Five Flinn-Brown Fellows have been honored by their peers for their leadership, contributions to the state, and efforts in building up their communities and the Flinn-Brown Network.
The 2026 Flinn-Brown Awards, which were presented during the annual Flinn-Brown Convention on Friday, Aug. 14, and a reception the prior evening, honor the high-impact leaders with these five awards: Jack Jewett Award, Network Builder Award, and three Arizona Champion (Northern, Central, and Southern Arizona) awards.
Jack Jewett Award
Julie Katsel
2014 Flinn-Brown Fellow
Julie Katsel of Tucson received the Jack Jewett Award for her thoughtful use of the Flinn-Brown Network to address one of Arizona’s most complex policy issues. Drawing on leadership experience across state and local boards, Katsel brings both deep institutional knowledge and a broad perspective to her work on public policy and community issues.
During her Jim Kolbe Fellowship, she engaged Flinn-Brown Fellows throughout her research on homelessness research, seeking diverse perspectives to challenge assumptions and to better understand the issue from multiple vantage points. She then carried out that work bringing together leaders from Pima County and the city of Tucson to address gaps between systems and advance greater regional coordination.
Katsel, who is assistant vice president, community relations at the University of Arizona, and previously worked for U.S. Sens. Jon Kyl and Jeff Flake, uses the Network as a source of expertise and a catalyst for collaboration. Through her leadership, she demonstrated the collaborative leadership the Jack Jewett Award was created to recognize.
Network Builder Award
Christina Spicer
2013 Flinn-Brown Fellow
Christina Spicer was recognized for her excellence in growing and enriching the Flinn-Brown Network. With an inclusive, collaborative and effective leadership style, Spicer helped launch the Fellows Salons, a new initiative designed to reconnect Fellows, and create learning communities for lasting civic impact. During its inaugural year, the program focused on rural Arizona. Spicer traveled from Clifton to Cottonwood to Kingman to listen, learn and bring Fellows together around issues important to their regions.
Spicer plans to continue the program over the coming year alongside Fellow Sarah Rose Webber, building on the relationships and momentum created during the program’s first year. As co-CEO of the Girl Scouts-Arizona Cactus-Pine Council, she brings the same commitment to connection and service to her statewide work, helping ensure girls and communities across Arizona have access to Girl Scout programs and resources.
Arizona Champion–Northern Arizona
The Honorable Ruth Ellen Elinski
2014 Flinn-Brown Fellow
Ruth Ellen Elinski is a leader in Northern Arizona’s small business and civic communities. She serves as associate state director of the Arizona Small Business Development Center Network, building on previous roles as director of the Yavapai Small Business Development Center, Northern Arizona director of Local First Arizona, and executive director of the Coconino Coalition for Children and youth. She also serves on the Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District governing board.An entrepreneur, Elinski co-founded PinDrop Travel which was named one of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s America’s Top 100 Small Businesses. The company has also won the Moonshot Pioneer Pitch Competition State Championship and the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Top 3 Hottest Things Made in Arizona.
Through her professional, entrepreneurial, and public service roles, Elinski has helped strengthen connections and support communities across Northern Arizona.
Arizona Champion–Central Arizona
The Honorable Kevin Hartke
2014 Flinn-Brown Fellow
Kevin Hartke, who is mayor of Chandler, exemplifies the Flinn-Brown Fellowship through his commitment to collaboration, mentorship, and servant leadership. As he completes his term as president of the League of Arizona Cities and Towns Executive Committee, Hartke has worked to bring together rural and urban leaders together around shared challenges and opportunities.
Hartke’s approach to public service is rooted in decades of community leadership. Before becoming mayor, he served nine years on the Chandler City Council and more than three decades as lead pastor at Trinity Christian Fellowship. Within the Flinn-Brown Network, he is known as an enthusiastic connector, making a point to engage with Fellows, and, almost without fail, finding time for a photograph. His positive approach and genuine interest in others have made him a trusted and familiar presence throughout the Network.
Arizona Champion–Southern Arizona
Erica Yngve
2024 Flinn-Brown Fellow
Tucson native Erica Yngve is the founder and owner of Sonoran Stitch Factory, which is helping grow Arizona’s sewn-goods industry while creating pathways to local jobs and economic opportunity. Her work unites entrepreneurship, workforce development, education, and community advancement, with leadership and service extending to the Tucson Metro Chamber, National Small Business Association, Pima Community College, and Flowing Wells High School’s fashion design program.
Yngve also serves as Entrepreneur in Residence at Arizona Stitch Lab, helping provide hands-on training to hundreds of individuals from diverse backgrounds, including young people and people with disabilities. By connecting skills development with real career opportunities, Yngve is expanding access to Arizona’s manufacturing economy while helping build a more inclusive workforce in Southern Arizona.
Each award winner received an original work of recycled metal art created by Daniel Janssen of Alchemist Craftworks of Prescott. Janssen spoke at both the pre-Convention evening reception and Flinn-Brown Convention about his art and the lifelike sculptures he created for the five Fellows depicting native Arizona birds.
The awards were presented by the Honorable Benjamin Graff, J.D., a 2011 Flinn-Brown Fellow and the first winner of the Jack Jewett Award in 2017. Fellows are nominated for the awards and are selected by the Fellows Council through an anonymous process.