Transforming Scottsdale Into a Healthier, Happier Community — Inside the Blue Zones Project

On today's episode, we sit down with Sarah Kearney, Executive Director of Blue Zones Project Scottsdale, and Todd LaPorte, CEO of HonorHealth, to explore how Scottsdale is taking bold steps toward becoming a longer-living, more connected, and more vibrant community. Website: bluezonesprojectscottsdale.com    Instagram: bzpscottsdale   BACK STORY With more than 35 years of diverse healthcare experience, Todd LaPorte leads an integrated health system with nine acute-care hospitals, numerous outpatient facilities, a research institute, and various community services impacting social determinants of health and military preparedness. HonorHealth is one of Arizona's largest employers, with a presence throughout much of the growing Phoenix metropolitan area. Since joining HonorHealth in 2001, Todd has held executive roles in which he focused on financial and strategic leadership. He has shaped a system with many access points to provide convenient, high quality care for patients, and with an ability to coordinate care efficiently and effectively. HonorHealth governs with its medical staff one of the country's highest performing ACOs in the country. For most of his twenty years at HonorHealth, Todd served as the CFO. In April 2017, he became the 10th CEO in more than 150 years of its legacy firm history. Before joining HonorHealth, Todd held senior management roles for an international CPA firm that served Arizona healthcare clients, as well as clients in high-tech manufacturing and consumer services. He was also the CFO of a privately held healthcare company that served more than a half million Arizonans. Todd is the current board chair for the Health System Alliance of Arizona, an association of the five largest healthcare systems throughout the State. He is a member of Greater Phoenix Leadership (a CEO advocacy group) and is a board member of Experience Scottsdale (a visitor's bureau). He speaks frequently to Arizona State University MBA classes and community service organizations throughout the Valley of the Sun. Todd was named CFO of the Year by the Arizona chapter of the Financial Executives International in 2012 and was recognized by Becker's Hospital Review as one of the "125 Hospital and Health System CFOs to Know" in 2013. Todd has served as board chair for a chapter of Big Brothers/Big Sisters, the nationally acclaimed Scottsdale Aquatic Club and the Paradise Valley School District's supporting Foundation for Public Education. He holds a bachelor's degree in business from the University of Arizona and an MBA from Arizona State University. His four daughters all swam competitively at four different D-1 schools, so his college sweatshirt collection is quite confusing.     Sarah Kearney leads Blue Zones Project Scottsdale as the Executive Director. Her leadership experience is diverse and rooted in community well-being, service, and forward-thinking optimism. She most recently worked for Experience Scottsdale, whose mission is to enhance the Scottsdale community through tourism. In Sarah's 16+ year tenure at the organization, she held several leadership roles and specialized in worldwide leisure sales, partner development strategy, membership and community engagement, program development, and more. Driven by her passion for the Scottsdale community, Sarah has served, led, and guided several local organizations, leaving a cross-sector imprint. She has served as the Board President for Scottsdale Leadership, the Board President for Community Celebrating Diversity, a Board Member for Scottsdale Sister Cities, the Officer of Membership for Millennials in Travel, and the Vice President of Community Outreach at GiGi's Playhouse Phoenix/Scottsdale. Sarah holds an MBA from the University of Phoenix and a B.A. in Communication from Arizona State University. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, reading, sports and spending time in the Scottsdale sunshine. She is a proud wife and hockey, dance, and dog mom to her two children and golden retriever.   SUBSCRIBE TO ICONIC HOUR If you enjoyed today's podcast, I'd be so appreciative if you'd take two minutes to subscribe, rate and review ICONIC HOUR. It makes a huge difference for our growth. Thanks so much!   ICONIC LIFE MAGAZINE  Stay in touch with ICONIC LIFE magazine. We invite you to join our digital VIP list and SUBSCRIBE!   JOIN OUR ICONIC COMMUNITY Website: iconiclife.com Instagram: @iconiclifemag Facebook: Iconic Life YouTube: ICONIC LIFE   FOLLOW RENEE DEE Instagram: @iconicreneedee LinkedIn: Renee Dee   Thanks for being a part of our community to Live Beautifully. TAGS: bluezonesprojectsscottsdale, honorhealth, iconichourpodcast, health, wellness, iconiclifemag, iconiclife, livebeautifully