Meet the Arizona Highway User Team
Barry Aarons
President
Since 1997 Barry M. Aarons has been the owner of The Aarons Company LLC, a public policy consulting firm specializing in legislative representation, coalition building, business management, seminar, and strategic planning facilitation, and grassroots advocacy.
Aarons has over 50 years of experience in policy development, public affairs implementation, and lobbying in the Arizona Legislature, other state legislatures, and the US Congress. His expertise includes economic development, telecommunications, taxation, tourism, workers compensation, and health care among other areas as well as campaign management, fundraising, and strategic planning.
He facilitates seminars on a multitude of topics including public policy, coalition building, grassroots advocacy, campaign management, message delivery, and business management.
Tom Dorn
Executive Director
Tom Dorn has a diverse background in government and politics at the federal, state, county, municipal, district, and tribal levels. His firm, Dorn Policy Group, Inc., founded in 2000, represents numerous multinational corporations, trade associations, and government entities.
From 1994 to 1997, Tom served as the State and Federal Lobbyist for the Arizona Department of Transportation where he was instrumental in the STEP 21 Coalition, a Washington D.C.-based effort to secure equitable highway financing nationwide. Tom also initiated the development of federal legislation enabling the construction of the Hoover Dam Bridge now spanning the Colorado River. These significant policy efforts have led to subsequent opportunities for increased commerce along the CANAMEX Corridor and the future Interstate 11 that connects Phoenix and Las Vegas.
David Martin
Secretary/Treasurer
David Martin is currently the president of the Arizona Chapter Associated General Contractors of America (AZAGC). The AZAGC represents highway, heavy, and utility contractors throughout the state. Membership includes large and small construction companies/subcontractors as well as suppliers and service providers to the construction industry.
David has been involved at an executive level in numerous campaigns including the Quality Education and Jobs Initiative, the TIME Coalition, Yes on 400 in Maricopa and Pinal County, Question 1 and 2 in Pima County, the Yes for Roads Campaign in Coconino County, and most recently Proposition 104 in Phoenix. All were business coalitions that spearheaded these campaigns to increase multi-modal funding or transportation.
Because of his dedication and passion for better transportation, David has been recognized as one of the Leaders of the Year in Public Policy by the Arizona Capitol Times.
Sintra Hoffman
Vice President
Sintra Hoffman is the President and Chief Executive Officer of WESTMARC, representing the West Valley of the Phoenix metro area. She previously served as Assistant Division Director for the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT). Her professional background includes over 20 years of experience in local, state and federal government. Sintra led ADOT’s Office of Public Affairs which focused on building and sustaining relationships with leaders in Arizona’s cities, towns, counties, tribes and business community to support infrastructure investments statewide. Prior to her time at ADOT, she spent 10 years with the City of Surprise, serving as the Director of Intergovernmental Relations and Deputy City Manager where she focused on policy development and economic sustainability for the community.
In her role at WESTMARC, she has the pleasure of working with 15 communities, over 3000 square miles known as the West Valley of Metro Phoenix and home to 1.7 million residents, where all stakeholders are focused on the economic growth of this region.
She serves on several community, transportation and education Boards to focus on improving the quality of life and economic vitality in the West Valley. Her passion for transportation contributes to the region in her roles as Vice President of Arizona Highway Users and as a member of the I-11 Coalition.
Sintra was recognized by the Phoenix Business Journal as a Most Admired Leader in 2023 and one of 25 Outstanding Women in Business in 2022. Previously Arizona Business Magazine recognized her as one of the Most Influential Women in 2016. In 2019 she was recognized by Estrella Mountain Community College as their Education Hero and also received BMO Bank’s Women Who Lead award.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Master’s of Administration in Public Administration.
Alan Eder
Executive Committee
Alan is a Senior State Government Affairs Representative for SRP, having served the company for three legislative sessions. Prior to SRP he served as a Senior Policy Advisor at the Arizona House of Representatives for eight years. He holds a Bachelor’s in Political Science and Spanish from the University of Arizona and a Master of Public Policy from the University of California Berkeley. Alan is an Arizona native, and in his free time, he enjoys hiking and trail running throughout the state’s mountains.
Liz Sparrow
Executive Committee
Liz Sparrow is a 36-year-old Arizona native who is the Director of Government Relations for the Arizona Automobile Dealers Association. In addition to her lobbying roles for the association, she works with Valley Auto Dealers Association in assisting with the production of the Arizona International Auto Show. She also assists with marketing for AADA’s subsidiary company eDealer Services, an innovative third-party MVD company. Currently, Liz is heading up a new AADA initiative to form a charity related venture, for the association to give back to the communities of Arizona.
Liz’s role in the Valley Auto Dealers Association allows her to work closely with charity groups in the valley such as Boys and Girls Clubs, YMCA’s and other groups contributing to bettering the community. The proceeds of the car show have benefited these groups through financial donations as well as vans and buses for the group’s transportation needs.
With a passion for serving her community, Liz has served for many years on various charity groups for 20+ years and is a cofounder of Western Heritage Scholarship Fund.
Liz’s professional background includes sales, service and finance working for Van Tuyl Automotive Group, Agency Producer and Owner of a Farmers Insurance Agency, as well as working in the restaurant industry for family-owned businesses in the valley.
Liz has a bachelor’s degree in Applied Management and a Masters of Business Administration with an emphasis in government and policy, both from Grand Canyon University.
In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, hiking, walking her dog, attending concerts, and sporting events, and traveling.