The Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) is proud to announce that Susan Bitter Smith, MCCCD Governing Board President, and Lindsey Wilson, MCCCD Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, have been named 2024 Women Achievers of Arizona. Presented by the Arizona Capitol Times and State Affairs, this prestigious award recognizes over 30 remarkable women who exemplify resilience and excellence in their respective fields.
Lifelong Advocate for Higher Education
Bitter Smith is being honored in the Private and Public Companies category for her work as President of Technical Solutions, LLC. With a distinguished history in public service, Bitter Smith has been a lifelong advocate for higher education and expanding educational opportunities for students of all backgrounds.
A native Arizonan, Bitter Smith was first elected to the MCCCD Governing Board representing District 2 in 2020. She previously served as the City of Scottsdale's Vice Mayor and was the first female President of the Central Arizona Water Conservation District Board. She ran for Congress in Arizona’s 5th Congressional District and was elected to the Arizona Corporate Commission in 2012, serving as Chair in 2015.
“It is an incredible honor receiving the 2024 Women Achievers Award and nominated alongside such an outstanding group of business professionals, community leaders, colleagues, and friends,” said President Bitter Smith. “I am particularly proud that part of the rationale for this honor is my work with the tremendous Maricopa County Community College District team,” President Bitter Smith continued. “I am extremely humbled by the support of my business colleagues and fellow Governing Board Members and looking forward to continuing the partnership, collaboration, and success together in the years ahead.”
Creating Opportunity for Everyone
Recognized for her contributions to education, Wilson joined the District Marketing and Communications department in 2023. Under her leadership, the District launched “10 Colleges, Unlimited Opportunities,” a campaign focused on reframing the traditional higher education narrative—focusing on people, not profits. A data-driven decision maker, Wilson has been instrumental in spearheading the implementation of system-wide marketing technology tools that support marketing automation, data analysis, and efficiency to support the student lifecycle across the 10 colleges. Her innovative approach to branding and storytelling has garnered widespread recognition, including MCCCD’s “Start Here, Finish Here” and GateWay Community College’s (GWCC) “Dreams” campaigns.
With over two decades of experience in the private and public sectors, Wilson's tenure includes roles at GWCC, where she served as the Public Relations and Marketing Director; the City of Tempe, where she held positions managing marketing, events, and budgeting within the Parks and Recreation Department; and Desert Fitness, where she served as the Director of Marketing and Sales, leading efforts that resulted in the company being recognized as one of the top health and wellness companies in the East Valley before being acquired.
"It is an incredible honor to be recognized alongside so many remarkable women in Arizona,” said Wilson. “This award reflects the collective efforts of our team to share the transformative work happening within our system to make higher education more accessible and impactful. I am grateful for the opportunity to champion initiatives that empower our community and create meaningful impact for our students."
Both Bitter Smith and Wilson will be celebrated at the Women Achievers event on Tuesday, October 29.