Arizona Cardinals\' Bidwill New GPEC Chairman - PhoenixCEOCFO.com

Arizona Cardinals' Bidwill New GPEC Chairman

Michael Bidwill, President of the Phoenix Cardinals, will serve as the new Chairman of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC) for fiscal 2009. He is replacing Neil Irwin, a Partner with the Bryan Cave law firm. As Chairman, Bidwill will oversee a board of 61 directors which consists of 23 CEO/Presidents, 7 Mayors, 6 representatives of universities, 5 lawyers, several council members and 16 other members. GPEC's mission is the economic development of Maricopa County and its 18 cities and towns. It is supported by those municipalities and more than 140 private-sector businesses. From inception in 1989 to June 2007, GPEC has reportedly assisted more than 412 companies with Greater Phoenix locations, including Intel, USAA, Countrywide, Covance and Mayo Clinic. According the GPEC, these new companies have brought more than 74,704 jobs, $9.2 billion in capital investment and $2.5 billion in payroll to the region.

The Bidwill family has an interest in economic development in Maricopa County. In December 2007 the Bidwill family announced that they are developing a $1.2 billion office, retail and residential district, north of the University of Phoenix Cardinal Stadium on Bethany Home Road and the 101 Loop. The project is called "CBD 101" which stands for "Central Business District" and will take 10 years to build out. The project will have 2.6 million square feet in the 77-acre project which will include a 36-story tower, retail shops, restaurants, 900 residential units and 3 stand-alone hotels. Tim Bidwill, 35, will be running the project.

John Laub is the Chairman of the Phoenix CEO-CFO Group.


1. "Bidwill Takes Over as GPEC Chairman." Russ Wiles. The Arizona Republic. November 4, 2008.

2. www.gpec.org

3. "Owners of the Cardinals Football Team to Build $1.2 Billion Office Park."
http://www.phoenixceocfo.com/content/articles/2008-01/bidwill.bv