2025 EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP
In 2024, the American Heart Association celebrated 100 years as a relentless force for longer, healthier lives. As we move into our second century, we recognize our work is more important now than ever before. Our centennial milestone was coupled with our 2024 Impact Goal of ensuring every person has the opportunity for a full, healthy life. Every person means working with every community and that is why our Executive Leadership is so important. The Phoenix Heart Ball is a catalyst for this work.
Pat Watts is honored to serve as Chairman of the 2025 Phoenix Heart Ball.
With a ten-year tenure on the Heart Ball Committee, Pat has chaired various committees, demonstrating her steadfast support for the mission of the American Heart Association. Alongside her husband, Rob Lyles, Pat initiated and generously sponsors the annual Golf 4 Heart tournament at Starfire Golf Club, an event that not only raises funds for the Heart Ball but also introduces the American Heart Association’s mission to a broader audience.
In addition to her involvement with the American Heart Association, Pat is a community leader in housing and homelessness issues. As the co-founder and COO of Greenlight Communities, a successful real estate development and contracting company, Pat has played a pivotal role in the company’s focus on large-scale attainable rental housing projects throughout Arizona. Her industry contributions have earned her various awards, and she actively participates as a speaker, panelist, and moderator at industry events. Pat is a member of Charter 100 and various industry organizations, including Urban Land Institute, Lambda Alpha, and AZCREW. Through their corporate foundation, Greenlight Gives, which primarily focuses on housing, advocacy for the most vulnerable, and education, Pat and Rob support organizations such as Saving Amy, Kids in Focus, UMOM, and Central Arizona Shelter Services.
Originally from Vancouver, Canada, Pat holds a business degree from Simon Fraser University and, for most of her career, held a CA (CPA) designation in Canada. Now a long-term resident of Phoenix, she divides her time between Vancouver, Rancho Santa Fe, and Scottsdale. Pat, a proud mother and stepmother, recently became a grandmother and enjoys golfing, cooking, pickleball and spending time with family and friends.
Sue Carter is excited to be a Vice Chairman for the 2025 Heart Ball. She looks forward to working with Chairman Pat Watts and the other members of the Executive Leadership team.
Sue has a long-term passion for cardiovascular health, and a commitment to advancing the fight against heart disease and stroke. Her passion stems from losing her father to heart disease at a young age and her mother later in life to issues associated with the heart. Several other close family members have suffered from heart health issues as well.
Sue and her husband Randall moved to Arizona in 2020. Through the Carter Family Foundation, Sue and Randall support the work of the Phoenix Heart Ball, Phoenix Heart Walk, Gateway for Cancer Research, Scottsdale YMCA, Boys and Girls Clubs, St Mary’s Food Bank, and various veteran and animal support groups across the country. Sue is a graduate of Indiana University and Northern Illinois University and has a CPA certificate in Illinois. Sue retired from Trane Technologies as Chief Financial Officer in 2020 and currently sits on the Board of Directors of On Semiconductor, Amcor plc, Stanley Black and Decker, and Pursuit Aerospace. Sue is also a mentor for McKinsey’s Advancing Women Executives in Advanced Industries and Energy and Indiana University accenting students.
When not working, Sue and Randall can be seen walking their two Great Danes and two Chinese Shar Peis.
Caroline Conner has been a member of the Phoenix Heart Ball committee since 2019 and takes great pride in her role as Vice Chairman for the 66th Phoenix Heart Ball alongside Susan Carter.
Her connection to the mission of the American Heart Association stems from childhood as she witnessed her Father experience a heart attack. He later had quadruple bypass surgery and then received a defibrillator.
Caroline is also passionate about many other charities in the Phoenix Community and has served on the Board of Directors for Gabriel’s Angels, Co-Chaired the Care Fund 2019 Desert Sky Gala where she tripled net revenue, is a Founding Member of PCH Sage for children’s mental health, and Co-Chaired SARRC’s annual Community Breakfast with her husband Joe in 2024 which brought in record breaking funds for autism research and resources.
Professionally, Caroline is well known for her role in creating, developing, and maintaining the award-winning image of Homeowners Financial Group (HFG) through Human Resources and Marketing leadership. Caroline has proven experience in applying policies and practices that led to HFG winning numerous best-place-to-work accolades, including recognition in Fortune and Inc. magazines. She was selected as a “40 Under 40″ honoree from the Phoenix Business Journal class of 2019‚ “Top 30 Business Leaders In Their 30s” from Arizona Business Magazine, Judith Krebs: PHR Memorial Volunteer of the Year award nominee from Arizona SHRM, and she holds a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) designation from the HR Certification Institute.
Caroline is married to her best friend Joe Conner who set the example for Caroline when it came to community involvement as Joe is a past President of the Scottsdale Saguaros, an active Scottsdale Charro, and an active PCH 50 member.
Born and raised in Vancouver, Canada, Caroline now resides in North Central Phoenix with her husband and their two young boys. When they aren’t chasing their children, they enjoy a good adventure outdoors, on the ocean, in the sky, or on the mountain.
Sarah E. Suggs is a third-generation Arizonan whose extensive career has taken her to the east and west coasts before returning to her native state in 2001. She has served as an executive for Pivotal Group, a private equity and real estate investment firm, KSL, a KKR, Kohlberg, Kravis, and Roberts company, and as Executive Director of The National Women’s Hall of Fame in New York, which recognizes and celebrates the achievements of extraordinary American women.
Committed to continuing education, Ms. Suggs completed the Harvard Kennedy School Executive Education program, Performance Measurement for Effective Management of Nonprofit Organizations.
A community volunteer since the age of 12, Ms. Suggs has held several leadership positions, including Phoenix Heart Ball Chairman, Arizona Science Center Gala Chairman, Women’s Board of the Barrow Neurological Foundation, a Founder of Phoenix Children’s Hospital Leadership Circle and Past President of Charter 100, whose purpose is to recognize outstanding women in the community and provide a forum for their interaction. Honorary members have included former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor and former Arizona Governors Rose Mofford, Jane Dee Hull, and Janet Napolitano.
Denise Voss is honored to serve as Chair-Elect of the Phoenix Heart Ball, taking on the role of Chairman in 2026.
Since joining the Phoenix Heart Ball committee in 2017, Denise has contributed in numerous ways, including Co-Chairing the Addressing Luncheon, Chairing Admissions and New Guest Cultivation, and serving as Vice Chair in 2022 under Amanda Garmany. She is excited to support Chairman Pat Watts and her talented executive team this year.
Deeply committed to the mission of the Phoenix Heart Ball, Denise is passionate about advancing awareness through education regarding heart disease. She believes education is critical to prevention and improving health outcomes. This includes funding research, promoting healthy behaviors through diet and nutrition, increasing awareness of health metrics, and expanding CPR training. In 2022, Denise and her husband were honored to help fund CPR kits in schools as part of an initiative led by Amanda Garmany. She believes education can enhance quality of life and even save lives.
Originally from the Carolinas, Denise moved to Arizona in 2009 with her husband and two children after 13 years in Texas. Since then, she has actively volunteered in her community, supporting her children’s schools and activities, chairing parent associations, leading fundraisers, and volunteering with organizations like the National Charity League and Boys Team Charity. She also served as team manager for her son’s travel soccer team for many years. Denise and her husband, Kent, continue to support various nonprofit organizations in the Valley. They are members of the Phoenix Country Day School Honorable Mae Sue Talley Society and serve on the Parent Leadership Council for the University of Denver.
Married for 22 years, Denise and Kent are proud parents of one son in his second year in college and one daughter soon to be college-bound. Denise cherishes family moments, values quality time with friends, and adores her four ‘fur babies.’ An active lifestyle enthusiast, she can often be found on the pickleball court, where her energy and love for the game shine. Denise brings warmth and joy to all her endeavors, embracing life with enthusiasm and heart.
A MESSAGE FROM OUR 2025 HONORARY CHAIRS – CHRISTINE & DAVID GUSTAFSON
We are truly honored and thrilled to serve as the 2025 Heart Ball Honorary Chairs!
Our “Why” is the numerous family members that we have lost to heart disease and stroke. Since the American Heart Association’s founding in 1924, deaths from cardiovascular diseases have been cut in half thanks to cutting-edge research and new treatments for cardiovascular disease. This inspires us to be a part of the special Vision for the Future 2025 Heart Ball led by Patricia Watts and her amazing team. The Heart Ball has been part of our family since 1992 and we are excited to share in the success of #66!
With gracious and heartfelt thanks for this very special honor; we hope to serve in the cause of building a relentless future for longer and healthier lives.
Gratefully,
Christine and David Gustafson