Anthem has the new face of its communications department. In May, John Safin was hired as Anthem’s new communications director. He replaces Kristi Northcutt, a community leader who announced …
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Anthem has the new face of its communications department.
In May, John Safin was hired as Anthem’s new communications director. He replaces Kristi Northcutt, a community leader who announced she would step down after nearly an eight-year stint with the master-planned community.
Northcutt worked her last day as head of the department in December. She left Anthem to take a role as city manager in Lindsborg, Kansas. Her new job started on Dec. 22.
But Safin shouldn’t have a steep learning curve.
A Glendale resident, Safin has done various types of marketing and public relations work for the better part of about 30 years.
He is the former president and CEO of the Southwest Valley Chamber of Commerce in Goodyear and has held roles as a marketing director and a freelance writer among others. He was also part of Carsbad Radio’s on-air talent from April 2009 to June 2012 in Carlsbad, New Mexico.
“The community of Anthem is very unique,” Safin said. “It’s like a small town that’s not a town.”
In his new role, Safin said he has hit the ground running and plans to wear many hats. He will fill the role as public information officer for the media, business liaison and a point of contact for Anthem residents.
So far, he said he has been concentrating on the nuisances of the Anthem Community Council, the community and its residents. He said one role is to serve and represent the residents of Anthem.
Del Webb Corp. founded the community of Anthem in 1999. Now, the community has about 27,000 residents and about 10,300 homes on either side of Interstate 17.
“John is a great fit for Anthem. He has a broad background with applicable experience,” said Aaron Baker, executive director of the Anthem Community Council. “His experience in communications and with the media is invaluable. It has allowed him to start contributing from day one.”
Safin agrees.
“I fit into a lot of different aspects for the community of Anthem,” Safin said.
New projects are expected to be on the horizon for the master-planned community.
An Anthem facilities master plan committee is expected to start prioritizing projects that range from indoor racquetball courts to a multipurpose performing arts center.
The plan — a strategy to add new projects over a five-year period — could include new amenities along the way. A total of 10 new project proposals have been introduced as part of the new facilities master plan.
Baker said Safin has strong leadership skills — needed attributes to help carve a path for the future of Anthem.
“It’s an amazing community,” Safin said.
Brent Ruffner Lead News Reporter | Daily Independent @AzNewsmedia
Journalism has fascinated Brent Ruffner since junior high school.
Since 2001, his stories have been published in newspapers from the Albuquerque to the Arizona and he has always had a knack for making sure his facts are right and his words are to the point.
Growing up, Brent watched as sports reporters covered his beloved Phoenix Suns, a team he followed since Charles Barkley first arrived in Phoenix via trade in 1992. Sports reporting was a dream back then.
But after gaining some writing experience, Brent found a love for news instead of covering different types of sports. In 2008, he moved to New Mexico and covered crime, schools and city beats all while holding elected officials accountable.
He covered stories that ranged from a DEA drug bust gone bad to an award-winning story on school lunches.
In Arizona, Brent was a freelance writer who covered everything from the importance of citrus in the state to Esteban owning a store in downtown Prescott.
Brent is a 2007 graduate of the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University.