GPL

What GPL does

Greater Phoenix Leadership (GPL) is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit, membership-based CEO business roundtable headquartered at 400 East Van Buren Street in Phoenix, Arizona. Founded in 1974 as the Phoenix 40 and renamed in 1992, GPL convenes approximately 150 chief executives who collectively oversee nearly 300,000 employees across Arizona's largest and most influential business enterprises. The organization is governed by a CEO board (currently chaired by Simer S. Mayo, Founder and CEO of Valor Global, as of 2026) and led by President and CEO Neil G. Giuliano.

GPL's core work centers on aligning business, education, philanthropy, and public policy to improve Arizona's economic vitality and quality of life. It operates three standing committees—Education, Community Infrastructure, and Social Impact—each backed by task forces addressing specific issues such as K-12, higher education, workforce preparedness, water, transportation, affordable housing, criminal justice innovation, and racial equity. Key initiatives include the Education Game Plan (deployed in 2020), the Racial Equity Advancement Project, the Arizona Voices civic engagement platform (approximately 6,600 registered users), the 2025 Peirce Report, and the Rio Reimagined regional river revitalization initiative spanning 55 miles from Buckeye to Mesa.

The business model is subscription/membership-recurring: GPL generates revenue primarily through annual membership dues paid by its 150 CEO members. There is no publicly disclosed pricing, and no other revenue streams are documented in the input data. GPL is not a technology company and does not sell software products; its technology footprint consists of standard business tools for membership management, event coordination, communication, and the Arizona Voices civic engagement platform. The organization does not have venture funding, parent companies, subsidiaries, or external equity investors, and operates exclusively within the Greater Phoenix area and the State of Arizona.

Name

GPL

Legal name

Greater Phoenix Leadership, Inc.

Website

https://gplinc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Greater Phoenix Leadership is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit CEO business roundtable, founded in 1974, that convenes approximately 150 Arizona CEOs representing nearly 300,000 employees to advance policy, education, and community initiatives through membership dues and standing committee work.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regional Business Leadership and Policy Advocacy

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Business Associations (81391), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Management Services (8741)

akta.pro primary industry

Thought Leadership & Executive Visibility (BPAFADAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Reputation Management & Executive Thought Leadership (MPAAADAK), Corporate Reputation & Thought Leadership (MPAAAOAF), Executive Leadership & C-Suite Development (EDABAAAA), Executive Leadership Summits (C-Suite, Board, Strategy Offsites) (THAHAMAA)

Keywords

• CEO business roundtable
• Policy advocacy organization
• Regional leadership council
• Education reform initiative
• Civic engagement platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Phoenix

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: GPL generates revenue through annual membership dues from its 150 CEO members who lead Arizona's largest business enterprises. Membership fees fund the organization's operations, events, policy advocacy activities, and staff positions.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Greater Phoenix Leadership is a membership-based CEO business roundtable that convenes approximately 150 CEOs of Arizona's largest enterprises to align business, education, philanthropy, and public policy in service of the region's economic vitality and quality of life. Its offerings consist of structured convening through standing committees and task forces, civic engagement initiatives such as the Education Game Plan, the Racial Equity Advancement Project, Arizona Voices, Rio Reimagined, and research publications including the 2025 Peirce Report.

Product overview

Greater Phoenix Leadership (GPL) is a CEO business roundtable organization, not a technology product company. It offers no software products or technical services. Its offerings consist of civic engagement programs, research publications, advocacy initiatives, and member convening services. Key offerings include the Education Game Plan (education reform initiative), the Racial Equity Advancement Project, the Arizona Voices civic engagement platform, the 2025 Peirce Report (regional research publication), the Rio Reimagined regional river revitalization initiative, and standing committee/task force structures for member engagement on policy issues.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Education Game Plan A comprehensive initiative deployed in 2020 to develop sustainable, long-term education reform strategies for Arizona, addressing workforce preparedness from early childhood through adult education.
• Arizona Voices A first-of-its-kind civic engagement platform that allows users to review introduced bills, rate and comment on legislation, discuss issues with fellow Arizonans, and propose ideas to elected officials.
• 2025 Peirce Report A comprehensive regional research report revisiting the 1987 Peirce Report, examining growth, transportation, economic development, education, workforce development, and Rio Salado restoration for the Phoenix metropolitan area.
• Standing Committees & Task Forces Organizational structure comprising three standing committees (Education, Community Infrastructure, Social Impact) with associated task forces focused on issues including K-12, Higher Education, Workforce Preparedness, Water, Transportation, Affordable Housing, Criminal Justice Innovation, and Racial Equity.
• Rio Reimagined A regional river revitalization initiative spanning 55 miles from Buckeye to Mesa, focused on restoring the Salt and Gila Rivers and creating interconnected green corridors, trails, and economic development opportunities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Influenced passage of Proposition 301 (education funding) and Proposition 123 (adding $3.5 billion for education over ten years)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Expect More ArizonacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducation advocacy organization focused on raising expectations and outcomes for Arizona students.
• Arizona Technology Council (ATRA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArizona's premier technology industry association representing technology companies and professionals.
• Arizona Business and Education Coalition (ABEC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition founded by GPL in 2002 to strengthen business-education partnerships in Arizona.
• PostSecondaryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization focused on post-secondary education access and success in Arizona.
• Valley LeadershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYear-long civic engagement program for professionals established by Phoenix 40 members in 1978 to develop next-generation community leaders.
• PhxEastValley Partnership for Economic Development (PEI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEconomic development organization serving the Phoenix East Valley region.
• Center for the Future of Arizona (CFA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonpartisan research and policy organization bringing Arizonans together to create a stronger future for the state. Collaborated on the 2025 Peirce Report.
• First Things FirstcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArizona early childhood development and health organization focused on school readiness.
• Global Pathways Institute at ASU SkysongminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch institute at Arizona State University focused on global workforce pathways.
• Invest Southwest (InvestSW)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization focused on attracting investment and business development to the Southwest region.
• McCain InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitute at Arizona State University dedicated to advancing democracy, character leadership, and national security.
• Northern Arizona Leadership Alliance (NALA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional leadership organization serving Northern Arizona alongside GPL and Southern Arizona Leadership Council.
• The Pastor CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFaith-based community development organization in Arizona.
• American Institute of Architects (AIA) ArizonaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional organization for architects in Arizona.
• Southern Arizona Leadership Council (SALC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional leadership organization serving Southern Arizona, partnering with GPL and NALA on statewide initiatives.
• Science Foundation ArizonacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLargest public-private partnership in the U.S. tasked with broadening and strengthening Arizona's economy through high-impact research investments. Established by GPL and partners in 2006.
• StartupAZminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArizona startup ecosystem development organization.
• Stand for Children Arizona (StandAZ)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducation advocacy organization focused on ensuring all students graduate prepared for college and career.
• Social Venture Partners Arizona (SVP-AZ)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhilanthropic organization connecting donors with nonprofit organizations for capacity building.
• Teach For America ArizonaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational education nonprofit placing teachers in high-need communities.
• Neal Peirce FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation honoring Neal Peirce, urban affairs journalist. Collaborated with GPL on the 2025 Peirce Report as part of GPL's 50th anniversary history project.
• Phoenix Business JournalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusiness news publication. GPL co-founded the Corporate Philanthropy Awards with the Phoenix Business Journal and Arizona Community Foundation in 2016.
• Arizona Community FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide community foundation. GPL co-founded the Corporate Philanthropy Awards with the Phoenix Business Journal and Arizona Community Foundation in 2016.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Valley Leadership: Year-long civic engagement program for professionals established by Phoenix 40 (GPL's predecessor) members in 1978 to develop next-generation community leaders. Direct programmatic overlap with GPL's leadership-development mission and historically affiliated leadership pipeline.
• Phoenix Chamber of Commerce: The Greater Phoenix regional chamber of commerce that overlaps with GPL's geography and member base on business-promotion, policy, and education issues. Operates a broader SMB-inclusive model alongside GPL's exclusive CEO-level focus.

Broad incumbents

• Business Roundtable: National association of CEOs of America's leading companies that issues policy positions on economy, workforce, and governance. National-level analog to GPL's CEO roundtable concept, providing a reference point for the upper-bound scope of CEO convening organizations.
• Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce: Regional business chamber and leadership organization serving the Denver metro with policy advocacy, economic development, and education/workforce programs. Comparable CEO-led regional convening and policy engagement footprint.
• Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce: Regional chamber and CEO convening body for the Austin metro, focused on regional economic competitiveness, education, and infrastructure — directly comparable in scope and structure to GPL's mandate in Greater Phoenix.
• Greater Houston Partnership: One of the largest and most established CEO-led regional business organizations in the U.S., convening ~1,200 member companies to drive economic development, infrastructure, and education policy in the Houston region. Closest national analog to GPL's CEO roundtable model at meaningfully larger scale.
• Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce: CEO-led regional chamber and civic leadership organization covering the Kansas City metro with parallel civic-policy, education, and infrastructure mandates. Functions as a regional CEO roundtable analogous to GPL.

Direct peers

• Northern Arizona Leadership Alliance (NALA): Regional leadership organization serving Northern Arizona, partnering with GPL and SALC on statewide initiatives. NALA mirrors GPL's CEO convening and policy advocacy model in a different Arizona geography.
• Greater Cleveland Partnership: Regional CEO-led business chamber and leadership organization combining chamber, economic development, and civic advocacy functions in the Cleveland metro area. Operates a CEO-driven governance model and policy advocacy portfolio structurally similar to GPL.
• Southern Arizona Leadership Council (SALC): Tucson-based regional leadership organization that, together with GPL and NALA, forms a tri-regional structure covering Arizona. SALC convenes Southern Arizona CEOs and engages in policy advocacy on education, infrastructure, and economic development — directly parallel to GPL's mandate.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/GPLInc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/greater-phoenix-leadership

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about GPL