SUNDT CONSTRUCTION BRINGS BUSINESS VOICE TO
EXPECT MORE ARIZONA OVERSIGHT BOARD
Eleven funders partner to make education Arizona’s top priority
(Phoenix, AZ, September 15, 2010) – Expect More Arizona announced today the addition of Sundt Construction to its list of funders and oversight board members. Sundt Construction, one of the largest general contractors in the nation, is the first non-education business entity to join the nonpartisan partnership dedicated to making education Arizona’s top priority. Each of the eleven funders has contributed $100,000 or more to the public awareness and engagement effort. Sundt joins the University of Phoenix as one of Expect More Arizona’s newest for-profit partners.
“Under the leadership of Chairman and CEO Doug Pruitt, Sundt has consistently demonstrated a commitment to improving education in our state,” said Paul J. Luna, Expect More Arizona’s Board Chair. “Adding Sundt’s highly regarded business leadership to the table adds new credibility to our efforts as we champion the need for better student preparedness and higher expectations at all levels of education.”
Sundt Construction is a 120-year old company that was founded in New Mexico and relocated to Arizona in 1929. Sundt specializes in large-scale construction projects, including educational facilities, highways, offices, government buildings, and other facilities. Due to its reliance on highly skilled professionals, Sundt and its management team are strong advocates for increased career and technical education opportunities for Arizona students.
“Providing a world-class education system for all Arizona children has a powerful impact on our economy and individual quality of life,” said Pruitt. “More of our students must graduate prepared with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in today’s global economy, and that will require all Arizonans to make education their business and priority.”
Expect More Arizona, a growing movement of parents, grandparents, community members, students, business and nonprofit leaders, was publicly launched in April 2009. Created to increase public awareness about the fact that Arizona’s students are falling behind in academic achievement, high school graduation rates and postsecondary degree attainment, Expect More Arizona champions that all Arizonans have a role in improving the entire education continuum – from birth through career.
In addition to Sundt Construction, Expect More Arizona is funded by the Arizona Community Foundation, the Arizona School Boards Association, Arizona State University, First Things First, Helios Education Foundation, Northern Arizona University Foundation, Rodel Charitable Foundation of Arizona, University of Arizona Foundation, University of Phoenix Foundation and the Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust. Each organization receives two seats on the Oversight Board, Expect More Arizona’s governing board. J. Doug Pruitt, Chairman and CEO and Richard Condit, Vice President and CAO will be the two Sundt representatives.
Although new to the board table, Pruitt is a familiar face to the Expect More Arizona movement and is featured as one of the business community spokespersons in the Partnership’s current multimedia campaign.
Expect More Arizona is a statewide, nonpartisan partnership dedicated to making education Arizona’s top priority. The Partnership is creating a movement of Arizonans who are better informed about the issues affecting education, and thus, are more actively engaged in strengthening the entire continuum – from birth through career. For more information, visit our voter resource page at www.ExpectMoreArizona.org.
