With the main program for the Fiesta Bowl Volunteer party at the Phoenix Zoo starting a little later than planned, Mike Lindsley almost missed the announcement that he earned the Fiesta Bowl Committee Member of the Year award.

"We were heading out for spring break, and I had a flight at 2. I went up to one of the board members and said, 'I'm leaving at 12:30,' and he said 'OK, stand by for second,'" Lindsley said.

Organizers rearranged the program to accommodate Lindsley's travel plans, giving him enough time to accept the award and say a few words before he had to head for the airport.

On the way out he called his mother because it was her influence that put him on the path to volunteering in the community.

"She was so proud and when I got in my car and told my wife and son, my son was super proud. It was so cool. I mean, I was very grateful for it, and I think it just motivates you to keep going," Lindsley said.

Lindsley, a partner in charge of the sales and marketing for the Scottsdale-based IT firm Blue Fox Group, recalls his father taking him to Fiesta Bowl games when he was young. His interest in football grew, ultimately playing on Scottsdale Saguaro High School's state championship team in 1995 before he went on to play at Missouri State University.

While he was in college, his family started volunteering with the Fiesta Bowl's hospitality suites.

"So, just from playing sports and being involved with my family, charity was always kind of ingrained with me from my parents," he said.

He returned to Arizona after college and volunteered for several years with the Valley's oldest philanthropic organization, the Phoenix 20-30 Club, which serves underprivileged children.

"You just felt that camaraderie being around the people and you're doing something fun. At the same time, you're raising money for good causes," he said.

As he reached his early 30s, some friends, knowing of his love for the game and philanthropy, planted the idea that the Fiesta Bowl Organization would be a good fit.

"They're like, 'Why don't you come check this out. We'll sponsor you,'" he said.

Early on, his approach was to do what he was asked and raise money. The reward was additional responsibilities helping to run practice facilities for participating teams.

After a time, he reached a crossroad: Would he continue just being a part of things or would he work to improve things?

"I'd had such an investment in the Fiesta Bowl over the last 10 or 12 years, and really the last few years I wanted to get into more leadership opportunities," Lindsley said. "I had a son, and it was important for him to see me doing good things in the community."

This year, he helped head the Charitable Giving Committee, which reviews requests and awards grants to deserving nonprofit organizations and led bringing in the next wave of Fiesta Bowl Yellow Jackets as recruiting commissioner.

Learning about how Fiesta Bowl Charities grant funding would be implemented by grant recipients was appealing to Lindsley.

"It was so interesting to get to know who the people are, what are their stories, why are they asking for funding, how important is it for them to receive these funds? I was taken aback by the impacts that we were able to make."

Making phone calls last fall on Palo Verde Fiesta Bowl Charities Wishes for Teachers Draft Day presented by SRP touched him personally as he listened to the reactions from teachers who received $2,500 for their classrooms.

"It was really special because my mom was a teacher in the Scottsdale School District for 20-plus years. We've always had discussions over the years about how they're underfunded and how they have to spend their own money on not the highest of salaries," Lindsley said. "What the Fiesta Bowl Wishes for Teachers does really makes a difference, and the teachers I called were so grateful." 

Internally, some of his most important work involved Fiesta Futures and revamping the recruiting process to ensure a robust talent pipeline continues to serve as Yellow Jacket Committee members.

Continuing the Fiesta Bowl's reputation for unmatched hospitality and producing high-quality events will be vital for the organization especially as the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl transitions into a new era of college football. Managing elite college football postseason games and the year-round slate of events is a hallmark of Yellow Jacket Committee activities.

"The goal was always to make the experience for the players and the teams better than any other bowl out there. That's always been the mindset and it continues to be there," Lindsley said. "Our same philosophy is in place for events such as the Par 3 Challenge, Fiesta Bowl Parade and Kickoff Luncheon when we host our guests with first-class treatment."