LaCinda was born in Seattle, WA, John was born in Provo, UT. Both had loving and supportive parents and great siblings.
They met in high school when LaCinda was a sophomore and John was a junior. Though scared of girls, John mustered the courage to ask LaCinda on their first date to his Junior Prom. Though studious, John was known for his creative dating experiences, his passion for basketball and food, and for leading the school as the student body Vice President. LaCinda loved to learn but she also spent her afternoons either riding her horse, Sadie, in ballet class, or sewing.
They both attended Brigham Young University. After John served a two-year church mission in Japan, and LaCinda traveled with the BYU International Folk Dancers and spent 6 months in Europe, they married. During their last year of school, they lived in Washington DC while John worked for a U.S. Senator while awaiting the birth of their first child.
Upon completion of college, they accepted employment in Houston, TX. John worked for the accounting firm Ernst & Whinney (now Ernst & Young) in their consulting group. Identical twins joined their family. After three years of loving Texas and Texans, they were transferred to Phoenix in 1985 and fell in love with Gilbert and their great schools and church community and their 10,000 residents.
During their forty years, Gilbert has been the greatest place to raise their family of eight including an adopted son from Mozambique. They were also privileged to have a foster son and two Chinese exchange students as part of their family.
LaCinda has been involved with church callings and global and local nonprofit work. With a BS degree from BYU and an MS degree from ASU, LaCinda fulfilled a lifelong goal to earn her doctoral degree from NAU in Educational Leadership for Community College and Higher Education in 2023. For several years, she also loved teaching Tailoring, Pattern Design, and alterations at Mesa Community College.
LaCinda's favorite titles are mom and grandma Hunee. John and LaCinda's family continue to grow with six of their eight children married and their 27th grandchild due soon. Their faith and their family are everything!
John continued his employment and performed community volunteer service as a faith group leader. He helped start the Gilbert Constitution Fair. In 2009, he was elected Mayor of Gilbert and served until 2016. Economic development for Gilbert was his top priority. He currently serves as the President/CEO of the PHX East Valley Partnership (EVP)—a regional coalition of community, business, educational, and government leaders whose goal is to provide leadership and advocacy for our East Valley region.
While serving as Mayor, John's community assignments included: Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport Board, Greater Phoenix Economic Council Board, Arizona League of Cities Executive Committee, Maricopa Association of Government (MAG) Regional Council member, and MAG Economic Development Committee (Chair).
John currently serves on the Arizona State University (ASU) Research Park Board, Park University Advisory Board, and the ASU Morrison Institute Board. In his work career, he was employed by Apollo Group for 18 years in various executive leadership assignments and by Ernst & Young for 9 years as a Management Consultant.
John and LaCinda served a church mission in Cambodia for three years and call it one of their most treasured experiences. They returned in 2021 to their beloved family and community service. LaCinda is currently the president of the non-profit, Positive Paths, which provides scholarships and mentors for underserved East Valley women as their complete their undergraduate degree or certification. John is serving in a regional church assignment which allows him to assist leaders in Gilbert, Queen Creek, and San Tan Valley.
-----
more to Life than money - Real people, real stories, and real conversations about wealth and abundance with your host, JW Rayhons, Financial Advisor - jw@rayhonsfinancial.com. Guests are not affiliated with or registered with Cetera Wealth Services, LLC. Any information provided by guests is in no way related to Cetera Wealth Services, LLC or its registered representatives. Unless otherwise noted as a representative of Cetera Wealth Services, LLC. The opinions contained in this material are those of the author, and not a recommendation or solicitation to buy or sell investment products. This information is from sources believed to be reliable, but Cetera Wealth Services, LLC cannot guarantee or represent that it is accurate or complete.
Securities offered through Cetera Wealth Services, LLC (doing insurance business in CA as CFGAN Insurance Agency LLC), member FINRA/SIPC. Cetera is under separate ownership from any other named entity. CA Insurance License #0M15552.
313 N Gilbert Rd, Ste 200, Gilbert, AZ 85234
