Gayle Cooper has worked in the public sector for more than 30 years, serving at the federal, state, regional, and municipal levels. Before entering her career in economic development, Gayle was Finance Director for US Senator John McCain and later for Arizona Governor Fife Symington.
A Master of Science (MS) degree in Global Technology and Development from Arizona State University, Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) status with the International Economic Development Council, and years of experience in the field have combined to give Gayle a solid grip on the importance of a strong public infrastructure to support private sector development.
Having begun her economic development career at the Arizona Commerce Authority, Gayle went on to hold leadership positions in a regional economic development corporation and in many municipalities of Metro Phoenix and North Texas.
Gayle has presented at several public sector conferences regarding economic development, including one at the University of Guam focused on economic development and the military. She also appeared on a nationally televised program regarding public/private partnerships featuring her affiliations across the US-Mexico border.
While in Arizona, Gayle served on prominent boards in Phoenix and Scottsdale and recently held a position on the board of the Texas Economic Development Council. She is a Paul Harris Fellow with Rotary International and a past president of the Junior League of Phoenix.