The Arizona Center for Civic Leadership at the Flinn Foundation selected 30 civic leaders from around the state in May 2025 as Flinn-Brown Fellows.

Meet the 2025 Fellows, learn about their careers and public service, the communities they represent, and connect with them on social media.

Cochise

The Honorable Danya Acosta is a dedicated public servant and proud Arizonan with a lifelong passion for community service. Her career began in law enforcement, where she served at the local, county, state, and federal levels, including as a special agent with the Arizona Attorney General’s Office. She transitioned into municipal leadership, serving in key roles with the city of Douglas, including as assistant to the city manager and Family Self-Sufficiency Coordinator. Elected to the Douglas City Council in 2020, she currently serves as mayor pro-tempore. Danya remains committed to public safety, civic engagement, and improving the lives of Douglas residents.

Coconino

The Honorable Khara House is a Flagstaff city councilmember and owner of a brand consultancy. She has worked in academia since 2011 and began a career in multifamily housing in 2013. Her dedication to community engagement is reflected by her involvement with organizations such as the Flagstaff Shelter Services, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), and the Arizona Commission on African American Affairs. Prior to her council role, she served on the city’s Commission on Diversity Awareness and the Housing Commission. Khara is a passionate advocate for mental health awareness, diversity, housing, and meaningful community engagement. 

An entrepreneur with a broad background in hospitality, brewing, and community service, Michael Marquess co-founded Mother Road Brewing Company to incorporate his love of hospitality and motoring. Mother Road’s purpose is “to build community one pint at a time.” As the president and chief executive officer, Michael guides the vision, culture, and strategic planning as well as growing high-level relations and partnerships. When not at work, he enjoys hanging out with his family, wrenching on old Fords, practicing jiujitsu and hitting the gym. 

In his role with Coconino County’s Flood Control District, Jay Smith utilizes 28 years of forest management experience to develop and implement the county’s Forest Restoration Initiative to accelerate activities on National Forest lands within Arizona. His experience running logging operations and sawmills gives him a unique view of the issues that are currently slowing the process and new ways to tackle those barriers. Jay works closely with the forest industry, U.S. Forest Service, the state forestry department, nonprofits as well as policymakers to reduce the threat in Arizona from catastrophic wildfire and post-wildfire flooding. 

Maricopa

Veronica Aguilar is a proud Mexican American, Arizona native, and first-generation college student who began her nonprofit leadership journey more than a decade ago with Teach For America. Veronica currently serves as the vice president of national recruitment at Teach For America and is the founder of Young & Empowered Women. She is dedicated to empowering women leaders and closing the education gap by recruiting top college students nationwide to teach in low-income communities and drive systemic change. She serves on several community boards, gaining essential business skills to further support marginalized communities. 

Isabel Booth is a proud Army veteran, having served in Germany during Operation Enduring Freedom and subsequently at Walter Reed Army Medical Center until 2005. Originally from New Jersey, Isabel has lived and worked in Arizona for 20 years. She is a trusted, effective, and accomplished operations leader in the field of health care, and enjoys mentoring others and volunteering in community organizations aligned with veteran advocacy, public speaking, child safety, and financial stewardship. Isabel enjoys reading about remarkable leaders and forming mutual connections with others. She and her family enjoy camping in Northern Arizona in their spare time. 

Eric Chalmers is a top strategist shaping Arizona’s political landscape. Born in Tempe, he first got started in Washington state politics on Jay Inslee’s 2012 gubernatorial campaign before serving on the Senate Budget Committee under Washington Sen. Patty Murray in his first job out of college. Returning home in 2015, he started as a fundraiser in  2016 before managing Greg Stanton’s 2018 congressional campaign to a historic 22-point victory. Most recently, he was part of the leadership team of Ruben Gallego’s U.S. Senate race. Known for mentorship and coalition-building, Eric’s influence extends beyond campaigns, driving lasting political change in Arizona. 

Tom Collins is the executive director of the Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission, a five-member, nonpartisan state agency charged with educating voters and enforcing laws fighting corruption and enhancing transparency. Previously, Collins was an assistant attorney general focused on appellate and election law with responsibility for Attorney General opinions. He serves on the Arizona Supreme Court’s Committee on Examinations. He was recognized as a 2019 Arizona Capitol Times Leader of the Year and in Phoenix Magazine’s Great 48 of 2024. Collins has also covered Arizona government as a reporter and was press secretary to the Superintendent of Public Instruction. 

Erin Ford Faulhaber is the deputy director of the Arizona Residential Utility Consumer Office (RUCO), representing the interests of residential utility customers. Erin shapes policy positions, oversees strategy and case management, and represents RUCO before other government entities and stakeholders. Prior to joining RUCO, Erin was policy advisor to Arizona Corporation Commissioners Anna Tovar and Boyd Dunn, participating in hundreds of rate cases, policy dockets, and rulemakings. Erin also has experience as an attorney in private practice focusing on appeals and commercial litigation.   

Katie Hurst is the chief executive officer of the Arizona Association for Economic Development, where she brings more than 15 years of operations, marketing, and community-building expertise. With a knack for establishing teams and managing shifting priorities while focusing on the organization’s goals, Katie has contributed to the accelerated growth of Saas companies and nonprofit organizations alike.   

Juliana Manzanarez is the founder and principal attorney at Via Law Group in Phoenix, where she leads a community-centered practice specializing in immigration law. A passionate advocate for underserved communities, she has spearheaded initiatives such as the State of Latino Project with ASU, “Know Your Rights” presentations, and citizenship fairs— efforts that empower individuals with essential legal resources. Juliana leverages cross-sector collaboration to drive impactful change and foster community resilience. Recognized with the Los Abogados Community Service Award in 2020, she is committed to advancing equitable legal advocacy and creating opportunities for greater civic engagement in Arizona.

With over a decade of experience in applied behavior analysis, Joshua Munoz has worked extensively with individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD). His expertise spans clinical practice, research, and public policy. As the associate director of public policy at the First Place Global Leadership Institute, Josh supports initiatives to expand community-integrated health care, housing, and employment for individuals with I/DD. He authored Place4Peers™, a peer support curriculum addressing social isolation for adults with neurodiversities and led research on independent living outcomes with funding from AHCCCS. 

Ryan Peters is an Arizona native and U.S. Marine Corps veteran. He currently serves as the strategic initiatives director for the city of Chandler. With nearly 20 years of experience in municipal government and public policy, he leads Chandler’s government relations, transportation policy, and grants teams. He is also responsible for leading complex negotiations for the city and serves on the Valley Metro/RPTA Management Committee.   

Violeta Ramos was born and raised in Phoenix. She is a proud product of public education, and that education is the reason she is so passionate about advocating for the community she lives, works, and leads in. She is the first in her family to receive a bachelor’s degree. Violeta has 11 years of previous work experience in the nonprofit sector supporting various marginalized and underserved communities, where her heart and passion lies most. She strives to ensure that these communities do not view themselves as barriers, but as valuable assets that bring power, culture, and positive change. 

Laura Terech is the executive director of the Arizona America250 Commission within the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office. A former K-2 teacher and Arizona State House Representative, she served on the Education Committee and ended her tenure as the ranking member of the Municipal Oversight & Elections Committee. Previously, she served as the training and outreach director with Civic Engagement Beyond Voting. Laura’s commitment to community engagement extends to membership in The Phoenix Symphony’s Women of Note Council.  

Joseph Urrea, a Certified Emergency Manager®, works for the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community (SRPMIC). He is a FEMA Level I Professional Continuity Planner and FEMA-certified Incident Command System (ICS) and Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) instructor who provides ICS and HSEEP training to SRPMIC departments and jurisdictions across Arizona. As a FEMA Master Exercise Practitioner, he has developed and supported exercises focusing on everything from active assailants incidents, flash flooding incidents, power outages, and storm events.

Oye Waddell is the founder and chief executive officer of Hustle PHX, driven by a visionary leadership style and the belief in the inherent dignity of all people. With a strong background in urban education and entrepreneurship, Oye is passionate about transforming urban communities in Arizona through business. He and his wife, Crys, along with their four children—Chariot, Clover, Crescent, and Oye II—live in Phoenix. In addition to his role at Hustle PHX, Oye serves as a pastor at Sojourn Village PHX and is the co-founder of Adonai Behavioral, a company focused on supporting youth and young adults with mental and physical behavioral health needs.

Andre T. Whittington, a visionary executive and U.S. Army Veteran, drives inclusive economic growth in Arizona. As executive director of Growth Partners Arizona and co-chair of the Arizona CDFI Network, he has facilitated more than $25 million in capital to underserved communities. Andre leads financial education initiatives, develops equity-centered lending models, and expands access through innovative strategies. Appointed by Gov. Katie Hobbs to key state finance boards, he is recognized as a transformational leader advancing economic mobility and capital access statewide. 

Mohave

Natalie Collings is the chief deputy recorder for Mohave County and a Certified Elections/Registration Administrator (CERA). With a focus on enhancing civic engagement to bolster the integrity of elections, Natalie has worked to improve voter education and outreach in the community as well as update and improve the functions of the Recorder’s Office. As the owner of Russollo’s, a small online business, Natalie balances entrepreneurial efforts with a commitment to public service. Passionate about supporting local events and Arizona’s natural beauty and history, Natalie strives to make local government processes more transparent and inclusive while fostering a deeper connection with the community.

Navajo

The Honorable Roberta “Birdie” Cano is serving her third term as the mayor of Winslow and is proud to be the first Native woman/person (Navajo-Pueblo) to be elected to the Winslow mayoral office. She has a long history of public service throughout her career, working over 25 years at both the State Department of Corrections and at the local level. Her goals for the city of Winslow are to create an inclusive, innovative, and prosperous environment for all, through building strong staff engagement, identifying areas of opportunity, and bridging the gap between the city and neighboring tribal communities.

The Honorable Shaandiin P. Parrish is a member of the Navajo Nation. She is an elected member of the 25th Navajo Nation Council who represents the communities of Kayenta, Dennehotso, and Chilchinbeto. Shaandiin is an alumna of Arizona State University. She has held the titles of Miss Indian Arizona and Miss Navajo Nation. She previously worked for the Arizona State Senate and the Arizona Treasurer’s Office. 

Pima

Nick Hilton serves as the director of community relations for the University of Arizona. He is responsible for building positive relationships that advance university priorities. Nick manages the university’s workplace giving campaign, which invests in charitable causes and promotes volunteerism throughout the community. Prior to joining the university, Nick served as the deputy director of southern Arizona for the Office of the Arizona Governor. He has more than a decade of experience in government, nonprofits, and policy advocacy. 

The Honorable Kristen Randall is a small business owner, scientist, and dedicated public servant with more than a decade of experience in southern Arizona. Elected Constable in 2019, she championed eviction prevention. Later, as a court administrator, she developed a DUI treatment court and instituted mediation programs. In 2024, she was elected to the Pima Community College board of governors. Kristen currently serves as a manager at the Pima Department of Environmental Quality, overseeing the air quality program. Passionate about collaboration, Kristen is committed to improving the lives of Arizonans through innovative policy solutions and community-driven approaches. 

Elizabeth Slater is an education coach, health advocate, and safe housing proponent. She currently serves as the chief executive officer of Youth On Their Own, supporting educational attainment for teens experiencing homelessness. Elizabeth previously completed a decade of service with AmeriCorps, developing dropout prevention programs in urban public schools. As a fundraiser, she has secured more than $900M in funding for education and health programs. Elizabeth serves on Arizona’s Foster Care Review Board, the Amphitheater Public Schools Foundation board of directors, and the loan committee for Growth Partners Arizona. 

Sara Torres serves as the executive director of the Arizona Science Teachers Association and brings extensive experience in education. Sara’s expertise lies in designing and delivering research-based professional development, focusing on mentoring, classroom management, and standards-based instruction. Honored with the 2017 Outstanding Leadership in Science Education Award by the National Science Education Leadership Association, Sara continues to lead innovations in STEM education, inspiring educators nationwide. 

Pinal

Ashley Anderson is an accomplished human resources professional who serves as the associate director of people and talent at ASU’s Fulton Schools of Engineering, where she received the 2024 Fulton Difference Inclusion Award. She leads the Greater Phoenix Urban League Young Professionals as president and was appointed by Gov. Katie Hobbs to the Arizona Commission of African-American Affairs, where she serves as chair. A graduate of the African-American Leadership Institute, Ashley serves on multiple boards including Children’s Action Alliance and holds leadership roles with the Black Philanthropy Initiative. She combines her human resources expertise with dedicated community advocacy to advance equity and inclusion. 

Sophie Dessart is the manager of communications and public affairs for Florence Copper, an in-situ copper recovery operation in Florence. She leads Florence Copper’s public relations and charitable initiatives. A proud resident of Florence and passionate community volunteer, Sophie represents the business community on First Things First’s Pinal Regional Partnership Council and serves on several regional boards, including the Central Arizona College Foundation, Pinal Alliance for Economic Growth, United Way of Pinal County, Pinal County Historical Society, and Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce. Sophie’s work was recognized when she was named an Arizona Forward Emerging Sustainability Leader in 2022 and awarded the Arizona Mining Association’s 2023 Rising Star Award. 

Yavapai

Matt Schumacher, Ed.D., has spent the last 20 years as a public educator in Arizona. Matt moved to Arizona in 2004 to attend graduate school at Northern Arizona University. He spent one year teaching in Tucson before settling in the Verde Valley, where he worked as a middle school teacher, high school assistant principal, middle and elementary school principal, facilities director, and now serves as superintendent of the Clarkdale-Jerome School District. In his free time, Matt enjoys exploring the outdoors with his family.

Rebecca Serratos is a civic leader and trailblazer in food systems advocacy across Yavapai County. A systems thinker and convener, she bridges farmers, ranchers, and producers with vital resources while spearheading inclusive food policies and justice initiatives. Passionate about elevating rural and marginalized voices, she tackles food safety regulations, permitting, and market access to drive lasting change. Rebecca champions community-led solutions, believing those most affected hold the key to transformative progress. Committed to equity and collaboration, she paves the way for a resilient, just, and sustainable food future for all. 

Yuma

Tori Bourguignon is the executive director of Amberly’s Place where she leads initiatives that provide vital support to abuse victims and public safety personnel. She has successfully implemented trauma intervention programs to empower individuals in their healing process. Tori advocates for victims’ voices and collaborates with a multidisciplinary team to enhance community resilience. Her efforts have raised awareness about the complexities of trauma and abuse. Committed to systemic change, she strives to improve the quality of life for those affected by crime and create safer communities, leveraging her extensive experience in victim advocacy to support survivors during challenging times.