Dennis E. (Denny) Mitchem, 87, passed away on August 29, 2018.  Denny served in the Air Force where he achieved the rank of lieutenant. After his military service, he completed his college degree at the University of Nebraska.  He began working for Arthur Andersen and Company in 1952 as an Accountant, Auditor, and Consultant and served there for forty years. In 1958, he helped open Andersen's Phoenix Office and later was admitted as a partner. Denny is a past chairman of the Arizona Society of Certified Public Accountants. From 1992 through 1994, Denny was the manager of the Resolutions Trust Corporation financial processing center in Denver. In 1994 he moved to Moscow as the Manager of the Local Privatization Center project for United States Agency for International Development. When he returned to Phoenix from Russia, he served for over two years as the executive director of Valley of the Sun Habitat for Humanity. In late 1998, Denny joined NAU as Director of Corporate Relations. He spearheaded NAU's corporate development activities reaching out to Arizona business leaders to assist the college in formulating objectives and securing resources necessary to achieve them. He retired in 2010 but continued to serve as a volunteer. He also served as the chairman of the audit committee and board member of a successful publicly held corporation which was sold to foreign investors in 2007 for $3.5 billion. Denny also served the United States Agency for International Development as a consultant relative to the emerging accounting professions in southeast Europe. During his years in the Valley, Denny was very active in the community. He helped found Valley Leadership, Greater Phoenix Leadership, Herberger Theater, ASU College of Business Council of 100, Economic Club of Phoenix, Citizens Transportation Council, Downtown Crime Task Force, Phoenix Community Alliance, Downtown Phoenix Partnership, and YES on 400. His past Chairmanships include Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, Visitors and Convention Bureau, Citizens Bond Committee, Residents for Safe and Efficient Transportation, Valley of the Sun United Way Campaign and Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation. He served Goodwill Industries of Arizona for over forty years and in 2015 they named the Dennis E. Mitchem (Denny) Strategy Room in their corporate headquarters after him to recognize his service. Dennis is survived by his wife Betty, four children, seven grandchildren and a great-granddaughter. He was preceded in death by a grandson and sister. His services will be at the First United Methodist Church at 5510 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85012 on Friday September 28th at 10am. Please do not send flowers. If you want to do something, he has an endowed scholarship at the Northern Arizona University Foundation. Memorial gifts may be directed to the NAU Foundation online or via mail. Mail checks to NAU Foundation, PO Box 4094, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, and write "Fund 1599 in memory of Dennis Mitchem" in the memo line. Or, make a secure online gift at alumni.nau.edu/giving . Select fund 1599, "Mitchem Family Scholarship," and in the comment box, type "In memory of Dennis Mitchem." Or you could make a contribution at the First United Methodist Church. (Source: Arizona Central)