Mitchell C. Laird – Chief Executive Officer
Mitch Laird received a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from Grand Canyon University in 1972. In 1976 he received his Juris Doctor degree from the Arizona State University College of Law, was admitted to the State Bar of Arizona, and founded the law firm now known as Laird & Associates P.C. He is a member of the Arizona Bar Association, Maricopa County Bar Association, and the Christian Legal Society.
In 1995 he acquired two Burger King restaurants and after 20 years as a franchisee sold his business including 32 restaurants to his son Michael. Mitch served on the Arizona State Legislature’s Advisory Committee of Business Leaders that made amendment recommendations to improve Arizona’s employment verification immigration laws and on behalf of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce gave testimony on Capitol Hill regarding those laws before the United States Congress. He has served as the President of the Southwest Franchisee Association, Chairman of the Board of the National Franchisee Association, Chairman of the Arizona Clean Elections Commission, and as a member of the board of directors of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce. In 2004 he was honored by his alma mater Grand Canyon University with an honorary Doctor of Law degree and was elected to the Grand Canyon University Alumni Hall of Fame in 2015.
Mitch’s hobbies include golf, hiking, ASU sports, travel, and family. Mitch and his wife of more than 45 years, Becki, have three sons and six grandchildren.