'Who's Who in Business' honors leading Arizona executives

As Arizona's economy continues to expand, Republic Media honored business leaders — with a special emphasis on women executives — at an event Wednesday morning.

Who's Who in Business, a magazine that recognizes the state's highest-ranked 10 companies in 50 different fields, hosted its honorees at The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com offices in Phoenix. The magazine lists the top-ranked companies' leading Arizona executive and highest-ranking woman.

The 2016 magazine, which marks the publication's 25th consecutive year, features companies in fields from science and technology to health care and real estate.

MORE: Meet 5 women who are shaping AZ's economic future | Who's Who 2016: Saluting Arizona's top innovative business and thought leaders

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT OF REPUBLIC MEDIA: 2016 Who's Who in Business class of Arizona women shows that you can't leave greatness to chance

Businesswomen's challenge: 'Get to work'

James Lundy, CEO of Alliance Bank of Arizona, addressed the honorees again with a "call to action."

"You want to turn society around? Get women involved," Lundy said. "The women here today are already successful, some are emerging leaders, some are established leaders in their business communities. But what I'd like to do is challenge them to help drive our economy forward and get involved, maybe with their state Legislature.

"If you want Arizona to be the place it can be in the next few years, get to work," Lundy said.

Alliance Bank of Arizona, which Lundy said focuses on local businesses, sponsored the breakfast networking event for the second consecutive year.

Joy Seitz is CEO of American Solar and Roofing. She and her husband own the 15-year-old alternative-energy and construction firm in Tempe.

"We are proud to be a sector in business that has made an impact enough that peers at The Republic acknowledge it," Seitz said.

She said she hopes businesses of all sizes can make profits while identifying social and economic issues that affect employees, especially by offering benefits that her company does for employees, such as paternity leave and paid time off.

Making a difference in employees' lives

Caring for employees is how long-term and sustainable businesses are built and can add to the local economy, Seitz said.

"As a business owner who is active day in and day out, it's very difficult for me to have boots on the ground and attend these events," Seitz said. "But, I hope the economy keeps growing and I hope we make the right decisions. Obviously the city of Phoenix has identified that we have a surplus, so obviously in general the Arizona market is increasing."

Bonnie Lucas, president of Law Enforcement Specialists Inc., concurred that Arizona is an upward-moving, popular place. Although they haven't always been recognized, women now have a great opportunity to start businesses and provide for their families and others, she said.

"Women provide a lot of work for people; we actually give people jobs," Lucas said. "We employ, throughout the United States, millions of people."

Becky Bernal works for Lucas as operations manager at the nationwide service, which provides off-duty law enforcement for security and traffic needs.

"I think it's amazing, a great opportunity for my boss and for the company," Bernal said. "It's a great opportunity to get out there and get people to know what we are and what we do. It's a great privilege."