Len Gutman Named Chief Development and Marketing Officer at Special Olympics Arizona

"We are excited to welcome Len to the Special Olympics Arizona team" - Jamie Heckerman

President and CEO Jamie Heckerman announced today Len Gutman has been appointed Chief Development and Marketing Officer for Special Olympics Arizona. In this role, Gutman will lead a team of fundraising and marketing professionals in support of the organization’s mission to empower the more than 180,000 Arizonans with intellectual disabilities to be healthy, productive, and respected members of society through year-round sports training, competitions, and support programs.

Gutman joins Special Olympics Arizona after spending nearly seven years with the American Heart Association, where he managed a national portfolio of prospects to support the organization’s lifesaving work.

“Len’s extensive background in the non-profit sector, through both his career work experience and volunteerism, really stand out and we are excited to welcome him to the Special Olympics Arizona team,” Heckerman said.

Prior to his time at the American Heart Association, Gutman spent more than 25 years in corporate communications and public relations roles at a variety of corporations including Life Technologies, Apollo Group, Delta Air Lines, and AlliedSignal Aerospace. He also was president of Open Door Communications, a boutique communications consulting firm with clients ranging from healthcare to real estate to hospitality and retail.

A longtime community volunteer, Gutman was named in 2003 one of the Phoenix Business Journal’s “Forty Under 40” up-and-coming young professionals and is an alumnus of the prestigious Valley Leadership program. He also is the author of Giving Time: Making a Difference in Your Community (Llumina Press 2003) and was a contributing writer and columnist for the Arizona Republic.

Gutman earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from San Jose State University and a master’s degree in English from Northern Arizona University. He resides in Central Phoenix with his wife Leslie.

“I am honored to be able to work alongside so many great people at Special Olympics Arizona and to help enrich the lives of these inspirational athletes,” Gutman said. “This truly is a wonderful organization and I can’t wait to help grow the mission and be a part of the Inclusion Revolution.”

The purpose of Special Olympics Arizona is to empower children and adults with intellectual disabilities to live healthy, fulfilling and meaningful lives. This vision of acceptance and inclusion is realized through health, leadership and advocacy programs, as well as providing year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-style sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving more opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.

For more information on Special Olympics Arizona visit www.specialolympicsarizona.org. For more information on virtual and digital programming, visit the SOAZconnected Facebook Group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/SOAZconnected/.