Fellows Spotlight
Toni Eberhardt
(Scottsdale, 2012)
Founder & President
Prescriptive Communications
For nearly five decades, Toni Eberhardt has called Arizona home. Though she moved from the East Coast at the age of two, her childhood in central Phoenix and education in Arizona schools firmly rooted her in the Valley. She attended Xavier College Preparatory before earning her Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Arizona State University and her Master of Business Administration from Western International University.
Her early ambition was to be a marketing analyst, a goal she achieved and carried across a diverse career spanning multiple industries. Eberhardt held positions in wireless communications, financial services, pharmaceutical distribution, retail, and health care. She began with AT&T Wireless, where she spent eight years as part of the Arizona launch team and later in regional and national director roles. Other positions included roles with Bank of America, American Express, McKesson, PetSmart, and Banner Health.
After achieving her career goal of becoming a vice president of marketing, Eberhardt retired at age 48 to focus on her health and care for her mother, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Retirement was short-lived. Banner Health asked her to return as a contractor, and in response she founded Prescriptive Communications, LLC, where she serves as president and sole employee. Eberhardt’s communications firm focuses exclusively on the health care industry, serving up to eight clients at its peak.
In addition to her business, Eberhardt serves as a public information officer reservist with the Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs (DEMA). She appreciates the opportunity to apply her skills to state service in a flexible way.
“The state does not have big budgets for salaries, so the opportunity to put my experience and skills to work for the state of Arizona at a time in my life when I am not in it for the money is wonderful,” she said. The role draws on both her communications and analytical strengths while also giving her insight into how the state operates.
When asked about guiding principles, she cites a quote from President Ronald Reagan: “There is no limit to what a man can do or where he can go if he doesn’t mind who gets the credit.” For her, the words reinforce the importance of teamwork and collaboration. “It’s a powerful way to get people enthusiastically engaged which inevitably leads to success for all,” she said.
Eberhardt values the Flinn-Brown Network for its connections and shared commitment to civic leadership. She recalls being recognized at community events and introduced as a Fellow, which creates an instant bond that sparks meaningful conversations. She also finds value in the diversity of thought among Fellows.
“The Flinn network enables me to access a diversity of opinions online from ‘thinking,’ civic individuals who, like me, grew exponentially in their ability to strategically, morally and collaboratively develop solutions to balance and benefit all citizens,” she said.
Looking ahead, Eberhardt sees opportunities to strengthen civic health in Arizona through a “Whole Community” approach. She believes leaders must move away from entrenched partisanship and toward collaboration in the spirit of bipartisan figures like John McCain. Citizens, too, have a role to play. “Contacting our state and national leaders and advocating within the community is the start of being part of the solution,” she said.
Beyond her professional commitments, Eberhardt prioritizes health and fitness, animal advocacy, and international travel. She is a Phoenix Suns season ticketholder, an Orange Theory Fitness regular, and a supporter of local animal rescue efforts. She also enjoys exploring Arizona’s diverse food scene, often seeking out family-owned ethnic restaurants.
Book Recommendation
Two books I would recommend are “Worth the Fighting For” by Sen. John McCain and “If Disney Ran Your Hospital” by Fred Lee.
“Worth the Fighting For” enables the reader to understand why McCain earned the nickname of “The Maverick,” and why we need more mavericks in Congress. Service to our country and its citizens was of deep value to Sen. McCain, and while all may not agree with his political views, we should all appreciate his commitment to serving the United States and the state of Arizona, even at the risk of working across the aisle or disagreeing with the party line. He was a “thinking” politician and person, which is sorely lacking in today’s political climate.
After reading “If Disney Ran your Hospital” and suggesting it to other members of our organization’s senior leadership team at my then-employer, FastMed Urgent Care, the chief operations officer rebutted, “I ran a hospital. We can’t run them like Disney. What should they do, put nurses in Mickey Mouse costumes?”
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