
2024 CANDIDATE EDITION
Scott Anderson, a dedicated Gilbert resident of over 30 years. Since settling in 1988 with his wife EJ Anderson and their five children, Scott has been deeply involved in town affairs. As the visionary behind the Gilbert Riparian Preserves, he is steadfast in his commitment to preserving Gilbert's status as a nationally acclaimed community and a top-tier destination in Arizona.
With three decades of experience in local governance, Scott brings a wealth of expertise in land use, city planning, sustainability, and essential municipal processes. His track record is adorned with accolades for his innovative projects and programs, demonstrating his ability to lead with creativity and efficiency.
Scott holds a Bachelor's degree in Geography and International Relations from Brigham Young University, along with a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Colorado. Trust in Scott Anderson to continue shaping Gilbert's future with his unwavering dedication and proven leadership.
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Guiding Growth: Conversations with Community Leaders
Join our hosts, Sarah Watts and Ben Kalkman, as we explore the human journey of leaders - their stories of humility, triumph, roadblocks, and lessons learned - as they reflect on how they became who they are today and share stories of inspiration and hope with listeners. We'll take away the title, just for a moment, and enjoy a connection with the soul.
Be sure to subscribe to our show for more interviews with community leaders.
This podcast is brought to you by the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce and Modern Moments. Learn more about our show at https://guidinggrowth.co. View our Privacy Policy at https://modernmoments.com/privacy
Guiding Growth
Conversations with Community Leaders
So often, we define ourselves and others by a title or label. But, who is the person behind the success? Leaders are inspiring, memorable, and often a mystery to those whom they inspire.
Join our hosts, Sarah Watts and Ben Kalkman, as we explore the human journey of leaders - their stories of humility, triumph, roadblocks, and lessons learned - as they reflect on how they became who they are today and share stories of inspiration and hope with listeners.
We'll take away the title, just for a moment, and enjoy a connection with the soul.
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Guiding Growth is brought to you by the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce and Modern Moments
Meet the Hosts

Sarah Watts was named the President & CEO of the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce in July 2020. She joined the Chamber’s team in 2008, and throughout her career, has placed emphasis on collaborative dialogue across industry sectors and job functions and enjoys bringing diverse groups together to solve the challenges that the community may encounter.
Sarah is a graduate (summa cum laude) of Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication with a BA in Journalism, emphasis in Public Relations, and a minor in Communication (2002). She is a graduate of the Gilbert Leadership program (Class 21), and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Talent Pipeline Management (2019) and Institute for Organizational Management (2020) programs.
Sarah lives in Gilbert, Arizona, with her husband, two children, and two dogs.

Ben Kalkman is the founder of several businesses, including Rocket Media, a marketing agency, and Modern Moments, a wedding and event venue. Creating solutions to solve problems is a key ingredient in what drives Ben’s professional inspiration. Ben lives by a simple purpose, to lead, by living a balanced and focused life and caring enough to make a significant difference in all that I do.
Ben is a graduate of Kansas State University with a BFA degree in graphic design and communication arts. He is a graduate of the Gilbert Leadership program (Class 25), currently serves on the board for Gilbert Parks & Recreation, and is part of several podcast shows, including, Guiding Growth, Shorts-N-Suits, and Modern Moments Blogcast.
Ben resides in Gilbert, Arizona, with his wife and nine children.