The Fiesta Bowl is well-known for the hospitality and community involvement of its Yellow Jacket Committee. Leading the group for the 2021-22 season as the Yellow Jacket Committee Chair is North 32nd resident Andy Western, who served as Chair-Elect in the 50th anniversary season in 2020-21.
“Andy Western’s contributions to the Yellow Jacket Committee have been widespread and he is well-respected by all of us in the Fiesta Bowl family,” says Patrick Barkley, Chair of the Fiesta Bowl Board of Directors. “We count on the Yellow Jacket Committee in so many ways, with our success directly related to an engaged Committee. I know that under Andy’s leadership this will be a special year by our Yellow Jackets.”
As Yellow Jacket Committee Chair, Western will lead the fundraising and participation efforts of this year’s committee, which is comprised of 132 community leaders who volunteer their time to work with sponsors, volunteers, staff and the board of directors to support the Fiesta Bowl and its numerous events throughout the year. The committee annually raises $3 million or more and helps to successfully execute all Fiesta Bowl events and charitable giving efforts.
“The Fiesta Bowl Yellow Jacket Committee is an amazing group of men and women who are committed to making a positive impact in our Arizona communities and delivering world class hospitality to our guests,” Western says. “It is a privilege for us to proudly wear our Yellow Jackets and a tremendous honor for me to be named the 51st Chair of the Yellow Jacket Committee. I am incredibly excited for this season and what the Fiesta Bowl Organization and the Yellow Jacket Committee will be able to accomplish.”
Western has been a standout member of the Yellow Jacket Committee since 2014, winning Yellow Jacket Member of the Year in 2018. During his ascension within the Committee, he served in leadership positions as Game Operations Chair for the PlayStation® Fiesta Bowl and then-Cheez-It Bowl in the 2019-20 season, Chair of the Aerospace Challenge in 2017-18, Sales Commissioner, Futures Commissioner and a three-time sales coach. A native Phoenician and fifth-generation Arizonan, Western is a partner in the corporate group at Osborn Maledon, where he advises clients on business transactions, as well as serving as outside general counsel to entrepreneurs and business owners. Living in North 32nd with his wife and daughters, Western graduated from Santa Clara University with degrees in political science and economics before earning a J.D. from UCLA School of Law.
Through the PlayStation® Fiesta Bowl, Guaranteed Rate Bowl and events such as the Desert Financial Fiesta Bowl Parade, corporate partnerships and numerous community events throughout the year, Fiesta Bowl Charities has granted $16 million in charitable giving the last five years alone and $21 million to the Arizona community in the last 10 years. Learn more at FiestaBowl.org.
