Finance and Investing is pleased to announce The Top 25 CFOs of Arizona for 2023. Arizona presents a diverse range of attractions for residents, including its abundant sunshine, stunning mountain vistas, serene desert landscapes, an extensive selection of over 300 golf courses, and the renowned Grand Canyon as a captivating highlight. However, beyond its reputation as a tourist destination, the Grand Canyon State holds substantial appeal for business leaders aiming to propel their enterprises. Notably, its strategic location in the southwestern region facilitates seamless access to significant markets in the United States and Mexico, thereby optimizing the efficiency of distribution and supply chains. In recent times, notable companies like Amazon, Walmart, and Apple have chosen to establish their operations in Arizona. The recipients of this year's awards play a pivotal role in driving Arizona's robust economy through the implementation of effective financial strategies that foster growth and stability.
Among this year’s awardees is Thad Trent, who serves as EVP and CFO of Onsemi and Semiconductor Components Industries. Throughout his career, Trent has held several leadership roles, most recently as CFO at Cypress Semiconductor, where he increased revenue from $723 million to $2.5 billion. Another prime example is industry veteran Lisa Replogle, who serves as SVP and CFO of HonorHealth, a non-profit, local community healthcare system serving a space of 1.6 million people in the Greater Phoenix area. Lastly, we have Mark Jenkins, a former Wharton finance professor who now serves as CFO of Carvana, the fastest-growing used automotive retailer in U.S. history. While at Wharton, Jenkins was responsible for teaching courses in the undergraduate, MBA, and executive education programs on corporate restructuring, corporate credit, and leveraged finance.
Please join us in celebrating the accomplishments of The Top 25 CFOs of Arizona for 2023.
1. Joseph Majewski
Chief Financial Officer, Honeywell
Joseph Majewski is the CFO at Honeywell Aerospace. He first joined the company in 2001 as a finance analyst. He is an experienced global leader with a demonstrated ability to enhance business intelligence to drive valued analytics, business growth, and shareholder value through advanced business and system processes. In his current role, Joseph partners with leaders in the $1.5 billion business to develop and execute growth strategies.
Majewski has served for over 22 years with Honeywell in various roles including Senior Director of Engineering Finance where he was responsible for planning, forecasting, and reporting of $1.5B+ engineering investment activities. He was also previously the Senior Director of Digital Finance where he led finance transformation initiatives driving process improvement, management reporting, & predictive analytics, driving over $20M+ in P&L benefits in 5 years. Joseph earned an undergraduate degree in accounting from Bradley University.
2. Joshua Custer
Chief Financial Officer, Community Health Systems
Joshua Custer is the CFO of Community Health Systems, one of the nation’s leading healthcare providers. Developing and operating healthcare delivery systems in 44 distinct markets across 15 states, CHS is committed to helping people get well and live healthier. CHS affiliates operate 78 acute-care hospitals and more than 1,000 other sites of care, including physician practices, urgent care centers, freestanding emergency departments, occupational medicine clinics, imaging centers, cancer centers, and ambulatory surgery centers.
Custer began his career in 2001. Before joining Community Health Systems, he was a director of finance at St. Luke's Magic Valley and St. Luke's Jerome. Before that, he served as a transformational care business analyst at Dignity Health. Custer graduated from the W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University with a master’s in accountancy and information systems. He also graduated from Arizona State University with an undergraduate degree in accounting.
3. Allison Viramontes
Chief Financial Officer in Arizona, Mayo Clinic
Allison Viramontes began her professional career 17 years ago. Today, she is the CFO in Arizona of Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic Healthcare, located in London, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Mayo Clinic, a not-for-profit academic medical center. Mayo Clinic is ranked the No. 1 hospital by U.S. News & World Report for a reason: quality of care. Notably, Mayo Clinic Healthcare is the U.K.’s front door to that unparalleled experience.
Viramontes got her start in 2006 as an experienced audit associate at PwC. From there, she went on to Sutter Health, before eventually rising to VP of revenue cycle and investments at Cottage Health, her most recent position prior to joining Mayo Clinic. Viramontes graduated from the University of Southern California with an MHA and from California State University-Sacramento with an undergraduate degree in accounting and finance.
4. John Bauer
Chief Financial Officer, Dignity Health
John Bauer is the CFO for Arizona General Hospital Laveen, Mesa, and its associated hospital satellite emergency departments. He provides financial oversight and assistance in meeting financial and strategic goals. Dignity Health provides quality, compassionate health care at more than 40 hospitals and care centers that are serving communities across California, Arizona, and Nevada. Since joining Dignity Health in 1995, Bauer has held various positions of increased responsibility, including Accountant at Chandler Regional and Mercy Gilbert Medical Centers; and Senior Financial Analyst and Accounting Manager. He was also Director of Accounting and Reporting for Dignity Health in Arizona; and most recently, Director of Financial Operations at St Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix.
Bauer received his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Illinois State University and an MBA from W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University. He is a licensed Certified Public Accountant, a Tempe Chamber of Commerce board member, and treasurer of the 180th Field Artillery Regiment Association. Bauer is also a member of the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) and was an adjunct faculty instructor for accounting and business within the Maricopa Community Colleges District. Furthermore, Bauer served over 23 years with the Army National Guard in field artillery and infantry, including deployment to Afghanistan. He retired as a Command Sergeant Major with the 158th Infantry Battalion, Arizona Army National Guard.
5. Chad Cornell
Chief Financial Officer, Banner Health
Chad Cornell is the CFO of Banner Health. He first joined the company in 2008 as a senior financial analyst. Banner Health is one of the largest, secular nonprofit healthcare systems in the country. Chad is a highly effective healthcare professional with experience in financial planning and analysis, accounting, revenue cycle, and provider pay administration. He is a proven leader able to drive positive financial results and improve processes. He has extensive knowledge of clinic and hospital operations having spent 15 years as part of a large integrated health system. Cornell earned an MBA in management from Grand Canyon University and an undergraduate degree in finance and psychology from Arizona State University.
6. Blair Westblom
Chief Financial Officer, University of Phoenix
Blair Westblom is the CFO of the University of Phoenix. She first joined the company in 2010 as a VP of financial planning & analysis. The University of Phoenix has helped pioneer online education since launching online courses in 1989. Today, as one of the largest online universities in the world, they’re still innovating by reinventing the model of higher education for a changing world.
Westblom has more than 20 years of experience working in public, Fortune 500, and private-equity-backed multi-site service companies across multiple industries. This includes partnering with C Suite-level executives to accelerate growth and create value through a deep understanding of the business – and how to optimize both top-line and bottom-line performance. She graduated from Vanderbilt University with an undergraduate degree in economics.
7. Brian Delghiaccio
EVP & Chief Financial Officer, Republic Services
Brian DelGhiaccio is EVP and CFO of Republic Services. In his CFO role, Delghiaccio is responsible for maximizing shareholder value by driving long-term growth, efficiently allocating capital, managing enterprise risk, and enhancing his company’s internal control environment. Republic Services, a leader in the environmental services industry, provides customers with the most complete set of innovative products and services to meet their environmental solutions, recycling, and waste needs.
As the finance chief, Delghiaccio oversees Financial Analysis & Planning, Accounting, Treasury, Investor Relations, Internal Audit and Tax. Since joining the company in 1998, he has held roles of increasing responsibility across the Business Transformation, Financial Analysis & Planning, Investor Relations, Treasury, and Finance organizations. He holds a bachelor’s in finance and accounting from the University of Arizona. He is also a certified public accountant.
8. Thad Trent
Chief Financial Officer & EVP, Onsemi
Thad Trent was appointed EVP and CFO of Onsemi and Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC in February 2021. Onsemi is driving disruptive innovations to help build a better future. With a focus on automotive and industrial end-markets, the company is accelerating change in megatrends such as vehicle electrification and safety, sustainable energy grids, industrial automation, and 5G and cloud infrastructure. Notably, Trent has a proven track record of driving sustainable financial performance, transformative mergers and acquisitions, operational excellence, process efficiency, financial leadership, and robust compliance and regulatory control.
Trent has held several leadership roles throughout his career, most recently as CFO at Cypress Semiconductor, where he was responsible for strategic planning, accounting, investor relations, tax, corporate development, and information technology. Under his leadership, Cypress’ revenue increased from $723 million to $2.5 billion – and the enterprise value increased by five times during his five-year tenure as CFO. He earned his BS in business administration and finance at San Diego State University.
9. Lisa Replogle
SVP and Chief Financial Officer, HonorHealth
As SVP and CFO of HonorHealth, Lisa Replogle focuses on finances, which includes financial planning, financial risk management, and treasury services. In her role, she is charged with ensuring HonorHealth maintains a strong financial position to support exceptional patient care and the continued growth of the organization. In addition to the financial and accounting functions, Replogle oversees patient financial services, supply chain, real estate, insurance contracting, and construction management. HonorHealth is a non-profit, local community healthcare system serving an area of 1.6 million people in the greater Phoenix area. The network encompasses six acute-care hospitals, an extensive medical group, outpatient surgery centers, clinical research, and medical education, among other components.
With more than 20 years of experience in healthcare finance, Replogle has been an instrumental leader at HonorHealth since she joined the organization in November 2015. She most recently served as HonorHealth’s VP of Finance. Prior to joining HonorHealth, Replogle was the CFO of The Center for Orthopedic and Research Excellence. She also served in the audit practice at Ernst & Young Global Limited; and as a financial auditor with the Arizona Auditor General. Replogle is a Certified Public Accountant and has served on various business, industry, and community boards. Replogle received her bachelor of science and business administration degree in accounting and finance from the University of Arizona.
10. Mark Jenkins
Chief Financial Officer, Carvana
At Carvana, Mark Jenkins has served as CFO since July 2014. Carvana is an industry pioneer in buying and selling used vehicles online. As the fastest-growing used automotive retailer in U.S. history, its e-commerce model has positively impacted millions of people's lives. In addition, Carvana is the No. 2 automotive brand in the U.S., only behind Ford, on the Forbes 2022 Most Customer-Centric Companies List. Prior to joining Carvana, Jenkins was a professor in the finance department at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where his teaching and research focused on consumer and corporate credit markets from 2009 to 2014.
While at Wharton, Jenkins was responsible for teaching courses in the undergraduate, MBA, and executive education programs on corporate restructuring, corporate credit, and leveraged finance. Before his time at Wharton, Jenkins worked at The Brattle Group from 2001 to 2004, an economic consulting firm, where he focused on corporate valuation and demand forecasting in technology markets. Jenkins received a doctorate in economics from Stanford University and a B.S.E. from Duke University in Mathematics and Civil Engineering.
11. John Morici
Chief Financial Officer, Align Technology
John Morici joined Align Technology as CFO in November 2016. He is responsible for managing the company’s global finance and financial strategy. Over his more than 20-year career, Morici has held senior leadership positions in finance, operations, and strategic planning in healthcare, medical technology, and consumer/entertainment. Before joining Align, Morici spent nine years at NBC Universal, where he held several senior management positions in the company’s Universal Pictures Home Entertainment U.S. and Canadian business. This includes chief financial officer, chief operating officer, and most recently, EVP and managing director.
In his role as EVP and managing director at NBC Universal, Morici led all finance, sales, marketing, operations, and customer service organizations; and was responsible for overall strategy and planning. Prior to NBC Universal, Morici spent eight years in senior financial management positions at GE Healthcare, including as CFO for its Diagnostic Imaging and Global Products units. He also held a number of financial management roles during his tenure at Case New Holland and Abbott Laboratories. Morici earned an MBA in Finance and a BS, with honors, in Molecular Biology from the University of Wisconsin.
12. Tim Jones
Chief Financial Officer, Isagenix
Tim Jones joined Isagenix in 2016 and has led the finance department in several significant accomplishments while building processes for the global company and saving millions of dollars in expenses. In his role as Isagenix’s CFO, he’s developed and implemented financial strategies that align with the company’s vision and business objectives while overseeing the day-to-day financials. Throughout Jones’ career, he has been instrumental in executing key initiatives that increase sound decision-making, accountability, and efficiency in those organizations. He started his professional journey with a Big Four accounting firm in California – and has over 20 years of experience as a CPA, holding accounting and finance positions at several large high-growth companies before joining the direct selling industry in 2008.
Jones graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s and master’s in accounting from Brigham Young University. Notably, Jim and Kathy Coover founded Isagenix in partnership with John Anderson and six employees in a small office in Tempe, AZ. Today, they are the largest company by revenue headquartered in Gilbert, AZ, and the 4th largest for-profit company in AZ. They continue to gain recognition and respect for their strong business practices both nationally and internationally. Their honors have included the Better Business Bureau naming them a 2018 BBB Torch Awards for Ethics Finalist in recognition of their commitment to “do the right thing.”
13. Rachael Cordova
Chief Financial Officer, International Sports Sciences Association
Rachael Cordova is the CFO of the International Sports Sciences Association, a distance education institution and certifying agency committed to their students' fitness education and professional goals. Their highly acclaimed online Personal Trainer Certification program has been designed so that their students can turn their passion for fitness into a paycheck. ISSA's personal trainer education approach is backed by top fitness industry professionals throughout North America. Cordova joined the company in 2018.
Previously, Cordova was a senior director of accounting and financial reporting and VP of finance at Manifest. Before that, she served as an assistant controller at Bison Homes. Earlier in her career, she worked with A.R. Mays Construction as a project accountant. Cordova earned an MBA from the University of Phoenix and an undergraduate degree in accountancy from Arizona State University.
14. Todd Koetje
Chief Financial Officer, Cable One
Todd Koetje is the CFO for Cable One, a leading broadband communications provider committed to connecting customers and communities to what matters most. Through Sparklight® and the associated Cable One family of brands, the company serves more than 1.1 million residential and business customers in 24 states. Powered by a fiber-rich network, the Cable One family of brands provide residential customers with a wide array of connectivity and entertainment services, including Gigabit speeds, advanced WiFi and video. Koetje has been CFO of Cable One since July 1, 2022. In his current role, he is responsible for the areas of accounting, reporting, finance, and investor relations.
Previously, Koetje served as Senior Vice President, Business Development & Finance of Cable One from September 2021 through June 2022. Koetje has more than 20 years of capital markets, telecom industry, and financial leadership experience. Prior to joining Cable One, he served as Managing Director & Group Head of the Technology, Media & Telecommunications Leveraged Finance team at Truist Securities. Koetje holds bachelor’s degrees in Finance and Marketing from Florida State University.
15. Andrea Randall
Chief Financial Officer, Desert Mountain Club
Andrea Randall is the CFO of Desert Mountain Club. For more than three decades, Desert Mountain has been providing its Members with one of the world’s finest year-round golf and lifestyle experiences. The Club’s master plan was conceptualized by Taliesin Associated Architects, a firm founded by the legendary Frank Lloyd Wright, and designed to subtly harmonize with the magnificent natural landscape that surrounds the illustrious 8,300-acre property.
Randall first joined the company in 2017. Previously, she was a CFO/COO at The Lodge At Ventana Canyon Golf & Racquet Club. Before that, she served as a finance planning & analysis leader at GE Capital. Earlier in her career, she worked with Koch Industries as a financial analyst. Randall earned an MBA from Baker University and an undergraduate degree in finance from Emporia State University.
16. Kevin Jackson
Chief Financial Officer, BlueStar Resort & Golf
Kevin Jackson is the CFO of BlueStar Resort & Golf. He has over 30 years of accounting, finance, and operations experience in the hospitality industry. Most recently, Jackson was Senior Vice President of Finance and Accounting with a hotel-focused asset management and consulting company. On top of that, Jackson has served as CFO of a Phoenix-based hotel management company; as Corporate Controller of a large privately held restaurant, hotel, and casino ownership company; and as VP of Finance at Wyndham Hotels and Resorts. Jackson graduated from the University of Central Florida with an MBA and from Seton Hall University with an undergraduate degree in accounting.
17. Jeffrey Lagasse
Chief Financial Officer, Sonoran Desert Institute
Jeffrey Lagasse is the CFO of Sonoran Desert Institute, an online school that helps students learn the skills and techniques they’ll need to be successful in the firearms and unmanned technology industries. SDI is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC). Their unique programs and courses offer their students hands-on learning opportunities with the convenience of online learning. Furthermore, SDI provides a comprehensive curriculum that prepares its students for successful careers in the firearms industry. Notably, the SDI School of Firearms Technology’s elite faculty and staff include celebrated military personnel, nationally recognized firearms experts, and more.
Lagasse began his career in 2003. Before joining SDI, Lagasse was an alliance director of operations at Chamberlain University. Before that, he served as an executive director of finance at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences. Earlier in his career, he worked with Career Education Corporation as a finance manager. Lagasse graduated from Texas A&M University with an MBA and from Roger Williams University with an undergraduate degree in finance.
18. Juan Beltran
Chief Financial Officer, Edkey® Inc.
Juan Beltran joined EdKey in October 2022 as the new Director of Finance/Controller. In April 2023, he was promoted to his current CFO position. Beltran has over 15 years of public finance, accounting, and budgeting experience. Before joining EdKey, Beltran was one of the Assistant Directors at the College of Health Solutions at Arizona State University, where he directed the Business Development Department. During his tenure in the public sector, he has been the Budget Director of the Motor Vehicle Division and Enforcement and Compliance Division of Arizona, the Deputy Director of Maricopa County’s Correctional Health Services, the Assistant CFO for the Arizona Department of Health Services, and Senior Budget Analyst for the Joint Legislative Budget Committee.
Beltran graduated from Arizona State University with a double Bachelor of Science degree in Economics and Computer Information Systems. He also earned his Master’s in Public Administration degree from ASU. Beltran also holds a Black Belt in Six Sigma. He is originally from Mexico City, where he was a member of the national swim team for several years. Beltran further continued his swimming career at ASU. He has three children, who also enjoy swimming.
19. Margaret Burke
Chief Financial Officer, Desert Botanical Garden
Margie Burke joined the Garden as CFO in March 2019, bringing with her over 30 years of financial management experience in both the public and private sectors. Burke’s most recent position as CFO at Hospice of the Valley makes her uniquely qualified to be a current member of her company’s leadership team. As CFO at Desert Botanical Garden, she is responsible for the strategic leadership and operations of the Finance, Human Resources, and Information Technology teams. Notably, the Desert Botanical Garden's commitment to the community is to advance excellence in education, research, exhibition, and conservation of desert plants of the world – with an emphasis on the Southwestern U.S.
Furthermore, Burke is an active member of Soroptimist International of Phoenix and an officer on the Golden West Region Board. She is also involved with Hushabye Nursery, a local not-for-profit, where she is currently serving as Treasurer. Burke is also a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Arizona State Society of CPAs, and Financial Executives International. Burke received an MBA from the University of Phoenix and a BS in accounting from Northern Illinois University.
20. Virginia “Ginny” DeSanto
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, ASU Enterprise Partners
Virginia “Ginny” DeSanto joined the ASU Foundation in 2005 as assistant controller before being appointed controller and later CFO and treasurer, bringing more than two decades of experience in financial reporting, governance, compliance, strategic planning, and financial leadership. Notably, in 2016, DeSanto was instrumental in leading the organization through a corporate entity restructure that created the parent company ASU Enterprise Partners.
Prior to joining ASU Enterprise Partners, DeSanto was a senior auditor at Gainter Bandler Reed & Peters, PLC – following service in the same role for CBIZ – Mayer Hoffman McCann. DeSanto graduated with a BS in business administration from ASU; and majored in business information systems at Northern Kentucky University, where she earned her associate degree. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants; former chair, secretary, and treasurer for the Arizona Society of Certified Public Accountants; former chair of the National Committee for College and University Foundations (a committee of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education); and a graduate of Valley Leadership Class 35.
21. Steve Calabrese
Chief Financial Officer, Polara Health
Steve Calabrese is the CFO of Polara Health, the largest local non-profit provider of behavioral health and crisis intervention services in Yavapai County, Arizona – serving approximately 7,500 people annually. The company’s mission is to provide high-quality, client-centered mental health services to their communities. They envision a community where the healthcare needs of all are met. Toward this end, they offer a vast array of services for adults, families, and children living with mental and behavioral health disorders, from case management and counseling to supportive housing and vocational rehabilitation. Calabrese first joined the company in 2016.
Previously, Calabrese was a CFO at Canyon Vista Medical Center. Before that, he served as a controller at Sierra Vista Regional Health Center. Earlier in his career, he worked with Liberty Healthcare System, Inc. as a corporate controller. Calabrese earned an MBA from the University of Phoenix and an undergraduate degree in business administration from Wagner College.
22. Kim Allison
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Tucson Airport Authority
Kim Allison is a VP and CFO of Tucson Airport Authority, an independent, non-profit organization operating Tucson International Airport and general aviation reliever Ryan Airfield. Allison began her career in 2011. Before joining TAA, she was a CFO at Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport. Before that, she served as a tax manager at Alexander, Van Loon, Sloan, Levens and Favre, PLLC. Earlier in her career, she worked with Culumber, Harvey & Associates, P.A. as a CPA manager. Allison graduated from William Carey University with a master’s and from The University of Southern Mississippi with an undergraduate degree in accounting.
23. Jeff Payne
CFO, ArmorWorks Enterprises
Jeff Payne is the CFO for ArmorWorks Enterprises. He is responsible for leading the company's financial and legal strategy through rapid growth. Functions under his control include budgeting, planning, treasury, accounting, tax, financial reporting, risk management, and contracts. Before joining ArmorWorks Enterprises, Payne served as CFO of what is now the Modems and Amplifiers Segment of Comtech (CMTL) from February 2016 until August 2021. In this role, he led the segment through the pandemic with strong financial results and completed the acquisition of UHP in 2021, adding key network technologies to the company.
During his time at CMTL, his responsibilities spanned locations across the globe, including North & South America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia Pacific. In addition, Payne has held Senior Management roles at Boeing, Orbital Sciences (now Northrop Grumman), and Radiall. Payne holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Arizona. He is also a licensed CPA in Arizona.
24. Brad Kotansky
Chief Financial Officer, Copperstate Farms
Brad Kotansky brings more than 20 years of diverse industry experience at an executive level, leading teams across the USA and Canada. Today, he serves as CFO for Copperstate Farms, one of the largest greenhouse cannabis producers in North America. Before Copperstate Farms, Kotansky was the CFO of 4Front Ventures, a publicly traded cannabis company. Kotansky’s extensive finance experience developed while working on Wall Street for over 15 years as both an investment banker structuring credit and high-yield loans. In addition, he served as a hedge fund portfolio manager for one of the top hedge fund firms in the country.
Prior to his CFO position, Kotansky was a co-founder and CEO of Onist Technologies, a software startup based out of Toronto, Canada, that was focused on household finances. For the past 12 years, Kotansky has been a strategic advisor and investor for many seed-stage companies in the sports analytics, music licensing, and healthcare industries. Kotansky graduated from McGill University in Montreal with a bachelor’s in finance.
25. Carlos Smith
Chief Financial Officer, Paragon Space Development Corporation
With more than 30 years of experience in a wide range of accounting and finance leadership positions, Carlos Smith serves as CFO for Paragon Space Development, a pioneer at the forefront of systems designed for extreme environments in sea, land, air, and space. Launched in 1999, Paragon has a successful history of providing design, analysis and/or hardware on every human space program of record. Since then, Paragon has grown in personnel, design, analysis, manufacturing, and operational capabilities to support the most current and forward-leaning civil and commercial space programs. As CFO, Smith is responsible for oversight of all internal and external financial reporting, compliance, financial planning, financial controls, capital structure, accounting, audit, financial services, tax, and treasury.
Prior to joining Paragon, Smith served as the CFO for DAWSON operating companies, CFO for Israeli Aerospace Industries North America Aerospace (Stark) Division, SVP and CFO for Leonardo DRS Airborne & Intelligence Systems Division, and Director of Finance/Controller for L-3 Technologies Vertex Aerospace Division. Smith also worked as an accountant/financial analyst for Mortgage Services, where he was responsible for preparing all financial analysis, and closing entries for three responsibility centers. On top of that, he served in the U.S. Army Reserves for 14 years. Smith earned an Executive MBA from the New York Institute of Technology and a bachelor's in accounting from Jackson State University.
