Don Cardon, Founder and CEO of CDG, drives the vision, project initiation, public outreach, and capital structure - including public debt and equity—for all CDG projects. He is known for his disruptive approach of forging private-public partnerships, known as P3’s, to enable developments that for a variety of reasons have failed to be realized. Understanding the unique pathways required to not only envision what ‘could be,’ but more importantly how to actually see them come to reality, is what sets CDG apart. Whether it is the advancement of affordable housing projects, scaled mixed-use projects, the development of retail, hospitality or economic development initiatives, Don has a proven track record for charting the viable pathway to success. Included in this is the development of the Williston Basin International Airport (XWA), which was the first FAA International Airport created from a greenfield site in the U.S. for nearly two decades.

In the end, CDG succeeds where unfortunately others have failed.

Perhaps most notably, in 2006, Don’s vision of the CityScape development in downtown Phoenix—a $1 billion mixed-use project and the largest public/private mixed-use investment in the city’s downtown history, truly reshaped the heart of the city.

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer took notice of Don’s unique ability to make these impossibilities possible and recruited him in 2009 to lead the state’s global economic efforts as the Director of Arizona’s Department of Commerce. Through a vision to privatize the State’s approach, Don and other visionaries transitioned the Department of Commerce into a globally competitive powerhouse, and in doing so helped the state earn the impressive title as the most entrepreneurial business environment in the country by the Kauffman Report. After less than three years of service, Don specifically earned national attention by transforming the Department of Commerce into a private entity, known today as the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA). He served as the ACA’s founding CEO until he returned to his private sector company in 2012.

Don has more than 20 years of high-level public administrator experience in addition to his 30+ years of experience driving successful private sector real estate development. He has been named one of the Top 25 CEO’s in Arizona by the Arizona Business Journal for his vision, successes, and company cultural values, and he is a frequent author and speaker on building successful private-public partnerships throughout the globe.

Today, Don travels the world and shares with groups and business leaders alike the passion he holds for empowering our dreams, owning our lives, and advancing the visions we uniquely possess. Don and his wife of 40+ years - Kim, have three beautiful children - Emma, Aaron, and Joseph. Residing in AZ, they are heavily involved in their faith, philanthropy and championing the passions of their children and those in need.