Maricopa Economic Development Alliance Board of Directors Announces Two New Appointments

PHOENIX, AZ – March 30, 2022

The Maricopa Economic Development Alliance (MEDA) has announced the appointment of Ms. Rita Adiani and Mr. Adam Hawkins to its Board of Directors.

Ms. Adiani is the Senior Vice President of Strategy and Corporate Development for Arizona Sonoran Copper Company and has more than 16 years of experience in the global mining industry, including executive industry roles, investment banking and corporate law. Previously, Ms. Adiani was Executive Vice President of Xiana Mining Inc., a copper producer and developer in Chile where she was Head of Business Development responsible for group finance and corporate finance matters. Ms. Adiani has advised on and been involved in transactions in excess of US$10 billion during the course of her career, including landmark industry transactions. Ms. Adiani is a law graduate from the University of Oxford and University of Sheffield. She has a CFA in ESG Investing from the CFA Institute and also has a Certificate in Mining Studies — Mining & Minerals Engineering from the University of British Columbia (Norman B. Keevil Institute of Mining Engineering).

Mr. Hawkins is the Founder and President of Global External Relations. A fixture in the public affairs, communications and lobbying community for over a decade, Mr. Hawkins’ insight is sought after and trusted by clients across the globe. Mr. Hawkins started his career as a staffer in the United States Senate and prior to launching Global External Relations, Mr. Hawkins worked within two leading public policy firms, assisting clients on issues that included such environmental topics as water, natural resources, taxation, HR, commerce, transportation and public lands. Additionally, Mr. Hawkins spent six years with Rio Tinto, an international mining company with projects on five continents. Mr. Hawkins graduated with honors from Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University with an International Master of Business Administration and holds a BA/BS from Arizona State University.

“In joining the MEDA Board of Directors, I am grateful for the opportunity to demonstrate my strong commitment to Maricopa and support the city’s efforts in building a robust local economy where residents benefit greatly from an exceptional quality of life,” said Ms. Adiani. Mr. Hawkins echoed the sentiment and further stated, “I am excited to become a part of the MEDA Board and represent the City of Maricopa’s rapidly growing industry sectors.”

Maricopa Mayor Christian Price applauded these appointments, stating “MEDA is thrilled to welcome Ms. Adiani and Mr. Hawkins as new board members. The incredible qualifications, including expansive international experience, both new board members bring to MEDA directly supports the organization’s objective of attracting leading-edge companies to locate or expand in Maricopa, benefitting from the highly skilled and qualified local workforce.”

John Schurz, President of Orbitel Communications and MEDA’s Chairman/CEO, also welcomed the new appointments, stating “Ms. Adiani and Mr. Hawkins, by joining MEDA’s Board, complement and exemplify the organization’s strong representation of the region’s economy. Additionally, both individuals bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the table, with a strong focus on working with governmental agencies and around land and environmental topics, all of which will serve MEDA, the City of Maricopa and Pinal County very well.”

About Maricopa Economic Development Alliance (MEDA):

Maricopa Economic Development Alliance (MEDA) is Maricopa’s private-public partnership for economic development. As a 501(c)3 corporation, the organization champions strategies and solutions that foster economic growth and prosperity in the City of Maricopa.

MEDA brings together the business, government, education and civic sectors to identify and advance forward-looking policies that facilitate investment, growth and workforce development. Equally important are the elected officials and public sector executives who bring the essential representation of the City of Maricopa’s Mayor, Councilmembers and City Manager. For more information about MEDA, please visit www.maricopaeda.com.

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