Financing Scottsdale's Future.
Supporting Economic Activity to Benefit Scottsdale
Incorporated
Approved by the Scottsdale City Council in June 1984.
Mission
Expanding economic development and business enterprise for the benefit of the City of Scottsdale.
Upcoming events
The Scottsdale IDA Board meets on the 4th Wednesday of each month. These meetings are held on Zoom and are open to the public. Agendas are posted here on the City of Scottsdale’s website approximately one week prior to each meeting. Meeting Minutes are posted in the same location within 48 hours of each meeting’s conclusion.
Meet Our Members
edgar alvarado
President
Mr. Alvarado is an accomplished executive with over 35 years’ experience in Investments with proven expertise in strategy, capital allocation, risk oversight, and investment programs. He is NACD.DC certified and is a Qualified Financial expert. Edgar currently serves as an Independent Board Member and Audit Chair for an industrial REIT and is Managing Owner of TAS Investments, a family office with investments across private and public markets. Edgar has extensive boardroom experience, serving on finance, audit, and compensation committees. He has his B.S.-Finance from the University of Illinois and his MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management.
Michael rowland
Vice President
Michael Rowland is a highly accomplished real estate executive with over three decades of experience in valuation, advisory, and strategic risk management. Currently serving as an Executive Leader at a global real estate company, he oversees risk across the Americas for complex valuation assignments, including those tied to stock exchange fundraising.
Michael is a designated member of the Appraisal Institute (MAI), a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (FRICS), and a Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM).
DEAN SIMMS
Secretary
Dean Simms-Elias has over 10 years of experience in nonprofit management, corporate strategy, real estate operations and economic development. He is currently the Program Manager at the Arizona office of Plug and Play, an early stage technology investor, startup accelerator and global innovation platform. He is also a co-founder of the AZ PropTech Collective, a nonprofit that supports real estate technology entrepreneurs and fosters local innovation partnerships in the real estate and construction industries. Dean grew up on Long Island, New York and lived in Manhattan prior to becoming a resident of Scottsdale in 2023. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Strategic Communications from Ithaca College and a Masters degree in Environmental Policy & Sustainability Management from The New School.
Daniel Stewart
Treasurer
Dan is a retired commercial banking executive. His career spanned 40 years in the Western United States of California, Arizona, Oregon, Nevada, New Mexico and Texas with a focus on the financial needs of private middle market companies, non-profits, and political subdivisions. In Arizona he served on the board of directors for Habitat for Humanity, the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, the Scottsdale Chamber of Commerce, and the Greater Scottsdale Boys and Girls Clubs. He received his B.S. in Finance and Transportation from the University of California, Berkeley, and is a graduate of the Pacific Coast Banking School at the University of Washington. He and his wife, Rose, raised their children in Arizona and have lived in Scottsdale since 2009.
Thomas Williams
Board Member
Thomas Williams received his undergraduate degree from the University of Iowa in General Studies, Political Science & Secondary Education, and his MS & PhD in School Leadership from Iowa State University. He has forty one years of experience in public education as a teacher, administrator & superintendent in Iowa & Missouri. He has served on many non public & public boards, and received many awards at the local and state level for leadership. Mr. Williams is retired and lives in North Scottsdale with his wife Chris.
Jeffrey Greene
Board Member
Jeff Greene is a past business President and Senior Operations Vice President at 3 corporations and 5 different divisions. He is a past Board Member of the Shanghai-Foxboro Corporation. Jeff has held senior leadership roles in the Americas, Europe and Asia, with AlliedSignal/Honeywell, Raytheon, Flowserve, Invensys, Ingersoll Rand and Trane Technologies.
He is a long-term resident of Scottsdale and the Valley, with am MBA from Arizona State University. Jeff graduated from the US Military Academy at West Point and served on active duty and in the Army Reserves for 22 years before honorable discharge.
Evelyn Raccette
Board Member
Evelyn Racette is an Assistant Professor at Grand Canyon University, where she teaches public administration and political science. Prior to academia, she served in local government management for seven years in executive leadership roles.
In addition to teaching, Evelyn consults with local governments across the country on organizational management, governance, strategic planning, and operational effectiveness. Her professional focus is on helping public organizations strengthen leadership, improve performance, and better serve their communities.
As a member of the Scottsdale Industrial Development Authority Board of Directors, Evelyn is committed to supporting initiatives that promote economic development and long-term community prosperity.