Three new members were elected to the Brain Injury Alliance of Arizona (BIAAZ) Board of Directors at the non-profit organization’s annual member meeting last month. Ray Norris, Sharon Phillips and Amanda Wigal-Schlosser will serve their first terms December 2013 through 2016.

“The Brain Injury Alliance of Arizona is incredibly excited to include these three experienced and dedicated individuals to our already wonderful board,” said Kim Halloran, executive director of BIAAZ. “We look forward to the strong leadership this board can provide to carry out our mission, and the support they will bring to community members with brain injuries, their families and professionals.”

Ray Norris
Ray Norris is an attorney at Gallagher & Kennedy who specializes in plaintiffs’ catastrophic personal injury, with particular experience in brain and spinal cord injury, along with medical malpractice, product liability, wrongful death and mediation of disputes. He also conducts trial preparation and jury selection focus groups. Throughout his career, Norris has spoken extensively in the areas of traumatic brain injury and trial advocacy.

Sharon Phillips
Sharon Phillips is the owner and president of Freedom Manor, Inc. Freedom Manor specializes in the care of brain injury survivors in an assisted living home setting. Phillips has owned and managed Freedom Manor for 19 years. She has experience in many volunteer boards, including the Assisted Living Federation of Arizona, Assisted Living Federation of America and Arizona Governor’s Council on Spinal and Head Injuries. Phillips also previously served on the board of Brain Injury Alliance of Arizona.

Amanda Wigal-Schlosser
Amanda Wigal-Schlosser is the owner of Brandables, a promotional products company. Wigal-Schlosser suffered a traumatic brain injury in June 2007. Since her rehabilitation, she has made it her personal mission to teach people about brain injury.

In addition to these three new board members, the BIAAZ board has elected new officers. These officers will serve one-year terms on the Executive Committee:

> President: Becky Armendariz, public relations director, Banner Health Arizona East Region
> Vice President: Dr. Robert Djergaian, medical director, Banner Good Samaritan Rehabilitation Institute
> Treasurer: Sean Badding, partner and owner, Everlasting Services
> Secretary: Tom Nielsen, father of brain injury survivor