Sharon Harper embodies “servant leadership.”  For decades she has worked to make the Valley of the Sun stronger, with more economic opportunities for all. As a businesswoman, she has succeeded in a field historically dominated by men: commercial real estate and development. A co-founder and CEO of Plaza Companies, Sharon oversees the ownership, development, leasing, and management of nearly 10 million square feet of medical office properties, senior living facilities and bioscience/biotechnology centers.  She has gained national recognition for her work.  Her company won the AZ Big Media RED Award for Mixed-Use Development of the Year and two Best of NAIOP awards (National Association for Industrial and Office Parks).

 

Sharon was the first woman to chair Greater Phoenix Leadership. She serves on the Executive Board of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council and is a member of Valley Leadership’s CEO Circle. She serves as a member of the Board of Trustees of the McCain Institute and is committed to its mission of advancing character-driven global leadership. She is a trustee of the Virginia Piper Charitable Trust, and serves on the Board of Governors for T-Gen. Among the many awards she has received recognizing her volunteer activities, she was named Honorary Commander of Luke Air Force Base. She and husband, Dr. Ollie Harper, received a Lifetime Achievement Award for their dedication to the arts from the Phoenix Theatre.

 

Sharon is deeply committed to education and has worked with policy makers to expand funding for public schools.  She also chaired a campaign that helped pass Prop 123, which brought much-needed dollars to enhance public education. She is a trustee for her alma mater, Creighton University, and has inspired other women to consider careers in business, while always giving back to their community.