A cohort of 107 Arizonans has begun a six-month journey to strengthen their leadership and prepare to take action on the issues shaping the state as members of Valley Leadership’s Catalyze Class 6.
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Now in its sixth year, Catalyze brings together emerging and established leaders from a wide range of sectors, backgrounds and communities. Throughout the program, participants explore their individual leadership styles, examine the systems and challenges shaping Arizona, and build relationships that help them lead more effectively from any position.
“At a time when Arizona is experiencing tremendous growth and change, we need leaders who are prepared to listen, learn and work alongside others,” said Carrie Larson, Program Manager for Catalyze. “Class 6 represents the kind of leadership our state needs, people with different perspectives who share a commitment to showing up and helping move Arizona forward.”
Class 6 officially began its leadership journey at the Catalyze Kickoff, featuring a keynote address from Arizona State University President Michael Crow. His remarks challenged participants to consider their role in Arizona’s future and set the stage for a program centered on personal growth, deeper understanding and community impact.
Catalyze is designed to make leadership development accessible to people at different stages of their personal and professional journeys, strengthening and expanding a growing network of Arizonans committed to meaningful action.
“As someone who grew up in Phoenix, I’m excited to join the Valley Leadership Catalyze Class because it represents a unique opportunity to deepen my understanding of the Valley, connect with purpose-driven leaders, and challenge myself to think more broadly about how I can create meaningful impact across our region. I look forward to learning from diverse perspectives, building lasting relationships, and developing the skills needed to help drive positive change throughout the communities we serve,” said Erica Tricco, the Vice President of Sales at Goodmans and a Catalyze Class 6 participant.
Over the next six months, participants will develop their personal leadership practices, gain insight into Arizona’s most pressing issues and connect with Valley Leadership’s broader ecosystem of changemakers. After completing the program, graduates will have opportunities to continue their involvement through Valley Leadership’s Impact Maker initiative and other avenues for community action.
Valley Leadership thanks Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation for its continued support of Catalyze and its investment in developing leaders who are building a stronger Arizona.
To learn more about Catalyze or meet the members of Class 6, visit valleyleadership.org.
Meet the Class
| Name | Organization |
| Adam Shipley | City of Avondale |
| Adrianna Tušek Erickson | City of Chandler |
| Ahmad Muhammad | NPMHU local 320 |
| Alejandro Molina | AZ Impact for Good |
| Alesia Ash | Holland & Hart LLP |
| Alex Mangione-Smith | Global Credit Union |
| Alex Demyan | Contexture |
| Alexis Cordell | MassMedia, Marketing + Advertising + PR |
| Amy Rundquist | Phoenix Police Department |
| Ana Roscetti | Vitalyst Health Foundation |
| Andrea Clinton | A2C Mission Critical and Commissioning, LLC |
| April Bleicher | Phoenix Autism Center |
| Aretina Maholmes | |
| Agustin Gastelum | Patchwork Community Inclusion |
| Autumn Stewart | Morgan Stanley |
| Dr. Bea Rodriguez-Fransen | Arizona State University |
| BJ Hanson | ASU Foundation |
| Blake Davis | State Farm Insurance |
| Blessing McAnlis-Vasquez | Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community |
| Brandi Hughes Anderson | Lamar |
| Brent Larson | Gibson |
| Brett Caldwell | Gore Medical |
| Brock Embree | Lockton Companies |
| Cate Lenhart | The Kemper and Ethel Marley Foundation |
| Dr. Catherine Hallam | Chapter & Page Counseling |
| Charles Ajassi | Tata Consultancy Services |
| Christine Boisen | Salt River Project |
| Cole Tsonis | Marsh Agency |
| Dakota Staggs | |
| De’ja Broughton | Center for the Future of Arizona |
| Denise Gillett | Adelante Healthcare |
| Denise Garcia Ornelas | Office of U.S. Representative Greg Stanton |
| Ed DeCastro | Phoenix Police Department |
| Eleanor Brillo | Scottsdale Arts |
| Elizabeth Clements | Junior Achievement of Arizona |
| Erica Tricco | Goodmans |
| Dr. Errold Glenn Elad | Aurora Behavioral Health System-Tempe/Rio Salado College/Arizona State University |
| Halianna Piller | Arizona Public Service |
| Irene Agustin | Keys to Change |
| Jack Mangan | Support Life And Music |
| Jack Brown | Arizona College Prep |
| Jaxinta Shaffer | Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, Arizona State University |
| Jeannine O’Deens, PMP | Lotus Integrative Solutions |
| Jeremy Jesberger | TerraWest Communities |
| Jevan Bremby | University of Kansas |
| E. John Banquil Jr. | Ling & Louie’s Restaurants |
| Joshua C. Offenhartz | Sacks Tierney P.A. |
| Julie Oliver | Foundation for Blind Children |
| Juliet Rozo | Colliers International |
| Kalea Moore | City of Phoenix |
| Kate Nethercott Wilson | Resources Reimagined |
| Kathleen Sawa | Southwest Human Development |
| Katie Ritchie | Arizona State University |
| Elizabeth Keliah Jacober Peacock | Xavier College Prep |
| Kelly Fajardo | Swire Coca-Cola |
| Kourtney George | Snell & Wilmer L.L.P. |
| Kourtney Kelley | Arizona State University, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law |
| Krizia Verplancke | Concord Servicing |
| Kurt Sipmann | Department of Economic Security, Office of Inspector General |
| Kylie Backus | Arizona State University Foundation |
| Leiandros Quintana | |
| Liliana Baglietto Marquez | New Pathways for Youth |
| Luis Reyes | Veridus, LLC. |
| Luis Raygoza | Chicanos Por La Causa |
| Maria Rebello-Valdez | Apoyo Consulting, LLC |
| Marie Sanyang O’Halloran | A New Leaf |
| Marketta Kirby | LoopRoots Foundation |
| Marsha Reardon | ASU Foundation for a New American University |
| Marshall Casebeer | ASU Foundation for a New American University |
| Mary Fastiggi | American Forests |
| D. Matt Greer | RE/MAX |
| Matthew Russo | Salt River Project |
| Megan Gestson | Roosevelt School District |
| Michael Wang | Flinn Foundation |
| Michele Lin | Lake Havasu City Council |
| Michelle Kari | Compudopt |
| Miguel Brambila | Alhambra ESD |
| Monro Obenauer | Arizona State University Foundation |
| Morgan Floyd | The National Association of State Chief Administrators (NASCA) |
| Neda Boyce | Arizona Leads |
| Nicole M. Peña | Central Arizona Shelter Services (CASS) |
| Nina Renee | Administrative Assets, LLC |
| Nolan Houston | Brophy College Prep |
| Odessa Clugston | Arizona State University School of Law |
| Olga Leslie Teran | Arizona Commerce Authority |
| Patti Almirez-Taglianetti | Voices for CASA Children |
| Dr. Peyton Michelle Williams | Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP |
| Polly Flachman | Visit Phoenix |
| Rachel Klaus | Valley Metro |
| Ray Delgado | Spectrum Medical Care Center |
| Rod Huston | Gilbert Public Schools |
| Rupert Wolfert | Town of San Tan Valley |
| Ryan Clayton | Arizona State University |
| Sarah Smolowitz | Corporation for National and Community Service |
| Shawn M. Watt | Arizona Community Foundation |
| Shelly Smith Hornback | Hornback Communications |
| Shevaun Teevan | Calvary Healing Center |
| Sierra Morse | Prevent Child Abuse Arizona |
| Stacy Alauf | Southwest Human Development |
| Stephanie L. Herndon | Greater Phoenix Leadership |
| Stephen Russo | Valleywise Health |
| Tanner Contreras-Russell | Arizona Department of Health Services |
| Tara Cosentino | Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona |
| J. Taylor Moschetti | New Pathways for Youth, Chapter & Page Counseling |
| Dr. Taylor Kerby | Pima Medical Institute |
| Terry F. Williams | Arizona Western College |
| Will Leon | ASU Foundation for a New American University |
About Valley Leadership
Valley Leadership gives Arizonans the tools to solve challenges together. We do that by empowering Arizonans to lead through our learning opportunities and mobilizing them to make a difference on our state’s most pressing issues through our Impact Maker. With a track record of over 45 years of strengthening Arizona leaders, we are working to provide more opportunities than ever before to engage and empower Arizonans to lead. The Impact Maker gives us a unique opportunity to partner with the community on our greatest challenges and find solutions together. Learn more at valleyleadership.org.
