Changes come to Pinal Partnership leadership

Leadership is changing at Pinal Partnership. In January, the organization will have a new president/CEO to go with a new executive director.

Sandie Smith, who has been president and CEO since 2008, will hand over the title current board chairman Harold Christ. Smith will serve as ambassador for Pinal Partnership.

Melissa Johnson was named executive director in August.

Christ has been a land developer in Pinal County for the past 40 years. He was the original developer of Gold Canyon Ranch, a 3,300-acre master planned community – the first master planned community to be approved and developed in Pinal County. In 2000 he acquired the property that is now The Windmill Winery in Florence where he and his wife host over 250 weddings a year.

He is a survivor of multiple economic down turns and continues his role as visionary for his company and Pinal County.

“Harold has served as the chairman of the board so well and provided amazing leadership that it just seemed appropriate to have him serve as the president of the Partnership,” said Jordan Rose, president and founder of Rose Law Group and one the founding members of Pinal Partnership. His unique background and continued success will help raise the organization and Pinal County as a whole to the next level.”

Christ will continue to serve as chairman until the Executive Board votes on a new chair, as early as December of this year.

Johnson comes to the Partnership with years of experience in online marketing and journalism. She

“The members of Pinal Partnership are our strength,” Christ said. “We have a renewed focus on maximizing the benefits of being a member, at any level, as well as raising our awareness and bringing on new members – which is exactly why we knew we had to have Melissa on our team. There are countless important things happening in Pinal County right now so getting more people involved in our efforts to move the county forward will benefit the entire state of Arizona.”

Johnson studied business and political science at Arizona State University and then spent almost eight years at Rose Law Group building her knowledge of government, business operations, the real estate industry and marketing. As executive director she will manage the Partnership’s marketing efforts and help the organization continue to grow with a focus on membership.

The Pinal Partnership Board of Directors thanked Edward Farrell for the dedication he has given to Pinal Partnership over the years. He is now employed by Earnhardt Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram.