City of Tempe, AZ

07/17/2025 | Press release | Archived content

City Manager Rosa Inchausti wins prestigious public service award

July 17, 2025


Today, Tempe City Manager Rosa Inchausti received a Gabe Zimmerman Public Service Award today from Center for the Future of Arizona (CFA).

The Gabe Zimmerman Public Service Awards, named after the Community Outreach Director whose life was taken in a mass shooting in 2011 at a "Congress on Your Corner" event, are a collaborative effort between CFA, the Zimmerman family, and Arizona City and County Managers Association. They highlight the role of nonelected public servants in solving problems and making a tangible difference in people's lives.

"The Gabe Zimmerman Public Service Awards celebrate the public servants who are critical to Arizona's continued success," said Dr. Sybil Francis, CFA Chair, President & CEO. "Their work is the backbone of effective governance and community well-being. By honoring their dedication and impact, we hope others are inspired to elevate the value of public service in building The Arizona We Want."

Center for the Future of Arizona presented Rosa with the Community Builder Award for large cities. The award recognizes people who advance community pride and connection and show transformative leadership skills. According to Center for the Future of Arizona, "As Tempe's first female City Manager, Rosa has driven innovation and equity across city operations, leading efforts in public health, data-driven governance, and anti-discrimination policy."

Her trailblazing career exemplifies a lifelong commitment to equity, innovation, and excellence in local government.

"Rosa Inchausti exemplifies responsive, community-driven leadership," said Mayor Corey Woods. "She genuinely cares about the people of Tempe-both the community and city employees-and leads with empathy and integrity. She also strives to find new and better ways to resolve some of the nation's most difficult issues. Tempe is fortunate to have her as our city manager."

Nominees were judged on the following criteria:

  • How they have changed the way government works to serve the public interest
  • Their ability to take risks and inspire others
  • Their impact on connecting Arizonans to civic life
  • Improving the health of their community
  • Implementing new ideas to reduce costs, improve efficiency, and enhance the delivery of public services
  • Their legacy contributions of lasting significance
Rosa has worked at the City of Tempe for over 32 years, and prior to becoming City Manager, she served as the Chief Deputy City Manager, overseeing the areas of Economic Development, Community Health and Human Services, Community Development, Information Technology, and Strategic Management and Innovation.

Rosa's visionary leadership exemplifies innovation, resilience, and a deep commitment to creating a thriving, healthy, and historically rich Tempe. Some of her accomplishments include:

  • Authoring the City's first diversity guidelines
  • Working with City Council to pass the state's first city-chartered Anti-Discrimination Ordinance
  • Heading Tempe's first Diversity and first Strategic Management and Innovation offices
  • Pioneering the use of wastewater science during COVID-19
  • Leading the city to achieve Bloomberg Platinum Certification for excellence in excellence for data-driven, well-managed local government
  • Implementing Tempe's Real Time Operations Center

About Center for the Future of Arizona

Center for the Future of Arizona brings Arizonans together to create a stronger and brighter future for our state. We listen to Arizonans to learn what matters most to them, share trusted data about how Arizona is doing in those priority areas, bring critical issues to public attention, and work with communities and leaders to solve public problems.

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