The Story
Plan A was never the plan.
Michelle R. Hess built her executive career in the public arena, serving the City of Buckeye during a season of rapid growth and complex change. Budgets were tight. Expectations were high. The stakes were visible. It was there she learned that leadership is rarely linear and almost never comfortable.
Over time, she became known less for the title she held and more for the questions she asked. In council chambers and strategy sessions, she had a habit of cutting through noise and surfacing clarity.
Then came a defining shift.
Elections are public. Wins are visible. Losses are even more so.
When an election did not go her way, Michelle faced a season many leaders quietly fear: transition without a title. Influence without a platform. Identity tested in real time.
Seasons change. Roles shift. Character remains.
Rather than retreat, she leaned into curiosity. She studied failure. She asked better questions. She chose to see loss not as an ending, but as refinement.
That season shaped the work she does today.
Michelle now partners with cities, executive teams, and mission-driven organizations navigating growth, pressure, and reinvention. She designs leadership pipelines, strengthens culture, and equips leaders to carry responsibility without losing themselves.
Her mission is simple:
Ask better questions to bring out the best in people and organizations.
Because strong leadership is not defined by uninterrupted success. It is defined by clarity, resilience, and the courage to continue when seasons change.
Michelle Hess is a trusted leader and former Buckeye Councilmember with over 20 years of experience collaborating across business, government, and community sectors. She has built a reputation for guiding individuals, teams, and organizations through seasons of transition, helping them find clarity, confidence, and forward momentum in times of change. A collaborative, well connected, and strategic minded professional, Michelle has a proven ability to reinforce reputation and positioning, address and resolve complex issues, and influence outcomes that shape critical policies and long term plans.
Recognized for fostering strong relationships and building consensus. she brings a steady and insightful presence that delivers results and lasting impact for the communities and organizations she serves. Michelle brings clarity, focus, and forward momentum to individuals and organizations navigating the challenges of leadership and change.
EXPERIENCE
Michelle R. Hess has spent almost two decades serving at the center of Arizona’s civic, educational, and workforce ecosystems. Her leadership has extended from municipal government to statewide policy, higher education boards, and regional workforce strategy.
She served twelve years on the Buckeye City Council, including two terms as Vice Mayor, helping guide one of the fastest growing cities in the country through seasons of expansion, infrastructure investment, and long-range planning.
Her board service reflects both trust and influence. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Flinn Foundation, Grand Canyon University’s College of Doctoral Studies, and the WESTMARC Workforce Development Foundation. Her past work includes regional and national policy committees with the Arizona League of Cities and Towns, the National League of Cities, Maricopa County advisory boards, and public safety retirement governance.
Along the way, she has been recognized as a Phoenix Business Journal 40 Under 40 honoree and named one of AZ Big Media’s Business Leaders to Watch.
Michelle’s academic foundation includes a Master’s degree in Strategic Ministry, a Bachelor’s degree earned summa cum laude, executive coursework at Harvard University in State and Local Government, and designation as a Flinn Brown Fellow. She is also a certified facilitator in both Personality Lingo and Primal Question Coaching, equipping her to guide individuals and organizations through clarity, culture alignment, and growth.
Her experience is not just about positions held. It is about rooms led, decisions shaped, leaders developed, and systems strengthened for the long term.