Richard A (Dick) Bowers is a 45-year public service professional whose leadership has impacted Arizona at all levels of the public and non-profit sectors shaping community through enlightened and visionary policy bodies and senior executives. As the President of R. A. Bowers & Associates, formed in 2001, Mr. Bowers has provided a broad array of consulting support for scores organizations public and private. His primary focus is the formation of high performing teams, profound simplicity and efficiency, sensible strategic plans and strengthening leaders who guide them. He believes in keeping things simple, direct and focused… avoiding the triumph of process over product. Some of his 100s of clients are listed below.

For almost 20 years, he served the City of Scottsdale as Deputy City Manager (1981 to 1991) and as City Manager (1991 to 2000). Of his experience working with the City of Scottsdale, Mr. Bowers described it as an “exciting job with the privilege of working with an extraordinary staff and supportive policy body”.  He also said, “it is amazing what you can get done with that combination and the collective boldness to be entrepreneurial.”

In 2013, Mr. Bowers assisted the City of Glendale as their Acting City Manager. While in Glendale, Mr. Bowers had the opportunity to assist with the negotiation of a 15-year agreement with the National Hockey League (NHL) and pending owners of the Phoenix Coyotes. Glendale was strapped with significant financial risk. He recommended that the City NOT enter into the agreement with the NHL, however his proposal was deemed too conservative and NHL’s proposal was approved by a 4-3 Council vote committing the City to uncertain revenues and risks.  Of this experience he described the City as “a City with great charm and promising future once their get over some very difficult financial hurdles”.

Arizona Cities, Towns & Counties

Buckeye, Chandler, Coconino County, Dewey-Humboldt, Flagstaff, Glendale, Goodyear, Queen Creek, Safford, Sedona, Tucson, Tuscayan, Yuma

Non-Arizona Communities and Agencies

California: El Cajon, Escondido, LAX, Navajo City, San Diego, San Diego County Water Authority, Santee, Santa Barbara,

Nevada: Las Vegas, Reno, Sparks, Clark County

Texas: College Station, Longview, Round Rock,

Other: Jackson, WY; Vail, CO;  Palm Beach & West Palm Beach, FL; DIA;

Awards for his public service efforts

- The International City Manager’s Association’s coveted “Outstanding Management Innovator” award for his work in “creating an environment which fosters teamwork, excellence and innovation”,

- The Arizona Republic’s “Vision Weaver Award”, and the Institute for Community Cultural Diversity’s Diversity Leadership Award.

- The Diversity Champion Award for “vision, courage and commitment to civil and human rights in the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King.”

- The Jack DeBolske Award from ACMA

- The Governor’s Award for individual leadership is support of the Arizona Arts community

- The 2007 Phoenix “DREAMR” award for leadership in the design and success of downtown Phoenix

- The National Society of Arts and Letters for leadership in the arts

He has also served as Board Member for Free Arts for Arizona, the Arizona Citizens for the Arts, the Downtown Phoenix Partnership, and is President of the Herberger Theater Center in Phoenix, and he concluded six years as Executive Director for the Phoenix Boys Choir.

He holds a BA in English, and an MS in Public Service. He is an Adjunct Professor at Arizona State University, and guest lecturer at UCLA’s Anderson School of Management. He teaches Public Entrepreneurship for Graduate Students the School of Public Affairs – where he has done so for more than 20 years. He received ASU’s Adjunct Faculty Member of the year in 2012.