More than 80 Arizonans from all perspectives, with a wealth of experience in the private and public sectors, spoke to the Flinn-Brown 2016 cohort during this year’s Academy seminar series. The discussions between the Fellows and these policymakers, CEOs, practitioners, researchers, experts, and pundits provided insights into Arizona’s challenges and ideas for real-world solutions. The knowledge will be put to use as Fellows advance in leadership positions in state government, policy, and politics.
Sincere thanks go to the speakers who shared their expertise with the 2016 Flinn-Brown Fellows.
Hon. Kirk Adams; Chief of Staff, Office of Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey
Markay Adams; Integrated Services Administrator, Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System
Dan Anderson; Vice President, Institutional Analysis, Arizona Board of Regents
John Arnold; Vice President for Business Management and Financial Affairs, Arizona Board of Regents
Hon. Lisa Atkins; State Land Commissioner, Arizona State Land Department
Hon. Scott Bales; Chief Justice, Arizona Supreme Court
Stan Barnes; Founder and President, Copper State Consulting Group
Sean Berens; Associate, Perkins Coie
Tom Betlach; Director, Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System
Kathryn Blades; Legislative Liaison and Deputy General Counsel, Arizona Department of Child Safety
Tom Broderick; Former Utilities Division Director, Arizona Corporation Commission
Breanne Bushu; Development Manager and Policy Advisor, Center for the Future of Arizona
Ron Carpio; Chief of Health and Family Services, Terros Health
Dr. Joe Cuffari; Policy Advisor, Office of Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey
Ian Danley; Executive Director, One Arizona
Henry Darwin; Interim Director, Arizona Department of Economic Security; Chief of Operations, Office of Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey
Scott Deeny; Arizona Water Program Lead, The Nature Conservancy
Sarah Douthit; Chief Probation Officer, Coconino County Adult Probation
Leonard Downie, Jr.; Weil Family Professor of Journalism, Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, ASU
Greg Esser; Associate Director, Herberger Center for the Arts, ASU
Eric Figueroa; Senior Policy Analyst, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
Rebecca Gau; Executive Director, Stand for Children
Hon. Neil Giuliano; CEO, Greater Phoenix Leadership
Dr. Rufus Glasper; CEO, League for Innovation in the Community College
Dr. Robert Glennon; Regents’ Professor, Morris K. Udall Professor of Law & Public Policy, James E. Rogers College of Law, University of Arizona
Steve Goldstein; Host, Here and Now, KJZZ
Victor Gonzalez; Economic Development Manager, Town of Sahuarita
Hon. Alfredo Gutierrez; President, Maricopa County Community College District Governing Board
John Halikowski; Director, Arizona Department of Transportation
Dr. Maria Harper-Marinick; Chancellor, Maricopa Community Colleges
Chris Herstam; Chairman, Arizona Government Relations Practice, Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie
Mignonne Hollis; Executive Director, Arizona Regional Economic Development Foundation
Hon. Andrew Hurwitz; Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Robyn Interpreter; Attorney, Montgomery & Interpreter, PLC
C.O. Walter Jefferson; Policy and Procedure Coordinator, Pima County Sheriff’s Department
Jack Jewett; President and CEO, Flinn Foundation
Brittney Kaufmann; Vice President of Public Affairs & Advocacy, Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Gail Knight; CEO, Community Excellence Project
Dr. Paul Koehler; Director, Policy Center, WestEd
Dr. Melissa Kovacs; Founder, FirstEval
Dr. Judy Krysik; Director, Center for Child Well-Being, Arizona State University
Dr. Matt Ladner; Senior Advisor, Foundation for Excellence in Education
Sara Larsen; Financial Affairs and Compliance Officer, Arizona Clean Elections Commission
Erik Lee; Executive Director, North American Research Partnership
Ken Logan; Chair, DM50
Fred Lomayesva; Assistant Attorney General, Pascua Yaqui Tribe
Larry Lucero; President, Southern Arizona Defense Alliance
Ed Maldonado; Attorney, Law Office of Edward Maldonado
Nadine Mathis Basha; Chairperson, Arizona Early Childhood Development and Health Board (First Things First)
Major General Michael T. McGuire; Adjutant General, Arizona National Guard; Director, Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs
Georganna Meyers; Senior Economist, Maguire Company
Rich Nickel; CEO, College Success Arizona
Toby Olvera; Coordinator, Coconino County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council
Juan Padrés; Economic Development Specialist for International Trade, City of Tucson
Hon. Sheila Polk; County Attorney, Yavapai County
Hon. Michael Pollard; Judge, Tucson Regional Municipalities Veterans Treatment Court
Sara Porter; Director, Kyl Center for Water Policy, Morrison Institute for Public Policy, ASU
Sean Price; Assistant Director, Division of Benefits and Medical Eligibility, Arizona Department of Economic Security
Brandon Quester; Founder and Executive Director/Editor, Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting
Sam Richard; Executive Director, Protecting Arizona’s Family Coalition
Kelly Robles; Executive Director, AZ Transfer
Charles Ryan; Director, Arizona Department of Corrections
Rebekah Sanders; Reporter, Arizona Republic
Paul Senseman; Principal, Policy Development Group
Stefan Shepherd; Deputy Director, Joint Legislative Budget Committee
Ron Sites; Executive Director/President, Fighter Country Partnership
Ruth Soberanes; Director of Communications and Strategic Initiatives, Arizona-Mexico Commission
Shay Stautz; Associate Vice President of Federal Relations, University of Arizona
Mikel Steinfeld; Appellate Attorney, Maricopa County Public Defender’s Office
Dr. Gerry Swanson; Professor of Economics Emeritus, Eller College of Management, University of Arizona
Melissa Tatum; Research Professor of Law, James E. Rogers College of Law, University of Arizona
Joe Thomas; President, Arizona Education Association
Steve Voeller; Partner, Summit Consulting Group
Marisa Walker; Senior Vice President, Strategic Planning/Infrastructure, Arizona Commerce Authority
Nancy Welch; Vice President, Arizona Center for Civic Leadership, Flinn Foundation
Brandy Wells; Vice President, External Affairs and Business Development, Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Lela Wendell; Project Coordinator, Arizona Department of Child Safety
Jeff Whitney; State Forester, Department of Forestry and Fire Management
Michael Wisehart; Assistant Director, Division of Employment and Rehabilitation Services, Arizona Department of Economic Security
Hon. Kimberly Yee; Chairperson, Arizona Senate Committee on Education
Annette Zinky; Executive Vice President, Strategy & Impact, Greater Phoenix Economic Council