phoenix in 1967 by John Van Hengel with a $3000 loan from his church, St. Mary’s Basilica. He paid back the loan but named the food bank after the church. So even though we are not affiliated with the church, the name remains as a legacy to founding supporter. Now with Milt as the CEO, he has continued to bridge the gap for Arizona Communities with nourishment for to...
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Neil Giuliano is a passionate leader and has led the Greater Phoenix Leadership since 2015. This organization leads CEOs by aligning leadership and resources at the intersection of the business, education, philanthropy and public policy sectors to improve economic vitality and quality of life.
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October 24, 2025 34 mins
Waco Hoover is an entrepreneur and investor with over 20 years of experience in venture capital, M&A, entertainment, media and live events.
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Jared A. Langkilde is a passionate and effective advocate for the role of philanthropy in transforming
healthcare. He joined HonorHealth Foundation as president and CEO in 2018, leading the organization with a laser focus on its mission for finding cures, saving lives and transforming healthcare.
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Jennifer Lawson is the President and CEO of Keep America Beautiful, a nonprofit focused on community beautification and environmental education. She holds a degree in Philosophy and Mathematics from the University of Virginia which then helped her jump start her career in community development and affordable housing advocacy in Northern Virginia. She previously led social change initiatives at Points of Light and the Make an Impact...
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Rachel Sacco is the President & CEO of Experience Scottsdale. Since 1986, Rachel has been a driving force in Arizona's destination marketing, transforming the Scottsdale tourism landscape. From leading the tourism division at the Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce to becoming the first president and CEO of the stand-alone Experience Scottsdale, Rachel's journey is one of dedication and visionary leadership - achieving numerous...
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John Merwin is the CEO of 3Z Brands and founder of Brooklyn Bedding, a leading sleep product manufacturer. His journey in the mattress industry began in 2000 while attending college, where he joined his brother’s liquidation business. Over time, John transitioned to manufacturing, pioneering the bed-in-a-box concept and launching BrooklynBedding.com in 2008. 3Z Brands stands out for its vertically integrated approach, ensuring qual...
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February 13, 2025 34 mins
Mike Rypka helped to lead Torchy’s Tacos from a small dream on the back of a food trailer in Austin, Texas to a thriving fast casual taco chain spreading across multiple states. As CEO, Mike ignites his passion for food, commitment to his employees, and dedication to the customer experience to drive Torchy’s Tacos to its current success.

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Since her appointment as President and CEO in 2010, Dr. Ganzert has spearheaded unprecedented growth and transformational change at the historic 145-year-old nonprofit, American Humane. American Humane has reemerged as the most effective humane organization, directly impacting the lives of more animals around the world than any other organization through innovative, life-changing and life-saving programs that set the gold standard ...
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Blending a deep love of classical music with a passion for business, Peter Kjome is recognized as a thoughtful leader who engages key stakeholders to achieve artistic and economic success. He became President and CEO of The Phoenix Symphony on February 1, 2023.

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Cameron Andrew Bawden, raised in Gilbert, Arizona is an ambitious entrepreneur and dedicated family man. At 36 years old, Cameron has already made substantial strides in the business world, having spent the last 14 years building Hype Pharm, a conglomerate consisting of Green Mango Pest Control, Coconut Carpet Cleaning, and Agave Autoglass.
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Justin Bayless became driven to find solutions to complex problems in the healthcare industry particularly when it came to communities that would otherwise be left behind. Relentless in his pursuit of improving the patient experience, Bayless Integrated Healthcare paved the way incorporating the most important health care services under one roof: primary care and behavioral health. In 2018, Bayless Integrated Healthcare also became...
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Rick Smith is the CEO of Axon Enterprise. He founded the company in a Tucson garage in 1993 after two of his classmates were shot and killed. Originally known as TASER International, Axon’s mission is to protect life — which includes making bullets obsolete. Rick’s family bet everything they had to get the company off the ground, nearly driving his parents to financial insolvency, and were saved only through TASER’s initial public ...
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September 13, 2024 21 mins
A mentor, father, husband and visionary, Jarrod has held leadership roles with several non-profit and public-private initiatives in Nevada. He previously served as Co-Executive Director of the San Francisco/Silicon Valley Inc. Magazine’s Business Owners Council, was a board member for Northern Nevada Development Authority (NNDA) and an advisory board member for the Nevada Center for Entrepreneurship & Technology (NCET). He’s ta...
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Latasha Causey is the President of NASCAR’s Phoenix Raceway, overseeing the promotion and operation of the modernized facility that is a top motorsports and entertainment destination in the Phoenix, AZ, market.

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William “Wick” Pilcher is a fourth-generation Arizonan, having lived in Phoenix all his life. After graduating from ASU in 1978, Wick joined his father’s insurance business, Olliver/Pilcher, the company later becoming Corroon & Black and then Willis of Arizona. In June l992, Mr. Pilcher resigned his position as Chairman/CEO of the Arizona operation to found Wick Pilcher Insurance. Mr. Pilcher sold his business to USI Insurance ...
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Dean Newlund is the founder and CEO of Mission Facilitators International, a boutique training and development firm based out of Phoenix, Arizona, with the sole purpose of helping organizations become more connected to their purpose and their people.

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Anuj Khanna is a Partner of CapitalView Investment Partners. Mr. Khanna is responsible for deal origination, transaction execution, portfolio management, fundraising, and administration of the firm’s operations. He has over 12 years of investing and other relevant experience and has sat on the board of directors of eight portfolio companies.
Prior to co-founding CapitalView Investment Partners in 2017, Mr. Khanna was a Principal wit...
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April 24, 2024 25 mins
With more than 35 years of diverse healthcare experience, Todd LaPorte leads an integrated health system with six acute-care hospitals, numerous outpatient facilities, a research institute, and various community services impacting social determinants of health and military preparedness.

HonorHealth is Arizona’s seventh largest employer, with a presence throughout much of the growing Phoenix metropolitan area.
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