Growing up, Andrea Robertson says her mother — Bern Dvorak — was the kind of person who just got things done.
“She spent 32 years in education and never made a big deal about it,” says Robertson, founder of Lexie’s Voice, which champions families affected by autism and developmental disabilities. “She taught, she ran the library, she chaired departments, and somehow ended up running the largest computer lab in a Phoenix high school, way before that was a thing anyone was paying attention to. None of it was easy, but she had the resilience to make it all work for the kids she showed up for every day that needed her. Some used the library as their safe haven because their home wasn’t one.”
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Robertson thinks about her mother’s impact a lot in her work with Lexie’s Voice.
“The advocacy, the foundation, the fights I have taken on for families like ours — none of it came with a manual,” Robertson says. “But I learned from watching her that you don’t wait for one. You just show up and do the hard work because it matters.”
As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, it’s the perfect moment to reflect on the women who helped shape the nation long before they ever held titles or headlines — mothers. Behind many of Arizona’s most dynamic business leaders are moms who taught resilience, compassion, grit and confidence around kitchen tables and through everyday example. Their influence helped raise innovators, CEOs, entrepreneurs and changemakers who continue to shape Arizona’s future, proving that some of the nation’s greatest leadership lessons begin at home.
Alison Bailin and Carol Bailin
“While this may cause audible laughter to some, I am the quiet one in my family,” says Alison Bailin, director of client service at HMA Public Relations. “My mom — now retired — was the boldest, most audacious teacher to ever walk the halls of an Arizona high school. Think Robin Williams in ‘Dead Poets Society.’ You could hear her from three classrooms away. This taught me a critical lesson: Silence is not always golden. I use my voice, which I am often told ‘carries,’ just like hers. Now, not all my ideas have landed — a secondary lesson. But since day one, my voice has been my edge, my not-so-secret weapon and my family legacy.”
Jennifer Kaplan and Barbara Kaplan
“My mother, Barbara Kaplan, shaped my career in more ways than I realized at the time,” says Jennifer Kaplan, founder of Evolve PR & Marketing. “Watching her build Design Dimensions with creativity, discipline and an unwavering commitment to her clients taught me what it truly means to run a successful business. She showed me the importance of relationships, attention to detail and standing confidently behind your work. Her work ethic and passion inspired me to take risks, trust my instincts and build Evolve PR with the same level of integrity and dedication.”
Yvette N. Cooper and Natividad Powell
“Standing in the back of the church, watching my 73-year-old mother confidently teach and lead women in self-defense as a third-degree black belt has always inspired me,” says Yvette N. Cooper, headmaster at Great Hearts Archway Lincoln in Chandler. “I first saw her influence through her daycare and later through her work in women’s education and Body and Soul ministry. She taught me that perseverance is not loud; it is showing up, doing the next right thing and serving others with strength and grace. As headmaster at Great Hearts Archway Lincoln in Chandler, I lead with that same humility, courage and purpose, shaping lives just as she shaped mine.”
Traci Beagley and Amy Ahlstrom
“My mom set the standard for what it means to truly show up for others,” says Traci Beagley, founder and CEO of Sunland Home Care and member of the board of directors for the Arizona In-Home Health Care Association. “She leads with service, works hard without needing recognition and is always the first to step in when someone needs help. Watching her shaped how I lead and serve today. In home care, where trust and compassion matter most, I often draw from her example. She didn’t just teach me to care for people — she lived it every day, and that continues to guide both my personal life and professional path.”
Erica Bloudek and Jolen Larson (grandmother)
“I actually look to my grandmother, who was our safe place and the one who held our family together with unconditional love and steady presence,” says Erica Bloudek, chief operating officer at Wilde Wealth Management. “She faced hardships with resilience, persevering and working hard to build a life that reflected her own dreams, eventually becoming a snowbird in Arizona. From the sidelines, she quietly championed our dreams, believing in us before we believed in ourselves. Her strength and determination shaped more than one generation, instilling in us the importance of showing up, pushing forward and supporting others with intention.”
Angela Menninger and Christine Rocha
“I come from a multi-generational Mexican American family; my Nana Carmen lived with us growing up,” says Angela Menninger, founder and CEO of Flutter Public Relations. “Now, my mom, Christine, lives with my own family, helping raise my son. We’re living true full-circle moments. What she gives our family now is what her own mom provided: an opportunity to balance career and family. Christine was a well-known professional who retired from leading a state youth education program managed by the Gila County Superintendent of Schools in our hometown of Globe-Miami. My mom’s drive and passion for making an impact on our community inspired me to become the entrepreneur and businesswoman I am today.”
Beth McRae and Betty McRae
“Growing up, rather than keeping me in the kitchen, my mom said I could do whatever I wanted in life,” says Beth McRae, CEO of The McRae Agency. “She said I belonged in a boardroom, not in the kitchen (no shade for anyone who grew up in the kitchen!) … When I was at ASU, my mom told me I should go into public relations and I said, ‘What is that?’ Little did I know I would pursue journalism and marketing degrees with gusto. She cheered me on when I started my own PR firm 30 years ago and has supported me ever since in my cherished career path.”
Michelle Cirocco and Valerie Lee
“My mother passed away when I was 16, after a sudden and aggressive battle with leukemia,” says Michelle Cirocco, chief social responsibility officer for Televerde. “She left before I was ready, but somewhere along the way, I realized she had given me everything I needed. The moment I really knew it was the day I walked into the first home I ever bought by myself. As I opened the door, a monarch butterfly flew over my shoulder — a rare sighting in Phoenix. I felt her presence and was sure she was there … cheering me on and so proud of me. She taught me I was stronger than I knew. That resilience isn’t something you’re born with; it’s something a mother builds in you, quietly, before she goes. She continues to shape how I lead and live today.”
Jolean Fleck and Donna Wilson
“I was 4 when my family fell apart,” says Jolean Fleck, senior vice president of people and organizational development at Delta Dental of Arizona. “My mother moved us into our grandparents’ house with a plan: college degree, nursing career, our own home. None of my grandparents went to college, and only 18% of single mothers who enroll ever graduate, but between my granny’s power of will and my mom’s belief in the transformative power of education, failure was outnumbered. ‘The day I got my degree, my salary tripled,’ she’d say. ‘Your education can never be taken away from you.’ Four daughters with eight degrees later, her belief was the inheritance that shaped us all.”
Dr. Jennifer Geoghegan and Johnnie Geoghegan
“I owe much of my success as a plastic surgeon to my parents and specifically my mom,” says Dr. Jennifer Geoghegan, a surgeon at MD Plastic Surgery. “Her unwavering belief in my potential gave me the confidence to pursue my dreams. I have always wanted to become a surgeon, and she taught me integrity, resilience, hard work and, most importantly, kindness are the keys to any success. She has always been my biggest supporter and modeled what it meant to be a dedicated and strong professional.”
Jennifer Keenan and Susan Lairamore
“My Taiwanese mom came to America in her early 20s, barely speaking English,” says Jennifer Keenan, co-owner and manager of Queen B Vinyl Cafe. “She found a passion for leadership through direct-sell cosmetics. As a teenager, I would oversee her business during her annual trips home and learned the importance of management, accountability and entrepreneurship. She has never stopped striving and, at 65, began oil painting. One of my greatest joys was giving my mom her first U.S. exhibit during Women’s History Month at my business, Queen B Vinyl Cafe in Cottonwood — a homage to the work ethic, perseverance and adaptability she instilled in me.”
Brianna Lewis and Cindy Lewis
“My mom showed me that teaching is more than a profession; it’s a way of life,” says Brianna Lewis, marketing associate at Chasse Building Team. “She taught in classrooms, churches and living rooms, always finding ways to spark curiosity, kindness and confidence in children. She still turns every visit with her grandkids into a field trip. Her example shaped how I work and lead today. A full-circle moment came when CHASSE helped deliver improvements to Biltmore Prep, where my mom completed her student teaching at Arizona State University. Working on that campus years later felt like seeing her legacy, and mine, intersect.”
Melissa Maggiore Meyer and Patricia Maggiore
“While I credit my father, Chef Tomaso Maggiore, for my passion for Italian food and hospitality, I would not be who I am today without my mom, Patricia,” says Melissa Maggiore Meyer, owner of The Italian Daughter and Patricia’s Pizza. “Through the years, my mom has always been my biggest cheerleader. She helped me raise my children when I was a single mom and always stood by me in hard times. Her encouragement gave me the courage to take risks, lead with heart and push forward even in difficult moments. I inherited my compassion, empathy and generosity from my mother, and those qualities have been instrumental in my success as a restaurateur, leader, mother, wife and friend. Because of her, I didn’t just follow a path — I believed I could create my own within the restaurant industry and in life.”
Marcia Scott and Barbara Harris
“We celebrated our mom’s 98th birthday on April 17,” says Marcia Scott, chief communications officer at Axiom Care. “As always, her welcome speech was about those in the room, memories of happy times we’ve shared and a story from her childhood that connected us all. All our lives, she’s taught by example: focus on the positive, step in to help, celebrate the small things, never stop learning and make new friends (and a difference) everywhere you go. She taught me to seek people’s stories, find causes that connect them and take action to make a difference — all things that led me to a career I truly love.”
Trisha Stuart and Janice M. Kilker
“My mom has always been my best friend and greatest teacher,” says Trisha Stuart, director of community relations at Mercy Care. “As the oldest of nine, she carried responsibility with grace, and she taught me to do the same. As an only child, I grew up with her steady presence and daily guidance. She taught me to stay grounded, care deeply and put family above all else. Because of her, I’ve built strong, loving relationships with my own children, and it’s the part of my life I cherish most.”
