Superintendent
Tempe Union High School District
500 West Guadalupe Road
Tempe, AZ 85283
480-345-3701
Email: sadolph@tuhsd.k12.az.us
Steve Adolph’s philosophy has always been to “do what’s best for the kids.” In his duties as Superintendent of the Tempe Union High School District (a role he has held since July 2007) the ties he originally established with the Tempe and Kyrene communities as a freshman student at Marcos de Niza High School have only strengthened.
Prior to being named Superintendent, Mr. Adolph served the Tempe Union High School District in an administrative capacity for 14 years—as Assistant Principal at Corona del Sol High School, as Principal at Marcos de Niza High School and as Associate Superintendent.
A graduate of Arizona State University, Mr. Adolph began his career in education as a classroom Social Studies teacher.
Mr. Adolph and his wife Renee, who is also an educator, have two children and two grandchildren.
You never need to offer Carlie Back a map to the South Mountain and Laveen areas. After all, this real estate agent for John Hall & Associates has put thousands of miles on her car as she specializes in properties within these square miles day in and day out.
Known for her energy and eagerness, Carlie is active in numerous areas of her community. She is a former President of the South Mountain/Laveen Chamber of Commerce, a long-time board member of the South Mountain Village Clean
and Beautiful, is on Rio Salado Citizens Advisory Group, and citizen Advisory Group of the South Mountain Transportation Corridor Study. In addition, Carlie is a member of the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce Board, and is on the South Mountain Jazz Festival Committee.
She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing from Arizona State University.
She enjoys Toastmasters, and, occasionally, you can find her on the tennis courts or ski slopes.
Lisa Barnard is founder and owner of Brain Lab, a sustainability and branding consultancy that helps companies understand the relevancy of the “green” or “sustainable” movement. Brain Lab's mission is to help clients build brands through sustainable practices.
Lisa received a B.S. in Merchandising from Oregon State University. She is a LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP) through the U.S. Green Building Council, and a Certified Green Auditor through D.C. based Strategic Sustainability Consulting. She also spent 15 years working at a variety of advertising agencies in the Phoenix and Albuquerque areas.
She is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council, the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, the Arizona Recycling Coalition and EcoMonday. She also serves on the Governing Board for the AZ Chapter of U.S Green Building Council.
Lisa is an inaugural “Phoenix Business Journal 40 Under 40” recipient and has been featured in Women’s Health magazine for her commitment to health and fitness. She also enjoys traveling abroad, with recent trips to New South Wales, Australia and Northern India.
Since 2002, Anna has worked as Principal of Tempe High School. Before that, she was Assistant Principal at Desert Vista High School in Ahwatukee and has also spent many years teaching English and Reading to freshmen and juniors in addition to working with learning disabled students.
She also has several years of coaching under her belt. Since 1996 she has coached young children from kindergarten through second grade in JAM Basketball, and for the last four years she has been the head coach of the Arizona Striders Track Club.
In 1985, Anna graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Special Education from Arizona State University, and in 1988 she earned her Masters of Education in Secondary Education/Reading Specialist from Arizona State University. She also achieved a Superintendence Certificate from the University of Phoenix and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Administration from Arizona State University.
Through her work and interest in athletics, this leader has been involved with a number of educational workshops and conferences. These include “Walk the Talk,” through the Tempe Union High School District Office of Intercultural Affairs, the Arizona Alliance of Black Educators Conference, and Cultural Diversity Training. She is also a Board Member of Mountain Park Community Church, as well as a member of both Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, and the Arizona Track Coaches Association.
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Street Transportation Director
City of Phoenix, Arizona
In June 2009 Wylie assumed his current position of Street Transportation Director for the City of Phoenix after serving in that position in an interim capacity since January 2008. He is responsible for supervising a staff of 705 employees with an annual operating budget of $94.5 million and a five-year capital construction budget of $614 million.
Wylie joined the City of Phoenix in December 1999 as an Engineering Supervisor in the Engineering and Architectural Services Department. In 2000 he was promoted to the Deputy City Engineer and he became the City Engineer in 2004. As the City Engineer, Wylie was responsible for executing the City’s roughly $6 billion, 5-year Capital Improvement program.
Prior to joining the City of Phoenix, Wylie served an Active Duty officer in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for 24 years before retiring in February 2000 as a Lieutenant Colonel. In his last active duty assignment he was the Professor of Military Science at Arizona State University, and is still a Guest Lecturer with the Del E. Webb School of Construction at ASU.
Wylie is a Registered Professional Engineer and has BS and MS degrees from the University of Arizona in Civil Engineering, and a PhD in Construction Management from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He is also a member of the Construction Management Association of America, American Public Works Association, American Society of Civil Engineers, the Society of Military Engineers, and the Institute of Transportation Engineers.
Eric Bower is self-employed in the restaurant, real estate and construction industries in the South Mountain Village area. He is pursuing his Bachelor's Degree in Business at Arizona State University.
Tom is the editor and publisher of the new, monthly newspaper, The South Mountain District News. Already, this relatively new newspaper has had a strong impact in the community and the coverage has proven to be outstanding.
Tom is a member of the Arizona Press Club, and has won a second-place news writing award with the group; also, he is a member of the Arizona Newspaper Assoc., and has won a first-place news writing award. In 1991, he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in English from ASU.
When not writing, editing, photographing or distributing newspapers, he likes to bicycle and backpack.
During her 30 years in Phoenix, Marcia Busching, Esq., has dedicated herself to improving the lives of others through community activities, legal representation, education, and mentoring. She has her own law firm that specializes in helping with financial restructurings that range in size from the pro bono work of helping individuals to complex commercial and real estate transactions of over a half-billion dollars.
Marcia has her BBA, MBA, and JD (Order of the Coif) degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and has taken many courses through the Maricopa Community College District.
For the past six years, Marcia has been a resident of South Mountain Village, and has worked for community organizations such as Social Venture Partners, Arizona Women in Commercial Real Estate, Arizona Women’s Education & Employment, Community Legal Services, and many others.
A strong believer in preserving our environment, Marcia has long been an enthusiast of the Desert Botanical Garden, Nature Conservancy, and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. Marcia is also active in South Mountain development issues, and has served on the Arizona Liquor Control Board, a number of City of Phoenix committees and bond subcommittees, and the Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission.
Marcia is married with 3 college graduate children.
Dan is the First Vice President for the CB Richard Ellis commercial real estate company, which is located in Phoenix. He is also a member of the Executive Council of the Boys & Girls club of Metropolitan Phoenix, as well as a member of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP). Through his work with the NAIOP, he won the Deal Maker of the Year Award in 2002, and Industrial Broker of the Year in 2004.
He earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of Arizona in Finance.
Representative Cloves Campbell, Jr. worked in the family business for over 25 years. Currently the Board Chairman and Co-Publisher of the Arizona Informant Newspaper, he held several positions at the paper. The Arizona Informant Newspaper has served the African American community of Arizona for 40 years.
Cloves Campbell currently serves in the Arizona State House of Representatives for District 16. Elected in 2006 he serves on the House Appropriations Committee, Banking and Insurance Committee and the Sub-Committee on Library and Archives. Equally active in the community, Cloves Campbell sits on several boards which include: Governor’s African American Advisory Board, Attorney General’s African American Advisory Board, Black Theater Troupe Board, Salvation Army Advisory Board, West Coast Black Publishers Board, Tanner Chapel A.M.E. Church Board of Trustees, and the 100 Black Men of Phoenix. He is also a Life Member of the NAACP.
Born and raised in South Phoenix, Cloves Campbell attended Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School, Dr. Percy L. Julia Jr. High, and East Phoenix High School. He is an alumni of Pitzer College in Claremont, CA with a degree in Political Science. Married for 17 years to Lanette, they have three children Daivon, Chanette and Cloves III.
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Valerie Churchwell is Community Affairs Director for Turner Construction Company Arizona. In this capacity, Ms. Churchwell is responsible for managing corporate, community, and educational programs and activities, and coordinating the identification and retention of small, minority, and women – owned businesses in the community. She is also responsible for all local Youthforce 2020 activities. Such activities seek to expose and bring awareness to K-12 students and young adults about opportunities in the field of construction.
Prior to joining Turner, Ms. Churchwell served as the Executive Director for the AZ Chapter of the National Association of Minority Contractors, where she served as an advocate for minority contractors. As an independent consultant she supported local small firms by providing general business and marketing assistance. She also served as Operations Manager for a local S/M/DBE firm.
A 10-year Arizonan, Ms. Churchwell came to the Valley as a Marketing Engineer for Motorola SPD.
Ms. Churchwell received her B.S. degree in Engineering from The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, starting her career as an electrical engineer in the nuclear aircraft and submarine industry. She has received a Certificate of Project Management from George Washington University.
Karen Crawford is founder and owner of KomputerEd Tools, which trains teachers to prepare 7th -12th grade students for high school and college by teaching them to write computer programs. Karen worked in the computer industry for 22 years and is now creating tools for students to be successful, as well as teaching students and training teachers.
Karen received her BSEE from Michigan State University, a Math/Chemistry degree from Elmira College and worked three and a half years toward her Bachelor’s degree in Education.
Karen is on a mission to increase the technical workforce by training teachers to create problem solvers!
Ahmad Daniels serves as Executive Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. He previously worked as an independent contractor through Creative Interchange, and prior to coming to Arizona served as Director of the Office of Minority Affairs for Mecklenburg County, North Carolina.
Mr. Daniels received his Master of Education/Health degree from the University of North Carolina, and his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from North Carolina Central University. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, classical jazz, travel, and running marathons.
Dr. Olga Idriss Davis is Associate Professor in the Hugh Downs School of Human Communication at Arizona State University and Principal Investigator of the Community Engagement and Outreach Core of ASU's Southwest Interdisciplinary Research Center (SIRC). Involved in community health issues, Dr. Davis was appointed in 2008 by former Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano to serve on the Commission on Women's and Children's Health, served as chair of the Cultural Health Initiative of the American Heart Association, and is a founding board member of the Center for African American Health in Arizona (CAAH-AZ.) As an alumna of The Juilliard School, she weaves oral history, communication, and storytelling to explore cultural issues of health. She is President and CEO of Davis Communication Group, LLC, a communication and multimedia consulting company located in Phoenix, Arizona.
Meghan Dorsett holds a B.S. in Sociology and M.Ed.in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University, a Post‐Baccalaureate in Secondary Education from Rio Salado College, and is a doctoral candidate in Educational Leadership at NAU. Meghan celebrates a century of educators from her native family roots in Arizona.
Since 2004, Meghan has worked for Skyline Education, Inc., a non-profit public charter organization with over a decade of service throughout the greater Phoenix area. Other roles held at Skyline include: Assistant Principal; Director of Curriculum; Instruction and Assessment Coordinator; Trainer/Presenter; Instructional Coach; Child Find Coordinator; and ELL Coordinator.
As Director of South Phoenix Prep & Arts Academy and South Valley Prep & Arts School she is looking forward to ensuring the success of all students, as well as collaborating on many levels to increase community connectivity in South Phoenix, the Valley, the State, and beyond.
She is also a governing board member of Vector Prep & Arts Academy’s since 2008, and is a member of the South Mountain/Laveen Chamber of Commerce.
Shelly is a fourth generation Arizona farming and ranching family. Her family moved to Laveen in the early 1960's from the Tolleson / Fowler areas. She is an artist and the the owner of R 2 Designs. She is the former Executive Vice President of the NACM of Arizona (Commercial Credit Bureau). Shelly has served as a member of the Laveen Community Council for the past 14 years. She has served as president and committee chairperson of the Laveen Barbecue and Festival for this organization. Currently she is serving at the Council's webmaster. Shelly has a Bachelor's of Arts degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Business Administration from Arizona State University. Her hobbies and special interests include art education, her animals, and escaping the city to vacation areas in Pinetop and Patagonia.
As Agency Liaison at Arizona College of Allied Health, Demetrius Ford works with third party funding agencies to adhere to state and federal guidelines to meet accreditation requirements. The focus of his work includes tribal reservations and sponsored community events, as well as government education meetings.
Prior to joining Arizona College of Allied Health, Demetrius was a case manager/job developer at Arizona OIC, creating partnerships with colleges and universities, community organizations, and energy initiative companies to promote Pathways, a federal grant that allows residents in selected Phoenix districts to find employment in green sector industries, such as solar installation, weatherization, and LEED/green associate fields.
Prior to joining Arizona OIC, Demetrius worked for the State of Arizona Department of Education, promoting Title IV funding for paraprofessionals and highly qualified teachers in school districts in Navajo, Apache, Nogales, and Yuma Counties.
Demetrius was born in Memphis and raised in Chicago, where he obtained his BA in Communication from Benedictine University before moving to Dallas, where he earned his MBA from University of Phoenix. He is a member of the Freemasons (A.F. & A.M.), National Black MBA Association, Arizona African-American Democratic Caucus, and is a Central Arizona Shelter Services Volunteer.
Roberto is the Acting Community and Economic Development Department (CEDD) Director for the City of Phoenix. As Acting Director, he oversees overall economic development outside of downtown Phoenix which includes: Business Attraction, Retention of Existing Businesses, Retail, Small Business Development, Workforce Development, Film Office, and New Market Tax Credit (NMTC) Programs.
He also serves as President and Vice-Chairman of the Phoenix Community Development and Investment Corporation which was awarded a $170 million NMTC allocation from the U.S. Department of Treasury's Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). Mr. Franco assisted in acquiring investors and developing loan program for the $170 million fund, with GMAC, Prudential, M & I Bank, and US Bank.
He joined the City of Phoenix in February of 2002 as the Assistant Director for CEDD. Mr. Franco has 23 years of professional experience with emphasis in contract administration, strategic planning, negotiation, financial, marketing, management, and administering and developing economic development projects. He is well experienced in working with service, manufacturing, telecommunications, back-office operations, and retail companies. Before joining the City of Phoenix, he served as Director of Economic Development for the City of El Paso, Texas for over 10 years.
Roberto has negotiated contracts with Fortune 500 executives, site selection consultants, CEOs, bank presidents, local, state, and federal governmental entities.
Mr. Franco graduated from the University of Texas at El Paso with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree with a major in marketing and accounting. He received his Masters of Business Administration, also from the University of Texas at El Paso.
Ruben Gallego sits on the boards of Valley Citizens League and the Phoenix Children’s Museum. He was recently named by the Phoenix Business Journal as one of 40 people under the age of 40 that are leading the way in Phoenix. Recently Ruben was named one of CPLC's Hispanic "40 under 40" most influential leaders.
Ruben is the son of two Hispanic immigrants. He was the first in his family to attend college when he was admitted to Harvard, majoring in International Relations. Ruben graduated with a Bachelor's degree in International Relations and was the recipient of the David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies grant.
Ruben is also a veteran of the U. S. Marine Corps, serving one tour in Iraq with Lima 3/25.
Laura Garcia has operated her own State Farm Insurance agency in the South Mountain Village area for the past two years, and has been affiliated with State Farm since 1993. Ms. Garcia also serves as a Board Member with Friendly House, and is a member of the Arizona Cactus-Pine Girl Scout Council, the Latina Circle of Influence, and the Desert Garden Montessori Advisory Council.
She received her B.S. in Applied Mathematics from Arizona State University in 1991, and has received community service awards from Friendly House and Valle del Sol.
Ms. Garcia is a mother of two daughters, and spends her leisure time keeping up with their activities, as well as serving as a political volunteer, playing volleyball and tennis, and reading.
Steve Glueck currently serves as Director of the South Mountain/Laveen Chamber of Commerce. He has also served as a Council Member for the Travis Williams Center, a member of the Friends of the Cesar Chavez Library, and as a Board Member of the House of Broadcasting Museum.
Steve is a veteran of more than thirty years in broadcasting and sales management at KTAR and KTAR-FM radio. He enjoys golf, travel and Arizona history.
Assistant Superintendent for Instruction and Accountability
Phoenix Union High School District
Deborah Gonzalez was named Assistant Superintendent for Instruction and Accountability for the Phoenix Union High School District in June 2007. Gonzalez joined PUHS in 2006 as Curriculum Director. She supervises the Academic
Leadership team, assistant principals and curriculum specialists; monitors achievement results; researches and implements strategies and curricula; oversees state and federal accountability programs, school improvement efforts and accreditation; and develops and maintains Title programs and teacher professional development opportunities.
Prior to Phoenix Union, Gonzalez had 19 years of education experience in Washington. She was Assistant Superintendent for K-12 Services for Puget Sound Educational Service District from 2002-2006, serving 35 school districts; and also served as Director of Research and Evaluation for four years. Gonzalez received her B.A. in Elementary Education from the University of Puget Sound, and her Masters and Doctorate in Education from the University of Washington.
Mel has worked for the Greater Phoenix Urban League since moving to the Phoenix area in the early 1990s. In his job, he specializes in the areas of community outreach, job development, and inter-governmental relations. He went to both Eastern Arizona Junior College in Thatcher and Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff.
He has been heavily involved with the community for over 35 years. In 1973, he was the first African American elected to serve on the Flagstaff City Council. He has also been on the
Coconino County Board of Supervisors and has served as an Assistant Director for the Northern Arizona Council of Governments (NACOG). Through this position, the activist had program responsibility for a variety of NACOG’s human services programs, including Title XX Planning, the Affirmative Action Office, and Community Action Agency.
Currently, Mr. Hannah is involved with a variety of organizations. For example, he is a board member for the Governor’s African American Advisory Council, a member of the Ahwatukee Foothills Village Planning Committee, and President of Arizona Fair Housing Center. He is also a charter member of Desert Vista High School’s Site Council and a member of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC).
Victoria is a Special Education Facilitator for Carl Hayden High School in Phoenix. Before being hired for her position, she worked for one year in the Roosevelt School District and taught for two years at Carl Hayden.
In 1993, she received her Associate of Arts at our own South Mountain Community College. She went on to earn her Bachelor of Arts in Education in Special Education from Arizona State University in 1995, her Master of Arts in Education in Secondary Education from Northern Arizona University in 1998, and her Master of Arts in Education in Educational Leadership from ASU in 2001.
A self-described “late bloomer,” Victoria started her college education at age 35. Before going to college she worked as a production supervisor and an aviation machinist.
She grew up in South Phoenix and has watched with interest as this section of town has developed and changed over the years. She still lives in the South Mountain area, and enjoys supporting the local community.
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Win Holden has served as publisher of Arizona’s best-known publication, Arizona Highways, since May 2000. A Valley resident since 1980, Win has served as General Manager of the Publishing Division of MAC America Communications, Inc.; Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of PHOENIX Magazine; and Executive Vice President and General Manager of Phillips-Ramsey Advertising & Public Relations, in addition to operating his own publishing and marketing consulting firm, The Win Holden Company.
Win has also served as Chairman of the Fiesta Bowl and Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce Boards of Directors; Chair of the Endowment Board of the ASU Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Telecommunications; and chaired the Phoenix Pride Commission. Holden is President of the
Executive Council of King of Glory Lutheran Church in Tempe and chaired the Phoenix Citizen’s Transit Commission. He serves on the Greater Phoenix Convention and Visitors Bureau Board and as Secretary of Board of Directors of the International Regional Magazine Association. (IRMA). Holden is President Emeritus of Valley Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Past President of Silent Witness, Co-Chair of Success by Six, and Past Chairman of the City and Regional Magazine Association.
He is a graduate of Southern Illinois University in Carbondale with a degree in Communications, and pursued advanced certification at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism and the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School.
Michael is the President and Chair of The Leadership Consortium (TLC), a Phoenix-based non-profit organization that identifies, recruits, develops, re-engages and retains leaders of color in the public, private and nonprofit sectors. TLC is responsible for the Community Alliance for Black Student Support with Arizona State University. It publishes The Arizona Examiner, a multicultural business newspaper, and it has organized The Arizona Black Film Showcase at SMCC, The Arizona Black Expo and linking sports and the community events.
From 1995 to January 2004, Michael worked as the Senior Policy Advisor to then-Phoenix Mayor Skip Rimsza. Through his job,
Mr. Kelly staffed subcommittees, boards, and commissions that pertained to economic development and public safety. Mr. Kelly is also a behavioral health services expert with over 20 years experience in the field.
This community leader has received both the ADHS Employee of the Year Award and the City of Phoenix Excellence Award, and he has also worked and earned awards through his work as a radio broadcaster, voice-over specialist, music video program producer and as an extra in local and national commercials and television shows.
He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) from the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania. He is an active member of First Institutional Baptist Church in Phoenix, the Arizona Community Foundation, and a board member of FIBCO Family Services.
Krag Klages has worked in marketing and advertising for the past five years and currently works as an advertising executive for MOViN 97.5 FM with Trumper Communications. Krag received his Bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University in Communication and though originally from the suburbs of Cleveland, has been in Phoenix for the past nine years, settling down with his wife in Laveen.
In addition to the SMCC President’s Community Advisory Council, Krag serves as President and Webmaster for the Laveen Community Council (LCC), volunteers his time with the Arizona Community Media Foundation (AzCMF), hosts a sports radio talk show for RadioPhoenix.org, writes periodically on the Arizona Cardinals for the local sports website Fanster.com, and stays involved with the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Association (ALSA) helping to fight Lou Gehrig’s Disease.
When he’s not working or volunteering, you can find him traveling with his wife to as local a place as Bisbee, AZ or as foreign a place as Athens, Greece.
Director of Government Affairs
Professional Beauty Association
Sam Leyvas currently serves as Government Affairs Director for the Professional Beauty Association – a trade association representing manufacturers, distributors, and salons/spas across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. He previously oversaw state and local political operations for the National Association of Home Builders, headquartered in Washington, DC.
A fourth generation Arizonan, Mr. Leyvas was born and raised in South Phoenix. He and his wife are proud to call the South Mountain Village their home. Sam was a participant in SMCC’s Achieving A College Education (ACE) program, and is a graduate of both Northern Arizona University and Georgetown University.
Sam enjoys staying actively engaged in his community – currently serving as a member of the South Mountain Village Planning Committee. He has served on the NAU Foundation Board of Directors, is former president of the NAU Alumni Association, and proudly served as a reserve Police Officer in the Nation’s Capital.
Since June of 1996, Ingried and her husband Bill have owned Lowman’s Arizona Funeral Home in Phoenix. Opening their own business fulfilled a dream they shared for 20 years. Mrs. Lowman is also a licensed life insurance agent and has studied how to build both dental practices and businesses at seminars all across the country.
Ingried has extensive connections to the community. She is currently the President of the South Mountain YMCA Board, and is also on the organization’s financial and leadership committees. She is also a member of the Kiwanis Club of South Mountain. Ingried is also in charge of an annual shopping spree for South Mountain Village Children and conducts a personal hygiene article drive for the Valley Cathedral Church.
This community leader has won several awards in connection with her business and volunteer work. In 1999, her funeral home was the only one in Arizona and only one of eight in the country chosen as bringing back the “integrity” to the business. She has been voted Kiwanian of the Year every year since 1999, and in 2003 and 2004 won the Woman of the Year award from the National Republican Congressional Committee Business Council; 2004 Ronald Reagan Gold Medal.
Married for 28 years to her husband, the Lowmans have one son and two grandchildren. She is also an identical twin, speaks Norwegian, and has taken four years of Spanish.
Cristy Lopez was elected to the Phoenix Union High School District Governing Board in 2006. She earned her B.A. in Psychology from the University of California at Berkeley, and her Masters and Doctorate degrees in Clinical Psychology from the University of Missouri at Columbia.
As a psychologist, she works to improve the well-being of children, adults, families, and communities. Dr. Lopez has appeared on the Dr. Phil show, is a published author, and has been quoted in numerous national and local publications.
She currently owns her own private practice providing psychological services in the Phoenix metro area. Dr. Lopez also teaches psychology courses for a local university.
In addition to her work in the psychological field, Dr. Lopez has worked in the financial industry as a financial advisor. She is active in a number of professional, business, and community service organizations. In 2008, she was appointed by former Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano to serve on her Latino Advisory Council.
Matthew Lopez is an attorney who focuses his practice in criminal defense. Matthew is a native of Phoenix and graduated from Mountain Pointe High School. He received his undergraduate degree from Arizona State University’s W.P. Carey School of Business and his Juris Doctor degree from Phoenix School of Law. As a law student, Matthew was actively involved in the Hispanic Law Students Association and was an editor of the Phoenix Law Review Journal. Matthew and his wife are proud to call Phoenix their home. In his free time, Matthew enjoys golfing and traveling.
Lupita is the owner and manager of San Diego Bay and Taquitos Restaurants in Guadalupe. Before moving to the Phoenix area, she completed two years of college in her native Mexico. In addition to her work on the President’s Community Advisory Council at SMCC, she is also involved with Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Guadalupe.
When living Mexico, she once worked for a radio station. She did not speak any English at that time but knew she needed to learn English to find a job upon moving to the United States. She registered in an English class at SMCC, and became a citizen of the United States five years ago. In her spare time, Lupita enjoys reading.
Sara is currently at South Mountain Community College working with the Bilingual Nursing Fellowship Program. Her professional associations include the Arizona School Administrators, Arizona Hispanic School Administrators, and the Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development. She is also involved with Mujer, Inc., and the Arizona Hispanic Community Forum.
A lifelong resident of the South Mountain community, she attended school in the Roosevelt School District, including Cesar Chavez school (then known as Rio Vista) and Lassen. She attended Central High School and graduated from SMCC. Sara then went on to Arizona State University, which she completed both her undergraduate and graduate degrees, and she currently holds a Masters of Education in Educational Supervision and Administration.
Dave Mata is the President and General Manager of Secret Garden Event Center, Inc., a business that is located in Phoenix. After graduating from Northern Arizona University with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science, Mr. Mata went on to earn his Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from Arizona State University.
Mr. Mata served on the Board of Directors for the National Society of Hispanic MBA’s from 1999 to 2002, as well as the Board of Directors for the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in 1995. He is also a lifetime member of the Arizona Leadership Institute.
For the past 30 years, Mr. Mata has received honors and awards for his community involvement and educational achievements. In 1973 he won the National Alliance of Businessmen Award, and in 1985 he was named the Hispanic Developer of the Year. More recent achievements include a Certificate of Appreciation Award from Arizona State University-West in 1996, a Nomination for the CUC Dissertation of the Year, and a role in the Leadership Academy at Arizona State University in 2002.
During his spare time, Mr. Mata enjoys jogging, and reading biographies of the United States Presidents.
Melanie McCargar
Manager of Marketing,
Haydon Building Corp
Melanie McCargar is Manager of Marketing for Haydon Building Corp of Phoenix. A resident of South Mountain Village, Ms. McCargar received her Bachelor of Science degree in Interior Architecture from Arizona State University.
She currently serves as Program Chair for the Arizona chapter of the Construction Management Association of America, and is a member of Valley Partnership, the American Public Works Association, Associated General Contractors, and the Phoenix Regal Group.
She enjoys all things dining---both finding new recipes and exploring new restaurants. She enjoys the natural beauty of South Mountain and hopes to do more hiking through its many trails.
Sr. Business Consultant
AMBEC
Phone – 602-248-0007
Fax 602-279-8900
Mobile Phone 480-363-4221
Email: edm@azhcc.com
As a member of the Board of Director’s for the South Mountain/Laveen Chamber of Commerce, Ed has been involved with assisting other small business start-ups with business plan development and financial assistance. He has workked as a workshop facilitator for SELF Loan Fund, Inc and is currently employed as a Sr. Business Consultant with the Arizona Minority Business Enterprise Center(AMBEC).
Edward D. McCartney, was born in Texas but has spent the last 34 years working in Phoenix, Arizona and Portland, Oregon for Fortune 1000 Companies such as Intel, Honeywell, GE, Motorola, and Burr-Brown (now Texas Instruments). After leaving his Executive Director’s position with Avnet Applied Computing here in Phoenix in 2002, Ed opened his own Small Business Support & Services company - McExpress, LLC.
In November 2004, he opened Postnet AZ136, your family owned and operated, full service “Create-Duplicate-Deliver” center in the Fry’s Laveen Marketplace at 51st Ave & Baseline.
In November 2003, Ed decided to bring his over 12 years in Distribution Sales and Marketing, over 20 years in selling Computer OEM Systems, and team building skills to the financial arena with World Financial Group (WFG).
Ed’s WFG business focus is Family Debt Management and Family Estate Preservation for middle income families. Ed feels that it is about time someone brought these financial tools and investment opportunities to the many church, local, and civic groups that he is involved with.
- BS Math/Engineering – Lamar University Beaumont, Texas 1970
- MSE Systems Engineer – ASU Tempe, AZ (Completed 36 Hours) – 1973
- TUCK School of Business at Dartmouth, MBDA MBE Systems for High Quality Service – Hanover, New Hamphire 2006
- 2007 Honorary Chairman of the NRCC Business Advisory Council (BAC) for Arizona.
Ms. McClain has made Phoenix her home for over 36 years. Originally from Pennsylvania, she has also lived in both Cleveland and Youngstown, Ohio. While living in Youngstown, Ms. McClain owned a dry cleaning-variety store for 20 years and managed apartments for 15 years. After moving to the valley she opened a craft shop, which she owned for 30 years before retiring.
In her quest to help make her community a great place to live, Ms. McClain is active in many different groups. In addition to her work on the South Mountain Community College President’s Advisory Council, she is also active with the South Mountain YMCA and Unlimited Potential, works with the Foundation for Senior Living, and is the editor of the South Mountain Villager.
Ms. McClain’s work within the community has earned her two honors: in 1996 she won the Hon Kachina award and in 2004 she received the Red Cross Volunteer award for her service.
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John was recently elected to a House seat in District 20, which serves Ahwatukee and Chandler.
He has lived in Ahwatukee for the past 15 years, where he works as President of the Ahwatukee Foothills Chamber of Commerce. An active resident of the community, Mr. McComish is also a member of the Ahwatukee Kiwanis Club, Chairman of the Ahwatukee Foothills Village Planning Committee, and is on the Advisory Board for Compadre High School in Tempe. Mr. McComish received his Bachelor of Arts from Colgate University.
When he is not busy at the office or with the government, Mr. McComish likes to cheer for his favorite teams—the Phoenix Suns and the Arizona Diamondbacks. His wife Karen teaches in the Kyrene School District and they have two children and two grandchildren.
Ben is currently a Governing Board Member for the Roosevelt School District in Phoenix. He graduated from Phoenix Union High School and attended Phoenix College before going on to graduate from both Arizona State University and the ASU Law School (earning the Dean’s Award along the way!).
He also serves on the Roosevelt School Board and has been recognized for the countless volunteer hours contributed to children’s issues and other important social causes. For
example, his law firm has donated hundreds of hours and $100,000 in support of Cesar Chavez of the United Farmworkers, and he has also established the Miranda/Soltero nonprofit organization which is focused on education, immigrant issues and cultural exchanges with Nicaragua and Venezuela. In addition, this activist has served on the boards of the Arizona Trial Lawyers Association, the American Red Cross, and Valle de Sol.
Ben’s passion about working for our youth stems from personal experience. He is one of 11 brothers and sisters and by age 10 he had attended over 15 different elementary schools in four different states. He is very proud of his two daughters, Elisa and Maritza, and is devoted to his granddaughter, Mariela.
Miguel Montiel, Presidential Professor Emeritus in the Department of Transborder studies at Arizona State University, is married to Yvonne and has two daughters, Aida and Maritza. He has degrees from the University of Arizona, Arizona State University, and University of California-Berkeley, where he served as an Assistant Professor. He came to ASU in 1974 and held assignments in Social Work, Honors College, the Hispanic Research Center and Public Affairs. In the 1980’s he served as Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs and taught at the Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara.
He worked for the City of Phoenix as a Loaned Executive. Montiel chaired the the Human Services Commission for the City of Phoenix, was on the Board of the Arizona Center for Public Policy and was a member of the Arizona Judicial Council. Montiel's work at ASU is documented in a book with Raymond Padilla entitled Debatable Diversity: Critical Dialogues on Changes in American Universities (1998). His most recent publication is Resolana: Emerging Chicano Dialogues on Community and Globalization, co-authored with Tomas Atencio and E. A. Mares (2009, University of Arizona Press.)
Jimmie Munoz is President and CEO of Silverbow Development, Inc. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Religious Studies from Arizona State University.
He currently serves on the Roosevelt School Board, and is co-chair of the South Mountain Wellness Coalition. He is a board member for Release the Fear, and serves on the South Mountain Green Coalition. His interests include renewable resources, cultural studies, and political movements.
This native of Argentina, a naturalized citizen of the U.S., lived in Chicago’s Latino community for almost 30 years before coming to Phoenix in 1993. He has been a high school teacher, soccer league director, and journalist. He is probably best known as a leader and supporter of Hispanic causes with McDonald’s. Since 1984, he has worked as McDonald’s owner/operator. Julian was a member of the McDonald’s Board of Directors for seven years (until 1992), president of Chicago McDonald’s Hispanic Owners Association, treasurer, vice president, and president of the national McDonald’s Hispanic Owners Association.
Currently, he is chair of the company’s Hispanic Marketing Committee, McDonald’s Hispanic Scholarship Program and is a member of the company’s Arizona Board of Directors. In addition, Julian is the Arizona/Nevada representative to the McDonald’s National Hispanic Board of Directors. He completed graduate work at Northeaster Illinois University in Chicago.
Active in the insurance industry for more than 25 years, Rose has worked with several national insurance capmanies and independent insurance agencies. She has owned her own agency since 1996 and has industry experience with USF&G and Continental companies as a Customer Service Representative, Human Resource Director, Underwriter, and Department Director. She has worked with with agencies in the capacity of Commercial Lines Senior Account Executive, Underwriter and Marketer.
Rose has been a leading force in the writing, designing, developing, and marketing of specialized insurance programs for pawnbrokers, home arrest devices, and ire arms instructors liability. She has developed other programs such as the Medical Retailer Supplier and Property, and liability insurance for the on the road Jewelry Sales Persons.
Rose has been published and has authored articles for various trade magazines. She has been a guest speaker at many trade conventions throughout the United States. However, educating the client is Rose's top priority. In teaching her clients better ways to protect their families, themselves, and their business. In doing so, losses are not as common and fewer claims are incurred. Claims that do occur are then covered by insurance that is specifically tailored for that business. Rose's education and extensive insurance background are ideal in assisting her clients with their insurance needs.
Rose is characterized as one that gives back to her community by being involved in student tutoring, and creating programs for youths and seniors. She is a member of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Independent Insurance Agents Association, and the Word Trade Center of Arizona. In 1985, the Phoenix Jaycees recognized Rose with the Outstanding Young Businesswoman Award, and in 1999 the National Registers of Who's Who In Executives and Businesses awarded her "Woman of the Year" for the millennium 2000 edition. Also, because of Rose's efforts as an owner of an Independent Insurance Agency, she was asked to become a member of a national group of agents known as Group 500.
Silverio, a Police Commander for the City of Phoenix Police Department, has served various communities throughout his 32-year career in law enforcement. He has worked hard to improve the quality of life in Phoenix neighborhoods. Through his efforts to reduce crime, he hopes he has helped the residents of Phoenix feel safer in their homes, at work, and where they go for entertainment. He is a graduate of both the Rocky Mountain Institute and Arizona State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Justice Studies. He is currently a student in the Ken Blanchard College of Business at Grand Canyon University
It is important to Silverio that we all need to do our part to give back to the communities where we live. His own community involvement is extensive—serving on the Executive Board and as current Pueblo District Chairperson for the Boy Scouts of America; as a distinguished South Mountain YMCA Board member; past President of the Laveen Lions; a member of No More Deaths and YMCA International Committee.
Silverio is especially proud of his family and his wife, Susan, of 33 years. He enjoys cycling, and has ridden his bike across the entire state of Arizona and much of California. He also takes pleasure in racquetball, hiking, backpacking, and running.
For almost a decade, Cecil has served with the Arizona Court of Appeals, Division I - where he is known for his fairness, honesty and commitment. Prior to this position, Cecil was Chief Counsel, Human Services Division, Attorney General's Office for four years. For 11 years, starting in 1980, he was a Judge for the Arizona Superior Court in five areas. His record of service has also extended to the Maricopa County Public Defender's Office where he was a Trial Deputy; as legal counsel and housing discrimination attorney for the Phoenix Urban League; and as a partner in a law firm.
The judge, a retired Air Force Reserves Captain, has been a faculty associate with the College of Business Administration at ASU and a the former Maricopa Technical college.
Among an overwhelming number of honors and awards, Cecil has received the YMCA Valley of the Sun Metro Board Outstanding Leadership Award; the Martin Luther King, Jr. "Living the Dream" Award, City of Phoenix; the National Association of Attorneys General Marvin Award; Arizona Black Lawyers Association Trailblazer Award, and the ASU College of Law Distinguished Achievement Award.
Numerous leadership positions include treasurer and member of the executive committee, National Bar Association Judicial Council and Supervising Attorney, Consumer Law Clinic of ASU Law Students.
Community activities have included: Chairman, Valley of the Sun United Way; City of Phoenix, Ad Hoc Use of Force/Cultural Awareness Task Force; ASU Minority Advisory Committee; serving as a member of the Arizona Supreme Court Committee on Judicial Performance Review and the coordinating committee of the A . Wade Smith Memorial Lecture Series of ASU. He is also a member of the Permanent Judicial Commission, Grand Canyon Presbytery, Arizona.
The judge earned a law degree from ASU and a Bachelor's Degree in history at Hampton University, VA.
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Martín is a native of Phoenix and is a graduate of Peoria Centennial High School (1995), Glendale Community College (1998), Arizona State University West (2001) and the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University (2008).
Martín spent five years working as a Research Analyst/Policy Advisor to the Democrat Caucus in the Arizona State Senate (2001) and the Arizona State House of Representatives (2002-2005) before being accepted into law school at ASU. After receiving his Juris Doctorate degree, Martín served a judicial clerkship for Judge Patricia Orozco on the Arizona Court of Appeals (2008-2009).
Martín has been a community activist for several years and serves on numerous other boards and commissions including the ASU Los Diablos Latino Alumni Association, Maryvale Village Planning Committee, and West Phoenix Revitalization Community Advisory Board. He received the Congressman Ed Pastor Outstanding Graduate Award at the 2008 ASU Hispanic Convocation and was named as one of the Univision/AZ Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Top 40 Hispanic Leaders Under Age 40 in 2009.
Martín is now an attorney and lives in West Phoenix. He is a candidate for the Arizona State House of Representatives in Legislative District #13.
Northern Arizona University – North Valley
Doug Small has served as Assistant Dean for Urban Programs for Northern Arizona University Distributed Learning Services since 2000. He provided valuable assistance in the 2007 opening of the NAU center on the SMCC campus, and has worked for the university since 1990.
Doug received his Bachelor of Science degree from NAU in Speech Communication with an emphasis in Business in 1990, and his Master of Education degree with an emphasis in Educational Leadership from NAU in 1995.
In his leisure time, Doug is a community volunteer with Ss. Simon and Jude Catholic Church, St. Vincent de Paul, and the Cub Scouts.
Bob is an Assistant City Prosecutor for the City of Phoenix Prosecutor’s office. He has worked in this field for over 10 years. He was admitted to practice in the state of Arizona, before the United States District Court. In addition to his job, he is also a member of the Arizona State Bar Association, Arizona Prosecuting Attorneys’ Advisory Council (APAAC), and is a life member of the Arizona State University Alumni Association. In 1998, Mr. Smith was nominated for Misdemeanor Prosecutor of the Year.
In 1990, Bob earned his Bachelor of Science in Justice Studies from Arizona State University, College of Public Programs, and was awarded a Juris Doctor degree from the University Of Arizona College Of Law in 1994.
He and his wife were both born and raised in Phoenix, and together they are raising five children. He enjoys biking, hiking, camping, swimming, reading, music, going to the movies and playing with his children.
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With a strong interest in both community outreach and the needs of children, it is no wonder that Virginia Sterling has worked in capacities involving teaching, community partnerships, community relations, and more. She is a founder of Profiles of Success, an annual event honoring outstanding Latinos during Hispanic Heritage Month.
Currently, she is a special education teacher in the Murphy School District. For two years prior to this, she worked as a
Community Partnership Specialist with the U.S. Department of Commerce and, earlier in her career, as Director of Community and Corporate Relations with Friendly House, Inc. and Valle Del Sol, Inc.
Virginia has been active with the Phoenix Convention and Visitors Bureau, Multi Cultural Affairs Council, the Phoenix Women's Commission, and is a former board member of the Maricopa County YMCA. Numerous awards include the YMCA Civic Leader Award, Women Helping Women Recognition Award and MUJER, Inc., Annual Woman of Achievement Award.
She has a degree from the University of Phoenix and attended the University of California, Berkeley.
Diane Szaniawski currently serves as Employee Relations Manager for the Maricopa County Clerk of the Superior Court's office. She received her Associates in Arts degree from Katharine Hibbs School of Boston.
Diane has lived in Phoenix for 19 years, and in the South Mountain Village neighborhood for the past seven years. She enjoys reading and cooking in her spare time.
Ted Szaniawski is a management and human resources consultant and founding principal of HR Group, LLC.
He received his B.A. in Economics from Tufts University and his M.B.A. in Banking and Finance from New York University. Ted is a member of the Arizona Institute of Management Consultants, and received the 2007 American Society of Training and Development Citation.
He is a 19-year resident of Phoenix and seven-year resident of South Mountain Village. He enjoys reading, cooking and gardening.
Trinise Thompson is Director of Human Resources for St. Luke's Medical Center and St. Luke's Hospital.
She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management/Human Resources from Arizona State University. Trinise is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management, and was named St. Luke's Employee of the Year in 2004.
A member of the Gila River Indian Community, Karen has served as Native Workforce Services Director for almost a decade. An expert in the needs and makeup of the workforce -- and the needs of her Gila River Community – she has also served as JTPA Employment Specialist/Counselor Supervisor, as an Employment Specialist, and as a workforce program liaison with the City of Phoenix.
Karen has a liberal arts degree from Phoenix College, a degree in sociology from ASU, and attended Business Management/Public Programs at ASU West.
She is active in numerous organizations including the boards of the Maricopa County and City of Phoenix Workforce Connections, the Affiliation of Arizona Indian Centers, Inc., the board of the Arizona Cactus-Pine Girl Scout Council, Pueblo Grande Museum Advisory Council, and the Past Chair of the Region VI Native American WIA.
Tina is an Economic Development Specialist with the City of Phoenix Aviation Department, Design & Construction Services Division. She has worked for the city for more than 11 years and still loves her job. She attended both Phoenix and South Mountain Community Colleges, but graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Justice Studies. She hopes to one day attend law school.
In addition to serving on the SMCC President's Community Advisory Council, Tina also volunteers with Free Arts of Arizona, the American Association of Airports, the National Association of Real Estate Brokers, the National Forum of Black Public Administrators, and the Consortium of Black Organizations for the Arts.
In her spare time, she loves to spend time with her 9-year old son, Jay and 13 year old daughter, Tia. They enjoy all kinds of music, traveling, reading, and hiking.
Rae Waters was elected State Representative for District 20, covering Ahwatukee, Chandler, and Tempe in 2008, and currently serves on the Education and Transportation committees. She was first elected to the Kyrene Elementary School District Governing Board, serving the same municipalities, in 1998. She has lived in Ahwatukee for 28 years and in Arizona for 42.
Rae is a past president of the Arizona School Boards Association, which represents more than 1,200 school board members and more than one million Arizona children, and currently serves on the Board of Directors for educational research firm WestEd.
Rae was born in Fort Dix, New Jersey; she received a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from Northern Arizona University. She is married years to Jim, her husband of 30 years, who works as an engineer in Chandler, and the couple has two children: a son at NAU and a daughter in her senior year at Mountain Pointe High School.
Alvin Watson has served in the capacity of Principal of South Mountain High School since July of 2005. He has established excellent report with students from diverse cultural backgrounds, parents, and colleagues. He is a successful grant writer and a skilled educator with experience in elementary, middle school and high school levels. Alvin earned his Masters of Science in Education from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. His undergraduate studies were completed at Grambling College in Grambling,
Louisiana, where he majored in Social Studies and Secondary Education. He also completed his Administrative Certification at the University of Phoenix in Tucson, AZ.
Alvin is an affiliate of several organizations, including the Superintendent African American Advisory committee, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, ADA member and ASCD member. When time permits, Alvin enjoys traveling and catching up on movies.
William “Wink” Wiess works as a realtor for Dan Schwartz Realty, and is a member of the Phoenix Association of Realtors. Raised in Arizona, he attended Hopi Elementary School and Arcadia High School in Phoenix before going on to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts, Economics, Political Science and Marketing from the University of Arizona in Tucson.
Mr. Wiess is extremely active in the Phoenix community. In addition to being on the Baseline Master Plan Citizen Committee, he is also on the South Mountain Village Planning Committee, the Rio Salado Advisory Committee, and is an Alumni of the Citizen Police Academy.
He also serves on and is affiliated with many different organizations, including the Maricopa County Citizen Library District Committee, the Fiesta Bowl Committee, and the Saguaro Credit Union Supervisory Committee. Mr. Wiess has also served as a Governing Board Member for the Roosevelt School District, as a former committee Chairman for the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, and he is also active with the Boy Scouts, Eagle Scouts, and the Aircraft Owner and Pilots Association.
Mr. Wiess has also been active in politics. A past nominee for the Arizona Senate, he was also a candidate for Maricopa County Special Health Care District, a Precinct Committeeman for the Ardmore Precinct, and a Delegate for the Republican National Convention in 1996, 2000, and 2004.
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Born and raised in Phoenix, Cody Williams was educated from kindergarten though high school in the Valley. Cody is a graduate of University of Oklahoma, Arizona State University, and Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government.
Cody has worked as a stockbroker with Paine Webber, as a Commercial Loan Officer with MeriBank, in human resources with Security Pacific Bank and Intel, and as coordinator of the Minority and Woman-owned Business Program for the City of
Phoenix. He has owned his own business for 11 years, Alms & Hosanna Consulting (AHC). AHC is a marketing research, business development, client representation, and general consulting firm. Cody also served as Council Member for the City of Phoenix for eight years, where he represented the eighth district and helped to create over $6 billion dollars of new development in what was previously one of the State's poorest areas.
In March 2002, Cody took the reins of the Greater Phoenix Black Chamber of Commerce (GPBCC). The GPBCC has over 250 members whose mission is to facilitate the economic empowerment of its members. The GPBCC envisions a metropolitan area that takes advantage of the richness and new generation of leadership that is willing to give back to the community and, in turn, become the role model of future entrepreneurs and future business leaders. In 2005, the GPBCC was recognized in the Arizona Republic Business Profile as one of the fastest growing chambers, and one that provides the most value to their members.
In 2003, Cody became only the 5th African American to be inducted in the State of Arizona's Democratic Hall of Fame. In 2004, he was once again recognized as being one of the Valley's most influential citizens by The Business Journal. Cody was awarded recognition of dedicated service as a member of the Governor's African American Advisory Council in December 2004.
Cody loves to play golf, and loves to travel. He also speaks to more than 15,000 people, of all ages, each year.
Duane M. Wooten; M.D. P.C. is founder and owner of Rainbow Pediatrics.
Dr. Wooten's community affiliations include the Maricopa Medical Society, Phoenix Pediatric Society, Boys and Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix, Phoenix Children's Hospital Foundation and many others.
He is a graduate of Northwestern University earning a degree in Chemical Engineering in 1980. In 1984 he earned a medical degree from University of Arizona's College of Medicine.
His hobbies and special interests include all sports and classic car collecting. He enjoys fundraising events that he organizes for his scholarship fund. The scholarship is awarded to students seeking higher education.
Duane and his wife are the owners of Marble Ice Entertainment, a record label, that was formed to promote positivity through music. They also own M.D. Classy cars, a car service and repair show that has been in the valley for over 43 years.
Jim is the Principal of Tempo Development, LLC. When he is not working, he enjoys spending time at the Foothills Baptist Church in Ahwatukee, and he is also involved with the Mesa Association for Sports for the Disabled (MASD) organization.
He attended the University of South Carolina, taking business and real estate courses, and attended Western International University and Arizona State University.
Jim is pleased about his affiliation with SMCC and his work on the President’s Advisory Council, because he feels that the college offers continuing education opportunities to people who might not otherwise have access. In his spare time, he enjoys volunteering, his church ministry, and riding motorcycles.
Kenn studied Business and Pre-engineering at South Mountain Community College from 1988 to 1991, and earned his degree in Engineering from Tuskegee University in 1994. After working with Hughes Missile Systems (now Raytheon Missile Systems), Honeywell and General Dynamics Decision Systems over the past 14 years, in 2004 he co-founded Kronos Consulting, LLC.
Kronos Consulting specializes in embedded software development for both commercial aviation and DOD related projects, including the full software development life cycle. Kronos is currently seeking more contracting opportunities through both commercial and government-issued contracts in high technology growth areas as well as emerging market opportunities.
His work keeps this Phoenix native extremely busy; current commitments with Raytheon and Kronos leave little bandwidth for anything else.
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George Young serves as Personnel Assistant for the Carlie Back Team with Keller Williams Lifestyle Realty. He attended South Mountain Community College in 2002/2003, and is a graduate of South Mountain High School.
George serves on more than a dozen boards and commissions in the South Mountain area, including the South Mountain Village Planning Committee (Vice Chair), South Mountain Village Clean and Beautiful (Chair), Sunland Avenue Neighborhood Association (President), South Mountain/Laveen Villages Festival Inc. (Chair), Friends of Cesar Chavez Library (Vice Chair) and South Mountain Adult Day Care Center Advisory Board (member.)
He is also co-owner and co-editor of South Mountain Villager magazine.