US Airways Center Live Nation RFP Response - City of Glendale

ROBERT SARVER
AT A GLANCE
Two Mercury
Championships
Chariman/CEO
Western Alliance
Phoenix Suns
Charities
from US Airways Center. More than 200 of the company’s 1,000 employees are
in Phoenix. Despite tough economic times, the bank has written more than $1
billion in local business and real estate loans in Arizona over the last three years,
and has continued to be one of the most active small business lenders in Arizona.
The bank also financed the retail component of CityScape, demonstrating his
commitment to the continued renaissance of downtown Phoenix. Sarver is the
co-founder of Southwest Value Partners, a 25-year-old contrarian real estate
fund. He has served as a director of SkyWest Airlines since 2000 and Phoenixbased
Meritage Corporation since 1996. After the passing of his father, Jack, and
with very little start-up capital, Sarver founded National Bank of Tucson in 1984,
becoming the youngest person ever to found a national bank. Robert served as
the company’s president until its sale in 1994.
Sarver’s ever-growing philanthropic efforts focus not simply on worthy causes but
also giving back to Arizona and its local communities, both through Phoenix Suns
Charities and his own personal contributions. Under Sarver’s leadership, Phoenix
Suns Charities has made approximately $7 million in donations to local nonprofits.
Most recently, PSC handed out over $1 million in grants and scholarships
to 120 non-profit organizations in 2012. And, most notably, Sarver has spearheaded
SunsCentral, the team’s adoption of an inner-city high school in an effort
to dramatically affect the graduation rate of the neighborhood school. Among
his proudest accomplishments, Sarver helped to build the Sarver Heart Center
at the University of Arizona in memory of his late father, who was among the
first to undergo heart bypass surgery. The center is composed of more than 150
physicians and scientists and aims to prevent and cure cardiovascular diseases
through the three pillars of research, education and patient care.
The 51-year-old Sarver is a 1979 graduate of Sabino High School in Tucson
and a 1982 graduate of the University of Arizona. Sarver earned his bachelor’s
degree in business administration, and became a certified public accountant in
1983. Sarver and wife Penny have three sons, Max, Jake and Zach. On their first
date, Robert invited Penny to watch the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at
his house. Sarver is a “soccer dad,” who can regularly be found at one of his three
boys’ soccer games or coaching his sons in the Jr. Suns league at the YMCA.
RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL
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