October 2025 Network News

Thoughts from Dawn Wallace

Last week, I attended the opening night of Suffs at Gammage – the first official event of AZ250, Arizona’s initiative marking America250, our country’s semiquincentennial celebration. 

The musical tells the story of the early 20th-century suffragists, led by Alice Paul, who among many extraordinary women of the time led the charge for the right to vote. The show was, at times, irreverent (listen to “Great American B%ch”), funny, and deeply heartbreaking. My favorite moment came during the finale, “Keep Marching,” when the entire cast unites in a scene that feels both triumphant and unfinished. The lyrics remind us that progress is “possible, not guaranteed.” It resonated as both a promise and a reminder that change does not hold on its own. 

As a Gen Xer, I have always believed in working within systems to make them better. My daughter’s generation questions whether those systems even deserve saving. That tension—between reform and reinvention—is one of the central dramas of Suffs. The show captures the difference between those who believe that lasting change requires patience and diplomacy to those who see disruption as the only path forward. These same debates echo through almost every effort today. Whether in public policy, community work, or even our personal lives, the question remains the same —do we fix what exists or start over?

I’ve been thinking about the same tension lately, not only as I watch civic leadership unfold in my work, but more personally, as I sit beside my daughter while she writes her college essays. Every prompt seems to ask the same question: How will you change the world? Her responses are generally thoughtful and searching, but I can tell that she worries that her generation has inherited institutions too fractured to mend. I tell her what experience has taught me— that in nearly every part of life, the same truth applies. In relationships, careers, and communities, there are pieces that deserve our protection, and others that need to be let go entirely. True progress requires knowing the difference. 

And maybe that is the real lesson of “Keep Marching.” Progress is neither a straight line nor a single victory. It unfolds through small, steady steps, each one pushing the world a little closer to where it should be. As we celebrate 250 years of American independence, our shared story continues to be written by those who refuse to stop showing up. Alice Paul, Carrie Chapman Catt, Ida B. Wells, and countless others marched so that generations like mine might lead— and the next generation, our daughters, can carry the march forward in their own way. 

Keep Marching, Fellows!

Best, 
Dawn

---

Sign Up for Boards and Commissions Opportunities

The Vitalyst Health Foundation and the Flinn Foundation have partnered on a three-year pilot project to create a FREE online portal that connects individuals interested in board service with nonprofit organizations—essentially an “Indeed” for board leadership. Since last spring, we’ve been conducting statewide outreach with nonprofits and more than 40 leadership programs that graduate civic leaders eager to serve their communities.

Now, it’s time to recruit individuals ready to lend their time, talents, and expertise to organizations doing transformative work across Arizona. Whether you’re a first-time board member or a seasoned community leader looking for a new challenge, this platform will make it easier than ever to find a mission that aligns with your values and experience. Register with AZ Leaders on Board to start viewing open opportunities

Fellows Spotlight

Misty Klann is a citizen of the Diné (Navajo) Nation who grew up near the Four Corners area in northeastern Arizona, in the town of Rock Point. Now, she and her partner, Derek, live in east Mesa with their two children.

After more than 20 years of serving at various levels in the public sector, Klann recently founded her own firm, Bluecorn Consulting, LLC, with a vision to empower Tribal Nations by strengthening their long-term transportation planning efforts through data-informed decision-making. By enhancing the foundational transportation data that supports their plans, Klann believes that tribes can more effectively exercise their sovereignty and ensure they have an impactful voice at local, regional, state, and national policy tables.

Klann’s academic training is in information management and technology, but she has spent her professional life in transportation planning. She believes transportation planning has a direct impact on how tribes deliver essential programs, what federal and state funding they access, and ultimately, the capacity and flexibility of their self-determination and governance. 

“It’s actually a perfect fit. Planning is, at its core, all about collecting and analyzing data to make smart, informed decisions for the near- and long-term future,” she says.

Misty’s mother, a single parent, raised six children while rebuilding her life, finding her voice, and growing her career. Misty’s mother held a long-term vision that, through hard work, provided Misty and her siblings with a solid foundation. Because of that, Klann feels she now can plan and pivot more freely, a foundation she wants to help Tribal Nations strengthen. 

“Out of sheer necessity and survival, she often had to jump into challenges with both feet and trust that things would work out. There was simply no room or luxury for extensive, formal planning,” Klann said. 

Her mother’s experiences empowered Klann to take on big challenges, knowing that her commitment to hard work and keeping her eyes on the larger vision will allow her to explore, challenge norms, achieve her goals, and enjoy the flavors of life.

Klann considers the Flinn-Brown Network a foundational source of support and expertise. 

“I genuinely think of the Fellows as a supportive family of like-minded, passionate people advocating, analyzing, and finding solutions for the betterment of Arizona’s communities,” she says. 

Professionally, she believes she always has a trusted resource —a group of individuals with incredible experience and credentials whom she can call on for reliable guidance or deep institutional knowledge. Additionally, she finds that participating in the Network’s ongoing learning opportunities, like the CivEx webinars, is invaluable for staying up to date with current state policy issues and direction. Klann finds this essential to her work with Tribal Nations.

She believes the primary opportunity for strengthening civic health in Arizona lies in re-prioritizing human connection over political polarization. “Fundamentally, we share one earth and are stewards of our collective future. We need to actively reconnect, re-energize our shared vision for the state, and strengthen our core sense of community,” she says. “By refocusing on our shared fate, we can accomplish great things together.”

---

Fellows Field Trips

Thank you to Flinn-Brown Fellows, the Honorable Michelle Hess (Buckeye, 2013) and the Honorable Joanne Osborne (Goodyear, 2012) for hosting a West Valley Fellows Happy Hour!  With special guest Lt. Col. Shayne Carroll,  Jenna Goad (Phoenix, 2012), Rosalva Zimmerman (Goodyear, 2018), Isabel Booth (Glendale, 2025), Sophie Allen-Etchart (Phoenix, 2022), and the Honorable Pearlette Ramos, J.D., Ph.D. (Avondale, 2018).

Southern Arizona Fellows are invited to join us for a holiday get-together.

We’re thrilled that our own Sarah Brown Smallhouse is hosting this wonderful opportunity at her home in Tucson for Southern Arizona Fellows to connect and enjoy each other’s good company.

Please RSVP by Dec. 1 to ensure that we can accommodate everyone comfortably.

A calendar invite with the address for this event will be provided upon registration. The happy hour will be outdoors (weather permitting), so we kindly request that everyone dress warmly for the occasion. Appetizers and drinks will be served.

Fellows are encouraged to suggest or offer opportunities for Fellows to visit and learn more about what is happening in Greater Arizona. Please let Dawn know if you have an idea or are interested in providing a field trip opportunity. 

---

Fellows Directory Updates

Help us keep our Fellows Directory accurate and up-to-date! Please make sure your information is accurate and current by scanning the QR code or following this link to complete the survey. You can also upload a new headshot to this Google Drive folder. 

Please let Dawn know if you have problems accessing the survey or uploading a photo. 

---

CivEx

Please join us for a CivEx Workshop, Strong Foundations: Principles of Preparedness for Civic Leadership, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 12 at the Flinn Foundation.

Flinn-Brown Fellow Teniqua Broughton (Phoenix, 2013) will lead an in-person, interactive workshop designed to build self-awareness, foster personal growth, and strengthen your commitment to civic leadership. Through a balance of structured lessons, guided discussions, and hands-on activities, participants will explore core principles of leadership and begin charting their own leadership journey. This workshop is intended for emerging leaders so please share with your networks.

If you have an idea for a CivEx webinar that you would like to host, or a topic you would like to learn more about, contact Dawn.  

---

Fellows Meet Fellows

Flinn-Brown Fellows at the 20^th anniversary celebration of the Greater Nogales Santa Cruz County Port Authority: Buna George (Yuma, 2023), William Kovacs (Scottsdale, 2016), Chris Stoller Michelena (Tucson, 2015), Julie Katsel (Tucson, 2014), Luis Heredia (Chandler, 2013), Teresa Bravo (Tucson, 2023), and the Honorable Nicole Barraza, Ph.D. (Tucson, 2020).

The Honorable Coral Evans, Ph.D. (Flagstaff, 2011) ran into Fellows Eric Gudiño (Phoenix, 2012), Frank McCune(Phoenix, 2011), and Ashley Anderson (Maricopa, 2025) in Washington D.C. 

---

Fellows Lists

Each month we feature a Fellows list in a specific employment sector, public policy area, affinity group or region. In honor of Veterans Day on Nov. 11, our focus this month is Fellows connected to the military, veteran, or support groups.  

If your name is not on the list, but you have prior service or are engaged with a support group, please let us know so that we can update the list. 

You can find additional lists here.  

While we try extremely hard to keep up to date on Fellows’ activities, we recognize that we may have missed someone. Please let us know and we will happily update our lists.

---

Fellows Celebrating Birthdays

We want to wish a happy birthday to all the Fellows celebrating in November and December!

This is not a complete list, but we can only wish you a happy birthday if we know when it is! 

You can help us make sure we celebrate by sharing your birthday with us in the Fellows Survey.

---

Fellows Book Recommendations

Each month, we feature suggestions from Fellows to create a virtual library about public-policy issues, the practice of leadership, professional development, and other areas worth sharing. This month’s recommendation comes from Misty Klann (Mesa, 2013).

I recommend Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer.

The author is a Potawatomi scientist who beautifully invites readers to walk in two worlds, Indigenous wisdom and Western science, and find value in both. She then challenges us to use that knowledge to live now while taking care of the future. As a logical and structured thinker with a background in data, technology, biology, chemistry, and medicine, I find this book highly relatable. It helps me remember not to take myself too seriously and to laugh at myself, while also feeling empowered to protect my heritage in a predominantly Western society. This in turn shapes my leadership, my motherhood, and my vision for the future. I think anyone picking this up would appreciate that science, so often seen as black and white, is actually not so. The inherent intelligence of nature and the perspectives presented, if we stop long enough to enjoy, are pure enjoyment and hold many life lessons and, thus, freedom.

---

Fellows In The News

We are happy to promote your work through social media, so reach out if you would like us to recognize a professional accomplishment, event, or program with which you are involved.

Carlos Alfaro (Scottsdale, 2024) participated in “The Right to Disagree” roundtable discussion with KTAR News in a 2-hour special in partnership with ABC15 and Arizona Talks. 

Elvy Barton (Chandler, 2013) won a Women Achievers of Arizona 2025, Environmental Impact award.

The Honorable Sarah Benatar (Flagstaff, 2015) gave a lecture at Northern Arizona University on the fiscal impacts of federal policy in Coconino County, according to Jack Central. Sarah also announced her candidacy for 2nd Vice President of the National Association of Counties (NACo).

Ben Blink (Phoenix, 2018) was appointed to the Osborn Elementary School District Governing Board. 

Tony Boone (Sierra Vista, 2019) was mentioned in a KGUN 9 article on the city of Sierra Vista’s master plan for a municipal airport.

Jaclyn Boyes (Phoenix, 2019) is now Executive Vice President of Training Delivery at Per Scholas.

Amanda Burke, Ed.D. (Phoenix, 2022) was selected for a Women Achievers of Arizona 2025, Nonprofit award.

Patrick Camunez, J.D. (Queen Creek, 2012) was featured in an ABA Journal article focused on his career as an attorney and his new novel.

Megan Casey (Phoenix, 2013) was selected for a Women Achievers of Arizona 2025, Policy and Advocacy award.

The Honorable Nikki Check (Jerome, 2012) is hosting a Bridgeport/Cottonwood Townhall at 4 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 6,according to My Radio Place. 

The Honorable Juan Ciscomani (Tucson, 2011) visited Green Valley to meet with local business leaders, according to an update from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Sarah Coles, M.D. (Flagstaff, 2017) spoke to 91.5 KJZZ about access to COVID-19 vaccines. 

Alexis Danneman, J.D. (Phoenix, 2016) spoke with KTAR News regarding a TAAAZE lawsuit over the Axon zoning law.

The Honorable Reetika Dhawan, Ed.D. (Yuma, 2022) represented Arizona Western College at SEMICON Taiwan 2025.

The Honorable Ruth Ellen Elinski (Cottonwood, 2014), Mignonne Hollis (Hereford, 2013) and Heath Vescovi-Chiordi (Tucson, 2023) will be instructors at the Arizona Association for Economic Development Basic Economic Development course happening from Jan. 26-29.

Manuel Felix (Tucson, 2024) received the NIST RAMPS (Regional Alliances and Multistakeholder Partnerships to Stimulate Cybersecurity Education and Workforce Development) grant for his organization, AZ Cyber Initiative. 

Tim Gomez (Phoenix, 2023) was quoted by the Glendale Star in an article about a new transportation method to ASU home football games. 

Elyse Guidas (Phoenix, 2019) shared information to the Arizona Digital Free Press about Activate Food Arizona receiving a $450,000 Mercy C.A.R.E.S. Community Reinvestment Grant.

Brittney Kaufmann (Phoenix, 2014) was selected for a Women Achievers of Arizona 2025, Healthcare award.

Melissa Kotrys (Phoenix, 2023) was quoted in a press release on the CommunityCares program. 

Barbara Lang (Sierra Vista, 2015) received this year’s Pete Wertheim Public Health Leadership Award.

The Honorable Nikki Lee (Tucson, 2018) was mentioned by KVOA News 4 Tucson in a story surrounding public drug use. She was also mentioned by Tucson Sentinel for her discussion with colleagues on AI issues. 

Kathryn Leonard (Phoenix, 2016) was featured in a National Trust for Historic Preservation article describing why her work as a Historic Preservation Officer matters.

Aaron Magezi (Phoenix, 2019) is the new Executive Director of the Board of Examiners for Nursing Institution Administrators.

Reyna Montoya (Gilbert, 2020) was selected for a Women Achievers of Arizona 2025, Nonprofit award. She was also featured in an interview with Arizona PBS on her advocacy for equal opportunity. 

The Honorable Shaandiin Parish (Kayenta, 2025) spoke on the impact recent floods had on her community in a Navajo-Hopi Observer article. 

Paul Perrault, Ph.D. (Phoenix, 2016) spoke on absences in Arizona high schools in a story with KTAR News and the Daily Independent. 

The Honorable Lea Márquez Peterson (Tucson, 2011) was selected for a Women Achievers of Arizona 2025, Corporate Leadership award.

The Honorable Violeta Ramos (Phoenix, 2025) will be speaking at ASU on Nov. 6 about pathways to equity in education.

The Honorable Fernando Shipley (Globe, 2011) was mentioned in an Arizona Silver Belt article about the city of Globe’s expansion of hospital ambulance services. 

Jay Smith (Flagstaff, 2025) shared his expertise on forest restoration in a story with Arizona’s Family. 

Christina Spicer (Phoenix, 2013) spoke on the new Girl Scout Cookie, Exploremores, in an Arizona Digital Free Press article. 

Nick Staab, M.D. (Phoenix, 2024) provided ABC 15 with potential reasons  heat-related deaths are lower this year compared to past years.

Richie Taylor (Phoenix, 2020) spoke to the Arizona Republic about a Florida man accused of applying for ESA funding for made-up children.

Judah Waxelbaum (Scottsdale, 2024) shared his thoughts on the significant number of requests for Turning Point USA membership following the death of Charlie Kirk, according to News Break. 

Zach Yentzer (Marana, 2020) has been appointed the next President and CEO of the Glendale Chamber of Commerce and was awarded the Emerging Leaders Award at the Greater Phoenix Chamber’s annual conference for his innovative pathways.

Erica Yngve (Tucson, 2014) wrote an op-ed in the Arizona Daily Star about the Warrior Right to Repair Act.

Marge Zylla (Tempe, 2017) has been appointed the City of Chandler’s Strategic Initiatives Director. 

---

Board and Commission Openings

Serving on a board or commission is a great way to influence public policy on issues where you have expertise or a passion to serve. 

The Arizona Governor’s Office has more than 200 boards and commissions. To apply, complete the application on the website. For a list of vacancies, updated April 7, please see here.

Most Arizona counties and cities have boards and commissions with frequent vacancies. Check local websites for more opportunities.

If you have specific opportunities to share, let us know.

Career & Professional Opportunities

The Flinn Foundation is seeking a full-time accountant to support the organization’s philanthropic work.

The Arizona Exposition and State Fair Board is seeking a Director to serve as the chief administrator of a premier fairgrounds and multi-use event facility.

The Tucson Symphony Orchestra is seeking a Vice President of Marketing and Communications to strengthen the collaboration among the marketing team and across departments. 

ACLU Arizona is hiring a Legal Director to provide strategic leadership on litigation and legal advocacy.

Arizona SciTech Institute is seeking a Development Manager to advance its fundraising efforts related to individual and corporate giving.

Arizona State University has a position open for Director, Presidential Advancement Strategic Correspondence to serve as a communications strategist. 

The Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management is seeking a Deputy Director of Operations. 

Community Bridges is hiring an Associate Director of Housing and Community Integration to oversee outreach, shelter, housing and community-based programs. 

---

Events & Conferences

TENWEST Connects, the Southwest’s largest festival for entrepreneurs and creators, is coming to the Churchill in Phoenix on Wednesday, Nov. 5.

Local First Arizona’s Arizona Fall Fest is Saturday, Nov. 8 at Margaret T. Hance Park in Phoenix. 

The Arizona Tax Research Association will hold the 2025 ATRA Outlook Conference on Friday, Nov. 21, at the Wigwam Resort. 

The University of Arizona’s 8th Annual Reimagine Health Research Symposium, focused on the science and medicine of improving human resilience, will be held on Thursday, Dec. 4.

On Tuesday, Dec. 9, AZ Impact for Good is hosting Design Your Destiny: Building a Case for Support That Inspires Action.

AZBio’s Trailblazer Awards will be held Thursday, Dec. 11 at the Phoenix Country Club.

---