Scottsdale Leadership salutes community leaders at annual luncheon
Staff Reports | Happenings & Events
Scottsdale Leadership is recognizing Peter Rusin, president of Health World Inc; and Brian Bednar, strategic account manager for Salt River Project, for their commitment to the Scottsdale community through two annual awards – The Drinkwater Community Leadership Award and the Hodges Alumni Achievement Award.
Scottsdale Leadership officials are also recognizing outstanding student, Brick Shultz of Saguaro High School, as the recipient of the Bill Jenkins Youth Leadership Award. The Frances Young Trailblazer Award winner is Erica Tatum-Sheade, owner of Integrated Mental Health Associates.
Scottsdale Leadership salutes community leaders at annual luncheon
The 2024 Drinkwater Leadership Award winner is Peter Rusin.
Peter is the President of Health World Inc. and he epitomizes many of Mayor Drinkwater’s values through his community advocacy and the positive impact in Scottsdale. He has provided countless hours of support for the mission of Community Celebrating Diversity (CCD) Board is to enhance the perception and understanding of diversity and to seek respect for the values of others and the oneness of humanity.
He is a true champion of children and community. Peter is a big supporter of the SUSD Service Learning Program and led the charge for their “How Do You Serve?” campaign and provided volunteers opportunities to assist students in achieving their goals. Peter is the co-creator of Horsense, a youth equestrian camp, now in their 24th year.
This year’s Hodges Alumni Achievement Award recipient is Brian Bednar.
Brian is the Strategic Account Manager for Salt River Project. He served on the Board of Directors for the Fiesta Bowl since 1996 and is currently on the Charitable Giving Committee, among others. Since becoming a member of the Yellow Jacket Committee with the Fiesta Bowl he has been involved with nearly every facet of the organization and has served as chair for numerous events. In 2017 he was awarded the “Frank Snell Lifetime Achievement Award.”
Brian is a Scottsdale Leadership Class 20 Alumnus and served as President of the board as well as currently serving as a member of the Advisory Council. Brian has made a significant contribution to our community through his long-term commitment to mentoring others and helped create a new pilot program at SRP called “Sports Buddies” for Big Brothers/Sisters.
Brick Shultz is the 2024 Bill Jenkins Youth Leadership Award winner.
Brick is a highly gifted senior in leadership as well as every area of academia. Even though he maintains an exceptional GPA, he finds time to take part in varsity baseball, leads the student cheering section at sporting events, is the school choir president and is on the Make-a-Wish Youth Leadership Council.
He is also a mentor for the Mentor-Ambassador Program and a member of the National Honor Society and the Math and Science Academy. Even with all the accomplishments listed he shows a generosity of spirit to faculty and classmates and is someone who strives to make their environment more inclusive and united. He will pursue a degree in finance and is motivated to start his own business.
Erica Tatum-Sheade is the winner of the inaugural Frances Young Trailblazer Award.
Erica is a tireless advocate for children, as a registered play therapist, specializing in child and adolescent mental health and trauma. She works with marginalized children as a 10+ year volunteer as a Maricopa County Court Appointed Special Advocate. She created and delivered a curriculum for girls’ self-esteem and empowerment titles “G.E.M.S. Girls Empowered, Motivated and Strong.” Erica always leaps headfirst into everything she does for the community and to better mental health for children.
She is also the co-founder of the nonprofit “Black Therapists in AZ” which is dedicated to improving mental health in the Black community. She was named the NASW Arizona Social Worker of the Year in 2022. Frances Young would be proud to see Erica named the first ever Frances Young Trailblazer Award.
“Herb Drinkwater, Frank Hodges, Bill Jenkins, and now Frances Young would be so proud to see their legacy continued by awarding these community members for the passion, commitment, and leadership they have exhibited through the years and will continue to exhibit in the future,” said Lee Ann Witt, executive director at Scottsdale Leadership. “It is our privilege to honor these elite leaders, both past and present.”
