Spotlight on Leadership: Aerick Squire
Desert Foothills Leadership Academy (DFL) is a Signature Program of The Holland Center and a partnership with The Carefree-Cave Creek Chamber of Commerce. With an uptick in civic disengagement, passionate and skilled leaders are needed more than ever to make a difference in big or small ways. Once a month from March through November, DFL participants meet to explore business and civics topics that equip them with the skills, experiences, and networks needed to positively impact organizations in city government, business, nonprofit, and cultural sectors. Learn more at desertfoothillsleadership.org.
Aerick Squire: Owner, Arizona Custom Signworks. 2025 DFL graduate and “Impact” Spotlight nominee.
For months, Aerick had been reading and hearing about the importance of clear and meaningful Mission, Vision, and Values statements for the success of an organization. After a deep-dive into this concept at DFL, he saw it as a “sign” to finally develop these for his new sign & graphics business.
“I knew that putting these in writing would be important, and that if you don’t have them displayed prominently, it’s like not having them at all,” said Aerick.
So being a sign shop, he got down to business and created a series of decals and signs for his shop.
“It’s everywhere now. Decals on desks and signs on walls — even in the bathroom,” said Aerick. “This is now our standard, and I even have new hires sign a Values sheet before hiring.”
Aerick’s other big takeaways from the DFL experience: He said he is more comfortable in his own skin with people he doesn’t know, and that learning about the different civic entities on a personal level made him think differently as a community member. Also, “where else can you put your business cards in both mayors’ pockets [Cave Creek and Carefee],” said Aerick.
