From Washington to Arizona: Sally Harrison's Path of Impact

Send us Fan MailThis episode features Sally Harrison, president and CEO of the Mesa Chamber of Commerce since 2013, who moved from Washington state to Arizona in 2004 and joined the Mesa Chamber in 2008 after a 20-year career helping grow a physical therapy practice into 20 clinics and launching a community-focused foundation. She discusses how her upbringing in a small Washington community, her parents’ involvement in civic organizations, and her brother’s long law-enforcement career shaped her service-oriented leadership and emphasis on relationships. Sally shares personal experiences including losing her mother at 19 and her father two days later, not finishing college due to family health crises, and moving her family to Arizona after repeated spring break visits. She describes her path into the chamber through Rotary, stepping into the CEO role after a leadership transition, and her leadership philosophy of leaving ego at the door, focusing on protecting, promoting, and advocating for businesses while partnering closely with the City of Mesa. The conversation also covers misconceptions about chambers of commerce, balancing business and political considerations through a business lens, and how the chamber expanded into broader community issues during COVID. Sally speaks candidly about her oldest son Bryce’s suicide in 2006 at age 17, the aftermath for her family, and her involvement in raising awareness and convening community conversations on teen suicide, including collaborating with organizations and individuals such as Copa Health and Katie McPherson and bringing in speakers. She notes challenges facing youth such as coping with failure and highlights Mesa’s growth, the chamber’s wide range of programming, and her current family life, including her granddaughter and her son buying her longtime home. Support the showwww.abovebeyondpodcast.comPlease LIKE, SHARE & SUBSCRIBE.