2026 Summer Policy Summit
Event Description:
Hosted by the Arizona Manufacturers Council, this event is a two-day summit featuring panelists and presentations relating specifically to environmental policy and sustainability best practices. Speakers and attendees include manufacturers, business leaders and government officials. The 2026 event will take place in Flagstaff, Arizona on August 26-27.
2026 Summer Policy Summit Agenda
(updated on July 23, 2026)
Wednesday, August 26:
10:00 AM - Registration Opens
10:30 AM - Welcome Remarks
- Julie Pastrick, Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce
- Angela Creedon, Arizona Manufacturers Council
10:45 AM - Session 1 – AI in Action: Transforming Arizona's Industries
- Moderated by: Courtney Coolidge, Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry
- Sonny Varadan, Sonora Quest Laboratories
- Kurt VandenBussche, Honeywell Aerospace
- Jonathan Noble, Microsoft
- Rep. Justin Wilmeth, Arizona House of Representatives
11:30 AM – Session 2 – Keynote & Fireside Chat
- Moderated by: Danny Seiden, Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry
- Steve Stivers, Ohio Chamber of Commerce
12:00 PM – Lunch & Networking
12:00 PM – Optional: ADEQ Directors Panel
- Karen Peters, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
- Daniel Czecholinski, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
- Randall Matas, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
- Amanda Stone, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
1:00 PM – Session 3 - Building the Energy Ecosystem of Tomorrow
- Moderated by: Allen Fore, Kinder Morgan
- Matt Derr, Southwest Gas
- Shelby Stults, AES
- Erik Ellis, BrightNight Power
1:45 PM – Session 4 – The Business Case for Public Safety
- Moderated by: Katie Ratlief, Common Sense Institute
- Michael Junk, QuikTrip
- Rep. Matt Gress, Arizona House of Representatives
2:15 PM – Break
2:30 PM – 5:00 PM – Water Afternoon presented by EPCOR
2:30 PM - Session 5 - Colorado River Negotiations: Risks, Reality, and Arizona’s Future
- Moderated by: Joe Grossman, EPCOR
- Tom Buschatzke, Arizona Department of Water Resources
- Brenda Burman, Central Arizona Project
- TBD, Arizona House of Representatives
3:15 PM - Session 6 - Rules for Growth: The Future of Water Policy in Arizona
- Moderated by: John Burnside, Snell & Wilmer
- Kevin Thompson, Arizona Corporation Commission
- Spencer Kamps, Homebuilders Association of Central Arizona
- Thomas Loquvam, EPCOR
- Tom Buschatzke, Arizona Department of Water Resources
4:15 PM - Session 7 - Water Security and Economic Growth: Why Arizona Is Still Open for Business
- Moderated by: Sandra Watson, Arizona Commerce Authority
- Jonathan Lines, WIFA / Yuma County Board of Supervisors
- Kelly Osborne, Intel Corporation
- Shawn Bradford, EPCOR
- Christa McJunkin, Salt River Project
6:00 PM – Evening Reception
- Location: Weatherford Hotel, 23 N Leroux St, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
- *Lyft codes will be provided for transportation
Thursday, August 27:
8:00 AM – Breakfast
9:00 AM – Session 8 – Building at the Speed of Business: Permitting, Infrastructure, and Economic Growth
- Moderated by: Adam Hawkins, Global External
- David McCabe, Sundt Construction
- Clark Byrner, Tucson Electric Power and UniSource Energy Services
- Les Presmyk, Arizona State Mine Inspector
- Nick Matiella, Resolution Copper
9:45 AM – Session 9 – Clearing the Air: Solving the Emission Reduction Credit Challenge
- Moderated by: Jonathan Sohn, Capital Power
- Joe Russell, Office of U.S. Senator Mark Kelly
- Eric Massey, Arizona Public Service
- Doug Beneveto, Holland & Hart
10:30 AM – Break
10:45 AM – Session 10 – Expanding Opportunity: Education Choices for Arizona Families
- Moderated by: Melinda Gulick, First Things First
- Lauren Bender, Odyssey
- Katie Ratlief, Common Sense Institute
- John Ward, Arizona Department of Education
11:30 AM – Session 11 – Growing Arizona’s Talent Economy
- Moderated by: Jessica Pacheco, Arizona Board of Regents
- Dr. Chad Wilson, EVIT
- Dana Drew Shaw, Grand Canyon University
- Eileen Klein, Arizona Chamber Foundation
12:15 PM – Closing Remarks