Man and Woman of the Year

woman of the year, 2021

Dawn Giles

Dawn Giles has resided in Mesa since 1984. After graduating from BYU with a degree in public health education, she relocated to Mesa with her husband John. Since coming to Mesa, Dawn has been involved with several organizations focused on children’s health and nutrition issues including the Mesa Public Schools Health Advisory Board and PTO’s serving the neighborhood schools that her children attended. Since 1992 she has also been a volunteer for the Mesa Public Schools’ Art Masterpiece program and has served on its’ advisory council since 2003.

In addition, Dawn has been involved in several community health advocacy organizations including the American Heart Association and Building a Healthier Mesa and has a keen interest in public health education. In the 1990’s she worked with a number of community leaders to promote a non-smoking ordinance in Mesa. This grassroots effort led to the City of Mesa adopting one of the first comprehensive non-smoking ordinances in the State of Arizona.

More recently she has been very active with the Mesa I.d.e.a.Museum. Founded in 1978’s as the Arizona Museum for Youth, it was the first museum in the State focused on children’s arts education. Located in downtown Mesa, this facility and its programs have served as a national model for other art centered children’s museums. This City owned and operated facility was renamed the I.d.e.a. Museum in 2014. Since 2015 Dawn has been an active member of the Foundation that serves to promote the Museum in conjunction with the city. She has served as the Chair of the Foundation’s Board of Directors and is currently the Chair of a standing committee promoting the expansion of the facility. Dawn has been a tireless fundraiser for I.d.e.a. Museum programs and was involved in a successful effort to obtain additional capital funding for the facility in a recent City of Mesa bond election. Dawn is often called upon for advice on community advocacy efforts and is always willing to share her expertise with new leaders in the community.

She is married to the current Mayor of Mesa, John Giles. He was elected Mayor in 2014 and previously served on the Mesa City Council from 1998-2002. Dawn and John have 5 children and eight grandchildren.

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Vern Mathern is also a long-time resident of Mesa. He was both a military and civilian helicopter pilot. During and after his career at the Boeing facility in Northeast Mesa, Vern fully embraced volunteer service in the Mesa community. This volunteer service includes leadership roles in a variety of City of Mesa and community based non- profit organizations. He served as the Mesa Transportation Advisory Board Chair, the Mesa Leadership and Development Program Alumni Chair, Alta Mesa Homeowners Association Board President, City of Mesa Economic Development Advisory Board (EDAB) and had a variety of leadership positions with the Mesa Arts Center Foundation.

Vern has been an active Rotarian and a member of the Mesa Ho Ho Kams. He is also a volunteer and financial supporter for the Mesa United Way, the Mesa Sister City Association and the Mesa Chamber of Commerce. One of his many volunteer colleagues noted that he is always willing to assume leadership positions, stating that “I have never seen Vern on any Board where he did not assume some sort of leadership role. He is tireless advocate for community betterments”. Vern has two adult children, and one grandchild.