Desert Financial welcomes new chief experience officer
Desert Financial Credit Union brings Kendal Harris on as the new chief experience officer. With nearly three decades of credit union industry experience, Harris will lead the strategy and execution of member experience across the branch network, contact center, and digital transformation departments.
“Kendal’s strategic vision and operational experience will be instrumental as we continue transforming and growing as an organization,” said Cathy Graham, executive vice president of Desert Financial.
With 29 years of credit union industry experience, a bachelor’s degree from the University of Arizona, a high honors graduate of CUNA Management School, and a deep belief that exceptional experiences are the foundation of long-term member relationships, Harris brings a blend of visionary leadership and operational excellence to every touchpoint.
Harris’ expertise includes aligning people, processes, and technology to elevate service, enhance operational effectiveness, and support the member experience and sustainable growth. Throughout her career, she has fostered a culture rooted in empathy and accountability to ensure that every interaction created moments that matter and exceeded member expectations.
“Desert Financial has built a remarkable reputation for sharing success with members and the community,” said Harris. “I am honored to join a team so deeply committed to creating exceptional experiences and meaningful connections.”
Harris’ arrival further accelerates Desert Financial’s vision of sharing success by creating member-centric experiences while giving back to the community.
To learn more about joining the Desert Financial team, visit jobs.desertfinancial.com.
Taft’s Phoenix office deepens employment bench
Employment law attorney Annabel Barraza has joined Taft’s Phoenix office, contributing to the firm’s continued growth in the region and strengthening its labor and employment capabilities.
Representing employers in a variety of industries, Barraza brings a well-rounded perspective on employment law and the practical judgment needed to navigate complex workplace matters. Her practice spans litigation, arbitration, and day-to-day counseling, advising clients on disputes involving the Fair Labor Standards Act, Title VII, and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act. She previously served as a law clerk for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, where she sharpened her legal research, writing, and appellate strategy skills.
Fluent in Spanish, Barraza also assists with internal investigations and witness interviews, helping clients effectively communicate with diverse workforces. Prior to joining Taft, she practiced at an Am Law 200 firm.
“My work in employment law allows me to make a meaningful difference by truly listening to people’s stories and advocating for their needs,” said Barraza. “I’m drawn to the personal connection this work brings and the opportunity to support clients in a way that feels both impactful and authentic.”
Barraza earned her J.D. from the University of Arizona, where she was awarded CALI Excellence for the Future Awards in Regulation of the Modern Family and Legal Research, Analysis, and Communication. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Latin American and Chicano studies from Scripps College.
“We’re excited to welcome Annabel to our Phoenix team,” said Craig Morgan, partner-in-charge of Taft’s Phoenix office. “Her labor and employment experience strengthens our bench, reinforces Taft’s position as one of the leading employment practices in the Southwest, and underscores our ongoing commitment to serving clients in the region.”
Since combining with Taft on Jan. 1, 2025, what was formerly Sherman & Howard’s Phoenix office has grown by 130%. The firm has welcomed 14 attorneys, including Barraza, significantly expanding the firm’s strength across key practice areas and reshaping the depth of legal services available in the region.
Banner Plans and Networks announces new chief operating officer
Paula Shepherd, a 25-year veteran of health care coverage leadership, has been named senior vice president and chief operating officer of Banner Plans and Networks, which serves more than 1 million people across six states.
In this role, Shepherd will advance Banner Plans and Networks’ mission to transform the health care delivery by aligning insurance with coordinated care. As part of the nation’s few fully integrated nonprofit health systems, Banner Health delivers care at hundreds of locations throughout Arizona, Wyoming, Colorado, Nevada, California and Nebraska. Banner Plans and Networks is built to keep people healthier for longer. This prevention-focused philosophy allows Banner to coordinate care seamlessly and reinvest every dollar into the communities its serves.
Shepherd’s appointment took effect on March 16. She most recently served as executive vice president of health plan operations and technology for a respected insurer serving 1.9 million people in Louisiana.
“Paula gained great insight into member experience, plan operations and provider services during her tenure in Louisiana,” said Chuck Lehn, president of Banner Plans and Networks. “We are very excited that she is bringing that experience in a critical time of expansion in our organization. We’re building a sustainable model to make world-class care more affordable and accessible to all patients.”
Shepherd was senior vice president of benefit operations and vice president of claims operations at Blue Cross in Louisiana, from 2021 to 2024, when she took over as an executive vice president. Prior to that she was senior counsel and corporate remediation officer, leading that office for a little over a year after being the office’s attorney for nearly nine years. She was an operations manager for nearly eight years after starting with Blue Cross in 2000.
Shepherd earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Southern University in Baton Rouge, a masters of business administration from the University of Phoenix and a juris doctorate from the Southern University Law Center. She holds a diversity and inclusion certificate from Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., and is a certified health insurance executive through America’s Health Insurance Plans.
REDW Advisors & CPAs welcomes Soaring Bird Solutions
REDW Advisors & CPAs announced that Soaring Bird Solutions, LLC has joined the firm through a strategic acquisition, integrating its operations into REDW’s national advisory platform. Through this partnership, REDW will expand its capabilities in supporting Tribal Nations and Tribal enterprises, particularly in the areas of human resources strategy, leadership development, and organizational consulting.
Founded in 2015, Soaring Bird Solutions has built a nationally respected practice dedicated to supporting organizations serving Tribal governments, Tribal enterprises, and Tribal nonprofits across the United States.
Karla Bylund, MS-IOP, SHRM-SCP, founder and CEO of Soaring Bird Solutions and a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, will join REDW as a Principal within the firm’s HR Consulting practice, where she will lead the Tribal HR Support service line. In this role, Bylund will work closely alongside Cristin Heyns-Bousliman, Principal and HR Consulting Practice Leader, to expand REDW’s human resources advisory services for Tribal governments and Tribal enterprises nationwide. She will also collaborate with REDW leadership to strengthen the firm’s ability to support Tribal organizations as they navigate the unique regulatory, operational, and workforce challenges present within Indian Country. Her experienced team, based in Nevada, will all continue on with REDW, working remotely as they have for many years as members of Soaring Bird Solutions.
“REDW has worked alongside Sovereign Tribal Nations for more than four decades, supporting Tribal governments and enterprises through advisory services,” said Steve Cogan, CPA, Managing Principal. “Karla brings more than 20 years of human resources leadership experience within Tribal communities, along with deep expertise in organizational strategy, compensation design, and workforce development. Her knowledge and perspective will enhance our ability to provide comprehensive advisory services to Tribal clients across North America.”
Cogan added that the acquisition reflects REDW’s long-standing commitment to thoughtful growth while maintaining the independence that has defined the firm for more than 70 years.
“As REDW continues to grow, it is important that we do so on our own terms,” Cogan said. “Remaining an independent firm allows us to control our own destiny, invest strategically in our people and capabilities, and make decisions that are guided solely by what is best for our clients, team members, and communities. The alignment between REDW and Soaring Bird Solutions made this partnership a natural and strategic fit.”
For Bylund, the decision to partner with REDW was guided by shared values and a mutual commitment to strengthening organizations throughout Indian Country.
“Over the years, we have thoughtfully explored opportunities that would allow us to expand our capabilities while continuing to deliver the personalized, relationship-driven service that defines Soaring Bird Solutions,” said Bylund. “After many conversations, it became clear that REDW shares our values, our commitment to clients, and our long-term vision for supporting organizations in Indian Country.”
She noted that REDW’s decades-long presence serving Tribal governments and enterprises, combined with its deep respect for Tribal sovereignty and culture, made the partnership particularly meaningful.
“REDW has built trusted relationships across Indian Country by approaching its work with humility, respect, and a deep understanding of the communities it serves,” Bylund said. “By joining forces, we are able to bring together specialized HR expertise with REDW’s broader advisory platform, creating even greater opportunities to support Tribal organizations across the country.”
About Az Business Leaders: AZ Business Leaders is an annual business-to-business publication that combines the who’s who of Arizona business community with their valuable leadership advice and knowledge. The magazine is published by AZ Big Media. To learn more about Az Business Leaders, contact Sales Manager April Rice.
