President & Founder of Scutari & Co.
In her two-decade tenure in the public and non-profit sectors, Shannon's commitment to progress took a bold turn twelve years ago when she founded Scutari & Co., LLC. As the visionary force behind this consultancy, she specializes in crafting dynamic public/private partnerships, steering the creation of cutting-edge transportation infrastructure, and spearheading community and economic development initiatives.
For over a quarter of a century, Shannon Scutari has been a trailblazer, driving transformative change in Arizona. A seasoned gubernatorial policy advisor, lobbyist, attorney, and innovative professional, Shannon's journey seamlessly blends public service with entrepreneurial spirit. Before this, Shannon co-founded and led the Sustainable Communities Collaborative, a groundbreaking venture with a $50 million fund dedicated to fostering equitable transit-oriented development along the 28-mile light rail corridor connecting Phoenix, Tempe, and Mesa.
Shannon's impact extends far beyond consultancy. She stands as the driving force behind the South Central Collaborative, orchestrating a nexus between South Phoenix, Central City South, and the Phoenix Warehouse District. This initiative helped secure funding for the South Central Light Rail Project and ensured local businesses, support organizations, community members and artists were front and center in utilizing the Scutari & Co. “community ownership model” to influence the design and construction of this vital southern connection of the Valley’s light rail spine.
Before this, Shannon co-founded and led the Sustainable Communities Collaborative, a groundbreaking venture with a $50 million fund dedicated to fostering equitable transit-oriented development along the 28-mile light rail corridor connecting Phoenix, Tempe, and Mesa.
Her legacy as a change agent is deeply rooted. Shannon played a pivotal role in securing federal, regional and local funding for the original 20-mile Valley Metro light rail line, the Phoenix-Tucson Intercity Rail environmental impact statement and Arizona Department of Transportation award winning statewide public involvement program and shaping Phoenix Transportation 2050, a 35-year transportation infrastructure program and funding strategy. Notably, she served on the Citizens Commission on the Future of Phoenix Transportation and orchestrated a volunteer effort that successfully propelled Prop. 104 - the Move Phx Transportation Initiative ($35B) - to victory in August 2015.
In her extensive lobbying and policy advisory roles, Shannon's impact reached the highest echelons, advising two Arizona Governors—Napolitano and Brewer on transportation, infrastructure, sustainability and smart growth policy and implementation strategies. Her expertise in rallying diverse constituencies and coalitions stands as a testament to her ability to achieve the unexpected.
During her tenure in the Governor's Office, Shannon spearheaded the creation of the Arizona Smart Growth and Development Implementation Plan and the Arizona Smart Growth Scorecard—a national benchmark for growth and development performance measurements.
Her executive role and influence at the Arizona Department of Transportation led to the formulation of Arizona's inaugural State Rail Plan, secured substantial funding for the Phoenix-Tucson Intercity Rail Environmental Impact Statement and put Arizona on the National Rail Map with lines connecting Phoenix to LA/San Diego and Phoenix to Las Vegas.
As the Government Relations Director for the City of Tempe, Shannon played a pivotal role in securing federal and regional funding for the Metro light rail line, making history with the approval of a voter-backed $17.8B multi-modal transportation initiative in 2004.
Shannon Scutari is an alumna of Arizona State University, holding a joint J.D./MBA and a Bachelor's Degree. A distinguished member of the State Bar of Arizona, Shannon embodies the visionary spirit that propels Arizona into a future of boundless possibilities.