Arizona Non-Profit Founder and Entrepreneur Awarded John S. McCain Inspirational Leadership Award by APS

Serial entrepreneur, Gulf War veteran and philanthropist Alan “AP” Powell Will be honored Friday, November 2, at the 5th Annual Arizona Public Service Veterans Day Ceremony with the John S. McCain Inspirational Leadership Award.

Powell and U.S. Navy veteran and Founder of the Phoenix Veterans Day Parade, Paula Pedene, will be honored by Arizona Public Service with their annual leadership award honoring members of the Arizona veteran community who have displayed the leadership, character and commitment to veterans exemplified by that the late Senator throughout his lifetime of service.

“This year’s honorees have gone above and beyond in their service to the veteran community in Arizona,” said Hal Pittman, director of external communications at APS and a retired U.S. Navy rear admiral. “This award is meant to honor those individuals who continually advocate for active duty service members, veterans and their families.”

Powell is being honored for his efforts supporting Arizona’s veterans through the HeroZona Foundation, and the HeroPreneur National Veterans Business Summit, an educational conference supporting both veteran entrepreneurs and jobseekers.

Powell is chairman and CEO of AP & Associates, LLC, founded in 2004, and founder of the non-profit HeroZona Foundation, formerly Checkered Flag Run Foundation, a non-profit that serves students and veterans by giving them access to educational opportunities to ensure they get to cross the ‘finish line’. The Foundation’s programs include HeroZona’s HeroPreneur National Veteran Business Summit, Veterans Reach to Teach, Phoenix Tools 4 Schools and the Bridge Forum.

Powell founded the non-profit Checkered Flag Run Foundation, now HeroZona Foundation, in 2011. Their Inaugural HeroZona, for Arizona’s 640,000 veterans and 2,000 veteran owned companies gained national and local recognition from the entire Arizona community with support from U.S. Arizona Senator John S. McCain, Arizona Governor Doug Ducey, Former City of Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton, Arizona Department of Veterans Services Director and U.S. Air Force Col. (Ret), Wanda A. Wright; and many corporations and educational colleges. Last year, Senator McCain accepted the HeroZona Lifetime of Service Award, which was renamed the John S. McCain Maverick Award for 2018.

The 2nd annual event honoring America’s veterans was renamed this year to the HeroPreneur National Veteran Business Summit. The engagement from November 14 through November 16, is a multi-day networking experience that improves America’s support of veteran companies through workshops, networking, entrepreneurial connections, and seminars. It is culminated by various entertainment events including the Phoenix Veterans Day Parade, Phoenix Sun’s NBA Military Appreciation Night basketball game and other entertainment activities. The U.S. Department of Labor will hosta Vets Medallion Luncheon to honor companies that employ veterans, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs will host HeroPreneur workshops for large companies, small veteran owned businesses and veterans interested in contracting government and earning certification.

The Foundation is also working on a series of Bridge Forums in an effort to understand different perspectives, attitudes and beliefs about community policing. The previous Bridge Forum included participation from Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich; Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery; Scottsdale Mayor Jim lane; Scottsdale Police Chief Alan G. Rodbell; 5 Valley mayors and police chiefs; Phoenix Suns owner, Robert Sarver; and wife of Arizona Diamondbacks owner, Randy Kendrick.

Powell was recently recognized with the Arizona Black Chamber of Commerce Corporate Star Award (2016), the MLK Living the Dream Award (2017), Greater Phoenix Urban League’s Whitney M. Young Jr. Award (2017), the American Association for Access, Equity and Diversity’s Edward M. Kennedy Community Service Award (2017) and
ABC 15 and Sanderson Ford’s Saluting Arizona’s Veterans Award (2018). He also served as the Grand Marshall for the Phoenix Veterans Day Parade in 2017. Powell is currently nominated for 2019’s ‘Most Influential Man in the Valley’ by Arizona Foothills.

Powell has previously served as an advisory board member for Arizona 7th District Congressman Ruben Gallego’s Veterans Advisory Council, the University of Phoenix Criminal Justice Industry Advisory Board, City of Phoenix Aviation Advisory Board, and District 8’s African American Advisory Council. Currently, Powell serves on the advisory board for the Phoenix Theatre.

For more information, visit heropreneur.com and apandassociatesllc.com

About HeroZona Foundation
The HeroZona Foundation has a strong focus on veteran initiatives and honoring those who have served our country and their family members. The nonprofit’s name reflects that messaging to focus on empowering and celebrating America’s veterans. Their upcoming event, HeroPreneur is a week-long Veterans Day engagement that has three pillars which empower Arizona’s veterans through entrepreneurship, employment and education. HeroZona‘s Annual Heropreneur National Veteran Business Summit has created a multi-day networking experience to improve America’s support of veteran companies through workshops, networking, entrepreneurial connections, and seminars; culminated by various entertainment events including the Phoenix Veterans Day Parade, Phoenix Sun’s NBA basketball game and other entertainment activities. For more information visit hnvbs.com, heropreneur.com or herozona.org.

About AP & Associates LLC
AP & Associates LLC is a strategic alliances firm with specific expertise in multicultural initiatives. Through the development and creation of strategic partnerships AP & Associates has positioned itself as an expert in the art of company, customer and revenue acquisition. AP & Associates LLC has created strategic alliances with Fortune 500 companies, venture capital firms and private equity to bridge the gap between mainstream and urban customers to clients generating top flight results, capable of raising the monies, introducing strategic relationships and driving customer and revenue acquisition. For more information, visit http://www.apandassociatesllc.com