Debra Z. (Deb) Sydenham, FAICP, Executive Director, ULI Arizona

Deb Sydenham joined ULI Arizona in 2010 as its Executive Director after nearly 20 years with the State of Arizona, and 9 years in the private sector. Her vast statewide experience working with local, regional, state governments, and tribal communities, and state level policy issues serves as a solid foundation to moving the ULI mission forward. Through her leadership, the District Council has doubled in membership and, for the past 12 years, the annual signature program, ULI Arizona Trends Day, has been acknowledged as the third largest event for ULI globally and the single largest District Council program in the country.

Immediately prior to joining ULI, Deb was Deputy Director for the Office of P3 Initiatives at ADOT and was involved in establishing the state’s program to use public-private partnerships (P3) as a tool to address Arizona’s transportation requirements. In addition to her ADOT role, Deb worked closely with the Governor’s Office and the Governor’s Military Affairs Commission on statewide military sustainability issues and continues to be a resource to the State in this area.

For 17 years, Ms. Sydenham led the Community Development and Planning component of the Arizona Department of Commerce and was responsible for all Community Development functions including the Arizona Office of Smart Growth, Rural Development Office, and the Regional Managers. She maintained oversight of the Growing Smarter Planning Grant Program and the $5 million dollar

Military Installation Fund. Deb was the agency lead in all military sustainability and Smart Growth efforts, a Governor appointee to the Growing Smarter Oversight Council and she staffed the Governor’s Military Affairs Commission and the Arizona Military Affairs Commission. Her military endeavors provided the opportunity to ride in an F-16 aircraft and experience aileron rolls, aerial loops, pulling 5Gs, and going Mach 1.1 to break the sound barrier.

Deb is a graduate of Michigan State University and a Fellow of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP).