The story of Scottsdale continues to be written by a collective of community leaders, businesses, nonprofits and partnerships that are grounded in an understanding of the city’s history and guided by a mutual vision for its future.
For more than 31 years, the Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce has recognized these individuals and organizations for their role in shaping the city through induction into the Scottsdale History Hall of Fame.
This year’s inductees – Abbie S. Fink, Chris Irish, Don Prior, David Smith, Fiesta Sports Foundation and Scottsdale Fashion Square – represent a network of individual and organizational leadership that has grown alongside the city itself.
“The Scottsdale History Hall of Fame has stood as one of the most distinguished honors presented by the Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce,” said Chamber President/CEO Mark Stanton.
“Honorees are chosen for their community service, leadership, and values, and each has helped shape the vitality, character, and growth of Scottsdale.”
While each inductee is recognized for their own achievements, they have crossed paths, working alongside one another to move Scottsdale forward.
Fink, president of Scottsdale-based HMA Public Relations, has touched nearly every corner of Arizona through nearly 40 years of work across public relations and philanthropy. For her, the Hall of Fame recognition is inseparable from the relationships behind it.
“Being inducted into the Scottsdale History Hall of Fame is deeply meaningful,” Fink said. “What makes this honor especially powerful for me is how interconnected the journey has been. Nearly every inductee this year is part of my personal history. These longstanding relationships are not merely connections; they are friendships and partnerships built over years of shared purpose.”
For Fink, these connections span decades and have come full circle, beginning with one of her first jobs out of college at the Fiesta Sports Foundation, an organization she later reconnected with as a client and now joins as a fellow inductee.
The Fiesta Sports Foundation has evolved from its beginnings as solely a college football bowl game more than 50 years ago – now hosting world-class events in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl and Rate Bowl, while embracing year-round community engagement through philanthropic efforts in youth, sports and education with the support of more than 3,000 volunteers.
Erik Moses, Fiesta Sports Foundation executive director and CEO, said, “We are honored to be recognized in the Hall of Fame in Scottsdale, where we remain committed to showing up, giving back and growing to benefit our community through deep impact and highlighting Scottsdale’s many attributes to a national audience.”
Fink and Stanton worked together in support of a fellow Class of 2026 inductee, Scottsdale Fashion Square.
Now one of Arizona’s most recognizable destinations, the former rodeo arena has evolved beyond retail to become a consistent supporter of local nonprofits and community organizations.
“Being inducted into the Hall of Fame is an honor and a meaningful recognition of more than 65 years in this community,” said Melanie Sutton, senior marketing manager at Scottsdale Fashion Square.
“The relationships we’ve built over time with residents, visitors, retailers and partners continue to define our impact, and we’re committed to continuing that role as Scottsdale grows.”
The same relationships that carried through business and philanthropy continued into the civic space, where many of these leaders worked side by side over the years.
Through Scottsdale Leadership, Fink and Stanton crossed paths again through their participation in Class 17.
Fink, then serving as board chair, hired a new executive director – fellow inductee Chris Irish.
A champion of local arts and sustainability, Irish, now director of public affairs at DC Ranch, followed a similarly interconnected path.
Her work with Scottsdale Public Art and her volunteer involvement with Scottsdale Fashion Square placed her alongside many of the same individuals now being honored.
“I believe we have a responsibility to make the world better and doing that at the local level is very rewarding,” Irish said. “To be recognized for playing a part in Scottsdale’s history is a great honor.”
Smith has spent much of his career at the center of Scottsdale’s growth, from his time on City Council to serving as the city’s chief financial officer and treasurer.
He has also supported the community through cultural and philanthropic efforts, while helping tell its story alongside his wife, Diana, formerly co-owners of Scottsdale Airpark News, highlighting the people and businesses behind it.
“Induction into the Scottsdale History Hall of Fame is bestowed individually but earned collectively; every visionary idea in Scottsdale has developed from a collaboration among men and women who valued and wished to preserve our unique quality of life,” said Smith.
The same collaborative spirit is reflected in inductee Don Prior’s service as a former City Council member, planning commissioner and leader in historic preservation.
Prior has served as a guide for Scottsdale’s future while protecting its past, working parallel alongside the same individuals and organizations to improve the city.
The Scottsdale History Hall of Fame Class of 2026 will be formally recognized at an induction ceremony May 15 at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Scottsdale Resort, 5001 N. Scottsdale Road.
Information: scottsdalechamber.com/hhof.