Valley Leadership has selected 114 Arizonans to be part of the inaugural class of Catalyze, a completely virtual program designed to set people up to take action in the community. The cohort represents a diverse cross-section of sectors, industries and experience.
“We’re excited to see how this inaugural cohort will impact Arizona,” said VL CEO Dave Brown. “Arizona is lucky to have such a diverse and ready-to-do set of leaders. Congratulations to our board, staff, partners and supporters as we launch our new programming with this set of outstanding leaders.”
Participants will grow their connections to the people and issues that impact Arizona, while gaining new skills and experiences. With a virtual format and multiple session dates, Catalyze participants will be able to engage when and where it works best for them – and will have the opportunity to deepen relationships through in-person and virtual social events. Each participant leaves with a commitment and a plan for how to get more engaged in the community – including through Impact Maker, a collaborative community venture housed at VL that mobilizes Arizonans to create long-term change on the issues of the day.
“Valley Leadership wants to empower every Arizonan to lead, and we’re doubling down on that commitment with the launch of Catalyze that will usher in our new programming,” said VL Board President and Catalyze participant Paul Komadina. “I’m thrilled to be part of this cohort and look forward to meeting this group and finding ways to work together to strengthen the community.”
Meet the Class:
| Anne | Ackroyd | Public Affairs and Media Relations Branch Chief | Arizona Game and Fish Department |
| Veronica | Aguilar | Assistant Vice President | Arizona State University |
| Carlos | Alfaro | Founder | Arizona Talks Foundation |
| Meka | Allen | Director of Social Work | Fresh Start Women’s Foundation |
| Minnie | Andrade | CEO/ Plan President | Molina Healthcare |
| Melissa | Armas | Operations Director | Instituto |
| Derrick | Baker | Site Administrator | Copa Health |
| Nancy | Baldwin | Trustee and Executive Director | Hickey Family Foundation |
| Joe | Barba | Director of Government Relations | Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona |
| Chad | Bays | Co-Founder / CEO | Academic Opportunity of Arizona |
| Robert | Beach | Public Relations/Marketing/Corporate Sponsor Coordinator | Arabian Horse Association of Arizona |
| Lita | Beck | Equity Issues Editor | The Arizona Republic |
| Grecia | Beltran | Operations Associate | Iconico LLC |
| Tom | Binge | Financial Advisor | Renaissance Financial |
| Jordan | Bishop | Academic Network Success Manager | InStride |
| Jaimey | Bly | Director, Business Consulting | Nationwide Insurance |
| Jason | Boatman | Realtor | Self Employed |
| KellyAnn | Bonnell | Program Manager | Pop Goes the Classroom |
| Jon | Bonnell | VP of Operations | Self-Employed |
| Stephanie | Brewer | Executive Director | Newtown Community Development Corporation |
| Vicki | Broman | President | WesBro Enterprises, LLC |
| Benedikt | Brueckle | President & CFO | CompuGroup Medical, Inc. |
| Dana | Burns | Executive Director | A Permanent Voice |
| Margo | Casselman | Associate Attorney | Perkins Coie LLP |
| Lori | Chaplin | Senior Community Representative | Brookfield Residential |
| Lea | Cheshareck Qalhashahi | Business Development Manager | Spectrum Engineers |
| Thomas | Chiang | Deputy Public Defender | Maricopa County Office of the Public Defender |
| Christina | Clarke | Compliance Manager | U.S. Bank |
| Chad | Corwin | Salt River Project (SRP) | |
| Syna | Daudfar | Resident Physician | Creighton University Arizona Health Education Alliance |
| Kimberley | Davis | Sales Team Lead | IncStores, LLC |
| Ashley | DeGooyer Lee | Senior Executive Director | American Cancer Society |
| Matthew | Ederer | Commercial Relationship Manager | U.S. Bank |
| Claire | Eichmann | Associate Attorney | Husch Blackwell LLP |
| Karen | Eulate | Site Leader | Mesa Public Schools |
| Kelsey | Evans | Director of Programs & Community Engagement | Fresh Start Women’s Foundation |
| James | Florentine | Associate | Snell & Wilmer LLP |
| Amy | Freeman | Administrator for Quality Programs | Student Choice High School |
| Greg | Geist | Market Executive | BMO Harris |
| Carlos | Goveo | Director of Operations | Trident Security Services |
| Allen | Greenberg | SVP, Marketing | The Mahoney Group |
| Lauren | Grucky | Regional Director | Massage Envy |
| Inder | Gunnala | Outreach Coordinator | US Senator Kyrsten Sinema |
| Meghan | Hays Davis | Program and Training Director | Prevent Child Abuse Arizona |
| Juana | Hernandez | Community Stewardship Representative Sr. | SRP |
| Casey | Holt | Talent Acquisition Manager | Insight Global |
| Riley | Hubbard | Audit & Assurance Senior | Deloitte and Touche |
| Jenael | Ignat | Development Manager | Cystic Fibrosis Foundation |
| Zoe | Isaac | Communications and Impact Manager | Fresh Start Women’s Foundation |
| Karen | Jayne | CEO | Stardust |
| Paula | Johnson-Hutchinson | CEO | The PH Factor Consulting Firm |
| Carrie | Kelly | Executive Director | Arizona Association for Economic Development |
| Kyle | Kniepman | Employee Benefits Consultant | MJ Insurance |
| Gizette | Knight | CEO | Reality Dreams, LLC |
| Paul | Komadina | Senior Managing Director | CBRE |
| Callie | Kozlak | Associate Superintendent of Policy & Gov Relations | Arizona Department of Education |
| Ajlan | Kurdoglu | Owner | Home Mart |
| Karyn | Lathan | Constable | University Lakes Justice Precinct |
| Melissa | Leathers | Direct Services Manager | Save the Family |
| Gladys | Lopez | Controller | Copa Health |
| Michael | Mazzocco | Owner | Michael Mazzocco Events |
| Brian | McCoy | City of Phoenix terminal supervisor | Greyhound Bus Company |
| Paulina | Menichiello | Consultant – Government and Public Services | Deloitte Consulting LLP |
| Monica | Mesa | Assistant Superintendent | Mesa Public Schools |
| Monica | Meyerand | VP, Media and Member Experience | OneAZ Credit Union |
| Eleni | Miachika | Analyst, Business Development & Investor Relations | FTV Capital |
| Richelle | Miller | General Manager, Phoenix Market | Cruise Automation |
| Mark | Moeremans | SVP Entrepreneurship & Venture Development | Arizona Commerce Authority |
| Mike | Mule | Business Banker Commercial Real Estate | Wells Fargo |
| Antonio | Newman | Chauffeur | Optime Transportation |
| Lisa | Norwood | Principal | Osborn School District/Solano Elementary School |
| Ashley | Oakley | Executive Director | Chandler Children’s Choir |
| Taryl | O’Shea | Executive Director | Arabian Horse Association of Arizona |
| Mike | Palmgren | Media Director | Catalyst Media Design |
| Thanasi | Panagiotakopoulos | Principal | LifeManaged |
| Deborah | Pearson | EVP – Chief Marketing and Experience Officer | OneAZ Credit Union |
| Rachel | Phillips | Teacher | Arizona Cultural Academy |
| Dani | Portillo | Executive Director for Teaching and Learning | Roosevelt Elementary School District |
| Linda | Qian | Communications and Media Relations Director | Intel Corporation |
| Kelli | Rael | Associate Director of Development | Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at ASU |
| Arlynn | Robertson | Training Coordinator | DES – Business Enterprise Program |
| Jeff | Rothenberg | Senior Director of Credit Operations | Mosaic |
| Kristina | Sabetta | Owner/Consultant | Sabetta Consulting, LLC |
| Hannah | Sanders | Development Officer | St. Vincent de Paul |
| Julie | Schaffer | Director of Education and Career Services | Fresh Start Women’s Foundation |
| Heath | Scheid | Managing Director | BMO Harris Bank |
| David | Scott | Regional President – Arizona | Meadows Bank |
| Joan | Serviss | Executive Director | Arizona Housing Coalition |
| Sarah | Shambrook | Government Relations Associate | Dominium |
| Max | Shanahan | Attorney | Koeller, Nebeker, Carlson, & Haluck |
| Kaitlyn | Shaw | Teacher | VillaMontessori |
| Michael | Slugocki | Attorney | Slugocki Law, PLC |
| Brittney | Snyder | Director of Development | ASU Foundation |
| Christian | Solorio | Architect | Architectural Resource Team |
| Diana | Solorio | Communications Manager | The Colibri Collective |
| Mike | Sonenberg | Unit Manager | State of Arizona |
| Paige | Soucie | Director of Client Success | Persosa |
| Kyle | Steinbuch | SVP | PNC Bank |
| Matthew | Stewart | Community Advocate | Self-Employed |
| Warren | Stewart, Jr. | Strategist | Proactive Justice |
| Lisa | Stratton | Philanthropic Advisor | Arizona Community Foundation |
| Kamal | Sumar | Associate Chief Medical Informatics Officer | Adelante Healthcare |
| Mollie | Sutherland | Internship Coordinator | Scottsdale Community College |
| Stacey | Sutherland | Director of TRUST | Arizona Anti-Trafficking Network |
| Tania | Tammaro | Client Partner – Business Outcomes | FranklinCovey |
| Ash | Uss | Executive Director | From the Ground Up |
| Jane | Van Dae | Corporate & New Business Development Researcher | Phoenix Children’s Hospital Foundation |
| Gil | Velez | Complete Care Administrator | Banner Health |
| Julie | Wechsler, Ed.D. | Phoenix Champion | Friends of the Children |
| Kaila | White | Editor | The Arizona Republic |
| Alycia | Worst | Regional Director | Copa Health |
| Jessi | Wright | Leadership and Philanthropy Coach | With An I Enterprises, LLC |
| Jessica | Yanow | Sr. Manager, Community & Health Advancement | Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona |
| Jenny | Zale | Client Partner | FranklinCovey |
