Tempe, Ariz., September 25, 2023 – The Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) is proud to announce that Brian Spicker, President and CEO of the Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation (MCCF), has been named Valley Leadership’s 74th Man of the Year.
“I am humbled by this honor and to be recognized alongside the amazing Angela Hughey,” said Spicker. “Truth be told, I think it is a result of working hand in hand with the best human beings in our community, solving complex problems, to make this community better. Thank you, Valley Leadership, for this honor, and there is certainly more work to do!”
Valley Leadership’s Man & Woman of the Year is a long-standing, long-cherished event that honors Arizonans who are the instruments of progress, goodness, and service to others. Spicker and Angela Hughey, President of ONE Community and ONE Community Foundation, were selected as Valley Leadership’s 74 Man & Woman of the Year because of their commitment to addressing Arizona’s most pressing issues and track record of community engagement that aligns with Valley Leadership’s Principles of Doing.
An award-winning and innovative non-profit leader, Spicker has built a strong reputation for directing transformational programs and initiatives for Arizona-based organizations. He has focused on HIV/AIDS, homelessness, hunger, developmental disabilities, early childhood development, and post-secondary education, among others. Through his work, Spicker evaluates and implements community-wide campaigns that support strategic partnerships, drive revenue, change policy, and help human services.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Spicker faced unprecedented challenges and its impact on students. Rising to the challenge, he bolstered emergency and basic need funds and secured additional support for programs and scholarships. As part of a restructuring effort at MCCF, he formed a new leadership team, increased staffing, and implemented changes to the Board of Directors to better align with the vision and mission of the Foundation to make post-secondary education and certifications accessible and affordable. Spicker continues to nurture relationships internally and externally, elevating the Foundation’s presence as a fundraising leader and high-performing non-profit organization. As a visionary, he developed a Workforce and Industry initiative, engaging Board members with business and industry leaders to connect them with programs at MCCCD and funding for these programs to create an education and workforce pipeline for the community.
“Brian is passionate about making a difference in the lives of our students and community, making him a deserving recipient of this award,” said MCCCD Chancellor Dr. Steven R. Gonzales. “As an advocate and champion of Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation, Brian has been instrumental in raising funds that benefit our students, programs, and resource-driven services.”
Prior to joining MCCF, Spicker served as the Chief Program Officer and Senior Vice President for Community Impact at Valley of the Sun United Way, where he led teams through large-scale initiatives that focused on children and youth success, ending hunger and homelessness, and increasing financial stability of underserved communities.
Spicker and Hughey will be honored at the 74th Man & Woman of the Year event on November 28, 2023, at the Paradise Valley Country Club. To read more about this year’s honorees, click here.
