Our Business Structure
The Arizona – Sonora Manufacturing Initiative is a network of experts who are committed to increasing the economic growth and vitality of our region and the companies who operate here. The independent businesses and different expertise areas of our team members and associates provide services that, combined, offer a complement of capabilities needed to get things done, quickly, efficiently and effectively.
The Arizona – Sonora Manufacturing Initiative is organized in the State of Arizona as a Limited Liability Corporation (LLC).
- The LLC members and associates of ASMI share a common passion to contribute to the economic growth of our region through successful business enterprise.
- We dedicate a portion of our resources and time to further advancing the economic well-being of our region on a pro-bono basis.
ASMI Leadership
Wendy Vittori, President and Co-founder
Wendy Vittori has been engaged in Arizona-Sonora region high technology business, manufacturing and economic development activities for the past decade. As a division general manager for the Intel Corporation, and most recently as corporate vice president and general manager of the Motorola Computer Group, she has started and led several successful computer businesses. Her introduction to Sonora was in establishing a new computer server manufacturing facility in Nogales, Sonora. She is a member of the Executive Committee of the Arizona-Mexico Commission, and was appointed by Gov. Janet Napolitano as a member of the Arizona Governor’s Council on Innovation and Technology. Previously she was an assistant professor in strategy and entrepreneurship at Northeastern University in Boston, while she was a doctoral candidate in those fields at the Harvard Business School. She received her undergraduate degree from Harvard College and her M.B.A. from Northeastern University.
In addition to her work with ASMI, Wendy also works with individual clients on strategy development and improving business results. For further information visit www.vittoriconsulting.com.
Gil Jimenez, Co-founder
Gil Jimenez is a co-founder of ASMI. He was appointed by Governor Janet Napolitano as director of the Arizona Department of Commerce, when she took office in 2003, retiring at the conclusion of her first term, in 2007. In his capacity as director of commerce, Mr. Jimenez strongly championed a regional economic development collaboration between Arizona and Sonora. Among many accomplishments during his tenure as director, he helped create the Governor’s Council on Innovation and Technology, and was a member of the Board of the Arizona-Mexico Commission, co-chairing the bi-national Economic Development Committee. Prior to serving in Gov. Napolitano’s administration, Mr. Jimenez has been engaged for over 30 years in international, commercial and corporate banking, where he has held senior management positions in Mexico, Europe, Asia and the United States. Previously he was senior vice president and regional manager for Mexico/Latin America with Bank One. He received his undergraduate degree in finance and real estate from Arizona State University and attended graduate studies in corporate finance at UCLA and Harvard.
ASMI is dedicated to providing the most up-to-date capabilities to support small and midsize manufacturers. Our team of Learning Solutions Specialists have extensive, real-world experience in all aspects of owning and operating manufacturing companies.
Customer Development: Wendy Vittori
Operations: Steve Somers, Jo Farrington, Donovan Hardenbrook
Sustainability: Steve Somers
Innovation: Steve Somers, Wendy Vittori
Marketing & Communications: Rick Gimbel
Financial Management: Allen Engstrom, Kelly Conley
Developing Human Potential: Janice Miller
Leadership: Wendy Vittori, Janice Miller