Service Over Self: GCU’s Colangelo Awards Honor Four Leaders Transforming Arizona

PHOENIX, AZ – February 24, 2026 – In a celebration of leadership defined by humility and impact, Grand Canyon University’s Colangelo College of Business recognized four distinguished Arizona leaders Tuesday at the sixth annual Colangelo Servant Leadership Awards. The event, presented by Freeport-McMoRan, honored individuals from healthcare, public service, non-profit work, and financial planning who exemplify the service-oriented ethos of their namesake, sports and business icon Jerry Colangelo.

This year's recipients—Ken Brissa, Todd LaPorte, Rachel Mitchell, and John Moore—were lauded for prioritizing the needs of their communities and organizations above their own. Their collective work represents a powerful testament to the principle that true leadership is measured not by profit or power alone, but by the positive change it creates in the lives of others.

"Mr. Colangelo is the definition of service before self. When we pick recipients for the Colangelo Servant Leadership Awards, we are looking for those business leaders in our community who really represent that type of leadership," said John Kaites, Dean of GCU's Colangelo College of Business. "Mr. Brissa, Mr. LaPorte, Ms. Mitchell and Mr. Moore all go above and beyond when it comes to combining business and service, so we are thrilled to honor them with this year's award."

Leaders in Action: The Tangible Impact of Service

The 2026 honorees represent diverse sectors, but they share a common thread: a track record of tangible, transformative results driven by a commitment to serving others.

Ken Brissa, the Chief Executive Officer of Phoenix Rescue Mission, has been at the forefront of tackling homelessness, addiction, and trauma. Taking the helm in February 2020, just a month before the global pandemic reshaped society, Brissa provided steadfast leadership through unprecedented challenges. He guided the Christ-centered nonprofit through its largest expansion in its 74-year history, significantly bolstering its housing, recovery, and workforce development programs that now serve thousands of Arizonans each year.

In the healthcare sector, Todd LaPorte, CEO of HonorHealth, was recognized for his compassionate and innovative guidance of one of the state's largest nonprofit health systems. Overseeing an organization that handles over 3 million patient encounters annually, LaPorte has been instrumental in integrating two major organizations into the modern HonorHealth system. With a background as a certified public accountant, he has steered the system through major growth, including the expansion of its renowned Research Institute and strategic acquisitions to prevent healthcare disruptions in the community. His leadership is guided by a culture of integrity and compassion, encapsulated in the organization's "ICARE" values of Innovation, Collaboration, Accountability, Respect, and Empathy.

Representing public service, Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell was honored for a career spanning more than three decades dedicated to protecting the community's most vulnerable. A nationally recognized expert in sex crimes, Mitchell has championed trauma-informed reforms to better support victims. Since being appointed County Attorney in 2022, she has aggressively addressed critical public safety issues, including clearing a backlog of over 800 felony DUI cases and thousands of unreviewed cases. Her creation of an Organized Retail Crime Task Force and relentless prosecution of fentanyl traffickers demonstrate a leadership style focused on delivering justice and security for Maricopa County residents.

John Moore, Founder of John Moore Associates, exemplifies servant leadership in the financial world. As a Certified Kingdom Advisor® with over 40 years of experience, Moore has built a firm on the principles of biblical stewardship and faith-driven purpose. He challenges the traditional, profit-only mindset by helping clients align their wealth with their values. This approach has had a profound philanthropic effect; since 2012, clients of his firm have directed over $50 million from their managed accounts to charitable causes, turning financial planning into a powerful engine for community impact.

A Blueprint for Purpose: Cultivating Leadership at GCU

The annual awards are more than a ceremony; they are the public expression of a core educational philosophy deeply embedded within Grand Canyon University. For the Colangelo College of Business, servant leadership is not an elective concept but one of three foundational pillars, alongside ethics and entrepreneurism. This philosophy is woven into the fabric of the curriculum, from undergraduate programs to advanced degrees.

The university offers a fully online Graduate Certificate in Servant Leadership, a 16-credit program designed to instill advanced skills in ethical decision-making and global leadership. Furthermore, the Master of Science in Leadership program includes a dedicated course, LDR-630 Servant Leadership, which explores how a focus on others' needs fosters organizational health and success. This commitment ensures that the principles celebrated at the awards ceremony are actively taught and cultivated in the next generation of business leaders.

The goal is to produce graduates who view success holistically—leaders who build profitable and innovative companies while simultaneously investing in their employees, serving their communities, and operating with unwavering integrity.

The Colangelo Legacy: An Enduring Vision for Arizona

The awards bear Jerry Colangelo's name not merely as an honorific, but because they are a direct extension of his life's work and enduring influence. From arriving in Phoenix in 1968 with little to his name, Colangelo reshaped the state's sports and business landscape, bringing ownership of the Phoenix Suns and Arizona Diamondbacks, the 2001 World Series championship, and a transformed downtown skyline. Yet, his legacy is equally defined by his commitment to community building.

Today, Colangelo remains deeply involved with GCU, serving as a senior advisor and the namesake for its business college. He actively participates in advisory board meetings, mentors students, and provides strategic counsel to university leadership, ensuring his philosophy is not just remembered but actively practiced. His partnership with JDM Partners continues to shape the region's real estate landscape, but his presence at the university underscores a commitment to shaping its future leaders.

"Servant leadership should be a core principle of every successful business or organization and these four individuals exemplify that," Colangelo stated. "They are truly making a difference in our communities and setting an example for future leaders in Arizona."

This vision is supported by long-term community partners like Freeport-McMoRan, a global mining company headquartered in Phoenix that has served as the event's presenting sponsor since its inception. This consistent backing from the corporate community highlights a shared belief in the power of values-based leadership. For the university and the community it serves, the awards are a powerful annual reminder that in Arizona, leadership is best defined by service.