With a Focus on Our Legacy…
We Exist to Enhance our Village
The History of Our Village
Our Defining Principles:
Connection :: Collaboration :: Service :: Enduring Positive Impact
Building a Stronger Community: A Framework for Success
A thriving community requires thoughtful planning, responsible leadership, and a commitment to shared goals. Our organization is dedicated to overseeing improvement projects that enhance the quality of life for residents, strengthen local businesses, and create a welcoming environment for visitors. Our approach is built on four key pillars:
1. Integrity & Accountability
We hold ourselves to the highest ethical standards. Every decision is made with the best interests of the community in mind, and we take full responsibility for the outcomes of our projects. Our commitment to transparency ensures that residents are informed and involved every step of the way.
2. Clear & Open Communication
Strong communities are built on trust, and trust begins with communication. We provide timely updates, listen to feedback, and encourage open discussions. Whether through community meetings, online updates, or direct conversations, we ensure that every voice is heard and valued.
3. Careful Planning & Execution
Every project begins with a clear vision and a well-researched plan. We set achievable goals, allocate resources wisely, and maintain meticulous records to track progress. By anticipating challenges and adapting as needed, we ensure that projects are completed efficiently and successfully.
4. Lasting Impact & Stewardship
Our work is not just about the present—it’s about the future. We invest in improvements that benefit generations to come, maintain high standards for quality, and ensure that completed projects continue to serve the community’s needs for years to come.
By upholding these principles, we aim to build a stronger, more connected, and more vibrant community—one project at a time.
About SVMSP
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The Sedona Village Main Street Partnership was established in 2009 when the Big Park Council expected to apply for and obtain federal funding available for unincorporated villages.
That formal and official name has continued to this day, but the organization was known informally for a time as the Vision Alliance, then more recently with the informal and provisional name of the Sedona Village Partnership (SVP). -
An Opportunity Existed
In the early 2000s, former Big Park Council president, the late Dr. Mel Copen, clearly saw the opportunity to unite the Village. As a result of Mel’s inspiration, Sedona Village Main Street Partnership was created in 2009. Anchored by our core values: Connect, Respect, Collaborate, and Accomplish, our shared purpose is: “To serve as a catalyst to inspire thoughtful leadership and informed action in our community, to forge collaborative relationships, to build trust, to exchange ideas and information, and to find solutions for Village challenges as well as our dreams.” This is aptly summarized in our vision statement: “Connecting the Community.”
Sedona Village Main Street Partnership is an Arizona nonprofit corporation and a federal 501(c) (3) charitable organization. We are governed by a Board of Directors that sets annual priorities and makes financial decisions.
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Click here to visit the Our Village Art website: https://www.ourvillageart.org
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Thanks to the generosity of Village of Oak Creek philanthropists Rob and Alix Schaefer, the first of two approved artworks for the VOC roundabouts has been fully funded by their generous donation of $110,000.
The Schaefers explained that by fully funding Village Treasures, created by artist Reagan Word, they hope to energize the community fundraising effort – inspiring other donors to make an investment in beautifying the community with public art in the roundabouts. They are dedicating Village Treasures to all volunteers, past and present, who have contributed time, talent and resources to make the Village an inviting community.
Rob and Alix Schaefer’s donation brought our fundraising total to 100% of SVMSP’s goal for the first two roundabout artworks at Jacks Canyon/Verde Valley School Road and SR179 and Cortez Road/SR179.
Donors Rob and Alix Schaefer with artist Reagan Word
The SVMSP Directors
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David Gill
PRESIDENT
David is a founding member of the Partnership. He has served as President, Vice President and after serving as Treasurer for a few years, was recently re-elected President.
David’s work history includes finance, real estate development and business development, both as an entrepreneur and for major national corporations.
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Dave Norton
DIRECTOR
Formerly a City of Phoenix police Sergeant, Dave has twenty-eight years' experience in the practice of real estate and sixteen years in HOA management.
Dave has served as a certified Real Estate Special Commissioner for the Maricopa County, and has been an active member of the Big Park Council here in the Village of Oak Creek and an OLLI instructor. -
Paul Butler
SECRETARY
Paul, originally from Tucson, Arizona, joined the US Navy in 1978, entered pilot training, and completed a distinguished career as a naval aviator, accumulating over 1,000 flight hours and 300 aircraft carrier landings.
Paul retired from the US Navy as a Commander in 1995, acquired his California real estate license and specialized in the marketing and sale of residential properties for 35 years.
Paul and his wife Mary relocated to the Village of Oak Creek in 2024. He has been an active Rotarian since 2000, and in 2025 joined the Rotary Club of Sedona Village.
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Rob Schaefer
VICE PRESIDENT
Robert L. Schaefer retired from Teledyne Technologies Incorporated in 2013 as the Vice President - Contracts, Associate General Counsel, and Assistant Secretary; and, Vice President and General Counsel for its Digital Imaging, Instrumentation, and Aerospace & Defense Electronics Segments.
Rob retired as the Air Force Chief Trial Attorney, in 1990, with the rank of Colonel. He joined the Hughes Missile Systems Company as Assistant Group Counsel, where he was responsible for legal affairs at its headquarters and engineering facility.
A Past Chair of the Section of Public Contract law and a Council Member in both the Section of Public Contract Law and the Government and Public Sector Lawyers Division in the American Bar Association, Rob has been an officer in the National Contract Management and the Federal Bar Associations, and is a past President of the Armed Services Contract Trial Lawyers Association and the Boards of Contract Appeals Bar Association.
Since 2017, Rob has been an active member of the Rotary Club of Sedona Village. -
Doug Leuthold
TREASURER
Doug, a graduate engineer and MBA, retired to Sedona in 2023. Doug gained valuable insight into business cost and scheduling management during his early career, working for the Bechtel Group for 13 years in various projects across the US and around the world.
In 1991 he became the president and owner of Advanced Fiber Technology, specializing in cellulose insulation and industrial fiber technology.
Doug was an active volunteer in Ohio throughout his working life, with notable achievements and recognition for his support of county initiatives and YMCA renovation projects.
He continues his active volunteer efforts in Sedona, supporting the Sedona Film Festival and now as treasurer of the Sedona Village Main Street Partnerhip’s Art in the Roundabouts project.