A community of people strengthening the nonprofits that strengthen Tucson.

Bruce Friedman and his wife, Julie Goddard, retired to Tucson from Detroit, Michigan in 2019. He became an SVP Partner in 2023 and has been involved in several projects since then, including service as a Fast Pitch mentor for a member of the class of 2024.

After graduating with a double degree in History and English from Emory University, Bruce received his J.D. from Case Western Reserve University School of Law, where he was a Clinton Dewitt Scholar, and practiced Labor & Employment law in Cleveland, Ohio and Atlanta, Georgia. Bruce eventually joined a Fortune 100 client in its legal department, then moved into the company's business operations, where he spent the majority of his career as a Managing Director and Vice President of Global Operations.

He spent the last eight years of his career as the Chief Operating Officer of a privately held technology company.

Responsible for operations across more than 45 countries, Bruce developed strong expertise in Business Process Reengineering, Business Transformation, Organizational Development, and Acquisitions. During his career, Bruce participated in additional coursework with the London Business School, Duke's Fuqua School of Business, and the MIT Sloan School of Management. Upon his retirement, he began consulting with SMB clients across several industries.

Throughout his adult life, Bruce has been involved in several philanthropic organizations, including service on the Boards of the Vogel Alcove in Dallas, Texas, and the Detroit Institute for Children, where he was Board Chair for several years. He also served on the Board of his employer's Charitable Foundation for two terms.

Bruce and Julie have four children between them. Bruce spends his free time skiing, cycling, playing golf, cooking, and traveling.

Originally from Chicago, Peggy worked for more than 40 years in the food and healthcare industries as a dietitian and nutritionist. She has served on several nonprofit boards, including Senior Meals, a local library, and the University of Illinois Extension Board. After serving for many years on the board of her food manufacturing company, Peggy became interested in how the skills of the for-profit and nonprofit worlds could come together to create stronger organizations.

After several conventions and vacations in Tucson, Peggy and her late husband, Steve, decided this was where they wanted to settle. She was drawn to Tucson's culture, university, mountains, arts community, and strong tradition of generosity.

Peggy has been generous with her philanthropic giving to many local organizations and believes strongly in sharing resources to help address community-level challenges. She has seen firsthand the power of collaboration in business and how working together can solve problems on a larger scale.

Peggy has helped lead SVP Tucson's 2Gen Collaboration focusing on family support and social capital development. She previously served on the Fast Pitch Selection Committee for three years and has also served as an SVP coach and advisory-team member.

In her spare time, Peggy enjoys reading nonfiction and historical fiction, hiking, traveling, playing the piano, and cooking.

Originally from Chicago, Steve Witthoeft retired to Tucson in 2015 with his wife, Diane. Steve's educational background includes an undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering and a Master of Business Administration.

Steve had a varied career in the oil and chemical industries and held positions as a Chemical Engineer, Business Director, Vice President of Global Sales, Vice President of Research and Development, and Chief Executive. He has extensive international experience, having worked for several European companies and conducted business in more than 40 countries.

Since retirement, Steve has been involved in several philanthropic and civic activities. His philanthropic interests focus on helping the community through mentoring and working with nonprofits, particularly in vocational education.

In Tucson and across Arizona, Steve has served as President of the Rotary Club of Oro Valley, Board Chair of Professional Employment Exploration and Resource Services, Board Vice President of Edge High School, Vocational Committee Chair for Rotary District 5500, and a Board Member of the statewide Rotary Vocational Fund of Arizona.

As an SVP Tucson Partner, Steve has served as a Coach, Sponsorship and Marketing Chair for Fast Pitch, and as a member of Assessment and Investment committees. He has also served as SVP's Lead Partner for Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona.

In his leisure time, Steve enjoys golfing, hiking, biking, and traveling.