Goodyear Mayor Georgia Lord being recognized during a recent City Council meeting by Goodyear Vice Mayor Joe Pizzillo for the honor.
Mayor Lord is the only elected official to be selected for the prestigious distinction by AZBigMedia’s Arizona Business Magazine
Goodyear Mayor Georgia Lord – mayor of the sixth Fastest Growing City in the United States – has been selected as one of Arizona Business Magazine’s Fifty Most Influential Women in Arizona Business.
Lord has served as the mayor of Goodyear since 2011 when she filled the unexpired term of former Mayor James Cavanaugh and was re-elected in 2013. She began serving on Goodyear City Council in 2005.
Mayor Lord was informed earlier this year by editors of the Phoenix based AZBig Media’s Arizona Business Magazine that she was selected as one of the Fifty Most Influential Women in Arizona Business that recognizes business leaders as well as those in the medical field and government, a distinction that focuses on the business community.
Mayor Lord is the only elected official to earn the distinction this year as it mostly has been awarded to women in the medical field, high-tech businesses and the philanthropic field.
“Being selected as one of the Fifty Most Influential Women in Arizona Business is quite an honor and comes as a pleasant surprise,” Mayor Lord said. “I am supported by a hardworking and creative staff and we’re all working hard to make Goodyear an exciting place to be.”
Overall, Mayor Lord was selected out of about 1,000 who were in the running for the honor from a year ago that included those who were nominated. After editors review the candidates, that number gets pared down to about 150 before those are forwarded on to a 12 member judging panel.
In the article accompanying the list of the Fifty Most Influential Women, Arizona Business Magazine writer Leslie K. Hughes describes those recognized as “the state’s female leaders as redefining traditional gender roles and becoming economic juggernauts.”
Michael Gossie, editor-in-chief of Arizona Business Magazine, said that he also sets the names of candidates aside if they have been in the news for achievements throughout the year or if they acquire a high profile job.
“Goodyear Mayor Georgia Lord has done so much and a lot is happening in Goodyear,” Gossie said.
Mayor Lord, who was awarded the Distinguished Service Award by the Greater Phoenix Economic Council for her promotion and support of economic development in the region in October 2013, also serves on numerous boards and committees, serving as the co-chair of the Luke West Valley Council which supports projects at Luke Air Force Base and was instrumental in helping to land the F-35 Fighter Jet pilot training program there.
According to American Express OPEN’S 2014 State of Women-owned Business Report, Arizona ranks fourth in the United States for its economic power of women-owned businesses. Arizona women also led in areas once thought to be exclusively male fields, such as government.
“The most important quality that has helped me in leadership positions is my ability to build relationships and coalitions,” Mayor Lord said.
Mayor Lord represents Goodyear on the Maricopa County Association of Governments (MAG) Regional Council, Transportation Policy Committee and Economic Development Committee. She serves on the WESTMARC Board of Directors and Executive Committee and the West-MEC Bond Committee. She is also a member of the Arizona Mayor’s Education Roundtable, Arizona Town Hall alumni and previously served as vice chair of the Arizona Municipal Tax Code Commission.
Mayor Lord is currently the co-chair of the Luke West Valley Council and is actively involved with the West Valley Partners and the Luke Forward Campaign, which played a key role in bringing the F-35 Mission to Luke Air Force Base.
A native of Michigan, Mayor Lord comes from a military background as her husband Ron is a retired Air Force Colonel. She has four children and also has five grandchildren.
Editor Gossie said that next year’s process for the Fifty Most Influential Women in Arizona Business already is underway and if anyone is interested in nominating anyone for the 2015 class, visit www.azbigmedia.com and do a search for the Fifty Most Influential Women to complete the nomination form.