New CEO at the Fountain Hills Chamber
The Fountain Hills Chamber of Commerce Hires Scott Soldat-Valenzuela to Replace Retiring CEO, Frank Ferrara
October 17, 2014 Fountain Hills, AZ
Frank's last day as CEO of the Chamber is November 7th, after serving the Fountain Hills Chamber of Commerce professionally as its CEO for more than 17 years. Frank is credited with quickly bringing the organization financial stability soon after he took over. The community experienced incredible growth over the years, Frank led and served the Fountain Hills businesses community with passion as a diligent advocate of business growth. Frank and wife Jan have always been involved supporting business and community events. The community is thankful for his leadership and looks forward to seeing the Ferrara's enjoying themselves around Town for years to come.
"I'm excited about the tremendous opportunities available in the Fountain Hills business community," Scott shared.
Most recently, Scott has served as President/CEO of the Peoria Chamber of Commerce in Peoria, Arizona. Prior to the Chamber he spent over seven years as the Executive Director of the SkillsUSA Arizona Association and a stint with ARPOLA – an online rental property owners association.
In a word, Scott's focus is on value. He listens to everyone and pays close attention to trends in the local business community. Members in Peoria have expressed appreciation for his professional approach to programs, networking and special events. Both the Mayor and City Manager credit Scott's leadership with changing the trajectory of the Chamber.
During his three years as the executive, the Chamber expanded revenue, engaged members through news and innovative programs which include partnering with the City of Peoria to create a television show. Scott is the host and members have the opportunity to discuss their businesses on Peoria's Channel 11. As a true member benefit, the Chamber features each video on their YouTube channel as well.
Collaboration between other business associations and government is essential to Scott's approach. Partnering with the West Valley Chambers of Commerce Alliance and WestMARC provided the Peoria Chamber with opportunities such as hosting the West Valley Gubernatorial Forum during July of 2014. “Connecting business professionals with elected officials is a responsibility of the local Chamber" Scott comments.
Adapting chambers nationwide to the needs of millennials while capturing the knowledge and experience of baby boomers is one of Scott's priorities. He often shares how Chambers need to be dynamic and let go of traditions that lack value to the current workforce but still remain relevant through new programs.
While leading the Peoria Chamber, the organization had grown from three to six signature events. Each is designed to engage the business community through networking, marketing and even some fun. From hosting the Mayor's state of the city address to kicking-off baseball with the dinner on the diamond to starting the first regional business education conference and expo, Scott's approach has always been focused on providing value for members.
Scott holds both a Bachelor and Master's degree in Management from the University of Phoenix. He is an avid fan of technology and enjoys traveling with his family. Born in Chicago, his family moved to the Phoenix metro area in 1985 while in elementary school. Scott is married to Jeffrey Soldat-Valenzuela and they have two children, Victoria, 18, and Tyler, 15. Jeffrey is the Vice-President of Consumer and Private Banking for Johnson Bank in Scottsdale. Victoria is a freshman at Arizona State University and Tyler plays football and soccer in high school.