Pinal Partnership, the leading economic development organization in Pinal County, has named Craig McFarland as its next president/CEO, taking over Jan. 1 upon the retirement of Tony Smith.
McFarland has been mayor of Casa Grande since December 2016 and his eighth and final year ends Dec. 2. His tenure was marked by significant achievements, including the initiative to widen Interstate 10, raising the City’s assessed property values by 56%, population growth of over 24% and industry and business job growth of over 8,300 jobs.
“I am honored to step into the role of President/CEO and build upon the solid foundation Tony Smith has established,” McFarland said. “I look forward to working with the Pinal Partnership team, our stakeholders and our communities to advance our shared goals and continue making a positive impact.”
Smith took on the leadership role at Pinal Partnership in March 2021, just after his second term on the Pinal County Board of Supervisors ended. Prior to that he served as Maricopa’s mayor.
“Tony’s commitment and vision have been instrumental in achieving our goals and positioning Pinal Partnership for future success,” said Jordan Rose, chairperson of the Pinal Partnership board. “While we will greatly miss his leadership, we are excited to welcome Craig McFarland as our new President/CEO. Craig’s extensive experience and deep understanding of Pinal County and its communities will be invaluable as we continue to drive progress and prosperity in Pinal County.”
Pinal Partnership, a coalition of business, government, educational and community leaders, was formed in 2005 by business and community leaders to promote safe and efficient roads for the county’s residents. Its mission is to improve research, planning and coordination of private-public efforts related to infrastructure, natural resources and community development in the county.
