Scott Yath Charts Anthem’s Economic Evolution
Writer Shannon Severson // Photography by Loralei Lazurek
From its beginnings as a master-planned community to a dynamic economic hub at the edge of a thriving international semiconductor industry, Anthem has successfully navigated plenty of change since the first home was completed in 2001.
As Phoenix cements its spot in the top 10 most preferred markets for investors, according to a 2023 CBRE survey, the Anthem Area Chamber of Commerce faces both opportunity and challenge. These include retaining the charm and appealing small-town feel of the community, supporting small businesses and maximizing the many pathways to prosperity as connections are built and sustained with the public and wider business community.
Scott Yath — pronounced “Yoth” — takes office as president of the Anthem Area Chamber of Commerce at this crucial moment. He and the board are energized and ready to execute their strategic vision and new initiatives to take this growing suburb forward while preserving its unique character.
“As current chamber president, I don’t want to just reset year after year,” Yath emphasizes. “I want to make a lasting imprint. We put together a five-year vision for what it will look like as the area grows. Anthem has a really cool charm to it. We don’t want to lose that charm; at the same time, the facts are that we are going to be absorbed by the rest of Phoenix eventually. How do we make that blend successful?”
The answer, Yath says, is found in collaboration with the Anthem Community Council, the local community and the city of Phoenix. Getting involved in the conversation about Phoenix’s future — whose population grew by 200,000 residents from 2020 to 2023 — will give Anthem a seat at the table and potentially a voice in the planning process.
A five-year plan that balances preservation and innovation is shared by the leadership team of the Anthem Area Chamber of Commerce. It’s influenced by Yath’s extensive background in small business and real estate and his own family’s economic and personal stake in the success of Anthem.
He and his wife, Dr. Thuy Yath, own Better Vision Eyecare in Anthem — a modern, full-service optometry practice. There, they take pride in educating the community about the importance of eye health and eye care and offering specialized treatments to preserve vision. The practice provides comprehensive eye exams, treatment for eye diseases and a curated selection of designer frames.
“I knew right away when we bought the practice that we wanted to get involved,” Yath says of the community where he and his wife have settled with their three children. “I grew up in a small-business family. I saw where they struggled and where they succeeded. The chamber has been warm and welcoming; many have become our personal friends. The business-to-business relationships we’ve built were some of our first clients and helped us build our practice. I didn’t go in thinking I would be president, but it happened that way.”
Yath’s own path began in a hardworking, multigenerational family that owned and operated doughnut shops; he went on to coach ice hockey with the Anaheim Ducks organization for 14 years.
Here in Arizona, he shifted to practicing residential real estate but maintains his involvement in coaching youth sports. He coaches ice hockey at Pinnacle High School, where all four teams made state championships for the first time in program history, with three of the four winning top honors. Not confined to the ice, he also coaches middle school golf and girls’ volleyball at Anthem Preparatory Academy.
Both Scott and Thuy have a heart for service — volunteering at their children’s school, at church and in their own professional spheres. Thuy was elected to the Arizona Optometric Association’s Board of Directors, and Scott is a board member of the Arizona High School Hockey Association.
“We couldn’t be more honored to have the opportunity to serve our community,” he says. “It’s been very rewarding. God has given us a lot of blessings and we are called to do our part.”
As the Yath family established relationships in the community and with fellow local business owners, the small-town nature of Anthem that attracted them has stayed at the forefront of the plan Yath and chamber leadership have for the community.
“I don’t want the chamber to be just another networking group,” he asserts. “We want to facilitate local businesses to be part of engaging the community and create more exposure for residents to find their favorite local businesses right here in Anthem.”
Part of local collaboration will involve improving the working relationship with the Anthem Community Council as well as with the city of Phoenix.
“We want to reach out and get involved,” Yath says. “We need to determine what economy can be sustained and what is coming our way, whether we like it or not.”
Yath’s real estate career has given him insight into helping distressed owners, investors and the economic landscape of the area. One of the chamber’s goals will be to create grants for small businesses, growing the footprint and impact of the organization.
An example of that expanding influence will be evident to the public in two major events the chamber plans to hold in coordination with the Anthem Community Council.
The chamber already has a presence at the two big community events during the year: Anthem Days and Trunk ‘n’ Treat. Now, Yath has a vision for two entirely new events that are both beneficial for business-to-business relationships and engage the public.
“We want staple events that both businesses and the community can look forward to, in addition to the popular Anthem Days and Trunk ‘n’ Treat,” he notes.
Economic development goals include maximizing the chamber’s foothold in the digital space — placing resources directly into the hands of potential patrons.
“The Yellow Pages used to stay in households all year long,” Yath observes. “We want to find a platform with the same information that is digital, like apps where an ad might pop up to get eyes on the chamber, its events and its members. We have all sorts of great programs, but people need to know the chamber exists and what we do.”
That community outreach extends to investment plans, which Yath says he is especially passionate about. The chamber is creating scholarships for young entrepreneurs and would like to have a business expo at local schools.
“I envision a challenge for middle and high school entrepreneurs,” he says with palpable excitement in his voice. “It could be similar to ‘Shark Tank’ in some ways. Those winners could win a scholarship or grant given by the Anthem Area Chamber of Commerce or sponsored by chamber members. I still see lemonade stands out there, and I love it! I want to promote that mentality. It would be great to be able to say that a business started in Anthem and was supported from the start.”
To empower local businesses, the chamber wants to be a digital and physical resource center for the public and nonmembers to engage with current members to publicize both the benefits of membership and how businesses can connect and help each other.
“In my own small business, I like to say I don’t look at anyone as competition, more as ‘co-opetition,’” he says. “You’re not really competing because so many potential customers are here — Anthem has more than 25,000 residents. We aren’t looking for the same dollar. Everyone has different needs and is serving different categories.”
He’d like the chamber and chamber website to stand as a user-friendly resource, whether to find a business, start a business or for business services.
With a dedicated leadership team, Yath is looking forward to charting a positive future for Anthem’s small businesses and to using the leadership skills he has developed throughout his career.
“I watched the work ethic of my parents, and my leadership style also stems from coaching,” Yath says. “When I step into leadership, I try to get the best out of everybody with motivation, encouragement and constructive criticism. We also have our kids helping out at Better Vision with small tasks.
“One thing I’ve learned from coaching for so many years is that I can’t get an 8-year-old to do what an athlete getting $10 million will do, so I learned to talk to both personalities and mentalities and show respect to each. ‘How can I help you do it better?’ When we help each other, everybody wins.”
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