FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Lisa Urias
Urias Communications
Phone:
(480) 751-5569
Email:
lisa@uriascommunications.com
O’CONNOR HOUSE NAMES SARAH SUGGS CHEEK PRESIDENT & CEO
WHERE CIVIL
TALK LEADS TO
CIVIC ACTION
August 27, 2012 – Tempe, AZ – The O’Connor House (OCH) Board of Directors
appointed Sarah Suggs Cheek as president and CEO. The nonprofit organization
supports the legacy and vision of retired United States Supreme Court Justice
Sandra Day O’Connor to promote civil dialogue leading to civic action.
“Sarah’s extensive experience in marketing and fundraising will benefit the organization tremendously
and allow us to build on successful programs such as our Distinguished Speaker Series and Issues &
Answers Forums,” said Steve Savage, chairman of the OCH Board. “Over the last year we have laid the
foundation for our organization and Sarah’s leadership will take us to the next level.”
Sarah helped to establish the O’Connor House Distinguished Speakers Series and Patrons Circle hosting
notable speakers such as former President of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev and Pulitzer-prize
winning author David McCullough. “We look forward to an equally significant line up of speakers in
2013,” added Savage.
Sarah Suggs Cheek is a third generation Arizonan whose 25-year career in both the private and public
sectors has taken her to the east and west coasts. Sarah previously served as senior vice president of
marketing for Phoenix-based Pivotal Group and as national executive director for The National Women’s
Hall of Fame in New York.
O’Connor House began as an effort to preserve the historic and longtime home of Supreme Court Justice
Sandra Day O’Connor and her late husband John O’Connor. Prior to being appointed the first woman to
the United States Supreme Court and during her years in Arizona a member of the State Legislature,
Superior Court and Court of Appeals Judge, she hosted countless local, state, national and international
leaders in the historic adobe home. The O’Connor hospitality served to build consensus and
collaboration among the diverse guests to explore, discuss and solve problems for the state and beyond.
In 2008, the O’Connor home was successfully relocated to the grounds of the Arizona Historical Society
in Papago Park.
With this legacy of civility and dialogue, the organization’s mission evolved to embrace a renewed
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Office location: Arizona Historical Society Museum, 1300 N. College Ave, Tempe, AZ 85281
www.oconnorhouse.org
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purpose, “Where Civil Talk Leads to Civic Action.” Today, the work of O’Connor House includes leading
efforts to advance balanced, fact-based information and dissemination of key issues impacting Arizona
and the nation.
In addition, O’Connor House has elected six new members to its Board of Directors and appointed its
Officers: the Board elected Steve Savage of Ballard Spahr as chairman; Rich Boals of Blue Cross Blue
Shield of Arizona as vice chairman; SRP Accountant John Evancevich as treasurer; and Peter Hayes vice
president of public affairs of SRP as secretary. New Board members include Deborah Bateman, executive
vice president, National Bank of Arizona; Dr. Rufus Glasper, chancellor, Maricopa Community Colleges;
Michael Rooney, Sacks Tierney Attorney; Lisa Urias, president, Urias Communications; Kari Yatkowski,
founder of Haven Charitable Foundation; and Kathleen Zeider, community volunteer.
O’Connor House is an Arizona 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization whose mission is to continue the legacy of Supreme Court
Justice Sandra Day O’Connor to solve important social, economic and political issues, and where “Civil Talk Leads to Civic
Action.” For more information please visit www.oconnorhouse.org.
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Office location: Arizona Historical Society Museum, 1300 N. College Ave, Tempe, AZ 85281
www.oconnorhouse.org