107 Arizonans Selected for Catalyze Class 2
Valley Leadership has selected 107 Arizonans to participate in the second Catalyze class. This virtual program is designed to set participants up to take action on Arizona’s most pressing issues. The cohort represents a diverse cross-section of sectors, industries and experience.
“Catalyze has given me a greater understanding on those crucial issues impacting Arizona, while connecting me to like minded leaders who want to make an impact. The knowledge I have obtained from Catalyze will allow me to expand my reach, strengthen my leadership skills and empower me to work towards change while hearing all perspectives.”
– Kristina Sabetta, Catalyze Class 1 Graduate & Impact Maker Volunteer
During the 6-month program, participants grow their connections to the people and issues that impact Arizona, while gaining new skills and experiences. By the end of the program, each participant leaves with a commitment and a plan for how to get more engaged in the community.
36% of the Catalyze Class 1 graduates chose to get involved with Impact Maker, a collaborative community venture housed at Valley Leadership that mobilizes Arizonans to create long-term change on the issues of the day.
“At Valley Leadership, our goal is to empower participants to be impactful leaders in the Arizona community. As a graduate of Catalyze Class 1, I’ve seen first-hand how intentional and valuable the programming is in preparing our state’s leaders to take action and strengthen our community.”
– Paul Komadina, VL Board President & Catalyze Class 1 Alumni
Meet the Class
| Leo | Anderson | Director | FOX |
| Samantha | Anderson | Grant Manager | Arizona Humanities |
| Alexis | Apodaca | Government Relations Coordinator | City of Chandler |
| Farhan | Babur | ||
| Murphy | Bannerman | Government Affairs Manager | Western Resource Advocates |
| AJ | Barnett | ||
| Johana | Bautista | Spanish Teacher | Hispalia Language Center |
| Leslie | Beatty | Program Manager, Strategic Implementation | Cigna |
| Virginia | Bezerra de Menezes | Program Manager of Learning and Evaluation | Vitalyst Health Foundation |
| Korin | Blair | Attorney | Maricopa County |
| Treena | Bradley | Director of Finance | Roosevelt Elementary School District |
| Jenny | Brundage | Sales | |
| Kim | Bui | Sr. Director, Product and Audience Innovation | Arizona Republic |
| Jessie | Bustamante | Chief Advancement Officer | ACCEL |
| Michelle | Butler | Claims Team Manager | State Farm Insurance |
| Vanna | Campion | Chief Medical Officer | Terros Health |
| Tom | Carlson | Public Finance Investment Banker | RBC Capital Markets |
| Katie | Carpenter | Director of Corporate Engagement | Year Up |
| Justin | Chase | President/CEO | Solari Crisis & Human Services |
| Danyel | Chleborad | Assistant Project Director | Arizona State University Foundation for a New American University |
| Chrissie | Cooper | President, Government Programs | OptumRx |
| Amber | Cordoba | Director of Business Education and Consulting Services | Chicanos por la Causa, Inc – Prestamos CDFI |
| Nick | Czupryn | Senior Consultant | Deloitte |
| Lynn | Daniel | Teacher | Tolleson Union High School District |
| Patti | Deckard | Business Development Executive | Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona |
| Ashely | Dickerson | Senior Program Manager | National Center for Youth Law, FosterEd Arizona |
| Lindsay | Dietz | DIRECTOR OF PROGRAM SERVICES-HCCN DIRECTOR | Arizona Alliance for Community Health Centers |
| Rodrigo | Dorador Madrigal | Development Associate | Dominium |
| Jamie | Duncan | HCCN Project Coach | Arizona Alliance for Community Health Centers |
| Rachel | Dunn | Medical Student | Medical Student |
| Ricky | Duran | Data & Innovation Manager | City of Phoenix, Office of Innovation |
| Candace | Eldridge | Realtor / Realtist and Business Analytics Manager | Exit Realty Sun City and CVS Health |
| Patrick | Epum | Director & Team Lead Commercial Banking | BMO Harris Bank |
| Kristi | Estrada | Executive Clinical Director | Alliance Coaching and Counseling Group |
| Linée | Ferguson | Senior HR Consultant | Self Employed, Master the Workplace LLC |
| Diana Bejarano | Figueroa | SVP, Marketing, Communications and Strategic Initiatives | Education Forward Arizona |
| McCady | Findley | Senior Sustainability Manager | Fusebox LLC |
| Kevin | Flaaen | AVP Relationship Manager | FineMark National Bank & Trust |
| Dana | Flannery | Senior Policy Advisor | State of Arizona |
| Maya | Galvan | Hunger Programs Specialist | United Food Bank |
| Brian | Garcia | Law Graduate | Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project |
| Shannon | Gnam | Director of Business Development | Hustle PHX |
| Chris | Graves | President | Self-Employed |
| Stephanie | Graves | President | Clarksburg Chamber of Commerce |
| Julie | Heineking | Client Engagement | Human Services Campus |
| brad | herron-valenzuela | Managing Director, First Place Transition Academy Director, First Place Center for Education, Training & Employment | First Place AZ |
| Elizabeth | Howard | Director of Supportive Services | UMOM New Day Centers |
| Alicia | Iniguez Monzon | Director of Continuing Education and Partnerships | Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies |
| Jeanine | Inman | Deputy Director, Government Transformation Office (GTO) | State of Arizona |
| Makayla | Jackson | Assistant Principal in Residence | Phoenix Union High School District |
| Armonee | Jackson | Local Coalition Coordinator | Future Coalition |
| Hector | Jaramillo | ||
| Ebone | Johnson | Senior Director of Grants, Contracts, and Compliance | Arizona Alliance for Community Health Centers |
| Margaret | Klever | Executive Administrator | CBRE |
| Emily | Langowitz | Jewish Engagement and Learning Manager | Union for Reform Judaism |
| Jeff | Letey | Safety Manager | Truesdell Corporation |
| Helain | Lewis | Development Officer | Teen Lifeline |
| Nick | Loper | Lobbyist | Public Policy Partners |
| Deniece | Lopez | Constituent Services Representative | U.S. Senate |
| Joshua | Loughman | Senior Strategic Planning Analyst | Salt River Project |
| Patricia | Macias | Office Manager | Arizona Alliance For Community Health Centers |
| Rhian | Madrid | Director of Sales | Banner|Aetna |
| Jessica | Manos | CEO | Self-Employed |
| Joseph | Martinez | Owner | Arizona Microgreens |
| Melissa | McGinnis | Talent Sourcer | OneAZ Credit Union |
| Paul | McIlroy | Director, Business Development | Transperfect |
| Leah | McKiernan | Principal | Phoenix Union High School District |
| Michael | Metzger | Vice President Strategy | Teach For America |
| Megan | Meyers | Commercial Loan Coordinator | Bell Bank |
| Erin | Mowad | Development Director | Live & Learn |
| Ora | Napoleon | Intel Federal Enterprise System Project Manager | Intel Federal |
| Kane | Nixon | Deputy Chief | Arizona Fire & Medical Authority |
| Graciela | Nobles | Program Manager of Community Initiatives | Education Forward Arizona |
| Tracy | Olson | Associate Attorney | Snell & Wilmer, LLP |
| Laura | Ory | Senior Director of Marketing and Communications | Education Forward Arizona |
| Charlie | Palumbo | CEO and Founder | Intentional Leaders LLC |
| Josh | Patterson | National Sales Director | PetPlate |
| Laura | Pearl | Executive Director | Tides Advocacy – Flip the Vote |
| Jocelyn | Phok | Director of Operations | Educational Services, LLC (ESI) |
| Melanie | Pshaenich | Coordinator Senior | Arizona State University |
| Lorraine | Ramirez | Program Manager: Rural Women’s Health & Oral Health | Arizona Alliance for Community Health Centers |
| Michelov | Rhau | CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER | Sun Life Health |
| Faith | Ritchie | Small Business Programs Manager | Arizona Commerce Authority |
| Martin | Rodriguez Nuñez | Advisor | Ramirez Advisors Inter-National |
| Khalil | Rushdan | Organizing Director | ACLU of Arizona |
| Idenna | Russell | Assistant Principal | Desert Edge High School |
| Sasha | Simmons | Professional Speaker | Axon |
| Zulela | Smaak | Director, Development & Finance, TFA Phoenix Regional Team | Teach For America |
| Myleshia | Smith | Assistant Property Manager | Dunlap & Magee |
| Lauren | Smith | Corporate and Foundation Relations Manager | Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center |
| Apichai | Sotiwong | IT Support Specialist | CSP Technologies |
| Andrea | Swanson | Banker | JPMorgan |
| Simone | Tavassoli | Training Coordinator | Prevent Child Abuse Arizona |
| Ivana | Temple | Branch Director & Trainer | Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley |
| Kaitlyn | Tveit Lynn | Development Associate | Dominium |
| Richard | Verduzco | Assistant Principal | Phoenix Union High School District |
| Ryan | Wampler | AML Investigator | Pricewaterhouse Cooper (PwC) |
| Dionne | Washington | Friends of the Farm Coordinator | Arizona Food Bank Network |
| Carrie | Watters | City/ Maricopa County editor | The Arizona Republic | azcentral.com |
| Katie | Weber | Assistant Vice President, Senior Counsel | JPMorgan Chase Bank |
| Hayley | Winterberg | Executive Director | Arizona Peer and Family Career Academy |
| Quin | Works | Director of Development | Local First Arizona |
| Cara | Wright | Program Manager | Phoenix Union High School District |
| Jenny | Wynn | Minister | First Christian Church Scottsdale |
| Kathy | Yeager | Associate Vice Provost, Business & Educational Partnerships | Northern Arizona University |
