The Arizona Center for Civic Leadership has chosen 35 more Arizonans as Fellows in the Flinn-Brown Civic Leadership Academy.
The 2014 Fellows come from urban centers and rural communities and have careers in small businesses, startup firms, major corporations, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, state agencies, federal institutions, and local governments.
2014 Flinn-Brown Civic Leadership Academy Fellows
Listing includes Name, Position(s), and City of residence
NORTHERN ARIZONA
Blaise Caudill: Program Coordinator, Arizona Deliberates; Agency Relations Specialist, St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance, Flagstaff
Becky Daggett: Executive Director, Flagstaff Arts and
Leadership Academy, Flagstaff
Ruth Ellen Elinski: Executive Director, Coconino Coalition for Children and Youth, Cottonwood
Toby Olvera: Coordinator, Coconino County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, Flagstaff
Michael Zervas: Managing Partner, Mountain Heart Health Services, Flagstaff
CENTRAL ARIZONA
James Allen: Lean Six Sigma Process Consultant, Shamrock Foods Company, Scottsdale
Will Barnow: Chief Legislative Liaison, Arizona Department of Corrections, Scottsdale
Jonathon Bates: Government Relations Specialist, Arizona Department of Transportation, Phoenix
Tony Cani: President and Executive Director, Inspire Arizona, Phoenix
Eric Figueroa: Senior Policy Advisor, Arizona House of Representatives, Phoenix
Kevin Hartke: Council Member, City of Chandler; Pastor, Trinity Christian Fellowship, Chandler
Ben Henderson: Economic Development Specialist, City of Phoenix, Phoenix
Joe Hughes: Regional Director of Government Affairs, American Airlines, Mesa
Brittney Kaufmann: Vice President of Public Affairs and Advocacy,
Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Tempe
Chris Kyselka: Academic Professional, Arizona State University, Gilbert
Jennifer Lane: Faculty member, Glendale Community College, Scottsdale
Erik Lee: Executive Director, North American Research Partnership, Chandler
Tara Lockner: Project Coordinator, Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, Laveen
Mitchell Moore: Chief Administrative Officer, Advanced Training Systems International Corp., Mesa
Sean Price: Veteran Programs Administrator, Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services, Phoenix
Illya Riske: Senior Analyst, Governor’s Office of Strategic Planning and Budgeting, Phoenix
Kathryn Scheckel: Assistant Director, Special Projects, Office of the President, Arizona State University, Phoenix
Kevin Velasquez: President, United Tribal Employee Council, Maricopa County Community College District, Tempe
Deanna Villanueva-Saucedo: Director of Public Outreach, Maricopa County Community College District, Mesa
Lela Wendell: Operations and Program Coordinator, Arizona Department of Child Safety, Phoenix
Rebecca Wininger: Co-Chair of Public Policy, Equality Arizona; Partner, RWS Property, Phoenix
SOUTHERN ARIZONA
Morgan Abraham: CEO and Owner, The Abraham & Avdee Group, Tucson
Kevin Bonine: Director of Outreach Initiatives, College of Science, and Director of Education and Outreach, Biosphere 2; University of Arizona, Tucson
Dan Coleman: Managing Partner, Modern Works Music Publishing, Tucson
Randi Dorman: Branding and Real Estate Specialist, Tucson
Drew John: County Supervisor, Graham County, Safford
Julie Katsel: Southern Arizona Director, United States Senator Jeff Flake, Tucson
Rob McCright: Assistant Attorney General, Arizona Attorney General’s Office, Tucson
Tamara Prime: Chief of Staff, Tucson City Council Member Karin Uhlich, Tucson
Gil Villegas: Deputy Director, Financial Services, Yuma County, Yuma
As members of a network nearly 200 strong, the Fellows share a commitment to state-level civic leadership and public service. They participate in a variety of intensive, ongoing training opportunities to expand their capacity to serve as future state-level elected officials, agency and organization executives, policy advisors, and members of boards and commissions. Fellows are chosen annually through a highly competitive selection process.
“We welcome the new Fellows and their commitment to helping to create a bright future for Arizona,” said Nancy Welch, who directs the Arizona Center for Civic Leadership as a vice president of the Flinn Foundation. “Our 2014 Fellows and entire network are rapidly building the knowledge, skills, and connections needed to help address the many opportunities and challenges in our state and community.”
The Arizona Center for Civic Leadership, administered by the Foundation, was launched in 2010 to strengthen civic leadership at all levels throughout Arizona. The Flinn-Brown Civic Leadership Academy is one of the Center’s major programs in partnership with the Tucson-based Thomas R. Brown Foundations.
“Developing leaders has always been a hallmark of the Flinn Foundation,” said Jack B. Jewett, President and CEO of the Flinn Foundation. “The Arizona Center for Civic Leadership is simply another logical step in our actions to serve Arizona and our pursuit of impact for future generations.”
The Flinn Foundation is a private philanthropy created in 1965 to improve the quality of life for future generations of Arizonans. Civic leadership is one of the Flinn Foundation’s four major program areas along with the biosciences, arts and culture, and the Flinn Scholars. The Thomas R. Brown Foundations supports solutions to community and state issues through strategic grants and educational programs.